Livery of the Week: Condor’s Retro Look

Condor, the German leisure carrier, has become well known in recent years for its bold striped liveries introduced in 2022.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 03:39 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Condor's 767 in a retro livery (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

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.

Condor, the German leisure carrier, has become well known in recent years for its bold striped liveries introduced in 2022. But among its colorful fleet, one aircraft stands apart by looking back instead of forward: Condor’s retro livery, a faithful recreation of the airline’s classic look from the 1960s and 70s.

The retro scheme, painted on a Boeing 767-300ER, features a polished white fuselage accented by a deep blue cheatline running the length of the aircraft. The tail is adorned with Condor’s iconic yellow globe logo, harking back to the brand identity used when the airline was still a subsidiary of Lufthansa. The design pays homage to an era when package holidays and charter flights were rapidly expanding across Europe, and Condor became a household name for German travelers heading to the Mediterranean and beyond.

Condor takes delivery of first Airbus A320neo aircraft (Photo: Airbus)

The decision to roll out this retrojet came as Condor celebrated milestones in its company history and looked to reaffirm its place in German aviation. The livery evokes memories of the airline’s role in the growth of leisure travel, particularly in the decades following its founding in 1955. Aircraft wearing the original scheme once carried millions of vacationers to sun destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Today, the retro 767 operates long-haul leisure routes across Condor’s network.

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

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.

American Prepares For A321XLR Long-Haul Operations

American already has a pilot base for the A320 family in New York, though it is limited to domestic flights. It covers flights from JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 03:22 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

American's first A321XLR taxiing in Hamburg. (Photo: Tobias Gudat)

American is preparing to launch transatlantic service from New York using its Airbus A321XLR fleet, with operations expected to begin in March 2026.

The airline confirmed the plan in an internal announcement this week, noting that a new A320 international bid position will be introduced in February 2026 to support the rollout. Aviation watchdog JonNYC first shared the news.

American already has a pilot base for the Airbus A320 family in New York, though it is limited to domestic flights.

The A321XLR sub-fleet, a long-range version of Airbus’ A320neo family, is being positioned by American to open international markets that were not previously accessible. The carrier has not yet finalized specific routes but said the new pilot base will serve as a foundation for its upcoming transatlantic flying.

American A321XLR — American’s first A321XLR (Photo: Tobias Gudat)

At least 40 pilot positions will be awarded in connection with the March 2026 vacancy posting, with additional staffing expected as more A321XLRs are delivered. Growth of the New York international base will also depend on pilots completing Atlantic European (AE) qualifications, which include long-range international training and check rides, the carrier stated.

XLR Delivery

American added that while the final size of the base has not yet been determined, the operation will expand throughout 2026 in line with the delivery schedule for the A321XLR. Training details for AE qualifications will be communicated to crews as the program develops.

Last month, the airline took delivery of its first A321XLR, though the aircraft remains grounded at Airbus’ Hamburg facility pending seat certification. American has said the longer-range jet will initially deploy on transcontinental routes before flying across the Atlantic.

Ryan Ewing

Chicago O’Hare Breaks Ground on $1.3B Concourse D

Chicago O’Hare International Airport has broken ground on its planned Concourse D, a new “satellite concourse” that will house almost 20 new gates.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Chicago O'Hare International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | John McAdorey)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport has broken ground on its planned Concourse D, a new “satellite concourse” that will house almost 20 new gates.

In a statement released Thursday, city officials said work on the $1.3 billion facility began earlier this month. It is expected to be completed by 2028.

Concourse D will include 19 new gates designed for narrowbody aircraft, with the flexibility to convert 18 of them into nine larger gates that can accommodate widebody jets. The concourse will include over 20,000 square feet of lounge space, 30,000 square feet of commercial space, and a 450-square-foot children’s play area.

City officials said there will be no immediate impact on passengers and airline operations in the earliest phases of construction.

Concourse D is part of a broader $8.2 billion airport modernization effort known as ORDNext. Other projects under ORDNext include the replacement of Terminal 2 with the O’Hare Global Terminal, the construction of a second satellite concourse with 24 gates, and an underground tunnel that will link the expanded facilities.

ORDNext is itself part of an even larger capital development program known as O’Hare 21, the largest expansion project in the airport’s history. Aside from the new terminal and concourses, O’Hare 21 calls for new runways, on-airport hotels, and an expanded airport transit system.

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.

Report: Spirit Exec Meets With Frontier Chairman Amid Financial Turmoil

Struggling ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit has engaged in high-level talks with rival Frontier, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Frontier A320neo landing in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Struggling ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit has engaged in high-level talks with rival Frontier, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

The financial news outlet said Spirit Chairman Robert Milton met earlier this week with Frontier Chair Bill Franke near Spirit’s corporate headquarters in Dania Beach, Florida. The two discussed Spirit’s rebuilding efforts and the general state of the U.S. airline industry, Bloomberg reported. The subject of a possible acquisition did not come up.

The outlet cited an unnamed source with knowledge of the talks.

Neither Spirit nor Frontier have commented publicly on the alleged meeting.

Beyond their status as competitors, the two budget airlines have a history. Frontier attempted to buy Spirit in 2022 in a $2.9 billion cash and stock deal, but Spirit ultimately rejected the offer. The combination would have created the fifth-largest airline in the country.

Spirit’s first A321neo (Photo: Spirit Airlines)

Frontier made another bid for Spirit earlier this year, though at a reduced price, and Spirit again turned down the proposal. The carrier did say that it would welcome further discussions with Frontier, however.

Growing Uncertainty

Spirit has suffered a string of financial setbacks since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. It recorded losses in the first and second quarters of 2025, and earlier this month it warned investors that it may not survive the year as a going concern if it cannot raise more cash. About a week later, rating house Fitch downgraded Spirit’s creditworthiness, and Moody’s did the same after Spirit drew down the entire $275 million it had available through a revolving credit facility set up as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.

The airline has furloughed about 500 pilots and is in the process of selling 23 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. It is also looking at selling off real estate and cutting other fixed costs.

In a message to employees, Spirit leadership said they are making the changes necessary to put the carrier back on solid ground and make it the “premium” of budget operators. Spirit now offers larger seating and extra legroom for a fee, and is in the process of rolling out other perks, like the Free Spirit Debit Card. It has also bolstered operations at its hub at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida.

Still, analysts say it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see how Spirit will regain its footing, especially as demand cools after the summer travel season. Some have faulted the airline for failing to make difficult but necessary changes during its bankruptcy period, like renegotiating aircraft leases and scaling back operations.

Zach Vasile

SkyWest E175 Diverts After Turbulence, Pressurization Issue

SkyWest Flight 5971, operating as United Express from Aspen, Colorado, to Houston, diverted to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday evening.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 09:43 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

SkyWest E175 operating for United Express (Photo: Shutterstock | Minh K Tran)

SkyWest Flight 5971, operating as United Express from Aspen, Colorado, to Houston, diverted to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday evening following a severe turbulence encounter and a reported pressurization issue.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Embraer E175 – registered as N110SY – landed safely in Austin around 8 p.m. local time after the crew reported both turbulence and pressurization concerns. The agency confirmed it will investigate the incident and referred further questions to the airline.

An airport spokesperson noted that emergency crews met the aircraft upon arrival. Austin-Travis County EMS evaluated all 39 passengers and four crew members on board. Two adults were transported to local hospitals out of an abundance of caution, though authorities emphasized that no injuries were considered life-threatening.

United flight 5971 (operated by SkyWest) from Aspen to Houston diverted to Austin Thursday evening.

Note the 7,000+ fpm rate of descent in the ADS-B data. An emergency was declared shortly after.

Working to get more details… pic.twitter.com/RJEtOyV0ek

— Ryan Ewing (@FlyingHighRyan) August 29, 2025

The FAA noted these injuries, which involved passengers, as “serious.”

“Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard and we are working with our partner United to assist customers,” the regional carrier said in a statement.

Loss of Altitude

ADS-B data from Flightradar24 shows that Flight 5971 departed Aspen at 5:02 p.m. local time and was cruising at 39,000 feet near Fort Worth, Texas, when the turbulence event occurred around 7:27 p.m.

A rapid altitude loss of about 4,350 feet took place over a span of 44 seconds, with data briefly recording a barometric vertical rate of minus 11,456 feet per minute.

The aircraft then climbed back toward 37,450 feet before the crew began a descent toward Austin. At 7:30 p.m. local time, the transponder code was switched to 7700, indicating a general emergency, as the diversion continued.

pic.twitter.com/pX0TplihoB

— Pregame (@BrettDeadCenter) August 29, 2025

Photos on social media show oxygen masks deployed in the cabin.

Ryan Ewing

Delta Restarts Service to Israel

Delta is restarting service to Tel Aviv, Israel, after pausing flights earlier this summer due to fighting between Israel and Iran.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Delta is restarting service to Israel after pausing flights earlier this summer due to fighting in the region.

The airline said daily nonstop flights between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv will resume Sept. 1. It will continue to use Airbus A330-900neo aircraft to operate the route.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew,” the carrier said in a statement. “Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports.”

Delta temporarily stopped service to Israel in June as fighting broke out between Israel and Iran. The roughly two-week war forced the closure of Israel’s airspace, and hundreds of flights were canceled.

Even after the fighting stopped on June 24, foreign carriers were reluctant to reenter Israel, citing the possibility of new airstrikes. Delta said at the time that it would aim to restore the New York-Tel Aviv route after Aug. 31.

United became the first U.S. carrier to restart service to Israel, with a nonstop flight between Newark, New Jersey, and Tel Aviv on July 21.

American Airlines has not flown to Israel since October 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive cross-border raid into Israel from Gaza, setting off the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Zach Vasile

Qantas Orders 20 More A321XLR Aircraft

Qantas has ordered 20 more Airbus A321XLR aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal program, bringing its total order for the type to 48.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 11:23 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Qantas' first Airbus A321XLR takes off from Hamburg, Germany. (Photo: Airbus)

Qantas has ordered 20 more Airbus A321XLR aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal program.

The Australian flag carrier is using the long-range narrowbody jets to retire its Boeing 737s and support new short-, medium-, and long-haul routes. With this week’s order in the books, Qantas’ total order for the A321XLR stands at 48.

The aircraft will be divided between Qantas and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar. The 16 jets bound for Qantas’ mainline operations will get new cabin configurations, with lie-flat business-class seats and seatback entertainment screens, making them suitable for long-haul flying.

Airline officials said some of the aircraft will be used on “transcontinental services” to and from Perth, Australia, on the country’s west coast, and to expand service to Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific.

Jetstar’s A321XLRs will be fitted with a two-class cabin. The budget carrier primarily operates within Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, but also offers longer flights to Japan, South Korea, and Hawaii.

Jetstar’s aircraft will be delivered starting in 2027, while the new configuration jets for Qantas will begin arriving in 2028.

“These additional A321XLRs will accelerate the retirement of our 737 fleet and open up new opportunities for domestic and international travel, allowing us to reach destinations that aren’t possible with our current narrowbody fleet,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson in a news release.

While the airline did not formally announce any new routes, Hudson said service between Perth and India and between Adelaide and Singapore are possibilities.

Qantas’ first two A321XLRs are expected to enter service next month. They will initially be used on flights between Sydney and Melbourne and between Sydney and Perth before expanding to other routes.

Qantas has ordered a total of 214 Airbus and Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet renewal program, and 32 have been delivered so far. It has additional purchase options with both manufacturers.

Zach Vasile

Delta Adds Two New European Routes

Delta is adding two new European routes from its Boston hub starting in May of next year as it grows its international network.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 09:12 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | viper-zero)

Delta is connecting its hub in Boston with two new European destinations.

Starting May 17, 2026, the carrier will offer nonstop service between Boston and Madrid and Nice, France.

Delta currently serves Madrid and Nice from New York-JFK.

“As Boston’s leading airline, Delta plays a vital role in connecting the city to the world,” said Paul Baldoni, the airline’s senior vice president of network planning, in a news release. “By adding nonstop service to Madrid and Nice, we’re enhancing our European network and continuing our commitment to providing an exceptional travel experience from start to finish.”

Delta will operate the routes using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. Service to Madrid will operate daily along with three-times-weekly flights to Nice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

The carrier also plans to expand its existing service from Boston to Barcelona and Milan. Starting May 7, 2026, Delta will operate daily flights to Barcelona, and on May 17, service to Milan will ramp up to four times a week.

With the addition of Madrid and Nice next year, Delta will connect Boston with a total of 12 destinations in Europe.

The airline is currently letting its employees and loyalty members vote on a new Mediterranean destination for the summer of 2026, with Sardinia, Italy, Malta, and Ibiza, Spain, all in the running.

Zach Vasile

SmartLynx’s Thai Venture Takes Delivery of First Aircraft

Thailand’s newest charter airline, Thai SmartLynx, has entered the scene, having taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft.

Sam Jakobi

Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 09:03 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Thai SmartLynx's first A320 (Photo: Thai SmartLynx)

Thailand’s newest charter airline, Thai SmartLynx, has entered the scene, having taken delivery of its first Airbus A320.

The aircraft, which was previously owned by former Singapore Airlines subsidiary SilkAir, arrived at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport on Aug. 22, marking one of the biggest stages in the airline’s commencement of operations. The Airbus narrowbody is around midway through its years of service, being 13 years old according to Flightradar24, and will operate under the registration HS-SXA.

Thai SmartLynx is related to SmartLynx Airlines, a Latvian-owned charter airline and one of the largest aircraft lessors in Europe, recently venturing into cargo operations. This business model matches that of its new Thai Subsidiary, which plans to wet-lease services to carriers across Thailand.

Thai SmartLynx also plans to offer chartering services, which are similar to wet-leasing except that they take place over a shorter period of time. These can be done by airlines, but also non-aviation companies and individuals as well, such as sports teams when transporting their personnel.

The maiden aircraft took its ferry flight over from Denpasar, Indonesia, where it had previously been parked since late 2024, according to Thaiger. However, it’s not yet able to fly under the Thai SmartLynx brand, as the carrier has yet to receive its air operator’s certificate (AOC). The airline is hoping that the arrival of this aircraft should bring the carrier one step closer to attaining it.

Sam Jakobi

Sam Jakobi is a young aviation journalist based in London, U.K. A lifelong Airbus fan, he has adored aviation for as long as he can remember. Sam writes articles and conducts interviews with members of the aviation community.

Contour Enters Caribbean Market

Tennessee-based regional airline Contour is entering the Caribbean market with flights connecting Dominica with Puerto Rico and St. Thomas.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 03:12 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

Tennessee-based regional airline Contour is entering the Caribbean market, with flights scheduled to start next month.

The carrier announced Wednesday that it will connect San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the island of Dominica, and Dominica with St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Flights between Dominica and St. Thomas begin Sept. 24, and flights between Dominica and San Juan start one day later, on Sept. 25.

The new routes will provide the only nonstop service from Dominica to both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“We’re thrilled to bring Contour’s brand of reliable, comfortable jet service to the Caribbean,” said Contour President Ben Munson. “Launching service in Dominica is an exciting step for us, and we look forward to making it easier for Dominicans to travel and for visitors to discover Dominica.”

The airline will operate the routes using 30-seat regional jet aircraft.

Contour currently operates only within the continental U.S., with most of its destinations in the South and Midwest.

Zach Vasile