Stories

Delta Extends Pause on Tel Aviv Connection

But a different route to Israel will resume in late summer.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Delta is once again extending its pause on flying between Atlanta and Tel Aviv.

The connection has been suspended through Dec. 18, officials said late last week. Customers have already received cancellation notices through the Delta app and the contact information listed on their reservation.

The Atlanta-Tel Aviv route was supposed to restart for the season on April 15, but this became impossible after fighting between the U.S., Israel, and Iran forced the near shutdown of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international gateway.

Flights from Atlanta were initially postponed until early August, but in subsequent notices the carrier extended that pause to September, then late November, citing the unstable situation in the region.

However, Delta still plans to resume service between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv on Sept. 6, a date it first announced back in March. The airline has held to that date even while continuing to push back flights from Atlanta and a planned connection from Boston, which is now “delayed until further notice.”

Ben Gurion has been operating at full capacity since early April, when the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire.

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.

Qantas’ Ultra-Long-Haul ‘Project Sunrise’ A350s Face Delays

Deliveries were pushed back to 2027.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A350-1000ULR
An Airbus A350-1000ULR. (Photo: Qantas)

Qantas will have to wait until early 2027 to take delivery of its first ultra-long-range Airbus A350.

Airbus said Monday that its delivery window for the variant – developed specifically for Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” campaign – had slipped from late this year to April 2027 due to supply chain issues. No further details were provided.

Qantas had expected to take delivery of its first of 12 A350-1000ULRs in 2026 and bring the type into commercial service by mid-2027. In a separate statement, Qantas acknowledged the delay but said it will continue to work closely with Airbus to test and certify the aircraft.

Qantas’ Project Sunrise aims to connect the east coast of Australia with far-flung destinations around the world with a single flight. The first commercial Project Sunrise flights will link Sydney with New York and London, routes which currently require one or more stops along the way.

The ultra-long-range A350 will be able to fly for 22 continuous hours, made possible by an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank and enhanced operating systems.

Qantas and Airbus appeared to be making good progress toward the aircraft’s certification and eventual delivery earlier this year. In April, Qantas said that its first production -1000ULR had its engines installed at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France. The carrier shared photos and video of the jet on social media, sporting a temporary livery that read “Our Spirit flies further” and “Project Sunrise.”

At the time, Qantas still expected deliveries to begin in late 2026.

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.

Porter Begins Service to New U.S. Destination

Flights will operate five times weekly year-round.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Porter E195-E2
A Porter E195-E2. (Photo: Shutterstock | The Global Guy)

Canada’s Porter Airlines on Thursday launched nonstop service to Austin, Texas, its first destination in the Lone Star State.

Flights between Austin and Toronto Pearson will operate five times weekly, year-round, using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

Porter first announced the new connection in February.

“Austin is one of North America’s most dynamic and fastest-growing cities, making it an ideal fit for Porter’s own growing network of flights,” Porter President Kevin Jackson said in a news release. “This route opens exciting new opportunities for business, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two vibrant cities.”

Porter serves 17 cities in the U.S., including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami.

Cayman Airways Connection at Austin

Another international airline, Cayman Airways, launched service to Austin on Sunday.

Flights will operate once per week, on Sundays, through Aug. 16. Officials said the route is Cayman Airways’ only nonstop connection to Texas.

The airline operates from Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman.

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.

Saudia Takes Delivery of Its First A321XLR

The Saudi flag carrier will be the first operator of the type in the Middle East.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Saudia's first A321XLR. (Photo: Airbus)

Saudia on Sunday became the first airline in the Middle East to take delivery of the Airbus A321XLR.

Officials said the aircraft will give Saudia the flexibility to operate longer international routes. The Saudi flag carrier expects to add a total of 15 -XLRs to its fleet by 2027.

“The delivery of the A321XLR reflects the momentum of Saudia’s ongoing transformation,” Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar said in a news release. “As we continue to grow our fleet, our focus is not only on adding capacity, but on investing in aircraft, products, and capabilities that strengthen Saudia’s competitiveness and support the kingdom’s aviation ambitions.”

Saudia’s A321XLRs will be configured with 24 business class seats and 120 “guest class” seats.

Currently, the Jeddah-based airline serves destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South and East Asia, and North America.

Saudia officials have not said what new routes the A321XLR could operate. In a statement from 2023, the carrier said the type could be used to connect existing destinations such as Rome, Barcelona, Milan, and the Maldives.

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 Selects Starlink for In-Flight Wi-Fi

The carrier will begin installations on narrowbody aircraft in 2027.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American A321neo
An American A321neo. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

American Airlines on Tuesday became the latest air carrier to partner with SpaceX’s Starlink for in-flight wireless internet service.

American said it will install Starlink antennas on 500 narrowbody aircraft starting in the first quarter of 2027. That total includes newly arriving Airbus A321XLRs and A321neos.

“American is committed to elevating every aspect of our customers’ travel journeys, which in the air means keeping them connected and comfortable with the assurance they won’t have to download documents ahead of a flight or worry about lag time,” American Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in a news release. “Starlink’s high speed and low latency make the Wi-Fi more reliable, which matters when customers are trying to load pages, join real-time collaboration tools, or stay connected consistently throughout a flight.”

Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet to subscribers. The service allows airline passengers to browse, shop, work, game, and stream content much as they would at home.

American did not say if or when its widebody aircraft will be connected.

Over two dozen airlines have signed contracts with Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi, including United, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, and Qatar Airways.

Delta has partnered with Starlink competitor Amazon Leo.

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.

U.S. Adds Ebola Screening at Two More Airports

U.S. citizens and residents who have visited any of three at-risk countries are being checked for signs and symptoms.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Delta aircraft in Atlanta
Delta aircraft in Atlanta. (Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock)

The U.S. government is expanding efforts to detect the Ebola virus as an outbreak in central Africa intensifies.

Last week, the CDC temporarily banned foreign nationals from entering the country if they have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the last 21 days. U.S. citizens and residents who have recently been in the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan were required to enter the U.S. via Washington Dulles, where enhanced Ebola screenings are now taking place.

On Friday, customs officials said passengers traveling from the three designated countries will also be routed to Atlanta and Houston Bush. Enhanced screenings started early Saturday at Atlanta and will come online early Wednesday at Houston.

Over 1,000 confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in northeast Congo, with a much smaller number in neighboring Uganda. At least 234 people have died. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on May 16.

So far, no cases have been reported in the U.S., though some American medical staff and aid workers are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus in the Congo.

The resurgence of Ebola – which has a fatality rate between 20% and 90%, depending on the strain – could complicate travel for the FIFA World Cup, which will commence next month. Over one million international visitors are expected to attend matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Over the weekend, the White House instructed Congo’s soccer team to isolate in Belgium, where they are currently training.

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 Pitches New Service at Mainly GA Airport

Under the airline's current proposal, regional flights would start in December.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American CRJ-700
An American Eagle CRJ-700. (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)

American Airlines’ plan to launch regular scheduled service at Naples Airport in Florida drew mixed reactions at a public meeting Thursday as officials overseeing the general aviation-focused facility said they will continue to study the proposal.

According to WZVN-TV, American is looking to add two to three flights per day between Naples and Charlotte, North Carolina, starting in December. The flights would be operated by American subsidiary PSA, using 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft.

Airline officials told the Naples Airport Authority board that there is unmet demand, among both residents and tourists, for more convenient travel options. Many travelers in the area rely on Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.

Naples Airport is mainly used for general aviation. It has one commercial operator, JSX, which offers seasonal flights to White Plains, New York.

Some meeting attendees agreed with American that regular commercial service in Naples would be more convenient than continuing to rely on Fort Myers. Supporters also pointed to the new jobs that could be created with the arrival of a major carrier.

But others raised concerns about aircraft noise, which they said is already a problem in the neighborhoods around the airport. One woman told WZVN that other airlines could follow American to Naples, transforming the airport into a “regional commercial hub.”

American previously served Naples via American Eagle until pulling out in 2001. US Airways terminated service there in 2003, and Delta, which offered Delta Connection flights via Atlantic Southeast Airlines, withdrew in 2007.

The airport authority said it will continue to evaluate American’s proposal and expects to revisit the matter at its next meeting in June.

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.

Alaska Outlines Plans for New Seattle Lounge

The 41,000-square-foot space is expected to open in late 2027.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Alaska 737 MAX
An Alaska Boeing 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Alaska Airlines plans to open a new 41,000-square-foot lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by late 2027, officials said Thursday.

The lounge will cover two levels in Seattle’s Concourse C, with approximately 700 seats, showers, multiple bars, and dining spaces.

Alaska lounge members, day-pass guests, and eligible first-class passengers will use the main level, while the upper level will be dedicated to international long-haul travelers, specifically suite and lie-flat customers as well as eligible Atmos Titanium members traveling internationally.

The airline said the new, highly amenitized lounge will complement its growing long-haul network at Seattle and align with the introduction of its International Business Class suites. The suites are now available on Boeing 787 service to Seoul, London, and Rome.

Alaska is set to open a new lounge in Portland, Oregon, this summer. It is also aiming to open its first lounge in San Diego and an expanded lounge in Honolulu in 2028.

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.

Livery of the Week: Turkish Airlines’ 500th Aircraft

The aircraft was delivered in late 2025.

Vanni Gibertini
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft in special 500th aircraft livery
Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft in special 500th aircraft livery (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

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. 

Turkish Airlines has been making strides in recent years, establishing itself as one of the most important competitors in the Europe/Middle East region. With an impressive network of 356 destinations in more than 130 countries, the carrier has been crucial in making its home at the new Istanbul Airport (inaugurated in 2018) the second-busiest airport in Europe with over 84 million passengers in 2025.

Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft in special 500th aircraft livery (Photo: Turkish Airlines)

As the carrier has already expanded its reach to all continents, with flights to Australia being launched at the end of 2024, it is celebrating another important milestone with a special livery dedicated to all its employees. The 500th aircraft of the fleet, which was delivered at the end of 2025, was repainted with a special livery designed with photographs of 100,000 employees and retirees.

The photos are featured in the rear section of the fuselage, all with a Turkish-Airlines-red background, seamlessly blending with the traditional tailfin displaying the white logo on a red backdrop. The front section of the fuselage shows the inscription “500th aircraft with over 100,000 employees 15.12.2025.”

The ‘Family’ Aircraft

This aircraft, registered as TC-LHH and named “TK Aile,” which is Turkish for “family,”  is the 31st of the 33 Airbus A350 aircraft currently operated by Turkish. It was delivered on Dec. 15, 2025, as painted on the livery, and entered service on Jan 6, 2026.

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.

American Launches Four New Routes to Europe

The carrier is bringing two new destinations into its network, and strengthening service to two others.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American Airlines on Thursday launched four new nonstop routes to Europe ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer travel season.

The carrier started seasonal service from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, and from Dallas/Fort Worth to Athens and Zurich.

Officials said the new connections will bolster Philadelphia’s position as a transatlantic gateway and expand travel options between Texas and Europe.

American has not previously served Budapest or Prague. It already serves Zurich from Philadelphia and Athens from New York-JFK, Philadelphia, Chicago O’Hare, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The carrier will use Boeing 787-8 aircraft for flights to Budapest and Prague, and a mix of 777-300ERs and 777-200ERs for service from DFW to Athens and Zurich.

American said it recently reorganized its flight schedules at both Philadelphia and Dallas/Fort Worth to more evenly distribute departures throughout the day. The changes are expected to minimize delays, reduce gate changes, and improve baggage handling performance.

This summer, the airline will connect Philadelphia to over 120 destinations worldwide, and Dallas/Fort Worth, its largest hub, to over 230.

American also recently launched flights between Philadelphia and Santiago, Dominican Republic.

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.
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