A trio of labor unions requested the US Department of Transportation review its approval for Breeze Airways to operate as a commercial airline, just one week after the airline formally launched service, citing discriminatory hiring practices for flight attendants in their request, with questions arising around age, race, and other factors.
Airplanes and Airports
Delta, airBaltic to launch codeshare partnership
Delta Air Lines plans to add more than 20 new codeshare routes in Europe, partnering with Air Baltic. The move, if approved by regulators, will see Delta’s DL code applied to flights from 16 European cities to Air Baltic’s three gateways at Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.
United Airlines plans supersonic Boom with new order
United Airlines plans to purchase at least 15 supersonic jets from Boom. If everything goes to plan the jets could be carrying passengers between the US East Coast and Europe by the end of the decade. That’s a big if.
Vistara scores tentative DOT approval for US operations
Just five weeks after submitting its application the US Department of Transportation, India’s Vistara received tentative approval to begin operations to the United States. Assuming no objections from other carriers a final decision could be delivered by the end of the month.
JetBlue’s London launch brings an unexpected disruption to fares
JetBlue’s new London service brings many potential disruptions to the transatlantic market. And one unexpected one to the way the carrier operates.
Bamboo Airways requests access to launch US routes
Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways wants to bring its 787 fleet to North America. The carrier filed an application with the US Department of Transportation to offer service to five US cities on its own aircraft, with service potentially launching as soon as Q3 2021.
Taking off: The Breeze Airways era begins
The Breeze Airways era is underway. The carrier launched flights this morning from Tampa to Charleston, kicking off a 16 city network covering 39 routes expected to be in operation by the end of July. It is a bold start, with 13 planes anticipated in the fleet by the middle of the summer.
Airbus bullish on recovery, plans production boost
Airbus sees a recovery on the horizon and plans production adjustments to meet that need. The aircraft manufacturer provided a formal update on planned production levels, with potential for nearly 100 aircraft built per month by the middle of the decade.
Spirit Airlines bests FAA in Newark slots spat
Spirit Airlines could soon secure more slots at Newark Airport. A ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit found that the FAA acted improperly in choosing to not reallocate slots vacated by Southwest Airlines its Newark station closed in late 2019. As a result of that decision Spirit was unable to increase its presence at the airport. With this ruling, however, the FAA likely will be forced to allocate the slots and Spirit (or other airlines) could pick them up.
Breeze sets initial routes; first flight next week
Breeze is ready to take flight. The newest US carrier announced its route network today, serving 39 nonstop routes between 16 cities in the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Eastern US. The airline will waste no time getting its planes into service. The first flights will operate next Thursday, from Tampa to Charleston and then to Hartford.