Lufthansa Expands Service to U.S. Midwest

The carrier is increasing flights at a U.S. gateway through late October.

Zach Vasile

Monday, June 01, 2026 at 11:35 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Lufthansa A330 departing Austin in 2019 with Air Force One in the background. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)

Lufthansa is expanding service at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Starting Monday and continuing through Oct. 23, the German flag carrier will operate five weekly flights between St. Louis and Frankfurt, up from the current three. Flights will now operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The airline will continue to use Airbus A330-300 aircraft for the connection.

“We are deeply grateful for St. Louis’s exceptional community support over the past four years, which has enabled Lufthansa to fulfill our mission of connecting people, cultures, and economies by successfully linking Lambert International Airport and all of Missouri to the group’s global network,” Dirk Janzen, Lufthansa Group’s vice president for passenger sales in the Americas, said in a news release. “The additional frequencies demonstrate our strong commitment to this route and will further strengthen connections between the region’s world-class academic institutions and Fortune 500 companies with Europe and beyond.”

British Airways also offers transatlantic service to St. Louis.

The airline serves 25 other destinations in the U.S., including New York-JFK, Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Los Angeles.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 11:33 a.m. ET to account for British Airways’ service to St. Louis.

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.

United Adds New Caribbean Destination

Service will start this fall.

Zach Vasile

Monday, June 01, 2026 at 10:44 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 737-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Noah Escobar)

United is launching a new route to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Starting Oct. 31, the carrier will connect Newark, New Jersey, with St. Croix. Flights will operate on Saturdays, using Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

United said it will be the only airline in the world with nonstop service between the New York City area and St. Croix. The connection is expected to complement existing service to nearby St. Thomas.

“United is proud to connect more customers to more Caribbean destinations than any other airline in the New York City region,” Tom Kozlowski, United’s senior manager for Latin America and Hawaii network planning, said in a news release. “We look forward to introducing even more travelers to the vibrant experiences that await in St. Croix.”

With the addition of St. Croix, United will serve a total of 23 destinations in the Caribbean from Newark.

Zach Vasile

Details Emerge in Potential Bid for EasyJet

The clock is ticking on a possible offer from alternative investment firm Castlelake.

Zach Vasile

Monday, June 01, 2026 at 10:20 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An EasyJet A319 in Munich. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Investment firm Castlelake is considering making an offer for Britain’s EasyJet, the second-largest budget airline in Europe.

The Minnesota-based company confirmed Friday that it is contemplating a bid but said it had not yet approached EasyJet’s board of directors.

Castlelake said that, based on U.K. law, it has until 5 p.m. on June 26 to either announce its intent to make an offer or declare it will not.

EasyJet’s share price surged on news of Castlelake’s interest, but the airline said in a statement that it is confident in its current strategy and is not seeking a buyer. It also called Castlelake’s announcement “highly opportunistic” given the recent spike in the price of jet fuel, which has become a major financial obstacle for carriers across the world and especially in Europe and Asia.

EasyJet has seen a slide in its stock price since March, when Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that any bid from Castlelake would value EasyJet at least at $4.12 billion.

Castlelake entered the aviation sector last year with the launch of a dedicated lending entity, Merit AirFinance. In January, the firm reportedly entered talks with Spirit for a potential sale. A deal never materialized, and Spirit went out of business in May.

Zach Vasile

Republic Technicians Vote to Join Teamsters

Negotiations for a first contract will begin soon, union officials said.

Zach Vasile

Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Republic Airways E175 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)

Maintenance technicians at Republic Airways have officially joined the Teamsters.

The labor union announced Thursday that Republic’s almost 800 technicians voted “overwhelmingly” for membership, joining the airline’s pilots and flight attendants, who are already represented by the IBT.

“These workers do critical, highly skilled work every single day to keep planes operating safely,” Dave Saucedo, director of the Teamsters Airline Division, in a news release. “By joining the Teamsters, they now have the power to hold Republic accountable and fight for a better future.”

The new union chapter is now preparing for negotiations for a contract, officials said, with the goal of securing “industry-leading wages, strong benefits, and improved workplace protections.”

The IBT represents about 80,000 workers in the airline industry, including pilots at Allegiant, flight attendants at Sun Country, and technicians at United. The union entered collaborative agreements with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to negotiate new contracts for those worker groups after Republic and Mesa Airlines merged in November.

Zach Vasile

FAA Commits $523M to Airport Upgrades

Grants from the agency will fund runway rehabilitation, taxiway improvements, and other projects.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

American aircraft at DFW Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

The FAA said Thursday that it has awarded a total of $523 million to infrastructure projects at airports across the country.

Officials said the agency delivered 332 grants to airports in 43 states through the Airport Infrastructure Grants program. The funds will support runway rehabilitation, apron and taxiway improvements, terminal upgrades, and other airfield investments.

Recipients include some of the nation’s busiest airports, such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Philadelphia.

Some of the larger projects identified by the FAA are:

$70 million to Dallas/Fort Worth for runway rehabilitation.
$46.9 million to Charlotte, North Carolina, for apron expansion.
$41.9 million to Miami for terminal reconstruction and fuel farm expansion.
$18.7 million to Syracuse, New York, for deicing pad expansion and reconstruction.
$18.6 million to Fort Lauderdale for new taxi lane construction.
$18 million to Philadelphia for taxiway pavement reconstruction.
$16.2 million to Orlando Sanford for taxiway extension.
$10.9 million to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for terminal and baggage system replacement.
$10.5 million to Omaha, Nebraska, for terminal and boarding bridge reconstruction.

“Upgrading our runway infrastructure is part of our work to usher in the Golden Age of Transportation,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a news release. “American families deserve state-of-the-art runways and infrastructure that will make their travel experience safer, smoother, and more efficient.”

AIG grants can be used for a wide range of activities, including airport planning and development, sustainability projects, roadway improvements, and safety-related infrastructure enhancements.

Zach Vasile

FAA Proposes Fine for Alaska Over ‘Intoxicated’ Passengers

The airline said it has made changes based on the agency’s audit.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 in San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The FAA has proposed a civil penalty against Alaska Airlines for allegedly allowing “intoxicated” passengers to board flights.

The agency said Tuesday that it plans to fine Alaska $165,000 for the violations, which allegedly occurred on 11 flights between February 2024 and February 2025. The airline has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond.

Federal regulations prohibit air carriers from allowing anyone who appears to be intoxicated to board an aircraft.

In a statement, Alaska said it participated fully in the agency’s audit of its policies and practices and made “meaningful changes” after concerns were raised. These include more training for flight attendants and customer service agents.

“We respect the results of the FAA’s audit and are confident in the changes that have been in place for the last year to ensure our shared standards are being met,” the statement read.

It was not immediately clear if Alaska plans to challenge the proposed fine.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: Air Senegal

A vibrant red, yellow, and green tail gives the West African carrier one of the region’s most recognizable fleet identities.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Air Senegal A330neo (Photo: Airbus)

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.

Air Senegal’s standard livery combines a largely white fuselage with a colorful tail design inspired by the national flag of Senegal. Introduced alongside the launch of the airline in 2018, the livery reflects the carrier’s role as the country’s flag carrier while providing a distinctive presence across its growing fleet.

The focal point of the design is the vertical stabilizer, which features sweeping red, yellow, and green elements derived from the colors of Senegal’s national flag. The same palette appears on the engine nacelles and winglets, creating a cohesive look that stands out against the otherwise minimalist fuselage. A stylized arrow-shaped emblem positioned near the front of the aircraft echoes the tail design and serves as an additional brand identifier.

Air Senegal's Airbus A330 in Toulouse — Air Senegal’s Airbus A330 in Toulouse.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Along the fuselage, Air Senegal uses large dark-blue titles that stretch across the forward section of the aircraft. The clean white base allows the colorful tail and engines to remain the visual centerpiece, while avoiding the complex striping and gradients seen in many contemporary airline liveries.

The livery is applied across the carrier’s fleet, including Airbus A319s, A321s, ATR 72 turboprops, and Airbus A330-900neos. Air Senegal became the first African airline to operate the A330neo when it took delivery of the type in 2019.

Today, the red, yellow, and green tail remains the defining feature of Air Senegal’s fleet, serving as a flying representation of the country as the carrier connects destinations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

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.

Delta Brings Back Canadian Route

The carrier will resume service to a market last served in 2018.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 11:01 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Delta Airbus A319. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta is adding another transborder route from Los Angeles this fall, marking the carrier’s return to a market it last served eight years ago.

The airline will launch twice-daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Vancouver on Nov. 21, 2026, a Delta spokesperson confirmed on Friday. The route will be operated with an Airbus A319.

The addition restores Delta service in the Los Angeles-Vancouver market for the first time since 2018, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.

Delta has continued to build up Los Angeles as one of its key coastal gateways. The airline said it and its partners offer up to 191 peak-day departures from the airport to 68 destinations worldwide.

Los Angeles to Vancouver is already served by a handful of airlines, including American, Air Canada, Flair, WestJet, and United.

The carrier did not immediately provide schedule details beyond the planned twice-daily frequency.

Ryan Ewing

Southwest Considers Adding Long-Haul International Flights

CEO Bob Jordan said the airline will likely focus on a “handful of destinations” where it can become “highly relevant.”

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 29, 2026 at 10:15 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Southwest is not done making big changes, CEO Bob Jordan said Thursday, and one of the most significant still in the works could be the addition of long-haul international flights.

Asked at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference how Southwest will look in three to five years, Jordan mentioned the addition of airport lounges, expanded premium products, and, potentially, long-distance routes.

“I think it’s likely that we’ll, over that period of time, delve into long-haul international,” he said. “Again, these are all ideas, but we know these are things that our customers want.”

Jordan emphasized that plans for long-haul routes are in their very early stages, and so far no destinations have been finalized. But the airline’s leadership is taking the idea seriously, he noted, and believes Southwest could be “highly relevant” in the right markets.

“It’s out there, it’s something we’re thinking about,” he said.

Jordan said Southwest would likely focus on a “handful of destinations,” between eight and 12, and “pick off the vast majority of traffic.”

“We’re not going to become Delta and United and American in terms of serving 120 international destinations,” he said. “It took them decades to build that.”

When pressed on where Southwest would anchor long-haul international flights, Jordan said Baltimore would be a “natural” choice but cautioned that nothing had been finalized. Baltimore is Southwest’s busiest hub on the East Coast.

Southwest already serves numerous destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, but it does not operate any long-haul international flights. Its current longest routes are to Hawaii and Alaska.

Spurred on by concerns about profitability, Southwest had made significant and sometimes controversial changes to its business model over the last year, including the introduction of assigned seating and checked bag fees.

Zach Vasile

FAA Chief: Spirit’s Slots at LaGuardia Should Go to Another Low-Cost Carrier

The slots could also be retired to reduce congestion, Bryan Bedford said.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 03:45 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | Jomica8)

Slots at LaGuardia Airport once held by the now-defunct Spirit Airlines should be taken over by another low-cost carrier, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Wednesday.

“As long as the slots are going to a low-fare airline and for the public good, the FAA and DOT would support that,” Bedford told reporters in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was attending the CAPA Airline Leader Summit.

His comments were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

If the slots cannot be transferred to a low-cost airline, they could be retired to reduce congestion, Bedford added.

LaGuardia is one of three U.S. airports that use a slot system due to high demand. Other large airports carefully control takeoffs and landings for capacity reasons but do not use slots.

Spirit formerly connected LaGuardia to destinations such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Detroit, Houston, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The carrier folded on May 2, and all flights were immediately canceled.

A small core of Spirit employees is overseeing the liquidation of the airline’s assets, including aircraft and equipment. The airline’s slots at LaGuardia could be worth $87 million, according to a recent filing.

Zach Vasile