Qantas 787 Tackles Near-Record Flight With WWE Stars On Board

The charter service flew from Perth, Australia, to Los Angeles.

Joey Gerardi

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

A Qantas 787 Dreamliner came close to setting a record for the aircraft type earlier this month while carrying dozens of World Wrestling Entertainment personalities.

With about 50 WWE Superstars on board, including Damian Priest and Grayson Waller, the jet touched down in Los Angeles after the WWE SmackDown event in Perth, Australia. The journey clocked in at a staggering 9,320 miles (14,999 km), flirting with the record for the longest distance ever flown by a 787 Dreamliner.

Map of Perth to Los Angeles route (Photo: GCMap.com)

Qantas’ Dreamliners are built to seat 236 passengers comfortably, but a “light load” of only 50 larger-than-life wrestlers allowed the aircraft to stretch its wings to near-record distances.

“Special charters like the WWE flights aren’t part of our everyday operations, and when they happen, they bring a unique energy onboard,” said Capt. Richard Tobiano, chief pilot at Qantas.

He recalled flying the group from Sydney to Perth the previous week on an A380, noting that it had “all the excitement of a main event.” The flight from Perth to Los Angeles on the 787 was no less thrilling — a near 17-hour journey that “demonstrated our long-range capability and drew on the unique experience and expertise of our pilots and crew.”

Qantas 787-9 with special livery — A Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner with Yam Dreaming livery. (Photo: Qantas)

The transpacific flight echoes Qantas’ history of pushing the Dreamliner’s distance boundaries.

The airline’s Project Sunrise program previously tested the aircraft on ultra-long-haul journeys, including an 11,029-mile (17,750 km) nonstop flight from London to Sydney in 2019. Today, Qantas continues to push limits commercially with services like the Perth-to-London nonstop flight, currently the longest scheduled 787 route in operation.

Even though Air Tahiti Nui holds the record for the longest scheduled commercial passenger flight at 9,764 miles (15,715 km) — between Papeete, Tahiti, and Paris, France — the WWE charter reminds aviation enthusiasts that it’s not just about the miles — it’s about who or what takes to the skies. For fans of both aviation and wrestling, seeing a Dreamliner powered by jet fuel and superstars is proof that Qantas is still finding creative ways to stretch its wings.

And with Qantas less than two years away from its Project Sunrise flights, the carrier will probably continue to be in the news for pushing the boundaries of flight.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

Alaska, Hawaiian Secure Single Operating Certificate

All flights are now operating under the callsign “AS.”

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 09:14 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

Just over a year after closing their historic $1.9 billion merger, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have obtained a single operating certificate from the FAA, officially bringing the two entities together under Alaska’s operating authority.

Alaska and Hawaiian flights are now operating under a single callsign, “AS.” The FAA will cancel Hawaiian’s former callsign on Thursday.

Alaska has said it will maintain Hawaiian as a separate brand and reiterated that pledge on Wednesday. Several Honolulu-based leadership positions will take effect Wednesday in support of the Hawaiian brand, the carrier said.

Notably, Diana Birkett Rakow, executive vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska, will become CEO of Hawaiian, succeeding Joe Sprague, who is retiring.

While its brand identity will remain, the single operating certificate effectively ends Hawaiian’s 96-year run as an independent air carrier.

Alaska and Hawaiian employees — Employees of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

“This was a year-long, multi-phase effort involving multiple departments and thousands of hours of work,” Alaska Air Group President and CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement. “We also appreciate the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation for their guidance and support as we carefully reviewed and harmonized our processes with a shared focus on safety. This is an important step in our journey as a combined organization, and I’m excited about our future together.”

Alaska leaders said the single operating certificate clears the way for further integration efforts, including the launch of a single passenger service and booking system. As part of that transition, Alaska is standardizing cabin classes and offerings, though passengers will still be able to choose an Alaska or Hawaiian flight for their journey. The new system is expected to launch in April 2026.

Alaska and Hawaiian have already combined their rewards programs as Atmos Rewards. Alaska’s Mileage Plus members were automatically enrolled in Atmos in August, and Hawaiian’s HawaiianMiles customers joined earlier this month.

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.

Air Force Veteran Says United Fired Him Over False Alcohol Claim

Federal lawsuit alleges airline regarded pilot as disabled and discriminated based on race and perceived alcoholism.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 9 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

A former United pilot has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the carrier of discrimination, retaliation, and defamation following his termination last year.

In the complaint filed Oct. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, John Paul Castillo III, a former C-130 combat pilot and United first officer, alleges the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by firing him because it “regarded him as disabled due to a perceived alcohol-use disorder” and because he is Hispanic.

Castillo, hired in January 2023, began flying passengers that March. The complaint states that after a July 2023 arrest for suspected DUI — later dismissed — United “began pressuring Mr. Castillo to enter the Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) Program,” which monitors pilots diagnosed with alcoholism. Castillo declined, pending an independent evaluation that later found “no alcohol-use disorder” and described the incident as “a one-off, aberrant event.”

Termination

According to the filing, United terminated him that November, citing a temporary lapse of his FAA medical certificate. Castillo contends that other pilots in similar situations were placed on unpaid leave.

“United’s decision to fire Mr. Castillo while allowing other pilots — including those actually diagnosed with alcohol-use disorder — to remain employed during FAA review demonstrates disparate treatment,” the lawsuit states.

United 737-700 — A United Airlines Boeing 737-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The complaint alleges the company’s actions reflected “racialized stereotypes about Hispanic men and alcohol use,” adding that the perception “was not a neutral medical judgment but reflected bias.”

Alleged Retaliation

Castillo also claims United retaliated after he hired a lawyer. In one passage, he cites Chief Pilot Ernie Aller as telling a union representative that Castillo was terminated for “lawyering up and not communicating.”

The lawsuit says that the comment is “direct evidence” of retaliation.

Additionally, the complaint accuses United of defamation for allegedly reporting to the FAA that his dismissal stemmed from “pilot-performance issues.” The entry, the filing says, was “false and defamatory,” and remained in FAA records for roughly 18 months before correction in May 2025.

Castillo seeks reinstatement or front pay, back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney fees.

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.

Trump Administration Blocks 13 Mexican Routes

DOT cites Mexico’s violations of the U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Agreement and freezes new route growth.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 07:59 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Viva Aerobus A320 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has cancelled 13 current or planned routes operated by Mexican airlines to the United States and suspended all combination service between the two countries via Felipe Ángeles International Airport near Mexico City.

In an order issued Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the action was taken in response to Mexico’s “continued abuse” of the 2015 U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Agreement.

The move also freezes the growth of Mexican carriers’ passenger and cargo operations at Benito Juárez International Airport, Mexico City’s primary hub.

“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement,” Duffy said in a statement. “These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, President Trump is going to put America First and enforce them.”

Affected Routes

According to the DOT, the affected flights include Aeromexico’s routes between Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and between Felipe Ángeles and both Houston and McAllen, Texas.

Volaris’s Mexico City–Newark, New Jersey, route and Viva Aerobus’ proposed flights from Felipe Ángeles to Austin, Texas; New York-JFK; Chicago O’Hare; Dallas/Fort Worth; Denver, Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; and Orlando, Florida, were also disapproved.

The department said the measures come after three years of alleged violations by Mexico, including the cancellation of U.S. carrier slots at Benito Juárez International Airport and the forced relocation of American cargo operations. U.S. officials say Mexico has failed to follow through on promised construction projects intended to reduce congestion at the capital’s main airport.

Aeromexico’s Boeing 737s lined up at the gates of Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Duffy also proposed banning Mexican passenger airlines from carrying belly cargo between Mexico City and the U.S. That restriction would take effect 108 business days after the order is finalized.

The DOT warned that the cancellations could affect travel plans for American citizens and advised passengers to contact their airlines for re-accommodation information. It added that additional enforcement actions could follow if Mexico does not restore fair access for U.S. carriers.

Ryan Ewing

Lufthansa Restores U.S. A380 Route

The superjumbo jet will return to this city next summer.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 02:29 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Lufthansa Airbus A380 (Photo: Denver International Airport)

Lufthansa announced Tuesday that it will once again operate its Munich-to-Denver route using the Airbus A380.

Airline leaders said the aircraft will return to the roughly 5,200-mile route on June 9, 2026. Lufthansa operated its Munich-Denver service with the A380 between April 20 and Oct. 24 of this year.

“We are grateful to Lufthansa for trusting Denver with the investment of their largest passenger aircraft,” Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said in a statement. “DEN has never experienced such an overwhelmingly positive response to a specific aircraft type, and the A380 has engaged all passenger types — from aviation enthusiasts to families to business travelers — and also enhanced DEN’s operational profile.”

A380 Denver — A Lufthansa A380 at Denver International Airport. (Photo: Denver International Airport)

Airport officials said Lufthansa’s operation of the A380 at Denver in 2025 contributed to a 6% increase in international passengers through September.

Expanding Frankfurt-Raleigh Service

Ishrion Aviation reported Tuesday that Lufthansa will increase the number of flights per week between Frankfurt and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, from its current five to six starting March 29, 2026. A little more than two months later, on June 5, another flight will be added, bringing the total to seven per week.

Lufthansa launched nonstop service between Frankfurt and Raleigh-Durham in June 2024. It operates the route with an A330 aircraft.

Zach Vasile

Sun Country Leaving Three Airports

The airline will not return to these cities next summer.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Sun Country Boeing 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | Natmac Stock)

Sun Country will not return to three airports next summer as part of its latest schedule extension.

On Tuesday, the ultra-low-cost carrier announced its Summer 2026 schedule, which included new service to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airline will connect the city with its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub and Cancun.

Suspended Service

An airline spokesperson also confirmed to AirlineGeeks that Sun Country will suspend all flights at three airports. It will no longer fly to Oakland, California; Louisville, Kentucky; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A Sun Country 737 in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Sun Country previously offered seasonal service to these cities from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The carrier has served Albuquerque since 2024, per Cirium Diio schedule data. Louisville and Oakland joined the carrier’s network in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Flights to these markets are no longer for sale on the carrier’s website.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. to correct an error regarding Sun Country’s service to Albuquerque.

Ryan Ewing

SWISS’ First A350 Aircraft Enters Service

The widebody jet flew from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Saturday.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 11:01 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

SWISS' first A350-900, HB-IFA, at Zurich Airport. (Photo: SWISS)

SWISS’ first Airbus A350 aircraft entered revenue service over the weekend.

The airplane, registered as HB-IFA and nicknamed “Lausanne,” flew from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Saturday with 233 passengers on board.

The A350 was delivered to SWISS by Airbus earlier this month. It sports a special livery featuring iconic Swiss landmarks and cultural motifs.

“This first revenue passenger flight of our new Airbus A350 is the result of many months of hard behind-the-scenes work,” SWISS COO Oliver Buchhofer said in a news release. “Introducing a new aircraft type is always a major undertaking, in technical, operational, and commercial terms. Our people both on the ground and in the air have performed painstaking preparations to make this moment happen.”

For the next few weeks, SWISS’ first A350 will fly on short-haul routes within Europe to destinations like Mallorca, Prague, Düsseldorf and Hanover in Germany, and Málaga, Spain. This will give the carrier’s pilots time to further familiarize themselves with the type and complete their conversion training, SWISS executives said.

On Nov. 20, the aircraft will begin long-haul service between Zurich and Boston.

SWISS' first Airbus A350 aircraft receives a water salute. (Photo: SWISS) — SWISS’ first Airbus A350 aircraft receives a water salute. (Photo: SWISS)

SWISS has ordered 10 A350-900s, and all of them are being fitted with a new cabin design concept known as SWISS Senses. The layout incorporates a dark red-gray-beige color scheme, lighting synced to passengers’ circadian rhythm, and entertainment systems with larger screens.

The SWISS Senses concept will eventually be extended to the airline’s current fleet of A330-300s and Boeing 777-300ERs.

Zach Vasile

Last ‘Hawaiian’ Flight Scheduled

The carrier’s code and callsign will disappear by the end of this month.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Hawaiian Airbus A330-200. (Photo: Shutterstock | Jomica8)

The Alaska-Hawaiian merger is set to make another big step this week with the retirement of the “Hawaiian” callsign.

On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would cancel the airline’s callsign, effective Oct. 30. All Hawaiian aircraft will use the Alaska Airlines callsign and code.

A “Hawaiian livery” note will be placed in the flight plan remarks for its flights for 60 days, the agency said.

Last Flight

On Monday, an airline spokesperson confirmed to AirlineGeeks that the last flight with the long-standing ‘Hawaiian’ callsign will operate on Wednesday.

The last flight to use the Hawaiian callsign and code will be HA866 from Pago Pago, American Samoa, to Honolulu. This flight is scheduled to land in Honolulu on Wednesday at 5:39 a.m. local time.

“We will retire the HA call sign following the 10/29 arrival of our American Samoa-Honolulu flight,” the spokesperson said. “While Alaska and Hawaiian airlines will soon operate under single call sign (AS), guests will continue to enjoy our distinct Alaska and Hawaiian brand experiences, brought to life by our remarkable employees, along with the reach of our expanding joint global network, and the industry-leading benefits of our Atmos™ Rewards loyalty program.”

Hawaiian and Alaska aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi, Katie Zera)

Alaska has committed to preserving the Hawaiian brand on flights to, from, and between the islands. The two airlines are awaiting a Single Operating Certification from the FAA.

Ryan Ewing

Sun Country Adds Two New Routes

The carrier will operate the first-ever scheduled international service from this airport.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Sun Country 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Jillian Cain Photography)

Sun Country is continuing to broaden its network footprint with plans for additional routes as part of its summer 2026 schedule extension.

Among the latest additions is new service connecting Minneapolis–St. Paul with Tulsa, Oklahoma, along with flights between Tulsa and Cancún, Mexico. The latter marks the first-ever scheduled nonstop international route from Tulsa International Airport.

Both routes are scheduled to begin on May 21, 2026.

“Planning summer travel should be simple, rewarding and stress-free,” said Colton Snow, Sun Country’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, in a news release. “With nonstop flights and extended dates through 2026, we’re making it easier than ever for travelers to get where they want to go.”

Ryan Ewing

Florida and Japan to Get First Nonstop Air Link

The charter service will operate in February and March 2026.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 09:36 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Zipair Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Photo: Shutterstock | KITTIKUN YOKSAP)

For the first time ever, a commercial airline will offer nonstop flights linking Florida and Japan.

Officials at Orlando International Airport announced Tuesday that Zipair, a Japanese low-cost carrier, will operate a series of charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo Narita in February and March next year.

These will be the first nonstop flights between Florida and Japan and between Florida and the Asia/Pacific region more broadly.

“Our partnership with Zipair is more than just a new route – it’s history,” Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Lance Lyttle said in a news release. “The partnership is a testament to the economic strength we share between our communities. We look forward to welcoming Zipair passengers with the warmth and hospitality that both our nations cherish.”

The airport’s statement said the temporary connection “could lay the groundwork for additional service between Orlando and Tokyo.” No further details about a possible future service were provided.

Zipair’s charter flights will operate on Feb. 23, Feb. 28, March 5, and March 10. Tickets will go on sale in early December.

From its base at Tokyo Narita, Zipair serves 10 destinations in East Asia and North America. In the U.S., it serves Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Honolulu, and San Jose, California.

Zach Vasile