An El Al 777-200 in London. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
El Al has signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink for in-flight wireless internet service.
The Israeli flag carrier announced Monday that complimentary Wi-Fi supported by Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation will become available to passengers starting in 2027.
The airline did not say which aircraft it will prioritize for installations.
Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet service comparable to what many consumers experience at home or at work, a significant improvement over most current in-flight wireless systems.
“The integration of Starlink technology into our aircraft represents a major leap forward in onboard connectivity,” El Al CEO Levy Halevy said in a news release. “Our customers will be able to stay connected in the air, enjoy live streaming, continue working, and communicate seamlessly throughout their journey.”
More details will be released closer to the service’s launch, 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.
Alaska Breaks Ground on New Hangar
The facility will allow maintenance technicians to work on up to three narrowbody aircraft or two widebody aircraft at a time.
Once permits are approved, the facility will be constructed adjacent to Alaska’s existing Horizon Air operations and maintenance center, adding about 125,000 square feet of space for indoor aircraft work and 60,000 square feet for offices, engine, machine, and sheet metal shops, and support areas.
The hangar will service Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ mainline fleets, officials said.
With the added capacity, technicians will be able to work on up to three narrowbody aircraft or two widebody aircraft at one time, quickening turnaround and relieving Alaska’s primary maintenance facilities in Seattle and other hubs.
A rendering of the planned hangar at Portland. (Credit: Alaska Airlines)
“A new maintenance hangar in Portland is both an investment in one of our critical hubs and a key that unlocks growth possibilities throughout our network,” Benjamin Brookman, Alaska’s vice president of real estate and airport affairs, said in a news release. “With more flexibility on where we can perform maintenance and the aircraft we can service, we can run our operation more efficiently.”
Construction is expected to wrap up in the second quarter of 2028.
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.
Cape Air Flight Overshoots Provincetown Runway
No serious injuries were reported, but one person was transported to a hospital for an evaluation.
A Cape Air Cessna 402 in Saranac Lake, New York. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
A Cape Air aircraft was involved in a runway excursion while landing in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Monday.
According to a statement released by the town, the airplane overshot the runway at Provincetown Municipal Airport around 8:12 a.m. local time and “came to rest beyond the runway area.”
Three people were on board the commuter flight from Boston – the pilot, a co-pilot, and one passenger. No serious injuries were reported, the town said, but one person was transported to a hospital for an evaluation.
“There was some smoke coming from the aircraft, but no fire was observed as a result of the incident,” the statement read. “Emergency responders arrived quickly, secured the scene, and addressed any potential hazards. There is no threat to public safety.”
The airport was temporarily closed while fire and police personnel, airport staff, and National Park Service Rangers evaluated the scene.
The municipality did not identify the aircraft’s type, but ADS-B data shows Cape Air’s Boston-Provincetown route is usually operated with a Cessna 402.
The FAA, NTSB, and Massachusetts State Police are expected to investigate the incident.
Provincetown Municipal Airport reopened and resumed normal operations around 6 p.m. Monday.
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 Plans Schedule, Staff Cuts
The airline is believed to be lagging behind IAG's profit targets.
An Aer Lingus A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Croatorum)
Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus is reportedly planning layoffs and adjustments to its schedule and network in the face of weakening profitability.
Ireland’s Business Post reported Monday that the airline will slash flights and senior employees in an effort to contain costs. Staff will be informed of the changes in the coming weeks, the outlet said.
It was not immediately which Aer Lingus routes and destinations could be targeted, or how many people could be dismissed.
Aer Lingus did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AirlineGeeks on Monday.
The Business Post reported that the airline is falling short of a required 12% profit margin imposed across International Airlines Group (IAG), the multinational holding company that owns Aer Lingus. IAG also owns British Airways, Iberia, and a number of other subsidiaries.
From Dublin, Aer Lingus serves 17 U.S. destinations, including New York-JFK, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Las Vegas, and Chicago O’Hare.
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.
The red-white-and-blue design was recently applied to a Boeing 787-10 and a 737-800 in Amarillo, Texas. It features waving vertical red and white stripes and 50 white stars on the back third of the fuselage, extending toward the tail assembly. Both aircraft are carrying a commemorative plaque dedicated to United’s active-duty service members and veterans.
United did not say when the aircraft will enter service, or where they will fly.
United’s new “Stars and Stripes” livery. (Photo: United)
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and United CEO Scott Kirby appeared Monday at a ceremony at Washington Dulles marking the airline’s nearly 600 pilot hires from the U.S. military since 2024. The event also served as a debut for the “Stars and Stripes” aircraft.
“It’s great to see United join this administration’s call to celebrate America’s historic birthday,” Duffy said. “This patriotic design will remind the American people of the many freedoms we enjoy and how lucky we are to be part of the Great American Experiment.”
American Airlines is also readying a new patriotic livery for America’s 250th anniversary, while Delta has opted for a commemorative graphic on its aircraft.
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.
LATAM Shows Off First Embraer E195-E2
Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter, officials said.
The first of the narrowbody jets bound for LATAM Brazil recently had its brand livery applied at Embraer’s hangar in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, officials said. The airplane is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The airline said the E195-E2 will enable increased flight frequencies and schedule options, support the development of new markets, and strengthen integration among the different regions of Brazil.
“We are further enhancing the versatility of our fleet to unlock new markets, expand existing operations, and optimize capacity to serve even more destinations sustainably,” Jerome Cadier, CEO of LATAM Airlines Brazil, said in a news release.
The carrier has ordered 24 of the type and has options for 50 more. In April, it completed hiring for the first crew class dedicated exclusively to the E195-E2, and the pilots began training in simulators and on supervised flights.
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.
A Porter E195-E2. (Photo: Shutterstock | The Global Guy)
Canadian airline Porter is expanding its warm-weather network in time for the winter 2026-27 travel season.
Starting Dec. 18, the carrier will connect Hamilton, Ontario, with Tampa, Florida. Flights will operate four times weekly, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Porter currently serves Tampa from Toronto and Ottawa. It also connects Hamilton to two other destinations in Florida – Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
On Nov. 6, the airline will bring a completely new destination into its network with the start of service between Toronto Pearson and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Flights will run five times weekly, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
A second route to Turks and Caicos, from Ottawa, will launch Dec. 17. This service will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays.
All three connections will use Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.
With the addition of Turks and Caicos, Porter will serve five destinations in the Caribbean, the others being Nassau, Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Aruba.
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: Hawaiian Helps Launch New ‘Moana’ Movie
The carrier unveiled the first of three designs dedicated to the film.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-271N in a special Moana livery (Photo | Hawaiian 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.
With just a month to go until the debut of the new Moana movie, a live-action adaptation of the animation blockbuster released by Disney in 2016, Hawaiian Airlines is launching the first of three liveries dedicated to the film.
Hawaiian, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, unveiled the design on June 11. Each of the three liveries will feature characters from the movie, including “shape-shifting demigod Maui as a powerful hawk wielding his iconic fishhook and the coconut-armored Kakamora catching rides in the sea breeze”, according to a press release.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-271N in a special Moana livery. (Photo | Hawaiian Airlines)
“Voyaging is at the heart of who we are as the airline of Hawaii, a place grounded in a legacy that began with navigators who crossed the Pacific using traditional wayfinding techniques,” said Alisa Onishi, managing director of Hawaii marketing at Hawaiian. “We’re proud to continue carrying that spirit forward and bring Moana’s journey to life once again as we connect our island home to the world.”
The aircraft chosen to start the three-livery series is an Airbus A321-271N, one of the “neo” aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1133G engines, which was delivered to Hawaiian on Nov. 1, 2019.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-271N in a special Moana livery. (Photo | Hawaiian Airlines)
It is configured with 189 seats divided between two classes; 16 seats are Premium Class seats in a 2-2 layout, while the remaining 173 seats are standard Economy seats in a 3-3 configuration. This aircraft is usually deployed on service to the U.S. West Coast and Thomas Cook Islands.
Before the release of Moana on July 10, two more special liveries will be unveiled on a widebody Airbus A330-243 and a Boeing 717-22A.
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 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.
Sun Country to Resume Three Routes in 2027
The carrier is bringing back connections to Florida and the Caribbean.
The ultra-low-cost carrier said this week that it will resume service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Melbourne, Florida, and between Duluth, Minnesota, and Fort Myers, Florida. The Duluth-Fort Myers connection is seasonal.
Sun Country said it will relaunch all three routes in 2027 but did not provide exact start dates. The announcement came Tuesday as the airline officially extended its selling schedule through April 13, 2027.
The carrier said it will serve 11 destinations in Florida, six in Mexico, and 12 across the Caribbean and Central America throughout the winter season through April 2027.
Sun Country is in the process of merging with Allegiant. For now, the two airlines are maintaining separate operations.
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.
American to Resume Two International Routes
One connection will come back online in July, the other in November.
The carrier announced Friday that it will restart service between Miami and Maracaibo, Venezuela, on July 14. Flights will operate daily using Embraer E175 aircraft.
American previously served Maracaibo from Miami but terminated the connection in 2019 when the U.S. government banned all nonstop passenger and cargo flights to and from Venezuela.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lifted that ban earlier this year, and American became the first U.S. carrier to return to the country with the launch of service to Caracas in April.
Later this year, on Nov. 1, American will resume flights between Miami and Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The service will operate daily using Boeing 737 aircraft.
American paused all flights to Haiti in 2024 due to unrest there.
Airline officials said the country is the biggest market in the Caribbean “by demand unserved by a U.S. carrier.” They also highlighted the large Haitian-American population in South Florida, which they said will benefit from the restored connection.
“American connects the U.S. with Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America better than any other airline,” American Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper said in a news release. “We are committed to serving the needs of travelers by offering the most flights to the most destinations in the region of any U.S. carrier.”
With the re-addition of Maracaibo and Cap-Haitien, American will serve a total of 100 destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, the carrier noted.
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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