Allegiant Says MAX 7 Seat Cost ‘Loses Pace’

The smaller jet accounted for most of the airline’s original Boeing order, but premium seating has changed its appeal.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, November 05, 2026 at 12:22 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Allegiant 737 MAX (Photo: Shutterstock | Jillian Cain Photography)

Allegiant prefers the economics of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 over the smaller MAX 7 as its plans for premium seating change how it evaluates the two aircraft.

The MAX 7 originally accounted for the majority of Allegiant’s Boeing commitment. In January 2022, the airline announced an order for 50 aircraft, split between 30 MAX 7s and 20 high-density MAX 8-200s, with options for another 50 jets.

The agreement, signed in December 2021, was Allegiant’s first direct Boeing order and marked a shift for a carrier that had largely built its business around buying used aircraft. At the time of the announcement, Allegiant operated 108 Airbus A319s and A320s.

Boeing said the new jets would reduce fuel consumption by about 20% compared with the older Airbus aircraft.

Speaking during the carrier’s third-quarter earnings call Wednesday, President and Chief Financial Officer Robert Neal said the MAX 7 initially offered an attractive balance between the cost of operating each flight and the cost per seat.

“When we did the order, we really liked the MAX 7 because we were looking at both the MAX 8 and MAX 7 at very high density,” Neal said. “And so you’ve got a really nice trip cost seat cost mix with the MAX 7.”

That calculation has changed as Allegiant expands its extra-legroom Allegiant Extra product and prepares to introduce Allegiant First.

“But over time, as you’ve seen us roll out incremental premium offerings at the moment through Allegiant Extra and eventually with Allegiant First, the seat cost just sort of loses pace with the MAX 8,” Neal said. “And so we prefer the cost economics of the MAX 8 at this point.”

Allegiant began shifting its order toward the larger variant in September 2023. An amended agreement retained the 50 firm aircraft but increased the number of MAX 8-200s, reduced the number of MAX 7s and expanded the option pool to 80 aircraft.

The MAX 7 faced years of certification delays, including work to redesign its engine anti-ice system. The FAA approved the variant on Aug. 3, after requiring changes to that system, flight-control software, and cockpit alerts.

The ultra-low-cost carrier added to its MAX 8 commitments last month, exercising six options for delivery in 2028. That brought its firm Boeing order to 56 aircraft, including 22 delivered through Oct. 23, with 74 options remaining.

Ryan Ewing

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.

Qantas Reaches Deal to Sell 44 Boeing 737s

The airline will hand over the jets over seven years as Airbus A321XLRs join its fleet.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, November 04, 2026 at 05:38 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Qantas Boeing 737-800 (Photo: Shutterstock | aiyoshi597)

Qantas has agreed to sell 44 Boeing 737-800s to British aviation aftermarket specialist AerFin as the Australian carrier prepares to retire most of its 737 fleet.

The deal includes the aircraft’s 88 CFM56-7B engines. AerFin said Wednesday it expects to receive the first jet before the end of 2026, with the rest transferring over the next seven years as Qantas retires them.

Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson said the agreement gives the airline “flexibility to adjust the timing as new aircraft arrive,” in a news release.

Qantas operates nearly 80 Boeing 737-800s, according to data from planespotters.net. The carrier ordered 28 Airbus A321XLRs in 2022 to begin replacing the Boeing jets and later ordered another 20. Seven A321XLRs have joined the fleet, with 41 still on order.

AerFin, which supplies parts and engines to airlines and maintenance providers, said the acquisition is the largest in its history. The company said the deal would help it supply aircraft and engine parts to customers worldwide.

Ryan Ewing

Qatar Launches Two South American Destinations

The carrier is flying a twice-weekly loop from Doha on a Boeing 777-200LR.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, November 04, 2026 at 01:01 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-200 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)

Qatar Airways added two South American destinations on Wednesday, becoming the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela.

The new service flies from Doha to Bogotá, Colombia, then continues to Caracas, Venezuela, before returning nonstop to Doha. Qatar Airways will operate the route on Wednesdays and Sundays using a Boeing 777-200LR.

Flights are scheduled to leave Doha at 7:35 a.m. and reach Bogotá at 4:25 p.m. After a 90-minute stop, the aircraft continues to Caracas, arriving at 9 p.m. The return flight leaves Caracas at 11:30 p.m. and reaches Doha at 8:35 p.m. the following day. All times are local.

The airline originally planned to start flying the route in July but postponed the launch following an earthquake in Venezuela, according to Aviation Week.

Qatar Airways is also expanding its codeshare with LATAM to include domestic flights from Bogotá. The agreement will put Qatar’s code on LATAM flights to destinations including Medellín, Cartagena and Cali.

The additions bring Qatar Airways’ network in the Americas to 17 destinations. The carrier began serving South America in 2010 with flights to São Paulo.

Ryan Ewing

Air India CEO Wants ‘More Widebody Aircraft’

The carrier has held talks with Airbus and Boeing as it looks to expand its international network.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, November 04, 2026 at 10:51 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Air India's first A350 aircraft. (Photo: Air India)

Air India is looking to buy more widebody jets as it expands overseas and works to return to profitability.

“We want more widebody aircraft,” CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said Tuesday at the Aviation India and South Asia summit in New Delhi, according to Reuters. The carrier has held talks with both Airbus and Boeing. Gebremariam did not say how many aircraft Air India might buy.

The airline’s most recent Boeing order, announced in January, was for 30 narrowbodies: 20 737 MAX 8s and 10 MAX 10s.

The carrier is also updating the widebodies it already flies. In April, Air India took delivery of the first of 26 older Boeing 787-8s slated for cabin retrofits. The aircraft went from two cabins to three with the addition of premium economy.

Air India 787-8 — An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Gebremariam, who previously led Ethiopian Airlines, described high operating costs as a “major concern” but said he expects Air India to return to profitability “very soon.”

Air India Group lost S$3.56 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, according to financial disclosures from Singapore Airlines, which owns a 25% stake in the group. The loss came as the carrier dealt with disruption from the war in Iran and Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian airlines.

Ryan Ewing

Frontier Shakes Up Leadership Team

The carrier is bringing in a new operating chief as two senior executives prepare to leave.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, November 03, 2026 at 02:07 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Frontier Airbus A321neo (Photo: Shutterstock | ACHPF)

Frontier is reshuffling its leadership team, hiring a new chief operating officer, and announcing the departures of two senior executives.

Michael Delehant will join the carrier as executive vice president and chief operating officer on Nov. 30. He will oversee all airline operations and report to CEO Jimmy Dempsey, Frontier said Monday.

Delehant most recently served as group managing director at Wizz Air, overseeing operational and commercial activities. He previously held senior positions at Vueling, including chief strategy and network officer, and worked in several leadership roles at Southwest.

Dempsey said Delehant’s experience would be “instrumental as we continue growing our airline and executing against our strategic priorities.”

The appointment comes as Trevor Stedke, senior vice president of operations, and Alex Clerc, senior vice president of customers, prepare to leave Frontier on Nov. 13. The airline did not give a reason for their departures in its announcement.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Trevor and Alex for their dedication and contributions to Frontier,” Dempsey said.

Frontier also promoted James Fenner to senior vice president and chief revenue officer. His responsibilities include pricing and revenue management, loyalty, and network planning.

Fenner has spent more than a decade at the airline, most recently serving as vice president of revenue and loyalty.

Bobby Schroeter will move into the role of senior vice president and chief marketing officer, overseeing the airline’s brand and customer experience. Both Fenner and Schroeter will report directly to Dempsey.

The changes follow Frontier’s third-quarter results, which showed a $104 million net loss, compared with a $77 million loss a year earlier. Excluding special items, the carrier reported a $40 million profit on record revenue of $1.36 billion.

Ryan Ewing

Delta Plans Another Austin Route

The carrier will launch daily service to another domestic destination in March 2027.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, November 03, 2026 at 11:36 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A SkyWest E175 operating for Delta Connection. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)

Delta is expanding its Austin, Texas, network with a new daily route set to launch next spring.

The carrier will begin flights between Austin and Northwest Arkansas National Airport, which serves Fayetteville and the surrounding region, on March 7, 2027. SkyWest will operate the route under the Delta Connection brand using an Embraer E175.

Service from Northwest Arkansas to Austin begins March 8. Tickets are now on sale.

Flights will depart Austin at 8:59 p.m. and arrive in Northwest Arkansas at 10:49 p.m. The return flight will leave at 6 a.m. and arrive in Austin at 7:50 a.m. All times are local.

“Connecting Central Texas and Northwest Arkansas with new nonstop service brings two dynamic, growing regions closer together while giving our customers even more choice and convenience,” Luis Guitart, Delta’s Austin-based regional sales manager, said in a statement.

Guitart described the addition as another example of the airline’s investment in Austin.

Delta has been building its Austin operation, with plans to offer more than 70 peak-day departures to approximately 30 destinations by summer 2027. That expansion includes new service to Paris and San Diego, a second daily flight to San Jose, California, and year-round service to Cancun, Mexico.

Ryan Ewing

Delta CEO Calls Heathrow Move ‘Short-Sighted’

Bastian says Delta will challenge a decision that would separate the carrier from partner Virgin Atlantic.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, November 03, 2026 at 10:51 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Delta and Virgin Atlantic aircraft in London (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)

Delta CEO Ed Bastian is pushing back against a planned terminal move at London Heathrow, calling the airport’s decision “short-sighted, deeply disappointing and bad for airline consumers.”

In comments posted Monday on LinkedIn and published by Delta, Bastian objected to Heathrow’s decision to relocate the airline from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4. The move, planned for 2028, would separate Delta from joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic, which would remain in Terminal 3.

Bastian said the airlines’ shared operation has served millions of passengers for more than a decade, providing connections, premium amenities and access to their combined networks. He argued that splitting the carriers would undermine years of investment and the benefits of operating from the same terminal.

A Virgin Atlantic 787-9 departing London Heathrow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta will “pursue all available remedies to correct this decision,” he said, urging Heathrow to reconsider. Bastian did not outline specific legal or regulatory steps.

Virgin Atlantic has also challenged the plan. CEO Corneel Koster said separating the two airlines would complicate journeys, weaken competition and reduce passenger choice. The carrier is considering its options to contest the relocation, Sky News reported.

Heathrow says the changes will help ease congestion and make better use of its terminals. The airport began notifying airlines of the outcome of its terminal occupancy review on Oct. 27.

A Heathrow spokesperson told Sky News that the plan followed consultation with airline customers and would improve the passenger experience, strengthen operational resilience and provide room for growth.

Delta is one of five airlines slated to change terminals. Finnair and Japan Airlines would also move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4, while LATAM would relocate from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. China Southern would move from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5.

Delta consolidated its Heathrow operation in Terminal 3 in September 2016 to operate alongside Virgin Atlantic. In announcing that move, Delta cited easier connections and last-minute flight changes, along with access to Virgin Atlantic’s premium facilities for eligible passengers.

Ryan Ewing

Ryanair Weighs Fare Hikes, Pay Freeze As Fuel Prices Soar

CEO Michael O’Leary predicted ticket prices could rise 10% to 20% across Europe.

Zach Vasile

Monday, November 02, 2026 at 12:35 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Ryanair 737-800 aircraft approaches Barcelona Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Irish discount carrier Ryanair is bracing for a difficult 2027 as jet fuel prices rise and European oil hedges expire.

In its most recent earnings report, the airline said it is considering temporarily freezing pay for workers, lowering crew ratios, and ramping up use of artificial intelligence. The company did not specify how long it would look to freeze wages, or how it would adjust staffing.

Ryanair has over 27,000 employees across its group.

Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said ticket prices will rise across Europe as lower-price oil hedges run out.

“The market customers have been insulated for the last 12 months,” O’Leary said. “But those hedges are rolling off. There’s still no resolution in the Middle East. Jet oil today is $170 a barrel. I mean, this is a very significant cost cliff we’re all facing next year. I believe you’re going to see air fares rise next year across Europe by 10 percent, maybe even 20 percent.”

In its earnings report, Ryanair said that while short-haul air fares will increase “materially,” it will not be enough to offset the expected €2 billion increase in fuel costs, necessitating the additional cost-saving measures.

Fuel prices have prompted several major European airlines and airline groups to cut capacity this fall and winter, and to retire some older, less efficient aircraft. Price volatility also pushed Lufthansa to accelerate the shutdown of Lufthansa CityLine, and made the U.K.’s EasyJet amenable to a roughly $7.7 billion takeover by Apollo Global Management.

The price shock has generally been worse in Europe and Asia than in North America, as those regions are more dependent on Gulf oil and lack domestic refining capacity.

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.

Denver Air Connection Plans First Florida Service

Service will begin early next year.

Joey Gerardi

Monday, November 02, 2026 at 11:53 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Lineup of Denver Air Connection aircraft in Denver (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Denver Air Connection will launch its first-ever service to Florida, and it will be outside the scope of any Essential Air Service (EAS) contract. The only other place in the carrier’s network that isn’t directly part of an EAS contract is its service to Telluride, Colorado, from both Denver and Phoenix.

Beginning January 9, 2027, DAC will begin nonstop flights from Muskegon, Michigan, to Orlando Sanford, with service operating on Saturdays using the 50-seat Embraer E145XR.

While Muskegon itself only has one other destination, Chicago O’Hare, which is also operated by DAC under the EAS contract, DAC will compete indirectly with Allegiant, as it has a sizable operation and a base in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is located only about 45 minutes east of Muskegon.

The 1,030-mile route from Muskegon to Orlando Sanford on the E145 will become the longest at-risk flight operated by any EAS carrier, and one of the longest commercial airline flights operated by an Embraer E145 in the country, overtaking the current record holder, United’s 830-mile route from Washington Dulles to Mobile, Alabama, by almost 200 miles.

That record for the E145 is a little bit of a technicality, as JSX does operate a handful of flights over 1,000 miles with its Embraer E145s, but the carrier is not considered a commercial airline, and is instead classified as a “public charter operation.”

Muskegon Airport director Ken Efting did have something to say about this new service: “This is a historic milestone for MKG and the communities we serve…This is exactly the kind of opportunity we’ve been working toward, and it’s a testament to our growing community support and strong partnership with Denver Air Connection.”

Denver Air Connection E145 in Muskegon (Photo: Variable Visuals / MKG Airport Facebook page)

This isn’t the first time an EAS carrier has operated at-risk service to the state of Florida from an EAS community. These smaller carriers sometimes begin flights to leisure destinations like Florida and other leisure-heavy destinations to entice higher passenger numbers that boost the communities they serve.

Muskegon will join the small but growing list of Essential Air Service communities that are now connected with nonstop flights to the state of Florida, but they will be the only EAS community in Michigan to have Florida flights.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

BermudAir Completes Move to New Florida Airport

The airline continues to serve Orlando, but from a different gateway.

Zach Vasile

Monday, November 02, 2026 at 10:44 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Bermudair E175 (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

BermudAir transferred flight operations to Orlando Sanford on Saturday after almost three years serving Orlando International.

The carrier now flies between Orlando Sanford and Hamilton, Bermuda. A second route, to Belize, will commence Dec. 21.

BermudAir announced the switch from MCO to SFB in June, saying Sanford is a more convenient and efficient gateway for flights to and from Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Central America.

The inaugural flight received a water cannon salute at Sanford on Saturday.

Zach Vasile