Billings airport and city leaders are working to bring in new flights to Billings after Allegiant announced direct flights between Billings and Los Angeles starting in Spring 2024. Talks are ongoing with Southwest Airlines to potentially add flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver. The Billings Airport Service Committee hopes to use a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to fund these new flights. The new terminal at Billings Logan, which will double its jet bridge gates in April 2024, is expected to contribute to the success of attracting new flights. The leaders emphasize the importance of air travel for the Billings economy and its connection to the global world.
Denver has emerged as the US airport with the highest volume of short-haul widebody flights for the upcoming winter season. According to data as of October 10th, Denver will have the greatest amount of short twin-aisle departures, thanks to its strategic geographic location. United Airlines plans to operate 515 outbound services on four hub-to-hub routes, with San Francisco being the closest destination to the 1,000-mile cutoff point. Other US airports with a significant number of short-haul widebody flights include Atlanta, Orlando, Houston Intercontinental, and Chicago O'Hare. Interestingly, only one international route, United's Houston-Cancun, qualifies as a short-haul widebody flight. In total, there are 16 US airports offering such flights during the winter season, defined as flights covering a distance of no more than 1,000 miles. Newark and Las Vegas each have only one such service. This information provides valuable insights into the distribution of short-haul widebody flights across US airports.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco met with officials of United Airlines to discuss the possibility of establishing direct routes to secondary gateways in the Philippines. United Airlines recently launched direct flights between San Francisco and Manila. The airline president expressed gratitude for the collaboration and noted that the Manila-San Francisco route was highly requested. The US is the second top source of tourists for the Philippines.
Turkish Airlines, an award-winning airline, has added Detroit as its 13th gateway airport in the U.S. The airline flies to 345 destinations in more countries than any other carrier and has been recognized as the best airline by Global Traveler. Turkish Airlines offers competitive prices and high-quality service, including the best economy class seat in Europe and the best business class cuisine worldwide. The addition of Detroit as a gateway airport provides more options for Delta and United frequent fliers and travelers in the Midwest. Istanbul, the airline's hub, allows passengers to reach popular destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Rim. Turkish Airlines offers excellent business class and economy class experiences, and passengers with long layovers can enjoy complimentary lodging and city tours in Istanbul.
Utah businesses and residents deserve increased access to our nation’s capital. The current regulation limiting the number of long-distance direct flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) hinders flight access. Direct flights are crucial for attracting businesses and creating jobs in Utah, especially in industries subject to federal regulation. The perimeter rule, created to support growth at other airports near D.C., has become obsolete and results in inflated ticket prices, longer flight times, and fewer choices for consumers. Utah's congressional delegation is working to modernize the rule and increase the number of flights at DCA. Allowing more direct flights will boost Utah's business potential and provide a more convenient travel experience to the U.S. federal government's seat.
United Airlines is expanding its global route network, adding new non-stop flights between New York/Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco; Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines and Houston-Medellin, Colombia. The carrier will also increase its flights to popular destinations including Hong Kong, Seoul in South Korea, and Porto, Portugal. United now has the largest and most diversified international route network among US airlines, offering non-stop services to 134 international destinations across 67 countries. United has been a trailblazer in introducing customers to off-the-beaten-path locales, including flights to nine destinations that no other carriers serve from the mainland US. United is continuing to rebuild its mainland China schedule, adding four weekly flights between Shanghai-Los Angeles starting August 29. United is also adding more flights to Hong Kong and Seoul. Across the Atlantic, United will add a second daily flight between New York/Newark-Porto, Portugal starting May 23. Flights are subject to government approvals.
Lufthansa will operate one daily Boeing 747-400 flight from Frankfurt to Houston Intercontinental and New York JFK this summer. The number of 747-400 flights is fewer than during the pandemic in 2022. In the summer of 2019, the Boeing 747-400 had an average of 32 daily scheduled passenger flights from the US. Only Lufthansa has scheduled passenger 747-400 flights to the US this summer, with two routes operating at times but reduced to one daily from May to July. The flights will have 371 seats: 67 in business, 32 in premium economy, and 272 in economy. This is an improvement compared to summer 2023 when there were only three roundtrip flights. In August 2024, Lufthansa will have fewer services compared to August 2022. Other airlines that previously operated 747-400 flights to the US have retired the aircraft. The article also mentions that there are nine US airports that will have passenger Boeing 747 flights this summer.
Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines announced that its second trans-Pacific route between San Francisco and Taipei, launched on December 16, will increase from thrice weekly to daily starting today. The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) route will now observe this weekly schedule. The flights provide exquisite dining including Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for all-class passengers to enjoy an at-home experience in the air. STARLUX is a boutique international airline serving a total of 23 routes from Taiwan to the US, Japan, Macau, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Turkish Airlines announced the launch of nonstop flights from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Istanbul International Airport (IST) starting June 11, 2024. This marks the first-ever direct connection between the two cities. The flights will initially operate three times per week, with a fourth weekly flight added in July. The service will be operated by a modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a capacity of 316 passengers. Denver becomes the 14th U.S. destination served by Turkish Airlines. The new service is expected to generate more than $54 million annually for the Colorado economy and create approximately 350 new jobs. The flight from Denver to Istanbul will be the longest flight departing from DEN, covering a distance of 6,130 miles. The flights will depart Denver at 7:35 p.m. and arrive in Istanbul at 4:15 p.m. the following day, with return flights departing Istanbul at 1:55 p.m. and arriving in Denver at 5:40 p.m. Turkish Airlines offers a range of amenities and services, including gourmet dishes, full-flat seats in Business Class, in-flight entertainment systems, and travel amenity kits. The addition of Turkish Airlines strengthens DEN's Star Alliance network. Governor Jared Polis of Colorado sees the new flight as an opportunity to strengthen ties with Turkey and boost international trade. The new service is expected to stimulate travel for business, tourism, medical visits, and educational exchanges. Passengers at DEN will now have nonstop access to 31 destinations in 17 countries, including eight destinations across Europe.
United Airlines is resuming its long Embraer E175 route between Washington DC and Montana this month. Mesa Airlines will operate the flights branded as United Express. The route covers more than 1,770 average miles and will run throughout the summer. The flights will be operated by Mesa Airlines with an Embraer E175 regional jet. The service will restart at the end of the month and will run throughout the summer. Mesa Airlines, a regional carrier operating under the United Express brand, will operate the flights. The service will kick off on May 25th with Saturday and Sunday frequencies. United will offer 304 seats in total this month, increasing to 1,406 seats in June. The aircraft have WiFi and inflight entertainment. United is no stranger to long E175 flights, as it also operates the second-longest E175 flight from Denver to Vermont. Airlines have been focused on ramping up regional flights since the pandemic. American Airlines reportedly improved its regional jet utilization by 4% last year. Delta Air Lines expects to boost its regional capacity by nearly 12% from last year to this year.
Alaska Airlines, headquartered in Seattle, has won the second highest four-star airline award in 2024. The airline, which got its official name in 1944, operates direct flights to 125 cities in the U.S. and several international destinations. Alaska Airlines is planning to merge with Hawaiian Airlines in 2025, becoming part of the Alaska Air Group. The deal is expected to be finalized in 2025. Horizon Air merged with Alaska Airlines in 1987. The airline's hub is at Seattle International Airport.
Few U.S. airports have multiple major airline hubs due to upfront costs and heavy competition for passenger traffic. Most large cities in the United States have a major airline hub, with American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines maintaining operational hubs in the American Mountain West region. Airline hubs require significant investments in infrastructure, such as terminals, gates, lounges, and maintenance facilities. Legacy carriers are hesitant to invest in hubs where they cannot capture large shares of passenger traffic. Some airports, like JFK and LAX, have multiple legacy airline hubs due to high passenger numbers and economic activity. Budget airlines face fewer challenges in establishing operational bases and often coexist with legacy carriers at airports. Maintaining two large airline hubs at the same facility is challenging for legacy carriers due to the high upfront costs and the need to capture passenger loyalty across a region. Some airports, such as JFK and ORD, have multiple legacy airline hubs because they see high passenger traffic and have high-spending populations. If an airline fails to meet demand metrics for a major hub, it may choose to shut down the hub. Delta Air Lines, for example, cut jobs and reduced flights at DFW when it was outcompeted by American Airlines. Overall, the number of airports with multiple legacy airline hubs in the United States is limited. Denver International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Orlando International Airport are key airports in North America that play critical roles in domestic and international travel. The surge in passenger numbers in 2023 can be attributed to the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, widespread vaccination campaigns, technological advancements, and the resurgence of tourism and business travel. The aviation sector significantly contributes to the North American economy by generating substantial revenue and creating numerous job opportunities. Air travel serves as a catalyst for tourism and trade, attracting millions of international visitors and generating billions in revenue. Leading airlines in North America include Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. These airlines have established extensive networks and robust operations, catering to millions of passengers annually. The resilience and growth of the U.S. aviation industry remain vital components of economic development and global connectivity. Turkish Airlines has announced plans to increase its flights to the United States, aiming for up to 23 daily flights by 2024. In April, the airline launched a new route to Denver, which is expected to create 350 jobs and inject $54 million annually into Colorado's economy. The route is serviced by the Airbus A350-900 and takes around 12 hours and 45 minutes. Turkish Airlines also operates direct flights from Istanbul to Dallas/Fort Worth, Istanbul to Houston, Istanbul to San Francisco, and Istanbul to Los Angeles. The airline continues to expand its network and reinforce its presence in the US market.