Edward Russell, Author at Airline Weekly

Pilot Shortage Cost American $61 Million in Fourth Quarter

January 20, 2022

U.S. airlines face an increasingly challenging situation finding pilots for their regional affiliates. This shortage is affecting schedules and the recovery and, at least for American Airlines, costing millions of dollars to rectify. In its fourth-quarter results, American reported $61...

American Airlines Cites Pilot Shortage For Route Suspensions

January 18, 2022

American Airlines will temporarily suspend at least seven regional routes this spring amid a worsening shortage of pilots facing U.S. regional carriers. "We’re making proactive adjustments to our schedule to mitigate any future travel disruptions related to near-term pilot staffing...

Delta Slashes Regional Flying by a Quarter Amid Pilot Shortage

January 13, 2022

Delta Air Lines is the latest to cull schedules as a result of the pilot shortage facing the regional industry in the U.S. The Atlanta-based carrier has cut regional flights by as much as a quarter from previous plans through...

Boeing at Pivotal Moment With Mid-Market Aircraft Decision

January 12, 2022

Boeing's decision to kill its New Mid-Market Airplane, or NMA, concept two years ago could drastically upset the global duopoly for large commercial aircraft. At least that's the view of Richard Aboulafia, a long-time aerospace analyst and now managing director...

Denver Approves Airport Project With $1 Billion Cost Overrun

January 11, 2022

Denver International Airport can go ahead with completing overdue renovations of its iconic terminal building with approval an additional $1.1 billion in funding for the project that some liken to Boston's Big Dig, which was known for delays and cost...

United CEO Backs Denver Bus Service Pilot Despite Slow Start

January 6, 2022

It makes a lot of sense for airlines to use a bus to connect smaller communities to major airports. Buses can go places aircraft cannot, and when they do replace planes, they can do so more cost-effectively and with lower...

Allegiant Air Switches to Boeing With Surprise 100 737 Max Order

January 5, 2022

Allegiant Air has made a big strategic shift: Instead of the all-Airbus narrowbody fleet that it only achieved in 2018, the discounter has unveiled a commitment for up to 100 Boeing 737 Maxes with plans to operate a mixed fleet...

U.S. Airlines Kick Off 2022 With Operations in Disarray

January 3, 2022

U.S. airlines cancelled almost 29,000 flights over the Christmas and New Year's holiday travel season. These cancellations prompted much ink to be spilled about an industry in chaos, but the truth is that, while cancellations are elevated due to the...

United Ends 14 Washington Routes as Regional Pilot Shortage Worsens

December 22, 2021

United Airlines is dropping 14 routes to its Washington Dulles hub as the regional pilot shortage in the U.S. gets worse. The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will suspend service in March between Dulles and Akron-Canton, Ohio; Asheville, Greensboro, and Wilmington,...

Nordic Aviation Capital First Major Lessor to Restructure Due to Pandemic

December 20, 2021

Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) became the first major leasing company to restructure owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The lessor has filed four separate U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases covering its core business and three affiliates. The Ireland-based lessor has reached...

Delta Air Lines Aims to Raise Fares in 2022

December 17, 2021

Delta Air Lines management left investors and analysts with one clear statement on next year: Don't get too excited. The Atlanta-based carrier's passenger capacity recovery will slow and that will in turn drive elevated cost growth but, hey, at least...

Air France-KLM, Qantas Order 300 Airbuses in Double Blow to Boeing

December 16, 2021

Airbus has picked up 302 new aircraft commitments from Air France-KLM and Qantas Airways in the past 24 hours. The deals flip the long-time Boeing narrowbody customers to Airbus narrowbodies in what is the latest blow to the struggling U.S....