Aviation News

As a result of the fatal accidents caused by manufacturing faults in two 737 MAX jets, Boeing has been accused of deceiving the FAA during the MAX planes' original certification process. Recent news from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates that Boeing has withdrawn its guilty plea, and a resolution may have been reached that avoids the Boeing Corporation being prosecuted for felony charges.

Alaska Airlines has big plans for the future of its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), a facility that could soon become the linchpin of the airline's proposed global network. Following up on the success of JetBlue's expansion into transatlantic markets, it is not surprising that Alaska Airlines has some ambitions of becoming a transpacific carrier, one that might look to connect the United States West Coast with destinations across East Asia.

United States aviation safety regulators have proposed temporary limits on flights to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), amid continued operational struggles. The proposed restrictions would see no more than 28 arrivals per hour at the facility, in an attempt to eliminate delays following multiple weeks of radar and radio outages that have wreaked havoc on the airport's operations.

Asiana Airlines has prolonged its Airbus A380 flight schedule on the route between Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Sydney Kingsford International Airport (SYD), Australia. According to the aviation analytics company Cirium, the South Korean airline will extend its A380 schedule by two additional months, instead of the three previously planned.

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon Turkish Airlines'investor relations presentation for the first quarter of 2025. The call, which took place at the end of March, details both the airline’s financial and operational performance as well as its outlook for the rest of the year. Lo and behold, Orlando remained strong on the carrier’s list of possible new destinations in the future.

Spirit Airlines has reduced its flight numbers by 25% during peak summer months, which are considered the most lucrative period for carriers across the world. According to the aviation analytics company Cirium, the low-cost airline will operate 59,304 flights from June 1, 2025, through August 31, 2025, a notable decrease from 80,003 flights during the same period last year.

United Airlines plans to reopen its business class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). A document released by the Hong Kong government, first reported by Executive Traveller, revealed that the carrier’s flagship United Club will reopen sometime in June or July 2025.

This month, layoffs are expected at US Department Of Transportation(USDOT), as part of a wider government effort to reduce the overall number of federal employees. As reported on May 15, 2025, by CDLLife, referencing CBS, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told USDOT workers that layoffs, or reductions in force (RIF), are coming soon. This comes following many USDOT employees accepting a deferred resignation program (DRP) offer.

The flying Kangaroo has announced for the second time in just a couple of weeks, a new non-stop direct service to New Zealand. Earlier this month, Qantas was proudly boasting its new route between Perth and Auckland. However, the end of the week was wrapped up with the news that a new seasonal service will connect Adelaide, South Australia, and the City of Sails ( Auckland Airport), New Zealand. The route, which will take off from October 31, and be served across the Southern Hemisphere summer season, until May 3.

The Australian High Court passed down a judgment in the Evans & Anor v Air Canada case on May 14. The one-page statement denies the claims by the passengers (appellants) that there should be no limit to the damages owed by Air Canada for injuries, pain, and suffering. The case results from an incident in 2019 in which 35 passengers were injured enroute to Sydney after a powerful strike of turbulence disrupted the flight and forced a landing in Hawaii.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the busiest airports in the US, with nearly 60 million passengers passing through it last year. But with 33% growth over the past decade and just three runways, the American Airlines hub has been outgrowing its capacity. Which is why Charlotte has invested in significant airport expansions, including the construction of a fourth parallel runway, set to come online in 2027.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has broken ground on a new $80 million air cargo facility designed to improve freight transport efficiency across Wisconsin and the Midwest. The development is being led by Texas-based real estate firm Crow Holdings and will transform the underused southern portion of the airport into a high-capacity freight operation.

On April 15, police removed a passenger from a flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) moments before takeoff. A TSA officer detected an image of a firearm during screening at a security checkpoint. However, before the gun and the bag it was within could be confiscated, Besnik Ismajlaj, a 52-year-old man, reached inside the X-ray machine, grabbed the bag, and left for his flight. The incident was recorded on a police body camera and reported by Local 12 on May 13.

On Thursday, American Airlines announced the start of a new 'Main Cabin Energy’ promotion with its AAdvantage rewards program. The promotion offers members one-way domestic flights for a low number of reward miles. Over one million Main Cabin seats on domestic flights and one-way Main Cabin seats on transatlantic flights will be offered. The award tickets are redeemable on the American's website, and the promotion will be available through May 28.

In order to tackle the issues of air traffic control staff shortages and insufficient training found in recent years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun delivering Tower Simulation Systems (TSS) to increase the number of sufficiently trained staff available to airports. The FAA announced the continued rollout of TSS, which is part of US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s plan to increase air controller staff levels.

Exactly 88 years ago, United Airlines operated its first flight from Denver. Since the airline launched operations out of the Mile High City, the carrier has continued to grow its presence in the market, and it is today the largest airline operating flights to and from Denver International Airport (DEN). A legacy carrier, United Airlines, efficiently serves the business travel demand that flies in and out of Denver while catering to regional traffic connecting through the hub.

British Airways has been fined $4.2 million (£3.2 million) after two baggage handlers were injured in separate falls at London Heathrow Airport. The incidents occurred in 2022 and 2023 and involved staff members using aircraft-loading equipment that lacked proper safety protection.

An Air Canada flight from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) was forced to divert to St John's due to an unruly passenger onboard. The flight eventually continued to its destination but arrived about three hours past its scheduled time.

May is a critical month for route launches between the US and Europe, especially from May 20 onwards. It's ahead of the all-important peak summer with the highest traffic and fares. Examining every service shows that 27 routes will begin this month, excluding seasonal resumptions. They include two one-offs: Global Airlines Airbus A380 service from Glasgow and Manchester to New York JFK.

During the pandemic, as some airlines struggled for survival, some saw opportunities to begin something that, under different circumstances, perhaps would not have been viable. One of those examples is Norse Atlantic, the long-haul low-cost carrier, which took over Norwegian’s Boeing 787s to have another shot at making the long-haul low-cost business model work.