San Diego International Airport Reopens After Aircraft Emergency, Ground Stop

Operations at San Diego International Airport are getting back to normal after an incident involving a private jet triggered a ground stop.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 09:07 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

San Diego International Airport. (Photo: Moshimoxh via Wikimedia Creative Commons)

Operations at San Diego International Airport are getting back to normal after an incident involving a private jet triggered a ground stop and delayed dozens of flights.

According to airport officials, a private jet was attempting to take off around 6:40 p.m. local time when its nose gear collapsed.

“The aircraft came to a stop without any injuries to those on board,” the airport said in a statement. “However, it became disabled on the runway, causing the runway’s temporary closure.”

KNSD-TV in San Diego reported that the aircraft involved is a Cessna 750 Citation X. It was not immediately clear how many people were on board.

The airport was closed for about three hours as emergency crews evaluated the aircraft and worked to remove it from the runway. Several flights were canceled, and up to 120 flights were delayed at some point during the incident.

The ground stop was lifted around 9:30 p.m. local time.

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 Canada Begins Dash 8-400 Overhaul Program

Air Canada this week began overhaul work on over two dozen regional aircraft operated under its Air Canada Express brand.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Express De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. (Photo: Air Canada)

Air Canada this week began overhaul work on over two dozen regional aircraft operated under its Air Canada Express brand.

The carrier said Wednesday that it will install new cabin interiors and seats on 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft operated for Air Canada Express by regional airline Jazz. The airline is also making wireless internet available for free on Dash 8-400s flying between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Montréal and Ottawa.

The Wi-Fi, provided by Canadian company Bell, comes online in October. It will be the first time wireless internet has been made available on a De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft type anywhere in the world.

“This innovative project is an industry-first, and it reflects the pride we take in serving customers with care and class,” said Mark Nasr, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Air Canada, in a statement. “By bringing many of the design details and comforts of our largest jets to the Canadian-made Dash 8-400, even our shortest flights can feel special.”

Airline leaders said crews will install well-padded, ergonomic seats from Expliseat. The seats will have a new branding design and a multi-use device holder for tablets and phones, as well as a table tray.

Each Dash 8-400 will have 78 passenger seats.

The cabins will be redone with colors and textures similar to Air Canada’s mainline aircraft interiors.

The overhaul program is expected to be completed at some point in 2026.

Zach Vasile

United Expands Service to Tahiti

United will operate more nonstop flights between San Francisco and the South Pacific island of Tahiti next summer to accommodate high demand.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 02:13 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

United will operate more nonstop flights to the South Pacific island of Tahiti next summer to accommodate high demand.

The carrier confirmed to AirlineGeeks that it will increase the number of flights between San Francisco and Papeete, Tahiti, from five per week to seven per week. The expanded schedule will be in effect from June 29 to Oct. 24.

All of United’s flights on the San Francisco-Tahiti route use the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

United is one of only two U.S. carriers that serve Faaʼa International Airport near Papeete, the other being Hawaiian Airlines.

Zach Vasile

Spirit Flight Repeatedly Ordered to Avoid Air Force One

A Spirit flight was repeatedly ordered to turn away from Air Force One earlier this week, with an air traffic controller admonishing the pilot.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 12:34 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit A320 in New York. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

A Spirit flight was repeatedly ordered to turn away from Air Force One earlier this week, with an air traffic controller admonishing the pilot to “pay attention” and “get off the iPad.”

The incident took place Tuesday as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump flew from the U.S. to the U.K. for a state visit. The Spirit flight was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Boston when it entered the same airspace as the president’s airplane over New York.

LiveATC captured an at times testy exchange between the air traffic controller and the pilot.

“Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right,” the air traffic controller said. “Pay attention, Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right. Spirit 1300 turn 20 degrees right now. Spirit wings 1300 turn 20 degrees right immediately.”

After the pilot acknowledged the order, the controller said, “Pay attention. Spirit 1300 traffic off your left wing by about six miles – or eight miles – 747. I’m sure you can see who it is. Keep an eye out for him. He’s white and blue.”

The controller then jabbed the pilot again.

“I got to talk to you twice every time?” he asked. “Pay attention. Get off the iPad.”

The FAA said in a statement that the Spirit flight and Air Force One maintained proper separation.

“Spirit Airlines flight 1300 (FLL-BOS) followed procedures and Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions while en route to Boston (BOS) and landed uneventfully at BOS,” Spirit said in a statement. “Safety is always our top priority.”

Zach Vasile

Aer Lingus Adds New U.S. Route

Starting April 13, 2026, Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus will connect Dublin and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, growing its footprint in the U.S.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM ET

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Zach Vasile

An Aer Lingus Airbus A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus is launching a new nonstop route to the U.S.

Starting April 13, 2026, the airline will connect Dublin and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The new service was first announced by Raleigh-Durham International Airport on social media on Wednesday.

Flights will operate five times a week using an Airbus A321 XLR aircraft.

Dublin will be Raleigh-Durham’s 15th nonstop international destination.

Aer Lingus flies mainly within Europe but serves numerous destinations in the U.S., including New York-JFK, Newark, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Zach Vasile

JFK’s Terminal 6 Will Get All-Electric Ground Fleet

JFK's coming Terminal 6 will use an entirely electric ground fleet, officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced this week.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 09:52 AM ET

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Zach Vasile

A rendering of the future Terminal 6 at JFK. (Image: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey)

John F. Kennedy International Airport’s coming Terminal 6 will use an entirely electric ground fleet, officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced this week.

JFK Millennium Partners, the company selected to build and operate Terminal 6, said it has partnered with Long Island-based Fortbrand Services to manage the terminal’s future all-electric ground crew in a pooled setup, meaning it will be shared among airlines. This will make JFK the first airport in North America with a terminal with entirely electric ground equipment.

Port Authority leaders said each of Terminal 6’s gates will have its own set of vehicles and equipment, with charging stations nearby to keep the fleet operating continuously. Specialized software will communicate the equipment’s real-time location, battery life, authorized drivers, speed controls, and other data to JMP and Fortbrand to ensure it is being used efficiently and safely.

The Port Authority has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and as part of that effort is replacing diesel ground equipment with electric fleets at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The all-electric support fleet at Terminal 6 alone is expected to eliminate around 2,500 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, officials said.

“Two years ago, when the Port Authority launched its ambitious goal of net-zero emissions, we understood that success would require tapping new technology, including electric ground support equipment,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “It’s fitting that our new airline terminals designed to be among the best in the world will also be leaders in our drive to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint.”

The Port Authority broke ground on the new, $4.2 billion Terminal 6 in 2023 and aims to have it partially open by 2026 and completed by 2028. It will have 10 gates, nine of which will accommodate widebody aircraft, as well as an automated baggage system, a ground transportation center, and multiple airline lounges.

Other green enhancements planned for the terminal include 4,000 solar panels and a stormwater capture and reuse system.

Zach Vasile

United CEO Rules Out Bid For Spirit’s Assets

United CEO Scott Kirby said Tuesday that the airline will not seek to acquire Spirit’s assets if the ultra-low-cost carrier ultimately goes out of business.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 06:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321 (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

United CEO Scott Kirby said Tuesday that the airline will not seek to acquire Spirit’s assets if the ultra-low-cost carrier ultimately goes out of business.

Kirby told Reuters in an interview that Spirit’s airport slots and routes don’t make sense for United. He noted that it would be expensive and time-consuming to absorb and reconfigure Spirit’s fleet, with a likely cost of $15 million per aircraft.

The United CEO also cited a lack of available gates in some of Spirit’s main markets, like Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“It’s not in our wheelhouse,” Kirby said. “And so we’re not going to try to do that.”

Kirby is a vocal detractor of the business model used by ultra-low-cost airlines and has ramped up his criticism of Spirit since the airline filed for bankruptcy for a second time last month. Spirit has hit back on social media and through statements, calling his attacks an “obsession.”

Spirit is critically short on cash and has warned investors that it may not survive the year as a going concern, though its leadership insists it is making changes that will return the airline to profitability.

Earlier this month, United announced plans to expand service at some of its hub locations, including Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles, in case Spirit “suddenly goes out of business.” That expansion, which also includes new routes between Newark, New Jersey, and Columbia, South Carolina, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, is set to start in January 2026.

Zach Vasile

Delta Adds Two New Mediterranean Destinations

Delta announced Tuesday that it is adding Sardinia, Italy, and Malta to its summer 2026 schedule after a vote by employees and loyalty members.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 03:06 PM ET

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Vanni Gibertini

A Delta 767-300ER. (Photo: Shutterstock | Nieuwland Photography)

Delta on Tuesday announced the results of a vote to determine the carrier’s next Mediterranean destination.

The airline allowed employees and SkyMiles members to vote for one of three potential locations – Sardinia, Italy; Malta; or Ibiza, Spain. Because employees voted for Malta and loyalty members preferred Sardinia, Delta said it will add both to its summer 2026 schedule.

The airline will serve both destinations from New York-JFK. Service to Sardinia, Italy will start May 20, 2026, and operate four times weekly, while service to Malta will launch June 7, 2026, and run three times weekly.

Delta will serve Sardinia connecting its New York hub with Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport, on the Northeaster coast of Sardinia, approximately a 3-hr drive from the main town Cagliari but close to the exclusive resort towns of Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo.

Both routes will use Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

Delta said its first ever “Route Race” contest was inspired in part by the May launch of its service from New York-JFK to Catania, Italy, as well as increasing demand for Mediterranean island destinations.

This summer, the carrier is operating its largest-ever transatlantic schedule, with new routes to Barcelona, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Milan, Naples, and Rome. It has also increased service to Athens, Munich, and Zurich.

Zach Vasile

Air Canada, Flight Attendants Union Will Head to Arbitration

The labor union representing Air Canada’s flight attendants has asked to cancel mediation and move wage negotiations to direct arbitration.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 01:34 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The labor union representing Air Canada’s flight attendants has asked to cancel mediation and move wage negotiations to direct arbitration.

In a statement released Tuesday, Canada’s largest airline said the Canadian Union of Public Employees “asked to dispense with the mediation process.” Air Canada agreed to the request, meaning wage negotiations will now proceed to arbitration.

CUPE confirmed the request to CBC News. The union said it saw no potential benefit in mediation and believes arbitration “will put money in our members’ pockets and conclude this process as quickly as possible.”

End In Sight

Arbitration would bring an end to what has become Canada’s most high-profile labor dispute in years.

Last month, CUPE flight attendants walked off the job to protest what the union described as uncompetitive wages, as well as a lack of compensation for duties like carrying out safety checks and helping passengers board. Air Canada’s flight attendants are only paid for work performed while an aircraft’s doors are closed.

The strike forced Air Canada to cancel all mainline and Air Canada Rouge flights. The shutdown affected about 500,000 people traveling to, from, and within Canada.

The Canadian government intervened to halt the strike, declaring it illegal, and after three days Air Canada and CUPE reached a tentative agreement that partially addressed the unpaid work issue. Despite the union leadership’s enthusiasm for the deal, the flight attendants voted overwhelmingly to reject it, ensuring the issue would go to mediation and possibly arbitration.

The offer provided year-one wage increases of 12% for mainline and Rouge flight attendants with five years of service or less and 8% for those with six years or more, and subsequent annual increases of 3%, 2.5%, and 2.75%.

During negotiations, CUPE agreed not to call another strike, taking the possibility of further flight disruptions off the table.

Arbitration is widely expected to lock in the provisions already agreed to by Air Canada and CUPE.

Zach Vasile

Alaska Tempers Earnings Expectations

Alaska Air Group advised investors this week that its third-quarter earnings will be “at the low end” of its previous guidance.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 12:45 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines 737-800. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Alaska Air Group, the corporate parent of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, cautioned investors this week that its third quarter earnings could be slightly lower than initially projected.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the company said it now expects adjusted earnings per share to be “at the low end” of its $1 to $1.40 forecast. It cited higher than anticipated fuel costs and operational disruptions stemming from bad weather and air traffic control problems, which led to increased costs from overtime and compensation paid to customers.

Alaska also said a technology outage in July – which briefly grounded all of Alaska Airlines’ flights – will cost about 10 cents per share.

Still, revenue trends remain strong, the company said. Unit revenue is tracking near the high end of earlier guidance, and the airline group saw strong interest in its new Atmos rewards program, which is replacing Alaska’s Mileage Plan and Hawaiian’s HawaiianMiles.

All Mileage Plan members were automatically enrolled in Atmos last month, and all HawaiianMiles members will automatically transition into Atmos on Oct. 1. Starting in 2026, the program will allow customers to choose how they would like to earn points and elite-qualifying “status points” – in distance traveled, price paid, or segments flown.

Registrations for Alaska’s new premium credit card, known as the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card, exceeded the company’s year-end target within two weeks, the filing stated, and there was notable interest beyond the group’s core West Coast and Hawaiian markets.

Alaska Air Group is in the process of integrating Hawaiian into its operations. It expects to secure a single operating certificate from the FAA for Alaska and Hawaiian at some point this fall.

Zach Vasile