The carrier said Monday that it will offer more flights to and from San Diego, Portland, Oregon, and Hawaii.
Starting next spring, Alaska will increase service between San Diego – now its fastest-growing hub – and Santa Rosa-Sonoma in Northern California to three round-trip flights per day.
From Portland, Alaska will add a second daily flight to Newark, New Jersey, convert seasonal service to Kaua‘i, Hawaii, to year-round, and increase flights to Santa Rosa to three per day.
Hawaii Expansion
Service between San Francisco and Hawaii Island and Kaua‘i will move to daily flights in June, and the carrier’s Los Angeles-to-Maui service will move to two flights per day.
Exact dates for the new flights were not provided.
Alaska announced a total of 13 new nonstop routes on Monday, but these were reported on by AirlineGeeks last week based on published Cirium Diio schedules. Most of the growth is centered on Alaska’s hubs in San Diego, Portland, and Seattle. The carrier also announced the addition of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to its route network, and the return of service to Arcata-Eureka, California, after a 15-year gap.
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.
U.K.’s Eastern Airways Cancels All Flights
Local media reports suggest the carrier could be nearing insolvency.
An Eastern Airways aircraft at Manchester Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Bradley Caslin)
British regional carrier Eastern Airways has reportedly halted operations and returned aircraft to its leasing partners.
According to British newspaper The Independent, the airline on Monday canceled all flights and stopped selling tickets. Company officials filed a “notice of intention to appoint an administrator,” which gives Eastern limited protection from creditors, but given the surrender of its aircraft, it seems likely the carrier will close after 28 years in business, The Independent reported.
Eastern has its main base at Humberside Airport in Kirmington, North Lincolnshire, England.
It connects Humberside and Teesside International Airport in Northern England with Aberdeen, Scotland, and serves Wick, Scotland, from Aberdeen through a public service obligation, similar to Essential Air Service in the U.S. It also operates a route between London Gatwick and Newquay in Cornwall.
The Independent reported that Eastern’s service to and from Aberdeen is mainly meant to serve the North Sea oil industry.
In the U.K., a notice of an intent to appoint an administrator signals that a company is or will likely become unable to pay its debts. It was not immediately clear what business factors led to the filing.
According to The Independent, Eastern in the past served destinations such as Newcastle, the Isle of Man, Cardiff in Wales, and Gibraltar, a British territory in continental Europe. It also partnered with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines with the intention of providing service between the U.K. and Amsterdam Schiphol, but these flights did not materialize.
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.
Airlink to Launch Zanzibar Service
The carrier will operate the route with its new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.
The airline will offer two rotations a week between Johannesburg and the Tanzanian island, starting June 3, 2026.
Airlink already operates flights between Johannesburg and Tanzania’s commercial hub, Dar es Salaam.
E195 Route
The Johannesburg-based airline will operate the route with its new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which accommodate up to 136 passengers on this service.
“Zanzibar’s proximity to Johannesburg, Airlink’s main hub, puts the island within reach of customers,” Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said in a statement. “The timing of the flights allows for Airlink connecting flights from other destinations we serve across South Africa and the SADC region. Similarly, Airlink will provide convenient connections for customers traveling between Zanzibar and almost anywhere in the world on our world-leading partner airlines.”
With its growing economy, Zanzibar is emerging as a hotspot for investors and business travelers.
The island is known for its beaches, forests, marine life, and resorts. It is home to the UNESCO-listed historical Stone Town, whose maze of streets featuring mosques, churches, bazaars, villas, and a palace – as well as a museum marking the birthplace and boyhood home of the late rock star Freddie Mercury – reflect its fusion of African, Asian, and European influences.
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.
A Delta A350-900. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Delta is adding a new nonstop route to the Middle East.
Starting October 2026, the airline will connect its Atlanta hub and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital and largest city. The service will operate three times weekly using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
“Launching service to Riyadh marks a key step in Delta’s global growth as we start our second century of flight,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a news release. “Our new flights will connect customers to this dynamic, fast-growing region while delivering the care, comfort, and reliability they expect. It reflects our bold vision to create meaningful opportunities and experiences in every corner of the world in the years ahead.”
A Delta A350 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Delta leaders said the coming route will dovetail with the Saudi government’s Vision 2030 project, which aims to develop tourist destinations in the country, expand its entertainment sector, and diversify its broader economy.
The service to Riyadh will be one of Delta’s longest routes, at over 7,000 miles.
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 Ending 12 Routes
Most of the cuts affect California markets, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose.
An Alaska Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Audio und werbung)
Alaska Airlines is making adjustments to its California network, cutting multiple routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco as it manages a slower pace of aircraft deliveries in 2026.
“As we add 13 new routes to our network starting next spring, we’ll reduce mainline flying in San Francisco and regional flying in Los Angeles,” an Alaska spokesperson said in a statement to AirlineGeeks. “These adjustments are firmly rooted in the need to be disciplined with our aircraft in 2026, as fewer new aircraft enter our fleet. Although these decisions are difficult, SFO and LAX remain key markets for us.”
The changes were reflected in a Cirium Diio schedule update published over the weekend.
San Francisco
From its San Francisco hub, the carrier will suspend flights on five routes. Service between San Francisco and Boston will end in January, and Austin in February.
Alaska’s San Francisco-to-Burbank route will no longer operate effective in April.
Flights to Orlando, Florida, and Newark, New Jersey, are scheduled to end in May and June, respectively.
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 in San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The spokesperson added that San Francisco “remains a crucial part of our long-term growth,” noting that the carrier is seeing early signs of a rebound in business travel and healthy holiday bookings.
With these route cuts in place, Alaska’s planned capacity in San Francisco will be down nearly 24% in July 2026 compared to the same period this year.
San Jose
Alaska is also scaling down flying from San Jose, California.
Its intra-California service between San Jose and Los Angeles will end in January. In addition, the airline will suspend service from San Jose to both Los Cabos and Guadalajara in Mexico, effective in May.
“Across California, we’re encouraged by the overwhelming response to our newly evolved loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, and we’re committed to providing products that meet the region’s needs,” the spokesperson continued. “Even with these changes, we’ll serve more California airports year-round than any other airline. We are committed to safeguarding our competitive position on the West Coast.”
Los Angeles
The airline will reduce service from Los Angeles next year, too. In addition to the San Jose route, it will also end service to Reno and Las Vegas.
Both of these routes are slated to end in February.
Other Cuts
Alaska will also discontinue two routes that don’t touch Los Angeles or the Bay Area.
The carrier’s seasonal Anchorage to Detroit route will not return next summer. Service in this market already ended last month.
Finally, flights between San Diego and Atlanta will be suspended in March.
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.
The agreement enables the Qatari flag carrier to continue expanding its footprint in Africa and provides passengers from over 170 destinations with easier access to key leisure and business destinations served by Kenya Airways.
“We are pleased with the significant progress made in just a few months since the partnership initiated with Kenya Airways, and this enhancement is a testament of the collaborative efforts which further strengthens our presence in Kenya and the African continent,” Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said in a statement.
A Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Qatar Airways passengers now have access to eight destinations in the Kenya Airways network, connecting through three daily services between Doha and Nairobi. The destinations are Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lilongwe, Malawi; Livingstone, Zambia; Juba, South Sudan; Nampula, Mozambique; and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Connecting Africa and Beyond
Kenya Airways passengers will be able to connect to 10 destinations across Asia and the Middle East through Doha. The destinations are Bahrain; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Malé, Maldives; Muscat, Oman; Singapore; and Tokyo Narita.
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.
Alaska Adds 13 Routes, New City
The carrier’s latest network update expands service from San Diego, Portland, and Seattle to several new destinations.
An Alaska 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Alaska Airlines is preparing a broad network expansion for 2026, adding over a dozen new routes across the U.S.
The new flights — spotted in published Cirium Diio schedules and confirmed by multiple airports — bolster the airline’s presence along the West Coast while adding new midcontinent and East Coast links.
From its growing San Diego focus city, Alaska is introducing flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Raleigh-Durham, Tulsa, Santa Barbara, and Oakland.
Service between San Diego and Tulsa will begin March 18, operating daily with Horizon Air Embraer E175s, while flights to Raleigh-Durham are set to start April 22 with Boeing 737 aircraft.
The same day, Alaska will launch twice-daily, year-round service between San Diego and Santa Barbara, alongside a new four-times-daily route to Oakland and twice-daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth.
New Destination
Tulsa International Airport has confirmed that Alaska will also begin daily nonstop flights from Seattle and San Diego on March 18, marking the airline’s first-ever debut at the Oklahoma airport.
In Northern California, Alaska will open daily service between Ontario and Santa Rosa beginning March 18, as well as daily flights between Seattle and Arcata/Eureka starting April 8, according to airport announcements. Both routes will be operated with E175 aircraft.
An Alaska E175 operated by Horizon Air. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Portland International Airport will gain several new routes. Alaska is adding seasonal daily flights to Baltimore/Washington and Philadelphia, both starting May 13. The airline will also begin year-round daily service between Portland and Idaho Falls, along with St. Louis, on the same date.
The airline last linked Portland and St. Louis in 2018.
Rounding out the expansion, Hollywood Burbank Airport confirmed that Alaska will add new daily flights to Honolulu starting May 13, restoring a nonstop connection between the Southern California airport and Hawaii. Flights will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
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.
The inaugural flight arrived at Red Sea International Airport on Oct. 21. The airline will offer three weekly rotations on the route, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The service operates with an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Qatar marked the occasion with a reception attended by Abdullah Al Malki, senior vice president of business control and financial support; Karthik Viswanathan, vice president of sales for the Middle East, Caucasus, Pakistan, and ISC; and Sheikh Jassim bin Fahad Al-Thani, head of aeropolitical and regulatory affairs.
“We at Qatar Airways are proud to expand our global network of more than 170 destinations with the inauguration of service to the Red Sea. The importance of the Saudi market, and our commitment to it, is proven by the growing reach of our services in the Kingdom,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in a statement.
Extensive Saudi Network
Red Sea International Airport is Qatar Airways’ 12th destination in Saudi Arabia. The airline flies from Doha to destinations including Abha, Al Ula, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, Neom, Qassim, Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, and Yanbu.
The Red Sea is an emerging tourist destination on Saudi Arabia’s western coast between Umluj and Al Wajh. Tourists can visit 90 islands and coral reefs, desert landscapes, and volcanic mountains.
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.
An Avelo Boeing 737 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | photojohn830)
Ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo is reportedly planning to end service at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut next year.
The Connecticut Airport Authority, which operates Bradley and the state’s general aviation airports, announced Avelo’s planned withdrawal on Thursday, according to a report from WFSB-TV in Hartford. The carrier’s three nonstop routes from Bradley – to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cancún, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – will terminate in January 2026.
“The CAA is disappointed and surprised to learn of Avelo’s decision to pull out of Bradley International Airport, particularly its decision to cancel the state’s only nonstop service to Montego Bay,” the CAA said in a statement.
An Avelo Boeing 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | Edgardo M Moya)
Avelo said it opted to leave the airport due to “multiple business factors,” including lack of demand, but the CAA was openly critical of that reasoning. The agency called Avelo’s decision to abandon the Montego Bay route “inexplicable” and suggested the airline wanted to take advantage of state-provided incentives while dodging its “obligations” as an operator at Bradley.
Revenue Guarantee
According to the Hartford Business Journal, the state provided Avelo with a revenue guarantee, assistance with marketing, and waivers of airport landing fees and terminal rent for its first year of operations.
“Like all business decisions we make, this exit was made based on facts – the revenues on the market did not cover the costs,” Avelo said in a statement to WFSB. “Any other insinuation to the contrary is unfortunate, false, and uninformed.”
Avelo’s tenure at Bradley was notably short-lived, with its first flights to Montego Bay and Cancún taking off in November 2024. The CAA said it will work to restore nonstop service between Connecticut and Jamaica by bringing another airline to Bradley.
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.
In a statement provided to AirlineGeeks, the carrier said flights between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv will restart on March 28, 2026. The service will operate with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
Tickets for New York-Tel Aviv flights will go on sale by Monday.
American has not operated in Israel since the Hamas-led cross-border attack on the country in October 2023. It is the last of the “big three” U.S. airlines to return to Tel Aviv, following United’s resumption of service in July and Delta’s return in early September.
U.S.-based carriers have temporarily suspended service to Israel a number of times over the last two years in connection with the war in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, and missile fire between Israel and Iran.
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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