AirBaltic to Shrink A220 Fleet

The carrier previously planned to expand its fleet to around 100 jets.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 04:23 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An airBaltic Airbus A220. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

AirBaltic will shrink its all-Airbus A220-300 fleet this year as economic pressures continue to squeeze the European air travel industry.

The Latvian flag carrier said Tuesday that it is adopting a new business plan as demand levels off and costs continue to rise. As part of that plan, the airline will reduce its A220 fleet from 54 aircraft to 36 by the end of this year.

Over the long term, airBaltic expects to rebuild to 40 A220s by 2031.

The airline previously planned to grow its fleet to around 100 aircraft but said Tuesday that its “operating environment has changed materially.” It cited moderating revenue growth, uncertainty and high costs stemming from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and constraints on Pratt & Whitney engine deliveries.

In addition to right-sizing its fleet, airBaltic said it will deepen its presence in existing markets, increase profitability, and secure €225 million of interim financing. Riga will remain its primary hub, airline officials said.

“Every successful airline must continuously adapt to a changing market,” airBaltic President and CEO Erno Hildén said in a news release. “Thus, this business plan is about making disciplined choices that strengthen airBaltic’s long-term competitiveness while preserving what matters most – reliable connectivity and operations, together with financial sustainability.”

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.

American Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Suspected Bird Strike

Flames were seen shooting from the aircraft’s left engine.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 03:13 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American 737-800 in Phoenix. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

An American Airlines aircraft made an emergency landing in South Carolina on Monday after a possible bird strike caused flames to shoot from its left engine.

The Boeing 737-800 had just departed Myrtle Beach for Charlotte, North Carolina, around 8 a.m. when passengers heard a bang, then saw flames coming from the engine, according to CBS News. The outlet spoke to multiple people who were on board the flight.

A video purportedly taken on board and shared with FOX News shows flames shooting out of the engine, but the engine itself does not appear to be on fire.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday. We’ve got an engine problem here,” one of the pilots told air traffic control.

The 737 landed safely back in Myrtle Beach, and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

American Airlines plane makes emergency landing after flames shoot from engine: 'Mayday, mayday, mayday' https://t.co/Eqm1tHSTci pic.twitter.com/BO8LHkpSJl
— New York Post (@nypost) August 11, 2026

In a statement, the FAA said the crew reported striking a bird during takeoff. The agency is now investigating the incident.

American said it took the airplane out of service for an inspection. Another aircraft flew the passengers to Charlotte.

Zach Vasile

Delta Expands Access to AI Assistant

Delta Concierge is now available to all SkyMiles members.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 09:49 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A350-900 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta’s new digital assistant is now available to all SkyMiles members, the carrier said Monday.

Delta Concierge, which is built into Delta’s mobile app, was rolled out last year in beta form to a small group of SkyMiles members. The airline gradually expanded access this summer as the tool was improved and built out.

Concierge appears as a widget icon in the upper right corner of the Fly Delta app’s home screen. It can help customers manage their flight, review options if their flight is disrupted, track their bags, and look up their mileage balance.

Some new functions have been added to Concierge since its initial introduction, including the ability to cancel an eligible flight and submit a refund request, the airline said.

A conversation with Delta Concierge. (Photo: Delta)

“Delta Concierge reflects our commitment to building digital tools that make travel easier and help customers get the assistance they need,” Eric Phillips, Delta’s chief digital officer, said in a news release. “Over the past several months, we’ve listened closely to how customers use Concierge and rapidly added the features they’ve asked for most. Making it available to every SkyMiles member is a big step forward in our goal to put more control in customers’ hands, while ensuring Delta people continue to deliver the care and expertise that set us apart.”

Delta said Concierge will continue to evolve as more feedback from customers is received. It will retain its beta label as new features come online in the months ahead.

Zach Vasile

Royal Caribbean, Rocket CEOs Join Southwest’s Board of Directors

Both executives bring expertise in technology, innovation, and commercial strategy, the carrier said.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 07:17 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Southwest 737 MAX 8 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Southwest is once again adding seats to its board of directors.

The airline announced Monday that Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Rocket Companies CEO Varun Krishna will join its board, effective immediately.

Southwest officials said both of the new directors have extensive experience leading public companies, as well as deep expertise in technology, digital innovation, commercial strategy, and financial leadership.

“Jason and Varun are exceptional leaders who bring complementary experience leading complex, customer-focused companies through periods of growth, innovation, and transformation,” Doug Brooks, independent chair of the board at Southwest, said in a news release. “Their perspectives will be valuable as Southwest continues to advance its strategic plan and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.”

Liberty has worked for over 20 years at Royal Caribbean, and previously served as the company’s chief financial officer. He also served as chair of the Cruise Lines International Association, the leading trade group for the global cruise industry.

Krishna guides business strategy and oversees brands and products at Rocket Companies. The company owns Rocket Mortgage, Redfin, and other consumer finance offerings. He previously held senior executive roles at Intuit, and leadership positions at PayPal, Groupon, and Microsoft.

“On behalf of the board and the Southwest leadership team, I’m pleased to welcome Jason and Varun,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement. “Jason brings significant travel industry, operational, and financial leadership experience, while Varun brings deep expertise in digital products, innovation, and customer engagement. Together, their perspectives will strengthen our board as we continue enhancing the customer experience, improving performance, and executing our strategic priorities.”

Zach Vasile

Volaris Adds New U.S. Destinations, Routes

Flights will start in December.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 04:30 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Volaris Airbus A320 with Sharklets. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ian McMurtry)

Mexico’s Volaris is set to add two new destinations in the U.S. to its route network.

Ryan Isemeyer, the carrier’s head of capacity and network planning, announced over LinkedIn that Volaris will serve Atlanta and Washington Dulles nonstop from Guadalajara. The airline does not currently serve either U.S. city.

Flights will start in December. No exact launch dates were provided.

“At its heart, this is about connecting people and making air travel more accessible with low fares,” Isemeyer wrote.

Volaris will also connect Las Vegas and Querétaro, and Chicago O’Hare and Puebla. The airline already serves both markets from other airports in Mexico.

Additionally, Volaris will offer flights from Guadalajara to Guatemala City and Medellín, Colombia. These routes will also launch in December.

Volaris currently serves 23 destinations in the U.S.

Zach Vasile

Vietjet to Land at New Sydney Airport

Flights from Vietnam’s largest city will begin in 2027.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 02:58 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Vietjet A321neo arrives in Hamburg from a test flight. (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet will serve Australia’s new Western Sydney Airport, the airline’s leaders announced Monday.

Starting Jan. 9, 2027, Vietjet will offer twice weekly flights between Western Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights will depart Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and return flights from Western Sydney will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays.

“Vietjet is proud to be among the first airlines to connect Vietnam with Western Sydney – Australia’s newest international aviation gateway and an emerging center of economic growth,” Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thanh Son said in a news release. “With our expanding network, modern fleet, and quality services, Vietjet looks forward to supporting stronger, more productive, and sustainable ties between Vietnam and Australia.”

Western Sydney – formally known as Western Sydney International Nancy Bird Walton Airport – has been under development for around 12 years. It recently opened for cargo operations and will begin commercial passenger flights in October.

The airport will supplement Sydney Airport, the busiest in Australia.

Besides Vietjet, four other passenger airlines – Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, and Air New Zealand – have announced plans to operate from the new airport. Jetstar will be first, with an inaugural flight to Gold Coast, Queensland, planned for Oct. 25.

Vietjet already serves Sydney Airport, as well as Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.

Zach Vasile

American Operates First Commercial Flight With eSAF

The environmentally-friendly fuel powered a connection between Corpus Christi and DFW.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 12:17 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Eagle E175. (Photo: Shutterstock | Ryken Papy)

A recent American Airlines flight from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Dallas/Fort Worth quietly made aviation history for being the first commercial service powered by electro sustainable aviation fuel, also known as eSAF.

American said the eSAF batch was produced by clean fuels and technology company Infinium at a plant in Corpus Christi. The fuel was mixed with conventional jet fuel, tested, then delivered to Corpus Christi International Airport, where it was allocated to American’s flight to DFW.

This marks the first delivery of eSAF to a commercial airport, and its first use in a commercial flight.

Electro sustainable aviation fuel is a type of SAF made from green processes; in Infinium’s case, from waste CO₂ and renewable electricity.

The company said its eSAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% compared to conventional petroleum-based jet fuel.

“This flight represents a significant moment for aviation,” American CEO Robert Isom said in a news release. “Through our partnership with Infinium, we’re demonstrating how next-generation technologies like eSAF can move from early investment to real-world application. Scaling SAF production at lower prices is essential to reducing emissions, strengthening our long-term competitiveness, and continuing to deliver the connectivity and economic benefits that our customers rely on.”

American has an offtake agreement for commercial volumes of eSAF from Infinium’s Project Roadrunner, which is partially supported by a separate agreement with Citi. The initiative is expected to begin eSAF production and deliveries in 2027. At full capacity, Project Roadrunner will produce over five million gallons of eSAF annually, American said.

Numerous airlines and private charter companies have invested in SAF, but its use remains limited by high costs and a much smaller scale of production compared to conventional aviation fuels.

Zach Vasile

Delta Flight Evacuated After Smoke Reported in Cabin

Passengers evacuated using inflatable emergency slides.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 08:59 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta 757 in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

Passengers on a Delta flight were forced to evacuate their aircraft Saturday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

According to the FAA, the flight departed Atlanta for Orlando, Florida, but returned to Atlanta around 8 a.m. after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit. The Boeing 757-200 operating the route landed safely back in Atlanta, the agency said, and passengers evacuated the airplane using inflatable emergency slides.

Emergency personnel were waiting on the runway when the 757 touched down.

Videos recorded and shared by passengers appeared to show an orderly evacuation. One man who spoke with WAGA-TV said he did not see any smoke in the cabin but could detect the faint odor of jet fuel exhaust.

The passengers were rebooked on another flight to Orlando.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

Zach Vasile

FAA Orders Inspections of Hundreds of 737 MAX Aircraft

The agency flagged cracking on some older 737 Next Gen airplanes.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 07, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 737 MAX 9 undergoing test flights at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

The FAA on Thursday ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets after receiving reports of cracks in older-generation aircraft.

In a now-finalized airworthiness directive, the agency said operators must inspect the fuselage skin and bear straps of the 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 200, also referred to by Boeing as the 737-8200. Bear straps are metal sheets that help reinforce fuselage structures such as doorways and emergency exits.

Cracks in those components, the directive states, could lead to the “inability of the principal structural element to sustain limit loads” and “adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.”

“The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on in-service airplanes,” the agency wrote. “The required compliance times for the initial inspection and on-condition repetitive inspections and repair were established to ensure any crack is detected and repaired before the crack reaches critical length with multiple opportunities for detection.”

The order goes into effect Sept. 10. An estimated 471 aircraft will be affected.

According to the FAA, cracks were found in the bear strap at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout on the older 737 Next Gen. No cracks have been found so far on any 737 MAX variants, but because the two generations have a similar design, the MAX could be susceptible to the same issue, investigators said.

Boeing said in a statement that it informed operators of the 737 Next Gen of the cracking problem in 2019 and extended inspections to the 737 MAX in 2024 because the types share a “similar design and build process.”

The 737 MAX has faced intense scrutiny in the past, most notably after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The type was grounded for months and was allowed to reenter service only after regulators imposed new safety requirements on Boeing.

Earlier this week, the FAA certified the 737 MAX 7, the smallest MAX variant.

Zach Vasile

Man Charged With Sneaking Onto Parked JetBlue Aircraft

The suspect allegedly hid from employees inside a bathroom and fell asleep.

Zach Vasile

Friday, August 07, 2026 at 01:45 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

JetBlue and Spirit aircraft in Fort Lauderdale. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A man from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is facing charges after allegedly sneaking on board a parked JetBlue aircraft, hiding in the lavatory, and falling asleep inside.

Samuel Prescott Lackey, 32, was arrested over the weekend after JetBlue employees discovered him on board the airplane, CBS News reported Thursday. He was later arraigned on charges of criminal mischief, burglary of an occupied conveyance, and interrupting or impairing critical infrastructure.

According to a police report, a person matching Lackey’s description was captured on surveillance cameras climbing over a security fence topped with barbed wire at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport around 10 p.m. Saturday. The individual then climbed a set of portable stairs and entered the open airplane.

ABC News reported that the aircraft was parked at a Jetscape hangar far from the main passenger terminal.

Early Sunday morning, the airplane was moved to a parking spot nearer to the terminal, and its doors were closed and latched. Lackey was allegedly discovered asleep in the bathroom around 5 a.m.

The disruption cost JetBlue just over $2,400, police said.

The Broward County Aviation Department, TSA, and the FBI are now investigating the incident.

Lackey’s case is being heard in Broward County.

Zach Vasile