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SAA Ramps Up Frequencies on Several Routes

South African Airways (SAA) will offer additional frequencies on a number of routes to cater to increased passenger numbers over the summer.

Lorne Philipot
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

South African A340
A South African Airways A340-300. (Photo: Shutterstock)

South African Airways (SAA) will offer additional frequencies on a number of routes to cater to increased passenger numbers over the summer.

“South African Airways is strengthening its network with more flights, more frequencies, and more opportunities to connect Africa to the world. We are aiming higher to serve our customers better this festive season,” Tebogo Tsimane, SAA’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

The added frequencies are seasonal services. They have been put in place to offer more flexibility, convenience, and choice during the busiest travel periods of the year, when South Africa traditionally sees increased tourism flows. The additional frequencies will terminate in early February.

West African Services

The carrier will increase frequencies from Johannesburg to West Africa and South America. From Oct. 1, South African Airways will offer more flights between Johannesburg and Accra, Ghana. The airline currently offers four services a week on this route. Frequencies will increase to six per week. Additional flights will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Then, from Oct. 6, SAA will also offer more frequencies between Johannesburg and Lagos, Nigeria. The carrier currently serves this route four times a week. Flights will also increase to six per week. The additional services will be on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Brazil Services

In December, South African will also offer more flights between Johannesburg and Sao Paulo. The airline operates year-round services from both Johannesburg and Cape Town to Sao Paulo, Brazil. However, it will offer more flights only from Johannesburg.

SAA will add two weekly services between Johannesburg and São Paulo. The airline currently offers two rotations per week on this route. Flights will thus increase to four per week. Additional frequencies will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays. The added frequencies will commence on 10 December and will terminate in February next year.

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.

Lufthansa Group to Further Integrate Subsidiary Airlines

Germany’s Lufthansa Group is centralizing operations across its portfolio of European airlines, which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, and Brussels.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Lufthansa A380
A Lufthansa Airbus A380 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Germany’s Lufthansa Group is centralizing operations across its portfolio of European airlines.

The company said Friday that financial management, loyalty programs, and network planning, among other areas, will be “steered group-wide” with the assistance of “group function boards,” each with their own area of expertise. There will be a total of four boards – hub steering, technology, human resources, and finance.

Perhaps most importantly for customers, Lufthansa Group said it will take control of planning all short- and medium-haul routes. While this will be done “in close coordination with the airlines,” the group said, decisions will ultimately be made by the corporate office, with the interests of the broader Lufthansa network in mind.

The centralized approach is already used for the company’s long-haul network.

“The aim is to strengthen and expand the market position of the hub airlines Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines in particular,” Lufthansa Group said in a statement. “Efficiency and profitability are also set to increase.”

Passenger experience will remain under the control of the individual airlines. This includes flight operations and in-flight products, catering, customer service, and airport lounges.

Lufthansa Group said all information technology functions will be consolidated under the department headed by CTO Grazia Vittadini. Digital units will be bundled together in a new, as yet unnamed division.

The company aims to implement these measures by January.

Lufthansa Group, which is headquartered in Cologne, owns or has a stake in Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Austrian, Brussels, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa City Airlines, SunExpress, and SWISS. It also operates non-airline subsidiaries such as Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Aviation Training, and Lufthansa Industry Solutions.

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.

Delta Ending Transatlantic Route

Delta is axing one of its long-standing transatlantic routes next year, an airline spokesperson confirmed to AirlineGeeks on Friday.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Delta is axing one of its long-standing transatlantic routes next year, an airline spokesperson confirmed to AirlineGeeks on Friday.

The carrier is slated to suspend non-stop flights between its New York-JFK hub and Brussels. This route began in 1991, according to U.S. Department of Transportation data.

“Delta will transition its Brussels service to Atlanta beginning March 8, 2026, to better align with customer demand,” the spokesperson said. “The final New York-JFK to Brussels flight will operate Jan. 5 from JFK and Jan. 6 from BRU. Delta apologizes for any inconvenience this change causes, and affected customers will be notified directly.”

The carrier’s Brussels service from Atlanta will operate four times weekly beginning March 8, and increase to daily flights between April and October. Delta currently flies between Atlanta and Brussels three times per week.

Its New York-to-Brussels flights were paused between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route is currently operated by a Boeing 767-300ER. Brussels Airlines also serves New York-JFK.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Livery of the Week: Japan Airlines

Although Japan Airlines’ distinctive white livery may appear simple on the surface, it is rooted in deep history and tradition.

Andrew Chen
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Japan Airlines A350
A Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 taking off (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. 

Although Japan Airlines’ distinctive white livery may appear simple on the surface, it is rooted in deep history and tradition.

The livery itself is basic: the Japanese flag carrier paints its aircraft in an all-white paint job, with its iconic crane logo on the tail and “Japan Airlines” boldly written along the top front portion of the fuselage.

The crane logo is rich in traditional symbolism. Known as Tsurumaru, the circular crane logo was designed in 1958 by Jerry Huff of Constantine and Gardner, Japan Airlines’ San Francisco-based advertising agency at the time.

A Japan Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

“I had faith that it was the perfect symbol for Japan Airlines. I found that the Crane myth was all positive – it mates for life (loyalty), and flies high for miles without tiring (strength),” Huff later wrote about his choice of the crane.

The crane motif – which shows a red crane with its wings spread enclosed within a circle – has been featured on the company’s aircraft liveries for decades. In 2002, Japan Airlines introduced a new “Arc of the Sun” livery that replaced the crane on the tail.

Less than a decade later, however, the carrier brought back the Tsurumaru crane icon with its present-day livery, debuting the new look in 2011. By 2016, the entire fleet had been painted into the livery that exists today.

A Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300ER at Haneda Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

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

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

American Adding New Destination

American Airlines is launching service to a brand-new destination from its Charlotte, North Carolina, hub early next year.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American CRJ-900
An American CRJ-900. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American is launching a new route connecting one of its major hub cities to Florida’s Treasure Coast.

The airline announced Friday that nonstop flights between Vero Beach, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, will begin Feb. 12, 2026. The city will be new to the carrier’s route map.

“As Florida’s largest airline, American takes pride in providing travelers unparalleled access to destinations around the country and the world and we are thrilled to bring new service to Vero Beach,” said Jordan Pack, American’s director of domestic network planning, in a news release. “Our flight to Charlotte is designed to maximize nationwide connectivity, helping bring tourists to the region’s relaxing atmosphere and beautiful beaches.”

“For local residents, American’s service provides the ease and convenience of flying out of their home airport to destinations across our network with just one stop,” he added.

Tickets will go on sale Sept. 15.

A spokesperson from the airline said the new route will operate daily with a CRJ-900.

American just recently announced that it will launch service between Miami and South Bimini Airport in The Bahamas. That route will also come online in February of next year.

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.

Two Injured After United 737 Evacuated

Two people received minor injuries after a United 737-800 made an emergency landing at an airport in western Japan on Friday.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737-800
A United Boeing 737-800 in Tokyo. (Photo: Shutterstock | viper-zero)

Two people were injured after a United flight made an emergency landing at an airport in western Japan on Friday.

In a statement, United said a Boeing 737-800 flying from Tokyo Narita to Cebu in the Philippines diverted to Kansai International Airport near Osaka “due to an indication of potential fire in the cargo hold.”

The aircraft landed safely and all 142 passengers and crew on board evacuated using emergency slides, the carrier said. Customers were then bused to the airport’s terminal, and two people with minor injuries were taken to local hospitals.

“Upon initial inspection by maintenance there is no indication a fire occurred,” United said.

Japan’s Transport Ministry has not released a statement on the incident.

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.

Delta Expands Austin Network With Another New Destination

Delta is adding another destination to its schedule from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, continuing a period of expansion in Central Texas.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta 737-800
A Delta 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

Delta is adding another destination to its schedule from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, continuing a period of expansion in Central Texas.

Beginning Nov. 22, the carrier will launch daily nonstop flights to Miami. The service will be operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

With this addition, Delta says it will offer nearly 30 destinations from Austin. The airline has billed itself as the city’s “leading global carrier” as it builds out its network from the airport.

“Building off this recent announcement, today Delta is announcing yet another new destination from Austin,” a spokesperson said on Friday.

The Miami route follows several other network announcements Delta has made from Austin in recent months. Last month, the airline said it plans to link Austin with Denver, Columbus, Ohio, and Kansas City.

American operates up to three daily flights in each direction between Austin and its Miami hub. Frontier and Southwest also serve the route.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Air India Abandons U.S. Route Plans

A potential Air India route between Dallas and Delhi has quietly disappeared from the carrier’s schedule, leaving the future of the service in question.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air India A350
Air India's first A350 aircraft. (Photo: Air India)

A potential Air India route between Dallas/Fort Worth and Delhi has quietly disappeared from the carrier’s schedule.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation first approved the service in October 2024 and said Air India could begin operating it as soon as Dec. 1 of that year, though aviation experts believed the carrier would most likely wait until 2025. The route looked increasingly likely after Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was added to Air India’s DGCA-approved flight schedule, but the airline did not officially confirm the service, and no start date was announced.

The Dallas Business Journal reported Thursday that Dallas has disappeared from the list of airports Air India serves and from its 2025 schedule, though U.S. destinations like New York-JFK and Chicago O’Hare remain listed.

Air India has not publicly commented on the route and did not respond to a request for comment.

The airline is in the process of retrofitting its long-haul aircraft, taking some of those jets out of service. It was not immediately clear on Friday if that effort has anything to do with the apparent cancellation.

According to WFAA-TV in Dallas, the potential link to Delhi was welcomed by the sizable Indian community in North Texas.

In North America, Air India currently flies nonstop to New York-JFK, Newark, New Jersey, Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. It recently ended flights to Washington Dulles due to the retrofit program.

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.

Spirit Hits Back at United

Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit is holding its ground against United following a hard-hitting series of comments from CEO Scott Kirby this week.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321
A Spirit Airbus A321 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Felipe I Santiago)

Spirit is holding its ground against United following a hard-hitting series of comments from CEO Scott Kirby this week.

During the Chamber of Commerce’s Aerospace Summit on Tuesday, Kirby stated, “It seems unlikely to me that Spirit can keep flying because their customers dislike the airline and don’t want to fly. It’s all about customers.”

His comments follow the ultra-low-cost carrier’s withdrawal from 11 U.S. cities. United has added flights in several markets once dominated by Spirit.

In a post on X, Spirit said that Kirby was “finally right about something,” and “ it is all about customers.”

“Our Guests love low fares, especially our new Spirit First and Premium Economy options,” the airline added. “Maybe that’s why United executives can’t stop yapping about us.”

Last month, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Hawaiian CEO Joe Sprague To Retire

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague will retire later this year and be succeeded by Diana Birkett Rakow, currently the senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Hawaiian A330
A Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague will retire later this year and be succeeded by Diana Birkett Rakow, currently the senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines.

Alaska announced Wednesday that Birkett Rakow will take over as chief executive at Hawaiian on Oct. 29. She has worked at Alaska for eight years and in that time has led the company’s sustainability and corporate impact efforts, government affairs, communications, community and cultural relations, sales, and customer engagement in Hawaii and Alaska, and the airline’s venture capital arm, Alaska Star Ventures.

She will be based in Honolulu.

The change in personnel comes as Alaska continues to integrate Hawaiian, which it purchased in a $1.9 billion transaction in September 2024.

Sprague, who started with Alaska over 25 years ago and formerly served as president of regional subsidiary Horizon Air, has led Hawaiian since the merger closed last year. He will remain a member of Hawaiian’s board of directors.

“Diana has proven herself over an established career as a leader who builds strong teams, delivers results and cares deeply about people and culture,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO of parent company Alaska Air Group, in a statement. “She will be a tireless advocate for the Hawaiian Airlines brand and for Hawaii, and I’m confident she will lead with authenticity and vision.”

“I’m deeply grateful to Joe for his tremendous contributions to Alaska Air Group over the past 25 years,” he continued. “Joe has served Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and most recently Hawaiian Airlines, by prioritizing culture and creating deep connections with employees and communities, while driving results.”

Kyle Levine, currently Alaska Air Group’s senior vice president of legal affairs, general counsel, and corporate secretary, will be promoted to executive vice president of corporate and public affairs and chief legal officer, while retaining the role of corporate secretary.

Alaska said it expects to receive a single operating certificate from the FAA – which would allow Alaska and Hawaii to operate as one airline – later this fall.

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.
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