Delta Air Lines announces June quarter 2024 financial results

                                       Delta Air Lines today reported financial results for the June quarter and provided its outlook for the September quarter.  Highlights of the June quarter, including both GAAP and adjusted metrics, are on page five and incorporated here.

"Thanks to the incredible work of our 100,000 people, Delta is delivering industry-leading operational performance and best-in-class service for our customers.  We delivered record June quarter revenue and pre-tax income of $2 billion with a 15 percent operating margin.  Our people are the best in the industry, and we are pleased to recognize their efforts with more than $640 million accrued in the first half toward next year's profit sharing," said Ed Bastian, Delta's chief executive officer.

"For the September quarter, we expect a double-digit operating margin and a pre-tax profit of approximately $1.5 billion.  With strong first half results and visibility into the second half, we remain confident in our full-year guidance."

June Quarter 2024 GAAP Financial Results

• Operating revenue of $16.7 billion
• Operating income of $2.3 billion with an operating margin of 13.6 percent
• Pre-tax income of $1.8 billion with a pre-tax margin of 10.6 percent
• Earnings per share of $2.01
• Operating cash flow of $2.5 billion
• Payments on debt and finance lease obligations of $1.4 billion
• Total debt and finance lease obligations of $18.0 billion at quarter end

June Quarter 2024 Adjusted Financial Results

• Operating revenue of $15.4 billion, 5.4 percent higher than the June quarter 2023
• Operating income of $2.3 billion with an operating margin of 14.7 percent
• Pre-tax income of $2.0 billion with a pre-tax margin of 13.0 percent
• Earnings per share of $2.36
• Operating cash flow of $2.5 billion
• Free cash flow of $1.3 billion
• Adjusted debt to EBITDAR of 2.8x, down from 3.0x at the end of 2023
• Return on invested capital of 13.1 percent

Financial Guidance1 

	FY 2024 Forecast
Earnings Per Share	$6 - $7
Free Cash Flow ($B)	$3 - $4
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR	2x - 3x
	3Q24 Forecast
Total Revenue YoY	Up 2% - 4%
Operating Margin	11% - 13%
Earnings Per Share	$1.70 - $2.00

1Non-GAAP measures; Refer to Non-GAAP reconciliations for historical comparison figures

Additional metrics for financial modeling can be found in the Supplemental Information section under Quarterly Results on ir.delta.com.

Exolaunch successfully deploys satellites.........

Exolaunch Successfully Deploys Satellites on Historic Ariane 6 Inaugural Launch, Enhancing European Access to Space

Exolaunch played a pivotal part in the deployment of four satellites for its customers at ESA, NASA, and Spacemanic, marking a significant milestone for Europe's growing space industry

Exolaunch, the global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, proudly announced the successful deployment of four satellites aboard Arianespace’s Ariane 6 maiden flight. The liftoff occurred on Tuesday, July 9 at 1600 GFT from the Guiana Space Centre, also known as Europe's Spaceport, in Kourou, French Guiana. Representing customers ESA, NASA, and Spacemanic, this mission highlights Exolaunch’s crucial role in broadening access to space and supporting new launch vehicle providers.

This historic launch featured ESA’s ISTSat-1 and 3Cat-4, NASA’s CURIE, and Spacemanic’s GRBBeta satellites. The successful deployment of these satellites underscores Exolaunch’s commitment to facilitating groundbreaking scientific research and technological advancements through reliable and innovative satellite deployment solutions.

ESA’s ISTSat-1, developed by students at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, aims to demonstrate ADS-B technology, validating detection capabilities and assessing antenna and receiver performance for receiving messages from commercial aircraft. 3Cat-4, a CubeSat from Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, features a flexible microwave payload technology demonstrator with scientific objectives related to GNSS for Earth observation and AIS receiver validation.

NASA’s CURIE mission comprises two near-identical 3U CubeSats designed to explore low-frequency radio interferometry in space. These CubeSats will study solar radio bursts by maintaining a 1-3 km separation post-deployment, contributing to the understanding of heliospheric space weather and serving as a proof of concept for future space-based interferometry observatories.

SunExpress becomes VCT's European launch customer of Finlets for its Boeing 737-800 Aircraft

SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, and Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) announced SunExpress as its European launch customer for VCT's proven Finlet technology which will reduce SunExpress's carbon footprint for its Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft. VCT Finlets are a patented array of small "fins" strategically placed on the aircraft's aft fuselage which modify airflow and reduce drag, which in turn decreases fuel consumption and carbon emissions while enhancing an aircraft's range, climb performance and endurance.

VCT Finlets have so far been implemented on five of SunExpress's 737-800 aircraft in phase one of the program and have been in service since May of this year. During phase two, up to twenty-five additional 737-800 aircraft are planned to be equipped with VCT Finlets, translating to annual savings of half a million gallons of fuel, and preventing nearly 6 million kilograms (13 million pounds) of carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

SunExpress Chief Operations Officer Cemil Sayar commented that "Our commitment to operational efficiency and sustainability encompasses every facet of our operations. This technology enables us to reduce fuel consumption while boosting overall performance, thereby extending an aircraft's range, improving performance, and enhancing endurance. Our partnership with VCT underscores our dedication to being environmentally responsible through operational efficiency and sustainability initiatives that contributes to lowering our carbon footprint."

"The certification of Finlets on the 737-700, 800 and 900ER is the culmination of over a decade long design effort involving wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics, and comprehensive U.S. Air Force and FAA flight tests on the C-130, C-17 and 737NG aircraft," said VCT's Chief Executive Officer, Gil Morgan. "SunExpress is our first European partner in this endeavour, and we look forward to helping them achieve their operational and sustainability goals."

.  

JSX named number 1 domestic airline rating in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards

                                          Travel + Leisure, an essential, trusted source for travel guidance and inspiration around the globe, announced premium ‘hop-on’ public charter jet service JSX as the No. 1 Domestic Airline in the 2024 edition of the World’s Best Awards.

Led by innovation and commitment to serving the Customer, JSX’s newest award recognition serves as a powerful testament to the values of today’s traveller in search of seamless, stress-free, accessible, and time-saving air travel experiences

Each year, the readers of Travel + Leisure – the most influential travel media brand in the United States, with a total audience of over 33 million across all platforms – share their thoughts on air travel, destinations, hotels, resorts, spas, and more in their annual survey. The illustrious list – curated on reader-generated survey responses – recognizes the greatest travel brands spanning the world on all seven continents.

This recognition is a powerful testament to the experience JSX provides, as Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are a leading barometer of the air carriers and modes of transportation, places, and companies that satisfy some of the world’s most passionate and discerning travellers. Additional information about methodology including criteria can be found here. You can see the full list of the World’s Best Winners in Travel + Leisure's August 2024 issue, on newsstands on July 19 or digitally on Apple News+.

Since 2016, JSX has amassed a reputation for joyful, simple, and reliable air travel by championing a new category of frictionless & crowd-free air travel for all, connecting Customers to must-visit destinations with ease, including Burbank (BUR), Las Vegas (LAS), Scottsdale (SCF), Dallas (DAL), Houston (HOU), Taos (TSM), Boulder (BJC), Concord/Napa (CCR), and more.

CDB Aviation celebrates delivery of Sichuan Airlines’ 200th aircraft

CDB Aviation joined a grand ceremony held at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on July 9, 2024, to celebrate the delivery of a second Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter on lease to its existing customer, Sichuan Airlines.

“We are thrilled to be joining our partners at Sichuan Airlines in celebrating this significant 200th aircraft milestone in the airline’s impressive regional and international growth story,” commented Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer. “CDB Aviation congratulates the Sichuan Airlines team on achieving their leading position among airlines in Western China and its growing role as an international airline in both the passenger and cargo markets.”

“We are very happy to strengthen on our relationship with CDB Aviation and appreciate Jie Chen and his team for their continued hard work in bringing the second A330 P2F aircraft to Sichuan Airlines,” said Zuyi Shi, Chairman of Sichuan Airlines. “The aircraft is a superb addition to our cargo fleet, providing us with more widebody freighter capacity and enhancing our operational capabilities to meet the rapidly expanded market demand. This will further ensure our airlines’ sustainable growth in the long term.”

“CDB Aviation values our strong and long-standing relationship with Sichuan Airlines, and we are grateful for the confidence the airline has placed in our international leasing platform. We look forward to supporting Sichuan Airlines’ future growth,” concluded Chen.

.

BAE Systems delivers advanced radar warning receivers to protect U.S. Air Force Aircraft

BAE Systems is delivering AN/ALR-56M Advanced Radar Warning Receivers to the U.S. Air Force to help protect C-130J Super Hercules aircraft missions under contracts worth $133 million with the Defense Logistics Agency. The company has delivered more than 1,700 radar warning receivers for F-16 Fighting Falcons and C-130Js over three decades, providing situational awareness and self-defense capabilities that have proven themselves in combat by saving lives and enhancing mission success.

“The AN/ALR-56M has shown what it can bring to the fight, and it is keeping these critical aircraft relevant against evolving threats in contested battlespaces,” said Lindsay Gallagher, Tactical Aircraft Electronic Warfare Systems director at BAE Systems. “56M is a critical part of the fleet’s electromagnetic warfare capabilities. As a global leader in defence electronics, we are working hard to keep the F-16 and C-130J survivable and relevant for decades to come.”

The AN/ALR-56M provides broad-spectrum, long-range threat detection, and adaptive filtering to isolate threat signals in dense signal environments. The system provides timely warning about modern search, acquisition, and tracking radars, and reliable threat response capabilities – allowing pilots to engage or evade threats and enabling freedom of maneuver in the battlespace.

Alaska Airlines expands winter travel options to launch 18 exciting new sun and ski routes

Alaska Airlines has decided to enhance its winter schedule with the launch of 18 new nonstop routes to key sunny international destinations and some wonderful winter wonderland retreats. Included in the raft of new routes are a number from Sacramento and Kansas City. 

Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines said:  "We’re thrilled to offer convenient connection for guests across our network with this expansion – whether checking destinations off their bucket lists or setting off to their favourite winter getaways, we’ve put together an exciting range of options from tropical destinations across Mexico to the most popular ski slopes in North America."

New Winter Routes in Order of Start Date:

*Frequency varies—see AlaskaAir.com for the latest schedule information

.

Delta, Riyadh Air sign strategic agreement to expand connectivity and premium travel options across North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond

Delta Air Lines, the world’s leading premium airline, and Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's innovative new full-service global carrier, have signed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of introducing a broad range of benefits for customers travelling between North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and destinations beyond.

The partnership will open new destinations for Delta customers, including future nonstop service on Delta between the U.S. and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It will provide leisure travellers with a new region of the world to explore while creating new opportunities for business travellers to Riyadh, a G20 capital city, plus destinations beyond.

It will also offer Delta’s leading North American network for Riyadh Air customers, offering convenient access to hundreds of destinations in the U.S. and beyond with Delta’s famous reliability and elevated service.

. /

“We look forward to enjoying a very warm and productive relationship with Delta Air Lines, one of the largest and most successful airlines in the world. Riyadh Air and Delta Air Lines share common goals and pursue the highest standards in many areas including guest experience, loyalty, and sustainability, built upon great networks and strong connectivity,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas.
The agreement envisions a long-term relationship, subject to regulatory approvals, that includes interline and codeshare connectivity, as well as a deeper partnership encompassing loyalty, customer experience, digital transformation and broader aviation services such as maintenance, repair and overhaul services, ground handling and training. In the future, the airlines intend to explore an immunized joint venture to further expand the partnership and allow collaboration on network planning and growth in the region. Both airlines are committed to driving the best sustainability practices throughout their operations as they transform the future of travel.
The partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia and beyond for Delta customers, including future nonstop service on Delta between the U.S. and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It will provide leisure travellers with a new region of the world to explore while creating new opportunities for business travellers to Riyadh, a G20 capital city, plus destinations beyond. And it will offer Delta’s leading North American network for Riyadh Air customers, offering convenient access to hundreds of destinations in the U.S. and beyond with Delta’s famous reliability and elevated service.

The new partnership comes as large-scale, ongoing investments in the Kingdom are transforming it into a popular and attractive destination for both leisure and business travellers. Travel is central to the nation’s long-term economic growth plan, with an $800 billion investment in the tourism sector that includes development of luxury resorts on the Red Sea, the opening of the Diriyah and al-Ula historical sites to visitors, and the hosting of the 2030 Riyadh Expo.
Riyadh Air, which will begin operations in 2025, is committed to building a premier carrier for customers travelling to and from the Middle East, with its base of operations in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Delta, which will mark its 100th anniversary next year, is the most-awarded U.S. airline with an industry-leading global network and an unrivalled reputation for outstanding customer service and operational excellence.
“It’s fitting that Riyadh Air will begin its journey the same year that Delta launches our second century of flight,” Bastian said. “We’ll have many opportunities to learn from each other and become better airlines for our mutual customers, our employees, our investors and our communities as we fly forward together.” -

Saudi Arabia orders four additional Airbus A330 MRTTs

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ordered four additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Arabia Air Force (RSAF).

The first of these aircraft will enter into conversion at the beginning of 2026; they will enter into service and join the RSAF in 2027 to carry out air-to-air refuelling and transport missions.

"This new order demonstrates the high level of customer satisfaction with the A330 MRTT”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. "This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT, making the RSAF one of the largest MRTT operators in the world".

The contract also includes a logistics support package with spare parts, training services and service support for the new four aircraft.

All the RSAF A330 MRTT are configured with hose and drogue pods, boom system and also refuelling receptacles, which allows the A330 MRTT to be refuelled from boom-equipped tankers.

Industrial cooperation

As part of this contract, Airbus signed in January 2024 an Industrial Participation (IP) agreement with GAMI (General Authority for Military Industries) for the development and growth of the industrial ecosystem in the region in support of Vision 2030, a Saudi government programme that aims to diversify the country’s economy.

This agreement also includes the transfer of technology and know-how of the RSAF A330 MRTT to local companies. SAAMS, the joint venture created between SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) and Airbus, will be the main vehicle for industrial localisation.

The A330 MRTT is the most capable new-generation tanker and transport aircraft with a 90% market share outside the USA with 82 orders from 15 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Oceania.

A330 MRTT | Military Aircraft | Airbus Defence

.

Hawaiian Airlines announces early exchange results of its private exchange offer for its outstanding 5.750% senior secured notes due 2026 and consent solicitation

Hawaiian Airlines, this week announced that Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property, Ltd., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and HawaiianMiles Loyalty, Ltd, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, have released the early exchange results for their previously announced offer to exchange any and all of their outstanding 5.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 held by Eligible Holders, as defined below, for the Issuers’ 11.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 and cash.

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers are soliciting consents to the adoption of certain amendments (the “Proposed Amendments”) to the indenture governing the Existing Notes. Eligible Holders who tender their Existing Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer must also deliver Consents to the Proposed Amendments. Eligible Holders may not deliver Consents to the Proposed Amendments without also validly tendering their Existing Notes. 

As of the previously announced Early Exchange Time of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 9, 2024, according to information provided by Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the Information and Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation, $1,110,278,214 aggregate principal amount (or approximately 92.5% of the outstanding principal amount) of the Existing Notes had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer. Consummation of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation is conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer Materials (as defined below), including Eligible Holders validly tendering and not validly withdrawing at least $1,140,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes (the “Minimum Participation Condition”), provided however, that (i) if Eligible Holders shall have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at least $800,000,000, but less than $1,140,000,000, aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes, the Issuers may accept for exchange such Existing Notes in their sole and absolute discretion and shall have the right to waive the Minimum Participation Condition without extending the Withdrawal Deadline or Expiration Time and (ii) if Eligible Holders shall have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn less than $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes, the Issuers shall not accept for payment such Existing Notes and the Issuers shall not have the right to waive the Minimum Participation Condition. In addition, the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation may be terminated or withdrawn at any time, in the Issuers’ sole and absolute discretion, subject to compliance with applicable law.

Blackshape’s Gabriél BK160-200 Secures FAA Certification

Blackshape, known for its fusion of Italian aesthetics and cutting-edge technology, announces the Gabriél BK160-200’s esteemed FAA certification. This achievement emphasizes Blackshape's steadfast commitment to safety and innovative advancement. Moreover, it paves the path for the commencement of commercial deliveries, with the first batch of Gabriél BK160-200 aircraft set to be delivered to customers by the end of Q4 2024.

“We are proud to finally announce the achievement of this milestone, which certifies the value of the product and the entire company, now formally allowing Blackshape to enter the American aeronautical market both in the Certified category with the Gabriél and in the Experimental category with the same Gabriél as well as the Prime,” says Niccolò Chierroni, CEO of Blackshape. “Our development roadmap in the US is a priority, and we already have partners in the territory that enable us to be present at upcoming Airshows and to operate with a first-class commercial and maintenance network. The best is yet to come...”

.

Passenger numbers up in June for PLAY as Chief People Officer resigns

PLAY Airlines carried 173,109 passengers in June 2024, marking a 7.5% increase from June 2023, when the airline carried 160,979 passengers. The load factor in June 2024 was 86.0%, slightly down from 87.2% in June 2023. Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 8.8%, while revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increased by 7.3% between June 2023 and June 2024. 

Several factors contributed to a lower load factor this year, mainly the increased capacity of transatlantic flights from competing carriers. Despite this increase in competition, improvements are seen in key European markets. 

In June 2024, 31.9% of PLAY’s passengers were flying from Iceland, 24.3% were flying to Iceland, and 43.8% were connecting passengers (VIA).  

The share of passengers flying from Iceland increased from 29.8% in June 2023 to 31.9% in June 2024, reflecting PLAY's ongoing growth in its local Icelandic market.  

PLAY’s on-time performance reached 91.4% in June 2024, surpassing its annual target of 85% and improving significantly from 81.2% in June 2023. 

3rd Anniversary and Best Low-Cost Airline in Northern Europe Second Year in a Row 

PLAY celebrated its 3rd anniversary on June 24, having launched its first commercial flight from Iceland to London on June 24, 2021. Over the past three years, PLAY has expanded rapidly, growing from three aircraft in 2021 to ten aircraft and around 500 employees in 2024. The airline operated around seven destinations in 2021, which has now expanded to over 40 destinations in 2024. 

For the second consecutive year, PLAY airlines has been recognized as the top low-cost airline in Northern Europe by the prestigious World Airline Awards, based on customer satisfaction surveys conducted by the British company Skytrax since 1999. Additionally, PLAY has been listed among the top 100 airlines in the world for the second year in a row, moving up four places from 91 in 2023 to 87 in 2024. In 2022, PLAY was ranked number 167 on the same list. PLAY also ranked 3rd among the world's most improved airlines at the same event. 

Einar Örn Ólafsson, PLAY’s CEO said:  "We are pleased to see growth in our passenger numbers, although we had hoped for a higher load factor. This result reflects the increased competition in transatlantic flights and a reduction in tourists to Iceland is a direct result of a surge in marketing efforts from neighbouring countries above what we are experiencing out of Iceland. We firmly believe that a concerted effort from the tourism industry and substantial support from the authorities is needed to boost demand for flights to Iceland, as stated in our previous traffic report. With the right message and a powerful push, we can attract more visitors to experience Iceland's amazing natural wonders."

AerCap Holdings N.V. Announces Pricing of $750 Million Aggregate Principal Amount of Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Notes

AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company and AerCap Global Aviation Trust, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of AerCap Holdings N.V., priced an offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers' Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be issued with an initial interest rate of 6.950% per annum, to be reset on March 10, 2030 and every five years thereafter based on the then-prevailing five-year U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread of 2.720%. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured junior subordinated basis by the Company and certain other subsidiaries of the Company.

Sentient Jet Enters Into Multi-Year Agreement With NBC’s American Century Championship as Official Private Aviation Partner

                 Sentient Jet, a leading private aviation company and inventor of the jet card category announced a multi-year agreement with NBC Sports as the official private jet partner of the American Century Championship, the annual celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, July 10-14, 2024. As part of its collaboration, Sentient Jet will provide tournament players and exclusive participants from around the country with premium, customized access to private jet travel to and from Lake Tahoe. The announcement comes as part of a series of major initiatives Sentient Jet has announced this year to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Throughout Tournament Week, Sentient Jet will also host an array of events, including an intimate players-only Q&A with Andrew Collins, Co-CEO of Flexjet, Sentient Jet’s parent company and a Third Green celebrity refreshment area during the three competitive rounds at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. As a supporter of the American Century Championship, Sentient Jet’s longtime Brand Ambassador Bobby Flay will fly privately with Sentient Jet to take part in the annual event. Flay has hosted several Card Owner events such as Q&A discussions on his business, career, travel and more, since he became a Sentient Jet Brand Ambassador in 2016. This will be Bobby’s third appearance competing in the tournament – he previously played in 2002 and 2019.

United applies to boost services between San Francisco and Washington National Airport

The proposed new daily nonstop flight from San Francisco and Washington National will provide more options and flexibility for travellers.

 As well as easy connections to more than 30 destinations in United's network

United Airlines has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a new daily roundtrip flight between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

If approved, the new route will give customers more nonstop options between DCA and SFO and provide connections from SFO to about two dozen domestic markets within the Western U.S. – as well as seven international destinations. At least nine of these destinations are without United connection options to DCA via San Francisco today. Furthermore, United's proposed route seeks to avoid the busiest travel times at DCA, which is already one of the most congested airports in the country.

"With our hub in San Francisco, United is well positioned to serve the strong customer demand for air travel between Washington National and the Bay Area," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines. "If awarded by the DOT, this new service will give customers a unique morning departure from Washington National and a unique afternoon departure from San Francisco, as well as more connectivity for both domestic and international travellers via SFO."

United's proposed flight would avoid the most congested travel times at DCA and provide additional scheduling options to customers by offering for the first time a morning departure from DCA to SFO and an afternoon departure from SFO to DCA. United plans to use the Boeing MAX 8 aircraft, with 150 economy cabin seats and 166 total seats.

American Airlines submits application to U.S. Department of Transportation to serve San Antonio International Airport from Washington Reagan National

American Airlines has formally submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily, nonstop service between San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). The 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill was signed into law in May, awarding five new roundtrip flights serving DCA.

The city of San Antonio is the fastest-growing city in the United States and is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the country. It is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA, which is the most convenient airport for travellers visiting Washington, D.C.

American’s proposed service between SAT and DCA will complement the carrier’s more than 25 daily departures from SAT to seven cities across the U.S. In addition to offering convenient nonstop connectivity between San Antonio and the nation’s capital, American will offer one-stop connections via DCA to destinations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Canada.

“American is proud to submit an application to provide the only nonstop service between San Antonio and Washington, D.C.,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “This new service will expand American’s industry-leading domestic network connecting customers to the places they want to visit most.”

“Adding a nonstop route to Reagan National Airport is part of our efforts to expand air operations for the San Antonio region,” said Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the San Antonio Airport System. “We’re grateful to American Airlines for their shared vision to improve connectivity and for helping us elevate our service options with a route that will be especially beneficial to our business and military communities. This is yet another step in our commitment to modernize our airport and improve the traveler experience.”

“We have a historic opportunity to increase San Antonio’s access to the nation’s capital, which is particularly important for the members of our military community who rely on air connectivity for operational needs,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Nonstop access to the nation's capital will strengthen our economic ties with leaders in Washington, D.C. and enable greater collaboration with the Pentagon, other federal agencies and leading research institutions. We are grateful to American Airlines for partnering with us to establish this nonstop route that will greatly enhance our city's prosperity.”

For the only nonstop between SAT and DCA, American will use special flight numbers to commemorate the city’s rich history and significant military contributions. Flight 1718 recognizes the year San Antonio was founded and Flight 1947 celebrates the year the U.S. Air Force was established. American’s proposed operation is as follows:

Flight	Departure Airport	Departure Time	Arrival Airport	Arrival Time	Aircraft Type
1718	SAT	6:35 a.m.	DCA	10:59 a.m.	Airbus A321
1947	DCA	7:45 p.m.	SAT	10:20 p.m.	Airbus A321

American is prepared to support appropriate schedule adjustments that allow for the safe and efficient integration of its SAT-DCA service into operations at DCA and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area airspace.

AerCap had a busy second quarter 2024

AerCap Holdings had a busy second quarter of 2024, which saw the global leasing and aircraft management firm sign 162 lease agreements, including 6 widebody aircraft, 88 narrowbody aircraft, 47 engines and 21 helicopters.  Completed 47 purchases for 25 aircraft (including 2 Airbus A220 Family aircraft, 15 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 3 Airbus A330neos, 2 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, 1 Boeing 787-9 and 2 Embraer E195-E2s for AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio), 20 engines and 2 helicopters. 

Completed 37 sale transactions for 29 aircraft (including 4 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, 9 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 1 Airbus A330, 7 Boeing 737NGs, 2 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, 1 Boeing 777-300ER and 4 Embraer E190s from AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio and 1 aircraft from AerCap's managed aircraft portfolio), 7 engines (including 2 engines from AerCap's owned engine portfolio and 5 engines from AerCap's managed engine portfolio) and 1 helicopter. 

Repurchased approximately 3.9 million shares, at an average price of $88.66 per share, for a total of approximately $345 million.  Paid first quarterly cash dividend on ordinary shares of $0.25 per share.  Signed financing transactions for approximately $3.6 billion.

AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Memphis, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Dubai, Seattle, Toulouse and other locations around the world.

.