First Airbus A320neo for Transavia (France), delivered January 10, 2024.
Copyright Photo: Transavia (France) Airbus A320-252 WL F-GNEO (msn 11918) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 962335.
Brussels Airlines will soon take delivery of its first Airbus A320neo.
The airline has released this video of the roll out of Airbus A320-251N OO-SBA (msn 11600):
Frontier Airlines launched nonstop service on May 11 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ), San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Ontario International Airport in Southern California (ONT).
Additionally, on May 12, Frontier will launch nonstop service from ATL to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). With the new service, Frontier serves a total of 38 nonstop destinations from ATL.
Service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Ontario, Calif. (ONT) | May 11, 2023 | Daily | $59* |
| Santo Domingo (SDQ) | May 11, 2023 | 2x/week | $79* |
| San Diego (SAN) | May 11, 2023 | Daily | $59* |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | May 12, 2023 | 3x/week | $59* |
| Guatemala City (GUA) | May 12, 2023 | 2x/week | $99* |
Additionally the carrier launched daily nonstop service on May 11 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Tampa International Airport (TPA). With the new service, Frontier serves a total of 19 destinations from PHX.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N394FR (msn 10981) (Rivero, the Puerto Rican Crested Toad) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 959455.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
SAS has made this announcement:
Starting on November 4, 2023, SAS returns to Africa with weekly flights to Agadir, Morocco. SAS will fly to Agadir from both Copenhagen and Stockholm during the winter season until the end of March 2024, offering a convenient timetable with daytime departure and arrival.
Agadir is well known for its long beaches, warm winter weather and beautiful scenery. The area also offers plenty of activities such as golf, great surfing, and a chance to enjoy the exquisite Moroccan cuisine.
SAS will operate the Agadir route using Airbus A320Neo aircraft, the most efficient single-aisle aircraft, with 20% savings on fuel efficiency and emissions, seating up to 180 passengers in 2 classes – SAS Plus and SAS Go.
Schedule to Agadir from Stockholm and Copenhagen:
| Schedule on Saturdays | |||||||||
| Flight no | DEP | STD | ARR | STA | FLT | DEP | STD | ARR | STA |
| SK 2503 | CPH | 08:35 | AGA | 12:20 | SK 2504 | AGA | 13:10 | CPH | 18:55 |
| SK 2505 | ARN | 08:15 | AGA | 13:30 | SK 2506 | AGA | 14:30 | ARN | 19:45 |
New routes and destinations this coming winter*:
| From | To | First flight | Frequency |
| Bergen | Tenerife | 8 OCT 23 | Sundays |
| Stavanger | Tenerife | 8 OCT 23 | Sundays |
| Copenhagen | Bangkok | 30 OCT | 3 weekly |
| Bergen | Gran Canaria | 4 NOV 23 | Saturdays |
| Stockholm | Seville | 24 FEB 24 | Saturdays |
* Winter program in full to be released later this month.
Top Copyright Photo: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A320-251N WL SE-ROZ (msn 9323) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 950841.
SAS aircraft photo gallery:
Spirit Airlines entered a new chapter in its 20+ year history on May 5 in Puerto Rico by launching its expansion at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
Travelers now have convenient, daily nonstop flight options between San Juan and destinations across the eastern half of the U.S. to include Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Detroit (DTW), with a nonstop flight to Hartford (BDL) starting on June 7.
In addition to the new routes, Spirit on May 5 increased SJU service to include five daily flights to Orlando (MCO), and two daily flights to Baltimore (BWI), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) and Newark (EWR).
| Spirit Airlines Routes at San Juan (SJU) | ||
| Destination: | Flights Available: | Launch Date: |
| Atlanta (ATL) NEW | Daily | May 5 |
| Boston (BOS) | Daily | Existing |
| Hartford (BDL) NEW | 3x Weekly | June 7 |
| Baltimore (BWI) | 2x Daily | Frequency increase on May 5 |
| Dallas (DFW) NEW | Daily | May 5 |
| Detroit (DTW) NEW | Daily | May 5 |
| Newark (EWR) | 2x Daily | Frequency increase on June 7 |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | 2x Daily | Frequency increase on April 5 |
| Orlando (MCO) | 5x Daily | Frequency increase on May 5 |
| Miami (MIA) | Daily | Existing Service |
| Chicago (ORD) NEW | Daily | May 5 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Daily | Existing Service |
| Tampa (TPA) | Daily | Existing Service |
In addition to serving its Guests, Spirit and its partners employ nearly 1,000 Puerto Ricans on the island across three airports and its aircraft maintenance facility in Aguadilla. This new expansion will also create about 80 new jobs in San Juan.
Top Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL N903NK (msn 7011) FLL (Jay Selman). Image: 404292.
Spirit Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlines on May 4 launched nonstop service from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan (SJU) to Cleveland (CLE), Baltimore (BWI), Chicago Midway (MDW), and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW).
Additionally, Frontier also launched nonstop service from Rafael Hernández International Airport in Aguadilla (BQN) to Tampa (TPA) and from Mercedita International Airport in Ponce (PSE) to Orlando (MCO).
On May 5, Frontier will launch service from SJU to Detroit (DTW).
Frontier will also begin service from SJU to Cancún, Mexico (CUN) on May 11. With these new routes, Frontier now offers a total of 20 nonstop routes from the island, the most of any airline.
Service from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Cleveland (CLE) | May 4, 2023 | 4x/week | $79* |
| Baltimore (BWI) | May 4, 2023 | Daily | $69* |
| Chicago Midway (MDW) | May 4, 2023 | 6x/week | $89* |
| Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | May 4, 2023 | Daily | $79* |
| Detroit (DTW) | May 5, 2023 | 4x/week | $79* |
| Cancún, Mexico (CUN) | May 11, 2023 | 3x/week | $69* |
Service from Aguadilla’s Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Tampa (TPA) | May 4, 2023 | 3x/week | $59* |
Service from Ponce’s Mercedita International Airport (PSE):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Orlando (MCO) | May 4, 2023 | 3x/week | $89* |
Frequency and times are subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N331FR (msn 8239) (Choo, the Pika) MIA (Jay Selman). Image: 404291.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Spirit Airlines, Inc. reported first quarter 2023 financial results.
First Quarter 2023 (unaudited)
As Reported
Adjusted1
$(91.3) Million $(89.4) million
Total operating revenues $1,349.8 million $1,349.8 million
Operating income (loss) $(112.4) Million
Operating margin (8.3)% (6.8)%
Net income (loss) $(103.9) million
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $(0.95) $(0.82)
“For the first quarter 2023, our adjusted operating margin came in better than expected, helped by lower fuel and a strong revenue per available seat mile (“TRASM”) performance. Looking ahead to the second quarter, demand continues to be strong and industry capacity remains constrained, both of which are beneficial for unit revenue. Our core business is solid, and the team is doing an excellent job solving for the problems within our control,” said Ted Christie, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Earlier this month, the Fort Lauderdale area experienced severe flash floods, requiring a 40-hour closure of the Fort Lauderdale airport. As a result of this weather event, Spirit canceled disrupting travel plans for a substantial number of our Guests. Despite the significant and out-sized disruption to our network, our team was primed and ready to go on Friday morning once the airport re-opened. This quick recovery is a testament to the diligent efforts of our entire team as well as the innovative changes have put in place to help accelerate recovery operations.”
Fleet
Spirit took delivery of five new A320neo aircraft during the first quarter 2023 and retired four A319ceo aircraft. The Company ended the quarter with 195 aircraft in its fleet, an increase of 10.8 percent since the end of first quarter 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Deployment
Spirit ended first quarter 2023 with unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, short-term investment securities and liquidity available under the Company’s revolving credit facility of $1.7 billion.
Total capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were $86.0 million, primarily related to net outflows of aircraft pre-delivery deposits, expenditures related to the building of Spirit’s new headquarters campus in Dania Beach, Florida and spare parts, including one spare engine.
In other news, Aspiring pilots in the Chicago area can soon soar from a college classroom to the flight deck at Spirit Airlines. The carrier and Lewis University today announced a new partnership to launch the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program at the university’s College of Aviation, Science and Technology in Romeoville, Illinois. The program provides graduates with a direct path to a rewarding career flying for Spirit. Lewis University students can gain valuable experience and complete the steps needed to become a Spirit First Officer while attending a leading aviation university and finishing their college degree.
Lewis University students pursuing an aviation technology degree can apply for the program after obtaining a recommendation from a faculty member in the College of Aviation, Science and Technology and completing their sophomore year. If successful in Spirit’s interview process, they will receive a conditional offer of employment, a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and mentorship as they complete their degree and all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) certificate. Graduates who meet all program requirements will join the team as a Spirit First Officer.
Top Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL N967NK (msn 11128) FLL (Jay Selman). Image: 404290.
Spirit Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Spirit Airlines has welcomed a landmark delivery for the airline’s growing Fit Fleet with its 200th new aircraft delivery from Airbus.
The Airbus A320neo (N973NK) was assembled at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, and prepared for service at Spirit’s aircraft maintenance facility in Detroit.
The new delivery is part of continued growth at Spirit. The airline introduced 14 new planes in 2022, with plans to add 26 new aircraft in 2023. Additionally, Spirit has a major first with the upcoming delivery of its first A321neo aircraft.
Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, has announced it has completed the delivery of 15 Airbus A320neo aircraft to Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.
Marabu Airlines has commenced operations. The first passenger revenue flight was operated on April 15 between Munich and Palma de Mallorca.
Last December investment firm Attestor, which owns 51% of the shares of Condor Airlines, announced it would launch its own leisure airline.
The new operator, based in Tallinn, Estonia, would offer services between Germany, especially Hamburg and Munich, and holiday destinations in southern Europe and North Africa.
It was also revealed that Nordic Aviation Group would provide ACMI (aircraft leasing, crew, maintenance and insurance) services to the new company, using three Airbus A320neo.
Top Copyright Photo: Marabu Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL ES-MBU (msn 6799) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 960414.
FlyArystan will be separated from its parent Air Astana as a stand-alone carrier in 2024.
FlyArystan is a low-cost airline based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is the wholly owned subsidiary of Air Astana. FlyArystan’s creation was approved by Air Astana’s joint shareholders, Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and BAE Systems PLC.
In other news, the airline has announced nonstop flights from Astana (NQZ) to the capital of Azerbaijan – Baku (GYD) on Airbus A320 aircraft from June 2, 2023 on Mondays and Fridays.
Top Copyright Photo: FlyArystan (Air Astana) Airbus A320-271N WL EI-KBH (msn 7124) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 958855.
FlyArystan aircraft photo gallery:
Spirit Airlines on April 5 announced the launch of its new, nonstop service from Charleston International Airport (CHS). These new, convenient nonstop flight options deliver affordable fares to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL), Newark (EWR), and Philadelphia (PHL).
To celebrate the service launch, Spirit also announced an expansion with a new nonstop route to Las Vegas (LAS) starting in September.
| Spirit Airlines Routes at Charleston (CHS): | ||
| Destination: | Flights Available: | Launch Date: |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Daily | April 5, 2023 |
| Las Vegas (LAS) NEW | 5x Weekly | September 7, 2023 |
| Newark (EWR) | Daily | April 5, 2023 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Daily | April 5, 2023 |
Spirit’s Charleston service adds to the airline’s long-time history in South Carolina. Spirit first entered the state more than 25 years ago with service from Myrtle Beach (MYR). The airline currently offers 17 peak-day daily departures in South Carolina.
In addition to the new service from CHS, Spirit is launching seasonal nonstop flights to Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), and Rochester (ROC) from Myrtle Beach this May.
Top Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL N974NK (msn 11270) BUR (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960393.
Spirit Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Azerbaijan Airlines, has placed an order with Airbus for 12 A320neo Family aircraft including A320neo and A321neo.
The contract was signed at a ceremony held in Baku on April 6. These latest generation A320neo Family aircraft are part of the company’s fleet renewal strategy to operate the most modern and fuel efficient aircraft and increase operational efficiency and competitiveness.
It offers passengers excellent comfort throughout its fleet. The engine choice will be announced by the airline at a later stage.
Currently Azerbaijan Airlines operates a fleet of 14 Airbus aircraft – 4 A319ceo, 6 A320ceo, 2 A340s and since the beginning of the year, 3 new generation A320neo.
Azerbaijan Airliners aircraft photo gallery:
British Airways will introduce a summer seasonal service from its London Heathrow hub to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen starting on June 1.
The seasonal route will be operated four days a week.
Top Copyright Photo: British Airways Airbus A320-251N WL G-TTNH (msn 8489) ARN (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 960168.
British Airways aircvraft photo gallery:
Spirit Airlines has announced plans to hire more than 4,000 new Team Members in 2023 as the airline adds new planes and destinations to its growing network. The new hires will include Pilots, Flight Attendants, Aviation Maintenance Technicians and other support center roles.
Plus, Spirit is growing in new and existing cities, with positions available with Spirit and business partners at airport stations across the network. These job opportunities allow job seekers across the nation to soar with attractive travel benefits and the advancement opportunities associated with working for a dynamic and fast-growing airline.
The airline continued:
These exciting job opportunities follow the airline’s soaring 2022 hiring trend as thousands of new Spirit Team Members joined the growing company last year. Some recent hiring milestones include:
Top Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL N931NK (msn 9548) SEA (Brian Worthington). Image: 960323.
Spirit Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlines may have lost the bidding war for Spirit Airlines, but it continues to expand at a record pace.
The fast-growing airline will launch new seasonal nonstop service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) to San Francisco (SFO), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), San Diego (SAN), and Charlotte (CLT) in May and June of 2023.
With the new service, Frontier will serve a total of 17 nonstop destinations from Cleveland, continuing to be the most of any airline operating from CLE.
Service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | May 12, 2023 | 4x/week | $49* |
| Charlotte (CLT) | May 12, 2023 | 4x/week** | $29* |
| San Diego (SAN) | June 8, 2023 | 3x/week | $89* |
| San Francisco (SFO) | June 23, 2023 | 4x/week | $99* |
**Service offered less frequently for first week of service. Then, service is offered as reflected in the grid above starting May 20, 2023.
Meanwhile the carrier is also expanding at Tampa:
Frontier will launch new seasonal nonstop service from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Phoenix (PHX) in May of 2023. Previously announced service to Punta Cana (PUJ) and Santo Domingo (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic will begin in May, as well. With the new service, Frontier will serve a total of 20 nonstop destinations from TPA and offer its largest ever summer schedule from the airport.
Service from Tampa International Airport (TPA):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Phoenix (PHX) | May 11, 2023 | Daily | $59* |
| Punta Cana (PUJ) | May 21, 2023 | 2x/week | $129* |
| Santo Domingo (SDQ) | May 22, 2023 | 2x/week | $129* |
Frontier has also announced it will operate its largest-ever number of departures from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) this summer. Just announced new routes include Frontier’s first-ever flights to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and the first time the carrier has connected RDU to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) since 2019. Service to MDW and IAH will start in June. With these new routes, Frontier will operate a record 112 weekly departures this summer, serving a total of 20 destinations with nonstop service.
Service from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Chicago (MDW) | June 16, 2023 | 4x/week | $39* |
| Houston (IAH) | June 18, 2023 | 3x/week | $49* |
Frequency and times are subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N395FR (msn 11077) (Sage, the Pygmy Rabbit) BOS (Fred Freketic). Image: 960341.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Air Malta is updating and simplified its livery with the pending delivery of the pictured Airbus A320-251N 9H-NEE (msn 11366).
The updated livery has removed the previous large “Malta” titles and intricate tail design of the previous livery.
Copyright Photo: Eurospot.
Jazeera Airways is gearing up for the 2023 summer season with three new European destinations – Munich, Germany, Belgrade, Serbia and Tirana, Albania.
In addition, the airline will also restart its flights to Prague, Czech Republic and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Munich, the Bavarian capital is a very popular leisure and business destination in Germany and offers a variety of activities for different interests – both outdoors or indoors. One of Europe’s oldest cities, Belgrade is centrally located and one of the easiest places to reach in the Balkans. Tirana, the Albanian capital is also the country’s largest city. Known for its colorful architecture, Tirana extends at the Plain of Tirana in the center of Albania between a mountain in the east, hills in the south, and a valley to the north overlooking the Adriatic Sea. “The City of a Hundred Spires”, beautiful Prague lies at the heart of Europe and is full of great places to visit and delicious food to try. Sarajevo, a prominent center of culture in the Balkans, influences entertainment, media, fashion and the arts region-wide.
Flights to Sarajevo will restart on April 20, 2023 and to Prague will begin on June 8, 2023.
Jazeera Airways also offers good connections from these cities to other destinations in its network convenient transits through Kuwait.
Planned Flight Schedule
| Flight Number | Frequency | From | To | Departure (Local Time) | Arrival (Local Time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J9 32N | Wednesday, Saturday | Kuwait (KWI) | Munich (MUC) | 08:25 | 13:10 |
| J9 32N | Wednesday, Saturday | Munich (MUC) | Kuwait (KWI) | 13:55 | 20:15 |
| J9 32N | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | Kuwait (KW) | Tirana (TIA) | 22:40 | 01:20 |
| J9 32N | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | Tirana (TIA) | Kuwait (KWI) | 02:05 | 08:30 |
| J9 363 | Tuesday, Friday | Kuwait (KWI) | Belgrade (BEG) | 21:15 | 01:00 |
| J9 364 | Wednesday, Saturday | Belgrade (BEG) | Kuwait (KWI) | 01:45 | 07:00 |
| J9 037 | Thursday, Sunday | Kuwait (KWI) | Prague (PRG) | 08:15 | 12:45 |
| J9 038 | Thursday, Sunday | Prague (PRG) | Kuwait (KWI) | 13:30 | 19:40 |
| J9 327* | Thursday, Saturday | Kuwait (KWI) | Sarajevo (SJJ) | 07:00 | 10:55 |
| J9 328* | Thursday, Saturday | Sarajevo (SJJ) | Kuwait (KWI) | 11:40 | 17:30 |
*Flight schedules for Sarajevo will change after June 13, 2023.
Other flight schedules are also subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Jazeera Airways Airbus A320-251N WL 9K-CBF (msn 10201) LHR (Wingnut). Image: 956680.
Jazeera Airways aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlines is trimming back on its expanding route map. The fast-growing airline will cut 14 seasonal routes starting on April 18 according to The Points Guy:
Boston – Miami – ends on April 18
Philadelphia – Phoenix – ends on April 18
Hartford/Springfield – Denver – ends on April 20
Orlando – Pittsburgh – ends on May 6
Las Vegas – Memphis – ends on May 8
Las Vegas – New Orleans – ends on May 8
Orlando – Rochester, NY – ends on May 8
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Phoenix – ends on May 8
Baltimore/Washington – Las Vegas – ends on May 10
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – Las Vegas – ends on May 10
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – Chicago (Midway) – ends on May 10
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – Phoenix – ends on May 10
New York (LaGuardia) – Miami – ends on May 10
Houston (Hobby) – Las Vegas – ends on May 10
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N349FR (msn 8766) (Hops, the Rabbit) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960311.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Avianca Airlines has announced the launch of two new direct routes from Boston and Orlando to San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, a country located in the Central American region.
The Boston – San Salvador route will begin operations on June 1 with four flights a week, while the Orlando – San Salvador route will begin operations on June 11 with four flights a week. The operation will be operated with Airbus A320 aircraft with capacity for 180 passengers, with Premium, Plus and Economy seats.
The itinerary for these routes is:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Frequency | Start |
| AV445 | Boston – San Salvador | 17:25 | 20:50 | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday | June 1, 2023 |
| AV444 | San Salvador – Boston | 9:00 | 16:05 | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday | |
| AV0423 | Orlando – San Salvador | 15:50 | 16:40 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday | June 11, 2023 |
| AV0422 | San Salvador – Orlando | 9:25 | 14:25 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday |
*Local Time. Itinerary subject to government approval
Top Copyright Photo: Avianca (El Salvador) Airbus A320-251N WL N769AV (msn 8170) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960288.
