GOL Adds First Widebody Aircraft to Mainline Fleet

Deliveries will take place this year and in 2027.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 06, 2026 at 10:15 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Brazilian airline GOL is introducing widebody aircraft to its passenger fleet.

The carrier announced Friday that it will take delivery of up to five Airbus A330-900s, ending its yearslong run as an all-Boeing operator. The larger aircraft, which can seat around 300 customers and fly for up to 15 hours, will support future routes from Brazil to the U.S. and Europe, officials said.

GOL plans to announce new routes “in the coming weeks.”

The A330s are expected to be delivered in phases through 2026 and 2027.

“With the introduction of widebody operations, we are taking another step forward in our evolution – expanding our horizons and creating new products and services for our customers,” GOL CEO Celso Ferrer said in a news release. “In doing so, we will further connect Brazil to the world, while also enabling more people to experience the beauty of our country.”

A rendering of a GOL A330. (Credit: GOL)

GOL’s current passenger fleet consists of the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8. The airline has also placed orders for the 737 MAX 10, which has not yet received type certification.

The carrier formerly operated charter flights with a 767, meaning the A330s will be the first widebodies in its mainline fleet but not the first it has ever owned.

GOL said the Airbus jets were recently acquired by parent company Abra Group, which is allocating them to GOL in an effort to build long-haul connectivity. Abra Group also owns Colombia’s Avianca Group.

GOL is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro and flies mainly within South America. It has two destinations in the U.S., Miami and Orlando, Florida.

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.

Kenya Invites Bids for Airport Expansion

The country is moving ahead with plans to transform Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Victor Shalton

Friday, March 06, 2026 at 06:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Kenya has invited bids for the design and construction of a major expansion of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), including a new passenger terminal and supporting infrastructure, as part of a long-term plan to transform the facility into an integrated aviation and economic hub.

In a tender notice issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Roads and Transport said it was seeking sealed bids for a design-and-build contract covering the development and modernization of the airport.

Mandatory pre-bid meetings and site visits will be held on April 8 and 9, with submissions due by April 23.

The expansion follows the completion in February of an Integrated Master Plan and feasibility study that outlines phased development of JKIA between 2025 and 2045 to address congestion and meet rising demand.

Capacity Strain

JKIA, Kenya’s main international gateway and hub for national carrier Kenya Airways, handled about 8.93 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its designed capacity of approximately 7.5 million passengers annually, according to the Ministry of Roads and Transport.

The airport currently operates with a single runway and a terminal complex expanded incrementally over the years, resulting in operational bottlenecks across the runway system, apron areas, and passenger facilities.

Traffic forecasts project passenger numbers rising from 8.93 million in 2025 to about 22.31 million by 2045, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.6%. Air cargo volumes are expected to more than double over the same period, from 407,214 tonnes to 860,400 tonnes.

The master plan identifies capacity shortfalls in airside, terminal, and landside infrastructure, warning that without intervention, congestion could erode operational efficiency, safety margins, and JKIA’s competitiveness as a regional hub.

In the short to medium term, the project will upgrade the existing runway, develop a partial parallel taxiway, and construct rapid exit and runway-end taxiways to increase throughput and reduce runway occupancy times.

Existing passenger terminals will be reconfigured and selectively expanded to ease congestion, while passenger processing systems, including check-in, security screening, immigration, and baggage handling, will be digitized and modernized.

Over the longer term, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) plans to build a new passenger terminal capable of handling an additional 10 million passengers annually, with provision for further expansion. The project will also include new taxiways, aprons, and aircraft support facilities, as well as upgrades to air traffic control, firefighting, cargo, maintenance, fuel and utility infrastructure.

Landside access roads and parking facilities will be upgraded to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.

The government has previously said it is seeking up to $2 billion from international development lenders to finance the works, after scrapping a proposed concession agreement with India’s Adani Group in 2024.

Airport City and SEZ

Beyond core aviation infrastructure, the master plan incorporates the development of an Airport City and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as long-term components designed to reposition JKIA as an aviation-led economic engine.

KAA said the SEZ would target high-value, time-sensitive, and export-oriented industries such as air cargo logistics, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing, e-commerce fulfilment, and regional distribution.

The Airport City will accommodate commercial developments including business parks, corporate offices, hotels, convention and exhibition facilities, aviation support services, and mixed-use projects.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Republic Gives Update on Mesa Integration

The carrier reported full-year and fourth-quarter earnings this week.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, March 05, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Republic Airways aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Republic Airways Holdings is continuing to “integrate and harmonize” its two fleets and expects both merger-related costs and significant upside as 2026 gets underway, officials said this week.

The airline – which formed late last year through the combination of the former Republic Airways and Mesa Airlines – reported its 2025 full-year and fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday. Q4 net income reached $5 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, while full-year net income hit $76.2 million, or $1.87 per diluted share.

The earnings window included 36 days of post-merger operations, making the results somewhat difficult to compare to either Republic or Mesa’s past performance. Still, leadership pointed to revenue growth of 20.6% during the fourth quarter and said they are aiming for revenues of approximately $2 billion by the end of this year.

Because the former Republic and Mesa combined without debt, the successor company “has incurred, and expects to continue to incur, significant merger-related costs,” according to the earnings report. Those costs totaled $26.3 million in 2025 and $3.2 million in 2024, officials said.

“We enter 2026 with clarity and integration momentum and believe we are uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value to our airline partners, employees, and shareholders,” President and Chief Commercial Officer Matt Koscal said in a statement. “This new chapter strengthens our ability to perform consistently, grow strategically, and create long-term value as a leading regional airline. As we execute the Mesa integration throughout 2026 and beyond, we are focused on harmonizing our operations, strengthening our airline partnerships, and positioning Republic Airways for sustainable long-term growth.”

As of Dec. 31, Republic Airways Holdings has a fleet of 311 Embraer E175-family aircraft as a result of the linkup and expanded partnerships with United and American. The carrier has firm orders for 29 new E175 aircraft to be delivered from 2026 through 2029.

Republic and Mesa officially united in November. Mesa was designated the surviving company, but it was renamed Republic Airways Holdings upon closing. The new corporation is headed by Republic’s leadership team.

Even though Republic and Mesa are now legally one company, there are still “parallel operations” in place while consolidation gets underway.

Republic has service agreements with United, Delta, and American, while Mesa works only with United, flying as United Express.

Zach Vasile

State Department Turns to Charter Flights to Evacuate Americans

Commercial service in much of the Middle East has been suspended since Saturday.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, March 05, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Ben Gurion International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Dmitry Pistrov)

The State Department said Thursday that it is ramping up efforts to help U.S. citizens leave the Middle East via commercial and charter flights.

“The department is facilitating charter flights and will continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allow,” officials said. “Where commercial aviation options remain available, the department is actively helping American citizens book those tickets. For those in countries lacking commercial aviation availability, the department is facilitating travel to third countries as conditions allow.”

The department also said it is looking at ground transportation options to get U.S. citizens out of Israel.

Lawmakers and some travelers stuck abroad have criticized the Trump administration for not doing enough to help Americans living, working, or vacationing in the Middle East since the start of joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran on Saturday. Iran, Israel, and many surrounding countries have closed their airspace to civilian flights, and thousands of connections are being canceled each day.

Americans in cities such as Amman, Kuwait City, and Dubai have told news outlets that they are receiving contradictory or inactionable information from U.S. embassies – specifically, to leave immediately, even though most airlines have canceled their schedules.

In some instances, U.S. embassies in the Middle East have been overwhelmed by phone calls, and in some countries U.S. embassies and consulates are closed entirely due to the risk of drone attacks from Iran.

President Donald Trump said this week that military operations unfolded too quickly to evacuate American citizens in a more organized way.

The Pentagon has said it will use C-17 transport aircraft to fly Americans out of the region.

On its website, the State Department now has a special assistance request portal for passport holders looking to leave Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Zach Vasile

Retrofitted 737 MAX 8s Enter Service With Air Canada Rouge

The carrier is reorganizing its fleet as it prepares to take delivery of new Airbus A321XLRs, A350-1000s, and Boeing 787s.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, March 05, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The first of Air Canada’s upgraded Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets have entered service with its low-cost subsidiary, Rouge.

Air Canada is in the process of moving all of its MAX 8s to Rouge as it prepares to take delivery of new aircraft, specifically the 787-10, Airbus A321XLR, and A350-1000. The carrier is also still taking deliveries of the A220.

As part of the transfer, Air Canada is retrofitting the interiors of the MAX 8s bound for Rouge. Upgrades include personal seatback entertainment systems, reclining seats, and free wireless internet service sponsored by Bell.

Most customers flying Rouge leisure and sun routes across North America will be booked on the upgraded aircraft, officials said on Thursday.

“When customers step onto our aircraft, they should instantly feel a sense of comfort, care, and pride,” Air Canada Executive Vice President and COO Mark Nasr said in a news release. “Supported by award-winning service from co-workers across the company, this renewal program is about delivering that feeling consistently, across every flight.”

Air Canada executives said last year that they aim to move all MAX 8s to Rouge by the end of 2026 while also retiring the subsidiary airline’s older aircraft. Ideally, Rouge will have an all-737 MAX fleet by the end of 2026, they said.

New Crew Base

Also on Thursday, Rouge opened a new crew base in Vancouver. The base will support the expansion of leisure travel in Western Canada, the carrier said, including recently announced winter service from Calgary to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.

Besides the 737 MAX 8, Rouge also operates A319s, A320s, and A321s. The A319s are set to be retired, while the A320s and A321s will be retrofitted and transferred to Air Canada’s mainline fleet.

Zach Vasile

Jet2 Reopens Fully-Funded Pilot Training Program

Last year, the Jet2FlightPath initiative received 18,000 applicants for 60 places.

Lorne Philipot

Thursday, March 05, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Jet2 Boeing 737 (Photo: Shutterstock | InsectWorld)

British low-cost carrier Jet2 has reopened a program that gives aspiring pilots access to fully funded flight training.

The airline recently opened its Jet2FlightPath program for 2026. It will provide at least 60 candidates the opportunity to pilot aircraft without having to self-fund the cost of flight training, which can exceed £‎100,000.

The relaunch of the program is due to the huge interest in the inaugural program, which launched last year.

As a result, 60 candidates are already working their way through an 18-month Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training course on their way to becoming pilots.

Last year, the program received 18,000 applications for its 60 places. Successful candidates came from various backgrounds, including school leavers, university graduates, schoolteachers, and police officers.

The Jet2FlightPath program aims to boost social mobility and promote diversity within the pilot community. Over 20% of last year’s candidates were women.

After a selection process that includes assessments and interviews, successful candidates are invited onto the 18-month ATPL course in the U.K., Spain, or the U.S. Training will begin this year.

After completing the ATPL course, trainees will be offered type rating training on either an Airbus or Boeing aircraft before they can fly for the airline.

Jet2 is the U.K.’s third-largest airline. It employs over 2,000 pilots and will operate a fleet of 138 aircraft this summer.

To apply, applicants need at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including maths and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications.

Further details and information on how to apply are available at www.jet2careers.com/pilot-careers/jet2flightpath/.

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.

Delta Announces Leadership Shake-Up

The carrier named a new president, CFO, and operations chief.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, March 05, 2026 at 10:15 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta A220-100. (Photo: Shutterstock | Minh K Tran)

Delta on Thursday announced plans to reshuffle its top ranks, with a new president in line to succeed Glen Hauenstein and a longtime operations executive set to retire after 32 years.

In a statement, CEO Ed Bastian said Peter Carter has been promoted to president. Carter will step into an expanded role, with responsibility for enterprise strategy in addition to global policy and legal matters, Delta’s international portfolio, real estate, and sustainability and diversity teams.

According to his company biography, Carter is currently chief external affairs officer.

Delta announced Hauenstein’s retirement in December, and he left the airline last month.

Longtime operations head John Laughter is set to retire effective April 30, Bastian announced. Laughter has worked for Delta for 32 years and serves as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and president of Delta TechOps.

Bastian credited Laughter with leading Delta’s teams “through some of the most challenging and exciting times in our history.”

“John has always been known as a servant leader and advocate for Delta’s people-focused culture,” he said. “I want to personally thank John for all he has done to serve our employees, our customers, and our communities during his tenure at Delta.”

CFO Dan Janki has been selected to succeed Laughter as chief operating officer, while Alain Bellemare, executive vice president and president of international, will take on the additional role of chairman of Delta TechOps.

Erik Snell, who most recently served as chief customer experience officer, has been appointed CFO.

Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillman is departing the company and will be replaced by Ranjan Goswami.

In his remarks, Bastian said the leadership changes “demonstrate Delta’s deep bench of talent and commitment to developing and uplifting the leaders who will shape Delta’s journey for years to come.”

Zach Vasile

DOT Approves American Flights to Venezuela

The carrier will connect Miami with Caracas and Maracaibo.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 at 05:22 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

The Transportation Department on Wednesday approved American Airlines’ request to operate flights to and from Venezuela, setting the stage for the first U.S. commercial service to the country in about seven years.

American plans to connect Miami with Caracas and Maracaibo. The carrier will operate the routes through its subsidiary Envoy Air.

It was not immediately clear when flights would begin.

The DOT and Department of Homeland Security suspended passenger and cargo flights to and from Venezuela in May 2019, citing risks to customers, air crews, and aircraft. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy canceled that directive in January, shortly after U.S. military and law enforcement detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Relations between the two countries have improved somewhat since Maduro’s removal, with President Donald Trump telling reporters that he believes he can work with Venezuela’s new leadership.

According to Reuters, TSA staff were recently in Caracas to review airport safety procedures, a necessary step before approvals could be issued.

American was the first U.S. carrier to announce plans to resume service to Venezuela.

Zach Vasile

United to Remove Passengers Who Refuse to Use Headphones

The carrier recently added the rule to its official terms of service.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 at 04:40 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

United is cracking down on passengers who listen to their phones and other devices without headphones.

The airline recently updated its “contract of carriage,” which outlines its booking and service policies. Under its “refusal of transport” subsection, the carrier said it now reserves the right to remove and permanently ban “passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

United added the language some time earlier this week but did not announce it through its usual media channels. News outlets began reporting on the update on Tuesday.

Experts cited by CBS News said United is the first major U.S. carrier to implement such a rule.

United already prohibits voice and video calls after an aircraft’s doors have been closed.

Zach Vasile

American Blames United for Scheduling Problems at Chicago O’Hare

The FAA is planning to reduce flights at the airport this spring and summer.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American Boeing 737 at O'Hare. (Photo: Shutterstock | Nate Hovee)

As the FAA steps in to resolve overscheduling at Chicago O’Hare, American Airlines is placing the blame squarely on rival United.

In a message to employees, the carrier said “senior representatives” will participate in a meeting with the FAA on Wednesday to work through the issue, and took a jab at its competitor.

“Today, the FAA is bringing together airlines for a ‘schedule reduction meeting’ in Washington, D.C., to proactively address and reduce the overscheduling at ORD, driven by United,” the airline said. “Based on published schedules for summer 2026, the airport is scheduled well beyond what it can operationally handle, even on a good weather day – a trajectory that puts ORD on track for significant delays this summer and risks repeating the challenges experienced at Newark (EWR) last year.”

Both American and United have expanded their summer schedules at O’Hare in a bid to capture market share. The carriers also compete aggressively for gates, which are allocated by the City of Chicago based on recent flight numbers.

United was given five more gates at O’Hare last year despite complaints from American.

United 767-400 — A United Boeing 767-400 (Photo: Shutterstock |
MC MEDIASTUDIO)

American has said it needs to add flights at the airport to restore its pre-pandemic capacity.

FAA-directed cuts in Chicago could affect passengers flying to, from, or through the city in the coming months.

Regulators said last week that the published schedule for O’Hare shows over 3,000 takeoffs and landings on peak summer days, which is hundreds more than last year. That level of traffic risks overwhelming operations and degrading infrastructure, they said.

The FAA is expected to make a final announcement on reductions after the meeting. The cutbacks would take effect during the summer travel season, which runs from March 29 through Oct. 25.

The agency is reportedly looking to cap daily flights at around 2,800.

Zach Vasile