Aviation News

At the 2025 Air & Space Forces Warfare Symposium, RTX Corporation - a key aircraft systems developer that works on everything from avionics to weapons - kindly gave an update on a key weapons program in StormBreaker and also their new Active Electrically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar in PhantomStrike as well as the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ).

On March 30, northern carriers, including Virgin Atlantic,switched to summer schedules based on IATA slot seasons. Hundreds of routes began or resumed around then, a handpicked selection of which will appear in my Weekly Routes article on April 1. See last week's edition here.

Airbus has announced that Taiwan’s China Airlines has finalized an order for ten A350-1000 aircraft, a deal that the airline disclosed in December 2024.

The onset of coronavirus had huge implications for airlines around the world, as the sudden and sharp drop in passenger demand hit carriers' finances hard. While the commercial aviation industry has been in a state of stability and even growth in recent years following life's return to post-pandemic normality, it has taken airlines a little while to catch up to where they were financially before the health crisis hit. Still, Virgin Atlantic has turned a major corner with its first post-COVID profit.

Hawaiian Airlines is undergoing a significant change in its operations and business structure. Having recently finalized a merger with Alaska Airlines, the carrier has also embarked on a fleet and network development program.

BOC Aviation, an aircraft lessor within the Bank of China (BOC) Group, has ordered 120 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, splitting the order between 70 and 50 jets of their best-selling narrowbody families, respectively.

It was recently reported that two air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., got involved in a physical fight in the control tower. And it has now emerged that the Federal Aviation Administration has put a controller on administrative leave as it investigates the incident.

Canadian carrier WestJet recently announced an end to its all-cargo operations. The airline, which mainly focuses on passenger transport, was not able to create long-term viability for its cargo branch in a relatively small market and a cooling-off cargo industry. The carrier now must decide what to do with its converted freighter aircraft, which are not in high demand.

An Atlanta-bound Delta Air LinesBoeing 757-200 diverted to Phoenix on Sunday after the crew was alerted of a possible mechanical issue. The aircraft, which had departed from Orange Country, was about 45 minutes into its journey when the crew rerouted.

A couple of weeks ago, a fire at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) created a power outage, which had a multifaceted impact on the commercial aviation industry. With flights disrupted and passengers displaced for days, it is unsurprising that airlines were quick to indicate that there would be a negative financial impact resulting from the incident. While in the short term, the fire forced Heathrow to shut down for more than 24 hours, the long-term impacts of this incident have yet to be fully discussed.

Recently, Southwest Airlines announced that it would be ending its decades-old policy of offering passengers two free checked bags. This is one of many moves taken by the airline, which has for around six months been under the heavy influence of activist investment management firm Elliott Management, to help the carrier turn its streak of poor financial performance around. The airline has taken several steps in recent months to help reduce its operational cost footprint and improve its financial performance.

Linhas Aéreas de Angola, also known as TAAG Angola Airlines, has set its sights on launching a new US route between Angola and Houston, Texas, by 2027, according to a report by Ishrion Aviation. The news comes shortly after the airline welcomed the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into its fleet.

Just a few days ago, on Wednesday, March 26, an Embraer E195-E2 flown by Helvetic Airways on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines touched down at the small London city airport (LCY). This occasion marks the first commercial E195-E2 flight at the airport, but also makes it the largest jet to commercially operate there.

American Airlines has removed flights from Los Angeles to Flagstaff between October and December, potentially indicating that it will not return to the route it began in 2024.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus hopes for global improvement in air traffic management (ATM). The news comes in the wake of the tragic mid-air collision that occurred on January 29, 2025, with American Airlines.

United Airlines has announced a major expansion of its facilities in Houston, Texas, including breaking ground on a new ground service equipment (GSE) maintenance facility that should open in 2027.

A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Saturday after an electrical burning smell reportedly filled the cabin. The incident occurred just a few minutes after takeoff, prompting the crew to reroute.

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, has drawn attention for implying that the Irish low-cost carrier may consider buying planes from China if the price were right, according to Skift, a travel industry news site.

US airline trade association Airlines for America (A4A) has warned Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) it will take legal action if the airport goes ahead with planned flight reductions. The airport is looking to cut over 4% of flight movements as it tackles noise pollution, but US airlines have said they will contest the flight cap in court, arguing that the 'Balanced Approach' ethos has not been met sufficiently by the airport.

Alaska Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci said that the carrier is eyeing service to Europe in 2026 following its recent venture into the long-haul market thanks to its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.