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.
Airplanes and Airports
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.
JetBlue to London now on sale!
JetBlue is finally ready to cross the Atlantic. After years of planning seats are now on sale for the company’s flights between the US and London, though no official word from the company announcing the plans.The (likely?) inaugural flight departs JFK for London Heathrow on 12 August 2021.
PLAY secures certification, first aircraft
Iceland’s PLAY Airlines is ready to fly. The carrier received its operating certificate from Icelandic authorities and officially registered its first aircraft. It expects to have three planes in service in the coming weeks.
Airbus resumes Toulouse A320 family upgrades
Airbus is confident in a demand rebound for its A321 single-aisle aircraft. The company is once again moving forward with plans to add capacity in Toulouse to build the type.
Avelo selects New Haven for New England hub
A hub at New Haven?? Avelo is ready to make it happen, bringing three planes to a new base in New England later this year.
Vistara plans US launch in September
The Vistara 787s could be flying to the USA later this year. The carrier applied to the US DOT for permission to operate service as soon as September.
Finnair adds A330 cargo conversion with Lufthansa Technik, Airbus
A handful of markets show signs of recovery for passenger traffic. But airlines typically focused on long-haul international service are nowhere close to calling it a recovery. With air cargo capacity still depressed around the globe Finnair is the latest to add more cargo capacity to its operations, bringing a temporary conversion online for its A330s in partnership with Airbus and Lufthansa Technik.
Sun Country breaks from its hub model in the Upper Midwest
Travelers will have more opportunities to escape the Upper Midwest this coming winter as Sun Country expands its route offerings. The Minneapolis-based carrier will add 9 new airports and 18 routes overall, including 10 where the carrier is the only non-stop service in the market.