Livery of the Week: AirAsia Celebrates Chinese-Thai Diplomatic Anniversary

This brand-new design showcases the number “50” portrayed, blending together two legendary creatures – China’s dragon and Thailand’s naga.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 12:42 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

AirAsia Airbus A320 in China-Thailand livery (Photo: AirAsia)

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.

Since its launch in 1996, AirAsia has revolutionized air travel in Asia, growing to become one of the largest low-cost airlines in the world. From the early beginnings at a very basic terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, it has now grown to become a behemoth with over 250 aircraft, serving 166 destinations in 25 countries and operating subsidiaries in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

And last month in Bangkok, AirAsia unveiled a new special livery to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relationships between Thailand and China. The commemoration shows how AirAsia has become part of the economies of the countries where it is based: the aircraft will be deployed on routes all throughout Asia as a symbol of AirAsia’s commitment towards strengthening regional connectivity.

This brand-new design showcases the number “50” portrayed, blending together two legendary creatures – China’s dragon and Thailand’s naga – representing strength, prosperity and enduring friendship, said AirAsia in a press release. Then a warm greeting in both Thai and Chinese is painted all across the fuselage in a symbolic gesture of goodwill across Asian skies.

Mr. Santisuk Klongchaiya, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said: “Thailand and China share a long-standing relationship across many dimensions, especially in tourism, where both countries are top destinations for each other’s travelers. With mutual visa exemptions now in place, travel between the two nations has become even more seamless. China remains one of AirAsia’s key markets, and we are proud to serve a wide network of routes covering both major and secondary cities.”

AirAsia currently operates the most direct routes from Thailand to China, flying to 10 popular destinations: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Changsha, Wuhan, Kunming, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu, and Shanghai.

High-Density Seating Configuration

The Airbus A320 used for this display carries the callsign HS-BBR and was delivered new to AirAsia on July 21, 2015, through the leasing company Avalon. It is one of the 69 Airbus A320 aircraft in AirAsia’s all-Airbus fleet, and it is configured in a standard all-economy 180-seat configuration, similar to the configuration of other ultra low-cost airlines around the world such as Wizzair and easyJet.

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

Vanni Gibertini

Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.

Air Wisconsin Secures First Essential Air Service Contract

Earlier this year, American ended its capacity contract with the carrier, leaving it with no regularly scheduled flights since early April.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 12:12 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has selected Air Wisconsin to provide subsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) to Parkersburg, West Virginia/Marietta, Ohio, marking the airline’s first participation in the federal EAS program.

Beginning Oct. 1, the regional carrier plans to operate 12 weekly round-trip flights between Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, using 50-seat CRJ-200 aircraft.

The two-year contract extends through September 30, 2027, with the airline receiving an annual subsidy of $5.2 million in the first year and $5.56 million in the second.

Air Wisconsin’s bid was the lowest-cost option among five proposals submitted, which included entries from SkyWest, Breeze, Denver Air Connection, and Contour. The DOT noted that while the local airport authority preferred SkyWest’s proposal with an American Airlines codeshare, Air Wisconsin offered comparable connectivity at a substantially lower cost.

An Air Wisconsin CRJ-200 aircraft (Photo: Appleton International Airport)

The service will operate under a full codeshare with American Airlines, providing passengers with access to American’s network. Air Wisconsin also committed $40,000 annually to market the new route to the surrounding community.

The DOT stated that Air Wisconsin “offers the strongest overall proposal” despite the lack of community endorsement.

The DOT directed Air Wisconsin and the incumbent carrier, Contour, to ensure a smooth transition with no service hiatus. Contour currently serves the route under a separate agreement that expires on Sept. 30.

Air Wisconsin, headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, has operated as a regional carrier for major airlines for decades but had not previously held an EAS contract. Earlier this year, American ended its regional capacity contract with the carrier, leaving it with no regularly scheduled flights since early April.

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.

Flight Attendant Sues Delta, Endeavor Over Rollover Crash

A flight attendant has filed a federal lawsuit against Delta and its subsidiary, Endeavor Air, alleging gross negligence and violations of aviation law.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 11:29 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The wreckage of Delta flight 4819 (Photo: TSB of Canada)

A flight attendant has filed a federal lawsuit against Delta and its regional subsidiary, Endeavor Air, alleging gross negligence and violations of international aviation law stemming from a crash landing in Toronto earlier this year.

The suit, filed July 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, centers on a Feb. 17 incident involving Endeavor Air Flight 4819. The aircraft, operating as a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Toronto, crashed during landing, allegedly rolling multiple times before coming to rest upside down and later exploding.

The accident remains under investigation.

Plaintiff Vanessa Miles, a Detroit resident and Endeavor flight attendant, was traveling on the flight as a deadheading crew member, meaning she was off duty and occupying a passenger seat.

An Endeavor Air CRJ-900 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

According to the complaint, Miles was rendered unconscious upon impact, awoke upside down and soaked in jet fuel, and evacuated the aircraft without guidance from the flight crew or functional emergency slides. The plane exploded approximately two minutes after she exited, the filing states.

Numerous Injuries

The lawsuit claims Miles sustained numerous physical and psychological injuries, including a fractured shoulder, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She was hospitalized in Toronto following the accident.

Miles alleges that Delta and Endeavor were strictly liable under the Montreal Convention, which governs international air travel, and were also negligent in assigning an inexperienced pilot to the flight. The complaint cites a preliminary investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, claiming the crew failed to manage the aircraft’s descent, ignored a sink rate warning, and failed to maintain proper thrust and pitch during the final approach.

In addition to safety lapses during flight operations, the complaint accuses the airlines of inadequate emergency preparedness, citing failures in slide deployment, communication, and passenger medical care after the incident. Notably, the CRJ-900 does not have escape slides due to its proximity to the ground.

Miles is seeking damages in excess of $75 million, as well as attorney fees and other relief.

Delta and Endeavor have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.

Ryan Ewing

Porter Plans New U.S. Routes

Porter has dropped a number of existing and planned U.S. routes in recent months, including service between Ottawa and Las Vegas,

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 10:22 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Porter Embraer aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Welshboy2020)

Canadian airline Porter is adding new routes to Florida.

Starting Dec. 12, the carrier will fly nonstop between Hamilton, Ontario, and Orlando, Florida. One day later, on Dec. 13, Porter will launch nonstop service between Hamilton and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both routes will operate three times a week until April. An exact end date was not announced.

The Florida destinations will be Porter’s first U.S. flights from Hamilton. The airline currently serves Orlando from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Halifax, and Fort Lauderdale from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Montreal.

“We are continuing to grow our presence in Hamilton, announcing nine nonstop routes this year,” said Andrew Pierce, vice president of network planning and reporting at Porter. “This is part of our commitment to taking travelers where they want to go, and we’re pleased to offer Hamiltonians the elevated economy flying experience they deserve.”

The airline will operate the routes using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, with a two-by-two seat configuration.

Porter has dropped a number of existing and planned U.S. routes in recent months, including service between Ottawa and Las Vegas, Toronto and Las Vegas, and Toronto and San Diego. The carrier has cited a slump in demand for air travel between the U.S. and Canada, which has also prompted route cutbacks at WestJet and Flair.

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.

JetBlue Sells 13 E190s to Lessor

Florida-based aircraft leasing company Azorra announced Thursday that it has signed a deal with JetBlue for 13 Embraer E190 aircraft.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 09:43 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

Florida-based aircraft leasing company Azorra announced Thursday that it has signed a deal with JetBlue for 13 Embraer E190 airframes and 36 General Electric CF34-10E6 engines.

Deliveries started in July and will continue through the second quarter of 2026, the company said.

The E190s will join Azorra’s operational fleet, while the surplus CF34s will help expand the firm’s engine leasing capabilities.

“We’re excited to once again partner with JetBlue on this transaction, which reinforces our commitment to the Embraer E-Jet family and GE’s CF34-10 engines,” said Azorra CEO John Evans. “It underscores our confidence in the performance, reliability, long-term value, and continued demand for these assets, while advancing our mission to deliver innovative, value-driven powerplant solutions to customers worldwide.”

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

JetBlue officials said the transaction advances the carrier’s fleet modernization efforts and helps “efficiently monetize a portion of our E190 assets.” The airline is set to retire the E190 this fall.

Azorra, which has its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, owns and manages 143 assets, including aircraft and engines. Its current fleet includes Embraer E-Jets, ATR turboprop regional airliners, Airbus A220s and A330s, and the Boeing 777-300ER.

Zach Vasile

Report Criticizes FAA Oversight of SkyWest

The FAA’s oversight of regional carrier SkyWest is falling short of the agency’s own standards, according to a report from the Transportation Department.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 06:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A SkyWest E175 operating for Delta Connection. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)

The FAA’s oversight of regional carrier SkyWest is falling short of the agency’s own standards, according to a report from the U.S. Transportation Department’s inspector general.

The report concluded that the FAA Certificate Management Office overseeing SkyWest’s maintenance programs “does not always adhere to FAA guidance when addressing SkyWest’s noncompliance.” It faulted the CMO for directing inspectors to use nonstandard methods to achieve compliance and failing to identify recurring problems that should have been labeled systemic.

The report highlighted repeated noncompliance issues in SkyWest’s remote return to service maintenance practices, which have been going on for over four years.

“These problems indicate that the CMO’s efforts to ensure that SkyWest resolved identified noncompliances were not effective,” the authors wrote. “Furthermore, based on our analysis, the recurrence of issues with remote return to service maintenance suggests that the problem should have been identified and addressed as a systemic hazard.”

The inspector general also called attention to the sometimes lengthy delays the CMO encountered while trying to obtain critical safety data from SkyWest. There is no automated system to facilitate the sharing of this data, and the CMO relies on requests for information filed with SkyWest. While SkyWest responds to the majority of the requests in a timely fashion, the report found, some requests experienced delays ranging between 60 to nearly 120 days, slowing the resolution of compliance issues.

SkyWest is the largest regional airline in the U.S. Based in St. George, Utah, it operates flights through service agreements with United, Delta, American, and Alaska.

An American Eagle CRJ-700 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

“Safety is SkyWest’s highest priority and the foundation of all we do,” the carrier said in a statement. “We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance across all aspects of our operation. The OIG report found the local Certificate Management’s Office (CMO’s) oversight does not comply with FAA guidance. In recent years and over several changes in CMO leadership and personnel, we’ve taken numerous actions to help the CMO identify and resolve any issues in either of our processes to better support SkyWest’s safety efforts.”

“We appreciate the national Federal Aviation Administration’s emphasis on a collaborative approach to problem solving with the goal of enhancing safety, and we remain committed to working with our local CMO in the pursuit of safety excellence,” the statement continued.

The inspector general’s office said it initiated the review on its own after discovering similar shortcomings in the FAA’s oversight of carriers like American, Southwest, and Allegiant.

Recommendations

The report issued seven recommendations, including providing training to managers and inspectors on how to identify and resolve systematic hazards. It also recommended improving internal communications, closely adhering to compliance escalation and resolution procedures, and helping inspectors more carefully categorize the noncompliance issues they find.

The FAA was shown a draft of the inspector general’s report in May and earlier this month provided a response in which it fully concurred with all but one of the recommendations. It took issue with a directive to establish “clear procedures on how Certificate Management Offices should address significant delays in obtaining air carrier data,” because implementing a single set of procedures would be, in its view, unworkable.

“The FAA agrees that clear procedures are important,” the agency said. “However, CMOs differ in how they interact with operators, making a uniform procedure impractical. Given the complexities, a standardized process could disrupt effective local practices and limit the flexibility needed to address the varied contexts of FAA data requests.”

Instead of mandating a uniform approach, the FAA continued, each CMO will review its procedures for requesting and escalating information requests, revise them as needed, and communicate those changes to staff by June 2026.

Zach Vasile

Air France-KLM Abandons Bid for Stake in Air Europa

Air France-KLM, the parent company of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has pulled out of the process to acquire a stake in Spain’s privately-owned Air Europa.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 01:33 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Europa 787-8 in Madrid. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Air France-KLM has pulled out of the process to acquire a stake in Spain’s privately owned Air Europa.

A spokesperson for the French-Dutch conglomerate confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that it could not reach an agreement with Globalia, the holding company that controls Air Europa.

It was not immediately clear which issues blocked a possible deal, though it has been widely reported that Air France-KLM rejected Globalia’s $1.1 billion valuation of Air Europa.

Globalia, which is owned by the Hidalgo family, has not commented on Air France-KLM’s decision to withdraw.

Air Europa is looking to raise cash to pay back about $546 million in loans it borrowed from the Spanish government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, it asked interested parties to submit their bids for a roughly 20% stake in the company by early July.

An Air France Airbus A319 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Group were reportedly in talks with Air Europa from the start, and it was widely believed that one of them would secure the stake. In June, however, Turkish Airlines entered the bidding war. If Turkish Airlines is successful with its offer, the carrier would become one of the very few non-European companies to own a piece of a European airline.

On a recent earnings call, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said his company is still in the race, though the negotiations have been complex.

“I cannot yet give an answer whether it will fail or not,” he said of Lufthansa’s bid. “I can confirm that it is very difficult to get this to a success.”

International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, attempted to buy all of Air Europa last year but backed out over scrutiny from regulators. IAG already owns 20% of the airline.

Air Europa is the third-largest airline in Spain, behind Iberia and low-cost carrier Vueling.

Zach Vasile

25 Hospitalized After Delta Flight Hits Strong Turbulence

A Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to divert to Minneapolis after running into turbulence that injured over two dozen people.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Airbus A330-900 at Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

A Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was forced to divert to Minneapolis on Wednesday after running into turbulence that injured over two dozen people on board.

According to a statement from the airline, passengers and crew members were evaluated by medical personnel at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, and 25 were ultimately hospitalized.

“We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved,” Delta said.

The aircraft involved was an Airbus A330-900. It was carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew members.

The flight, identified by Delta as DL56, departed Salt Lake City around 5:30 p.m. local time and landed about two hours into its journey. The airline did not provide further details about the nature of the turbulence, other than calling it “significant.”

Zach Vasile

Alaska Adds Seven New Routes

Alaska Airlines plans to add a handful of new routes beginning this winter. The Seattle-based carrier announced these flights on Thursday.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 09:54 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines Embraer E175 (Photo: Shutterstpck | Welshboy2020)

Alaska Airlines plans to add a handful of new routes beginning this winter. The Seattle-based carrier announced these flights on Thursday.

From Burbank, California, the airline will begin serving Eugene, Oregon; Pasco, Washington; and Redmond, Oregon. These year-round routes will begin on Oct. 26, operating daily with an Embraer E175.

Alaska’s new service from Burbank comes as ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo plans to pull out of the market later this year. It will also compete with Breeze in some of these markets.

Starting on Jan. 7, the airline will also connect Boise, Idaho, and Ontario, California. In addition, Alaska will fly between Spokane, Washington, and Orange County, California.

Both year-round routes will operate once daily on an E175.

A Horizon Air E175 in Seattle (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

“We’re the only global airline based on the West Coast, and we’re proud to offer the most flights and seats between California, Washington, and Oregon,” said Kirsten Amrine, Alaska’s vice president of revenue management and network planning, in a news release. “These new additions further expand our ability to take our guests between growing markets in California and the Pacific Northwest for leisure and business travel.”

Seasonal Routes

Alaska is also slated to add some seasonal flights. On Oct. 26, the carrier will begin linking Palm Springs and Santa Rosa in California with five weekly flights.

San Diego-to-Sun Valley in Idaho will see three times weekly E175 flights starting on Dec. 18.

Ryan Ewing

South African Airways to Launch Cape Town-Mauritius Service

The new Cape Town-Mauritius service will also be operated using an Airbus A320, seating up to 138 passengers in Business and Economy.

Lorne Philipot

Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 07:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

South Africa’s national carrier will introduce nonstop scheduled flights between Cape Town and Mauritius in December.

South African Airways is tapping into growing demand for service between two of Africa’s prime tourist destinations. Mauritius is popular with South African holidaymakers as well as international tourists who often combine both destinations on a single trip.

The first departure is set for Tuesday, Dec. 9. The airline will operate three rotations a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, during the high season, but will scale back in the off-peak season. Between mid-January and mid-March 2026, flights will operate twice weekly.

This is the first time the airline will offer flights on this city pair. South African Airways currently operates daily services between Johannesburg and Mauritius. These are operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, in a two-class cabin configuration.

The new Cape Town-Mauritius service will also be operated using an Airbus A320, seating up to 138 passengers in Business and Economy.

Air Mauritius also flies twice-weekly between Cape Town and Mauritius. It operates these flights with an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

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.