Aviation News

The first Boeing 787 was delivered to launch customer All Nippon in September 2011 and started carrying passengers towards the end of that month. It was the 787-8, the smallest variant. It remains in service with Air Japan, All Nippon's lower-cost unit.

Southwest Airlines boasts an impressive domestic network. The budget carrier, which is known for its free checked bag and flexible ticket policies, has expanded its footprint across the United States of America and beyond. In key markets across the United States, including popular leisure destinations like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Tampa, Southwest has solidified itself as a major competitor and an airline of choice for passengers.

Welcome to my 157th weekly routes article! I have analyzed some subjectively exciting services that took off between February 11 and 17 (unless stated). Click here to see my last jam-packed article!

The European Network Airlines Association (ENAA) has called for the European Commission (EC) to investigate the European Union’s (EU) Open Skies agreement with Qatar, citing the corruption scandal known as ‘Qatargate,’ which rocked European politics in December 2022.

American Airlines transported 8.4 million passengers between the US and Europe in the 12 months to November 2024. That's based on examining the latest US Department of Transportation data. It was the third-largest operator after Delta Air Lines (11.3 million) and United Airlines (10.8 million).

Delta Air Lines experienced some of the most bullish growth of any carrier globally in 2024, with its stock providing returns to investors that were off-the-charts and major executives promising further growth in the coming months. Alongside promising its best financial year on record, Delta executives were quick to point out their belief that expansion would be the key to the airline's continued success, and in the early months of 2025, we have been able to get an idea of where the carrier might plan on expanding further.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA) has certified the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine sub-types that will power the Airbus A321XLR, a development confirmed by the company’s representative.

A White House official has speculated that the new Boeing VC-25B aircraft, which the plane maker has been reworking since March 2020, could be delayed beyond 2029, potentially resulting in Donald Trump, the incumbent President of the United States, not being able to fly on the aircraft as President.

The long overdue Boeing777X program resumed certification testing last month after a five-month hiatus. The manufacturer was originally given the green light by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin certification flights in July last year. But in another setback to a program that has been plagued by delays, these flights were paused after issues were found with a thrust link after a test flight in Hawaii.

With the challenges of the pandemic now sitting firmly in the past, the aviation industry continues to boom as it recovers from the difficult years of the early 2020s. The exact rate of recovery depends on the market in question, but, in several airports and even countries as a whole, traffic levels are already exceeding their pre-COVID peak. However, this is not the case in Germany, as Ryanair highlights.

American Airlines has reached a settlement with the family of a Charlotte teenager who was secretly recorded while using the bathroom on a 2023 flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Boston Logan International Airport, according to ABC's Charlotte television station, WSOC-TV. The civil lawsuit, filed by the victim's parents, claimed a gross violation of their daughter’s privacy when flight attendant Estes Carter Thompson III allegedly taped his cell phone to the inside of a toilet lid to record her in the lavatory.

Allegiant continually seeks out unserved leisure-only routes that it serves on a low-frequency, under-the-radar basis. Until these links began, most of them had never had any operator.

The year 2025 will be instrumental in Southwest's history. At the behest of shareholder Elliott Investment, the carrier will implement multiple developments to attempt to arrest lackluster financial performance. Thus far, it has started its first overnight flights and introduced a codeshare agreement with Icelandair. Other coming changes include assigned seating (ending its open seating policy) and premium seats.

The Lufthansa Group has announced that members of the group’s loyalty program, Miles & More, can now earn points on ITA Airways flights, with the same reward system being implemented on the Italian airline’s itineraries.

One source reported in late January that Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT) had hoped to replace the Ukrainian Antonov An-124 for a particular NATO program. However, those hopes never materialized…

Qatar Airways currently flies the Airbus A380 from its Doha hub to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Perth, and Sydney.

Double-decker seating may seem like a wacky concept in the context of an aircraft cabin, though it could now be one step closer to reality. Startup Chaise Longue, looking to bring double-decker seating to widebody aircraft, announced that it has begun working with Airbus to explore double-decker seating options for the European planemaker's aircraft.

Qantashas announced that its regional brand, QantasLink, will add more capacity in Southern Australia by basing the larger De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 at Adelaide Airport (ADL).

Many federal employees continue to get pink slips under the Trump Administration, which is looking to trim down the federal workforce significantly. This is part of a larger plan in which the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is carefully examining several government departments in an effort to reduce federal staffing numbers.

For fans of cargo jets, or romantic avgeeks looking to pick up a late Valentine's Day present, German memorabilia company Aviationtag has just revealed its latest product. The firm is now selling aircraft skin tags made from a former DHL Boeing 757 freighter, which will instantly stand out when attached to their owners' keyrings, luggage, and just about anything else, on account of their distinctive yellow color.