A Wizz Air Airbus A321. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air has reportedly scrapped plans for a Milan-Abu Dhabi route, which would have operated using an Airbus A321XLR.
According to a report from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Hungarian airline suspended the launch of the route over “unforeseen changes in market conditions and operational considerations.”
Wizz provided a brief statement to Corriere confirming the cancellation, but that message has not been posted to the company’s website or been made public through other means. The carrier did not reply to a separate inquiry from AirlineGeeks by press time.
As of Monday afternoon, it was not possible to book a flight from Milan Malpensa Airport to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport using Wizz’s website.
Making Adjustments
Wizz announced in September 2024 that it would begin flying the Milan-Abu Dhabi route once daily starting June 2, 2025. Wizz officials said the new service was the beginning of a push to reach more non-European destinations enabled by the cost efficiency and expanded range of the A321XLR. At the time, the airline was advertising tickets for the Milan-Abu Dhabi route at €99.99.
According to Corriere, however, Wizz sold less than 6,000 seats for the flight, making its launch financially untenable.
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is the sole operator of a Milan-Abu Dhabi route. It reportedly dropped its price for the service in recent weeks, leaving potential customers with the choice of flying on the single-aisle A321XLR or Etihad’s more spacious twin-aisle A350s and Boeing 777s.
Etihad also offered luggage, food, and amenities rolled into its ticket price, while on Wizz those would have cost extra. Corriere estimated that, with those add-ons in place, a Wizz flight would have cost €180-€200, while tickets on Etihad would cost about €130.
Sources who spoke to Corriere said Etihad deliberately reduced its prices to force Wizz to drop the route.
If the service had launched as expected, Wizz would have been the first carrier to operate an A321XLR based in Italy.
Wizz still plans to use the A321XLR to fly between London’s Gatwick Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, though that route has been postponed due to a delay in the aircraft’s delivery.
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.
Delta Ending Three Routes
Delta is planning to cut three routes later this year. These changes include some flights to Canada and a recently resumed route.
A Delta Boeing 757-200 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Delta is planning to cut three routes later this year. These changes include some flights to Canada and a recently resumed route.
In early September, the airline will suspend service between its Atlanta hub and Fresno, California. The last flight on this route is scheduled for Sept. 7.
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.
A Spirit A320neo in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Contour Airlines and Spirit Airlines announced on Monday a strategic partnership aimed at increasing air service options for underserved communities across the United States. The collaboration is intended to enhance connectivity to the national air transportation system and offer more affordable travel options, the two companies shared.
Contour Airlines, currently one of the largest carriers in the Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program, operates flights to 22 cities under the initiative. Under the new agreement, Contour will continue its EAS operations and maintain connections to major airline hubs through its interline partners, including American, United, and Alaska.
A Contour Embraer E135 nicknamed “Pride of Contour” (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
Leisure Market Additions
As part of the partnership, Spirit will introduce new services to major leisure destinations from select EAS markets served by Contour. Additionally, Contour will provide ground handling support to Spirit at these locations and assist with cross-marketing efforts through its established community networks, the carrier said in a news release.
Officials from both airlines emphasized the benefits the partnership will bring to smaller communities. Ben Munson, president of Contour, said the agreement means EAS communities “no longer need to choose between national connectivity and low fares.”
John Kirby, vice president of network planning at Spirit Airlines, stated that the partnership will allow the ultra-low-cost carrier to explore entry into markets with limited current service.
Details on the markets to be served under the partnership are expected to be announced later this summer.
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.
A JetBlue Airways Airbus A220 prepares for landing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
San Francisco-based aviation asset manager SKY Leasing has acquired JetBlue’s venture capital wing.
In a joint statement, the two companies said the change in ownership will allow JetBlue Ventures to continue to pursue promising investments in cutting-edge technology in the transportation and travel sectors. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“Through our aviation partnerships around the world, we are witnessing firsthand the rapid advancements and innovations in the travel industry, and as a long-term partner to JetBlue, we have consistently admired JetBlue Ventures’ track record of nurturing these groundbreaking technologies,” said Matthew Crawford, SKY’s co-chief investment officer. “This transaction is a natural evolution of our partnership and will provide us, our investors, and our global aviation partners with direct access to the cutting-edge innovations and technologies shaping the future of travel.”
SKY provides aircraft leasing and lease management services to airlines and airline investors. It currently manages over $5 billion in aviation assets.
According to the statement, JetBlue Ventures will continue to be led by CEO Amy Burr, and it will keep its current name through a brand licensing deal with its former parent company. JetBlue also plans to maintain its position in existing JetBlue Ventures portfolio companies.
JetBlue Ventures was formed in 2016 and has invested in over 50 early-stage startups. Its current portfolio includes aviation technology firm Beacon AI, delivery infrastructure business ClearJet, and weather technology concern Tomorrow.io., among others. Eight of the businesses backed by JetBlue Ventures have been acquired or gone public.
Renewed Focus
JetBlue officials said the spinoff will allow the carrier to concentrate on its core business.
“As we look at the needs of our airline today, we are fully focused on our JetForward strategy to get JetBlue back to profitability and set us up for long-term success as we compete against the legacy carriers,” said JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty. “This transaction enables us to focus on our core airline operations, while maintaining our access to the innovations and opportunities of current and future portfolio companies through our ongoing strategic partnership with JetBlue Ventures.”
JetBlue has struggled to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, posting a profit in just two of the last nine quarters.
The carrier attempted to revitalize its business with a partnership with American Airlines. The arrangement would have allowed the two companies to share passengers and coordinate on routes, but a federal judge ruled against it, finding the partnership would harm competition in the industry.
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.
Trump Looks to Slash Essential Air Service Program
The Trump administration is setting its sights on the Essential Air Service program as part of its 2026 “skinny” budget proposal.
A United Express CRJ-200 operated by SkyWest arriving into Gillette-Campbell County Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
The Trump administration is setting its sights on the Essential Air Service program as part of its 2026 “skinny” budget proposal. Overall, the White House is looking to cut $163 billion in federal spending.
Created following the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the EAS program is a federal government initiative established to ensure that small communities maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service. The program aims to connect these communities, which might otherwise be unprofitable for airlines to serve, to the national air transportation network.
One of Advanced Air’s King Air 350s in Silver City, N.M. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
Eligibility for the EAS program is based on factors such as a community’s distance from a large or medium hub airport and the average number of enplanements per service day. The DOT establishes contracts with air carriers, generally for a term of two to four years, through a competitive bidding process.
EAS Cuts
In its discretionary funding request for 2026, the Trump administration claims that the EAS program “funnels taxpayer dollars to airlines to subsidize half-empty flights from airports that are within easy commuting distance from each other, while also failing to effectively provide assistance to most rural air travelers.”
The administration further states that spending on these subsidies is “out of control.” Between 2021 and 2025, it has more than doubled, including a slight increase in funding as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
According to the budget request, the administration plans to “rein in” EAS subsidies “by proposing a mix of reforms to adjust eligibility and subsidy rates to help rural communities’ air transportation needs in a more sustainable manner.”
If the budget proposal is enacted, the program would be cut by $308 million. In 2023, EAS subsidies totaled around $394 million.
The spending plan was released on Friday and will be subject to approval by Congress.
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 Boeing 737 at O'Hare. (Photo: Shutterstock | Nate Hovee)
American Airlines has sued the city of Chicago over the allocation of gate space at O’Hare International Airport. The legal action, filed in a federal court in Illinois on Friday, centers on a dispute over the premature redetermination of gate assignments that American claims violates the terms of the Airline Use and Lease Agreement (AULA).
The lawsuit reveals the intense competition between the two major carriers at O’Hare: American and United. According to court documents, United, as the slightly larger hub operator, has “long sought to marginalize American” with aspirations to become the sole hub carrier at the airport. United’s CEO has publicly stated that “it’s hard to be kind of global and comprehensive [as a premium airline] if you can’t be number 1 in big cities,” including Chicago.
United’s ambitions are further evidenced by public statements indicating the company’s desire “to grow incredibly, and to someday take over those gates that currently have the AA [logo] on them,” American alleges.
At the heart of this lawsuit is the AULA, signed in 2018 by American, other airlines, and the city of Chicago. This agreement led to historic multibillion-dollar investments to improve O’Hare and established mechanisms for fairly distributing gates among American, United, and other airlines serving the airport.
The AULA contains several interworking provisions that govern how gate space at O’Hare is allocated and redetermined. Sections 5.3 and 5.4 specifically outline the processes for redetermining common use gate space and preferential use gate space, respectively. Section 5.3 stipulates that by April 1 of each year, the city must determine and provide written notice of gate space allocations to be effective on Oct. 1 of the same year.
Details of the Dispute
The current dispute centers on United’s request for a gate redetermination that American contends is premature under the AULA. If completed, this redetermination would allegedly cause United to gain gate space while American loses gates, violating the terms of the AULA and inhibiting American’s continued growth at O’Hare.
American argues that the AULA established a “Gate Space Ramp-up Period” that would only begin after completion of specific construction projects, including the expansion of Terminal 5, Delta’s relocation from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5, and the opening of three new gates adjacent to American’s existing operations in Terminal 3 (the “L-Stinger Expansion”). According to the agreement, the city would be prohibited from initiating a gate redetermination for at least one year during this ramp-up period.
The court documents show a contentious negotiation process leading to the AULA. During extensive negotiations throughout 2017 and early 2018, parties held sessions at least every other week, with additional monthly “high level” meetings between city officials and senior executives from American, United, and Spirit.
American aircraft at O’Hare (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Greg Linton)
A pivotal moment occurred on Feb. 15, 2018, when city officials presented a “final lease proposal” during the last high-level meeting. American alleges that at the very end of that meeting, officials presented revised language that essentially resurrected a previously abandoned proposal from August 2016, awarding five contested gates to United for its preferential use and designating three others as common use at a location impractical for American to access.
The Gate Space Ramp-up Period
Section 5.2.4 of the AULA stipulates: “Upon the completion of the T-5 Extension and the relocation from the Main Terminal to Terminal 5 of one or more Long-Term Signatory Airlines (‘Relocating Airlines’), the City shall allocate Linear Frontage in accordance with Exhibit D-1.3 with such assignments to remain in place for a period of at least twelve (12) months (‘Gate Space Ramp-up Period’).”
This provision is central to American’s complaint. The airline argues that this Gate Space Ramp-up Period was specifically designed to ensure all airlines had the opportunity to use newly constructed gates for at least one full year to establish a pattern of service that would inform future redeterminations.
American’s complaint further alleges that city officials made false statements about their negotiations with United. While officials initially claimed they had made changes unilaterally without conferring with any third party, United subsequently issued a public statement explaining that “[its] agreement with the city for five additional gates was made more than 18 months ago.”
American claims it was “deceived and betrayed” by this apparent backroom deal between United and the city. The airline made its objections public, stating that the city’s favoritism “undermine[d] competition and consumer choice” at O’Hare, and announced it would not sign the AULA in its then-proposed form.
The airline continues to bolster service from O’Hare, even after a recent proposal to shift more gates to United. Last week, American added a batch of new and returning routes from Chicago, and it bolstered frequencies in other markets this winter.
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.
An American Eagle Embraer jet. (Photo: Ryan Ewing)
American is growing its Northeast network with a batch of new and returning routes. These changes include some new markets from New York LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National.
New York Shake-Ups
Starting in September, the airline will add four routes from LaGuardia, with only one being new to American’s network, per Cirium Diio schedule data.
On Sept. 3, the carrier will resume flights to Atlanta and Charleston, South Carolina. Flights from LaGuardia to Atlanta ‒ which American last flew in 2023 ‒ will operate up to six times per day in each direction. An Embraer E175 will operate on this route.
Between LaGuardia and Charleston, the carrier will offer two daily frequencies, with a third added in November. A mix of E170 and E175 regional jets will serve this route. American halted service from New York to Charleston in 2020.
Also on Sept. 3, American will launch a new daily flight from LaGuardia to Madison, Wisconsin. Flights will be operated by an Embraer E175.
Starting on Sept. 5, the airline will also resume twice-weekly flights from LaGuardia to Burlington, Vermont, which will now operate on a year-round basis instead of seasonally.
Finally, starting on Nov. 2, American will add twice-daily service between LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A Boeing 737-800 will operate this seasonal route, which was last served by the airline in 2021.
“We remain intently focused on and are competing aggressively in New York and Boston, and we are committed to enhancing our customer proposition in the Northeast,” he said. “Over the past year, we have added more than 20 new routes from LGA and JFK using the slots returned to us after the NEA ended.”
New D.C. Route
At its Reagan National hub in Washington, D.C., American plans to add a new route beginning later this year.
On Sept. 3, the airline will start linking its D.C. hub with Houston Intercontinental. Flights will operate three times per day on an E175.
New American routes from New York and Washington (Photo: gcmap.net)
At just over 1,200 miles, the D.C. to Houston route is slightly under Reagan National’s perimeter limit of 1,250 miles. United and Southwest also serves this market.
This new route for American is not a net gain for its overall network in Washington, as it has also trimmed some frequencies in the market due to slot limitations.
An American spokesperson confirmed these network changes to AirlineGeeks on Saturday.
Editor’s Note: Data referenced in this article was provided by aviation analytics company Cirium.
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.
A Sun Country Boeing 737-900ER stored in Marana, Arizona. (Photo: Duncan Kirk)
Sun Country has announced plans to retire one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft in an effort to save money on parts amid an industry-wide supply chain crisis.
During a Q1 2025 earnings call on Friday, CEO Jude Bricker said the decision to retire one of its 737-800s is in response to “tightness” the carrier was experiencing in the components market.
“Even with this deferral, we’ll experience some unit cost pressures associated with lower utilization of our passenger fleet until we’re able to catch up our staffing to our fleet, which should occur around the second quarter of 2026,” he said.
Despite having too many aircraft and a pinch for parts, Bricker said he expected Sun Country’s charter segment to perform well through the rest of 2025, and that the company “continues to deliver high levels of free cash yield.”
“Currently, we plan to continue to deliver with net debt levels expected to fall below zero at some point in 2028,” he said. “However, we have the liquidity and balance sheet headroom to take advantage of any opportunities, including share repurchases using the $25 million of repurchase authority recently granted by our board.”
Ongoing reliability issues with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1500G engines have been a critical contributor to the state of the supply chain. Longer maintenance has led to multiple aircraft groundings and an increased demand for spare engines.
Sun Country Boeing 737s sitting at its main base in Minneapolis/St. Paul (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
This paired with large backlogs in overall aircraft production has crippled the sector, causing airlines to extend use of existing aircraft.
Maintenance Technician Shortages
Other challenges in aviation’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry have also persisted since the pandemic years, primarily due to shortages of skilled labor.
While the industry has taken actions to address the issue, the near-term future looks like it’s going to be difficult. A workforce gap is projected to cause a 20% shortfall on maintenance techs in 2028, according to a 2024 Pipeline Report by the Aviation Technician Education Council.
Although currently bleak, some industry insiders like the Aviation Maintenance Institute (AIM) have suggested this crisis could be a catalyst for increased wages and greater collaboration between industry stakeholders.
AIM President Jason Pfaff told AirlineGeeks in an interview earlier this year that the situation would get worse before it got better.
“If it’s a nine inning game, I’d say we’re probably in the third inning,” Pfaff said in the February interview. “It will get more challenging. But again, from our perspective, at least from some of the conversations we’re having, this could also be a catalyst for a lot of really exciting change in our industry as well.”
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
An Endeavor Air CRJ-700 aircraft at New York's LaGuardia airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Jim Graham, the CEO of Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air, has announced he will be stepping down by the end of May.
A Bloomberg report cited an internal memo sent to the airline’s team Thursday confirming 13-year Delta veteran Timothy Wang will take over as CEO on June 1. Wang is currently the managing director of Delta Connection and will also keep that title.
According to the report, Graham said his departure as Endeavor’s CEO is part of a nearly year-long plan by the company. Delta told Bloomberg that he will keep his role as senior vice president with the Delta Connection regional operation.
Endeavor Air CRJ-900 wreckage (Photo: TSB of Canada)
The announcement comes months after an Endeavor flight flipped over while landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada on Feb. 17.
A month later, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada released a preliminary report on the incident, indicating a “high rate of descent” from the aircraft before the crash. When the right main landing gear hit the runway at a 7.5-degree right bank angle, it fractured and collapsed.
The right wing was detached during the subsequent flip, spilling fuel that then ignited. All 80 people aboard the aircraft were evacuated, with 21 reporting injuries.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
An Air Asia Airbus A330-300. [AirlineGeeks - Hisham Qadri]
Air Asia has announced it will terminate its recently launched Nairobi service. The low-cost airline introduced service between Kuala Lumpur and the Kenyan capital in November 2024.
The service was Air Asia’s first route to Africa and its introduction to the African market, with direct flights between the two cities operating four times each week.
The carrier operates the route with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft seating up to 285 passengers.
Lack of Demand
According to a memo from the airline, Air Asia will halt flights on the route on Sept. 1. It cited weak demand as the reason.
The carrier will continue to operate scheduled services on the route until the end of August.
Air Asia said affected passengers will be given full refunds or credits for future flights with the airline. The carrier also said it will monitor demand for flights to Nairobi and would reconsider the service if there is an increase in demand.
Air Asia announced last June that it would introduce flights to Nairobi and said other destinations were also under consideration. Sustainability in the Sky reported that Johannesburg and Cape Town were possibilities.
So far the airline has not moved to introduce service to other destinations in Africa.
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.
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