SPECIAL STICKER - The Boeing 767-300ER (registration ZS-NEX) from the South African company Aeronexus was chartered by Azul Linhas Aéreas to transport the Brazilian National Football Team to the World Cup in the United States.

The aircraft offers exclusive business class service, operating with a VIP configuration of 96 seats.

AZUL

EUROATLANTIC AIRWAYS (AZUL ) / B767-300 - CS-TSU

José Ramon Valero - MAD
 

FLEET - Azul is using leased EuroAtlantic Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for flights between Brazil and the USA (specifically Confins-Orlando and Belo Horizonte-Orlando) to cover for maintenance issues with its own fleet.

Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras (EuroAtlantic Airways) / CS-TSU / B767-34P(ER)

Photo: Miguel B Santos

These flights often feature a 767 in a full-economy, 309-seat configuration

EuroAtlantic Boeing 767-300ER (e.g., registrations CS-TST and CS-TSU)

These flights are sometimes operated alongside other EuroAtlantic equipment used by Azul, such as the Boeing 777-200ER, which has been utilized for flights to Lisbon. 

FLEET - United Airlines eyes additional aircraft retirements in 2025

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) is expected to retire 21 aircraft early during 2025, as the company anticipates some softness in the market and prepares to implement a short-term response to new headwinds, according to chief executive Scott Kirby.

Speaking at a Barclays industrial event earlier this month, Kirby discussed the possibility of lower-than-expected profitability outlooks for the first quarter.

“We have seen government and some low-end consumer leisure weakness, which also appears consistent to me with a lot of other data that I look at [...]. You put all that together, and we now expect to be at the low end of our guidance range. So what do we do in response to that? At United, we looked at the situation and said, ‘Well, what we are doing is retiring 21 aircraft early. That is something that will be cash-positive this year’,” he said, noting that in 2024 the carrier had to spend USD100 million on engine overhauls.

United Airlines is retiring the “most expensive aircraft” in its fleet. However, Kirby did not disclose which types the company will be moving away from. ch-aviation reached out to the carrier for additional clarification but it declined to comment.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows that United Airlines' mainline fleet comprises 1,010 aircraft, of which the oldest, on average, are the B767-300ERs (37 in total, averaging 29.1 years), followed by the B757-200s (40, 28.2 years), the B777-200s (19, 28.1 years), and the B737-700s (40, 26 years).

“We built a plan with optionality and flexibility that, if we see short-term headwinds, we can make short-term responses. And that step, the 21 aircraft, correlates to what we have seen,” Kirby added.

In parallel, United Airlines expects to receive 73 aircraft in 2025, including nine B787-9s, sixteen B737-8s, twenty-eight B737-9s, and twenty A321neos.

 CH Aviation

Photo: Duncan Stewart

SPECIAL SCHEME - JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL) / B767-346ER / JA622J - "Tokyo DisneySea - Fantasy Springs"

Tokyo Haneda Int'l - RJTT, Japan

Photo: ARAI118_100

ROUTES - DELTA NS25 INTERCONTINENTAL NETWORK CHANGES – 20SEP24

Delta during the weekend of 20SEP24’s schedule update filed new changes to its intercontinental operation for Northern summer 2025 season, effective 29MAR25. This weekend’s update includes the airline’s announcement of 7 new European routes, including 2 service resumptions.

Atlanta – Brussels eff 10JUN25 3 weekly 767-300ER (Last served until March 2020)

DL140 ATL1755 – 0840+1BRU 76W 246
DL141 BRU1045 – 1450ATL 76W 357

Atlanta – Naples eff 23MAY25 4 weekly A330-200

DL278 ATL1550 – 0730+1NAP 332 x247
DL279 NAP0930 – 1500ATL 332 x135

Boston – Barcelona eff 22MAY25 3 weekly 767-300ER

DL250 BOS1750 – 0715+1BCN 76W 246
DL251 BCN0930 – 1155BOS 76W 357

Boston – Milan Malpensa eff 23MAY25 4 weekly 767-300ER

DL186 BOS1720 – 0705+1MXP 76W x246
DL187 MXP0920 – 1155BOS 76W x357

Detroit – Dublin eff 07MAY25 4 weekly A330-200

DL292 DTW2115 – 0930+1DUB 332 x246
DL293 DUB1130 – 1430DTW 332 x357

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Rome Fiumicino eff 23MAY25 4 weekly A330-300 (Last served June – Sep 2016)

DL298 MSP1925 – 1200+1FCO 333 x246
DL299 FCO1230 – 1615MSP 333 x246

New York JFK – Catania eff 22MAY25 1 daily 767-300ER

DL244 JFK1725 – 0835+1CTA 76W D
DL245 CTA1035 – 1445JFK 76W D

Other service changes:

Atlanta – Athens 
eff 29MAR25 A330-900neo replaces 339-seater A350

eff 14JUN25 Increase from 7 to 11 weekly, A330-900neo
DL296 ATL1555 – 1010+1ATH 339 x357
DL222 ATL1705 – 1050+1ATH 339 D

DL223 ATH1030 – 1605ATL 339 D
DL297 ATH1220 – 1740ATL 339 x146

Atlanta – Barcelona 
eff 29MAR25 1 daily A330-300 service maintained, instead of previously filed 339-seater A350

eff 13JUN25 Increase from 7 to 10 weekly. Additional service operated by A330-900neo
DL270 ATL1620 – 0715+1BCN 339 357
DL194 ATL1825 – 0920+1BCN 333 D

DL271 BCN0930 – 1355ATL 339 146
DL195 BCN1135 – 1600ATL 333 D

Atlanta – Buenos Aires Ezeiza eff 29MAR25 1 daily A330-900neo service maintained, instead of previously filed 767-400ER
Atlanta – Dublin eff 29MAR25 A330-300 replaces previously filed 339-seater A350, 1 daily

Atlanta – Edinburgh 15APR25 – 25MAY25 Reduce from 7 to 5 weekly, 767-300ER (Planned 1 daily service now begins from 26MAY25 instead of 09JUN25)

Atlanta – Rome Fiumicino 
* DL214/215 29MAR25 – 01JUL25 339-seater A350 replaces A330-900neoeff 02JUL25 Increase from 14 to 17 weekly, additional service operated by A330-300

DL214 ATL1600 – 0735+1FCO 339 D
DL066 ATL1850 – 1035+1FCO 339 D
DL276 ATL2100 – 1220+1FCO 333 357

DL215 FCO0945 – 1450ATL 339 D
DL067 FCO1135 – 1655ATL 339 D
DL277 FCO1430 – 1920ATL 333 146

Atlanta – Rio de Janeiro Galeao eff 29MAR25 Northern summer frequency increases from 3 in 2024 to 4 weekly, 767-300ER operating

Atlanta – Santiago de Chile eff 01AUG25 275-seater A350-900XWB replaces 339-seater (Premium Economy Class not available for reservations)
Atlanta – Venice Marco Polo 
* DL192/193 Seasonal 3 weekly service from 22MAY25 operated by A330-200, instead of 767-300ER

* DL138/139 eff 29MAR25 1 daily 767-300ER service maintained, instead of previously filed -400ER
eff 22MAY25 Planned increase from 10 to 14 weekly removed, 767-300ER/-400ER operating


Boston – Amsterdam eff 29MAR25 A330-900neo replaces -300, 2 daily

Boston – Athens Seasonal 1 daily A330-900neo in 2025 operates from 14APR25 instead of 29MAR25
Cincinnati – Paris Charles de Gaulle 
29MAR25 – 22MAY25 A330-300 replaces 767-400ER, 3 weekly (Planned 5 weekly during the period of 09MAY25 – 25MAY24 removed)

eff 23MAY25 1 daily 767-400ER service unchanged


Detroit – Amsterdam eff 29MAR25 1 of 3 daily DL132/133 A350-900XWB replaces A330-300 (1 daily each A330-300, A330-900neo, A350-900XWB)

Detroit – London Heathrow eff 29MAR25 A330-200 service maintained, instead of previously filed -900neo, 1 daily

Detroit – Munich eff 14APR25 Seasonal service operates 2 weeks later than previously planned. 767-400ER replaces A330-200, 1 daily (Planned increase to daily has been filed prior to this weekend’s schedule update)

Detroit – Paris Charles de Gaulle eff 29MAR25 A330-900neo service maintained, instead of previously filed -300, 1 daily (Seasonal 2nd daily from 08JUN25 remains unchanged with A330-300)
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Amsterdam eff 29MAR25 1 of 3 daily DL160/161 A350-900XWB replace A330-300

New York JFK – Berlin
eff 15APR25 Seasonal service resumes with 5 weekly 767-300ER (Previous: eff 07MAY25)

eff 07MAY25 A330-300 replaces 767-300ER. Previously planned increase from 5 to 7 weekly instead of eff 10JUN25 unchanged

New York JFK – Brussels eff 29MAR25 Reduce from 7 to 4 weekly. 767-300ER service maintained, instead of previously filed -400ER

New York JFK – Copenhagen 
eff 14APR25 Seasonal service resumptions begins 2 weeks later than planned (previous: eff 29MAR25), 5 weekly 767-300ER

eff 07MAY25 Increase from 5 to 7 weekly (Previous: eff 12JUN25; Initially scheduled as 5 weekly for peak season)

New York JFK – Geneva eff 14APR25 Seasonal service resumptions begins 2 weeks later than planned (previous: eff 29MAR25), 767-300ER replaces -400ER, 1 daily

New York JFK – London Gatwick eff 07MAY25 Seasonal service resumptions begins 5 weeks later than planned (previous: eff 29MAR25), 1 daily 767-300ER

New York JFK – Madrid eff 29MAR25 A330-900neo replaces 767-400ER, 1 daily

New York JFK – Milan Malpensa 
* DL286/287 eff 29MAR25 767-400ER replaces A330-300

* DL184/185 eff 29MAR25 A330-300 replaces 767-400ER

New York JFK – Munich eff 30MAR25 Seasonal 3 weekly 767-300ER service cancelled

New York JFK – Naples eff 07MAY25 A330-200 replaces 767-300ER, 1 daily

New York JFK – Rome Fiumicino 
eff 29MAR25 2 daily A330-300 replaces -900neo

eff 22MAY25 Seasonal 3rd daily operated by A330-300, replacing previously filed 767-400ER

 

New York JFK – Sao Paulo Guarulhos eff 29MAR25 A330-900neo replaces 767-400ER, 1 daily

New York JFK – Venice Marco Polo eff 29MAR25 767-300ER service maintained, replacing -400ER. 1 daily

Salt Lake City – London Heathrow eff 29MAR25 A330-200 service maintained, instead of previously filed -900neo. 5 weekly

Previously reported changes:


Atlanta – Stuttgart eff 30MAR25 Planned 4 weekly 767-300ER service resumption cancelled

Atlanta – Zurich eff 08MAY25 Increase from 4 to 7 weekly, 767-300ER

Detroit – Rome Fiumicino eff 07MAY25 Seasonal service resumes with A330-900neo, replacing -300

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Dublin 15APR25 – 06MAY25 Reduce from 7 to 5 weekly, 767-300ER (Planned 1 daily service begins from 07MAY25 instead of 14APR25)

New York JFK – Paris Charles de Gaulle eff 29MAR25 Morning hours departure from JFK cancelled, moving to late-night hours

New York JFK – Shannon eff 22MAY25 Seasonal service resumes with 1 daily 767-300ER
New York JFK – Stockholm Arlanda eff 07MAY25 Increase from 5 to 7 weekly, 767-300ER (Previous: eff 09JUN25. Initially scheduled as 6 weekly for peak season)


Photos: Duncan Stewart

FLLET - Condor is considering whether to place additional aircraft orders now that its fleet renewal program is in full swing with 41 new jets to be delivered by 2029

The carrier has taken delivery of 17 A330-900s that have replaced all its B767-300ERs and A330-200s.
Photo: Condor

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - JAL to add dedicated freighters

Japan Airlines has announced on 2 May 2023 that it will add dedicated freighters to its fleet as part of its updated business plan to expand its revenues from cargo. In total the airline will add three converted B767-300ERs to the fleet, the first of which is expected to arrive at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. JAL will utilize the new freighters on flights between Japan and destinations in East Asia, as well as domestic operations. It's currently unclear where the airframes are coming from.

The addition of the trio freighters means a return of dedicated freighters in the JAL-fleet after thirteen years when it retired its final Boeing B747-400BCFs. However, it's not the only expansion of the freight business JAL is developing as the company will also operate three Airbus A321P2Fs by their subsidiary Spring Airlines Japan for Japanese delivery company Yamato.

Illustration by Japan Airlines.

Japan Airlines / B767-346/ER / JA615J - JAL DREAM EXPRESS Disney100 livery

Photo: hstb_744

Tokyo Haneda Int'l Airport (HND/RJTT)

 

Japan Airlines (JAL) / Boeing 767-346(ER) / JA615J - "Disney 100" new Special Livery

 Photo: Petr Juris

Tokyo Haneda Int'l - RJTT, Japan

Ethiopian Airlines Completes Conversion of Africa’s First B767 Passenger Aircraft into Freighter

Addis Ababa, 12 October 2022

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s best airline, has announced the completion of passenger to freighter conversion of one of its three B767 aircraft. Ethiopian partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and launched a B767-300ER freighter conversion line at Ethiopian MRO facilities in Addis Ababa.

The airline introduced these aircraft models in 2004. The conversion is aimed at replacing these ageing airplanes with ultramodern and technologically-advanced passenger aircraft to provide utmost comfort and convenience for passengers. The conversion of the aircraft into freighter also boosts the airline’s cargo shipment capacity and enhance its service.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Israel Aerospace Industries and become the first African carrier to successfully complete the passenger- to -cargo conversion of B767 aircraft. As a fast growing airline, our partnership with IAI, one of the global technology leaders in the Aerospace industry, is crucial in technology and skill transfer in the field of maintenance, repair and overhaul. Ethiopian Airlines is committed to get closer to its customers with high quality cargo services. In addition to our latest freighter fleets, the converted B767 aircraft will augment our growing local and international cargo destinations with more load capacities. We have been working to expand our cargo operation as demand is expected to grow with the establishment of e commerce hub in Addis Ababa. “

Ethiopian Airlines has been hailed for its key role in the global distribution of medical supplies and vaccines. Its cargo wing has served as a life line for the airline during the difficult times of the pandemic. Ethiopian had temporarily converted around 25 of its wide-body passenger aircraft into freighters using its in-house MRO capability which boosted its cargo operations and enabled it to transport around 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine around the globe.

In partnership with the Israel Aerospace Industries, Ethiopian started the full conversion of its B767 passenger aircraft at the continent’s largest maintenance, overhaul and repair center in Addis Ababa in early this year. The airline has completed the conversion of one of its three B767 aircraft while the conversion of the second aircraft has reached an essential stage of door cutting and will be completed in few months.

Ethiopian has been expanding its cargo operation in all corners of the globe introducing latest technology freighter fleet. Currently, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services covers more than 130 international destinations around the world with both belly hold capacity and 67 dedicated Freighter services.

Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, one of the major strategic business units within Ethiopian Airlines Group, has won Best Cargo Airline-Africa and Cargo Airline of the Year at the Air Cargo News Awards 2022.

 

 Ethiopian

iAero Airways adds first widebody, a B767

iAero Airways (SWQ, Greensboro) has added its first widebody aircraft, specifically a VIP-configured B767-300(ER), after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgraded its operations specifications to include the type.

N625HR (msn 25287) is owned the Houston Rockets, an NBA basketball franchise, and will be operated by iAero Airways exclusively on their behalf. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that after a period of proving flights in late January 2022, the jet operated its first charter for the Rockets on February 3, flying from Houston Hobby to San Antonio Int'l.

The Rockets are in a relatively small group of NBA teams with their own aircraft - most charter capacity in from the market. Recently, National Football League franchise the Arizona Cardinals joined the ranks of aircraft-owning teams, buying a B777-200(ER) placed on the AOC of Jet Aviation Flight Services (Teterboro).

"The addition of this Houston Rockets VIP B767 into our fleet begins a new and exciting chapter at iAero Airways. It marks not only our expansion into wide-body aircraft but our further expansion into professional sports," said Robert Caputo, Chief Executive Officer of parent holding iAero Group.

The airline is also in the process of adding another B767-300(ER), N827RC (msn 26389). The 29.4-year-old ex-Brava Linhas Aéreas jet is currently undergoing maintenance at Miami Int'l airport, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.

iAero Airways' narrowbody fleet comprises eight B737-300s, one B737-300(F), twenty B737-400s, two B737-400(SF)s, five B737-800s, five B737-800(BDSF)s, and two B737-800(SF)s.

ch aviation

All Nippon Airways - ANA / B767-381/ER / JA616A - "Kimetsu no Yaiba Jet 1" special c/s

Photo:Beluga321

Tokyo - Haneda International (HND / RJTT)

Eastern Air Lines Lands in Europe

 

Eastern Airlines has announced its first transatlantic route, which will fly from Chicago to Sarajevo in Bostnia and Herzegovina. The bold move comes as the U.S carrier continues to chase profitable business opportunities outside of core markets that are well-served by traditional legacy carriers.

Starting on May 28, Eastern will between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Butmir International Airport in the city of Sajarevo. Flights will run once a week and will take place throughout the summer season until September 5, 2021.

The outbound flight leaves Chicago past 7 p.m on Fridays, arriving at Sajarevo just past 11 a.m the next morning. The plane then spends a night at Butmir International Airport, departing back for U.S on Sundays at 8 a.m and arriving at the windy city at 12:00 noon. Flights will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 767s. This marks both Eastern’s first flight out of Chicago and its first venture across the Atlantic.


According to the airline’s website, flights start at $898 one-way, which sure seems steep for a transatlantic flight, considering there are more cost-convenient flight alternatives from the U.S to Bostnia and Herzegovina via a one-stop itinerary with a short connection at a larger European hub. On the plus side, Eastern tickets include up to 70lbs (31KGs) checked luggage for free.

The Pennsylvania-headquartered carrier has 9 active 767s in its fleet, including two Boeing 767-200s and 7 Boeing 767-300s. The carrier offers two classes: a Premium cabin offering lie-flat seats and a standard economy class offering “roomy seats,” as the airline likes to describe its product. There are now in-flight entertainment screens in both cabins, but the carrier does offer content via streaming on passengers’ personal devices.
Hungry to Find its Niche

It’s no secret that Eastern has been working hard to find healthy business opportunities over the last few years. Last year, the airline started regular flights from Miami and New York JFK to Guayaquil in Ecuador. The airline has additional expansion plans to said South American country, as it plans to fly from the same U.S cities to Ecuador’s capital, Quito, starting May of this year. Additionally, there are plans to fly from Los Angeles to Guayaquil, but that route no starting date on the horizon yet.

The airline will also venture further south later in the year as it is set to begin flights from Miami to Montevideo in June. American recently suspended its four-weekly service from Miami to Montevideo, citing low demand. The Fort Worth-based carrier commented that it instead plans to operate flights seasonally during the busier Southern Hemisphere summer season running from November to March.
Airline Geeks



How busy and profitable will all these new flights be still remains a question. So will it be how Eastern will land its strategic plans in a way that it is economically sustainable over time. For now one thing is certain, though: Eastern is trying hard to find its place in the map.

Austrian Airlines retires first B767-300ER

 

On 3 March, Austrian Airlines retired its first B767-300ER. The aircraft, OE-LAT (25273) left Vienna on this date bound for Marana (AZ). In the coming months, two more, OE-LAW (26417) and OE-LAX (27095), will follow. The three aircraft have been sold to Texas-based MonoConque Diversified Investments, a company dealing in aircraft, engines and spare-parts. For now its unclear what the future holds for these aircraft that are almost 30 years old.

Austrian Airlines will continue to operate its three remaining B767-300ERs, as well as its six B777-200ERs, which are part of a fleet also consisting of seven A319s, 29 A320s, six A321s, eight DHC-8-400s and seventeen ERJ195s.

Photo:Austrian Airlines.

Scramble

Amazon checks out with more 767s

Amazon has acquired seven 767-300ERs from Delta Air Lines, the second batch of 767s the e-tailer has purchased outright as opposed to dry leasing, which it did with all freighters currently in service on its behalf. Three 767s (30594, 30595, 30575) were transferred to Amazon.com Services LLC on Dec. 23, while another four

Amazon checks out with more 767s

Amazon has acquired seven 767-300ERs from Delta Air Lines, the second batch of 767s the e-tailer has purchased outright as opposed to dry leasing, which it did with all freighters currently in service on its behalf

JAPAN AIRLINES - B767-346/ER - JA622J - JAL Dream Express Fantasia 80 Livery Haneda Innovation City

Takeshi OSADA

PRIVILEGE STYLE: With some new stickers with optimistic slogans as this aircraft is used as "COVID-19 fighter" Madrid 04may20

José Ramon Valero - MAD

SHENZHEN AIRPORT - 25 APRIL 2020

Thank you so much Jay Lee (continue) sharing your photos at this very difficult time for the whole world

RA-82081 - Antonov124 - Volga Dnepr -  Shenzhen

B-3386 - Comac Arj21 -Chengdu Airlines - Shenzhen        

D-ABUO -  Condor Airlines - B767-300 - Shenzhen to Almaty

D-ABUK- Condor Airlines - B767-300 - Shenzhen to Almaty

LY-FOX , LY-OWL - Getjet Airlines - A320 - Shenzhen to Novosibirsk