The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) will be conducting a 24-hour informational picket June 15-16 outside Southwest Airlines’ headquarters starting at 8 a.m. CT.
SWAPA has become increasingly frustrated with Southwest’s lack of commitment to meet during this negotiation cycle. SWAPA leaders have repeatedly requested more frequent bargaining dates in order to reach an agreement, but so far, SWA Labor Relations has committed to just 15 days of negotiations between now and Labor Day.
This 24-hour picket is meant to symbolize that just as Southwest leaders depend on our pilots both day and night, weekday and weekend to get our passengers from point A to point B, we depend on our company to earnestly come to the table — day or night, weekday or weekend — to reward the most productive pilots in the industry. Our pilots stand ready to work and to negotiate any time.
SWAPA and Southwest have been in negotiations for a new contract for more than three years and in federal mediation since September 2022.
On the occasion of Aircraft Interiors Expo, ATR unveiled ATR HighLine, its new collection of high-end cabins dedicated to commercial and business operators.
The ATR HighLine collection comprises five main cabin configurations that cover the different operational needs of air carriers seeking to offer a premium flying experience to their guests:
“Multi-Class”: featuring a spacious layout with a 50-seat interior including a dedicated first class.
“Premium-Flex”: with capacity to quickly convert standard double-seats into single premium seating with ATR’s unique “X-Space Table” concept, ideal for boutique airlines and charter operators.
“All-Business Class”: cabins that can accommodate up to 30 guests to match the requirements of Part 135 and semi-private airlines.
“Multi-Section”: interiors ensuring transport for Heads of State and Governments’ representatives.
“Bespoke VIP”: can be tailored to reflect personal lifestyles, operator’s needs or high-end destinations requiring a luxurious experience.
With this new line, ATR offers a responsible choice to commercial and business aviation operators, as ATR aircraft burn 45% less fuel and emit 45% less CO2 than regional jets. Operators can benefit from premium cabin design and volume, unrivalled airport accessibility, and low emissions on regional routes. This innovative approach features ATR developments as well as solutions provided by luxury design experts.
Finnair has teamed up with iconic Finnish footwear and apparel brand Karhu to design an exclusive sneaker for its ground and air crew.
The new centenary sneaker has been designed with both comfort and style in mind, and reinforces Finnair’s commitment to the well-being of its staff.
Named the ‘Finnair Mestari Control sneaker’, the shoe combines black synthetic-suede uppers with dark-blue detailing in a look that complements the sleek Nordic-inspired design of Finnair’s uniforms.
Originally released in the 1970s as a running shoe, Karhu’s Mestari shoe quickly became popular for its classic style, durable construction, and lasting comfort.
Karhu is the first sports brand to have patented air-cushion technology, and Mestari was the first shoe to feature it.
As an aviation spin on a classic design, the Finnair Mestari Control’s midsole features an Air Cushion unit for comfort and stability, while an OrthoLite® footbed provides an extra layer of protection and softness underfoot.
Finnish designer and frequent Karhu collaborator Sasu Kauppi has added special details in the tongue label, the footbed, and on the shoebox.
The Karhu brand grabbed international attention in the 1920s through Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi. Controversy arose when Nurmi wore white Karhu shoes during the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, which were then considered inappropriate because of their colour.
Widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, Nurmi won a total of 12 Olympic medals between 1920 and 1928. Nurmi’s success and his bold style helped to build Karhu’s reputation as a leader in sports footwear.
The Finnair Mestari Control sneakers will be available for Finnair employees exclusively from the start of the autumn season.
Whether in the air or on the ground, many aviation jobs demand a lot of standing and walking. It’s not uncommon for a member of Cabin Crew to walk five kilometres or more during a typical 12-hour flight in the air. Meanwhile, on the ground, some airport gates can be situated a significant distance from main airport buildings, which means long walks for operating crew.
These all take their toll and can add up to long days standing and walking. Finnair’s collaboration with Karhu highlights the importance of practicality and comfort, ensuring crew can stay in step during the Nordic carrier’s busy centenary.
JetBlue Airways has announced plans to continue expanding across the U.S. and the Caribbean, including the launch of two new destinations, bringing more low-fare, great service flights to customers in the airline’s New York, Boston Orlando, and Los Angeles focus cities.
Launching later this year, JetBlue will now offer nonstop flights to two new destinations from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) in St. Kitts and Nevis and Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, Belize (a).
JetBlue is also set to launch service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas; Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) in Grenada (a); and Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) inNorth Carolina.
Connecting New York to Popular Caribbean Destinations
JetBlue’s growth in the Caribbean is part of a broader reach into international markets. In recent years, the airline has built a robust network throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. With JetBlue’s entry into St. Kitts and Nevis and Belize, the airline will now operate in 27 countries within the region and introduce a new era of customer-focused, low-fare travel for leisure and visiting family and friends travelers. As a leader at JFK, JetBlue’s new routes to Belize and St. Kitts are part of JetBlue’s strategy to continue to grow in under-served geographies while bringing more choices and options for our customers. JetBlue will now serve 29 countries from JFK and will offer an average of up to 192 departures per day during peak periods.
Service from New York (JFK) to St. Kitts will begin November 2 bringing a new choice to a route with limited competition today. St. Kitts is the larger of two islands that make up the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. St. Kitts boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, lush greenery, pristine beaches, majestic volcanic peaks, and vibrant festivals that showcase the island’s unique heritage and traditions.
Schedule between New York (JFK) and St. Kitts (SKB) Operating Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays beginning November 2, 2023
JFK- SKB Flight #2967
SKB-JFK Flight #2968
8:29 a.m. – 2:14 p.m.
3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Belize City will build on JetBlue’s success in the broader region. Belize is one of Central America’s most biodiverse countries, touting tropical jungles, wildlife reserves, and cascading flora and fauna. Service from New York’s JFK to Belize City is set to launch on December 6. JetBlue will be the only airline to offer service from New York-JFK to Belize.
Schedule between New York (JFK) and Belize City (BZE) Operating Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays beginning December 6, 2023
JFK- BZE Flight #2781
BZE-JFK Flight #2784
8:29 a.m. – 12:14 p.m.
1:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Connecting Orlando to Raleigh/Durham
JetBlue’s new flight connecting Orlando to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina will offer customers in Central Florida more choices for travel and furthers JetBlue’s mission to establish JetBlue as Orlando’s national low-fare carrier of choice. By the end of 2023, JetBlue will be serving 26 nonstop destinations and will offer an average of 57 departures per day from Orlando.
Daily Schedule between Orlando (MCO) and Raleigh (RDU) Beginning November 2, 2023
MCO- RDU Flight #1592
RDU-MCO Flight #1591
1:00 p.m. – 2:41 p.m.
3:26 p.m. – 5:09 p.m.
New Service to Grenada
Launching November 4, JetBlue will now offer the only service between Boston and the Caribbean island of Grenada, featuring the airline’s premium Mint® service. With JetBlue’s introduction into Grenada, the airline will be flying an average of 137 daily departures from this focus city in November.
Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Grenada (GND) Operating Saturdays only beginning November 4, 2023
BOS- GND Flight #2153
GND-BOS Flight #2152
8:00 a.m. – 1:43 p.m.
3:03 p.m. – 7:04 p.m.
Bahamas Expansion
JetBlue is also advancing its focus city strategy at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with the introduction of an all-new international route. JetBlue will become the first airline to serve Nassau with nonstop service from Los Angeles, pioneering this unique service for an unserved market. The new route will offer customers JetBlue’s award-winning Mint® premium experience. Following the launch of Nassau, JetBlue will operate service between Los Angeles and 20 nonstop destinations and offer more than 40 peak daily departures.
Schedule between Los Angeles (LAX) and Nassau (NAS) Operating Saturdays only beginning November 4, 2023
Emirates is unveiling a new closed loop recycling initiative this month, where millions of onboard items such as plastic trays, bowls, snack and casserole dishes, will now be recycled in a local facility and remade into fresh, ready-to-use Emirates meal service products.
Marking United Nations World Environment Day on June 5, 2023, and the theme of #BeatPlasticPollution, Emirates will introduce the new recycled utensils onboard from June 2023 onwards.
In line with Emirates’ commitment to consuming responsibly, the new initiative is a transition to the principles of a circular economy, whereby items are reduced, reused, and recycled. Millions of old and damaged meal service items from Economy and Premium Economy Class dining will be collected after flights, washed and checked for damage, transported to a facility in Dubai to be ground down, reprocessed, and manufactured into new dishes, bowls and trays – before being sent to Emirates Flight Catering to be used again for thousands of meals in the sky.
In partnership with deSter FZE UAE, a leading provider of serviceware concepts to the aviation industry, and expert in closed loop manufacturing, Emirates will be reusing plastic materials that have already reached their end of life and would otherwise need to be written off. The new trays, casseroles, snack dishes and bowls, potentially containing around 25% reused material (recyclate), will be brought back into service on aircraft across the globe, and the proportion will continue to increase over time.
The team at deSter are members of the CE100 network, which includes some of the world’s leading circular economy companies and have also been awarded the ‘Gold’ Sustainability rating from Ecovadis – a globally recognised certification for sustainable practices. Emirates elected to work with deSter once a facility in UAE was ready to facilitate the huge scale of Emirates’ requirement –substantially reducing the carbon footprint of sending the products to another country to be recycled. The deSter factory also incorporates sustainable design principles focusing on solar power, efficient use of water and minimisation of waste.
Emirates’ commitment to reducing plastic waste
Emirates is committed to reducing plastic waste and has already implemented several initiatives in addition to the new closed loop recycling project.
Emirates has diverted over 150 million single-use plastic items from landfill each year by replacing plastic straws, inflight retail bags, and stirrers with responsibly sourced paper and wooden alternatives.
Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers can get comfortable with soft blankets onboard, where each blanket is manufactured from 28 recycled plastic bottles. Over the course of one year, this initiative saves 88 million plastic bottles from landfill.
Emirates’ current range of inflight toy bags, baby amenity kits and plush toys are made from recycled plastic bottles, and over 8 million plastic bottles were repurposed during 12 months of amenity kit production.
The hygiene covers for bowls on Emirates meal trays and plastic tumblers are made from 80% recycled plastic (rPET).
Emirates Economy and Premium Economy amenity kits are made from alternative materials such as kraft paper, rice paper and recycled plastic, reducing the consumption of virgin plastic.
Emirates Cabin Crew segregate glass and plastic bottles for recycling in Dubai, diverting about 500,000 kilograms of plastic and glass from landfill in 2022.
In other news, Emirates’ flagship Airbus A380 has achieved a milestone as it made a landmark touchdown at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport earlier today and became the first-ever scheduled A380 service to Indonesia.
Emirates’ flight EK368 left Dubai at 03:10 hrs and arrived in Bali at 16:20 hrs. The return flight, EK369, will depart Bali at 19:40 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 00:45 hrs. All times are local.
Norwegian had 1.9 million passengers and a load factor of 84 percent in May. On routes to popular holiday destinations, the load factor was 90 percent. The airline is well prepared to welcome passengers in what is expected to be a busy summer season.
“May was another solid month for Norwegian with passenger traffic. Many of our customers took advantage of the long weekends and holidays in May to travel to popular beach and city destinations across Europe. Our load factor on these flights was 90 percent,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.
Norwegian had 1,900,211 passengers in May, up 17 percent from May 2022. The capacity (ASK) was 2,901 million seat kilometres, while actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 2,440 million seat kilometres. In May, Norwegian operated an average of 74 aircraft with a regularity, share of scheduled flights taking place, of 99.7 percent. Punctuality was at 84.9 percent in May, the share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time. These results were achieved despite ongoing air traffic control issues at Copenhagen airport, accounting for almost half of this month’s delays and cancellations.
Looking forward to a busy summer
In May, Norwegian received its last delivery of the latest generation Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft ahead of the summer. Out of a total aircraft fleet of 81, the fleet now comprises 13 of this modern and fuel-efficient aircraft, which demonstrates Norwegian’s commitment to reducing emissions by renewing its fleet.
Condor Airlines began introducing the U.S. market to it’s new long-haul Airbus A330neo Business Class earlier this year to rave reviews. Condor’s Business Class features 30, lie-flat (180 degree) seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all guests. The seat conveniently converts to a 76-inch long by 19-inch-wide bed at the touch of a button. Following initial consumer feedback, Condor is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Lück company, a division of Germany-based EuroComfort Group, to offer Business Class passengers a newly designed seven-layer mattress topper to make sleeping above the clouds even more comfortable. Lück is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pillows, mattresses, quilts, duvet covers and custom-made, sustainable products.
To ensure the best sleep possible, Condor’s Business Class also offers guests a premium pillow, a cozy 6.5-foot blanket, socks, Condor’s signature striped slippers, sleep mask and other amenities. Guests who upgrade to one of the A330neo’s “Prime Seats,” featuring even more space, also receive Condor’s signature pajamas and a premium travel kit. The A330neo whisper quiet Airspace cabin, along with a state-of-the-art air system and lighting system that can be adjusted to a night-time mode, creates the perfect environment to be lulled to sleep and arrive in Frankfurt feeling fully refreshed.
The A330neo aircraft has been introduced on Condor’s nonstop Frankfurt routes from New York/JFK, San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma and will continue to be rolled-out on flights from Condor’s other North American gateways throughout this summer and into next year. Condor’s entire long-haul fleet will be converted to the new A330neo by 2024.
British Airways (BA) on June 5 announced it has officially arrived at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) with the airline’s inaugural flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) touching down just before 7:30 p.m. local time.
June 5, 2023 – British Airways’ inaugural flight from London Heathrow Airport arrives at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (PRNewsfoto/British Airways)
The Ohio city becomes the 27th American destination served by British Airways and further advances the United Kingdom flag carrier’s position as the largest overseas airline in the United States.
Service between Cincinnati and London operates five times weekly during the current summer flying season and four times weekly during the winter flying season. The all-new new nonstop flights will be flown by various aircraft in the British Airway fleet including the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. All aircraft serving Cincinnati offer a variety of quintessentially British onboard experiences with three distinct cabins – Club World (business), World Traveler Plus (premium economy) and World Traveler (economy).
Summer Schedule between London (LHR) and Cincinnati (CVG) Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays
LHR – CVG Flight #121
CVG – LHR Flight #120
4:05 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
9:30 p.m. – 10:15 a.m. (+1)
Winter Schedule between London (LHR) and Cincinnati (CVG) Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays
LHR – CVG Flight #121
CVG – LHR Flight #120
4:00 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.
8:25 p.m. – 10:10 a.m. (+1)
British Airways offers some 300 weekly transatlantic flights between the U.S. and Europe, the most of any foreign carrier. All American cities are served by spacious wide-body aircraft with multiple cabins of service. Additionally, the airline proudly offers customers flights to more destination to and from London than any other carrier, giving customers access to one of the world’s most extensive flight networks.
Boeing and Air Niugini have announced an order for two fuel-efficient 787-8 Dreamliners to support the growth of the carrier’s long-haul fleet. The jets will enable the national flag carrier of Papua New Guinea to fly new routes from the Pacific island nation and boost capacity for inbound tourism.
Boeing has worked with Air Niugini for more than 45 years. The airline operates a domestic network from Port Moresby across Papua New Guinea, as well as international flights across the Asia-Pacific region, including to Australia, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Fiji. The airline’s fleet includes Boeing 737s and 767s.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and EL AL Israel Airlines (EL AL) have entered into a commercial agreement marking the beginning of a codeshare partnership to connect Japan and Israel. The partnership will start in Spring 2024 with ANA placing its “NH” code on the EL AL operating flights on the Tel Aviv – Tokyo Narita route, which was inaugurated in March 2023. Subsequently, EL AL will place its “LY” code on select ANA routes, including domestic routes within Japan.
The airlines are also planning to sign a Frequent Flyer Program agreement, enhancing benefits for mileage members traveling between Japan and Israel. Members can expect premium customer services and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and premium customer benefits as part of the agreement.
Spirit Airlines today celebrated a major company first with the unveiling of its first A321neo aircraft in a ceremony at the airline’s Detroit maintenance hangar. The aircraft, A321-271NX, N702NK, msn 11328, will operate its first commercial flight on June 7. Spirit plans to accept seven more new A321neos in 2023, and 24 more are projected for delivery in 2024 in addition to other A320 Family aircraft deliveries.
Spirit Airlines’ first Airbus A321neo (N702NK) at the airline’s maintenance facility in Detroit.
The A321 is the largest member of the Airbus A320 Family, and Spirit currently operates 30 A321ceo aircraft in its fleet of nearly 200 aircraft. Spirit already operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry and adding the A321neo to its fleet will drive even more fuel efficiency. Going forward, all of Spirit’s A321 aircraft will deliver with new engine option (NEO) advanced engines that together with fuel-saving Sharklet™ wingtip devices, are 20 percent more fuel-efficient than A321ceo aircraft. Additionally, the new aircraft offer additional range and a quieter onboard experience for Guests.
Spirit is currently in a fleet renewal process as it retires its A319ceo aircraft while adding larger, more modern aircraft to increase capacity and fuel efficiency. Spirit recently completed an agreement to sell 29 of its A319ceo aircraft, which are the oldest aircraft in Spirit’s fleet and the smallest of the Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The company is planning for all its A319ceo aircraft to transition out the fleet by the end of 2025.
The new features and benefits of the A321neo include:
A321neos offer expanded seating capacity with the optimized use of cabin space, increased exit limits and a new cabin door configuration. Additionally, all new aircraft are receiving Spirit’s latest cabin upgrade with enhanced, wider seats that include additional usable legroom from the curved seatback design.
The larger aircraft allow Spirit to increase capacity at constrained slot-controlled airports, providing More Go for Guests in major metropolitan areas.
Spirit will maintain its wide aisles that allow quicker on- and off-boarding and extra space for crews to work.
The new aircraft add an additional 500 nautical miles in range over the previous generation A321ceo type, opening new destination opportunities.
Spirit is installing Pratt & Whitney GTF engines on new aircraft deliveries. The GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by 16 percent on this family of aircraft, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent compared to the regulatory standard and reduce the noise footprint by 75 percent.
OAG surveyed 2,000 North American travelers in April 2023 to analyze what factors affect traveler loyalty and booking decisions. The results reveal some interesting generational differences.
Preferred Airlines
American Airlines (28%), Delta Air Lines (24%), United Airlines (17%), and Southwest Airlines (13%) are the most preferred brands of all travelers surveyed by OAG.
Loyalty
Millennials are most likely to change their airline loyalty: 47% have done so in the past year, compared to 37% of Gen Z and 23% of Gen X. Only 15% of Baby Boomers have changed their preferred airline in the last year.
Which factors affect loyalty and sway booking decisions?
Cost
60% of all the travelers asked say that cost is the primary driver of airline preference. From most to least-likely to change airline preference to find flights that suit the budget are:
Gen Z (77%), Gen X (69%), Millennials (59%), Baby Boomers (47%).
On-Time Performance
On-Time Performance (OTP) is the number one reason to remain loyal to an airline for 36% of all travelers. It is the number one reason Baby Boomers (25%) have remained brand loyal, tied with status and frequent-flier programs.
Delays and cancellations
Significant delays or cancellations have caused 37% of travelers to change airline loyalty in the past year. Millennials are most likely to see this as a deal-breaker, with 42% switching loyalty. They’re followed by Gen Z (38%), Baby Boomers (32%) amd Gen X (31%).
Other takeaways:
33% of all travelers look at airline apps during the day of travel to check for flight info updates. 28% rely on third-party apps to check for delays.
Forty-one percent of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials will change how they book to access a better price.
1% of Baby Boomers take sustainability into account as they choose an airline, while that increases to 20% amongst Millennials.
Loganair has increased its global connectivity options for its passenger’s thanks to a new interline agreement with Aer Lingus.
The UK’s largest regional airline has partnered up with the Irish flag carrier, offering customers new access to North American routes via Dublin and Manchester.
Loganair currently flies direct to Dublin from Aberdeen and Inverness, meaning customers bound for America can now access Aer Lingus’ transatlantic destinations with the added advantage of clearing US Immigration at Dublin before departure, removing the requirement to be cleared upon arrival stateside. Additionally, Loganair passengers from the Isle of Man and Newquay can now also connect on to Aer Lingus’ North American routes via the airline’s Manchester hub, further increasing regional connectivity.
Likewise, the partnership means Aer Lingus customers can now travel to the above Scottish airports via Loganair, as well as Manchester, increasing Ireland’s connections with the UK and offering access to all of Loganair’s unique touchpoints across the country.
The expansion comes amid a summer of growth for Scotland’s airline with new routes and frequencies across key destinations, including Heathrow. This summer will also see Aer Lingus operate its largest-ever North American program with 2.25 million seats on sale across 19 transatlantic routes.
Aer Lingus now joins Loganair’s existing partnerships alongside carriers such as BA, Emirates and United Airlines, giving customers access to global onward travel from some of the UK’s most remote communities.
United Airlines is planning to add 35 new routes in Europe and Latin America this summer. The new routes will add more than 100,000 seats per week to United’s network.
American Airlines is adding a new direct flight from Dallas to Tel Aviv. The new flight will start on June 10 and will operate four times per week.
Delta Air Lines is adding a new direct flight from Atlanta to Mexico City. The new flight will start on June 17 and will operate three times per week.
Southwest Airlines is adding a new direct flight from Chicago to Cancun. The new flight will start on June 18 and will operate four times per week.
Spirit Airlines is adding a new direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando. The new flight will start on June 25 and will operate three times per week.
In addition to these new routes, several airlines are also increasing the frequency of flights on existing routes. For example, American Airlines is increasing the frequency of flights between New York and London, and Delta Air Lines is increasing the frequency of flights between Atlanta and Paris.
The addition of new routes and the increase in frequency of flights is a sign that the airline industry is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Passenger traffic is still below pre-pandemic levels, but it is expected to continue to grow in the coming months.
Here are some other airline news headlines from June 4, 2023:
Airlines are struggling to hire pilots. The shortage of pilots is forcing airlines to cancel flights and reduce service.
Airlines are raising fares. The rising cost of fuel is forcing airlines to raise fares.
Airlines are facing competition from new entrants. New airlines are entering the market, which is putting pressure on established airlines.
Overall, the airline industry is facing a number of challenges, but it is also showing signs of recovery. The addition of new routes and the increase in frequency of flights is a positive sign, and it is expected that the industry will continue to grow in the coming months.
