Alaska to Use 787 on Seoul Route

When Alaska Airlines launches its new route between Seattle and Seoul later this week, it will do so with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787. (Photo: Shutterstock)

When Alaska Airlines launches its new route between Seattle and Seoul later this week, it will do so with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

When the service was first announced in March, Alaska said it would use the Airbus A330-200 and switch over to a Hawaiian Airlines-owned 787-9 at a later date. But in a statement released Wednesday, the carrier said the inaugural flight scheduled for Friday will operate with the Dreamliner.

The service marks the 787’s first international route for Alaska from Seattle.

The airline said Wednesday that it will start flying the 787-9 on its existing Seattle-Tokyo Narita route starting Jan. 6, 2026, and on new flights from Seattle to London and Rome next spring.

Alaska is setting up a 787-9 hub in Seattle that will deploy as many as 17 787s across its global network. The new pilot base, which joins an existing 737 hub, is expected to open in March.

By 2030, the airline plans to serve 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle.

Alaska currently has four Dreamliners in its fleet.

The carrier is in the process of merging with Hawaiian, which it acquired last year in a $1.9 billion transaction.

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.

Southwest Adds New Airport

Southwest will serve Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, located near Santa Rosa, California, starting April 7, 2026.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 04:25 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Southwest is adding a Northern California airport to its route network.

The carrier announced Wednesday that it will start serving Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, located near Santa Rosa, on April 7, 2026.

Southwest will connect Sonoma County with San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, and Burbank, California. The San Diego and Las Vegas routes are set to operate daily, and there will be two San Diego round-trip on peak days. The Burbank route will operate five days a week and the Denver route will operate on Saturdays only.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is known for its decor celebrating the long-running comic strip Peanuts. It is named for the strip’s creator, who lived in Santa Rosa.

“We aren’t slowing down in our pursuit to provide customers with more options than ever before,” said Southwest COO Andrew Watterson. “Adding Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport to our route map provides more access to California’s famed Wine Country for our customers and further solidifies our years-long commitment to California.”

Sonoma County will be Southwest’s 14th destination in California. Airline officials pointed out that the new flights will give Northern California travelers access to the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport and the renovated and expanded Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Zach Vasile

United Signs Codeshare Agreement With ITA

United has signed a new codeshare agreement with Italian flag carrier ITA Airways, which is looking to grow its footprint in North America.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 03:12 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An ITA Airways Airbus A350 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

United has signed a new codeshare agreement with Italian flag carrier ITA Airways.

The two airlines announced Tuesday that customers are now able to book linking United and ITA flights under a single ticket for travel beginning Sept. 15.

In a statement, the carriers said the deal will open up more of the U.S. to ITA passengers while giving United customers access to ITA’s extensive network within Italy and in Europe more broadly.

“ITA Airways and United share a commitment to offering our customers more choices, more destinations, and more opportunities to explore – and with this new loyalty and codeshare cooperation, our customers will benefit from even greater connectivity and a more seamless travel experience when traveling on each other’s networks,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances.

Separate from the codeshare agreement, the two airlines will also allow passengers to earn and redeem points in their respective loyalty programs. Customers who belong to United’s MileagePlus or ITA’s Volare will be able to access each other’s lounges, depending on their tier within the programs.

ITA currently offers nonstop flights to New York-JFK, Boston, Washington Dulles, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It said Tuesday that it is looking to expand its North American offerings but did not name any new destinations.

ITA is set to join Star Alliance in 2026 as part of its integration into the Lufthansa Group. United is a founding member of the alliance.

Zach Vasile

Contour Adds Caribbean Route

Tennessee-based regional airline Contour is expanding its recently announced Caribbean network with a new route starting later this year.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Contour aircraft in Oakland. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Tennessee-based regional airline Contour is expanding its recently announced Caribbean network with a new route starting later this year.

On Nov. 14, the airline will connect San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Maarten. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Flights will use Contour’s fleet of 30-seat regional jets.

“We are excited to expand our Caribbean network with this new route between San Juan and St. Maarten,” said Contour President Ben Munson. “This service will provide a vital link between two important destinations, offering more travel options for leisure and business travelers alike, while strengthening regional connectivity.”

Contour will officially enter the Caribbean market later this month with flights between San Juan and the island of Dominica, and between Dominica and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

New Chicago Route

The airline also announced Wednesday that it will connect Chicago O’Hare with Quincy Regional Airport in Adams County, Illinois. This service will launch on Nov. 1.

Contour will operate a morning flight from Quincy to Chicago O’Hare daily, with an evening flight on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Similarly, there will be a daily afternoon flight from Chicago O’Hare to Quincy and an evening flight on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Zach Vasile

JetBlue Adds Nine Routes

JetBlue is bolstering operations at its hub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with plans to add new routes and expand existing ones.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:29 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue Airways Airbus A220 prepares for landing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue is bolstering operations at its hub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with plans to add new routes and expand existing ones.

The airline announced Wednesday that it will start flights between Fort Lauderdale and nine more cities later this year. The destinations are: Aruba; Cali and Cartagena in Colombia; Grand Cayman; Liberia, Costa Rica; New Orleans; Pittsburgh; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and St. Maarten.

Cali is completely new to JetBlue’s network.

Most of the new routes will come online Dec. 4, except for New Orleans and Pittsburgh, which will launch Nov. 1. A start date for the Cali service has not yet been announced.

Flights to Pittsburgh and Liberia will operate once daily, while service to New Orleans will run twice daily. The Aruba and Grand Cayman routes will operate three times weekly, and Cartagena, San Pedro Sula, and St. Maarten will operate four times weekly.

“As the top airline in Fort Lauderdale, with more departures than any other carrier on peak travel days, JetBlue is proud to keep raising the bar for customers in South Florida and to continue bringing them to the places they want to go,” said Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships. “By adding new routes and expanding service to top destinations, we’re giving travelers more opportunities to enjoy the comfort, quality service, and value that sets JetBlue apart.”

Service Increases

JetBlue is also increasing the frequency of flights between Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta (moving to three times daily); Hartford, Connecticut (two to three times daily); Boston (six times daily); San Juan, Puerto Rico (six times daily); Cancún, Mexico (three times daily); Kingston, Jamaica (two to three times daily); Punta Cana (one to two times daily) and Santiago (once daily year-round) in the Dominican Republic; and San José, Costa Rica (two times daily).

The increased flights will start Nov. 1 for Atlanta, Hartford, and Boston; Nov. 2 for San Juan; Dec. 4 for Kingston, Punta Cana, San José, and Santiago; and Dec. 5 for Cancún.

Zach Vasile

Avelo Orders Up to 100 Embraer E195-E2s

The order is valued at $4.4 billion at list prices, not including the optional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Rendering of Avelo's E195-E2 (Photo: Avelo Airlines)

Avelo Airlines has placed a firm order for 50 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with purchase rights for 50 more, the airline announced Wednesday.

The order is valued at $4.4 billion at list prices, not including the optional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027.

The deal positions Avelo as the first U.S. carrier to operate the E195-E2, Embraer’s largest commercial jet.

Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said the new aircraft will fit well with the carrier’s focus on offering affordable and convenient service across the U.S.

“Our customers will love the E2’s comfortable 2×2 seating, in-seat power ports, large overhead bins, and quiet cabin,” Levy said in a statement.

The ultra-low-cost carrier currently operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet. It recently received a second round of funding, its largest since starting in 2021.

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.

NTSB: Air Canada Rouge Crew ‘Lost the Runway’ Before Short Landing

The left main landing gear contacted an airport service road approximately 420 feet short of the runway, investigators said.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 09:59 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Rouge A319 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on an Aug. 14 incident involving an Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319 that touched down short of runway 20L in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to the report, Air Canada Rouge flight ROU1717 was arriving from Toronto Pearson International Airport when the aircraft landed on the paved blast pad preceding the runway threshold. The left main landing gear contacted an airport service road approximately 420 feet short of the runway, while the right main gear touched down about 52 feet short of the paved surface. The airplane subsequently rolled onto the runway, striking a threshold light before completing an otherwise uneventful landing rollout and taxi.

None of the 93 people onboard — two crew members and 91 passengers — were injured. A post-flight inspection revealed mud on the empennage and minor tire damage.

The flight crew consisted of a line indoctrination training captain serving as pilot monitoring and a captain candidate acting as pilot flying. The aircraft was initially cleared for a visual approach but was later vectored for the RNAV (GPS) Y 20L approach due to rain over the airport.

At 200 feet above ground level, the crew encountered heavy rain, and the pilot flying stated he had “lost the runway” but still believed the runway environment was visible. He asked whether a go-around should be initiated, but the pilot monitoring — who reported still seeing the runway through the rain — responded that they were “good to continue.”

Airport surveillance footage confirmed the aircraft’s touchdown short of the runway. Weather observations from Nashville at the time indicated visual meteorological conditions with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet and 10 miles of visibility, though heavy rain was reported during final approach.

The investigation is ongoing, and the NTSB emphasized that the information remains preliminary.

Ryan Ewing

Air Wisconsin Withdraws From Essential Air Services Contract

Air Wisconsin is walking away from a federally-subsidized Essential Air Services contract less than two months after securing it.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 09, 2025 at 04:02 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Air Wisconsin CRJ-200 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Nathan Klemstein)

Air Wisconsin is walking away from a federally-subsidized Essential Air Services contract less than two months after securing it.

In a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Appleton, Wisconsin-based charter airline said it will not start service between Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, due to a change in the company’s “strategic direction.” This is likely a reference to Air Wisconsin’s pending acquisition by Florida-based private aviation firm Premier Shuttle Holdings, which was made public last month.

Through EAS, the DOT subsidizes commercial flights serving the predominantly rural Parkersburg, West Virginia/Marietta, Ohio, area. In August it selected Air Wisconsin to take over the route to Charlotte from incumbent Contour, citing its lower bid.

The airline would have received over $5 million a year to fulfill the contract, which called for 12 weekly round-trip flights between Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and Charlotte. The agreement would have run through September 2027.

Air Wisconsin decided to pivot toward EAS flights after the termination of its capacity purchase agreement with American Airlines in April. The Parkersburg-Marietta contract was its first successful bid under the EAS system.

Air Wisconsin did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the filing.

New Ownership

Two weeks ago, the Appleton-based Post-Crescent reported that Air Wisconsin signed a letter of intent with Premier Shuttle Holdings, citing a statement to the newspaper from Air Wisconsin President and CEO Robert Binns.

“Premier would take over ownership and management of Air Wisconsin, and Air Wisconsin would continue to operate under its own name, albeit with Premier’s business plan,” Binns told the outlet.

Premier Shuttle Holdings is an affiliate of West Palm Beach-based Slate Aviation. Slate offers daily shared flights between New York, South Florida, and Nantucket.

Binns told The Post-Crescent that Air Wisconsin will sell an unspecified number of its Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft to Premier Shuttle Holdings to help expand Slate’s operations.

At the time, the CEO did not say how many Air Wisconsin workers, if any, would lose their jobs, but late last week, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development received a warning from the carrier that it will let go of 252 workers at locations in Milwaukee and Appleton as a consequence of the Shuttle Premier Holdings/Slate acquisition. The cuts will take effect Oct. 28.

According to Binns, Air Wisconsin’s parent company, Harbor Diversified, will start a new business, entirely separate from Slate-owned Air Wisconsin. Harbor Diversified would retain some of Air Wisconsin’s aircraft and workers, and focus on “aircraft, engine, and part sales and leasing.”

Zach Vasile

JetBlue Retires E190 Aircraft

JetBlue officially retired its Embraer E190 aircraft on Tuesday, completing the carrier’s transition to an all-Airbus fleet.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 09, 2025 at 01:58 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

JetBlue E190 aircraft parked. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue officially retired its Embraer E190 aircraft on Tuesday, completing the carrier’s transition to an all-Airbus fleet.

The airline operated a final “commemorative flight” for the narrowbody jet from New York-JFK to Boston on Tuesday, with send-off events at both gates. JetBlue COO Warren Christie, who captained the E190’s first flight for the airline in 2005, sat behind the controls again for the aircraft’s last service.

“I am proud to operate today’s flight, as it marks a significant evolution of our fleet,” Christie said in a statement. “The E190 was instrumental in our early years and proved to deliver on critical connectivity in short-haul markets, allowing us to grow into new regions, especially in our New York and Boston focus cities. As one of the originating crewmembers to launch the E190 at JetBlue, it is an honor to pilot our final E190 revenue flight.”

JetBlue E190 — A JetBlue Embraer E190. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue was the first airline in the world to fly the E190. It once operated over 60 of the aircraft type but ultimately pivoted toward the Airbus A220-300 as a replacement. The carrier had only nine E190s still in operation in August.

JetBlue has taken delivery of 52 A220s, with 48 more on order. The airline said the jets will help improve fuel efficiency and reduce costs while opening up new “transcontinental markets” that the E190 was not able to reach.

The carrier now operates only two aircraft families – the A220 and the larger A320 family.

Zach Vasile

Judge Grants Spirit Access to Emergency Funding

A U.S. bankruptcy court has given Spirit permission to tap $275 million in emergency funds as it prepares to restructure its business.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, September 09, 2025 at 12:37 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Kevin Hackert)

A U.S. bankruptcy court has permitted Spirit to tap $275 million in emergency funds as it prepares to restructure its business.

According to a report from Law360, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean H. Lane in New York approved the ultra-low-cost carrier’s move to draw the money from its revolving credit facility, revenue, and other accounts. Lane ruled that access to the liquidity is “obviously necessary” to keep the airline operating.

Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Aug. 29, the second time it has done so in under a year. The immediate impetus was the unexpected termination of aircraft leases by AerCap, Spirit’s largest lessor, but the airline has been struggling with high debt and weakened demand for months. Earlier in August, it warned investors that it may not survive 2025 as a going concern.

Last week, Spirit confirmed that it will discontinue service in 11 U.S. markets this fall, including Portland, Oregon, Salt Lake City, and San Diego.

Spirit recently received approval from the bankruptcy court to continue normal operations while it restructures. It also told the court that it is having “productive” discussions with its secured bondholders and revolving lenders.

“We are pleased to have reached this first milestone in our restructuring process, which will support normal operations as we take decisive action to ensure that Spirit continues delivering the best value in the sky for years to come,” Spirit President and CEO Dave Davis said in a statement. “With these approvals in place and access to the many new tools now available to us, we can continue to implement our transformation to build a stronger foundation and future for Spirit.”

Spirit ended its first stint in bankruptcy in March. It equitized $795 million in debt, secured $350 million in new funding, and announced plans to become the “premium” option among low-cost airlines. New perks followed, including extra-legroom seats and plans for a Spirit-branded debit card, but the changes have not been enough to reverse the carrier’s fortunes.

Industry experts have criticized Spirit for avoiding hard decisions during its first bankruptcy, like renegotiating aircraft leases or scaling back operations.

Zach Vasile