Starting May 1, passengers will be limited to two portable chargers, neither of which can exceed 100 watt-hours. They cannot be stored in overhead bins or recharged during flight.
Additionally, passengers will have to keep their chargers visible and within reach while using them.
“We know our customers rely on portable chargers to keep devices powered throughout their journey,” the airline said in a statement. “To support safety on board while ensuring our customers continue to have the ability to charge when on the go, American is requiring customers to keep these devices easily accessible during flight.”
Almost all portable power banks use lithium-ion batteries, which have been responsible for dozens of battery fires on flights in recent years. American said its new policy will allow crewmembers to respond quickly to battery malfunctions.
The FAA does not regulate passengers’ use of portable chargers but has raised concerns about the growing prevalence of battery fires. Carriers such as Delta and Southwest have implemented their own limits on the devices to mitigate risks to passengers and crew.
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.
Fiji Airways Cuts Longest Scheduled Route
The carrier cites high fuel prices and shifting demand as it axes one of its newest long-haul additions.
A Fiji Airways Airbus A350 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Fiji Airways is pulling out of one of its newest long-haul markets less than two years after launching service.
The airline will suspend flights between Nadi and Dallas/Fort Worth effective Sept. 7, citing the ongoing impact of high jet fuel prices and changes in passenger demand. The route is the carrier’s longest scheduled service and was launched in December 2024 as Fiji Airways’ newest U.S. route.
“Due to the ongoing impact of high jet fuel prices and changes in passenger demand, Fiji Airways will suspend its Nadi–Dallas service effective 7 September,” the airline said in a statement.
The route is currently operated with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. When launched, it marked the first nonstop link between Fiji and Texas, adding a new gateway into the South Pacific from American’s largest hub.
Fiji Airways arrives in Dallas/Fort Worth (Photo: Fiji Airways)
Fiji Airways said affected passengers will be accommodated on alternative same-day routings through Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver.
The airline will continue serving the U.S. through Los Angeles and San Francisco, with up to 11 weekly flights between Fiji and the two California gateways.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Paul Scurrah said the move is part of a broader effort to focus capacity on stronger-performing markets.
“These changes allow us to focus on markets where we are seeing the strongest and most sustainable demand,” Scurrah said. “This includes the upgauge of our three weekly Vancouver services from the A330 to our flagship A350 aircraft effective 8 September, as well as increasing Hong Kong frequencies to up to four flights per week year-round from 22 September.”
“At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining global connectivity for our customers,” he added.
The carrier said jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the start of the year, creating additional pressure across its network. Still, Fiji Airways said demand remains resilient in key markets, particularly Australia and New Zealand.
“Given Fiji has just hit an all-time visitor record for March, we know Fiji remains an attractive and accessible destination,” Scurrah said. “Our forward bookings continue to be encouraging and reflect a level of increased interest in Fiji as a safe and family friendly destination.”
The network change comes as Fiji Airways maintains other long-haul adjustments, including deploying its A350 to Vancouver and increasing Hong Kong service later this year.
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.
A Delta 737-900ER (Photo: Shutterstock | fivetonine)
Delta is pausing or reducing several routes this summer and fall, including service from Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
The Atlanta-based carrier said the changes are part of its ongoing network planning process. The adjustments were loaded as part of last week’s Cirium Diio schedule update.
“As part of its routine network planning, Delta is updating its Salt Lake City–Little Rock service for the summer season,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. “The route will be paused beginning June 6, 2026, and is scheduled to resume September 8, 2026. We apologize for this inconvenience and Delta will directly contact customers to discuss alternate options.”
During the pause, Little Rock passengers will still be able to access Delta’s network through Atlanta, where the airline operates up to seven daily flights.
Mexico Reductions
Delta is also making several adjustments to its Seattle-Mexico schedule. The airline said flights from Seattle to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta will be paused or reduced between June and November.
“Delta is updating its planned service from Seattle to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta as part of its ongoing planning for the summer and fall seasons,” the spokesperson said. “Select routes will be paused or reduced between June and November. We apologize for any inconvenience, and Delta will contact affected customers directly to discuss alternate options.”
Seattle-Cancun service will not operate from June 2 through Nov. 8 and is scheduled to resume Nov. 9. Seattle-Los Cabos flights will operate on Saturdays only from June 2 through June 30 before being suspended from July 1 through Nov. 8. That route is also scheduled to resume Nov. 9.
A Delta Airbus A321neo. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)
Seattle-Puerto Vallarta service will be paused from Oct. 6 through Nov. 8 and is scheduled to resume on Nov. 9.
Delta said Seattle passengers can still reach Cancun through Salt Lake City or Atlanta on Delta, or through Mexico City on Aeromexico. Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta will remain accessible through Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
In addition, Delta is pausing its Los Angeles-Mexico City route from June 2 through Nov. 8. Service is scheduled to resume on Nov. 9.
“Delta periodically adjusts its network, and as part of this process is updating its Los Angeles–Mexico City service,” the spokesperson added. “The route will not operate from June 2 through November 8 and is scheduled to resume November 9. We apologize for this inconvenience and Delta will directly contact customers to discuss alternate options.”
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.
A terminal in Miami. (Photo: Shutterstock | Khairil Azhar Junos)
Officials in Miami-Dade County have raised the possibility of building a second major commercial airport to accommodate increasing traffic.
According to WPLG-TV, a recent report from the county’s mayor found that Miami International Airport is operating at 80% capacity and nearing the threshold where the FAA normally recommends adding more infrastructure and space for takeoffs and landings.
The county’s commissioners are reportedly looking at three potential options to relieve Miami International – expanding Miami Executive Airport or Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport into a major commercial airport, or building an entirely new airport somewhere else in the county.
“Capacity challenges could impact growth, create travel delays, and affect our competitiveness,” Miami-Dade Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez told WPLG. “We have to act now and plan ahead.”
It would take 12 to 15 years to expand either of the existing airports and more than 20 years to build a new one, the station reported.
According to OAG, Miami International was the tenth-busiest airport in the U.S. last year, with about 32.8 million seats. It is the second-busiest airport in Florida, behind Orlando, and the fifth-busiest airport in the South.
Miami is a major gateway for flights to and from the Caribbean and South America, especially for American Airlines, its largest passenger carrier.
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.
IATA Chief Warns of Possible Jet Fuel Shortages This Summer
Willie Walsh said Asia and Europe will likely be affected first.
An employee of a ground service company refuels an aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock/Karolis Kavolelis)
Airlines around the world could be forced to cancel flights this summer as supplies of jet fuel run low, the head of the International Air Transport Association said this week.
In an interview with Reuters, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said Asia will likely be affected first, followed by Europe, then Africa and Latin America.
“I think we will see airlines starting to reduce some of their schedules as we go towards the peak summer period in anticipation of some fuel shortages,” Walsh said.
Still, the IATA chief said he does not expect a complete collapse in air travel in the coming months.
“I think that people will continue to fly through the summer period and that people will expect to have a holiday during the summer as they have in previous years,” Walsh said, pointing to ongoing strong demand.
The price of jet fuel has doubled since the beginning of hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran in late February. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes in peacetime. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also bombed oil and natural gas infrastructure in neighboring U.S.-allied Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, further disrupting energy markets.
Asia is considered particularly vulnerable to the crisis because many countries there rely heavily on imported fuel. At the same time, Asian countries with their own production and refining capabilities, including China and South Korea, are reducing exports to ensure their domestic needs are met.
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.
First Look: Southwest Rolls Out U.S. 250th Anniversary Livery
Crews applied a red, white, and blue paint scheme to a Southwest Boeing 737, now nicknamed “Independence One.” The design includes 13 stars for the original colonies; circles of stars on each engine cowling, recalling the Betsy Ross flag; the date “1776” written in giant quill script; and the phrase “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” taken from the Declaration of Independence.
Independence One will join two other U.S.-themed aircraft in Southwest’s fleet – “Freedom One,” which was introduced in 2021, and the more recent “Liberty One.”
Southwest’s new “Independence One” livery. (Photo: Southwest Airlines)
The unveiling came as Southwest announced a new partnership with America250, the organization coordinating the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations this year. The airline plans to give up to $250,000 to nonprofit groups that its employees serve.
“With our new Independence One and Liberty One aircraft, we honor this important milestone in our nation’s history, and the generations of customers that Southwest has carried,” Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a news release. “Southwest is proud to be a part of the 250th national celebration and to honor the same spirit of innovation, resilience, and optimism that has shaped our country and our company.”
Close-up on text reading “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Photo: Southwest Airlines)
Independence One will enter service on Wednesday with a flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Philadelphia.
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have also partnered with America250. In March, American and subsidiary Envoy each announced plans for new patriotic liveries, which are expected to debut later this spring or summer.
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.
Airline Trade Group Asks for $2.5 Billion ‘Liquidity Pool’
The money would be used exclusively to offset rising fuel costs, representatives said.
A Frontier Airbus A320neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
A trade association representing five low-cost U.S. airlines confirmed Monday that it is seeking $2.5 billion in assistance from the federal government.
In a statement, the Association of Value Airlines said it has asked the Trump administration to create a “liquidity pool” that would be used only to help offset “incremental fuel costs.”
The association cited as a precedent the federal aid packages made available to airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtually all commercial air traffic worldwide was temporarily suspended.
According to its website, the organization’s “full members” are Allegiant, Avelo, Frontier, Spirit, and Sun Country.
Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since late February, putting intense pressure on budget airlines, which must carefully manage and contain every expense to stay financially viable.
In its statement, the AVA said its members keep the airline industry competitive and help reduce fares.
Separately, Spirit is pursuing a $500 million bailout from the administration. The carrier is currently in bankruptcy protection, and insiders said earlier this month that if Spirit’s financial position is not stabilized soon, liquidation could be on the table.
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.
Lufthansa Completes First A380 Retrofit
The carrier is installing an entirely new business class on its largest aircraft.
The main focus of the retrofit is the installation of an entirely new, 68-seat business class on the aircraft’s upper deck. The new cabin includes Thompson seats, six-and-a-half-foot beds, flexible partitions, and 18-inch Panasonic entertainment screens.
Lufthansa is also carrying out routine maintenance work on the jets while they are at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke facility in Dresden.
Lufthansa’s new A380 business class. (Photo: Lufthansa)
The first A380 to complete the overhaul, D-AIMC, officially reentered service on Thursday with a flight from Munich to Los Angeles.
The next Lufthansa A380 in line for retrofit work is D-AIMH, which currently sports a special dark blue and white livery honoring the airline’s 100th anniversary. It arrived in Dresden on the same day work wrapped up on D-AIMC.
All eight A380s are scheduled to be retrofitted by mid-2027, officials said.
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 Premia Begins Service to New U.S. Destination
The connection will operate four times per week year-round.
An Air Premia Boeing 787-9. (Photo: Shutterstock | Komenton)
South Korean carrier Air Premia on Friday began service to a new destination on the U.S. East Coast.
After a gate ceremony at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, the airline operated its first revenue flight to Washington Dulles. Air Premia first announced plans to bring Washington, D.C., into its international long-haul network in December.
Flights will now operate four times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Officials said the new connection is the first time in 31 years that a Korean carrier has added a route to Washington.
All of Air Premia’s long-haul flights operate on what it calls its “wide premium” model, meaning roomier seats at more affordable prices than standard business class.
“Launching service to Washington, D.C., is an important milestone that completes our East-West U.S. network,” Air Premia CEO Yoo Myung-sub said in a news release. “We hope more travelers will experience a new standard in long-haul travel through our Wide Premium service.”
Washington is Air Premia’s second destination on the East Coast, and its fifth in the U.S. overall.
The carrier also serves Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Newark, New Jersey.
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: Budget Airlines Seek $2.5 Billion Rescue from U.S. Government
A deal could open the door to unprecedented federal investments in low-cost carriers.
An Avelo Boeing 737 aircraft. (Photo: Avelo Airlines)
A group of budget airlines is reportedly seeking $2.5 billion in assistance from the federal government to help offset the rising price of jet fuel.
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the group, which is believed to include Frontier and Avelo, made the request at a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford last week. In exchange for the bailout, the federal government would receive warrants that it could convert to ownership stakes in the airlines.
The newspaper cited people it said are familiar with the discussions.
It was not immediately clear which other low-cost airlines are part of the group seeking a federal rescue. It was also not known how far along the talks have come, or if the DOT and FAA are inclined to accept the deal.
The U.S. government has authorized financial assistance to air carriers in exchange for warrants before, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those warrants were later auctioned off, with the proceeds flowing back to the U.S. Treasury.
A decision by the federal government to convert those warrants and actively maintain investments in a group of low-cost carriers would be unprecedented, and could transform the sector by providing an implicit guarantee that the airlines will not fail.
Separately, Spirit is reportedly working with the administration on a potential $500 million assistance package. The deal would also come with equity for the federal government.
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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