Contour Adds Service at New Airport

Flights will start next month.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Contour Embraer E135 nicknamed "Pride of Contour." (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Contour is bringing a new destination in New Mexico into its domestic route network.

The regional airline will connect Cavern City Airport, which serves Carlsbad, with Albuquerque and Denver. Service will start March 1.

Flights between Carlsbad and Albuquerque will operate daily, while flights between Carlsbad and Denver are scheduled five times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The carrier will operate the two routes with 30-seat regional jets.

“We’re thrilled to bring Contour’s service to Carlsbad and Cavern City Airport,” Contour President Ben Munson said in a news release. “This new service reflects our commitment to connecting underserved communities with reliable, comfortable air travel.”

Contour flies primarily in the South, Midwest, and Southwest, as well as in the eastern Caribbean. Also this week, the airline signed an interline deal with JetBlue that will allow passengers to book a single itinerary for connecting flights.

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.

Spirit Introduces Trading Cards

The collectibles feature pictures of Airbus aircraft.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Spirit's trading cards. (Photo: Spirit Airlines)

Spirit this week debuted a series of branded trading cards that customers can collect on their flight.

The cards are sponsored by Airbus and feature Airbus aircraft that have been used by Spirit over the years, including the A319, A320, A320neo, A321, and A321neo. The cards also showcase the evolution of Spirit’s liveries, from its gray-scale “brick” design to the modern bright yellow.

Passengers must ask Spirit pilots for the cards during boarding or deplaning, the airline said.

Spirit's trading cards — Spirit’s trading cards. (Photo: Spirit Airlines)

Several U.S. airlines offer trading cards or other collectibles, such as challenge coins and plastic wings. In November, Hawaiian Airlines rolled out a set of four trading cards featuring Airbus and Boeing aircraft and printed on rainbow foil board for a unique shine.

Spirit previously had digital trading cards, also featuring its fleet, on its social media channels.

Zach Vasile

Report: Boeing Plans First Flight of Production 777X

The long-delayed aircraft is slated for delivery in 2027.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 09:50 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 777X aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Boeing expects to have its first production 777X aircraft in the air by spring, according to a report from Reuters.

The news outlet said it obtained a company document showing 777X flights will take place in April.

The flights would mark a significant step forward for the long-delayed program. The 777X series was originally expected to enter commercial service in 2020, but technical problems have pushed that date back several times. More recently, company officials have attributed delays to the rigors of the FAA certification process.

Boeing is now targeting 2027 for deliveries to the series’ launch client, German carrier Lufthansa. The airline has ordered 27 777X aircraft, specifically the 777-9 and 777-8F freighter.

Other known customers include Emirates, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and China Airlines.

Boeing is currently conducting fuel tests on 777X aircraft ordered by Lufthansa at Paine Field in Washington, Reuters added, and engine tests are expected to take place later this month.

The first 777X test flight took place in 2020.

Zach Vasile

Airline Fee Disclosure Rule Thrown Out

The measure would have required carriers to fully disclose ancillary charges for baggage and changing or canceling a ticket.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 03:40 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Crowds at Hobby Airport. (Photo: Houston Airports)

A group of federal appeals judges has moved to vacate a proposed Biden-era rule that would have required airlines to fully disclose additional fees up front.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the full Fifth Circuit ruled against the measure because it violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s notice-and-comment requirement.

“We conclude that DOT failed to comply with this provision,” the opinion read. “Therefore, we must apply the APA’s ‘default’ remedy — vacatur.”

The rule would have required airlines to disclose charges for checked luggage, carry-on bags, and changing or canceling reservations. It was one of a number of regulations issued in the last year and a half of the Biden administration aimed at bolstering consumer protections in the commercial airline industry.

Several U.S. airlines and the trade group Airlines for America sued the Department of Transportation over the fee disclosure rule in 2024, and the Fifth Circuit temporarily blocked the order while it heard their complaints and considered the case.

There were other potential issues with the rule, the judges added, but because the current Department of Transportation is planning to “redesign or rescind” the measure, those problems were not brought up or considered.

Other airline-specific regulations drafted by the Biden administration, including one that established a compensation structure for passengers whose flights are delayed, have been voluntarily canceled by the Trump administration.

Zach Vasile

United Warns of Planned Outage

The airline said it is carrying out a technology upgrade.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 01:08 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 737-800 in Tokyo. (Photo: Shutterstock | viper-zero)

United customers will not be able to access many of the airline’s web and app-based services during a three and a half hour window later this week.

In a message posted on its website, United said a technology upgrade will take place on Wednesday between 1:30 and 5 a.m. Central Time.

“Many of our web and app services will NOT be available for anyone during that time, including United employees,” the carrier wrote.

Customers can book flights, complete check-in, or make trip changes prior to Wednesday at 1:30 a.m. or when the technology upgrade is complete, United advised.

CBS News reported that United is updating its main flight reservation system, known as Shares.

Zach Vasile

JetBlue, Contour Sign Interline Agreement

The deal is effective immediately.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 12:18 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Contour Embraer jet. (Photo: Denver International Airport)

JetBlue and independent regional carrier Contour announced an interline deal on Tuesday that will allow passengers to book a single itinerary for connecting flights.

The new partners said they will coordinate on ticketing and through-checked baggage. They did not list the airports where connecting flights will be available.

The agreement is effective as of Tuesday.

“Contour now serves over 30 destinations throughout the United States and in the Caribbean, and this represents a meaningful step forward in providing better accessibility to both residents of these communities and travelers looking to visit one of our many great destinations,” Contour President Ben Munson said in a statement.

Contour flies primarily in the South, Midwest, and Southwest, as well as in the eastern Caribbean.

JetBlue serves destinations across the U.S. but most of its hubs are concentrated on the East Coast. It also flies to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe.

“Our new interline agreement with Contour Airlines reflects JetBlue’s continued commitment to expanding access and connectivity for our customers,” Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships, said in a news release. “We’re pleased to bring together complementary strengths – Contour’s regional expertise and JetBlue’s award-winning service – to enhance the travel experience for customers of both airlines.”

The deal will give Contour customers access to over 100 JetBlue destinations, airline officials added.

Zach Vasile

Lufthansa A321 Gets Throwback Livery

The aircraft will operate from Frankfurt.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 11:18 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Lufthansa A321 with a throwback livery. (Photo: Lufthansa)

The iconic arching livery that once adorned Lufthansa’s Lockheed Super Stars is returning to the skies.

An Airbus A321-200 painted with the gray-yellow-blue-white design is expected to land in Frankfurt on Tuesday. It was painted at a facility in Norwich, England.

The airline said the A321, registered as D-AISZ, will operate short- and medium-haul flights from Frankfurt.

The livery, which features yellow and blue parabolas against a white and gray fuselage, was first used on the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner in the 1950s. At Lufthansa, these aircraft were marketed as “Super Stars.”

A restored Lockheed L-1649A Super Star, which now sports the same ’50s livery, is expected to be put on display at Lufthansa Group’s headquarters.

Also this week, a Lufthansa A350-900 arrived back in Munich after receiving a special 100th anniversary paint job in Châteauroux, France. The aircraft was painted blue and features a massive white crane, which is Lufthansa’s logo.

Zach Vasile

Air Canada Adds Long-Haul Destination

Service will start in December.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 at 09:44 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Air Canada this week announced a significant expansion of its 2026-27 winter schedule, with plans for a new destination, new routes, and expanded service on existing routes.

The carrier will add Quito, Ecuador, to its network and make seasonal routes to Manchester and Copenhagen year-round. It will also launch nonstop service between Calgary and Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.

Air Canada will serve Quito three times per week from Montreal and weekly from Toronto. The Montreal-Quito route will run from Dec. 4 to March 27, 2027, while the Toronto-Quito route will operate from Dec. 5 to March 21, 2027. The airline will use the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for both connections.

Flights from Toronto to Manchester and Copenhagen will become year-round as of Oct. 25 and 27, respectively. Both routes will be operated with the Airbus A321XLR.

Service from Calgary to Cancun will operate four times weekly between Dec. 11 and April 11, 2027, and flights between Calgary to Puerto Vallarta will run three times weekly from Dec. 10 to April 10, 2027.

Air Canada will also add flights on existing routes to Lima, Santiago, and Bogota. Those changes will take effect in October and November.

“With a comprehensive network spanning all six inhabited continents, Air Canada’s expanded winter schedule further cements our hubs as premier global gateways facilitating fast, convenient travel,” Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice president, COO, and president of cargo, said in a news release. “These exciting new additions and enhancements are a catalyst to facilitating tourism, trade, and connectivity, and deliver more compelling opportunities for our customers and Aeroplan members to travel almost anywhere in the world to, from, or via Canada.”

Tickets for the flights are now on sale on Air Canada’s website.

Zach Vasile

Porter Begins New Flights to U.S

Service to Miami is now underway, and flights to Phoenix will start later this week.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 02, 2026 at 01:35 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Porter Airlines Embraer jet. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

Porter recently launched a new nonstop route to the southern U.S., and will add another by the end of the week.

Service from Ottawa International Airport to Miami launched on Jan. 24, with three flights per week. Flights between Ottawa and Phoenix, also set to operate three times per week, will start Feb. 7.

These routes are the only ones linking Ottawa with Miami and Phoenix, airline officials said Monday.

“The ongoing addition of nonstop routes from YOW reflects Porter’s commitment to Ottawa-Gatineau,” Andrew Pierce, Porter’s vice president of network planning and reporting, said in a news release. “Canadians want to escape winter and these in-demand routes provide more options and more sun for the region.”

Miami and Phoenix are part of a larger Ottawa-centered network expansion that began last year with new flights to Mexico, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Costa Rica.

In Florida, Porter also serves Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa from Ottawa.

The carrier recently announced that it will connect Toronto and Nashville, Tennessee, for the first time. It is also adding routes to Boston, which it already serves, and within Canada.

Zach Vasile

United Reaches Starlink Rollout Milestone

The carrier has connected most of its regional fleet.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 02, 2026 at 11:57 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 8. (Photo: Shutterstock | lorenzatx)

United announced Monday that it has installed Starlink wireless internet service on most of its two-cabin regional fleet.

In a statement, the carrier said it connected more than 300 aircraft to Starlink in less than a year. It expects to have more than half of its mainline fleet, or about 500 aircraft, connected by the end of this year.

Over 25% of United’s daily departures, or 1,200 flights, now have Starlink Wi-Fi.

United is rolling out a new ad to promote the service. It will air in markets where Starlink-equipped regional aircraft currently fly, including Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, airline officials said.

“We’re rolling out Starlink at an unprecedented speed and scale, and our milestone for our regional fleet is just the beginning, with more than 500 mainline aircraft expected to be equipped by the end of 2026,” Grant Milstead, United’s vice president of digital technology, said in a statement. “This is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”

United said it will seek FAA approval this year to install and operate Starlink on additional aircraft types, including Boeing 737-900ERs, 777s, and the Airbus 321 family.

Zach Vasile