Aviation News

Yesterday, a man was charged with making a false bomb threat on a Hawaiian Airlines flight, after reportedly telling a flight attendant that the passenger next to him had a bomb. The Navy Electronics Technician 1st Class John Stea, 35, was arrested and charged. As a result of Stea's actions, nearly 300 people onboard were deplaned and transported by bus to a secure area while the aircraft and all luggage were cleared.

Avelo Airlines launched a new route Wednesday with its first connection to Maine’s Portland International Jetport (PWM). The new nonstop service originates from Avelo's base at Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). The route will operate twice-weekly through the summer, flying on Sundays and Thursdays. Avelo will utilize its smaller Boeing 737-700s on the route.

On Tuesday, May 20th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an interim order that would reduce the flight arrival and departure rates at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). This order comes following multiple weeks of operational struggles at the facility, in which air traffic control screens went dark and massive delays followed as a result.

With more overseas flights than any other US airline, United Airlines is the biggest carrier in the world. Next summer, United will provide 800 daily flights to and from 147 overseas locations, 40 of which are not served by any other American airline. United is the only American airline to fly to Porto, Ponta Delgada, Madeira Island, and Faro, and it will now serve five destinations in Portugal, more than any other US airline.

Starting May 28, 2025, Southwest Airlines will require passengers to use power banks and portable charging devices in plain sight while onboard. Southwest will be the first US carrier to implement the policy following several onboard incidents involving lithium-ion batteries.

Ryanair has asked some of its cabin crew in Spain to return the salary increases paid out since October 2024, following a legal battle involving two rival unions. The dispute stems from a pay deal agreed between the airline and the Spanish union Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), which was later ruled invalid by Spain's High Court.

Aer Lingus,Iberia, and Wizz Air UK now use the Airbus A321XLR. As of May 21, they have seven aircraft: Aer Lingus and launch customer Iberia have three frames each, while Wizz Air has one. Of course, these numbers will change quickly as deliveries ramp up.

A luxury Boeing 747-8 owned by the Qatari Royal family was officially gifted to the US on Wednesday. The Department of Defense reportedly confirmed that the jumbo jet would be used as a new Air Force One for President Trump.

Lufthansa has been forced to cancel a flight from Hyderabad to Frankfurt as the Boeing 787-9, operating the flight, had to abort its takeoff during the takeoff roll, resulting in deflated tires.

Etihad Airways has started 2025 on a high note by recording its highest-ever profit for the first quarter of the year. In a period when the carrier also grew its fleet and workforce while customer satisfaction rose, the Abu Dhabi-based UAE flag carrier had plenty of reasons to be cheerful in the first few months of the new year. Alongside almost a thousand new hires, it has also promoted hundreds of staff.

Norse Atlantic has published its latest financial results, with the long-haul low-cost carrier citing strong revenue growth from its now-mixed business model, which includes scheduled and wet leased operations.

Following a recent agreement between the UK government and the European Commission, UK passport holders are set to regain access to automated e-gates at more European airports. The expansion is tied to the rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border platform set to replace manual passport stamping for eligible non-EU nationals, including British travelers.

Southwest is the US's third-largest carrier by passengers. In the 12 months to February 2025, US Department of Transportation data shows it carried 173.4 million passengers. Only American Airlines (223.1 million) and Delta Air Lines (199.0 million) surpassed it. Southwest's traffic was -1.8% lower compared to the year to February 2024, partly because of lower demand and greater uncertainty.

It has happened again. Newark Liberty International Airport just experienced its fourth air traffic control (ATC) outage in the past month. Controllers at the troubled Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) area, which manages arrivals and departures for Newark, lost radio frequencies for a brief period yesterday, leaving them unable to communicate with aircraft.

On May 19, 2025, RTX, a massive defense conglomerate previously referred to as Raytheon Technologies, was reported to be resuming talks this upcoming Thursday with 3,000 striking employees. Those on strike are workers at Pratt & Whitney, a US-based aircraft engine manufacturer. These employees have been on strike for three weeks, mostly as a result of general unhappiness over the terms of their employment.

Wizz Air has taken delivery of its 1st Airbus A321XLR during an event at Airbus' Hamburg Finkenwerder site in Germany. The aircraft is the first of 47 due to be taken by the airline. While this may not be the first Airbus A321XLR to have been delivered to an airline, it does still tick a number of boxes. Firstly, it is the first of these aircraft to be powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, but also the first one to be delivered with a low-cost carrier cabin.

United Airlines is facing significant onboard catering challenges at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) following a recent switch to a new catering provider. What was expected to be a smooth transition has resulted in service disruptions and frustrations among passengers and crew.

Southwest Airlines has issued the voting results following its annual shareholder meeting, with the airline’s shareholders approving every nominated candidate to its board, including five members that were appointed following the carrier’s truce with Elliott Investment Management (Elliott).

Welcome to my 168th weekly routes article! It includes eight mini-stories about subjectively exciting services that took off between May 12 and 19. Many dozens of routes worldwide started in the examined period. However, as always, only a selection of intriguing additions is covered.

On May 16, American Airlines flight 1884 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) diverted to Nashville International Airport (BNA), after the crew reported hydraulic problems. Upon the final approach to Nashville, the crew advised that they would stop on the runway, and requesting emergency services to stand by. 40 minutes after the decision to divert, the landed safely.