Southwest Signs Interline Deal With Air Premia

Tickets for interline itineraries are now available for purchase.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, July 08, 2026 at 11:25 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Southwest this week inked a new interline deal with Seoul-based Air Premia that will allow customers to book connecting flights with a single ticket.

The carriers said Wednesday that they will use Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu as gateways.

The agreement will allow passengers from South Korea to more easily reach U.S. cities with limited or no nonstop service to the country, such as Las Vegas, Houston, Phoenix, and Nashville, Tennessee, officials said. American travelers, meanwhile, will get more convenient connections to South Korea and East Asia generally.

Tickets for the new interline itineraries became available for purchase on Wednesday.

“Similar to Southwest, Air Premia works to pair value and comfort with high-quality service for everyone onboard,” Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. “Air Premia becomes our latest partner in a portfolio that not only provides more potential global travel options for Southwest customers, it also exposes more marketplaces overseas to our unmatched network in the United States and our world-famous hospitality.”

In Asia, Air Premia serves Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong, Da Nang, Vietnam, and Bangkok. The airline also serves Newark, New Jersey, and Washington Dulles.

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.

737 Cargo Aircraft Vanishes Over Arabian Sea

Search and rescue operations are now underway, officials said.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, July 08, 2026 at 09:41 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A K2 Airways aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock - InsectWorld)

A Boeing 737-400 cargo airplane with five crew on board lost all contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from flight tracking systems Tuesday night over the Arabian Sea.

The aircraft, operated by K2 Airways of Pakistan, departed Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and was en route to Karachi when the crew reported a problem with the navigation system, Pakistani aviation authorities said Wednesday. According to Flightradar24, preliminary ADS-B data shows the 737 experienced a loss of altitude, climbed, and then suddenly descended again, likely plunging into the sea.

The data indicates that the airplane was off the coast of Pakistan when it vanished.

Search and rescue operations are now underway. The Pakistan Navy and Air Force are leading the effort.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday that he ordered rescuers to speed up and intensify operations in the area where the airplane disappeared. He made no statement about the condition of the crew but extended “heartfelt condolences” to their families.

K2 said the crew consisted of two pilots, two engineers, and one support staffer. The carrier said it is cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.

According to some accounts, the missing 737 is K2’s only aircraft.

Boeing had not commented on the incident as of Wednesday morning.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Zach Vasile

DOT Denies Western NY County’s Request to Rejoin EAS

Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport has not had scheduled commercial air service since 2018.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 07, 2026 at 04:19 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Southern KingAir 200 in Chadron, Nebraska. (Photo: Southern Airways Express)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has ruled against a western New York county that was seeking to rejoin the Essential Air Service program after a roughly eight-year pause.

In May 2025, Chautauqua County and Southern Airways Express submitted a joint proposal for the restoration of EAS-subsidized service at Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport, located in Jamestown, New York. The county and the airline proposed adding 12 or 17 weekly round trip flights to Washington Dulles, using nine-seat Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprop aircraft.

Southern Airways Express previously served Jamestown until 2018, when the DOT formally ended EAS support after determining that the airport no longer qualified for the program. Critically, the airport failed to maintain an average of 10 enplanements per service day, dipping to 5.3 in fiscal year 2015.

The 10-enplanement standard is waived for certain communities, including those located more than 175 driving miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport. Jamestown, however, is less than 175 miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

In its final decision, the DOT said there is no evidence that local demand has grown since air service was terminated eight years ago. Chautauqua County and Southern Airways’ proposal forecasts annual passenger volumes not seen at Jamestown since 2013 and, prior to that, 2006, the department said.

It is also doubtful that Southern Airways could grow demand once operations are up and running, officials added.

“Southern was the air carrier that was serving the Jamestown community at the time when it had load factors of only 20%,” the DOT’s ruling states. “Therefore, the department cannot find that the joint proposal is likely to result in the significant enplanement increase needed to generate 10 enplanements per service day at Jamestown.”

Southern Airways Express operates mostly EAS-subsidized routes. Prior to 2018, it connected Jamestown with Pittsburgh.

Zach Vasile

Report: Philippine Airlines to Place First Order With Boeing Since 2007

The carrier is considering a mix of 787s and A350s.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 07, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-300ER. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Philippine Airlines is preparing to place its first order with Boeing in almost 20 years, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Citing unnamed officials with knowledge of the matter, the financial news outlet said PAL will likely order 10 Boeing 787s and 10 Airbus A350s as it seeks to grow and modernize its fleet.

The airline has not yet announced any new orders, and a top official, Chief Operating Officer Carlu Fernandez, told Insider PH that plans have not been finalized.

Bloomberg reported that PAL and Boeing will likely announce the order during the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., which starts July 20.

PAL’s current fleet consists mostly of Airbus aircraft, including A321s, A330s, and A350s. It also operates the 777-300ER.

Zach Vasile

Lawsuit Over United’s ‘Windowless Window Seats’ Will Move Forward, Judge Rules

The carrier argued that a “window seat” is defined by its position in the cabin, not its proximity to an actual window.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 07, 2026 at 11:55 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United Airbus A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)

A federal judge on Monday denied United’s bid to throw out a lawsuit filed on behalf of passengers who claim they paid extra money for window seats on flights and ended up sitting next to a windowless cabin wall.

According to Reuters, U.S. Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California rejected United’s argument that the term “window seat” refers only to a seat’s position in an aircraft cabin and does not imply proximity to an actual window. He also noted that the airline’s ticketing terms, reservation system, and booking interface do not disclose the possibility of missing windows.

“No more is needed at this stage for ⁠the breach claims to go forward,” Donato said.

United declined to comment on the ruling but told Reuters that it has added more detail to its seat selection process to improve the customer experience.

Attorneys filed a proposed class action lawsuit against United in August on behalf of clients who said they paid higher fares with the understanding they would get a seat with a window and felt cheated by their actual, windowless seat.

The airline asked the court to dismiss the case in November. In a filing, its lawyers wrote that “the use of the word ‘window’ in reference to a particular seat cannot reasonably be interpreted as a promise that the seat will have an exterior window view.”

Many major carriers operate aircraft with one or more seats that would ordinarily have a window but do not due to the positioning of air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits, or other systems. They vary, however, in how this information is communicated to passengers. American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, for instance, alert customers when a wall-adjacent seat does not have a window view.

The plaintiffs are seeking “all appropriate monetary relief,” including punitive damages, against United.

Zach Vasile

Kenya Airways 787 Returns to Airport After Flight Controls Malfunction

The New York-bound flight turned around over central Africa and landed safely in Nairobi.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 07, 2026 at 10:40 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 landing in London. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for New York-JFK was forced to turn back to Nairobi on Sunday after its crew reported a problem with the aircraft’s flight controls.

In a statement, Kenya Airways said the crew encountered a “flight controls spoiler malfunction” while flying over Chad. The pilots conducted precautionary safety checks and elected to return to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and assure them that their safety and that of our crew are our highest priority,” the carrier said.

Kenya Airways did not specify the kind of aircraft involved, but data collected by FlightAware shows the airline uses a 787-8 on its Nairobi-JFK route.

“Spoiler malfunctions are rare but can occur, and they cause increased drag and fuel consumption,” the carrier added. “Our pilots are trained to proficiently handle these scenarios safely, and air turnbacks are standard safety procedures.”

The airplane landed safely, and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. No further details about the malfunction were immediately available.

According to FlightAware, Kenya Airways typically completes flights from Nairobi to JFK in just under 15 hours.

Zach Vasile

United Adds New Seasonal Route to Caribbean

Service will run from December to April.

Zach Vasile

Monday, July 06, 2026 at 04:52 PM ET

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Zach Vasile

A United 737 MAX 8. (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

United is expanding its warm-weather offerings from Denver International Airport in time for the winter travel season.

Starting Dec. 19, the carrier will connect Denver and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Providenciales is a new destination from Denver, officials said, with no other airline currently flying the route.

Flights will operate once weekly, on Saturdays, between Dec. 19 and April 24, 2027. The service will use Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

“United’s network offering from Denver is unmatched, and the addition of Turks and Caicos is yet another destination that only United brings to Coloradans,” United Vice President Jonna McGrath said in a news release. “United’s commitment to delivering an exceptional travel experience in Denver is underscored by each new route we add, as well as the more than $1 billion in investments we have made here since 2021.”

United currently connects Denver to four destinations in the Caribbean – Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Zach Vasile

EasyJet Agrees to $7.3 Billion Takeover

The low-cost airline previously rejected several offers from alternative investment firm Castlelake.

Zach Vasile

Monday, July 06, 2026 at 03:05 PM ET

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Zach Vasile

An easyJet Airbus A320 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

In a sudden about-face that promises to shake up Europe’s airline industry, British low-cost carrier EasyJet said Sunday that it has reached an agreement “in principle” for an acquisition by Minnesota-based alternative investment firm Castlelake.

EasyJet rejected several offers from Castlelake last month and insisted it had no interest in a sale. The airline’s leadership labeled Castlelake’s bidding “opportunistic,” given that the carrier was temporarily weakened by the high cost of jet fuel stemming from the war in Iran.

EasyJet appeared to walk back that language on Sunday, stating that Castlelake “has emphasised its tremendous respect for EasyJet and its people” and wants to “support its future growth and transformation to a stronger, more resilient European airline.”

“Having carefully reviewed it with its advisers, the board of EasyJet concluded that the financial terms of the fifth proposal are at a value that the board would be minded to recommend to EasyJet shareholders,” the carrier said.

Castlelake’s latest offer values EasyJet at approximately $7.34 billion. The deal is not final; the company has until Aug. 3 to firm up its offer.

Castlelake announced its interest in EasyJet in June and took the unusual step of making its bids public after the carrier proved reluctant to engage beyond simply reviewing and turning down its offers. The tactic was widely seen as an appeal to the airline’s shareholders.

Under U.K. law, Castlelake had 28 days to reach a preliminary understanding with EasyJet.

Some British commentators have voiced concern over the potential takeover, noting that EasyJet’s assets could be of greater value to Castlelake than the continued operation of the airline in its current form. EasyJet is the largest low-cost carrier in the U.K. by passengers carried and fleet size.

Zach Vasile

Delta A319 Hit by Fireworks on July 4

The aircraft landed safely in Chicago.

Zach Vasile

Monday, July 06, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

A Delta Airbus A319 was hit by fireworks shortly before landing at Chicago Midway on Saturday.

According to the FAA, one of the pilots reported that a “fireworks mortar” struck the aircraft at about 200 feet.

“Definitely felt the big bang,” the pilot told air traffic controllers. A controller advised that there were “multiple reports” of fireworks being set off from homes near the airport, which is located on the southwest side of Chicago.

The airplane landed safely at Midway with no injuries among the 52 passengers and six crew. The A319 was inspected for damage, but none was found.

The flight originated in Atlanta.

The FAA said it is investigating the incident.

Zach Vasile

Philippine Airlines Expands Service to North America

The carrier is adding flights on three popular routes.

Zach Vasile

Monday, July 06, 2026 at 11:10 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Philippine Airlines aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Philippine Airlines is adding flights on three busy routes between the Philippines and the U.S. and Canada.

Starting this fall, the carrier will expand service between Manila and New York-JFK, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Manila to Vancouver will increase from seven to 10 weekly flights, effective Nov. 17.

Manila to Toronto will increase from three to four weekly flights, effective Dec. 2.

Manila to JFK will increase from three to four weekly flights effective Dec. 2, with a fifth weekly flight during the peak December 2026-January 2027 holiday travel season.

Additional New York and Toronto flights will initially use Airbus A350-900 aircraft before transitioning to new A350-1000s. The -1000 will also begin serving San Francisco beginning in August, officials said.

Philippines Airlines, often abbreviated as PAL, said the new flights will help meet consumer demand, give travelers more flexibility, and strengthen connectivity to onward destinations both in North America – though the airline’s partnerships with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and WestJet – and in Southeast Asia.

“North America continues to be one of Philippine Airlines’ most important markets,” President Richard Nuttall said in a news release. “As travel demand grows, these additional flights strengthen our position as the preferred nonstop carrier between the Philippines and North America whilst providing our customers with greater choice, improved connectivity, and more opportunities to travel, do business, and reconnect with family and loved ones.”

Zach Vasile