Stories

Philippine Airlines Signs Deal for Up to 20 787 Dreamliners

The agreement sets the stage for PAL's first order from Boeing in almost 20 years.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A rendering of a PAL 787 Dreamliner. (Credit: Boeing)

Philippine Airlines is set to acquire its first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.

Boeing said Monday that the carrier signed a commitment for 15 Dreamliners, with options for up to five more. An expanded agreement covering all 20 aircraft would be worth about $3.4 billion, according to Reuters.

Once finalized, the deal will be PAL’s first with Boeing in almost 20 years.

PAL officials said the new airplanes will increase flexibility in medium- and long-haul flying while lowering operating costs.

“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel,” PAL Holdings President and CEO Lucio C. Tan III said in a news release. “The Boeing 787-10 will strengthen our medium and long-haul fleet, allowing us to provide an even better travel experience for our customers while improving operational efficiency and supporting our long-term sustainability goals.”

The airline did not say when deliveries are expected to begin.

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.

JetBlue Cuts Route to Florida

Service will end later this summer.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

JetBlue A220
A JetBlue Airways Airbus A220 prepares for landing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue is ending service between New York-JFK and Vero Beach, Florida, the carrier confirmed to AirlineGeeks.

The service, which launched in December 2025 and currently operates daily, will end Sept. 9.

“Demand for this new route has not materialized as we had hoped,” the airline said in a statement.

Affected customers will be notified and receive a full refund to their original form of payment, the carrier added.

JetBlue will continue to serve Vero Beach from Boston.

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: Lufthansa’s First Airbus A350-1000

The special centennial design features an oversized white crane against dark blue.

Vanni Gibertini
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Lufthansa's first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, in "100 years" special livery. (Photo: Lufthansa)

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.

In 2026, Lufthansa is celebrating its one hundredth year of operations. The German flag carrier, now the flagship airline of one of the largest aviation groups in the world, is showcasing a special livery on several of its most iconic aircraft on its fleet.

AirlineGeeks previewed the centennial livery last December when it was introduced on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and subsequently on a Boeing 747-8i. On July 14, Lufthansa released a few images of the latest new entry in its long-haul fleet: the new Airbus A350-1000 will join the Munich base next fall and will feature the special livery celebrating the one hundredth birthday of the airline.

Lufthansa’s first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in “100 years” special livery. (Photo: Lufthansa)

700th Aircraft

The first airframe of the new model will be the 700th aircraft in Lufthansa’s fleet and will feature new Allegris seats in a four-class configuration carrying up to 300 passengers. Currently using the manufacturer’s callsign F-WZNY, the aircraft will enter service under the German registry with the new registration number D-AIFA and the name “Deutschland.” It will be powered by two Rolls-Royce engines.

Lufthansa’s first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in “100 years” special livery. (Photo: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa has 15 aircraft of this type on order, with delivery scheduled to last until 2030.

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.

NTSB to Lead Probe of Window Blowout on Ryanair Flight

A passenger was partially sucked out of the cabin before being pulled back inside.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Ryanair 737-800 in Brussels. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

The National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation into a window blowout on a Ryanair flight that caused a passenger to be partially sucked out of the airplane.

U.S. aviation regulators determined this week that the flight occurred in Greek airspace, not over North Macedonia, as was originally believed. Greek law allows the country’s transportation authority to hand over investigations to the U.S. where appropriate, and the NTSB has officially accepted the assignment, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.

Greece will still support and participate in the probe, officials clarified.

The blowout occurred on a flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, on July 10.

Passengers told media outlets that they heard a loud bang, then saw a male passenger being pulled through the smashed window frame. His head and shoulders were briefly outside the aircraft fuselage, they said, but his seatbelt kept him in place, and other passengers helped pull him fully back inside the cabin.

News websites in Greece reported that the man suffered neck and shoulder injuries and friction burns.

Ryanair acknowledged the incident in a statement but provided few details.

The aircraft returned to Thessaloniki, and most of the passengers were booked on a later flight to Memmingen.

FlightAware shows that Ryanair uses a Boeing 737-800 on its Thessaloniki-Memmingen connection.

Some news outlets have reported that the airplane experienced an engine failure, and that a piece of the engine flew off and burst the window. That information has not been confirmed by Ryanair or authorities in Greece or the U.S., though the NTSB did say the flight reported a “right engine issue” in addition to “cabin decompression.”

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.

Bahamas’ Flamingo Air Grounded After Fatal Crash

Ten people were killed when a Cessna 402 went down on Andros Island on July 10.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A chart showing San Andros Airport. (Credit: FAA)

Civil aviation regulators in the Bahamas have grounded Flamingo Air after one of the small carrier’s airplanes crashed in the district of North Andros, killing 10 people.

The country’s Ministry of Transport said it has suspended Flamingo Air’s operating certificate, effectively canceling all flights. It was not clear when or if the airline will be cleared to fly again.

Flamingo Air’s website was not functional as of Friday, and its social media channels appear to have been removed or locked down.

A Flamingo Air-operated Cessna 402 aircraft crashed July 10 after encountering some kind of mechanical issue while flying into San Andros Airport. All nine passengers and the pilot were killed.

CBS News reported that the flight was carrying members of a Bahamian musical group to an Independence Day celebration on Andros Island.

An investigation is now underway.

Flamingo Air offers scheduled flights to several islands within the Bahamas, and charter service between the Bahamas and Florida.

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.

Air China, Shenzhen Airlines Order 55 Airbus Aircraft

The jets will be delivered between 2029 and 2032.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air China and Shenzhen Airlines aircrafts in Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport (Photo: Lei Yan)

Chinese flag carrier Air China and subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines have ordered a combined 55 new aircraft from Airbus, strengthening the European manufacturer’s hold on the world’s second-largest aviation market.

According to recent filings with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Air China agreed to buy 15 A350-900 widebody jets, while Shenzhen will acquire 40 A320neo-family narrowbody airplanes. The combined order has a list price of around $12.4 billion, Reuters reported.

The aircraft are expected to be delivered between 2029 and 2032.

Air China said it will get a discount from Airbus due to the size of the order.

Airbus has outsold Boeing in China for around a decade as regulatory friction between Beijing and Washington has grown. The temporary grounding of the 737 MAX also made Airbus’ narrowbody offerings more appealing to Chinese carriers.

The Chinese government agreed to buy 200 aircraft from Boeing during a state visit from President Donald Trump in May, but prior to that, the country’s last significant commercial order from the company was in 2017.

China typically buys civilian aircraft in large numbers and distributes them to state-run airlines later based on growth plans and business needs.

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.

Delta Plans New Asia Route

The carrier will be the only U.S. airline flying nonstop between the two cities.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Delta A350-900XWB
A Delta A350-900XWB (Photo: Shutterstock | GingChen)

Delta is adding another transpacific route from Los Angeles as it works to strengthen the airport’s role in its international network.

The airline will begin nonstop service between Los Angeles and Manila on March 28, 2027. Flights will initially operate three times per week before increasing to daily service on June 7.

Delta plans to fly the route with an Airbus A350-900 configured with Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort, and Main Cabin seating.

“Customers traveling through Los Angeles continue to benefit from Delta’s investments in LAX, including an expanding Asia-Pacific network and the opening of our second Delta One Lounge,” said Jeff Arinder, Delta’s vice president of network planning, in a news release. “The addition of Manila builds on the world-class travel experience our customers have come to expect from Delta while strengthening our position as LAX’s leading global carrier and premier West Coast hub.”

The new service will mark Delta’s first nonstop flight to the Philippines. It will also make the carrier the only U.S. airline offering regular service between Los Angeles and Manila.

Delta last served Manila in 2020 with fifth-freedom flights from Tokyo Narita.

The route adds to a recent wave of international growth for Delta at Los Angeles. The carrier has added or restored service to Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Shanghai while also expanding its domestic schedule at the airport.

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.

Southwest Adds 19 New Routes for Spring 2027

The airline will also increase flights on some existing connections.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Southwest 737
A Southwest Boeing 737 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Southwest on Thursday announced a significant expansion of its spring 2027 flying schedule, with 19 new routes in the works.

The airline said it will connect several major markets, add routes and flights from focus cities such as Austin, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, and increase flights on certain existing routes in time for next year’s spring break.

The new connections will launch in March 2027; the airline did not provide exact start dates.

The new routes are:

  • Austin to Detroit; four times weekly
  • Austin to San Jose, Costa Rica; weekly on Saturdays
  • Orlando to New York-LaGuardia; three times daily
  • Orlando to Pensacola, Florida; daily
  • Baltimore to Philadelphia; twice daily
  • Dallas Love Field to Detroit; daily except for Saturdays
  • Nashville, Tennessee, to Des Moines, Iowa; daily
  • Nashville to Wichita, Kansas; daily
  • Las Vegas to Boston; frequency not specified
  • Las Vegas to Miami; frequency not specified
  • Las Vegas to Philadelphia; frequency not specified
  • Las Vegas to Knoxville, Tennessee; frequency not specified
  • Nashville to Aruba; Saturdays only
  • Nashville to Liberia, Costa Rica; Saturdays only
  • Nashville to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Saturdays only
  • Nashville to St. Thomas; Saturdays only
  • Columbus, Ohio, to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Saturdays only
  • San Diego to Kona, Hawaii; weekends only
  • San Diego to Līhuʻe, Hawaii; weekends only

Existing routes set for expansion include:

  • Austin to Steamboat Springs, Colorado; increased service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
  • Austin to Montrose, Colorado; increased service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
  • Honolulu to Burbank, California; increase to five times weekly
  • Honolulu to Ontario, California; increase to five times weekly
  • Las Vegas to Honolulu; new “reverse redeye” departing at 2:45 a.m.

Tickets for these flights are now available for purchase.

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.

Former FedEx CFO Joins American’s Board of Directors

John W. Dietrich also previously served as president and CEO of Atlas Air.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American A321XLR
An American A321XLR. (Photo: DFW Airport)

John W. Dietrich, former executive vice president and CFO of FedEx, will join American Airlines’ board of directors, the carrier announced Wednesday.

Dietrich stepped down from his dual roles at FedEx in June and will officially depart the company on July 31. He is expected to serve on American’s Audit Committee and Finance Committee.

“John possesses a distinguished professional background and a proven track record over his 35 years of aerospace leadership,” American Chairman Greg Smith said in a statement. “His extensive experience – coupled with his reputation and success in managing complex, capital-intensive operations as well as his insights into financial discipline, risk management, and governance – will significantly enhance the board’s capabilities as we prioritize long-term performance and shareholder value.”

Prior to joining FedEx in 2023, Dietrich worked for over 20 years at cargo airline Atlas Air. He held numerous senior leadership positions at Atlas, including CEO, president, board member, chief of operations, and, earlier in his career, general counsel. He also worked for over a decade at United, the majority of the time as an attorney.

Dietrich currently serves as chairman of the National Defense Transportation Association and on the boards of AAR Corporation and First Horizon Corporation. He is also a former member and chairman of the National Air Carrier Association and a former member of the International Air Transport Association’s board of governors.

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.

Report: Aer Lingus to Cut Some U.S. Routes

The carrier is considering laying off hundreds of workers.

Zach Vasile
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Aer Lingus A330-300
An Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus has proposed eliminating up to 500 positions and will axe routes to the U.S. and Europe as it works to reduce expenses, the BBC reported Thursday.

Up to 290 workers could be let go at the airline’s head office at Dublin Airport, the outlet said, along with 140 cabin crew and 70 pilots.

Aer Lingus currently has around 6,000 employees in total.

The carrier told the BBC that it is responding to higher jet fuel prices, increased competition on transatlantic routes, a worsening macroeconomic environment, and first-quarter losses of about $117 million. The airline’s leadership is reportedly looking to achieve a 12% to 15% operating margin, which would make the company more attractive to investors.

Airline spending on jet fuel has essentially doubled since February due to the on-again, off-again closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Route Cuts

Aer Lingus is also aiming for a 6% reduction in overall flight capacity, which would entail ending some routes and sidelining some aircraft.

According to the BBC, the carrier will discontinue service between Dublin and Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and Seattle.

Aer Lingus currently serves over 20 destinations in the U.S. from Dublin.

Connections to European destinations such as Frankfurt, Hamburg, Malta, and Split, Croatia, could also be axed.

Labor unions representing Aer Lingus workers said they will start discussions with the airline in an attempt to minimize layoffs.

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.
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE