Aviation News

In December, Brussels Airlines announced changes to its Africa route network for the upcoming aviation summer season. The airline added plenty of capacity to its existing route network. Hidden beneath, though, was the carrier's decision to suspend flights between Brussels, Belgium and Luanda, Angola - its longest route. The aircraft on the route will be deployed elsewhere, facilitating additional expansion by bolstering frequencies on existing routes.

US airlines are pursuing further legal challenges following a US appeals court ruling that granted the Department of Transportation (DOT) the authority to establish rules for disclosing airline fees, according to a report by Reuters.

Lufthansa has continued to look to diversify its revenue income, exploring potential destinations in Asia, Africa, and South America to avoid being over-reliant on a single intercontinental market, namely North America.

With concerns about a supposed “kill switch” to the US President Donald Trump’s views on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO), the new Carney Administration in Canada is considering whether to continue F-35A purchases to replace their aging F/A-18A Hornets. Additionally, the Portuguese have decided to replace their aging F-16 Vipers with another fighter jet instead of the F-35. However, finding a fighter jet that does not have American avionics or engines severely limits these NATO nations’ options to the Saab JAS 39 Gripen and Dassault Rafale pictured above.

It seems that the sins of the past will keep coming for Boeing, with the US Federal Aviation Administration issuing a proposed directive that would require inspections of 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 airliners to address excessive gaps in the front of the aircraft. The document was released this week and refers to nonconformances found in the forward pressure bulkhead.

The Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a nonprofit government watchdog organization, is urging the US Department Of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (OIG) to look into whether the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) violated federal conflict of interest laws in its dealings with Elon Musk's satellite communications company, Starlink.

Long Island MacArthur Airport,formerly called Islip (hence the IATA code ISP), will welcome its fifth airline—Avelo—in May. Avelo will operate three airport pairs that have not been served before. It follows the arrival of JetBlue in October 2024, the first time it has served MacArthur.

It might surprise you that LOT Polish will become Toronto's leading European airline by flights this summer. This is because it will offer a record 15 weekly departures—up to three daily flights—overtaking other carriers with 'only' 14 weekly services (double daily).

AEGEAN, the flag carrier of Greece, has ordered eight additional Airbus A321neo aircraft, bringing its total A320neo family aircraft commitments to 58, which includes already-delivered jets.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union in the US and representing TSA workers, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for ending collective bargaining.

The Swiss leisure carrier Edelweiss has taken delivery of its first—and the country's first—Airbus A350. The A350-900 is registered HB-IHF, is 5.3 years old, and is ex-LATAM. Flightradar24 shows that it arrived in Zurich—the only Swiss airport Edelweiss serves—from Lourdes, France, on March 13. It is scheduled to enter commercial service on April 1.

With Southwest Airlines departing from its age-old policy of two free checked baggage, there’s been a barrage of opinions on the matter. While many Southwest passengers who were used to this policy may feel dismayed, the carrier has assured that several other changes will continue to attract customers. Southwest has also decided to inject some humor into the development by referencing the recent Dallas Mavericks’ decision to part with its star player, Luka Doncic, in a social media post.

During the recent Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA’s) 2025 Warfare Symposium, Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky offered a Subject Matter Expert or SME in David "Rum" Morgan to discuss the ongoing deployment of the United States Air Force’s newest rescue helicopter in the Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II.

After years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aviation has certainly increased its concern surrounding communicable diseases and air travel. This week, that concern was heightened at Los Angeles International Airport after health officials confirmed a person infected with measles is known to have passed through the airport.

An American AirlinesBoeing 737-800 caught fire at Denver International Airport (DEN) on Thursday. The aircraft was parked at gate C38 when the incident occurred, prompting an emergency evacuation.

Lockheed Martin is using 3D printing to help deliver a new multi-role delivery package in Common Multi-Mission Truck or CMMT, pronounced “COMET”. In conversation with Michael Rothstein, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Air Weapons and Sensors, Missiles, and Fire Control; Simple Flying learned more about this futuristic delivery system.

It is hard to believe that Avelo's first passenger-carrying service was in April 2021. In the subsequent four years, its fleet has grown to 20 aircraft, although that's still a modest number. It has 12 189-seat Boeing 737-800s and eight 149-seat 737-700s. With an average age of 16.8 years, they are less fuel-efficient and more maintenance-heavy than newer alternatives but much cheaper to acquire, meaning they don't have to be used as often.

United Airlines recently undertook one of the most ambitious international network expansions in modern airline history. Over the past two years, the airline has added over a dozen different new routes to destinations across the globe, many of which are traditionally lower-volume leisure destinations. One of the most notable examples of such an airport is United Airlines' seasonal service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK). This non-stop flight connects the airline's principal East Coast gateway with a travel destination in North Africa that has only continued to grow more popular with travelers.

Thanks to American Airlines'extensive network to Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, it is the United States' second-largest international operator. Cirium Diio data shows that it plans an average of 372 daily international takeoffs during the northern aviation summer (March 30 to October 25 based on IATA slot seasons), varying from as few as 307 to as many as 452.

On March 11th, 2025, US-based commercial aircraft manufacturer Boeing indicated that it had delivered 44 aircraft in February, which marked an increase in production from the 27 it delivered the month prior. The aircraft builder has noted that it will work to stabilize and then increase production of its Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 787 models, according to Reuters. This figure fell slightly behind January's number when the planemaker's 45 deliveries were the company's best for a single month since 2023, after a period marked by continued production delays.