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

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.

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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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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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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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

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.

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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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

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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

Delta Resumes Boeing 757 Route

The service will relaunch after a seven-year pause.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

A Delta Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta will relaunch a previously suspended transcontinental route in 2026 as part of an expansion of its premium long-haul domestic network from New York.

The carrier will resume nonstop service between its New York-JFK hub and Orange County, California, beginning May 7, 2026. Flights will operate daily except on Saturdays.

Service will be operated with a Boeing 757-200, featuring Delta One seating. The carrier last served the market in January 2019, marking a seven-year gap before the route’s return.

According to a Delta spokesperson, the relaunch is intended to expand premium transcontinental offerings from New York, with the 2026 return introducing Delta One service on the route.

American also links New York-JFK and Orange County with daily service operated by its Airbus A321T aircraft, which features a three-cabin configuration.

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.

Saudia Eyes Massive Aircraft Order

The carrier is reportedly in talks with Boeing and Airbus.

Zach Vasile

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 09:55 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Saudia Boeing 787 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | ZuhdiMus)

Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia is in talks with Boeing and Airbus for what could be its largest aircraft order ever.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that the airline is looking to purchase at least 150 jets. Saudia is still considering its options and hasn’t settled on types or quantities, people with knowledge of the matter told the outlet.

The aircraft would replace some of the carrier’s existing fleet, while also supporting expansion efforts.

Saudia currently operates a mix of Boeing and Airbus jets, including the A320, A330, 777-300ER, and 787 Dreamliner.

News of the potential order comes as the Saudi government makes new investments in Saudia, including installation of Starlink satellite internet service on some of its aircraft. According to Bloomberg, the airline is being repositioned to focus mainly on religious pilgrimages, while Riyadh Air, the country’s second flag carrier, is being geared toward tourists.

Saudia has an extensive network within the Middle East and also serves destinations in Europe, Africa, North America, India, and East Asia. In North America, it serves New York-JFK, Washington Dulles, Toronto, and Los Angeles.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: ITA Airways Celebrates Winter Olympics

ITA Airways has created a special snow-themed livery for the 2026 Milano/Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Vanni Gibertini

Friday, February 06, 2026 at 08:32 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

ITA Airways Airbus A320 in a special Milano/Cortina 2026 livery (Photo: X | @ITAAirways)

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.

As the world turns its eyes to Italy for the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games of Milano-Cortina, Italian flag carrier ITA Airways is celebrating its role as official sponsor of he event with a special livery where the iconic ITA Airways’ blue “becomes the sky and a symbol of connection between people, places, and emotions”, the airline explains on its website.

ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 tailfin in a special Milano/Cortina 2026 livery (Photo: X | @ITAAirways)

The design, ideated by the Italian visual artist Emiliano Ponzi, includes mountains, snow, ice, and “captures the athlete’s decisive moment, a few seconds encompassing years of dreams, sacrifice and passion.”

ITA Airways and Sports

ITA Airways dedicates every single aircraft of its fleet to an important Italian sports personality, “as a recognition of their accomplishment and to how they have honored the Italian flag around the world through their work ethic, determination, strength, passion and grit,” the airline states in a note.

ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 in a special Milano/Cortina 2026 livery (Photo: X | @ITAAirways)

A number of these athletes are world-renowned champions of winter sports, such as Olympic gold medals in alpine skiing, Gustav Thoeni, Alberto Tomba, Deborah Compagnoni, and speed skater Enrico Fabris.

Former Air One Aircraft

The aircraft repainted in this Olympic-themed livery is an Airbus A320, registered as EI-DSY, that was originally part of former low-cost airline Air One, founded in 1983 and subsequently integrated into Alitalia in 2014. The aircraft was delivered on Jan 5, 2009, and was therefore part of the initial ITA Airways fleet when the airline was created from the ashes of Alitalia in October 2021.

The aircraft configuration is a one-class all-economy layout with 174 seats, just six fewer seats than the standard configuration of low-cost airlines Wizz Air and easyJet for this aircraft type.

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

Vanni Gibertini

Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.