Spirit Recalls Hundreds of Furloughed Pilots

The carrier plans to emerge from bankruptcy by late spring or summer.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 02:45 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321. (Photo: Shutterstock | Skycolors)

Spirit is recalling hundreds of furloughed pilots as it prepares to emerge from bankruptcy.

In a statement to AirlineGeeks, the budget carrier confirmed it issued recall notices to approximately 500 pilots “who were involuntarily furloughed between Sept. 1, 2024, and Nov. 1, 2025.”

“Recalled pilots were sent a notice on March 9, 2026, and those who accept will return to duty in the timeframe detailed in the collective bargaining agreement,” Spirit said.

The dates of the furloughs provided by Spirit suggest they reach back to before the company’s first stint in bankruptcy, between November 2024 and March 2025. The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again in August 2025 due to increasing costs and mounting debt.

Over the last several months, Spirit had also furloughed flight attendants and laid off some corporate staff.

In a sign that staffing levels were stabilizing, the carrier canceled plans for additional pilot furloughs in December and recalled some flight attendants in February.

A recent memo to employees cited by Reuters said Spirit needs additional staff to handle the busier summer travel season.

Air Crew News, which obtained a recall notice, reported that pilots have until March 23 to respond. They are expected to return to duty within 30 days of the notice date, which comes to April 8.

Recalled pilots will be assigned to one of three bases – Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Orlando; or New York-LaGuardia.

Last month, Spirit said it reached a deal with its creditors that will allow it to emerge from bankruptcy by the late spring or early summer. Officials said the airline will operate a much smaller fleet across a greatly reduced route network.

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.

Avianca to Acquire First A330-900s

The aircraft are expected to enter service later this year.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Airbus A330neo demonstrator aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Colombian airline Avianca is set to receive its first two Airbus A330-900 aircraft, officials announced on Tuesday.

The A330s will be based in Colombia and support “strategic” routes across the Americas, the carrier said. The jets are expected to enter service in the second half of the year.

Abra Group, Avianca’s parent company, recently acquired seven A330-900s for use by its member airlines. Up to five are being sent to Brazilian carrier GOL, another Abra subsidiary, while the remainder have been allocated to Avianca.

The airline said its A330-900s will have 377 seats, including business class.

Avianca A320 — An Avianca Airbus A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

When the jets enter service, Avianca will be the only operator of the A330-900 in Colombia, officials said.

GOL has said it will use its A330s to support long-haul routes to North America and Europe. On Friday, it announced upcoming service between Rio de Janeiro and New York-JFK.

Zach Vasile

Norse Atlantic Boosts London-Bangkok Service Amid Global Disruptions

The carrier is adding flights this week, citing demand for "alternative routes."

Lorne Philipot

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: Norse Atlantic Airways)

Norse Atlantic is temporarily adding more flights between London Gatwick and Bangkok to help maintain connectivity in the face of global flight disruptions.

The budget long-haul carrier has added two extra rotations between London and Bangkok. The extra flights are:

March 9 – LGW–BKK (Z0793)
March 10 – BKK–LGW (Z0794)
March 11 – LGW–BKK (Z0793)
March 12 – BKK–LGW (Z0794)

These flights are in addition to the airline’s regular scheduled service between London and Bangkok.

Many travelers are stranded in various parts of the world due to airspace closures in the Middle East.

Thailand and Southeast Asia generally are feeling the effects, as many visitors prefer to reach the region using Middle East-based airlines.

Norse also flies from Manchester to the Thai capital. It also offer service from Oslo and Stockholm to Bangkok.

Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

Southwest Starts Service at New Airport

Four new routes are now up and running.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Southwest recently began service to and from a new destination in Tennessee.

The carrier on Thursday operated its inaugural flight from Nashville to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport. The flight, nicknamed Tennessee One, received a water cannon salute upon arrival, officials said.

“For many years, Knoxville has been near the top of Southwest’s wish list because of its vibrant community and strong demand for leisure and business travel,” Adam Decaire, Southwest’s senior vice president for network planning and network operations control, said in a news release. “Knoxville has a passion for our legendary hospitality and Southwest heart, and we’re thrilled to connect to East Tennessee as our third city in the state.”

Southwest now operates twice daily flights between Knoxville and Nashville and daily flights between Knoxville and Baltimore-Washington, Dallas Love Field, and Orlando, Florida.

Starting this spring, the carrier will also offer weekend service from Knoxville to Denver, Austin, Texas, and Tampa, Florida.

Zach Vasile

JetBlue Flights Resume After Brief Ground Stop Lifted

The carrier said it experienced a system outage.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 10:20 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | CarterAerial)

A ground stop for all JetBlue flights was issued and then canceled within an hour early Tuesday morning after the carrier apparently resolved a system-wide technical problem.

The FAA said it issued the ground stop at JetBlue’s request. The action covered all of the carrier’s airports and destinations.

“A brief system outage has been resolved and we have resumed operations,” JetBlue said in a statement. The airline did not elaborate.

In a ground stop, carriers halt all departures, but flights already in the air can continue to their destination.

Tracking website FlightAware showed no cancellations or delays for JetBlue as of 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday morning.

Zach Vasile

American to Exit Airport After Less Than a Year

Flights are slated to end in May.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 05:16 PM ET

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Zach Vasile

An American Eagle E175. (Photo: Shutterstock | Ryken Papy)

American’s footprint on California’s Central Coast is set to shrink following a brief run in one of its newer regional markets.

The Fort Worth-based airline confirmed it will discontinue service to Santa Maria, California, on May 7. The flights were operated under the American Eagle banner by SkyWest and connected the city with American’s Phoenix hub.

The route first launched in October 2025. American’s exit from the market was published in Saturday’s Cirium Diio schedule update.

In a statement, an American spokesperson said the market fell short of expectations.

“Service to Santa Maria, California (SMX) operated under the American Eagle banner in partnership with SkyWest Airlines,” the spokesperson said. “Unfortunately, flights to SMX did not meet performance expectations and SkyWest informed American it will discontinue service as of May 7. We will proactively reach out to impacted customers with alternate travel arrangements or a refund in line with American’s customer-friendly policies.”

American’s exit leaves Santa Maria with Allegiant service to Las Vegas.

Ryan Ewing

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.

Travelers Face Hourslong Security Lines Amid TSA Staff Shortages

Agents are set to miss their first full paycheck this week.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 02:50 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A TSA checkpoint. (Photo: Shutterstock | Jim Lambert)

Passengers at several U.S. airports faced long lines at security checkpoints over the weekend as the federal government’s partial shutdown drags on and TSA personnel call out in higher numbers.

Officials at Houston Hobby, Atlanta, and New Orleans advised travelers to arrive three to five hours early due to shortages of TSA workers. Longer than usual security lines were also reported at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina.

Democrats in Congress have blocked funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since mid-February over concerns about the conduct of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. TSA also operates under DHS.

Funding from mandatory spending and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was supposed to keep DHS employees, including TSA agents, paid for several weeks despite the shutdown. But TSA staff reportedly got a partial paycheck at the end of last month, and are set to miss their first full paycheck this week.

Most TSA, ICE, and CBP agents, along with most other DHS personnel, are considered essential employees, and must continue to report to work even if the federal government is shut down and they are not being paid.

DHS leaders have openly criticized Democrats for withholding funding.

On Sunday, the department’s official X account posted pictures of long lines at an unspecified airport with the caption “SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE.”

SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE.

The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights.

There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points — Democrats… pic.twitter.com/sp1vnzXJbb
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 8, 2026

“The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights,” the post read. “There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points – Democrats must end this DHS shutdown NOW.”

Democratic lawmakers have said they will restore funding if the White House agrees to reform immigration enforcement and border security policies.

Last month, DHS suspended TSA PreCheck and CBP’s Global Entry, citing a lack of resources due to the partial shutdown. PreCheck was ultimately restored, but Global Entry remains offline.

Zach Vasile

United Aircraft Strikes Deicing Truck

One person was transported to an area hospital.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A United aircraft hit a deicing truck at Denver International Airport on Friday, sending one person to the hospital.

According to the FAA, United Flight 605 collided with the truck around 8:30 a.m. local time while exiting the deicing pad. The incident occurred in an area where air traffic control does not manage aircraft, the agency said.

Passengers deplaned and were taken by bus to the terminal.

The FAA did not mention any injuries, but CBS News reported Friday that an employee of the deicing contractor was taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries and condition were not immediately clear.

Flight 605 was set to depart Denver for Nashville, Tennessee. According to CBS News, the aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800.

Zach Vasile

GOL Adds New Route to U.S.

The connection will be the low-cost carrier’s first-ever long-haul route.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A GOL Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Brazilian airline GOL is adding its third destination in the U.S.

Starting July 8, the low-cost carrier will connect Rio de Janeiro and New York-JFK. The connection will be GOL’s first-ever long-haul route, officials said on Friday.

Flights will operate three times per week.

Earlier Friday, the airline said it will take delivery of up to five Airbus A330-900 aircraft through parent company Abra Group. GOL did not directly state which of its aircraft will operate the new Rio-to-New York route, but the A330 is a likely candidate, as it will be the first widebody aircraft in the company’s mainline fleet.

GOL’s current passenger fleet consists of the Boeing 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8.

Tickets for the Rio-to-New York service are now available for purchase online.

In the U.S., GOL currently flies to Miami and Orlando, Florida. Most of its route network is concentrated in South America.

Zach Vasile

American Turns to A321XLR Amid Long-Haul Cuts

The carrier is shifting more transatlantic flying to its new narrowbody jet while reducing some international service this winter.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 11:27 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

American's first A321XLR (Photo: DFW Airport)

American is leaning more heavily on its Airbus A321XLR fleet across the Atlantic as it scales back parts of its long-haul international network ahead of Boeing 777-300ER retrofits.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier said last week that several winter schedule changes will help support its plan to reconfigure more widebody aircraft with its new Flagship Suite product.

“We will win with customers when we deliver a consistent and elevated experience to travelers flying across our global network,” said American’s chief commercial officer, Nat Pieper, in a memo to employees viewed by AirlineGeeks.

Among the changes, New York JFK-Barcelona will become a year-round route and is set to operate with the A321XLR during the winter season.

Flagship Suite on American's A321XLR — Flagship Suite on American’s A321XLR (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)

Philadelphia-Amsterdam will also see A321XLR service from Feb. 25 through March 27, 2027, while Philadelphia-Edinburgh will transition to the aircraft beginning Oct. 25. Philadelphia-Lisbon is also scheduled to operate with the type from Jan. 5 through Feb. 25, 2027.

At the same time, American is reducing service in several international markets.

Charlotte-Rome and Philadelphia-Athens will end their summer seasons on Oct. 24. Dallas/Fort Worth-Frankfurt will be suspended from Feb. 11 to March 3, while Miami-Paris will not operate during the winter season.

Other markets will also see reduced flying. Los Angeles-Auckland will drop from daily service to four weekly flights in early December, and Miami-Santiago will be reduced to daily service for the winter.

Not all of the changes are cuts. Chicago O’Hare-Paris will be extended through Dec. 1, and Miami-Rio de Janeiro will increase to two daily flights for the full winter season.

Widebody Retrofits

The first updated 777-300ER is expected to begin revenue flights later this year and will feature 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 premium economy seats per aircraft. American’s entire 777-300ER fleet is slated to feature the new configuration by 2027, Pieper added.

Ryan Ewing