US ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Avelo Airlines is exiting four markets that did not develop as planned and intends to seasonally suspend a further nine routes. The Southern California start-up told FlightGlobal on 21 November that “demand did not generate as hoped” on four routes – Raleigh-Durham (North Carolina) to Sarasota (Florida), New Haven (Connecticut) to Melbourne (Florida) and Las Vegas to Arcata (California) and Dubuque (Iowa). Those routes will be operated through early January and will not return. The carrier had launched flights to Arcata and Dubuque in September, following its pattern of targeting markets with low or no air service. Competitors in the USA’s low-cost segment have recently observed softening domestic demand for leisure travel, however. The ULCC is also seasonally suspending nine routes in the first quarter of next year, including Burbank (California) to Colorado Springs (Colorado) and Brownsville (Texas); Las Vegas to Brownsville; New Haven to Greenville (North Carolina), Savannah (Georgia) and Charleston (South Carolina); and Wilmington (Delaware) to Nashville (Tennessee), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) and Daytona Beach (Florida). Avelo did not specify when the seasonal flights will resume in 2024. ”The rest of the routes are on a seasonal break due to scheduled heavy maintenance on our planes due to the delayed arrival of our new-to-us aircraft,” Avelo says. “As the Q1 time frame typically [has] lower demand in these markets, we chose to utilise this time to lessen frequencies and seasonally exit so our planes are in a good position for peak spring/summer travel.” The carrier has 16 mid-life Boeing 737NG in service and does not have order commitments beyond those jets, according to Cirium fleets data. <br/>
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Seeking to bolster its presence in the Midwest USA, ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) Frontier Airlines plans to open crew bases in Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati early next year. The Denver-based discounter said on 21 November that it plans to open in May 2024 a new crew base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport and to re-establish its crew base in Chicago, in addition to previously announced plans to create a hub in Cleveland, Ohio. Frontier’s new hub in the greater Cincinnati area will have about 80 pilots and 160 flight attendants within its first year of operation. The ULCC flies to a dozen cities in the USA and Mexico from the airport in Boone County, Kentucky, on the opposite side of the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Kentucky International airport, says Frontier has “experienced tremendous growth” in the region since becoming the first low-cost carrier to fly there about 10 years ago. ”This will positively impact both their frequency of service and our local economy through added jobs,” she says of the crew base. The ULCC’s Chicago base to support operations at both O’Hare and Midway International airports is expected to employ up to 110 pilots within its first year, in addition to 190 existing flight attendant positions, it says. Frontier had previously maintained a base in Chicago until April 2022. It flies to 13 cities from Midway and to another five from O’Hare. “As we continue to grow in Chicago, it makes sense to establish a crew base to help support our expanding operations,” says Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier. <br/>
Unlike any other airline on the planet, Emirates made the Airbus SE A380 jumbo jet a cornerstone of its fleet. The Dubai carrier still operates more than 100 of the giant double-deckers, whereas rivals have either given up on the behemoth entirely or fly it only in small numbers. Airbus itself pulled production in 2019 after little more than a decade of slow sales. With no new planes available, Emirates is embarking on a massive $2b refurbishment program of the giant aircraft, seeking to extend their lifespan into the early 2040s. At a sprawling hangar near Dubai’s main airport last week, two A380s were being gutted and retrofitted with everything from new berths to fresh stairwells. Gone are the gold trimmings and wood paneling that dominated the first iteration, with Emirates opting for lighter tones, fresh carpeting and mood lighting, along with depictions of local nature motifs. The popular business-class bar, where passengers can mingle during flight and enjoy a glass of whiskey, will stay. The cabin refresh alone accounts for half the investment, dubbed the Phoenix Project. For Emirates, the upgrade is more than just a routine touch-up common in airline fleets. For the world’s largest international carrier, the A380 represents its ambition to connect as many people as possible via its Dubai hub. Other aircraft in its stable are either too small to perform the same job, like the A350-900 coming next year, or — like the Boeing Co. 777X — they’re years behind original delivery schedule, meaning Emirates must hold onto the A380s for longer than previously planned. Given the size of the planes — a typical A380 comes with about 550 seats on two decks — the overhaul produces vast amounts of recyclable materials. Emirates says one aircraft alone sheds more than 250 kg of seat leather and more than 600 kg of other fabric, which the airline has decided to use for a limited-edition collection of shoes, belts and backpacks, fitted with on-board trimmings like seat belts or the lambskin covers on pilot seats.<br/>
India's Jindal Power, the only company whose expression of interest to take over Go First was accepted by creditors, has decided to not follow through with a bid, three people familiar with the plans said, pushing the insolvent airline closer to liquidation. The deadline to submit takeover bids ends on Tuesday, and the sources told Reuters Jindal had decided against bidding after evaluating the airline's financial statements. While the deadline can be extended via an application to the courts, creditors are currently not inclined to do so, two banking sources said. "The EoI was largely to check the valuation of the airline and get access to the company's data," said one of the sources. "After evaluation, the company has decided not to put in a bid." The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Jindal Power and Go First's resolution professional did not reply to emails seeking comment. Go First filed for voluntary insolvency in May and owes a total of 65.21b rupees ($785.6m) to its creditors. Bankers had pinned their hopes on Jindal's interest, said a banker at a lender that has exposure to Go First. "But it looks like that hasn't materialised," the banker added, declining to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.<br/>
AirAsia X said on Tuesday that Malaysia's stock exchange had told the budget airline that it is no longer classified as financially distressed lifting the threat of being de-listed. Both AirAsiaX and its parent company Capital A saw deep losses following a plunge in demand due to the pandemic and have scrambled to raise funds. Bursa Malaysia Securities had classified the firm as PN17, or a financially distressed company, last year. Such firms may be de-listed from the exchange if they fail to stabilise their finances within a set time frame. In July, AirAsia X asked the bourse to change that classification, saying it had undertaken a broad range of measures to improve its financial position, including debt restructuring, share consolidation, and a revision of its business plan. The bourse said on Tuesday that AirAsia had met the conditions for "waiver and upliftment" from the PN17 classification.<br/>