JetBlue’s Gatwick service will carry more passengers than originally planned in Q4, but dinner won’t be as good.
Airplanes and Airports
Qantas returns to New York City, via Auckland
Qantas is poised to return to New York City from mid-2023. But rather than connecting in Los Angeles, as was scheduled prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, passengers will now connect in Auckland before the 16 hour trip to JFK.
aha! halts operations, ExpressJet files for bankruptcy protection
Making money as a standalone ERJ145 operator is not easy. Doing it from tertiary markets in the US is even harder. And so, for the second time in its history, ExpressJet is pulling the plug on standalone operations.
American Airlines buys in to Boom, despite significant uncertainties
American Airlines is the second US carrier to sign with Boom Supersonic. The airline plans for 20 Overture deliveries, plus another 40 options.
Tailwind launches DC-ish semi-seaplane service from New York City
College Park Airport just outside Washington, DC will be added to the route map for Tailwind Air, allowing the carrier to offer flights from its base on the East River in New York City to the DC area beginning on 13 September 2022.
JetBlue outlines Mint, TATL growth for 2023
New planes are on the way, and JetBlue plans to resume growth in 2023. But the company anticipates a bit of turbulence along the way. With its A220 and A321neo fleets expanding (10 more expected in 2022, 32 in 2023) the company needs to plan for where they will make the most impact on operations.
Breeze adds Phoenix routes, Providence base in refactored growth plan
Phoenix is the latest airport to join the Breeze Airways route map. The carrier will launch twice weekly service from Charleston to Provo via Phoenix on its A220 fleet beginning in November. The new flights are part of a half dozen new routes announced this week, along with another crew base being established.
US airlines delivering less efficient operations
A review of employment numbers and schedules suggests the airlines are up to 20% less efficient than in 2019 on a per-employee basis.
DOT proposes major change to airline refund rules
The US Department of Transportation is proposing significant changes to how and when passengers are due refunds for canceled or changed travel plans. Under a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) issued this week the Department would require full refunds when an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight, regardless of reason.
No MAX 7s for Southwest this year
At the beginning of 2022 Southwest Airlines anticipated taking delivery of more than 70 new Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft through the year. Seven months into the year, with FAA certification timing still unclear, the carrier revised that number to zero.