Aviation News Roundup Feb 1st 2025
- Major Aviation Incident A tragic mid-air collision occurred near Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 individuals on both aircraft perished. Preliminary investigations suggest the helicopter was flying at an incorrect altitude and lacked Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which could have alerted air traffic control to its position. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders for further analysis.
- Heathrow Expansion Plans Accelerated Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced ambitious plans to expedite the construction of a new runway at Heathrow Airport, aiming for it to be operational by 2035. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost the UK’s post-election prosperity. However, given the project’s complexity and historical delays, there is skepticism about this timeline. Heathrow’s management anticipates a more realistic completion in the early 2040s. Reeves has requested an updated masterplan by summer, initiating a planning application process expected to last up to two years. Proposed reforms include streamlining planning procedures and limiting judicial reviews, which have previously delayed infrastructure projects.
- FAA Faces Lawsuit Over Hiring Practices The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is involved in a class-action lawsuit alleging that it rejected approximately 1,000 air traffic controller applicants to meet diversity hiring targets. This lawsuit has gained attention following the recent mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., which resulted in 67 fatalities. The lead plaintiff, Andrew Brigida, claims that the FAA’s shift from a skill-based hiring system to a “biographical assessment” led to his rejection based on race. Critics argue that such diversity policies have contributed to understaffing and lowered standards within the FAA. A preliminary FAA report indicates that the air traffic controller on duty during the collision was managing the workload of two people due to staffing shortages. The lawsuit challenges the legality of the FAA’s hiring practices, with the government maintaining that efforts to increase applicant diversity do not constitute discrimination under Title VII. The case is expected to proceed to court next year.
- Philadelphia Plane Crash On January 31, 2025, a tragic incident occurred in Northeast Philadelphia when a medical transport jet, a Learjet 55, crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The aircraft was en route to Tijuana International Airport, with a planned stop at Springfield–Branson National Airport in Missouri. All six individuals on board, including a pediatric patient, her mother, and four crew members, perished in the crash. The accident also resulted in significant ground impact, causing fires that affected multiple homes and vehicles, leading to at least one additional fatality and numerous injuries among residents. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Airline Earnings Reports
- United Airlines reported a record fourth-quarter profit, with adjusted earnings per share of $3.26, surpassing analyst expectations of $3.03. The airline’s revenue reached $14.7 billion for the quarter.
- Southwest Airlines announced its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results, highlighting economic fuel costs of $2.42 per gallon in Q4. The company emphasized its operational resilience amid industry challenges.
- JetBlue Airways reported a narrower-than-expected loss for Q4 2024, attributed to lower operating costs. The airline continues to navigate the post-pandemic recovery phase.
- easyJet has reported a significant improvement in its financial performance. The airline expects to announce a headline pre-tax profit of £709 million for 2025, up from £610 million the previous year, aligning with market expectations. In the quarter ending December 31, 2024, easyJet experienced a 7% increase in passenger numbers, totaling 21.2 million, and a 13% rise in group revenue, reaching £2.04 billion. Notably, losses for this quarter narrowed from £126 million to £61 million, driven by the strong performance of its holiday division, easyJet Holidays.
- Wizz Air has issued its second profit warning in six months, primarily due to escalating costs associated with grounding a fifth of its fleet for engine inspections mandated by supplier Pratt & Whitney. The airline’s net losses widened to €241 million in the third quarter, compared to €105 million in the same period the previous year. Consequently, Wizz Air now anticipates a net income of €250-300 million for 2025, a decrease from €365.9 million in 2024 and significantly below earlier projections. The company has also adjusted its fleet growth forecasts, now expecting to operate 305 aircraft by March 2028, down from the previously planned 380.
- Ryanair reported a robust performance in the last quarter of 2024, with profits exceeding forecasts due to heightened demand during the Christmas period and the resolution of disputes with online travel agents, leading to a 9% increase in passenger numbers. However, the airline faces challenges, including delayed Boeing 737 Max deliveries and a late Easter, which are expected to result in a €370 million loss for the current quarter and nearly a 20% reduction in annual profits compared to the previous year. Ryanair has adjusted its passenger growth target, now aiming to reach 215 million passengers by 2026-27, a year later than initially planned. Despite these setbacks, the airline’s shares have risen, and Ryanair anticipates that constrained short-haul capacity in Europe will support future profitable growth.
Industry Developments
- Boeing delivered 57 airplanes in Q4 2024 and secured 204 net orders, including 100 737-10 aircraft for Pegasus Airlines and 30 787-9 planes for flydubai. The company’s backlog now includes over 5,500 airplanes valued at $435 billion.
- Global air travel demand reached unprecedented levels in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic figures, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This surge reflects a robust recovery in the aviation sector.
Regulatory Actions
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has temporarily suspended low-altitude helicopter flights near Washington, D.C., following the recent mid-air collision. This measure aims to prevent similar incidents as investigations continue.
- In other regulatory news, the Department of Transportation fined JetBlue $2 million on January 3, 2025, for operating chronically delayed flights in 2022 and 2023, underscoring the agency’s commitment to enforcing operational standards.
PILOT RECRUITMENT
- easyJet Seeking A320/A330/A340/A350/A380 type-rated Captains to be based in London Gatwick.
- Turkish Airlines Opened its Cadet Pilot Program for Turkish citizens or blue card holders.
- Discover Airlines Hiring type-rated Simulator Instructors & Examiners on Airbus A320 and A330, based in Frankfurt.
- KLM Hiring type-rated or non-type-rated First Officers (min. 500 hours on MTOW 5.7t or more) on various fleets, based in Amsterdam.
- Breeze Airways Looking for type-rated or non-type-rated Captains on Embraer E190/195, for various bases throughout the US.
- Lufthansa City Airlines A wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Group, seeking A320-rated First Officers for a Fast Upgrade to Captain position, based in Munich, Germany.
- Emirates Recruiting non-rated First Officers, Accelerated Command, and Direct Entry Captains (Airbus) for Boeing and Airbus fleets, based in Dubai, UAE.
- Qatar Airways Looking for Airbus or Boeing type-rated First Officers, based in Doha.
- Cathay Pacific Hiring type-rated or non-type-rated First Officers on A321, A330, A350, B777, and B747, based in Hong Kong.
- Titan Airways Seeking A320-rated Captains for their fleet under the Malta AOC, currently operating out of Leipzig.
- BA Euroflyer Hiring type-rated or non-type-rated Captains on Airbus A320, based in London Gatwick.
- DHL Looking for pilots to join their growing Boeing fleet. Applicants must have:
• Unrestricted right to live and work in the UK
• Unfrozen UK CAA ATPL
• Ideally 500+ hours on type with a multi-crew aircraft (MTOW 50 tonnes or more) - Loganair Seeking Captains with a UK ATPL(A) and a minimum of 2,000 hours total flying time, including 500 hours command on multi-pilot types. Also recruiting Newly Qualified First Officers holding a UK Frozen ATPL(A) with MCC & UPRT certifications. Bases available across the UK, operating Embraer 145, ATR 42/72, Twin Otter, and Islander aircraft.
- Virgin Atlantic are hiring First Officers and Senior First Officers for both Airbus and Boeing fleets. Applicants must have recent experience on specific RAF aircraft and have completed ATPL exams by the time of the interview. Positions are based at London Heathrow and Manchester, operating long-haul flights to various global destinations.
- British Airways Offering a Future Pilots Programme with fully-funded flight training through the Speedbird Pilot Academy Cadet programme. Applications are planned to open again in February 2025. Successful candidates will join as a First Officer on the A320 short-haul fleet at Gatwick or Heathrow.
- Etihad Airways Hiring Indian Captains & First Officers across its A320, A350, A380, B777, B777F, and B787 fleets.
- SAS is hiring First Officers for Embraer 190 and Airbus A320 fleets in ARN, BGO, CPH, and OSL. Offers permanent contracts, career progression, 42 days leave, and travel perks. Requires EASA ATPL/CPL/MPL, Class 1 Medical, UPRT, and EU work rights.
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