Lufthansa will fly a handful of additional US routes starting in Summer 2020, bolstering the leisure-focuses service from its Munich hub.
Airplanes and Airports
Hints of (maybe, eventually) a new fleet type at Southwest
Southwest Airlines is very happy with the current fleet make-up. The carrier does not want a new type added into the operation. Still, as the company continues contract negotiations with its cabin crew there’s a hint that someone, somewhere is thinking about how to make that change.
Blue Skies ahead as Delta, KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic receive ATI approval
It only makes sense that the Department of Transportation tentatively approved the latest antitrust immunity (ATI) request. After all, the mutual ownership blend across Delta Air Lines, Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic lends itself to coordination of operations, marketing and pricing efforts. The DoT did hold back a tiny bit, though it is unlikely that will be sufficiently consolatory for the parties that objected to the deal.
PaxEx Update: 2 August 2019
A new A321LR enters service for Aer Lingus, faster security screening for United and promises of faster infilght WiFi. Plus Hulu takes flight on Delta and more! Get all the details in this week’s PaxEx Update.
JetBlue’s A321neo sneaks on to domestic schedule
Consider this very unofficial and subject to operational changes, but the JetBlue A321neo now appears in the carrier’s schedule for domestic operations.
Delta slashes Singapore
That Delta Air Lines will stop flying to Singapore is not much of a surprise. The timing – before Delta fully shifts Tokyo operations to Haneda early next year – is slightly less expected.
China Southern reportedly cancels 737 MAX order (But not really)
A comment attributed to a UK-focused manager for China Southern touched off a flurry of potential outcomes regarding the future of the 737 MAX. Did the carrier decide to wipe its order book clean of the type?
A pair of delays hit Hawaiian’s growth plans
The most punctual airline in the United States is facing a pair of notable delays affecting the company’s revenue. Hawaiian Airlines detailed the impact of aircraft delivery issues and new fare products that did not arrive on time.
Air France adds A220s, retires A380s
Air France will add sixty A220-300 aircraft to its fleet from September 2021. The planes will replace the carrier’s aging A318 and A319 aircraft. The carrier also announced plans to fully retire its fleet of ten A380s by 2022.
Record ancillary revenues won’t derail Basic Economy expansion at JetBlue
JetBlue realized $33 per passenger in ancillary revenue last quarter, an all-time record for the carrier. But the company is not resting on that accomplishment. Rather, JetBlue sees significant opportunities for further growth with more unbundling (and rebundling) of fares.