Royal Jordanian Starts New Route to U.S.

Flights will operate four times weekly going forward.

Zach Vasile

Monday, May 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Royal Jordanian Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Royal Jordanian added its fifth nonstop destination in the U.S. this week.

The carrier on Sunday operated its first revenue flight between Amman, Jordan, and Dallas/Fort Worth. Flights will operate four times weekly going forward, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The Amman-Dallas connection was first announced in September.

Airline officials said the new route will improve connectivity between Jordan and North America, strengthen trade ties, and position the company to benefit from travel connected to the FIFA World Cup this summer. Dallas is one of 11 U.S. cities selected to host matches for the tournament.

In the U.S., Royal Jordanian also serves New York-JFK, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and Detroit. Most of its route network is concentrated in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.

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.

Only U.S. Carrier Serving Mexican City Plans Exit

The route will end in August after just over two years of service.

Ryan Ewing

Saturday, May 09, 2026 at 01:40 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An American Eagle CRJ-700 (Photo: Shutterstock | Angel DiBilio)

American is cutting one of its international routes from its Phoenix hub this summer.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier will discontinue service between Phoenix and Tijuana, Mexico, effective Aug. 3, according to Cirium Diio schedule data. An airline spokesperson confirmed the change on Saturday.

American currently operates up to five weekly flights on the route using SkyWest CRJ-700 aircraft.

“After careful consideration, American has made the difficult decision to discontinue service to Tijuana, Mexico (TIJ) eff. August 3,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We routinely evaluate our routes to ensure optimal deployment of aircraft and Tijuana has not met performance expectations.”

American launched the Phoenix-Tijuana route on Feb. 15, 2024, initially operating it daily. At the time, Phoenix officials said the service made the city the only U.S. destination from Tijuana. American was also the only U.S. carrier serving the Mexican border city.

Tijuana’s airport, formally known as General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport, has a large domestic network within Mexico and is also used by some Southern California travelers through the Cross Border Xpress pedestrian bridge connecting the airport with San Diego.

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.

Virgin Atlantic Boosts Capacity to South Africa

More flights will come online in October, officials said.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, May 09, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Virgin Atlantic A350-1000. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Virgin Atlantic will expand capacity on its routes to Johannesburg and Cape Town for the winter of 2026.

The London-based airline will offer 10 weekly flights between London Heathrow and Johannesburg from October 2026 through March 2027. The route will be operated with an Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic will operate a seasonal service between London and Cape Town from October 15 until April 20 next year. The carrier will serve the route 11 times per week.

The schedule changes are designed to optimize connectivity with onward connections to North America and Europe via Heathrow, officials said.

Lorne Philipot

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.

Norse Atlantic to Cut Staff, Furlough Crew

Officials said they are speeding up restructuring efforts in light of higher jet fuel prices.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 03:45 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Norse 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: Shutterstock)

Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic will cut some staff and furlough others as it weathers the fallout from the war in Iran and the ongoing surge in jet fuel prices.

The airline said Thursday that it will eliminate about 75 administrative positions, which translates to about 35% of its administrative staff. The carrier will also furlough some crew members, institute temporary pay reductions for non-flying crew, and rationalize its information technology and partner systems.

Additionally, Norse Atlantic will relocate its headquarters to Oslo, and close its office in Arendal.

Officials said recent “geopolitical tension” and its effect on fuel prices and traffic flows forced the company to accelerate an efficiency and restructuring plan known as “Project Falcon.” The project aims to deliver annualized savings of up to $50 million compared to 2025.

“Announcing cost cutting measures, including redundancies to committed colleagues, is a hard decision to make,” Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic, said in a statement. “I want to sincerely thank all our Norse employees for their dedication, resilience, and the role they have played in building the company.”

Norse Atlantic operates only long-haul flights, with destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and North America. It connects New York-JFK with London, Rome, and Athens, and Orlando, Florida, with London.

Zach Vasile

Air Algérie Adds Service to Manchester

Flights will operate this summer, between June and September.

Victor Shalton

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Air Algérie 737-600 in Brussels. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Air Algérie will launch twice weekly seasonal flights between Manchester Airport and Algiers this summer, marking the first nonstop air link between northern England and Algeria.

The Algerian flag carrier will operate the route from June 14 to Sept. 8, with flights scheduled on Tuesdays and Sundays using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Manchester will become the only U.K. airport outside London with a nonstop connection to Algiers.

The new route adds Algeria to Manchester’s network of more than 60 countries with nonstop service and makes Air Algérie the fourth African carrier at the airport, joining Royal Air Maroc, EgyptAir, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Algiers is both a leisure destination, known for its beaches, gardens, historic sites, and cuisine, and a key connecting hub for travel across Africa. Nonstop onward connections include Johannesburg; Abuja, Nigeria; and Dakar, Senegal.

Stephen Turner, chief commercial officer at Manchester Airport, said the route strengthens ties for African communities in northern England.

“We are proud to connect the North to the world and our new partnership with Air Algérie really epitomizes what we mean by that,” Turner said in a news release. “This new route doesn’t just connect people with a new destination for holidays – it connects African communities in the North to friends and families all over the continent.”

Madjid Terghini, general manager for the U.K. and Ireland at Air Algérie, described the launch as a significant milestone for the airline’s international network.

“This route holds particular importance for the Algerian community in the United Kingdom and further reinforces our commitment to delivering seamless connectivity between Algeria and key global markets,” Terghini said in a statement. “Through our hub in Algiers, customers will benefit from enhanced access to a wide range of destinations across Africa and Asia.”

Air Algérie already operates service from Algiers to London Heathrow (around five weekly) and London Stansted (around four weekly). The addition of Manchester will bring its total weekly U.K. flights to 14 in summer 2026.

The route launch is part of a broader expansion by the Algerian carrier. In 2026, Air Algérie plans new routes to several African cities, including Libreville, Luanda, Maputo, Accra, and Lagos, as well as Shanghai and Warsaw. The airline aims to carry nearly 10 million passengers this year and serve at least 20 African destinations by 2028.

The Manchester service will initially use existing Boeing 737 aircraft. Air Algérie has ordered 10 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, with the first deliveries expected from July 2026.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Livery of the Week: Malaysia Airlines Loves Cricket

The livery is on an Airbus A330.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 12:28 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Malaysia Airlines A330-300 aircraft in special Mumbai Indians livery (Photo | Malaysia 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.

While the sport of cricket may be relatively unknown in many parts of the world, in India, it is by far the most popular sport, followed closely by over one billion people in the world’s most populous country.

The Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the top professional leagues in the world by revenue and attendance, has seen teams from 10 different Indian cities compete for the title since 2008, and their matches are also followed closely in other cricket-loving countries.

Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia’s flag carrier, is the Official Global Airline Partner for the Mumbai Indians team, and to mark the occasion, the airline has decided to paint one of its aircraft in a special livery prominently featuring the Indians’ logo.

Two blues, One Shared Journey

The aircraft blends the two different shades of blue characterizing the two brands and propagates it from nose to tail, leaving only the tailfin showing the traditional Malaysia Airlines logo on a white background.

“India remains a key growth market for Malaysia Airlines as we continue to strengthen our presence and connectivity across the region. This collaboration with Mumbai Indians allows us to go beyond traditional aviation partnerships by integrating cultural relevance into our brand experience. It reflects our commitment to building meaningful, long-term connections with customers while reinforcing Malaysia Airlines as a carrier that connects people, places and passions across our global network,” said Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), in a press release.

All-Airbus Long-Haul Fleet

The specific aircraft that will receive this new livery has not been revealed yet, but it will be one of the 15 A330-300 aircraft operating the 35-strong all-Airbus Malaysia Airlines long-haul fleet. This aircraft type is due to be retired by 2030 to be replaced with the 30 A330-900 aircraft on order (with 20 more options for the same type).

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.

Emirates Unveils UAE Flag Livery

The design was applied to an Airbus A380.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 11:10 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Emirates A380 with an oversized UAE flag livery. (Photo: Emirates)

Emirates this week showed off a new aircraft livery featuring an oversized, waving version of the flag of the United Arab Emirates.

All Emirates aircraft have the red, green, white, and black flag painted on their tail assembly, but the new design, applied to an Airbus A380 last month, covers both the tail section and the back half of the fuselage.

Emirates executives said they commissioned the livery in response to a call from the government to increase the display of the national flag across Emirati society.

Emirates A380 with an oversized UAE flag livery. (Photo: Emirates)

The aircraft, registered as A6-EVG, has already flown to New York and Brisbane, Australia, officials said, and will be used on additional A380 routes within the carrier’s network.

Emirates plans to use the same livery on a Boeing 777.

As one of the UAE’s two flag carriers, Emirates has frequently used customized liveries to express national pride. In 2017, the airline applied a decal of the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, to its 100th A380.

Zach Vasile

Frontier Adds New Florida Route

Service will start in July.

Zach Vasile

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 09:50 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Frontier A321neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Frontier is adding a new nonstop connection between Florida and Tennessee.

Starting July 5, the ultra-low-cost airline will link Orlando and Memphis. According to Memphis International Airport, flights will initially operate three times weekly through Sept. 13, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, then switch to twice weekly.

The carrier announced an Orlando-Memphis service earlier this week following the collapse of Spirit Airlines – which previously operated the route – but had not said when it would begin. Airline officials said they plan to add nine routes and 15 daily departures in former Spirit markets to help reconnect travelers, but full details, including start dates, were not immediately available.

“We at MEM are excited to see Frontier add another option to one of our most popular destinations in Orlando,” Michael Keeney, chairman of the board of commissioners for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, said in a news release. “We look forward to Frontier’s continued expansion in Memphis.”

Frontier on Tuesday launched daily nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Newark, New Jersey. The carrier will connect Dallas/Fort Worth with Santa Ana, California, starting May 21.

Zach Vasile

Riyadh Air Files Application to Start U.S. Flights

The carrier is in the process of planning and building out its international network.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, May 07, 2026 at 04:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The fuselage of a Riyadh Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Photo: Riyadh Air)

Riyadh Air is seeking permission from the Department of Transportation to start flights to the U.S.

The airline, one of Saudi Arabia’s two flag carriers, applied for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority on Tuesday. Attorneys representing Riyadh Air asked the DOT to handle the request “promptly,” under streamlined licensing procedures.

The carrier plans to commence service to the U.S. “upon receipt of all required government approvals.” It did not say which cities it plans to serve.

Riyadh Air is owned entirely by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund. It was formed three years ago as part of a broader effort by the Saudi government to diversify the country’s economy and increase tourism.

The airline is still in its start-up phase. It launched flights to London Heathrow in October, but service remains limited and is only open to company officials. Other destinations reportedly under consideration include Paris, Madrid, Manchester, Cairo, and Dubai.

Riyadh Air expects to connect over 100 destinations by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s other flag carrier, Saudia, already flies nonstop to the U.S.

Zach Vasile

A4A CEO Says Fares Could Continue to Climb

But U.S. carriers are still absorbing the majority of the increase in the price of jet fuel, according to Chris Sununu.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, May 07, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A terminal in Miami. (Photo: Shutterstock | Khairil Azhar Junos)

Already elevated air fares could continue to rise if the conflict in the Middle East drags on and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu said Wednesday.

In an interview with The Hill, Sununu said U.S. airlines are absorbing the majority of the increase in the price of jet fuel.

“They will eat most of that cost,” he told host Blake Burman. “The airlines themselves will lose $12 billion this year because they’re trying to avoid passing most of it on.”

But passengers have still felt the effects of unsettled energy markets, both through higher ticket prices and increased baggage fees. Sununu said fares have increased by about 20% over the last two months and may continue to rise.

“If there’s no resolution in Iran, will it continue to go up? It could go up a bit, yeah. Sure,” he said.

But Sununu also noted that demand remains strong, and customers around the world are still booking trips to cities hosting FIFA World Cup events. The tournament takes place this summer and will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

To help manage costs, many passengers are using airline points and rewards, Sununu said. Burman then asked if it was necessarily a good thing that travelers are being “forced” to use those points.

“I don’t know if they’re being forced, they’re just taking advantage,” Sununu replied. “They’re saying, OK, while things are expensive, I’ll take advantage and cash in my points.”

Asked when prices could return to normal, Sununu said the biggest contributing factor, jet fuel, will gradually decline in price once the Strait of Hormuz reopens. If the reopening comes soon, prices could moderate by the late summer or fall, he said.

Sununu also advised Americans looking to travel this summer to book as soon as possible, and said the ideal window for booking is 60 to 90 days out.

Zach Vasile