White House Official Vows ‘New Interest in the Airline Industry’

Deputy chief of staff James Blair said he faced a nearly three-hour delay with American Airlines.

Zach Vasile

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 12:49 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

A high-ranking White House official said he’s “going to take a new interest in the airline industry” after he and his wife experienced difficulties with American Airlines.

James Blair, a political advisor who serves as deputy chief of staff, voiced his frustration with the carrier in a post on X.

“Today, American Airlines delays me 2.5 hours because someone failed to notice empty hydraulic fluid before it was time to go down the runway,” he wrote Thursday. “Yesterday, they apparently forgot to BOOK A PILOT for my wife’s flight.”

“I’m going to take a new interest in the airline industry,” he continued.

Today, American Airlines delays me 2.5 hours because someone failed to notice empty hydraulic fluid before it was time to go down the runway.

Yesterday, they apparently forgot to BOOK A PILOT for my wife’s flight.

I’m going to take a new interest in the airline industry.
— James Blair (@JamesBlairUSA) February 26, 2026

Blair did not elaborate on that point, and it is not clear if the White House will take any action based on his complaints.

So far, the second Trump administration has been mostly friendly to U.S. airlines. Over the last year it has voluntarily canceled a number of proposed consumer protection rules put forward by the Biden administration, which the carriers were fighting in court.

Among them was an order creating a compensation structure for passengers whose flights are delayed by issues within their airline’s control.

Other proposed regulations, including one that required airlines to disclose all of their ancillary fees up front, were struck down in court, and the White House has made no attempt to revive them.

The federal government has taken a harder line when the nation’s broader economic interests appear to be threatened, however. Last summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation moved to cancel Delta’s joint venture with Aeroméxico. The administration accused the Mexican government and regulators of illegally intervening to help Delta and Aeroméxico while pushing other U.S. carriers out of Benito Juárez-Mexico City International Airport.

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.

TAP Air Portugal Adds New U.S. Route

Service will start in October.

Zach Vasile

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 10:39 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-900neo (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

TAP Air Portugal is set to launch a new nonstop route to the U.S.

In a social media post, the carrier said it will connect Lisbon and Orlando, Florida, starting Oct. 29. Flights will operate three times per week.

No further information about the service was disclosed.

TAP Air Portugal is headquartered in Lisbon and has its primary hub there, at Humberto Delgado Airport.

The airline currently flies to eight destinations in the U.S. – New York-JFK, Boston, Miami, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Newark, New Jersey. In North America, it also serves Toronto, Montreal, and Cancún.

Zach Vasile

Report: Convicted Stowaway Arrested Again

Svetlana Dali allegedly snuck onto a United flight to Milan.

Zach Vasile

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 09:10 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Newark. (Photo: Shutterstock | GingChen)

A convicted airline stowaway is reportedly under arrest again, this time after sneaking onto a United flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Italy.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that Svetlana Dali, a Russian national and U.S. permanent resident, was detained in Milan after the flight from Newark on Wednesday.

Dali was previously convicted of being a stowaway on a Delta flight from New York-JFK to Paris in 2024.

It was not immediately clear what charges, if any, Dali is facing, or when she will be brought back to the U.S.

According to an account from WNBC-TV, also based on unnamed sources, Dali somehow got by ticket agents at Newark and wasn’t noticed by flight attendants until the flight was over the Atlantic. When questioned about her ticket, or lack thereof, she pretended not to be able to hear, they said.

In the JFK case, Dali hid in an airplane bathroom for hours and, when discovered by the flight’s crew, pretended to be sick. She was ultimately sentenced to time served for that incident, ABC News reported.

Court documents point to other episodes involving improper access to airplanes and airport facilities that Dali was not arrested or tried for. In 2024, she was allegedly discovered in a bathroom at Miami International Airport in an area for international arrivals. She claimed to have just arrived via Air France, but there was no record of her having been on a flight that day.

Dali also allegedly entered a secure area of the departures terminal at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. That incident occurred just before her flight from JFK.

Zach Vasile

American to Invest $1 Billion in Miami Airport Expansion

The project will upgrade 17 gates and enlarge waiting areas.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 02:10 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A rendering of the completed Gate D60 project. (Credit: American Airlines)

Miami-Dade County officials and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Wednesday unveiled plans to reconstruct and expand Miami International Airport’s Concourse D.

The $1 billion, three-story extension will convert the existing gate D60 area, which has one common boarding space and 17 ground-level gates for smaller regional jets, into 17 traditional gates for larger regional and narrowbody aircraft, each with individual passenger hold rooms.

All 17 gate areas will provide third-level connections to Concourse D’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility for international arrivals.

A rendering of the completed Gate D60 project. (Credit: American Airlines)

The plan also calls for an enhanced baggage handling system.

American officials said the new concourse will be more spacious, comfortable, and brighter, with added dining and shopping areas and indoor palm trees.

Work is set to begin in 2027 and conclude by 2030.

“The D60 expansion is one of the most monumental customer service improvements within our unprecedented airport-wide modernization plan, which will transform the passenger experience at MIA from the cabin to the curb over the next five years,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a statement.

American is the largest airline at Miami, accounting for more than 60% of traffic there. It operates around 400 departures at the airport per day.

“Miami is an important hub and gateway for American, and it’s an essential part of our history and our future,” Isom said in a news release. “The brand new, reimagined D60 is a transformational project that will  provide a much-improved experience for our customers and our team. This investment — alongside new premium lounges and new routes — reflects our shared commitment with Miami-Dade County and the airport to deliver a consistent, elevated customer experience.”

Miami is American’s main gateway to Central and South America and the Caribbean. It also supports routes to Europe.

The expanded Concourse D is one of more than 200 projects in Miami International Airport’s $9 billion master plan. Other major projects in that framework include redevelopment of the airport’s oldest terminal, renovations of public restrooms, an expansion of Concourse K, a new garage, and preventive maintenance for elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.

Zach Vasile

Lufthansa Unveils Anniversary Livery on A380

The aircraft is the fourth so far to sport the design, which celebrates Deutsche Luft Hansa's founding in 1926.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 11:13 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

The Lufthansa A380 with the anniversary livery. (Photo: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa is set to debut its special 100th anniversary livery on yet another aircraft, this time the largest in its fleet.

One of the airline’s Airbus A380s was recently painted dark blue with a large white crane – the carrier’s longtime logo. It received the paint job in Shannon, Ireland, and flew back to Munich this week, officials said.

It took 35 workers in Shannon 34 days to apply the design, which covers an area of over 4,000 square meters. The crane is 47 meters, or about 154 feet, in length.

The A380, registered as D-AIMH, will start regular service in March.

The aircraft is the fourth so far to sport the livery, which celebrates Lufthansa predecessor Deutsche Luft Hansa’s founding in 1926. An A350-900 received the “anniversary colors” earlier this month, and a Boeing 787-9 and an A320neo, both based in Frankfurt, have reentered service with the design.

Besides the oversized white crane, the livery also incorporates the numbering “1926 | 2026” and “100.”

A 747-8 and an A350-1000 will receive the anniversary livery in the coming weeks, officials said.

Zach Vasile

Qantas Adds New One-of-a-Kind Route to U.S.

Seasonal service will start in December.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 08:39 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Qantas Boeing 787 departing LAX. (AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Australian flag carrier Qantas will add a unique route to the U.S. later this year.

Nonstop flights between Sydney and Las Vegas will launch in December, the airline announced on Thursday. The service will be the first and only in the world to link Las Vegas and Australia, officials said.

Qantas plans to operate the seasonal route three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, between Dec. 29 and March 12, 2027. The airline will use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the transpacific connection.

Tickets are now available for purchase.

Qantas leaders estimate the new route will save customers up to five hours of travel time by eliminating connecting flights and layovers in other U.S. cities.

The service was timed to coincide with major events and expos in Las Vegas, including the Consumer Electronics Show and the National Rugby League’s Las Vegas Festival.

Qantas currently provides charter flights to Las Vegas for NRL events.

A Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

“Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said in a news release. “Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren’t there before. Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we’re using that capability.”

Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said Australia consistently ranks as the city’s second-largest overseas market, and its top international market without a nonstop flight.

“More than 250,000 Australians visit each year, drawn by the breadth and depth of experiences Las Vegas offers,” Hill said. “We are grateful to Qantas for their partnership and confidence in our city.”

Las Vegas will be Qantas’ sixth destination in the U.S., after Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York-JFK, and Honolulu, Hawaii. In the Americas, the airline also serves Vancouver, Canada, and Santiago, Chile.

Zach Vasile

Report: White House Charting Future of Washington Dulles

President Donald Trump will hold a meeting to discuss potential renovations.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 04:53 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Mobile lounges at Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Lokyo Multimedia JP)

President Donald Trump is expected to hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss potentially sweeping renovations at Washington Dulles International Airport, a facility he has long criticized as unsightly and inefficient.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to be in attendance, according to a report from Reuters. Late last year, the Transportation Department began soliciting ideas from the private sector on how to overhaul the airport, which the secretary described as an underwhelming gateway to the nation’s capital.

Separately, The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the administration is weighing proposals calling for a new terminal and the scrapping of Dulles’ “mobile lounges.” The airport has used the bus-like vehicles to connect passengers to their flights for decades, but they are increasingly viewed as outdated, especially since the opening of the underground AeroTrain system in 2010.

A number of well-known architecture and engineering firms have submitted outlines for the overhaul, including AECOM, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Adjaye Associates, according to The Architect’s Newspaper.

Trump has become personally involved in the project, the Post said, and will likely play an important role in shaping the redesign.

The president is reportedly interested in having Dulles renamed after himself.

Earlier this month, Punchbowl News reported that Trump offered to unfreeze billions of dollars for a New York infrastructure project on the condition that both Dulles and Penn Station be renamed to honor him. The deal was offered to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who turned it down, saying he didn’t have the power to change the name of either site.

A group of Republicans in Congress have also proposed renaming Dulles after Trump, though their bill has not gathered much momentum.

Dulles is operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which also oversees Reagan National. The authority has proposed its own upgrades for Dulles, including the gradual phaseout of the mobile lounges.

Zach Vasile

Azul Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

United and American have each committed $100 million to recapitalize the airline.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 02:04 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Azul E190 (Photo: Shutterstock | Joao Fachetti)

Brazilian airline Azul has emerged from bankruptcy protection after reducing its debt burden by $2.5 billion.

Azul officials made the announcement Wednesday morning. The carrier, one of the largest in Brazil, filed for bankruptcy in May 2025, citing rising costs and debt accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of its restructuring, Azul reduced its debt and lease liabilities and secured $850 million in new equity investments. That amount includes $100 million each from United and American Airlines.

The carrier has continued to operate flights, with about 800 scheduled per day.

“This is a defining milestone for Azul,” CEO John Rodgerson said in a news release. “In just under nine months, we completed a comprehensive restructuring that has materially strengthened our balance sheet and positioned Azul for long-term stability. We are emerging from Chapter 11 with the support of some of the most respected financial and strategic partners in global aviation.”

Azul is headquartered near São Paulo and serves dozens of destinations within Brazil. It also offers medium- and long-haul service to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Curaçao, Western Europe, and the U.S., specifically Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Zach Vasile

American 737 MAX Found With Possible Bullet Hole

Ground crews discovered the damage while the jet was in Medellín, Colombia.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:43 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)

Ground crews discovered a possible bullet hole in the wing of an American Airlines jet after it flew from Miami to Medellín, Colombia, earlier this week.

Puncture damage consistent with a bullet strike was found in the right wing aileron of an American Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Monday. The aircraft had flown to Colombia the day before, as Flight 923.

It was not immediately clear when or where the damage occurred.

The incident was first reported by aviation blogger JonNYC on X. A follow-up report from CBS News confirmed the damage is thought to be a bullet hole. The network cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter, as well as internal documents.

There were no reported injuries or flight-related issues during the service from Miami on Sunday, American said in a statement.

“Following a routine inspection, our teams identified a puncture to the exterior of one of our aircraft in Medellín, Colombia,” the carrier said. “The aircraft was immediately removed from service for further inspection and repair. We will work closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident.”

According to CBS News, the aircraft underwent repairs and flew as scheduled to Miami on Monday. It then flew to Dallas and has not been used since.

Civil aviation authorities in Colombia are investigating the incident.

Zach Vasile

A4A Projects Record Spring Travel

The trade group is calling for the full reopening of Global Entry.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:08 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A terminal in Miami. (Photo: Shutterstock | Khairil Azhar Junos)

Airlines for America, the trade association that represents the major U.S. air carriers, is predicting record traffic for the upcoming spring travel period.

About 171 million passengers are expected to fly on U.S. airlines in March and April, the group said, up 4% over last year. In response, member carriers are set to increase flights and seats by 2% overall.

Some airlines have also added temporary routes to warm weather destinations for the spring break window.

Airlines for America warned that the ongoing partial government shutdown – specifically affecting the Department of Homeland Security – could cause problems for passengers as traffic picks up next month.

“U.S. airlines are ready for the travel rush this spring, but we have grave concerns that millions of travelers are once again being used as a political football by the federal government amid another government shutdown,” A4A President and CEO Chris Sununu said in a news release. “It is past time for Congress to get to the table and strike a deal that ensures TSA and CBP can fully operate and their frontline employees can be paid for the important work they do to keep our skies secure.”

Both TSA and Customs and Border Protection are part of the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats in Congress have blocked funding for the department in a bid to strengthen oversight of CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.

A Global Entry kiosk at Newark. (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The shutdown has not had an immediate effect on DHS operations, as its agencies continue to receive funding from mandatory spending and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But that could change if the deadlock in Congress persists and funding sources run low.

Essential TSA, CBP, and ICE personnel would have to continue working even without a paycheck.

A4A also called for the full reinstatement of Global Entry, a CBP-administered program that allows pre-approved travelers to clear customs faster than the general public.

DHS leadership announced the suspension of Global Entry and TSA PreCheck on Sunday, citing the partial shutdown, but within hours the department reversed itself and reopened PreCheck. Global Entry, however, remains suspended.

“There is no need and no data that supports the decision to suspend the Global Entry program, and DHS should act with urgency to reverse course and reopen the Global Entry program,” Sununu said. “DHS did an about-face and reopened TSA PreCheck lanes – because it is common sense to have these programs fully functioning, especially ahead of spring break travel.”

Zach Vasile