Jet2 to Launch Flights From London Gatwick

The leisure airline will add 29 routes from the airport next year.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Jet2 Boeing 757-200. (Photo: Shutterstock | Bradley Caslin)

Britain’s largest leisure airline, Jet2, will open up a base at London Gatwick Airport next year, allowing it to add over two dozen routes.

The country’s largest tour operator and third-largest airline will station six aircraft at Gatwick, including five new Airbus A321neos.

“Time and time again, we have proven that when we bring the Jet2 product to new customers, we delight them, and we subsequently expand our operations on the back of that popularity,” Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said in a news release. “We know that bringing the Jet2 formula to London Gatwick will be a game-changer for customers and we are looking forward to a hugely successful future from our newest U.K. airport base.”

The Leeds Bradford-based carrier will offer 29 new routes from Gatwick next year. These include destinations across Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. The first Jet2 flight from Gatwick will depart to Tenerife on March 26, 2026.

New routes from Gatwick include:

Fuerteventura – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
Gran Canaria – two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday)
Lanzarote – two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday)
Tenerife – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday)
Ibiza – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
Majorca – 10 weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday, and 2 x Sunday)
Menorca – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday)
Alicante – five weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Girona – three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday)
Malaga – four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Reus – three weekly services (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
Faro – 10 weekly services (Monday, 2 x Tuesday, Wednesday, 2 x Thursday, Friday, 2 x Saturday, and Sunday)
Antalya – three weekly services (Monday, Friday, and Saturday)
Corfu – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
Crete (Heraklion) – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
Kalamata – one weekly service (Wednesday)
Kefalonia – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
Kos – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
Halkidiki – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
Preveza – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)
Rhodes – two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday)
Skiathos – one weekly service (Tuesday)
Zante – one weekly service (Wednesday)
Malta – two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday)
Naples – two weekly services (Monday and Friday)
Verona – one weekly service (Wednesday)
Paphos, Cyprus – two weekly services (Monday and Thursday)
Pula – one weekly service (Saturday)
Bourgas, Bulgaria – two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday)

Jet2 will be the first major leisure airline to arrive at Gatwick since 2020. It is also the largest new airline to be based at Gatwick since 2000.

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.

Trump Admin Cancels Biden Plan to Reimburse Passengers For Delayed Flights

The USDOT dismissed the proposed rule as an unnecessary burden on the airline industry.

Zach Vasile

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 04:38 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A terminal in Miami. (Photo: Shutterstock | Khairil Azhar Junos)

The Trump administration on Friday formally withdrew a Biden-era directive that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for lengthy flight delays.

The U.S. Department of Transportation signaled it would do away with the proposed rule, which never went into effect, in early September. That decision was finalized this week, with the department arguing that the plan would have created “unnecessary regulatory burdens.”

The order is one of several consumer protection laws the Trump administration has canceled or considered canceling over the last year.

First put forward in 2024 under then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the compensation policy would have required airlines to pay passengers $200 to $300 for delays of at least three hours and up to $775 for delays of nine hours or more.

Carriers would only have been required to reimburse passengers if the cause of the delay was within their control, such as a mechanical issue with an aircraft or a problem with their booking and scheduling system.

Many airlines already compensate passengers for lengthy delays, but this process is typically initiated by travelers seeking refunds, and the payment, if any, is calculated and administered on an ad hoc basis, with no federal oversight.

Buttigieg said the rule would have standardized the compensation structure and eliminated “headaches and haggling” for passengers.

The Department of Transportation argued that airlines already have a strong incentive to accommodate passengers facing delayed flights and frequently offer reimbursements and credits without prompting from the federal government.

“The department is not convinced that a new regulatory regime that includes passenger compensation requirements would yield meaningful improvements in airline flight performance,” the DOT said.

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.

Kenya Blocks Imports of Fokker 27, Fokker 50 Aircraft

The country has begun phasing out the long-serving aircraft.

Victor Shalton

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 02:22 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Skyward Express Fokker aircraft (Photo: AMISOM/Omar Abdisalan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Kenya has moved to halt the entry of additional Fokker 27 and Fokker 50 aircraft into the country, marking a significant regulatory shift for operators that have relied on the rugged turboprops for decades. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) announced the restriction through Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 15/25, published on Oct. 31.

The directive — effective immediately — prohibits any new applications for type acceptance, registration, or Certificates of Airworthiness for both aircraft families. KCAA Director General Emile N. Arao said the decision was grounded in national airworthiness regulations and aligned with ICAO Annex 8 provisions, noting that Kenya must ensure only aircraft supported by acceptable type certification and manufacturer backing enter its register.

Existing Aircraft Can Continue—For Now

Although no new imports will be allowed, the decision does not abruptly ground aircraft already operating in the country. Operators may continue flying their existing F27s and F50s until the aircraft are deregistered or reach the end of their operational life. The continuation, however, is tied to strict compliance with all relevant safety and maintenance requirements pending consultations with industry stakeholders.

The KCAA has not publicly detailed the specific safety issues prompting the ban. Industry observers point to aging airframes, rising maintenance complexity, and diminishing global support as likely drivers. Fokker Aircraft ceased operations in 1996, and while Fokker Services Group maintains responsibility for the type certificates, operators worldwide report increasing difficulty sourcing spare parts and technical data for the legacy turboprops.

A Legacy Fleet Facing a Global Sunset

The Fokker 27 and Fokker 50 — once mainstays of regional aviation in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia — are approaching the end of their serviceable lifespans. Multiple regulators across the continent have already taken steps to limit or retire the types, citing sustainability and long-term safety considerations.

In Kenya, the aircraft remain active mostly in the cargo, charter, and regional passenger segments. According to ch-aviation fleet intelligence, more than 20 Fokker 50s and several F27 variants continue operating under Kenyan AOCs across eleven carriers, including Jetways Airlines, Renegade Air, Skyward Airlines, Freedom Airline Express, and others. Safari Express Cargo operates the only F27-400 in the country.

Skyward told ch-aviation earlier this year that operators had anticipated a regulatory phase-out and had already started adjusting fleet strategies. Despite this, some carriers hope to keep the type flying for several more years, depending on maintenance feasibility.

The ban does not apply to foreign-registered Fokker 27 and 50 aircraft performing overflights or technical stops in Kenya.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Philippine Airlines Expands U.S. Service

Additional flights will come online in June 2026.

Zach Vasile

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 01:52 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-300ER. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Philippine Airlines will increase the frequency of its nonstop service between Manila and Los Angeles from 14 times a week to 18 times a week to keep up with customer demand.

Starting June 1, 2026, the carrier will operate three round-trip flights between Manila and Los Angeles on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The current cadence of two flights per day will continue on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

“By increasing our capacity on this key route, we are opening doors for travelers to experience the world-class service and heartfelt hospitality unique to Philippine Airlines, while also supporting the dynamic economic relationship that drives opportunities between the Philippines and the U.S.,” PAL President Richard Nuttall said in a statement.

Philippine Airlines operates its Manila-Los Angeles route using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The carrier previously announced plans to increase the frequency of its Manila-Seattle service from three times to five times per week starting Nov. 25.

Within the U.S., Philippine Airlines also serves San Francisco, Honolulu, and New York-JFK.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: Royal Jordanian

The flag carrier’s refreshed design introduces subtle modern touches while preserving its long-standing visual identity.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Royal Jordanian Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

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.

Royal Jordanian has begun rolling out a revised livery that updates several elements of its long-used design while maintaining the core appearance the airline has carried for more than a decade. The refreshed look debuted on the carrier’s new Embraer E2 aircraft earlier this year and is slated to expand across incoming Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787-9 jets.

The updated livery keeps the airline’s charcoal-grey fuselage, red accents, and gold trim, but introduces an adjusted tail layout featuring the airline’s crown emblem in a more streamlined presentation. The tail update retains the familiar color palette while giving the vertical stabilizer a cleaner, more contemporary look.

Embraer delivered the E190-E2 jet to Royal Jordanian Airlines on Thursday. The navy green jet sports a decal marking the jet manufacturer’s 1,800th E-Jet delivery milestone. (Photo: Embraer)

One of the most visible changes is located underneath the aircraft. Royal Jordanian has added a large belly logo, designed to improve brand visibility. The application places the airline’s name and iconography prominently across the lower fuselage.

Aside from these modifications, the fuselage retains the basic pattern that has become associated with the Amman-based carrier, including the grey base and horizontal striping that runs along the cabin windows. The placement of the “Royal Jordanian” titles remains consistent with the prior design.

The updated livery is appearing first on the carrier’s newest aircraft as part of a broader fleet renewal and modernization effort. As additional E2, A320neo, and 787-9 deliveries arrive, the airline plans to continue applying the revised scheme.

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

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.

Pittsburgh’s New $1.7 Billion Terminal to Open Nov. 18

The facility has been under construction since 2021.

Zach Vasile

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 10:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

View outside of Pittsburgh International Airport. (Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport)

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new $1.7 billion landside terminal is set to open early next week, airport officials announced.

After over a decade of planning and four years of construction work, the terminal will open to the public on Nov. 18. It replaces a much older concourse that was originally designed as a US Airways hub for connecting passengers.

The new facility includes 12 TSA lanes, a wing for international arrivals, space for 20 new shopping and dining stands, a more efficient baggage delivery system, and a welcome point for visitors greeting arriving passengers. Airport leaders expect the terminal will streamline security operations – currently split between main and alternate checkpoints – and cut baggage wait times in half.

Earlier this year, the terminal was subjected to “stress tests” involving over 2,000 participants, who provided feedback and helped planners refine certain features, like the layout of security stanchions.

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal under construction in 2024. (Photo: Designism via Wikimedia Commons [https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/])

The development also includes a 3,300-space parking garage, outdoor terraces, and a pedestrian Skybridge connecting the new terminal to the existing airside terminal. The Skybridge will eliminate the airport’s need for its underground tram system, which will be decommissioned and closed.

Officials told WTAE-TV that shutting down the people mover will save about $4.5 million per year.

“This is a new day for our region,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said in a statement. “This is an airport built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh. It improves the passenger experience and ensures this region remains on a global stage.”

Pittsburgh International Airport is the second-busiest airport in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia. As of January, its largest airlines were Southwest (which flew 26.6% of the airport’s passengers) and American (22.2%), followed by Delta (16.9%) and United (14.8%).

Zach Vasile

Proflight Zambia to Introduce Windhoek Service

Flights will start in March 2026.

Lorne Philipot

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft operated by Proflight Zambia. (Photo: Vidit Luthra | Shutterstock)

Zambia’s privately owned airline, Proflight Zambia, will launch scheduled flights to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, next year.

Service between Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, and Windhoek is set to start on March 3, 2026. It will be the only active route between the two cities, the carrier said, and is expected to boost tourism and business travel.

Flights will run three times weekly. They will include a 30-minute stop in Livingstone, Zambia, where passengers heading to Windhoek will remain on the aircraft.

The route will operate with a Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft.

Network Growth

Proflight Zambia is aiming to position itself as a strategic partner in regional development.

The airline has announced other new routes, including between Lusaka, Livingstone, and Maun, Botswana. This seasonal service will operate from May 1 to Oct. 31 next year. It will operate three times a week, with a 29-seat Jetstream 41.

This service connects Lusaka with two of Africa’s prime tourist destinations: Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.

Lorne Philipot

Court Temporarily Blocks Trump Admin’s Order Ending Delta-Aeroméxico Joint Venture

The carriers were given until Jan. 1 to unwind their partnership.

Zach Vasile

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 05:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Aeromexico Boeing 737 MAX. (Photo: Shutterstock | Bradley Caslin)

Delta and Aeroméxico have won a temporary stay against the U.S. Transportation Department’s order to unwind their partnership.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit halted the proceedings while a judicial review of the DOT’s decision takes place, Aeroméxico said in a statement to its investors on Wednesday. The government’s order was set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

It was not immediately clear how long the court’s review will take.

The ruling comes as the Trump administration escalates a trade dispute with Mexico over alleged efforts by Mexican regulators to push U.S. passenger and cargo carriers out of Benito Juárez Mexico City International Airport.

Late last month, the DOT blocked 13 planned and current routes between the U.S. and Mexico operated by Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris in retaliation.

The joint venture between Delta and Aeroméxico goes beyond standard interline and codeshare agreements by allowing the carriers to share information and jointly determine routes. Its unconventional structure required a special dispensation from the Transportation Department shielding the partners from federal antitrust enforcement, which was granted in late 2016.

Delta A321s in Austin, Texas. — Delta A321s in Austin. (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

The Trump administration said it is choosing to let that grant of immunity lapse because the carriers’ joint venture no longer serves the flying public’s interests and is exacerbating “market distortions” within Mexico.

Border Breakdown

The trade dispute centers on the Mexican government’s decision to unilaterally seize slots from foreign carriers, which made it harder for U.S. airlines like Alaska Airlines and JetBlue to access Mexico City. Mexican regulators also ordered U.S. cargo operators like FedEx and UPS to relocate from Benito Juárez Mexico City International Airport to the recently opened Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

Felipe Ángeles is considered a less desirable landing point for freight carriers because it is further away from Mexico City and increases logistical hurdles.

Mexico maintains that it was working to relieve congestion at Benito Juárez.

High-ranking Mexican officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, have denounced the DOT’s route cancellations, arguing that they are unreasonable and likely politically motivated. Sheinbaum and President Donald Trump spoke directly earlier this month, and while Trump described the call positively, no long-term settlement has been worked out.

Zach Vasile

Alaska Increases Frequency of Upcoming Rome Service

Tickets are now on sale.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 03:53 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Alaska's new 787-9 livery. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

Alaska Airlines said it has increased the frequency of its upcoming Seattle-Rome service from four times weekly to daily in response to strong demand from customers.

Tickets for the seasonal flights, which will begin on April 28, 2026, are now on sale through Alaska’s website.

The airline first announced the Seattle-Rome connection in August. The service will operate with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Alaska is also gearing up for the launch of daily year-round service to London. Tickets for those flights will go on sale “soon,” the carrier said.

“With our nonstop service from Seattle to Rome and London, we’re opening the door to two of the world’s most iconic regions with the style and care our guests expect from us,” COO Andrew Harrison said in a statement. “These new routes mark a tremendous step in our global expansion and reflect our commitment to delivering a premium international experience from Seattle.”

Alaska is also set to launch nonstop service to Reykjavik, Iceland, next spring. The three new cities will bring the airline closer to its goal of flying at least 12 long-haul international routes from Seattle by 2030.

Zach Vasile

JSX Takes Delivery of Its First Turboprop

The carrier will begin ATR operations with two leased aircraft.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 03:21 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

JSX's first ATR aircraft arrives at Dallas Love Field. (Photo: Adam Baker)

JSX’s first-ever turboprop aircraft arrived at the company’s Dallas headquarters on Thursday. The ATR 42 is the first of two aircraft that will launch the semi-private operator’s non-jet venture.

The aircraft will enable JSX to reach additional private terminals, fixed-base operators (FBOs), and underserved airports throughout the U.S., the carrier said at a Paris Air Show announcement back in June.

The ATR 42-600 – which will eventually be registered as N400JX – landed at Dallas Love Field on Thursday afternoon after a ferry flight from Sault Ste. Marie Airport in Canada. A company spokesperson later confirmed the delivery to AirlineGeeks.

According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, the aircraft is owned by lessor TrueNoord and previously operated for the now-defunct Silver Airways.

Increasing Service

According to ATR, the ATR 42-600 variant will allow JSX to access more than 1,000 additional airports in the U.S.

“The ATR-600 series will bring over 1,000 new airports into reach for JSX, expanding access to reliable public charter flights across the great United States. Many of these airports were, until now, reserved only for those who had the means to fly private,” said Alex Wilcox, JSX’s CEO, in a news release. “I am confident that our Customers will love the ATR product, not just for the variety of new routes it allows JSX to operate, but also for its quiet cabin and comfortable seating.”

JSX's first ATR 42 on approach to Dallas Love Field — JSX’s first ATR 42 on approach to Dallas Love Field (Photo: Adam Baker)

JSX’s current fleet consists of 50 Embraer E135 and E145 aircraft.

The carrier agreed to acquire up to 25 ATR turboprops, including 15 ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircraft, with options for an additional 10. JSX said the aircraft will feature a 30-seat all-business-class cabin using ATR’s HighLine interior.

The first two leased aircraft are expected by the end of 2025.

Ryan Ewing