A Saudia 777-300ER at Washington Dulles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)
Saudi flag carrier Saudia said this week that it is expanding codesharing cooperation with Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic to open up access to more airports in the U.S. and Canada.
The new four-way agreement will allow Saudia passengers to connect to nearly 30 destinations in North America via Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, and London Heathrow. The arrangement will give customers more options and flexibility while planning connecting flights, Saudia officials said.
The airline did not say which U.S. and Canadian airports will be covered by the deal.
Saudia currently flies nonstop to New York-JFK and Washington Dulles in the U.S. and Toronto in Canada.
Delta, which has a significant strategic partnership with Saudia, is preparing to launch nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh this fall. Delta and Saudia will codeshare on the service when it launches on Oct. 23.
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.
Condor Adds New U.S. Route
The seasonal route will operate daily using an Airbus A330neo.
A Condor A330-900neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
Condor is adding a new U.S. destination to its long-haul network beginning next year.
Starting May 14, 2027, the German carrier will operate daily nonstop flights between Frankfurt and Chicago O’Hare. The seasonal service is scheduled to run through Sept. 12.
Condor plans to operate the route with an Airbus A330-900neo.
“Chicago is an ideal addition to our North American network and a market with significant potential,” Condor CEO Peter Gerber said in a news release.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
A WestJet 787-9 prepares for a test flight at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Unionized flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, are gearing up for a potential strike.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, which represents the flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice on Thursday. The warning does not necessarily mean that the flight attendants will walk off the job, only that they could if a new labor agreement is not reached within the timeframe.
“We have been clear about what needs to change, and we have worked hard to reach a fair deal,” Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said in a statement.
WestJet responded with a 72-hour lockout notice, which allows a company to close down workplaces. In Canada, lockouts are a typical response to union strike warnings.
“The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union, was not one that was made lightly,” WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a news release. “We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests.”
Hoensbroech also said the company is committed to reaching a deal with the flight attendants and will “continue to work around the clock” on the matter.
WestJet and its flight attendants have been negotiating for a new labor contract for months. The current contract, which came into effect in 2021, became amendable at the end of 2025.
According to the CBC, WestJet leaders have acknowledged that some changes will be needed to keep the flight attendants’ pay ahead of inflation, but it is not clear if they will accept CUPE’s demand for a new pay model, which would provide compensation for duties and hours worked outside of flights. The airline has argued that it already pays for those extra hours with an above-standard “credit hour” system.
“We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved,” Hussain said. “We want a fair contract for our members that recognizes the value of flight attendants’ work and recognizes our position as employees of the second-largest carrier in Canada. We look forward to further discussions with WestJet at the table so we can resolve this before August 2.”
WestJet said it is already taking steps to manage the impact of a potential work stoppage, including continuing to offer flexible change and cancellation policies for travelers booked on flights between Wednesday and Aug. 4. If flight delays or cancellations occur, affected guests will be refunded or re-accommodated, the airline said.
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.
Allegiant Introduces New Premium Seats
The product will become available on select aircraft in 2027.
An Allegiant Airbus A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | Joe A. Kunzler)
Allegiant is rolling out a new premium product with extra legroom, priority check-in and boarding, and covered baggage.
The ultra-low-cost carrier said Wednesday that “Allegiant First” seats will become available on select aircraft starting in the spring of 2027.
Allegiant currently offers extra-space seating options but has never had a true first-class product.
Allegiant First seats. (Photo: Allegiant)
The new seats – eight in total per airplane, configured two-by-two at the front of the cabin – will have a five-inch recline, calf rests, and an adjustable headrest in addition to more legroom and a 37-inch pitch.
Allegiant First will also give passengers priority while checking in and boarding their flight. The fare covers one personal item, one carry-on bag, and one checked bag up to 70 pounds.
Allegiant said the offering will complement, not replace, the existing Allegiant Extra option.
“This is about giving customers more ways to travel with us,” Allegiant Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells said in a news release. “As we bring together two highly complementary leisure airlines, we see significant opportunity to expand complimentary and premium offerings in a way that strengthens the customer experience and supports the long-term growth of the combined company. Travelers are increasingly looking for more comfort, more personalization, and more flexibility, and these new offerings are a meaningful step forward in delivering that.”
An Allegiant First row. (Photo: Allegiant)
The airline also said it will begin complimentary beverage service on all flights starting Aug. 1. Passengers will get their choice of water, soda, or juice, while Allways Rewards Visa cardholders will get added access to “elevated beverages” such as coffee, protein shakes, sports drinks, or alcohol and a mixer.
The announcement comes just days after JetBlue announced its own new first class, known as “BlueFirst.”
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.
‘Premier Airport in the Country:’ Trump, Duffy Detail Plans for Dulles
The overhaul will be completed in about two years, the White House said.
A rendering of Dulles' redone South Atrium. (Photo: Department of Transportation)
A $22.5 billion effort directed by the White House will preserve Washington Dulles’ historic terminal, rebuild concourses C and D, and do away with the facility’s long-disparaged “people movers,” President Donald Trump said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump doubled down on his criticism of the airport, calling it “horribly thought out,” but said the Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority now have the opportunity to transform it into the nation’s “premier” gateway.
“It’s one of the world’s worst airports, and we’re going to make it maybe one of the best, with some hard work,” he said.
Trump’s overhaul of Dulles has been in the works since late last year, when the Transportation Department began soliciting ideas for renovations from private contractors. The president said he picked elements he liked best from each of the proposals and combined them into one plan.
A rendering of the redesigned Washington Dulles. (Photo: Department of Transportation)
He did not name the architectural or engineering firms involved in the process.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the terminal, designed in the early 1960s by Eero Saarinen, will be preserved, while concourses C and D will be completely rebuilt. The people movers, which he mocked as something out of Star Wars, will be replaced by a “horseshoe”-style AeroTrain extension, he said. A short distance from the airport, crews will build a 32,000-space, mostly above-ground parking garage, which will be among the largest garages in the world. New walking paths, check-in spaces, and seating areas will improve traffic flow and traveler comfort, the secretary added.
Trump also said that the airport will get a new hotel and space for a large United Polaris lounge. United, the largest airline at Dulles, is working with the DOT and MWAA on the overhaul.
Renovation work is expected to start in the spring of 2027. The project should be completed in about two years, Duffy said.
A rendering of the airport’s planned North Interior. (Photo: Department of Transportation)
“President Trump’s work to make D.C. safe and beautiful has already reshaped our nation’s capital for the better,” he said in a statement released after the press conference. “But to truly achieve this vision, we need to build an international gateway that is worthy of the greatest country on earth. By partnering with United Airlines and MWAA, we will create a world class airport filled with stunning architecture, gorgeous concourses, efficient security screenings, additional gates, and improved mobility – all while preserving Dulles’ iconic primary terminal.”
The current plan is to bond the $22.5 billion, and have the entire project paid for over time by the airlines that use Dulles. An exact breakdown of potential contributions by airline was not available.
MWAA President John Potter, who appeared alongside the president, said no federal taxpayer funds will be used.
United CEO Scott Kirby was also in attendance as the plan was unveiled, and told reporters that it marks a significant step forward for both the carrier and the country.
A rendering showing the airport’s north side. (Photo: Department of Transportation)
“I’ve spent my whole career at United waiting for this day,” Kirby said. “It’s something that everyone at United, and every American, can feel proud of.”
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.
Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM Submit Bids for Minority Stake in TAP Air Portugal
The Portuguese government is preparing to sell off up to 49.9% of the airline.
A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320neo performs an aborted takeoff test. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Two of Europe’s largest airline groups are officially competing for a piece of Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal, which is in the process of being reprivatized.
Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM both confirmed Wednesday that they submitted binding offers for a minority stake in TAP through Parpública, Portugal’s state-owned investment company.
The Portuguese government is auctioning off up to 49.9% of TAP, which is headquartered in Lisbon. Air France-KLM said it is seeking between 44.9% and the full 49.9% of the carrier; Lufthansa Group did not say how much of the airline it hopes to acquire.
Neither company provided financial details of their offers.
Air France-KLM said that, if selected, it will help develop MRO capacity in Portugal, expand connectivity to markets such as the Americas and Africa, and make Lisbon its “unique” southern European hub. The company also stressed the potential benefits of TAP’s integration into its passenger and cargo operations and loyalty program.
“What we have submitted today is not just a proposed price for an airline,” Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith said in a news release. “It is a strategic, extensive, and comprehensive long-term plan for TAP and for Portugal as a whole… Our overarching goal is to ensure long-term growth for TAP, not only in Lisbon but also in Porto and other cities in Portugal, and to do so sustainably, as part of a robust and international group determined to bring value to its airlines’ home countries.”
Delta, which has a longstanding strategic partnership with Air France-KLM, backed its ally’s vision for TAP.
“Delta supports our joint venture partner Air France-KLM’s proposed investment in TAP, which would enhance transatlantic travel options and Portugal’s role as an enhanced business and leisure destination,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to seeing Air France-KLM and TAP grow across the Atlantic for years to come, providing more choice, better connectivity, and a stronger network for travelers.”
Lufthansa Group pitched its offer as a continuation of ongoing investments in Portugal, which include the construction of a new Lufthansa Technik facility in Santa Maria da Feira and an expansion of its Portuguese workforce to around 1,000 people by 2030. The company cited its ownership of SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines to argue that it can grow subsidiaries while helping them retain their national identity.
Lufthansa Group also said it would strengthen Lisbon’s position as a “strategically important Atlantic hub” within its network.
“For decades, we have been investing in Portugal, creating and securing skilled jobs, and connecting the country with Europe,” Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said in a news release. “Our interest in taking a stake in our Star Alliance partner TAP Air Portugal is the next logical step. We want to strengthen Portugal’s national airline as part of the Lufthansa Group and as the leading airline for the South Atlantic, with Lisbon as a strategic hub.”
The Portuguese government has said it hopes to conclude the auction process by August or September.
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: Trump to Present $22 Billion Plan to Rebuild Dulles
The president has repeatedly complained about the airport, which he called a poor reflection of Washington, D.C., and the U.S.
Mobile lounges at Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Lokyo Multimedia JP)
President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a sweeping $22 billion plan to remake Washington Dulles International Airport, a facility he has frequently complained about and called “terrible.”
Citing sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters said Trump will formally announce the plan alongside U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and United CEO Scott Kirby at the White House on Wednesday.
The plan reportedly includes construction of four new concourses, as well as rehabilitation of some existing infrastructure.
The administration has been planning an overhaul of Dulles since late last year, when the Transportation Department began soliciting renovation and improvement ideas from private-sector contractors. Trump has praised the airport’s 63-year-old main terminal, designed by architect Eero Saarinen, but also maintains it was laid out wrong and said the facility has become dysfunctional and run-down.
Pointing to airports in other national capitals, the president has said Dulles must be upgraded to properly reflect the wealth and power of the U.S.
Trump is not alone in his criticisms. Passengers and some elected officials who rely on Dulles have derided its “mobile lounges,” bus-like vehicles used to connect passengers to their flights. The lounges were considered groundbreaking in the 1960s, but they are now viewed as outdated, especially since the opening of the underground AeroTrain system in 2010.
Travelers have also grumbled about the smell of jet fuel emanating from certain areas at Dulles, and the dated look of its concourses.
Separately, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles, is moving forward with a $7 billion capital plan to renovate the airport. It is not clear if or how the two efforts will be coordinated.
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.
Emirates to Accept Cryptocurrency Payments
The option is available only to UAE residents for the time being.
Customers with a Crypto.com account will now be able to select “Crypto.com Pay” when booking tickets through Emirates’ website or mobile app. There is one caveat, however – the option is available only to eligible residents of the United Arab Emirates for bookings priced and settled in the Emirati dirham.
The airline did not say if or when the option will be made available for travelers outside of the UAE.
Still, Emirates is believed to be the first airline to accept crypto in any form as payment for bookings.
The carrier entered a commercial partnership with Crypto.com in July 2025 and named payment integration as one of their shared goals.
“Bringing this initiative to life delivers on our commitment to expanding customer choice in how they pay for travel,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, said in a news release. “It also reflects the rapidly evolving preferences of a younger, digitally fluent generation who manage their money and plan their journeys primarily from their phones and they expect the airlines they fly with to keep pace.”
Customers using Emirates’ mobile app will be directed to the Crypto.com app to complete their payment from their wallet, before being redirected back to Emirates to receive their booking confirmation and e-ticket.
On desktop, users select Crypto.com Pay at the payment step, then scan the QR code displayed on the booking page and approve the payment in their Crypto.com app. Once the payment is approved, the booking confirmation and e-ticket are issued on their screen.
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.
An American Boeing 777-200 in Miami. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
American Airlines flights resumed Tuesday evening after a widescale IT issue temporarily prevented hundreds of aircraft on the ground from taking off.
The FAA issued a ground stop for American flights around 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time and lifted it at 7:18 p.m. During that time, hundreds of flights across the U.S. were put on hold.
Airplanes already in the air continued on their routes as normal.
The technology glitch compounded operational disruptions stemming from powerful thunderstorms on the East Coast. New York-JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston Logan, Reagan National, Baltimore, Charlotte Douglas, and Washington Dulles all reported higher delay and cancellation rates than normal, likely caused by both the storms and the ground stop.
According to data from FlightAware, 1,427 American flights were delayed on Tuesday, and 343 were canceled. The numbers include delays and cancellations for all reasons for all of Tuesday, not just during the ground stop.
“Systems are coming back online now and flights are departing again,” American said in a statement Tuesday evening. “We put a temporary ground stop in place while our teams worked to resolve the issue. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
The airline did not go into detail about what caused the IT problem, or which systems were affected.
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 Drops Three Routes
The flights had already been suspended for the summer.
A Delta Boeing 737 in New York (Photo: Shutterstock | The Global Guy)
Delta has permanently removed three routes from its schedule following temporary suspensions earlier this summer.
The carrier is discontinuing service from New York-JFK to Houston, Memphis, and St. Louis. The changes were loaded into Delta’s schedule on July 25.
All three routes last operated on June 7 and were originally scheduled to resume in early September. Delta has now removed the flights beyond the temporary suspension period, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.
“As part of our routine network planning, Delta is discontinuing service between New York-JFK and Houston, Memphis, and St. Louis,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will contact affected customers directly to discuss alternative travel options.”
Delta will continue serving all three cities from New York LaGuardia. The airline currently operates four daily flights to Houston, three to Memphis, and four to St. Louis from LaGuardia.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
