ALPA Says Single-Pilot Efforts Not Finished

Union leader warns reduced-crew concepts could reemerge despite recent setbacks.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 09, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Inside a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight deck at the Farnborough Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says industry efforts to move toward single-pilot airline operations have slowed but remain a concern, according to comments from its First Vice President Captain Wendy Morse, who cautioned that recent pushback has resulted in a pause — not an end — to reduced-crew proposals.

Speaking at the Skift Aviation Forum last week, Morse said ALPA’s “Safety Starts With 2” campaign was launched in response to initiatives — backed at various points by Airbus and European regulators — to explore single-pilot operations on long-haul flights. The concept, she said, was driven by cost.

“Airbus decided that it was a really good idea to have one pilot in the cockpit because it would cost less money,” she said.

Morse described scenarios explored under the proposal, such as allowing a pilot to leave the controls to use onboard facilities while the other rests. “They actually say, ‘Well, we have two pilots — one of them in rest,’” she said. “Okay, what happens when that pilot that’s got the controls needs to use the facilities? … Who’s at the controls? Oh, nobody’s at the controls.”

A350 cockpit — The cockpit of a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 XWB. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tom Pallini)

She said ALPA’s opposition, along with broader industry resistance, helped stall the idea. “We pushed them back,” Morse said. “But I think it’s paused and not over. So we will have to continue that fight.”

Morse added that dual-pilot operations remain essential in complex and dynamic environments. “You need two wings,” she said, referencing the union’s messaging. “Safety starts with two.”

She said the union expects future attempts to revive reduced-crew concepts as manufacturers and operators continue to evaluate cost-saving measures.

The discussion came as Morse emphasized the importance of maintaining strong manual-flying skills and foundational training, saying safety data continues to show the need for pilots to remain fully engaged in aircraft operation. She also said technological advancements — including automation, real-time turbulence tools, and terrain-avoidance systems — should support, not replace, pilot decision-making.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

United, Delta Take Stakes in Republic

Republic and Mesa formally merged as Republic Airways Holdings in November.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 08, 2025 at 12:56 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Republic Airways Embraer 170 in New York. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

United and Delta have taken minority stakes in Republic Airways Holdings following the merger of Republic and Mesa Airlines last month.

According to Republic’s recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, United has acquired about 7.7 million shares, while Delta has taken around 6.7 million shares, making both airlines over 10% owners in the combined company. Delta had owned stock in the pre-merger Republic, and each share was automatically converted into the right to receive 38.9 shares of the new company upon the merger’s close.

Both acquisitions were initiated on Nov. 25, the day the merger closed.

Republic said in its Form 8-K that it has approximately 46.9 million shares of common stock outstanding, including about 1.2 million restricted shares subject to vesting terms of equity awards and about 2.8 million escrow shares.

Republic and Mesa completed their merger in November. The combined business now owns the world’s largest Embraer fleet, with nearly 300 E170 and E175 aircraft, and operates over 1,300 daily departures, making it one of the largest regional airlines in the U.S.

Even though they are now legally one company, the two carriers will maintain parallel operations until they can be consolidated into a single operating certificate.

Republic and Mesa will continue to operate flights for their current airline partners. Republic has service agreements with United, Delta, and American, while Mesa works only with United, flying as United Express.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

Union Blocks Allegiant’s Push for Foreign Pilots

Teamsters Local 2118 refused to certify that the pilot positions meet “prevailing wage” standards.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 08, 2025 at 12:06 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Allegiant 737 MAX at Boeing Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

The labor union representing pilots at Allegiant is reportedly blocking the low-cost airline’s attempt to secure permanent U.S. residency for about 60 foreign pilots.

Reuters reported Saturday that the union refused to certify to the U.S. Department of Labor that the pilot positions meet “prevailing wage” standards, a critical regulatory step in getting foreign pilots their green cards. The positions start at around $50,000 per year.

Teamsters Local 2118 said it has asked Allegiant to focus on raising pay to attract more U.S. pilots, and to keep current employees from leaving for a competitor.

Allegiant told Reuters that it currently employs approximately 62 pilots from Chile, Australia, and Singapore through H-1B1 and E-3 visa programs, amounting to about 4% of its total pilot workforce. The foreign pilots act as a supplement, not a replacement, for U.S. pilots, the carrier emphasized.

The union disputed Allegiant’s rationale, arguing that there is no longer a pilot shortage in the U.S. and that the company could take steps to ameliorate staffing uncertainty by paying better wages.

“They had such a hard time in ‌2023 finding pilots, they actually started hiring visa pilots out of Chile on an H-1B1 because they promised them citizenship, a green card verbally to come fly in America for 50,000 bucks a year,” Gregory Unterseher, director of the airline division of ‍the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, told Reuters. “Because they’re having such a hard time keeping and maintaining pilots at such a low wage.”

An Allegiant A319 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Fight Over Pay

In a letter to the foreign pilots, Allegiant acknowledged that the union’s decision not to certify would delay their green cards.

Allegiant and its pilots have been at odds for years over pay and scheduling. The carrier’s pilots are working under a labor contract signed in 2016, which the union has pressed to replace. Last month, pilots picketed at airports across the country as they called for better wages.

Allegiant said at the time that it had put forward a “competitive package” that includes an immediate 50% average increase in hourly wages that scales to 70% over five years.

The airline and the Teamsters are currently in talks mediated by the National Mediation Board.

Zach Vasile

American Moves to Track Spirit Bankruptcy

Carrier requests full access to filings as Spirit weighs restructuring options.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, December 08, 2025 at 10:23 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

American and Spirit aircraft in Orlando, Florida (Photo: Shutterstock | VIAVAL TOURS)

American Airlines has filed a notice of appearance in Spirit’s Chapter 11 case, asking the bankruptcy court to provide the carrier with all future documents and updates tied to the proceedings.

In the Friday filing, American asked to receive “any and all notices given or required to be given” in the case, including “orders, notices, hearing dates, applications, motions, petitions, requests, complaints, demands, replies, answers, schedules of assets and liabilities and statements of affairs, operating reports, plans of reorganization and liquidation, and disclosure statements.”

The notice states that this applies to materials delivered “by mail, hand delivery, telephone, electronic mail, or otherwise.”

The carrier’s filing also specifies that the request should not be interpreted as a waiver of its rights in the case.

An American spokesperson told Reuters the move is connected to an “airport-specific agreement” between the two carriers, without providing further details. In August, Spirit filed for bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year and has said it continues to evaluate restructuring options.

The ultra-low-cost carrier continues to warn about its ability to continue as a “going concern.” Last quarter, it reported a $317 million net loss.

Ryan Ewing

Alaska to Open New 737 Base

The carrier plans to station up to 250 pilots there.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 08, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Boeing 737-900ER. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

Alaska Airlines is reportedly planning to open a new crew base in Southern California.

The Anchorage Daily News reported that the airline will open a 737 base in San Diego on June 1, 2026. The carrier expects to station up to 250 captains and first officers there, the newspaper said.

As part of the expansion, Alaska will hire 90 new first officers during the first quarter of 2026, though they will not all be based in San Diego. The airline acknowledged that, to fully staff San Diego, pilots will have to be moved from other West Coast bases, though it did not detail how this would be done or which crew bases would lose pilots in the reshuffling.

The San Diego base will be Alaska’s third in California – behind Los Angeles and San Francisco – and sixth overall.

“San Diego is the fastest-growing hub in Alaska Airlines’ network, with 80% capacity growth between 2023 and the schedule we will fly next year, including 14 new routes,” Neil Thwaites, Alaska’s regional vice president of California, told the Daily News. “Establishing a pilot base here helps us improve operational reliability and support future growth in the region. While the base itself doesn’t automatically mean new routes, we are committed to long-term growth in San Diego, and the pilot base will help enable that.”

Alaska 737 MAX — An Alaska Boeing 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

According to the Daily News’ report, eligible pilots can apply for an estimated 80 captain positions and 70 first officer positions between Dec. 15 and 28. A final decision on those positions will be made by Jan. 6, 2026.

A second round will take place in October of next year, when about 60 captain and 40 first officers slots become available.

Thwaites told the Daily News that pilots can apply from any of Alaska’s existing crew bases, which also include Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Anchorage, Alaska.

Alaska has been steadily growing its presence in San Diego. In October, it announced several new routes from the city, including to Dallas/Fort Worth, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Zach Vasile

South African Airways Enters Codeshare Agreement With Angola’s TAAG

The partners said the deal will boost intra-African connectivity and support expanded trade and tourism.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, December 06, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A South African Airways A340-300. (Photo: Shutterstock)

South African Airways has signed a codeshare agreement TAAG Angola Airlines, with the aim of enhancing regional and intercontinental connectivity.

The partnership strengthens the networks of both airlines, positioning Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Luanda as hubs for travel across Africa and beyond, South African said.

The deal also opens up convenient options for travelers wishing to reach Portugal and Brazil from South Africa.

New Connections to Europe and South America

South African will add its flight code to TAAG-operated flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Luanda, as well as on TAAG’s flights from Luanda to Lisbon and São Paulo, Brazil. TAAG will also gain access to key destinations in South African’s network, including Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Harare, and Lusaka.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in African aviation, strengthening connectivity across the continent and creating new opportunities for travelers (leisure and business),” SAA Group CEO John Lamola said in a statement. “By collaborating with TAAG, we are expanding our reach, enhancing passenger experience, and unlocking vital commercial pathways.”

The codeshare agreement enables both airlines to jointly market and sell tickets. As a result, travelers have a wider selection of destinations, the convenience of purchasing a single ticket in their local currency, and smoother connections with integrated check-in and baggage processes.

Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

Spirit Cancels Planned Pilot Furloughs

The temporary dismissals were supposed to take effect at the end of January.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 04:46 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Kevin Hackert)

Spirit is reversing course on plans to furlough hundreds more pilots early next year.

In a statement, the ultra-low-cost carrier said it is no longer moving forward with a previously announced furlough of 365 pilots, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 31, 2026. The airline did not give a reason for canceling the furloughs.

Spirit is also lowering the number of captains downgraded to first officers from 170 to 25.

Spirit has furloughed hundreds of pilots in an effort to contain costs since declaring bankruptcy for a second time in August. The airline has also rejected aircraft leases, withdrawn from underperforming routes and markets, and laid off some operations and corporate staff.

Last month, Spirit reached an agreement with the labor union representing its pilots to slash pay by 8% and decrease 401(k) defined contributions. Pay would be restored with a 4% increase on Aug. 1, 2028, followed by another 4% raise on Jan. 1, 2029.

The deal must be approved by Spirit’s pilots and a U.S. bankruptcy court to take effect.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: Wizz Air’s 250th Aircraft

Hungarian ultra low-cost carrier Wizz Air celebrates its 250th aircraft with a special livery.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 04:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

WIzz's CEO József Váradi, Airbus' Head of Commercial Europe Johan Pelissier and SMBC CEO Peter Barrett at the unveiling of the 250th aircraft special livery (Photo: Wizz Air)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

While in the U.S., carriers following the ultra-low-cost model are experiencing turbulent times and appear to struggle in their quest for a sustainable position in the marketplace, in other parts of the world, some have established themselves as solid market leaders.

One of them is Wizz Air, a Hungarian airline founded in 2004, now connecting 194 airports across Europe and the Middle East, and last year it carried more than 62 million passengers. The airline has recently added the 250th aircraft to its all-Airbus fleet, and it has decided to celebrate the event with a special livery created through a public contest.

Livery by Contest

Last September, the carrier launched a competition allowing anyone to submit a proposal for a livery celebrating the expansion of the fleet to 250 aircraft, with the winner to be rewarded with 1000 Euros in flight vouchers.

Wizz Air Airbus A321-271NX with special livery for 250th aircraft (Photo: Wizz Air)

The winning design features the number “250” before the “Wizz” stylized logo on the white part of the fuselage in the front, and a number of colored ribbons adorning the back part of the fuselage painted in the airline’s signature pink.

“The 250th aircraft is far more than just adding another aircraft to our fleet,” said Wizz Air’s CEO Joseph Varadi during the unveiling ceremony at the airline’s Budapest base. “It is a defining moment in Wizz Air’s history. It proves that our strategy is working, and our momentum now is stronger than ever.”

The airline is operating a fleet with a mix of A320 and A320neo jets, as well as A321s and A321neos and XLRs, and has a strong order book, which should double the number of aircraft in operation to 500 by 2033.

The latest addition to the fleet is an A321neo, registered as 9H-WMR, delivered to the Wizz Malta division of the airline on Nov. 20. The aircraft is configured in an all-economy high-density layout with a 28 to 29-inch seat pitch.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Vanni Gibertini

Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.

Expansion of Raleigh-Durham’s Terminal 2 Enters New Phase in January

The project is expected to be completed in 2032.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 03:47 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A distant view of Terminal 2 at Raleigh–Durham International Airport. (Photo: Sharkshock | Shutterstock)

Construction work on Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport will move inside the terminal starting in January, officials announced.

Early next month, crews will install a temporary floor-to-ceiling wall at the north end of the terminal, where construction will take place. The area will be closed off for about two years while workers expand the ticketing and international arrivals zones, add security checkpoint lanes, and upgrade the baggage handling system.

All ticket counters and security lanes will remain open during that time, the airport said.

Raleigh-Durham is expanding Terminal 2’s landside areas to help reduce congestion and bring down wait times. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2032.

The airport also plans to replace Runway 5L/23R, expand its customs facility, and add parking space. The broader capital improvement plan is expected to cost $2.5 billion.

Zach Vasile

Qantas Brings Final Long-Stored A380 Back to Service

Last superjumbo returns after nearly six years in storage and overhaul.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 01:20 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

VH-OQC's 12 year check completion with Captain Dirk Dahmen (Photo: Qantas)

Qantas has returned its final Airbus A380 to service, completing a multiyear effort to restore its superjumbo fleet. The aircraft, named Paul McGinness, arrived in Sydney on Dec. 2 after nearly six years out of commercial operation.

The 17-year-old jet – registered as VH-OQC – had been in storage since March 2020, when the Australian carrier grounded its superjumbo fleet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, it sat dormant at a few facilities, including Victorville, California, and Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft underwent extensive work following long-term storage during the pandemic. Qantas said the project represented the largest maintenance program in the airline’s 105-year history, involving more than 100,000 engineering hours across multiple facilities.

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Tasks included landing-gear replacement, structural inspections, systems testing, a full cabin refurbishment, and certification flights.

10 A380s

With its return, Qantas now has all 10 A380s back in service. The aircraft will operate as an additional spare during the holiday period before transitioning into scheduled flying. Beginning Jan. 1, it will support daily A380 service on the Sydney–Dallas/Fort Worth route.

Qantas A380s parked in storage at ComAv’s facility. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The restored aircraft features the airline’s standardized four-class layout with 14 First, 70 Business, 60 Premium Economy, and 341 Economy seats. Updates include refreshed cabin interiors and an upgraded upper-deck lounge consistent with the rest of the renewed A380 fleet.

Qantas said its A380s carried more than one million passengers in the past year.

Before the pandemic, Qantas had 12 A380s in service. Two have since been retired, according to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data.

Ryan Ewing