South African Airways Enters Codeshare Agreement With Angola’s TAAG

The partners said the deal will boost intra-African connectivity and support expanded trade and tourism.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, December 06, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A South African Airways A340-300. (Photo: Shutterstock)

South African Airways has signed a codeshare agreement TAAG Angola Airlines, with the aim of enhancing regional and intercontinental connectivity.

The partnership strengthens the networks of both airlines, positioning Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Luanda as hubs for travel across Africa and beyond, South African said.

The deal also opens up convenient options for travelers wishing to reach Portugal and Brazil from South Africa.

New Connections to Europe and South America

South African will add its flight code to TAAG-operated flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Luanda, as well as on TAAG’s flights from Luanda to Lisbon and São Paulo, Brazil. TAAG will also gain access to key destinations in South African’s network, including Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Harare, and Lusaka.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in African aviation, strengthening connectivity across the continent and creating new opportunities for travelers (leisure and business),” SAA Group CEO John Lamola said in a statement. “By collaborating with TAAG, we are expanding our reach, enhancing passenger experience, and unlocking vital commercial pathways.”

The codeshare agreement enables both airlines to jointly market and sell tickets. As a result, travelers have a wider selection of destinations, the convenience of purchasing a single ticket in their local currency, and smoother connections with integrated check-in and baggage processes.

Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

Spirit Cancels Planned Pilot Furloughs

The temporary dismissals were supposed to take effect at the end of January.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 04:46 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Kevin Hackert)

Spirit is reversing course on plans to furlough hundreds more pilots early next year.

In a statement, the ultra-low-cost carrier said it is no longer moving forward with a previously announced furlough of 365 pilots, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 31, 2026. The airline did not give a reason for canceling the furloughs.

Spirit is also lowering the number of captains downgraded to first officers from 170 to 25.

Spirit has furloughed hundreds of pilots in an effort to contain costs since declaring bankruptcy for a second time in August. The airline has also rejected aircraft leases, withdrawn from underperforming routes and markets, and laid off some operations and corporate staff.

Last month, Spirit reached an agreement with the labor union representing its pilots to slash pay by 8% and decrease 401(k) defined contributions. Pay would be restored with a 4% increase on Aug. 1, 2028, followed by another 4% raise on Jan. 1, 2029.

The deal must be approved by Spirit’s pilots and a U.S. bankruptcy court to take effect.

Zach Vasile

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.

Livery of the Week: Wizz Air’s 250th Aircraft

Hungarian ultra low-cost carrier Wizz Air celebrates its 250th aircraft with a special livery.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

WIzz's CEO József Váradi, Airbus' Head of Commercial Europe Johan Pelissier and SMBC CEO Peter Barrett at the unveiling of the 250th aircraft special livery (Photo: Wizz Air)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

While in the U.S., carriers following the ultra-low-cost model are experiencing turbulent times and appear to struggle in their quest for a sustainable position in the marketplace, in other parts of the world, some have established themselves as solid market leaders.

One of them is Wizz Air, a Hungarian airline founded in 2004, now connecting 194 airports across Europe and the Middle East, and last year it carried more than 62 million passengers. The airline has recently added the 250th aircraft to its all-Airbus fleet, and it has decided to celebrate the event with a special livery created through a public contest.

Livery by Contest

Last September, the carrier launched a competition allowing anyone to submit a proposal for a livery celebrating the expansion of the fleet to 250 aircraft, with the winner to be rewarded with 1000 Euros in flight vouchers.

Wizz Air Airbus A321-271NX with special livery for 250th aircraft (Photo: Wizz Air)

The winning design features the number “250” before the “Wizz” stylized logo on the white part of the fuselage in the front, and a number of colored ribbons adorning the back part of the fuselage painted in the airline’s signature pink.

“The 250th aircraft is far more than just adding another aircraft to our fleet,” said Wizz Air’s CEO Joseph Varadi during the unveiling ceremony at the airline’s Budapest base. “It is a defining moment in Wizz Air’s history. It proves that our strategy is working, and our momentum now is stronger than ever.”

The airline is operating a fleet with a mix of A320 and A320neo jets, as well as A321s and A321neos and XLRs, and has a strong order book, which should double the number of aircraft in operation to 500 by 2033.

The latest addition to the fleet is an A321neo, registered as 9H-WMR, delivered to the Wizz Malta division of the airline on Nov. 20. The aircraft is configured in an all-economy high-density layout with a 28 to 29-inch seat pitch.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Vanni Gibertini

Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.

Expansion of Raleigh-Durham’s Terminal 2 Enters New Phase in January

The project is expected to be completed in 2032.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 03:47 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A distant view of Terminal 2 at Raleigh–Durham International Airport. (Photo: Sharkshock | Shutterstock)

Construction work on Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport will move inside the terminal starting in January, officials announced.

Early next month, crews will install a temporary floor-to-ceiling wall at the north end of the terminal, where construction will take place. The area will be closed off for about two years while workers expand the ticketing and international arrivals zones, add security checkpoint lanes, and upgrade the baggage handling system.

All ticket counters and security lanes will remain open during that time, the airport said.

Raleigh-Durham is expanding Terminal 2’s landside areas to help reduce congestion and bring down wait times. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2032.

The airport also plans to replace Runway 5L/23R, expand its customs facility, and add parking space. The broader capital improvement plan is expected to cost $2.5 billion.

Zach Vasile

Qantas Brings Final Long-Stored A380 Back to Service

Last superjumbo returns after nearly six years in storage and overhaul.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 01:20 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

VH-OQC's 12 year check completion with Captain Dirk Dahmen (Photo: Qantas)

Qantas has returned its final Airbus A380 to service, completing a multiyear effort to restore its superjumbo fleet. The aircraft, named Paul McGinness, arrived in Sydney on Dec. 2 after nearly six years out of commercial operation.

The 17-year-old jet – registered as VH-OQC – had been in storage since March 2020, when the Australian carrier grounded its superjumbo fleet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, it sat dormant at a few facilities, including Victorville, California, and Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft underwent extensive work following long-term storage during the pandemic. Qantas said the project represented the largest maintenance program in the airline’s 105-year history, involving more than 100,000 engineering hours across multiple facilities.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Qantas (@qantas)

Tasks included landing-gear replacement, structural inspections, systems testing, a full cabin refurbishment, and certification flights.

10 A380s

With its return, Qantas now has all 10 A380s back in service. The aircraft will operate as an additional spare during the holiday period before transitioning into scheduled flying. Beginning Jan. 1, it will support daily A380 service on the Sydney–Dallas/Fort Worth route.

Qantas A380s parked in storage at ComAv’s facility. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The restored aircraft features the airline’s standardized four-class layout with 14 First, 70 Business, 60 Premium Economy, and 341 Economy seats. Updates include refreshed cabin interiors and an upgraded upper-deck lounge consistent with the rest of the renewed A380 fleet.

Qantas said its A380s carried more than one million passengers in the past year.

Before the pandemic, Qantas had 12 A380s in service. Two have since been retired, according to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Southwest Cuts Outlook Over Government Shutdown, Fuel Costs

The carrier now expects full-year EBIT of about $500 million.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 01:08 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Southwest this week lowered its earnings forecast for 2025 over the recent federal government shutdown and the rising cost of jet fuel.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the airline said its full-year earnings before interest and taxes will be about $500 million, down from its prior expectation of $600 million to $800 million. Southwest did not say how much of that hit came from the shutdown alone.

Southwest, like all other U.S. airlines, was forced to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports in November as the shutdown cleared the one-month mark. The reductions were put in place to ease the burden on FAA air traffic controllers, who were working without pay.

The carrier said bookings have “returned to previous expectations” since the reduction order was dropped.

Delta reported Wednesday that the shutdown had cost it around $200 million in pre-tax profits.

Zach Vasile

Air Tanzania to Launch Dar es Salaam-Cape Town Service

Flights will start later this month.

Lorne Philipot

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 11:37 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Air Tanzania A220 (Photo: Airbus)

Tanzania’s flag carrier will introduce flights between Dar es Salaam and Cape Town later this month.

Air Tanzania will offer scheduled service between the two cities starting Dec. 11. The service, commencing during Cape Town’s summer peak season, supports travel demand and reflects the modernization and expansion of carriers in Africa.

Triangular Route

The Dar es Salaam-based airline will operate two flights per week on this new route. The service will operate as a triangular route, including a stop in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, before continuing to Cape Town. However, the flight will return directly to Dar es Salaam from Cape Town.

These flights will be operated with an Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

The new service opens up a gateway between Tanzania and Cape Town. Travelers from Cape Town can also connect, via Dar es Salaam, to various other destinations including Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Lagos, and even Guangzhou in China with Air Tanzania.

Lorne Philipot

Ground Stop Issued for Delta Flights in Detroit

The carrier reported a network outage, according to airport officials.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 10:10 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

A network outage disrupted Delta flights at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday.

In a statement released early Friday morning, airport officials said Delta initiated a ground stop in Detroit while it worked to resolve the problem. The ground stop was later converted to a ground delay, according to the FAA.

The issue was specific to Delta and did not affect other airlines.

Detroit is a hub location for Delta. It operates from the McNamara Terminal.

“The Wayne County Airport Authority team is in the McNamara Terminal handing out concession vouchers to affected passengers,” the airport said. “We’re committed to supporting our customers during this time.”

Travelers were advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

Zach Vasile

DFW CEO Says New Airport Development Not a Concern

Chris McLaughlin points to multi-airport metro trends as McKinney advances commercial terminal plans.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 07:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Terminal D at DFW Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin said this week that he is not concerned about the development of a new commercial airport within the DFW Metroplex, noting that large metro areas across the country often support multiple airports.

“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to some folks from McKinney, and I say this with love in my heart, but no — I’m not concerned,” he said at the Skift Aviation Forum this week. “[Major regions] are often served by multiple airports, and I think that we’re in a good place to remain competitive for the long haul.”

McLaughlin was appointed CEO of the U.S.’s second-busiest airport in May.

McLaughlin also addressed the impact of DFW’s $12 billion capital program on airline costs. He said the airport has coordinated closely with carriers, including American, which supported the investment plan.

“Even with the changes we’re making, we’re remaining consistent with our plan,” he said, adding that expanded aircraft capacity is expected to help balance long-term cost increases.

His comments come as McKinney National Airport moves forward with plans to introduce commercial service. The airport’s 46,000-square-foot terminal project is scheduled to open in late 2026 with four gates and the ability to expand to six.

Local officials have said the terminal is designed to support initial operations of about 200,000 passengers annually, with future growth planned as demand increases.

Renderings of McKinney Airport terminal (Photo: City of McKinney)

The project includes a new aircraft ramp, expanded parking, rental-car facilities, a dedicated access road, and space for additional infrastructure as service evolves. So far, McKinney leaders have indicated interest from one airline.

Ryan Ewing

American Plans World Cup Flights

The carrier will increase frequencies and swap in larger aircraft on some routes to accommodate travel between matches.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Boeing 737-800. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American Airlines is temporarily adjusting its summer schedule to better connect cities hosting matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The carrier said Thursday that it will increase the number of flights on certain routes and use larger aircraft to accommodate the expected spike in passengers in June and July.

The U.S., Canada, and Mexico are jointly hosting the tournament next year.

“American is ready with its game plan for the FIFA World Cup 26, adding an extra 27,000 seats on 12 routes this summer,” Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network planning, said in a news release. “With more flights to all host cities, we’re making sure fans don’t miss the chance to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime moment across North America.”

The routes with expanded and/or upgraded service are:

Boston and Dallas/Fort Worth: June 18-July 11; more flights and upgauged aircraft
Atlanta and Miami: June 16-July 17; more flights and upgauged aircraft
Philadelphia and Toronto: June 15-30; upgauged aircraft
Kansas City and Philadelphia: June 15-22; upgauged aircraft
Los Angeles and Seattle: June 13-July 8; upgauged aircraft
Atlanta and New York-LaGuardia: July 16-17; more flights and upgauged aircraft
Los Angeles and Vancouver: June 16-26; more flights
Dallas/Fort Worth and San Jose, California: June 17-27; more flights
Atlanta and Philadelphia: June 20-21; more flights and upgauged aircraft
Miami and Toronto: June 28-29; upgauged aircraft

American will also add new nonstop flights between New York-LaGuardia and Kansas City on June 21 and 22 and between Atlanta and Kansas City from July 8 to 13 for the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

According to FIFA’s official schedule, matches will take place between June 11 and July 19. The organization estimates that between five million and six million people will attend World Cup events in the three host countries.

American is the official North American airline of the event.

Zach Vasile