Aviation News

Trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) has called on Congress to pump more money into air traffic control (ATC) staffing amid ongoing controller shortages. Additionally, the group believes the modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) is a top priority to keep the United States at the forefront of aviation safety.

Spirit Airlines'website has indicated that passengers choosing the airline’s most basic fare option will now have to pay to change or cancel their flights, a reversal from its policy that it announced not even a year ago.

Two of Germany's largest and busiest airports are facing extensive operational disruption today as a result of strike action being taken by one of the company's biggest trade unions. Airport workers in Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf have walked out amid a wage dispute, with their absence resulting in widespread cancelations and delays. The strikes came about after recent wage negotiations proved fruitless.

The nomination of Steven Bradbury to become the Deputy Secretary of Transportation has split Democrats and Republicans at the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The surrounding discourse included questions about the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) actions – or inactions – during the Boeing 737 MAX crisis in 2018 and 2019.

The Trans-Tasman market between Auckland and Brisbane has gained a new fifth-freedom operator: Solomon Airlines.The little-discussed carrier became the city pair's fifth operator, joining Air New Zealand, China Airlines, Jetstar, and Qantas. Cirium Diio data shows this is the first time the market has had that many carriers since 2020.

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport from Los Angeles was forced to return on Saturday night after smoke was detected in the galley, according to CNN. Flight DL43, which had departed from Los Angeles International Airport at approximately 21:00 local time, was just 30 minutes into its journey when the decision was made to turn back.

In a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Thursday, the Trump administration's nominee for deputy secretary of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) said that the government "needs to be tougher" on Boeing following production delays with many government and civilian aircraft.

Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines (SN) currently lacks long-haul capacity. It has signed an agreement with Air Europa to provide some excess capacity on its New York route to free up an Airbus A330. That aircraft can then be deployed elsewhere on Brussels Airlines’ network, mitigating some of the impact of the partly grounded fleet.

Atlas Air and DHL Express plan to dissolve their joint venture, Polar Air Cargo, according to a report by Cargo Facts.

Reuters reported that Airbus may be unable to raise A350 output above six per month in 2025, while the A350F freighter program will be delayed by up to twelve months. While Airbus does not comment on the faltering Boeing 777X project, Airbus has been quietly cashing in by securing increasing orders for the A350 Family and had planned to double monthly production to 12 by 2028.

Virgin Atlanticand WestJet have expanded their codeshare agreement, with the two making adjustments after the former’s plans to launch direct flights to Toronto, Canada.

At the Barclays 42nd Annual Industrial Select Conference, among other musings, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle suggested cutting jet bridges from airports. The thinking is to speed up aircraft turns and improve utilization of the Frontier Airways fleet.

In remarks to a CITI investor’s conference, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet doubled down on defending the F-35 Enterprise. With the implicit threat of investor and innovator extraordinare Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) coming for the F-35 Enterprise, Taiclet laid out the case for the F-35 to Citi's 2025 Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference.

Security procedures in United States airports underwent monumental changes following the events of September 11, 2001. Increased security prevented non-ticketed individuals from crossing security checkpoints, transforming once-friendly terminals into areas strictly reserved for traveling passengers.

Two of the United States 'Big Three' airlines have requested that the Department of Transportation (DOT) modify operations in South Africa. Delta and United are looking to increase their services to Cape Town and decrease services to Johannesburg to cater to seasonal demand.

Emiratesmight be one of the most iconic airlines of all time. The Dubai-based carrier has built a brand centered on luxury and long-haul flights. From its massive hub at Dubai International Airport, the airline connects passengers across the world with its fleet of widebody aircraft. And it does so with style, as the airline offers one of the most luxurious onboard products of any carrier in the world.

Airbus, one of the world's leading aerospace firms, believes it could be facing delivery delays in the United States as a result of the Trump Administration. The European aircraft manufacturer plays a huge role in the aviation market, supplying narrowbody and widebody jets for some of America's largest airlines. These delays could impact upcoming airline schedules.

A JetBlue pilot was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday, February 20, after authorities identified an active warrant for his arrest in North Carolina, ABC News reported. Jeremy Gudorf, 33, of Ohio, was detained just before he was scheduled to pilot a flight from Boston to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. The arrest stems from charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

Delta Air Lines is addressing false claims circulating on social media regarding the qualifications of the flight crew involved in the crash of Endeavor Air Flight 4819. The incident, which took place on February 17, 2025, at Toronto Pearson International Airport, resulted in injuries to 21 passengers. All 80 people aboard the regional jet survived.

The flag carrier of New Zealand has warned that up to 11 aircraft, equating to one-fifth of its fleet will remain grounded in the second half of 2025 due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce engine troubles. These headwinds have seen the carrier axe its direct service from Auckland to Seoul and a reduction of other frequencies.