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Report: Trump Admin Working With Spirit on Potential Rescue Deal

The carrier is believed to have reached out to the White House last week.

Spirit Airbus A320
A Spirit A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Spirit Airlines and the Trump administration are in advanced talks over a potential half-billion-dollar rescue package for the embattled budget carrier, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Citing sources with knowledge of the discussions, the newspaper said the White House is considering loaning Spirit up to $500 million. In return, the U.S. government would receive warrants for a stake in the airline.

Direct federal investments in private-sector companies are rare but not unheard of, especially for the current administration, which bought stakes in chipmaker Intel and mining and manufacturing company USA Rare Earth. But unlike Spirit, neither of those companies is in bankruptcy.

The Air Current broke the news late last week that Spirit had asked the administration for help, but it was not clear until the Journal’s report if any negotiations were taking place.

Spirit was set to emerge from its second stint in bankruptcy protection this spring, but the recent surge in jet fuel prices has put the carrier’s very survival in question. Reports circulating last week suggested the airline could opt for liquidation within a matter of weeks.

President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he would “love” for another airline to buy Spirit. He also suggested that the federal government could intervene to help the carrier, though he did not elaborate on what that assistance could look like.

CBS News reported Tuesday that Trump had instructed the U.S. Department of Transportation to review possible options for Spirit.

“He’s directed us to take a look,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told the network. “I’ll have a conversation with the president later today.”

Duffy was also scheduled to meet with representatives from several budget carriers Tuesday to discuss the impact of higher fuel prices on their operations and financial health.

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.

Lufthansa Group Cuts 20,000 Flights Through October

The reductions are expected to save about 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.

A Lufthansa A319 coming in to land in London.
A Lufthansa A319 coming in to land in London. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Lufthansa Group will slash 20,000 short-haul flights across its six European hubs this summer in an effort to conserve jet fuel.

The company said Tuesday that the affected flights have been removed from its schedule through October. The cuts are expected to save about 40,000 metric tons of fuel.

“The schedule adjustments reduce the number of unprofitable short-haul flights across the Lufthansa Group network,” officials said in a statement. “The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome. Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections. However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before.”

Lufthansa Group has already implemented some short-term flight reductions – about 120 per day – and plans to publish details of its new summer schedule later this month.

Airlines in Europe are considered especially vulnerable to fuel price volatility and potential shortages stemming from the conflict in Iran. Lufthansa Group has been proactive on the issue, pruning routes and temporarily grounding some of its less efficient aircraft. The company also accelerated the shutdown of Munich-based Lufthansa CityLine earlier this month in a bid to contain the subsidiary carrier’s longstanding losses.

So far, Lufthansa Group has temporarily removed three destinations from its summer lineup: Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów in Poland and Stavanger, Norway. Service to 10 other European destinations will be reworked and consolidated across the company’s member airlines, officials said.

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.

BeOnd Suspends Flights Between Europe and Maldives

Service is expected to resume in October for the winter season.

A BeOnd aircraft.
A beOnd aircraft. (Photo: beOnd)

All-business class carrier beOnd has paused flights between Europe and the Maldives – the vast majority of its scheduled operations – through the summer.

In a statement on social media, the airline said its guest experience team is reaching out to affected customers and will offer “flexible” options, including fee-free rescheduling for the winter or a full refund. Service will resume in October, the message said.

The carrier did not provide a reason for the pause, but it could be connected to higher jet fuel prices, which have forced airlines around the world to adjust their schedules.

BeOnd is headquartered in Dubai and operates from Velana International Airport in the Maldives. It connects the island chain’s capital city, Malé, with London, Paris, Moscow, Munich, Zurich, and Milan via Dubai, and operates nonstop flights from Riyadh and Red Sea International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

BeOnd advertises its flights as an alternative to private jet travel, with fully reclining flat-bed seating, gourmet meals, and boutique crew-to-passenger ratios. It currently operates two aircraft, an Airbus A319 and an A321.

The carrier has eyed routes to Australia and is in the process of setting up a joint venture in the U.S.

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.

Breeze Integrates AI-Enhanced Platform into Dispatch Operations

The Weather Company’s Maverick Dispatch is simplifying workflows for dispatchers, the carrier said.

Breeze A220
A Breeze A220 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Breeze Airways is rolling out a new flight-following solution designed to streamline critical information for its dispatchers.

The platform, known as Maverick Dispatch, was developed over the last year by The Weather Company with input from Breeze’s teams. It folds together numerous data streams, including weather imaging, into a single and more easily digestible interface, attributes the airline believes will improve efficiency, mitigate operational disruptions, and reduce the mental burden on dispatchers.

“One of the biggest tasks when it comes to dispatching is that you have so much information that you’re trying to compile and make decisions on, and really reducing that cognitive load is the biggest focus of the solution,” said Garrett Urry, manager of flight dispatch at Breeze. “Now we’re condensing and compiling it down into a single interface so that dispatchers are not trying to find multiple tabs, multiple URLs, that help them make those decisions.”

According to Urry, a typical dispatcher might have between 22 and 25 different browsers open at any one time with software and websites needed to help make a single decision about a flight.

“Reducing that to a single display really relieves that burden and cognitive load on the dispatchers and assists them in making those education decisions,” he said.

Maverick Dispatch comes with enhanced weather visualization, a consolidated alert dashboard, predictive modeling for storms, analytics tools, and a new NOTAM viewer, among other features. The Weather Company’s meteorological data and forecasting capabilities are directly integrated into the system.

“Dispatchers don’t have to go through other experiences to find the best weather,” said Chris Oak, aviation product leader at TWC. “They can trust that we have integrated the best-in-class weather directly into the experience, and they know that’s what’s driving the insights that are coming out of the platform.”

Breeze Airways Embraer 190 at Palm Beach International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Vanni Gibertini)

Breeze has already been using TWC’s flight tracker Fusion. Maverick Dispatch expands on Fusion, moving from an app-based solution to a cloud-based platform accessible from a web browser, officials said.

A group of Breeze employees provided feedback to TWC as Maverick was developed, helping guide decisions about functionality and display methodologies.

“We can figure out which ideas are hitting and which aren’t,” Oak said. “We could talk about a solution for an hour, but with a picture in front of someone, they can tell you, ‘That’s what I need.’ So that is what some of those sessions helped flesh out.”

AI is blended into several of the features offered by Maverick, including weather modeling. Meteorologists continuously check the forecasts to ensure accuracy, creating a system that dispatchers can use comfortably without having specialized knowledge about artificial intelligence.

AI is also used in Maverick’s Smart NOTAMs tool to help organize information.

“You click on NOTAMs, we take all the airport NOTAMs in context, and we’ve sorted them and filtered them and within two seconds we can start streaming a Smart NOTAMs summary based off what dispatchers have told us is the most important thing,” Oak said. “They don’t have to worry about, ‘How is this happening?’ They just know they click and get a quick AI summary.”

“That’s how we want some of our AI tooling to be in Maverick,” he continued. “We want to show AI transparency, but we don’t want people to have to be experts in AI to use the product.”

Breeze said it completed training of dispatchers on Maverick earlier this month.

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 in Line for A320 Cockpit Display Upgrades

The carrier entered an agreement with Airbus for improved display systems on over 40 aircraft.

A320 Airbus cockpit by night
An A320 cockpit at night. (Photo: Airbus)

JetBlue and Airbus have signed a deal to upgrade cockpit displays on part of the carrier’s A320 fleet.

Airbus will install Enhanced Electronic Instrument System (EEIS2) displays on 46 aircraft, officials said. The new systems come with high-resolution LCD technology intended to improve the visualization of information for pilots.

The enhanced displays will also help create a common technical foundation for future avionics upgrades, according to Airbus. 

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, nor was the timeline for installations.

EEIS2 equipment is designed and supplied by Thales and integrated by Airbus.

“Investing in upgrades like EEIS2 is an important part of our JetForward strategy, supporting our focus on delivering reliable and caring service for our customers,” David Marcontell, vice president of technical operations at JetBlue, said in a news release. “Enhancements like these advanced cockpit displays help us modernize older aircraft, ensuring every aircraft remains safe, reliable, and ready to perform.”

JetBlue operates one of the largest Airbus fleets in North America, with both A320-family and A220 aircraft.

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.

Trump: ‘I’d Love Somebody to Buy Spirit’

The President said the federal government may have to step in to help the struggling budget carrier.

Spirit A320neo jet
A Spirit Airbus A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Kevin Hackert)

Days after news broke that Spirit is seeking financial assistance from the federal government, possibly to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, President Donald Trump is weighing in.

Phoning in to CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday, the president first fielded a question about a potential merger between United and American. Trump said he doesn’t support the idea but emphasized that he’s not opposed to all mergers and acquisitions in the industry.

“I’d love somebody to buy Spirit, as an example,” he said. “You know, Spirit’s in trouble, and I’d love somebody to buy Spirit. It’s 14,000 jobs, and maybe the federal government should help that one out.”

The president did not elaborate on that point and moved on to discuss consolidation in the defense sector.

The Air Current reported late Friday that Spirit, beset by soaring jet fuel prices, had approached the Trump administration with a request for emergency funding. Earlier reports suggested that the carrier could be on the brink of liquidation due to higher energy costs.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the administration is considering a government investment in the airline. Direct investment by the U.S. in a private-sector company is rare but not unheard of, and Trump has shown openness to the idea. Last year, the federal government acquired a roughly 10% stake in technology company Intel.

Spirit is currently navigating its second stint in bankruptcy protection. It had hoped to emerge from bankruptcy by the late spring or summer, but that timeline has almost certainly been pushed back.

Representatives from Spirit and other low-cost airlines are expected to meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this week to share how higher fuel prices are impacting their operations and financial viability.

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: JetBlue Rules Out Bankruptcy Filing in 2026

The low-cost airline is facing headwinds from higher jet fuel prices.

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

JetBlue’s leadership is not considering filing for bankruptcy – at least in the near term – despite mounting fuel costs.

According to a recent internal memo obtained and first reported by Bloomberg on Monday, JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty told employees that a bankruptcy filing is off the table for 2026. The carrier has sufficient liquidity, she said, and access to additional capital if needed.

JetBlue is attempting to turn around its business by slashing unprofitable routes, improving efficiency, and expanding its premium products. The New York-based airline has not recorded a full-year net profit since 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent surge in jet fuel prices, brought on by the war in Iran, could throw a wrench into JetBlue’s plans. A clearer picture of the carrier’s financial health will come when it reports its first-quarter earnings on April 28.

Climbing energy costs have already taken a toll on budget carrier Spirit, which is reportedly seeking financial assistance from the federal government. According to insiders, the possibility of liquidation has been discussed.

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.

American Sets Start Date for Venezuela Flights

Service between Miami and Caracas will operate daily.

American Eagle jet
An American Eagle E175. (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)

After a roughly seven-year pause, American Airlines is once again selling tickets to Venezuela.

The carrier announced Monday that daily nonstop service between Miami and Caracas will resume on April 30. The airline had put forward April 30 as a potential restart date earlier this month, but officially confirmed it on Monday.

Flights will depart Miami at 10:16 a.m. Eastern Time and arrive in Caracas at 1:36 p.m. Return flights will leave Caracas at 2:40 p.m. Eastern Time and land in Miami at 6:13 p.m.

The connection will be operated by American subsidiary Envoy using Embraer E175 dual-class aircraft.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned all commercial passenger and cargo flights between the U.S. and Venezuela in 2019 over concerns about the safety of passengers and crews. That order was lifted in late January following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Relations between the two countries have somewhat normalized in the months since. In March, the Department of Transportation approved American’s request to reconnect Caracas and Maracaibo, which is located in western Venezuela.

American has the strongest Caribbean and South American network of any U.S. airline, and was seen as a likely candidate to kick off the return of U.S. carriers to Venezuela.

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.

Senators Warn Against United-American Merger

Lawmakers cited the potential for higher fares and job losses in a letter to the carriers’ chief executives.

A United 777-200 in San Francisco.
A United 777-200 in San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

Two U.S. senators are pressing United and American for answers following reports that a potential merger could be in the works.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, sent a letter to United CEO Scott Kirby and American CEO Robert Isom on Sunday raising concerns about a possible linkup between two of the country’s biggest airlines. A merger, if realized, would reduce competition, the lawmakers said, opening the door to higher prices, lower wages for workers, and negative effects on smaller airlines, which would be unable to compete with an industry “behemoth.”

“A United-American merger could lead to increased prices for consumers, at a time when airlines are already squeezing flyers through higher fares and fees,” the lawmakers wrote.

Warren and Lee put several questions to Kirby and Isom, specifically whether or not a merger has been discussed, how such a deal would be “consistent with the public interest,” and if it could lead to higher fares and fees and the loss of jobs and routes.

The senators asked for a reply by May 3.

Bloomberg reported last week that Kirby pitched the idea of acquiring American to President Donald Trump and White House officials. He reportedly argued that the combination would make the resulting airline more competitive in international markets.

The news stunned the broader airline industry, and many analysts believe the linkup, if real, would have almost no chance of surviving the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust review process.

American initially declined to comment on Bloomberg’s report, but on Friday it released a statement saying it was not exploring a merger with United and is not interested in one. The carrier said it would continue to work with the Trump administration to strengthen the nation’s airline sector.

Kirby has not spoken about the idea of a United-American combination since the news broke early last week.

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.

British Airways Starts New U.S. Route

The connection will operate four times per week this summer.

British Airways touches down in St. Louis. (Photo: British Airways)
British Airways touches down in St. Louis. (Photo: British Airways)

British Airways on Sunday officially added a new route to the U.S. Midwest.

The carrier operated its inaugural flight between London Heathrow and St. Louis, touching down at Lambert Field on Sunday evening. British Airways will fly the route four times per week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, during the summer season.

The airline said it is using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the transatlantic connection.

St. Louis is the 27th U.S. destination in British Airways’ network. The carrier is now the only one in the world offering nonstop flights between the U.K. and Missouri’s second-largest city.

The airline also started service to Guernsey in the Channel Islands on Sunday.

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.
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