FAA Restricts Flights at Newark, Pan Am Plans a Comeback, and Other Airline News This Week

It’s that time of the week again. Here are some of our top picks from the dozens of pieces of airline news that didn’t get their own story this past week.

From the FAA imposing air traffic restrictions at Newark to Frontier launching a bunch of new routes, plus exciting airline and lounge updates, there’s a lot to get through, so let’s dive in.

FAA Restricts Number of Takeoffs and Landings at Newark

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the number of flights permitted to operate at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) will be limited.

The busy international airport in the greater New York City region has been hitting the headlines after concerns over safety due to congestion. In recent months, reports of overworked air traffic controllers struggling to keep up with the demand resulted in Scott Kirby, the CEO of United — Newark’s largest airline — making a public statement confirming that passengers had nothing to worry about.

As per the FAA’s new limitations, arrivals and departures will be restricted to 28 per hour during weekend construction at the airport. Arrivals and departures will be capped at 34 each hour at all other times until October 25, 2025. It’s hoped the restrictions, which will run through December 21, 2025, will safeguard passengers’ safety and reduce delays.

Breeze Airways Gets Permission To Fly Internationally

Just a few weeks after Breeze completed its application to fly outside of the U.S., the Department of Transportation (DOT) granted permission for the carrier to operate flights internationally.

Breeze Airlines, which only made its first commercial flight in May 2021, can now fly to countries that have an Open Skies agreement with the U.S. Despite the Open Skies list comprising over 130 countries, Breeze’s international route network will be limited due to the range of the Airbus A220-300 jets that will operate these routes.

We’d expect destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean to be at the top of Breeze’s list.

American Airlines’ New Boeing 787 Dreamliner Gets Grounded Due to Maintenance Issues

It was with much fanfare that American Airlines unveiled its swanky new Dreamliners last month. The first of the new jets, which boast significant upgrades in all cabins, took to the skies with passengers onboard for the first time on June 5.

However, since then, it’s been reported that at least one of the newly delivered planes is already experiencing significant technical difficulties. The jet in question, registered N846AN, has suffered diversions, and some of its flights were canceled.

Possible reasons include issues with the door seal, which caused the plane to divert while operating its initial positioning flight from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (ORD).

So far, only domestic flights operated by N846AN, like flight AA2321 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago on June 11, have suffered cancellations. The long-haul international route that the plane has been flying from Chicago to London Heathrow (LHR) has yet to be affected by any delays, diversions, or cancellations.

Due to additional speculation around potential issues with the aircraft’s engines, some are beginning to question the reliability of the rest of the 30-strong order of Boeing 787 Dreamliners that are yet to be delivered.

Lots of New Frontier Airlines Routes

It’s been a big week for Frontier Airlines down in Georgia. The ultra-low-cost carrier kicked off no less than 6 new nonstop routes, including its first-ever flight to Honduras.

Frontier will operate between 2 to 4 services per week to San Pedro Sula (SAP) — a gateway to many of the popular tourist spots in Honduras.

The other 5 routes that Frontier launched from Atlanta this week were to Colombus, Ohio (CMH); Fort Myers, Florida (RSW); Jacksonville, Florida (JAX); Palm Beach, Florida (PBI); and St. Louis, Missouri (STL).

When we originally covered the planned launch of these routes back in February, flights were on sale from just $29 one-way. Taking a look now, the lowest fare available for the new route is $49 one-way between Atlanta and Columbus.

SkyTeam’s Only North American Lounge Gets a Refresh

Vancouver Airport (YVR) is home to the only dedicated SkyTeam lounge in North America. Welcoming passengers with elite status and premium tickets for a total of 8 airlines, it was a priority for the alliance to completely renovate and modernise the space.

“We’re proud to unveil the revitalized SkyTeam Lounge at Vancouver International Airport, a space that reflects our updated brand identity and ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible experience for our customers,” said Patrick Roux, CEO at SkyTeam.

The lounge is also accessible to passengers with a Priority Pass membership flying with any airline in any cabin class.

More Delays Expected With Korean Air and Asiana’s Merger

As part of their merger, Asiana and Korean Air have to agree on how to combine their respective loyalty programs. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has rejected the initial proposal on the grounds of a lack of transparency.

The proposal suggested that Asiana’s miles would be devalued against Korean Air’s at a ratio of 0.7 to 1, respectively. This would represent a devaluation of Asiana’s air miles, negatively affecting its frequent flyers.

The specifics of the merger include Korean Air taking a controlling stake in Asiana, rather than the 2 airlines joining equally. To move forward and complete the merger, a new, fairer proposal regarding the airlines’ loyalty program will have to be made.

The World’s Most Iconic Airline Wants To Make a Comeback

I thought it would be fitting to end on a lighter note. For those who aren’t familiar, Pan Am is an iconic airline that was the first to operate Boeing 747 jumbo jets. When it ceased operations in 1991, it left behind a legacy that many would say is the definition of luxury air travel.

Decades later, Airline Routes and Ground Services brings it to our attention that Pan Am Global Holdings has partnered with investment firm Avi8 Air Capital with the hope of reinventing Pan Am Airlines.

In an era when many airlines are starting to nickel and dime even business-class passengers, it could be a great time for Pan Am to make a comeback. Well, that’s presuming Global Airlines doesn’t get there first…

Final Thoughts

This week’s mixture of news just goes to show that there’s never a dull day in the world of aviation.

We enjoyed learning about the exciting news of a potential Pan Am comeback and the new routes for Breeze and Frontier. However, the FAA’s focus on safety for Newark couldn’t be more poignant this week in light of the tragic Air India accident in Ahmedabad. Our thoughts and hearts go out to all those impacted.