Former T-Mobile CEO Joins Alaska Board

Mike Sievert's experience leading a company with global reach will make him a "valuable addition," officials said.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, June 04, 2026 at 09:16 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 (ER) and B737-800 aircraft at LAX. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, has expanded its board of directors with the addition of former T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert.

Sievert joined T-Mobile in 2012 and served as CEO between 2020 and 2025. He presided over a period of “significant value creation” at the telecommunications company, Alaska officials said, with T-Mobile’s market value increasing from about $60 billion to about $260 billion during his tenure.

Sievert currently serves as vice chairman of T-Mobile’s board of directors.

“Mike is a proven leader who understands how to grow a business, strengthen customer relationships, and execute at a global scale,” Alaska Air Group Board Chair Patty Bedient said in a news release. “His experience leading a highly competitive, customer-focused company, combined with his strong connection to Seattle, will make him a valuable addition to our board.”

Prior to joining T-Mobile, Sievert held leadership positions at Microsoft, AT&T, IBM, and Procter & Gamble. He is also a licensed pilot and owns an amphibious seaplane.

“I’ve long admired Alaska’s focus on operational performance and doing the right thing for their guests,” Sievert said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the airline’s continued growth and helping strengthen its position as a global airline.”

Sievert’s appointment likely signals that Alaska will continue to expand internationally. Earlier this spring, the carrier launched its first routes from Seattle to Europe, presenting a new challenge to longtime competitor Delta. Alaska is also rolling out new premium products, specifically its International Business Class suites on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

With Sievert’s appointment, Alaska Air Group’s board has 10 independent director seats. Directors serve one-year terms upon election at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders.

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.

BermudAir Adds New Routes from U.S. to Caribbean, Central America

The carrier is also relocating its central Florida operations.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at 02:32 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A BermudAir E175 aircraft. (Photo: Orlando International Airport)

BermudAir on Wednesday announced a major expansion of its route network, with new connections between U.S. cities and destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.

Starting this winter, the carrier will serve Belize, Turks and Caicos, and Guatemala City, while also reconnecting the British overseas territory of Anguilla. Currently, BermudAir only flies between the U.S. and St. George’s, Bermuda.

The carrier said it will introduce service between Turks and Caicos and Newark, New Jersey, Boston, Baltimore, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg in Florida; between Belize and Boston, Raleigh-Durham, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, and Orlando, Florida; and between Boston and Guatemala City.

BermudAir already connects most of those cities to Bermuda, though some, such as St. Petersburg, are completely new to its network.

The airline will also bring back seasonal service to Anguilla, with flights from Boston, Baltimore, Newark, and St. Petersburg. BermudAir previously connected the island with Boston, Baltimore, and Newark; in the winter of 2026-27, more weekly flights will operate from Baltimore and Newark.

The carrier has not previously connected St. Petersburg and Anguilla.

Additionally, there will be new nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Bermuda.

BermudAir will also relocate one of its Florida services later this year. Starting Oct. 31, the carrier will switch from Orlando International Airport to Orlando Sanford, which it said will be a more convenient and efficient gateway for flights to Bermuda and Belize.

Orlando Sanford is located about 30 miles north of Orlando International, in the city of Sanford. There will be no pause or interruption in service to Bermuda, the airline said.

The frequencies and start and end dates of the new routes to Turks and Caicos, Belize, and Guatemala City are:

Newark to Turks and Caicos: Twice weekly, from Dec. 19 through April 29, 2027.
Boston to Turks and Caicos: Weekly, from Dec. 19 through May 1, 2027.
Boston to Belize: Twice weekly, from Dec. 19 through May 1, 2027.
Boston to Guatemala City: Twice weekly, from Dec. 19 through May 1, 2027.
Baltimore to Turks and Caicos: Weekly, from Dec. 24 through April 29, 2027.
Raleigh-Durham to Turks and Caicos: Twice weekly, from Dec. 20 through May 2, 2027.
Raleigh-Durham to Belize: Twice weekly, from Dec. 20 through May 2, 2027.
Fort Lauderdale to Turks and Caicos: Three times weekly, from Oct. 26 through May 3, 2027.
Fort Lauderdale to Belize: Three times weekly, no start or end date given.
Orlando Sanford to Belize: Up to twice weekly, from Dec. 21 through May 3, 2027.
St. Petersburg to Turks and Caicos: Twice weekly, from Dec. 21 through May 3, 2027.
St. Petersburg to Belize: Twice weekly, from Dec. 20 through May 2, 2027.

Zach Vasile

Iran Strikes Kuwait’s Largest Airport

The drone and missile attack killed one person and injured 63 others.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at 01:11 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Kuwait Airways A330-800 lifting off on its delivery flight. (Photo: Airbus)

An Iranian drone and missile attack on Kuwait International Airport killed one person and injured 63 on Wednesday as tensions in the region threatened to boil over into open war once again.

Kuwaiti officials confirmed an Indian national was killed when the munitions hit the airport’s Terminal 1. Among the 63 injured, seven required immediate, extensive surgery, they said.

The airport was temporarily closed, but flights at some terminals resumed by late Wednesday local time.

The attack came only two days after Kuwait International Airport opened for the first time since Feb. 28, when hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran began. Kuwait was the target of numerous one-way drone and missile attacks from Iran during the active phase of the war in March.

Kuwait’s civil aviation regulator said Wednesday that the incoming Iranian drones and missiles were shot down, but debris from the weapons fell to the ground, causing the damage at the airport.

Iran said it targeted Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for U.S. air strikes on an Iranian island and an Iranian vessel overnight.

Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April and have been negotiating for a permanent peace deal in the weeks since. But progress has been slow, and on May 25 the U.S. military began bombing sites in Iran that it said threatened the security of the region. While the ceasefire remains in place, some international observers warn it could collapse entirely if the two sides continue to escalate.

Kuwait International Airport is the primary hub for state-owned Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways.

Zach Vasile

Nashville Airport Opens Bidding for Proposed Credit Card Lounge

Proposals are due by Aug. 25.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at 11:39 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Crowds at Nashville International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Alexandra Adele)

Nashville International Airport is moving forward with plans to open a new credit card lounge.

Officials recently opened the bidding process for construction of the lounge, which will encompass about 20,600 square feet in the airport’s North Mezzanine area.

Interested parties have until Aug. 25 to submit their proposal.

“This RFP offers the opportunity to design, build, and operate a full-service Common Use or Credit Card Lounge (“Common Lounge”) serving passengers at the Airport,” an airport document states. “The atmosphere should be what a passenger would experience in a first-class passenger lounge in an airport environment.”

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which owns and operates Nashville International Airport, said it retains the right to reject any and all proposals.

Nashville Post reported last month that American Express and Chase have expressed interest in the site.

Both American Airlines and Southwest are planning to open new lounges at Nashville. The airport has said those two projects will be separate from the credit card lounge.

Zach Vasile

U.K. Considers National Flight Ban for Disruptive Passengers

Listed individuals would not be able to fly with any airline.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 03, 2026 at 10:31 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The British government is studying a proposal to create a national blacklist for disruptive and abusive airline passengers.

According to the BBC, individuals placed on the list would be banned from flying on any airline. The proposal would allow carriers to share information on disruptive passengers to help them restrict access to flights.

The issue is coming to the fore ahead of the busy summer travel season, when fighting, intoxication, and other problematic behaviors tend to spike.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but antisocial behavior on flights is totally unacceptable,” a government source told the BBC. “It threatens the safety of passengers and crew, and disrupts hard-earned holidays.”

It was not clear if the ban would apply only to British airlines, or any airline flying from the U.K.

Under the country’s current rules, a passenger banned from one airline can book with another, and carriers are not permitted to share passenger details.

The U.K. does not have a single list of citizens or residents forbidden from flying for criminal or national security reasons. Instead, authorities check travel lists against multiple databases to identify potential safety risks.

The U.S. has a highly-classified “no-fly” list, but it covers individuals believed to pose a threat to civil aviation. There is no universal ban for people accused or convicted of unruly or abusive behavior on airplanes.

Zach Vasile

Iberia Halts Flights to Cuba

The Spanish flag carrier has paused service to Havana until at least October.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 04:53 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Iberia A330-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Spanish flag carrier Iberia this week became the latest airline to pause flights to and from Cuba, where a jet fuel shortage is gradually cutting off commercial air traffic.

The carrier suspended service between Madrid and Havana on Monday and will keep the connection on hold until Oct. 24.

Iberia said it will fully refund affected passengers.

A number of international airlines, including Air Canada and Rossiya, have paused flights to Cuba over the last two months because of uncertainty about whether their aircraft will be able to refuel at Cuban airports.

The U.S. began blocking oil and diesel shipments to Cuba in January, and the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that same month deprived the island nation of a key ally and longtime energy supplier. Trump administration officials have said their goal is to bring about regime change, and President Donald Trump has even floated the idea of taking over the country.

The blockade has resulted in widespread blackouts, financial difficulties for Cuban businesses, a gradual breakdown of Havana’s trash collection system, and a sharp decline in tourism.

Major U.S. airlines, including United, American Airlines, and Delta, continue to fly to Cuba, but the federal government forbids purely tourist travel there. Family visits, business trips, humanitarian work, and religious activities are among the authorized exceptions.

Zach Vasile

American to Temporarily Suspend Six Routes

The carrier said it is adjusting capacity growth in response to higher jet fuel prices.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 03:16 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American A319 in Phoenix. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American Airlines will temporarily pause service on six domestic routes later this summer.

From Aug. 5 to Oct. 5, the airline will halt flights between Los Angeles and Washington Dulles, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Columbus, Ohio, and between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Ontario and Sacramento in California.

Ishrion Aviation first reported the suspensions on Sunday. American confirmed the affected routes to AirlineGeeks on Tuesday and cited elevated jet fuel costs as the reason.

“American has seasonally adjusted service on select routes in August and September as the airline refines its capacity growth for 2026,” the carrier said in a statement. “American is not suspending any routes indefinitely as part of this adjustment and will continue to proudly offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.”

Affected customers will be offered alternate travel arrangements or a refund.

American went on to say that its adjustments are in line with industry trends.

Airlines around the world have suspended routes and retired older, less efficient aircraft in response to higher fuel costs. The price of jet fuel globally has roughly doubled since March, when Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Zach Vasile

Ultra-Long-Range A350 Takes to the Skies

The variant is being developed for Australian flag carrier Qantas.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 12:37 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The first flight of the Airbus A350-1000ULR. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus’ A350-1000ULR took flight for the first time Tuesday, officially launching what is expected to be a two-month flight test campaign.

The first production aircraft of the ultra-long-range variant, known as MSN 707, flew for three hours and 43 minutes after taking off from Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France. It reached an altitude of slightly above 41,000 feet while a flight test crew carried out general aircraft performance checks and assessed the new fuel system architecture.

The type contains an additional rear center fuel tank, allowing it to fly for up to 22 continuous hours.

Airbus officials said the upcoming test flights will help certify the aircraft’s modifications.

Once in service, the A350-1000ULR will be the longest-range commercial airplane in the world, the manufacturer said, surpassing the A350-900ULR.

The -1000ULR is being developed for Qantas, which plans to use the jet for nonstop flights between the east coast of Australia and destinations such as New York and London. The first of the type was initially scheduled for delivery later this year, but Airbus recently pushed that timeframe back to April 2027 due to supply chain issues.

Airbus said Tuesday that its second production -1000ULR, currently at an “advanced stage of final assembly,” will be the first delivered to Qantas next spring.

Qantas has ordered a total of 12 ultra-long-range A350s.

Zach Vasile

Alaska Sets Opening Date for New Lounge

The airline is doubling its space at an important hub in the Pacific Northwest.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 11:19 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A rendering of Alaska's new lounge in Portland. (Credit: Alaska Airlines)

After more than two years of work, Alaska Airlines is preparing to open its new lounge at Portland International Airport in Oregon.

Officials said the 14,000-square-foot space will open to travelers for the first time on Thursday.

According to Alaska, the lounge will offer over 230 seats, coffee, specialty cocktails, food, ample power outlets, work spaces, and relaxation areas. Pacific Northwest-inspired design elements have also been incorporated, including a fireplace and a wooden mural of Mount Hood.

The space is about twice the size of Alaska’s current lounge at Portland.

Access will be available to Alaska Lounge and Lounge+ members, as well as eligible first class passengers and travelers flying with a oneworld or partner airline.

“Portland guests have chosen Alaska for years and played an important role in our growth in the Pacific Northwest,” Shane Jones, Alaska’s senior vice president of fleet, products, and guest experience, said in a news release. “This new lounge is our way of thanking them and a reflection of our growing portfolio of premium guest experiences.”

Alaska is the largest airline at Portland. It recently launched service to Baltimore, Bellingham, Washington, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, and this summer will add connections to Everett/Paine Field and Pasco, Washington.

Alaska recently announced plans for a massive, 41,000-square-foot lounge in Seattle, set to open next year. It also expects to debut its first lounge in San Diego and an expanded lounge in Honolulu in early 2028.

Zach Vasile

Southwest Shakes Up Leadership Team

Officials said the changes will improve the airline’s focus on operations and commercial performance.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at 10:13 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Southwest is reshuffling and realigning its leadership ranks as it enters the busy summer travel season.

The airline announced Friday that Executive Vice President of Operations Justin Jones has been appointed chief commercial officer. Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson, who previously led both operations and commercial, will focus solely on operations and safety going forward, officials said.

In his new role, Jones will lead network and capacity planning, revenue management, pricing, Southwest Business, and airport affairs, and will be responsible for advancing “an integrated commercial strategy” that supports revenue growth. He will report directly to Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan.

The new allocation of duties will help improve organizational focus on both operations and commercial performance, Southwest said.

Chief Customer and Brand Officer Tony Roach will also begin reporting directly to the CEO. Chief People Officer Elizabeth Bryant and Southwest’s people, learning, and development organization will report to Roach and work more closely with the customer and brand organization, with the aim of enhancing customer experience.

“These changes position us to move forward with greater clarity, stronger execution, and deeper connection across our company,” Jordan said in a news release.

The shakeup comes as Southwest continues to move away from its former low-cost business model. The airline has made significant and sometimes controversial changes over the last year, including the introduction of assigned seating and checked bag fees.

At the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference last week, Jordan said Southwest is looking at adding long-haul international flights.

Zach Vasile