Air Transport

This week’s Flight Friday looks at how the largest four U.S. low-cost carriers (LCCs) are faring compared to 2019.

Frontier Airlines dropped the Airbus A321XLR from its fleet plan because the aircraft’s performance fell short of the carrier’s expectations.

Kelly Ortberg’s first-day steps suggests he intends to prioritize building a stronger link between front-line workers who build and design Boeing’s products.

Phoenix Aviation Capital said it would use $242 million of asset-backed debt to finance a portfolio of seven new Boeing 737-8s across two lessees.

Archer Aviation has released new details about its planned air taxi network in Los Angeles, one of the startup’s key launch cities, which it says can become operational as soon as 2026.

Revenue increased 11% year-on-year in the June quarter to $785 million.

SATA AIR ACORES wet-leased (ACMI) an ATR 72-500 from Swiftair to sub for Dash 8-400 in unscheduled maintenance.

HONG KONG AIR CARGO was selected by ZTO Express Group, China to provide air cargo aircraft management and cargo aircraft charter services.

LATAM had US$392m net income in 1H24 (vs US$297m in 1H23) on 16% higher revenues; it has 340 aircraft.

PHOENIX AVIATION CAPITAL (AIP Capital) priced its first structured EETC (Phoenix Aviation Capital Series 2024-1), totaling $242m of asset-backed debt to finance portfolio of seven new 737-8s on lease with two operators.

CONDOR took delivery of second new A321neo with GTFs on lease from Aviation Capital Group as part of deal for four.

WESTJET sold eight 737-800s to Aergo Capital, and leased them back.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT handled 44.9m pax in 1H24, up 8% vs 1H23.

Natalie Bush to Chief Operating Officer of Loganair, UK (effective December 2024).

ETIHAD AIRWAYS plans December 15 to restart four-times-weekly Abu Dhabi-Nairobi, Kenya (A320).

LOT POLISH AIRLINES agreed to lease three 737-8s from BOC Aviation for delivery in 2025.

SMART AVIATION, UK leased an A320-200 from GetJet Airlines for short-term wet-lease (ACMI) to AIR ARABIA MAROC.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS had US$232m net income in 1H24 (vs US$157m in 1H23) on 21% higher revenues; it has 92 aircraft.

FRONTIER AIRLINES had $31m net income on $973m revenues in 2Q24 vs $71m on $967m in 2Q23. It has 111 A320ceo Family aircraft and 37 A321neos, all financed through operating leases that expire between 2025 and 2036.

COPA had $120.3m net income on $819m revenues in 2Q24 vs $17.5m on $809m in 2Q23. It has 109 737s (32 MAXs).

AIR CANADA removed two 767-300Fs (67023/67024) from service, leaving it with six 767-300BDSFs.

Todd France to Chief Commercial Officer of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), Wilmington, OH.

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Copa Airlines is trimming its capacity guidance for 2024 after cutting flights to Venezuela amid the country’s political turmoil.

LATAM Airlines Group believes there is over supply in Colombia’s domestic market after a new competitor launched operations earlier in 2024.