Delta Unveils New Delta One Suites

The seats are expected to be available in early 2027.

Zach Vasile

Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11:50 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A display showing how Delta One suites will look on Delta's A350-1000. (Photo: Delta)

Almost 10 years after its debut, the Delta One suite is getting a redesign.

Delta announced Monday that it will install an upgraded version of its top premium offering, complete with a longer bed and expanded storage, on its new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The airline expects to take delivery of the long-range A350 variant early next year.

Officials said two years of planning went into the “next-generation” suites, which include a new pillow-top cushion, a cubby for shoes, a hook for eyeglasses, a tray for a phone, and larger, 24-inch screens.

Three inches have been added to the suite’s flat bed, making it over six and half feet in length.

A lie-flat bed in the new Delta One suite. (Photo: Delta)

Also in the works is a dedicated Delta One snack bar, which will be located at the main entryway of the A350.

The new seats will become available in early 2027, the carrier said.

Delta also plans to install Delta One suites on its A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft for the first time. The A330s come with Delta One business class but do not currently have suite-style seats with privacy doors.

The airline did disclose how many Delta One suites will be added to each aircraft type.

How Delta One suites will appear on the A330-200 and -300. (Photo: Delta)

Delta also said it is carrying out a simultaneous, cross-cabin upgrade for all three subfleets – the A350-1000, A330-200, and -300 – with memory foam seats and larger seatback screens.

“Every time a customer boards a Delta flight, the experience and surroundings should feel familiar – creating a sense of home and comfort when you’re away,” Mauricio Parise, Delta’s vice president of brand experience, said in a news release. “That was the driving factor behind every intentional design feature and investment we made in developing our brand new A350-1000 experience, which we extended through nose-to-tail upgrades of our A330-200/300s and will continue to roll out across our fleet.”

The Big Three are putting more emphasis on luxury travel as premium emerges as a consistent profit generator. United is about to roll out its Polaris seats, and last month announced plans to expand premium options across its fleet.

Alaska recently entered the competition by announcing its first ever suite-style product, known as International Business Class.

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.

FAA Proposes Penalty for American Over Drug Testing Compliance

The airline has 30 days to respond to the agency.

Zach Vasile

Monday, April 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Boeing 787-8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The FAA is weighing a civil penalty for American Airlines for allegedly violating drug and alcohol testing regulations.

The agency said that, between May 2019 and December 2023, American allowed 12 flight attendants who previously tested positive on drug and alcohol tests to resume performing “safety-sensitive duties” without completing all of the required follow-up testing. The flight attendants tested positive for substances such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine.

American is facing a potential fine of $255,000 over the matter. It has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the allegations.

According to FAA regulations, airlines must carry out random, unannounced drug and alcohol testing for “safety-sensitive employees.” That category includes not just pilots but all workers who perform safety-related functions.

Zach Vasile

American Starts Mainline Service at New Airport

Flights will operate twice per week using an Airbus A319.

Zach Vasile

Monday, April 13, 2026 at 09:45 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

American Airlines expanded its mainline network to a new airport in Utah late last week.

Provo Municipal Airport announced Friday that American is now offering mainline service on its route to Dallas/Fort Worth. The connection was previously operated under the American Eagle brand.

The airport shared a picture of an American Airbus A319 – which will operate the route going forward – on the runway on Friday.

The new mainline service will operate twice per week, on Mondays and Fridays.

“Mainline service means a larger aircraft with more seats available, extra room onboard, and more flexibility when planning your next trip,” the airport said in a news release.

Provo is currently served by American, Breeze, and Allegiant. It is the second-busiest airport in Utah, behind Salt Lake City, and also one of the fastest-growing in the country.

Zach Vasile

Boeing Prepares to Launch New 737 MAX Production Line

The new line in Everett, Washington, will supplement three existing lines in nearby Renton.

Zach Vasile

Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The North Line at Boeing Everett. (Photo: Boeing | Marian Lockhart)

Boeing is making progress toward launching its fourth 737 MAX production line and expects to open it this summer, executives said this week.

The new production line, known as the North Line, will be located at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington. Since the launch of the 737 MAX program over a decade ago, the aircraft series has been manufactured only in Renton, Washington, about 40 miles from Everett on the other side of the Seattle metro area.

Boeing leaders first announced the new line publicly in February. It is expected to help boost production capacity for the 737 MAX above 47 airplanes per month.

The North Line will be capable of building all MAX models, officials said, and will initially focus on production of the 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10. Production will largely mirror the build process used at the Renton factory.

The company said it has completed construction and tooling of the new line, and is now focused on hiring and training workers. The North Line team will include a combination of newly hired employees and current workers from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake, also in Washington.

When the North Line first begins operations, it will complete a process known as low rate initial production, where the building process is deliberately slowed down to allow for additional checks and adjustments. The first set of aircraft built during this phase will be used to demonstrate conformity to the FAA, which will permit the North Line to operate under Boeing’s production certificate.

Once this process is complete, the new line can be integrated into Boeing’s 737 MAX production flow.

Zach Vasile

One-Day Crew Strike Hits Lufthansa

The labor union representing the carrier’s flight attendants is pushing for progress in contract negotiations.

Zach Vasile

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 03:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Lufthansa Airbus A380 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Flight attendants at German carrier Lufthansa and subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine staged a one-day strike on Friday, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Labor union UFO said it called the strike over stalled negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The work stoppage is expected to end by 10 p.m. local time.

“Lufthansa is working intensively to keep the impact on our passengers as low as possible,” the airline said in a statement. “We are trying to have as many flights as possible operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and by partner airlines.”

The strike is proving particularly disruptive because many Europeans are returning home from their Easter holiday, officials said.

Reuters reported Friday that around 100,000 passengers had their flights cancelled.

Lufthansa Group’s other subsidiaries, such as SWISS and Austrian Airlines, were not affected.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: EgyptAir

The Egyptian flag carrier’s design blends a modern blue palette with one of the country’s most recognizable ancient symbols.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 02:24 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An EgyptAir Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

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.

EgyptAir’s standard livery is centered on a deep blue tail carrying the airline’s stylized Horus emblem, giving the carrier one of the more culturally distinctive standard liveries in commercial aviation. The logo represents Horus, the ancient Egyptian sky deity, which has long served as a central symbol in the airline’s branding.

The aircraft’s fuselage remains primarily white, creating a clean backdrop for the airline’s dark blue titles along the forward section. A flowing blue cheatline runs beneath the cabin windows toward the rear of the aircraft, tying the fuselage visually to the tail and helping unify the design across different aircraft types.

The most recognizable feature of the livery is the falcon-headed Horus mark on the tail. EgyptAir adopted Horus as its logo because of the figure’s association with the sky and sun, making it a natural fit for an airline identity. The symbol gives the design a clear connection to Egypt’s history without requiring a more elaborate or heavily themed paint scheme.

An EgyptAir A321 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)

EgyptAir applies the livery across its mixed fleet, including Boeing 737-800s, 787-9 Dreamliners, and other mainline aircraft. While proportions vary depending on aircraft type, the core elements — the white fuselage, blue tail, and Horus branding — remain consistent throughout the fleet.

Compared with more experimental modern liveries, EgyptAir’s design takes a restrained approach. Rather than relying on gradients, large fuselage graphics, or special typography, the airline uses a straightforward layout anchored by a single historic emblem. That simplicity has helped the livery remain recognizable even as the carrier has modernized its fleet over time.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Delta Adds Flights, Expands Capacity for College Football Season

The carrier released a full list of temporary and upgraded connections, running from August to November.

Zach Vasile

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 12:50 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Airlines Airbus A320 in Boston. (Photo: AirliineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta is expanding its schedule this fall to accommodate demand from college football fans.

The carrier said Friday that it will operate one-off roundtrip flights to and from airports near major games. It also plans to temporarily add flights and swap in larger aircraft on routes to game-day destinations that it already serves.

In total, Delta will add over 40 flights and nearly 10,000 seats, according to Amy Martin, the airline’s vice president of network planning.

The carrier said it is targeting not only college towns but also cities with significant alumni populations. Temporary flights will depart on Fridays and return on Sundays. Most of the destinations are in the Midwest, South, and West.

Games highlighted by Delta – and likely to draw some of the biggest crowds – include Clemson at LSU (Sept. 5), Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field (Sept. 6), Ohio State at Texas (Sept. 12), Texas at Tennessee (Sept. 26), USC at Florida (Oct. 10), and Alabama at LSU (Nov. 7).

A full list of temporary and expanded flights is available on Delta’s website.

Zach Vasile

Alaska Raises Checked Bag Fees

The carrier cited higher fuel prices and an “uncertain global environment.”

Zach Vasile

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 09:40 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Another major U.S. airline is increasing its checked bags fees.

Citing the recent surge in jet fuel prices, Alaska Airlines said a new baggage fee schedule will go into effect for tickets booked on or after Friday.

“Due to ongoing volatility in fuel prices and an uncertain global environment, Alaska Airlines is increasing its checked baggage fees for travel on North American Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights,” the carrier said in a statement on its website. “Fees are increasing $5 for the first checked bag and $10 for the second checked bag.”

The price for a first checked bag will climb from $40 to $45, while the price for a second bag will rise from $45 to $55. The fee for a third checked bag is set to go up $50, from $150 to $200.

Alaska is also canceling its $5 discount for customers who pay their baggage fees online at least four hours before their flight.

“Atmos Rewards status members and eligible cardholders of an Atmos Rewards Visa or Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard will continue to enjoy their current baggage benefits,” the airline added. “There are no changes to our Huaka‘i or Club 49 programs.”

Airlines around the world are hiking ticket prices and adding fees and surcharges in an attempt to at least partially offset spending on jet fuel. The price of aviation fuel has doubled in most regions since the start of the conflict in Iran, mainly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian attacks on oil infrastructure in Arab Gulf countries.

Within the last two weeks, United, Delta, American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue have all raised their fees for checked bags, mostly by $10 or less for a first and second checked bag.

Zach Vasile

Middle East Airspace Reopens Following Ceasefire

The restart of civilian flights could help ease transportation bottlenecks in the region.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, April 09, 2026 at 04:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Emirates aircraft in Dubai (Photo: Emirates)

Airspace is gradually opening up across the Middle East following Tuesday’s ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Syria, Iraq, and Bahrain each reopened their airspace on Wednesday, while Israel lifted restrictions on flights into and out of Ben Gurion International Airport. All four countries closed or partially closed their airspace following the start of the conflict in Iran in late February, forcing the cancellation of thousands of flights and creating headaches for airlines that fly over the region.

As of Thursday, Iranian and Kuwaiti airspace remain closed to commercial air traffic.

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which like Kuwait have been targeted in Iranian missile and drone attacks, resumed limited flight operations in March.

U.S. airlines paused flights to Israel when the fighting began; it is not clear if the full reopening of Ben Gurion will prompt them to restore service in the near term. On March 28, Delta said it has suspended service from New York-JFK and Atlanta to Tel Aviv through Sept. 5. A planned connection from Boston, originally set to launch in October, was “delayed until further notice.”

While the U.S., Israel, and Iran have agreed in principle to stop attacks, both sides have been accused of violating this week’s ceasefire, and flights could be grounded once again if negotiations break down.

Zach Vasile

Contour to Resume Former Route, Launch Another

Both connections will come online in June.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, April 09, 2026 at 03:20 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Contour Airlines ERJ-135. (Photo: Contour)

Contour Airlines will bring back a route from central Georgia and add an entirely new one later this spring, officials announced Thursday.

On June 9, the regional carrier will reconnect Middle Georgia Regional Airport near Macon with Baltimore. Contour will offer a morning service to Baltimore three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and afternoon service daily.

The carrier previously linked Macon and Baltimore, but in 2025 service was switched to Washington Dulles.

Also on June 9, flights between Middle Georgia Regional Airport and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will commence. This route will operate four times weekly, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

“We’ve heard from travelers across Middle Georgia who have been asking for the return of Baltimore service, as well as new options to Florida,” Contour President Ben Munson said in a news release. “We’re proud to deliver on both. These additions not only restore a valuable connection to Baltimore, but also open the door to one of the country’s most popular leisure destinations. This is a meaningful step forward in our continued investment in Macon.”

Contour plans to operate the two routes with 30-seat regional aircraft.

The airline has been gradually adding short-haul connections over the past few weeks, including between Beckley, West Virginia, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and between Page, Arizona, and Las Vegas.

Zach Vasile