El Al Adds Destinations for 2026

The carrier announced year-round routes to East Asia and seasonal routes to Europe.

Lorne Philipot

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 10:47 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An EL AL 737-800 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Israel’s national airline will add several destinations to its route network during the coming months, including both year-round and seasonal services.

The carrier said it will offer nine new routes from its hub in Tel Aviv. Three will operate as mainline El Al flights, and subsidiary Sundor will fly the other six.

The carrier will launch service to Hanoi on Oct. 25. It will operate three weekly flights with a Boeing 787 aircraft.

Service between Tel Aviv and Seoul will commence in March 2027, also using a 787. The route will operate three times per week.

El Al also plans to launch flights from Tel Aviv to Manila in the near future. No start date has been announced, but the carrier expects to operate three weekly flights using a 787.

In Asia, El Al already serves destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Tokyo.

For the upcoming summer, El Al will offer a number of European routes via Sundor. These include Copenhagen, Catania, Sardinia, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Basel. These routes will all operate between May 24 and Oct. 24. The routes will be operated with 737 aircraft.

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.

WestJet Slashes U.S. Routes

The airline said it is responding to changing customer preferences.

Zach Vasile

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

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A WestJet Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Canadian airline WestJet is cutting routes to the U.S., citing falling demand.

In a statement to AirlineGeeks, the carrier said it will suspend service on over a dozen crossborder routes.

They are:

Atlanta to Edmonton
Nashville, Tennessee, to Edmonton
Nashville to Winnipeg
Orlando, Florida, to Edmonton
Seattle to Kelowna
San Francisco to Edmonton
Nashville to Vancouver
Boston to Vancouver
Los Angeles to Toronto
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, to Calgary
San Diego to Vancouver
Seattle to Edmonton
Tampa, Florida, to Vancouver
Atlanta to Winnipeg
Orlando to Halifax
San Francisco to Vancouver

“We saw a notable decline in transborder travel demand throughout 2025,” the airline said. “As a result, we made timely decisions to modify our network to stay aligned with where Canadians want to go, reducing our full year transborder flying by close to 10 per cent, with a 15 per cent reduction in what were historically peak travel times for the U.S. We see no indication that this trend will change in the foreseeable future and have made further reductions to our transborder network in 2026…”

Demand for domestic, Latin American, Caribbean, transatlantic, and transpacific destinations remains strong, however, and WestJet is redeploying its capacity to serve those routes, officials said.

The carrier announced Monday that it is launching four new nonstop domestic routes for the summer and expanding east-west connectivity on existing routes.

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.

TSA Rolls Out Alternate ID Verification System

Passengers without Real ID or other accepted documents can pay $45 for at-the-airport screening.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 09, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

The Transportation Security Administration last week implemented a new alternative screening system for travelers without a Real ID or other accepted documents.

Passengers can now pay $45 through TSA ConfirmID for verification by TSA agents at the airport. If verification is successful, ConfirmID users can proceed through security, and their status remains in effect for 10 days.

There is no guarantee that a passenger’s identity can be independently verified, however, and for that reason TSA is continuing to encourage all travelers to acquire a Real ID through their state Department of Motor Vehicles, or bring another qualifying document, such as a U.S. passport or permanent resident card.

“TSA ConfirmID has been a huge success due to the ongoing collaboration with our airline, airport, and industry partners and effective public outreach and communications efforts,” Steve Lorincz, TSA’s acting executive assistant administrator for security operations, said in a statement. “We have seen negligible operational impact in the system because of the preparation of our team and work of our partners.”

Passengers can also use ConfirmID to check if their documents are Real ID-compliant.

TSA first announced the program in December.

Zach Vasile

Air Canada Suspends Service to Cuba Amid Fuel Shortage

The island country is reeling from a threatened oil embargo directed by the U.S.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 09, 2026 at 02:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Air Canada has suspended service to Cuba as the island country deals with a severe shortage of aviation fuel.

The carrier said Monday that it will operate empty southbound flights to pick up about 3,000 customers in Cuba and bring them back home to Canada.

“For remaining flights, Air Canada will tanker in extra fuel and make technical stops as necessary to refuel on the return journey if necessary,” the airline said in a statement. “Air Canada will continue to monitor the situation to determine an appropriate restart of normal service to Cuba at a future date.”

Cuba’s government said Sunday that it can no longer refuel commercial aircraft traveling to the island due to the shortage. Commercial jet fuel sales at Cuban airports are expected to be cut off as of Monday or Tuesday.

The U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last month deprived Havana of a key political ally and a main source of oil. The situation worsened in recent weeks as President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country that provides oil to Cuba, either directly or indirectly.

Trump has called the Cuban government an “extraordinary threat,” citing its ties to China, Russia, and Iran.

Cuba has enacted wide-ranging measures to depress energy consumption and ration the resources it still has. Some resorts are closing or scaling back operations, and the work week at state-owned corporations has been shortened to four days from five.

It is expected that additional carriers will suspend service to Cuba if jet fuel cannot be made available.

Other international airlines currently serving the country include Delta, American Airlines, Southwest, WestJet, Viva, LATAM, Air France, and Aeroflot.

Air Canada operates an average of 16 nonstop flights per week to four destinations in Cuba from Toronto and Montreal. The destinations are Cayo Coco, Holguín, Varadero, and Santa Clara.

As of Monday, seasonal flights to Holguín and Santa Clara have been canceled for the rest of the season. Flights to Varadero and Cayo Coco, which are scheduled to operate year-round, are suspended with a tentative restart date of May 1, pending a review.

Zach Vasile

Air France Expands Service to U.S.

The carrier will increase flights to two major airports.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 09, 2026 at 11:05 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Air France is strengthening service to New York this summer.

The carrier said Monday that it will increase flights between Paris and New York-JFK and Newark, New Jersey.

Air France will offer up to six daily flights between Paris and JFK, with four operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Another three daily flights will be offered by Air France partner Delta as part of their transatlantic joint venture, officials said.

An exact start date for the Paris-JFK expansion was not provided.

A second daily frequency between Paris and Newark will operate between June 1 and October. The airline will use an Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the route.

Air France aircraft serving New York are gradually being equipped with Starlink satellite internet service, the carrier said.

Air France will also offer special temporary service between New York and southern France for the Cannes Lions Festival in June. Two flights will depart JFK for Nice on June 20 and 21, with return service to New York on June 25 and 26. Those flights will use 777-300ERs.

Zach Vasile

APFA Board Issues No Confidence Vote in American CEO

The carrier’s pilots could be considering a similar move.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 09, 2026 at 09:55 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Pressure on American Airlines executives mounted Monday as the union representing the carrier’s flight attendants passed a vote of no confidence in CEO Robert Isom.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants said its board of directors voted unanimously against Isom, “reflecting [the] collective voice of 28,000” members. It is the first time the union has passed a no confidence measure against an American CEO.

The airline’s flight attendants and pilots have been vocal in their dismay over comparatively weak fourth-quarter and full-year earnings results, which were released late last month. Both the APFA and the Allied Pilots Association have publicly criticized Isom and other leaders and said they will push for changes to make the company more competitive.

“From abysmal profits earned to operational failures that have front-line workers sleeping on floors, this airline must course-correct before it falls even further behind,” APFA President Julie Hedrick said in a statement. “This level of failure begins at the very top, with CEO Robert Isom.”

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

The APFA cited a number of alleged shortcomings on the airline’s part, including operational challenges and the growing profitability gap between American and competitors such as United and Delta.

The union also faulted a “failed corporate sales strategy” for alienating business customers, leading to declines in revenue and satisfaction ratings among first- and business-class passengers.

“Management’s repeated failures are dragging this airline down and leaving frontline workers to pay the price, including losing out on meaningful profit sharing at a company that should be thriving,” Hedrick said. “When the recent winter storm hamstrung our operations to the point where flight attendants were sleeping on airport floors, Robert Isom’s response was that it was just ‘part of our job.’ His tone-deaf leadership shows a complete disregard for the human element and is actively harming both American Airlines and the people who keep it running every day.”

American leaders, including Isom, have expressed disappointment in the earnings results but said the carrier is well-positioned for a rebound in 2026. The airline’s projections call for nearly $2 of improvement in adjusted earnings per diluted share compared to 2025.

The APA’s board of directors gathered for its winter meeting last week. The union did not publicly mention holding a no confidence vote, but Bloomberg reported that the measure could be under consideration.

Zach Vasile

Airlink Scales Up Service to Zambia

Additional flights will start next month.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, February 07, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Airlink Embraer E190. (Photo: Airlink)

Airlink will add frequencies between Johannesburg, South Africa, and Ndola, Zambia, starting March 30.

The airline will augment its daily service on the route with a second flight on three days of the week.

The additional flight from Ndola will arrive at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport in the morning, a benefit for business travelers.

Airlink’s expanded schedule will see double daily flights operating between Johannesburg and Ndola on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The aircraft will overnight in Ndola for an early morning departure to Johannesburg the following day. These flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Connecting the Copperbelt

Ndola is located in the “Copperbelt,” a part of Zambia rich in mineral resources including copper and cobalt. Extensive mining activity takes place in the Copperbelt, making air connectivity essential.

Airlink has a network of more than 45 destinations throughout Southern Africa. It also flies to Lusaka and Livingstone in Zambia.

Lorne Philipot

IndiGo Halts Copenhagen Service, Pares Back U.K. Routes

The schedule changes will take effect this month.

Lorne Philipot

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An IndiGo aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)

Indian budget airline IndiGo will reduce its European footprint with immediate effect.

The carrier announced that it will suspend service to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and reduce frequencies on its London and Manchester routes.

IndiGo said that some of these adjustments were planned in advance but that others are being implemented to provide network stability.

IndiGo will suspend flights to Copenhagen from Feb. 17 until further notice. Flights between Delhi and Manchester will drop from five to four per week, from Feb. 7. The service will be pared back to three flights a week from Feb. 19.

The carrier will also reduce frequencies between Delhi and London Heathrow. It currently offers five flights a week on this routing. But, from Feb. 9, it will reduce this to four flights a week. This change will only be in place for the winter schedule.

IndiGo operates these long-haul routes with Boeing 787 aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic.

The airline said the adjustments are necessary to ensure operational reliability while external factors negatively impact its widebody operations.

IndiGo’s long-haul European services have seen various obstacles due to airspace restrictions resulting from geopolitical tensions, as well as high levels of congestion at airports.

Lorne Philipot

Passengers Sue JetBlue, Airbus Over Sudden Midair Descent

The October incident prompted a worldwide grounding of certain A320-family aircraft and updates to the series’ flight computers.

Zach Vasile

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 01:45 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue A320 in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Three passengers on a JetBlue flight that experienced a sudden unplanned descent are suing the airline, Airbus, and Thales Avionics over injuries and “mental anguish” caused by the incident.

A complaint filed last month in federal court in Tampa, Florida, alleges JetBlue knew there were problems with the Thales-made elevator aileron computers (ELACs) used on certain A320-family aircraft.

The incident, which took place in October 2025, prompted a worldwide grounding of those aircraft and upgrades to the flight computers. Airbus said at the time that intense solar radiation could corrupt data used by the systems.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs noted that French aviation experts did not list solar radiation as a likely cause of the pitch-down event, pointing instead to an ELAC switchover.

“Upon information and belief Defendant JetBlue was aware of a fleet-wide reoccurring autopilot glitch during an ELAC switchover, which caused an uncommanded and sudden pitch change,” the complaint read. “Despite the knowledge of the critically dangerous, fleet wide, ELAC-related condition, Defendant JetBlue permitted the Aircraft to perform commercial operations for hire, which resulted in the incident material to the claims herein, and the Plaintiffs’ resulting injuries and harms.”

The plaintiffs are seeking compensation over $75,000, their attorneys said.

The JetBlue flight, which used an A320, was traveling from Cancun to Newark when the aircraft pitched nose down, “resulting in a sudden and uncommanded loss of altitude.”

The crew diverted to Tampa and landed there safely. According to initial communications with air traffic controllers, at least three people were injured.

The A320 grounding came one day after Thanksgiving, during one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S. Most airlines completed the upgrade within days, allowing the aircraft to return to service and preventing potentially massive flight disruptions.

Zach Vasile

Emirates Adds Second Daily Flight to Tokyo Narita

Service starts in May.

Lorne Philipot

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 12:34 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Emirates will expand service between Dubai and Tokyo’s Narita Airport in May.

Starting May 1, Emirates will introduce a second daily flight to Narita. The additional flight will depart Dubai at 10:30 p.m. and arrive at Tokyo Narita at 1:30 p.m. the following day. The return service will depart Narita at 9:30 p.m. and arrive in Dubai at 03:50 a.m. the following morning.

The additional service will provide travelers with greater choice and more opportunities for multi-destination itineraries, including the possibility of a stopover in Dubai, airline officials said.

The new service will also enable shorter connection times to Japan (from key European and Middle Eastern destinations) as well as improved connectivity to major destinations across Africa, Europe, and South America when traveling from Japan.

The flights will be operated with a retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with a four-class cabin. The cabin features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern color palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes.

Lorne Philipot