The carrier announced Thursday that it will serve Charlotte, North Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, Norfolk, Virginia, and Des Moines, Iowa, from Seattle. Three of the four cities – Jacksonville, Norfolk, and Des Moines – have never had nonstop flights to Seattle.
Currently, only American Airlines connects Charlotte and Seattle.
The Des Moines service will also mark Alaska’s debut in Iowa.
All four connections will operate daily, year-round. Flights to Charlotte and Norfolk will begin June 10, 2027, with Jacksonville and Des Moines launching later that month, on June 24.
Alaska will also offer seasonal service from Seattle to Guadalajara, Mexico, from March 18, 2027, to Aug. 9. Flights will operate three times weekly, using Boeing 737 aircraft.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Report: Google Accepts Privacy Safeguards for Spirit Data
Certain employee information, such as medical records, will be excluded from the $10 million sale.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the proposed sale will exclude personnel records, including medical files, results of drug and alcohol tests, performance reviews, payroll information, and grievance and arbitration filings.
Unions representing former Spirit pilots and flight attendants had objected to the inclusion of that data, noting Google’s plans to use the information to train its artificial intelligence models. The agreement reached this week resolves the unions’ concerns, the Journal said.
Google will still get most of the corporate information it originally sought, including millions of emails and Microsoft Teams chats, software code, and data related to revenue, operations, productivity, and other areas. An independent monitor will oversee the tech giant’s handling of the data and ensure privacy and security conditions are being met.
Google and Spirit initially planned to have an outside company “deidentify” the airline’s records. That process will still take place, though at a higher standard than Spirit intended to use, and Google will be prohibited from attempting to “reidentify” the data.
Spirit went out of business in May following a dramatic rise in jet fuel prices. The decision to auction off its internal records for use by AI was a first for the airline industry and opened up a new realm of contestation for workers and employers.
“Worker data privacy in the age of AI has become a whole new workers’ rights issue,” Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said in a statement. “Without our union, there would have been no one to speak for workers in this fire sale of their private information. We fought and we won brand new protections. Now we will take this issue to all of our employers to secure contractual protections and demand lawmakers protect workers everywhere through federal and state law.”
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
“For Philippine Airlines, this is a strategic addition to our North American network,” PAL Executive Vice President and COO Carlos Luis Fernandez said in a news release. “It expands our presence to the Midwest and provides more convenient access to one of the largest regional economies in the United States. We know that many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in Chicago, Illinois, and neighboring states have long looked forward to a direct and more convenient connection to the Philippines. We are proud to finally make this possible.”
Manila-Chicago service will operate three times weekly going forward.
PAL’s other U.S. destinations are New York-JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Honolulu. It also serves Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
United Bans AI Agents From Booking Flights For Customers
In the first such move by a U.S. airline, United will ban third-party AI from parts of its digital platforms and adjust its policies to prevent access via travel agencies and aggregators.
“Sharing account credentials with personal, third-party AI assistants can expose sensitive information, and actions taken by these tools may result in unintended purchases, account changes, or use of MileagePlus miles,” the airline said in a statement.
The carrier also said AI actions could violate FAA and Department of Transportation regulations. As an example, it cited the requirement that passengers confirm in person that their bags do not contain banned items, such as explosives.
“As a result, United is taking steps to restrict access, directly within our digital platforms and indirectly via travel agencies and aggregators, to prohibit use by unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents or assistants,” the statement continued. “This work includes updates to our booking, ticketing, and distribution policies.”
United said its stance is in line with companies in the banking and retail sectors. It is now “encourag[ing] others” to consider measures “that preserve the data and security of their customers and strengthen safety.”
The airline said it will update its Digital Trust Center to clarify the new restrictions.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Avelo Brings First Commercial Flights to McKinney
The carrier on Wednesday launched service to Fort Myers; other destinations will come online Thursday and next week.
Avelo operated its inaugural flight from McKinney National Airport in McKinney, Texas, on Wednesday.
Avelo Flight 1848, operated with a Boeing 737-800, was the first commercial airliner service from the airport to Fort Myers, Florida.
“We target the secondary airports of very large metropolitan areas where we can offer a different experience to the customers,” Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in an interview with AirlineGeeks.
McKinney is the third airport in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to offer commercial service, with Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport being the other two.
“For a lot of folks we’re going to be closer and a more convenient drive. And hopefully they’ll take advantage of that,” said McKinney airport director Ken Carley.
Carley said the airline has been wanting to be in the market since 2018. McKinney is the first new airport in Texas in 20 years to be certified for commercial air service.
“We had to build all this infrastructure because it did not exist. There was nothing on this side of the airport. So it’s not just this building, it’s the ramp and the taxi lane and all of that stuff, the taxiway that connects to the runway system. So it was a building, all the infrastructure, and meeting all those requirements,” Carley said.
Avelo signage marking the flight. (Photo: Matt Leighton)
The airport has six gates.
McKinney is about 30 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin County. Levy said the area is growing like crazy.
“What we’re going to offer people who live close to this airport is a very different experience than getting on the highways and driving all the way to DFW or going down to Love Field,” he said.
The Texas-based airline will serve 11 destinations from McKinney: Las Vegas, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Sarasota/Bradenton, Nashville, West Palm Beach, New Orleans, Denver, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale.
“I think it’s phenomenal that Avelo has announced additional routes before they’ve even started service. That’s a testament, I think, to what they’re seeing in the response they’re getting from for bookings. So they think it’s a strong market,” Carley said.
Levy said the approach was to offer a lot of selections and get a better sense of the market.
“All the markets we’re serving have massive proven demand from this area. And so of course, the trick for us is just to get people to know we’re here and then give us a try,” Levy said.
McKinney is a crew base for Avelo, its fifth, with pilots, flight attendants, airport operations personnel, and aircraft technicians, about 150 people behind the operation, Levy said.
“The demand will dictate how we grow, if we grow, and how fast we grow. This is going to be based on, do customers like the service? Does it resonate with them? Are we serving a need that exists every other place we’ve been? We don’t have any trouble filling up airplanes. I think this market is just going to do great, but time will tell, and the consumer will let us know,” Levy said.
“Our focus is on building a business that’s sustainable for the long term,” he added. “And that means everything we do has to work. It’s got to work well.”
Avelo currently offers service from DFW to New Haven, Connecticut. Levy said that service will continue but could move to McKinney at some point.
Matt is the Social Media Editor for aviation brands. Previously, Matt worked in television news and spent the last decade working and interning in newsrooms across New England. He is excited to bridge his two passions of aviation and storytelling in this role.
American Projects Busiest Thanksgiving Travel Period in Years
The carrier will operate around 85,000 flights between Nov. 19 and Dec. 1.
An American 787-8 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
American Airlines expects to fly over 8 million people in the days leading up to and following Thanksgiving.
The carrier said Monday that it will operate around 85,000 flights between Nov. 19 and Dec. 1. During that time, an American flight will depart every 13 seconds, officials said.
Thanksgiving this year falls on Nov. 26.
American said it will operate 7,021 flights on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29, making it the airline’s largest operating day since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At 11 a.m. Central Time on Nov. 20, 29, and 30, the carrier will have 1,130 flights operating simultaneously.
“Our team is ready for one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and we’re focused on delivering a safe, reliable operation so our customers can spend less time thinking about holiday travel and more time enjoying the holiday,” American Chief Operating Officer David Seymour said in a news release.
According to TSA data, the Sunday following Thanksgiving is often the busiest day of the year for air travel. The Tuesday and Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving also rank high, as do certain weekends in June and July.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Alaska, Hawaiian Pilot MECs Approve Tentative Joint Contract
The proposed agreement will now go before the combined membership for a ratification vote.
The proposed agreement will now go before the combined membership for a ratification vote.
Details of the agreement were not immediately available to the public.
Union officials said they worked to address the priorities of both work groups and have established a “contractual foundation for their future as a combined workforce.”
“This TA is the result of more than 600 days of challenging negotiations, countless hours of work by our volunteers, and an unwavering commitment to the pilots we represent,” Drew Coyle, the Alaska MEC chair, said in a statement. “Our Joint Negotiating Committee remained focused on the priorities of both pilot groups while working through some of the most complex issues facing our combined membership. Nothing about this process was easy. Now it’s our pilots’ turn to review the agreement, ask the tough questions, and decide whether it meets their expectations.”
Ratification voting starts Dec. 1 and closes Dec. 22.
Alaska and Hawaiian merged in 2024 and received a single operating certificate from the FAA in 2025. This effectively transformed Hawaiian from an independent airline to a brand under Alaska Air Group. Alaska has pledged to maintain Hawaiian’s brand identity, and Hawaiian retains a separate corporate leadership based in Honolulu.
The two brands have continued to integrate however, with Alaska now making use of long-haul aircraft originally owned by Hawaiian. Earlier this year, Alaska implemented a single passenger service system.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Aeromexico Adds New U.S. Routes, Flights
The new connections will come online in June 2027.
An Aeromexico Boeing 737 MAX. (Photo: Shutterstock | Bradley Caslin)
Aeromexico is again expanding its footprint in the U.S. with assistance from longtime partner Delta.
The carrier announced Monday that it will connect Mexico City with Nashville, Tennessee, New Orleans, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. None of the three cities currently has nonstop service to the Mexican capital.
All three connections will operate four times weekly. Service to Nashville will launch first, on June 13, 2027, followed by New Orleans on June 17 and San Juan on June 24.
Flights to Nashville and New Orleans will use Embraer E190 aircraft with 99 seats. For the route to San Juan, the airline will operate Boeing 737 MAX 8s with 166 seats.
Aeromexico will also launch a second daily service between Mexico City and Austin, Texas, on June 3.
“The addition of Nashville, New Orleans, and San Juan to our network will allow us to provide more connectivity options, bringing our customers closer to destinations known for their unique identity and remarkable attractions,” Giancarlo Mulinelli, senior vice president of global sales at Aeromexico, said in a news release. “Together with Delta, we continue to open markets and create more opportunities that strengthen tourism and ties between Mexico and the United States.”
Last month, the partners announced new routes from Mexico City to Orange County, California, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Portland, Oregon.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
The aircraft was formally handed over to the carrier on Tuesday in the presence of Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr and Lars Wagner, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus. Nicknamed “Deutschland,” the jet is Lufthansa’s 700th Airbus airplane, and the seventh in a special commemorative fleet bearing 100th anniversary liveries.
The white and dark blue designs feature an oversized crane, a symbol first used by predecessor Deutsche Luft Hansa.
Lufthansa Group has ordered a total of 15 A350-1000s. The first 10 will operate for the Lufthansa core brand, and will be based at its Munich hub.
“Deutschland” will fly to Munich on Wednesday, officials said, and operate its inaugural flight, to Tokyo-Haneda, on Dec. 3. The aircraft will also be Lufthansa’s first long-haul airplane equipped with Starlink satellite internet service.
“The fact that, as the world’s largest Airbus customer, we are taking delivery of our 700th Airbus aircraft exactly 50 years after the first Airbus delivery to Lufthansa, and in the year of our 100th anniversary, makes this a very special moment for us,” Spohr said in a statement. “Our partnership is a prime example of what Europe can achieve when it works together.”
Lufthansa’s -1000s will seat 300 passengers in four cabins – First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
A350-1000ULR Sets New Distance Record
The aircraft flew nonstop from Melbourne to Toulouse, France.
The crew of the record-breaking flight. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus’ A350-1000ULR has been officially recognized for breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest flight by distance by a commercial aircraft.
The record-breaking flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, France, took place in July and was widely reported on, but was only recently confirmed by Guinness using data validated by the International Aeronautical Federation and flightradar24.
The nonstop journey covered 12,503 nautical miles and lasted 24 hours and 24 minutes. The -1000ULR flew over Sydney and the Pacific on a north-easterly routing toward Los Angeles, crossed North America and the Atlantic, and passed over London on its way to Toulouse. According to Airbus, the 13 people on board witnessed two sunsets and two sunrises.
The crew included three Airbus flight test pilots, two pilots from Qantas, and five Airbus flight test engineers. Also on board were two Airbus design engineers and a representative from the IAF.
Airbus is developing the -1000ULR for Qantas’ Project Sunrise, a yearslong effort to connect the east coast of Australia with far-flung destinations such as New York and London. The manufacturer expects to deliver the first of the type in April 2027. Qantas is aiming to operate the first Project Sunrise flight, from Sydney to London, later that year.
The Australian flag carrier has ordered 12 -1000ULRs.
“In responding to the challenge laid down by Qantas, our teams came together to extend the range of the A350-1000 in an efficient and economically viable way to undertake the world’s longest ever commercial flights,” Lars Wagner, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus, said in a news release. “Flying 12,503 nautical miles non-stop, we have fully proven the aircraft’s capability to fulfill its mission. And the world record was the icing on the cake.”
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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