EAS Switch Restores Service at Utah Airport

One connection launched Oct. 1, and another will come online Wednesday.

Zach Vasile

Monday, October 05, 2026 at 12:05 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta Connection CRJ-200 in Butte, Mont. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

SkyWest Airlines returned to Canyonlands Regional Airport in Grand County, Utah, last week, restoring service to Salt Lake City and setting up the continuation of service to Denver.

The regional carrier started seasonal daily service to Salt Lake City on Oct. 1 on behalf of Delta and under the Delta Connection brand. Flights will operate through Thanksgiving before pausing and returning in March 2027, officials said.

Another SkyWest route, to Denver, will come online Wednesday. This service, operating as United Express, will run year-round, with one or two daily roundtrip flights.

Canyonlands Regional Airport serves nearby Moab, the largest city in and county seat of Grand County.

SkyWest is taking over Essential Air Service at Moab from Contour Airlines, which until last month offered flights to Denver and Phoenix. SkyWest served the airport prior to Contour’s contract, and operated flights to Salt Lake City.

SkyWest’s new contract runs through September 2030.

“Having direct access to Denver and Salt Lake City, along with the ability to connect on United’s and Delta’s global networks, makes it easy and convenient for local travelers to get anywhere they want to go and allows new opportunities for those who want to experience this incredible region,” Cody Thomas, managing director of market development at SkyWest, said in a news release.

SkyWest will operate the United Express flights using 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, and the Delta Connection flights with 50-seat CRJ550 aircraft.

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.

American Lets Loyalty Members Mix Miles, Cash For Tickets

The new perk will give customers more flexibility, the carrier said.

Zach Vasile

Monday, October 05, 2026 at 09:31 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American Airlines Airbus A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American Airlines AAdvantage members will be able to combine miles and cash when booking flights on aa.com and American’s digital app.

The carrier announced the new perk on Friday and said it will give customers more flexibility when paying for their trip.

When logged in to their AAdvantage account, members will see an adjustable slider that they can use to mix available miles and cash. Once a selection is made, the ticket cost summary will automatically update to reflect the chosen combination.

“The introduction of cash and miles is another step in our ongoing effort to provide AAdvantage members with more personalized ways to engage with the program and get more value from their membership,” American Senior Vice President of AAdvantage Scott Long said in a news release.

The new functionality will launch “in the coming weeks,” officials said.

Zach Vasile

Southwest Adds New International, Domestic Routes

The carrier will also restart a connection to the Pacific Northwest.

Zach Vasile

Friday, October 02, 2026 at 02:50 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest 737 in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

Southwest is growing its international and domestic networks at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The airport announced Friday that Southwest will connect Austin with Savannah, Georgia; Bozeman, Montana; Sarasota, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; Nassau, Bahamas; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Liberia, Costa Rica.

With the exception of Savannah, all of the new connections will operate seasonally and on weekends only. Flights to Nassau, Punta Cana, and Liberia will commence June 3, 2027, and run twice weekly, on Saturdays and Sundays, through Aug. 2. No start dates were given for the new domestic routes.

Austin-Bergstrom said the upcoming service to Savannah will be the only commercial air link between the two cities.

Southwest also plans to resume daily service between Austin and Portland, Oregon.

“These new international routes to the Caribbean and Central America, along with expanded domestic service, strengthen our region’s connectivity and provide more options for both business and leisure travelers,” airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi said in a news release. “We are grateful to Southwest Airlines for its continued commitment to Austin and Central Texas and for investing in new travel opportunities for our community.”

Airport officials also noted that Southwest flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, will return for the winter season, and that a previously announced new connection to San José, Costa Rica, will launch March 13, 2027.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: Cape Air

The patriotic design celebrates America's 250th anniversary.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, October 02, 2026 at 01:10 PM ET

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Zach Vasile

Cape Air Cessna 402c aircraft in special "America 250" livery (Photo | Cape 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.

With the U.S. celebrating its 250^th birthday during 2026, several carriers, such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have taken the opportunity to celebrate the important anniversary with a special livery.

Massachusetts-based regional carrier Cape Air has followed this trend, painting one of its Cessna aircraft in a stars and stripes-themed livery commemorating this landmark milestone.

In partnership with America 250, the nonpartisan organization created by Congress to coordinate efforts to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a new livery depicting white stars on a blue background all around the cockpit and red and white stripes across the rest of the fuselage has been created for one of Cape Air’s aircraft.

Cape Air Cessna 402c aircraft in special “America 250” livery (Photo | Cape Air)

The paint scheme was unveiled in July at the Maine Air Show at Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, Maine.

“This aircraft is a celebration of one of the most important milestones in our nation’s history,” said Mike Migliore, president and CEO of Cape Air. “It brings the spirit of America250 to life in a way that is Cape Air. Every day, we connect communities across our network, and we are proud that this aircraft will help share the story of America’s 250th anniversary with the thousands of passengers who fly with us.”

A Nine-Seater Cessna

The aircraft painted in this unique color scheme created by the Scheme Designers is a Cessna 402c, callsign N6765T, operating from Cape Air’s base in Massachusetts, mainly feeding passengers from regional destinations in the Northeast into Boston Logan International Airport.

Built in 1981 and certified to operate in 1982, it was a privately-owned aircraft until it was purchased by Cape Air in 2009. It is capable of transporting up to nine passengers, one of which can actually sit next to the pilot. It is a turboprop aircraft powered by two Continental TSIO-520-VB engines, which for the occasion have been painted with stars and stripes and an inscription “America 250” in full red, white, and blue.

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.

KLM Takes Delivery of Its First A350

The aircraft will enter service in a few weeks with a flight to Toronto.

Zach Vasile

Friday, October 02, 2026 at 12:55 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

KLM's first A350. (Photo: Airbus)

KLM on Friday took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, a type it will use to replace part of its current intercontinental fleet.

The aircraft, which arrived via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, is nicknamed “The Night Watch,” after a famous Rembrandt painting. It is the first A350 allocated to KLM from a 50-unit order placed by parent company Air France-KLM in 2023. The conglomerate plans to divide the jets between KLM and Air France based on operational needs and has not said exactly how many each carrier will get.

At KLM, the A350 will gradually replace the A330 and Boeing 777.

“This is an important milestone for KLM and for the Netherlands,” Marjan Rintel, president and CEO of KLM, said in a news release. “Fleet renewal is one of the most effective ways we can make our operations cleaner, quieter, and more fuel-efficient. We already have 17 A321neos flying on our European routes, and with the arrival of the A350, we’re taking the next step in renewing our intercontinental fleet.”

“Night Watch” will enter service in a few weeks with a flight to Toronto, the carrier said. Flights to Montreal, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Zanzibar will follow.

KLM’s A350s seat 331 passengers in a three-class layout, with 34 Business Class suites, 26 Premium Comfort seats, and 271 Economy seats. Its “Airspace” cabin offers larger luggage capacity, ambient lighting, and high-speed satellite internet service.

KLM said it is investing €7 billion, or $7.8 billion, in its fleet renewal, which is largely built around the A350, the A350F, Embraer’s E2 fleet, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Zach Vasile

Breeze Starts Service at New Airport

The carrier launched a new route between Maryland and Florida on Thursday.

Zach Vasile

Friday, October 02, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Breeze A220 departing BWI. (Photo: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport)

Breeze Airways has landed at a new airport on the East Coast.

The low-cost airline launched service at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Thursday, with three times weekly flights to Vero Beach, Florida.

A second route from BWI, to Burlington, Vermont, will come online Sunday.

Both connections will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, using Airbus A220 aircraft. The carrier first announced the new routes in June.

“We believe affordable travel should still feel premium, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to Baltimore,” David Neeleman, Breeze’s founder and CEO, said in a news release.

Breeze’s route network is mostly concentrated on the East Coast and Midwest, with a focus on smaller secondary markets. It also serves destinations in the Southwest, West Coast, Caribbean, and Latin America.

Zach Vasile

Delta Introduces Wine Country Perk for SkyMiles Members

Travelers can check one case of wine free of charge at certain Northern California airports.

Zach Vasile

Friday, October 02, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A330-300 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Santi Rodriguez)

Delta SkyMiles members visiting California wine country will soon have an easier time taking part of their trip home with them.

Starting Oct. 6, members can check one qualifying case of wine for free when departing from select California airports for destinations within the U.S.

Travelers must securely pack their wine bottles in an approved shipping box or travel container, then present the case at the Delta ticket counter for inspection and check-in. At their destination airport, passengers can retrieve their case at baggage claim.

The participating airports are San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, and Sonoma County.

Standard size and weight limitations for checked baggage still apply, Delta said.

Zach Vasile

Delta Adds New Destination in Southwest

Flights will start in June 2027.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, October 01, 2026 at 02:59 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Connection CRJ-700 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Delta will launch service to a new destination in northern Arizona next year.

The carrier announced Thursday that it will serve Flagstaff, in Coconino County, from Salt Lake City starting June 7, 2027. Flights will operate twice daily, year-round.

Delta said SkyWest Airlines will operate the flights under the Delta Connection brand, using Bombardier CRJ-550 aircraft with a “premium configuration.”

Currently, only American Airlines serves Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. It offers flights to Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Delta said its new connection will help travelers reach outdoor recreation and sight-seeing destinations in the vicinity of Flagstaff, including Sedona and Grand Canyon National Park.

Zach Vasile

Trump Praises ‘Genius’ Boeing After Thwarted 737 Hijacking

The president said the aircraft withstood forces and strain beyond its design limits.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, October 01, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 undergoing testing at Boeing's facility in Washington. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

President Donald Trump weighed in on the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight Wednesday with high praise for the manufacturer of the aircraft involved.

“Congratulations to the GREAT Boeing Company for producing a plane, the 737 Max, that was able to withstand G Forces and Strain far beyond what it was designed or expected to do,” the president wrote on social media. “It was an amazing show of precise and powerful structural planning and design.”

The aircraft, a MAX 8, plummeted about 17,400 feet in less than two minutes as the two pilots fought for control. According to Israeli officials, one pilot stabbed the other, then attempted to crash the airplane. That pilot was removed from the cockpit and subdued by passengers and crew members, and two off-duty pilots took the controls.

Little information has been released about the aircraft’s speed or orientation during the sudden drop. One of the passengers told Israeli media that he pulled back on the yoke to level the airplane before handing off the controls to the second set of pilots. He credited the documentary series Mayday with teaching him how to pull the aircraft out of a dive.

“It is about time that The Boeing Company, which builds, by far, the finest commercial airliners in the sky, was given credit for this airplane’s incredible ‘genius!’” Trump continued. “To Kelly Ortberg, and all of his officers and associates at Boeing, congratulations on a job well done!!!”

The president’s message came as the passengers and many public officials and aviation experts expressed gratitude to the flight’s captain, Smit Machchhar. Though seriously injured, Machchhar fought back against the alleged hijacker and managed to open the cockpit door and call for help. He also helped the passengers and crew members subdue the other pilot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar and the passengers and crew who intervened, saying they prevented a catastrophe.

The flight was en route to Tel Aviv from Dubai, and most of the 174 passengers are Israelis.

The 737 landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the original two pilots were hospitalized. The Israeli passengers were flown to Ben Gurion International Airport on a second aircraft.

Trump has made a point of praising Boeing as an American success story in speeches and on social media. The company has also become a component of his foreign policy; during his 2025 visit to the Middle East, carriers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed to buy hundreds of new Boeing jets. Earlier this year, Ortberg accompanied Trump on a state visit to China, where it was announced that Beijing will buy 200 Boeing aircraft – fewer than anticipated, but still a breakthrough, since China has not purchased any commercial aircraft from a U.S. manufacturer in almost a decade.

Zach Vasile

JetBlue Launches New Service to South America

Flights will operate daily from Fort Lauderdale.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, October 01, 2026 at 12:13 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue Airbus A320 preparing for departure. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue on Thursday operated its inaugural flight between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Barranquilla, Colombia.

The carrier plans to serve Barranquilla daily, using Airbus A320 aircraft. Barranquilla is JetBlue’s third nonstop destination in Colombia, after Medellín and Cartagena.

A fourth service, to Cali, will launch later this month.

“We’re excited to welcome Barranquilla to the JetBlue network and give customers another great option for traveling between South Florida and Colombia,” Daniel Shurz, JetBlue’s senior vice president for revenue, network and enterprise planning, said in a news release. “Fort Lauderdale continues to grow as an important connecting gateway for JetBlue, connecting customers from Barranquilla not only to South Florida but also to destinations across JetBlue’s broader network across the U.S and beyond.”

JetBlue first announced plans to serve Barranquilla and Cali in July. It also said it would add flights to Caracas, Venezuela, though no firm launch date has been set.

Barranquilla is located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, about 60 miles northeast of Cartagena.

Zach Vasile