JetBlue appears to have secured a second permanent daily slot at London’s Heathrow Airport beginning in Summer 2023. This allows the carrier to operate double daily flights into one of the most difficult markets to secure access.
New York City
Tailwind shifts DC flights to Dulles, delays launch
Seaplane operator Tailwind Air generated a lot of excitement over the summer when it promised service from the East River in New York City to Washington, DC. Alas, just days before the service launch, the carrier has quietly shifted its plans. Tailwind’s DC flights will now operate to and from Dulles airport.
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.
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.
Cathay Pacific plans a return of JFK-Vancouver flights, with a catch
In late 2019 Cathay Pacific announced plans to halt flying from Hong Kong to JFK via Vancouver. Next month, however, the carrier seems keen to bring back the service, likely driven at least in part by COVID-related policies.
JetBlue secures permanent Heathrow slots, expands London operations
JetBlue will operate up to five daily flights to London from this Winter. And, perhaps more significantly, the carrier secured its first permanent slots at Heathrow, ensuring that flights can continue there.
Spirit takes a pass on JetBlue’s buyout offer
Spirit Airlines sees a merger with JetBlue as unattainable. Not for lack of interest, mind you. JetBlue’s cash offer of $3.6 billion still stands. But doubts around the likelihood of regulatory approval have Spirit’s Board of Directors recommending that it continue to move forward with the previously planned Frontier merger instead. Assuming even that can get past regulators.
Norse Atlantic’s four inaugural routes on sale
Norse Atlantic will bring its 787 “Longships” across the Atlantic Ocean beginning in June. The carrier formally launched its first four transatlantic routes, with New York City, Los Angeles, and Florida connecting to Oslo from this summer.
Play adds Stewart for a New York connection
Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, NY could end the year with a pair of international airlines as Iceland’s PLAY announces plans to operate this summer. That’s a huge boost for the NYC alternate.
WestJet, Transat push codeshare to US markets, with a catch
WestJet and Transat applied to the US Department of Transportation for permission to codeshare on flights between the US and Canada. The move is part of the carriers’ planned transatlantic codeshare pact announced last month.