Venezuelan Airline Seeks Clearance for U.S. Flights

The carrier named two cities as potential destinations.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 05, 2026 at 03:15 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Avior 737-400. (Photo: JTOcchialini [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)])

Venezuelan airline Avior is asking regulators for permission to resume nonstop service to the U.S.

In a recent filing with the Transportation Department, the carrier noted President Donald Trump’s Jan. 29 announcement that he will soon open Venezuelan airspace to U.S. carriers. The department has prohibited commercial and cargo flights to and from the country since 2019.

Avior is looking to restart one route it already has authorization for, between Barcelona, Venezuela, and Miami, and to launch three new ones: Caracas to Miami; Maracaibo, Venezuela, to Miami; and Barcelona to Houston.

“For administrative convenience and to ensure Avior’s economic authority is up to date in preparation for the resumption of U.S. service, Avior respectfully requests that the department, in a single Notice of Action Taken in a new docket, approve this application and contemporaneously renew Avior’s current exemption authority which has long been pending under Part 377,” the airline wrote. “Avior requests that its exemption authority be granted for a period of two years.”

Avior flies mainly within Venezuela but also has routes to neighboring Colombia. Its main hub is at General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona.

Several international airlines – some of which stopped flying to Venezuela nearly a decade ago – are rushing to reconnect the country following Trump’s pronouncement.

American Airlines said last week that it will resume daily nonstop service to Venezuela, and on Thursday, Colombian carrier Avianca said it will restart flights between Bogotá and Caracas on Feb. 12.

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.

American Adds New European Route

Service will begin in the summer of 2027.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 05, 2026 at 01:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American A321XLR. (Photo: DFW Airport)

American Airlines is adding a new destination in Europe for the summer 2027 travel season.

The carrier announced Thursday that it will connect Philadelphia and Porto, Portugal, with flights operating daily. American will fly the seasonal route using an Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

“Porto is exactly the type of new market the Airbus A321XLR enables us to serve,” Brian Znotins, Americans’ senior vice president of network and schedule planning, said in a statement. “While we’ll have even more new routes to share later this year for summer 2027, we’re eager to continue growing our long-haul network that features service to new destinations, including Budapest, Hungary, and Prague, that will start this summer.”

Each flight will have 20 Flagship Suite seats, American’s most premium offering.

No firm start or end dates for the route were announced.

American took delivery of its first A321XLR in December. Airline leaders have made the aircraft a key part of their network expansion strategy, with plans to use the longer-range jet on certain transatlantic and transcontinental routes.

Next month, American will start service between New York-JFK and Edinburgh, Scotland, using the A321XLR. The aircraft will also be used on flights from JFK to Los Angeles and San Francisco and from Boston to Los Angeles this summer.

Zach Vasile

Avianca to Resume Flights to Venezuela

Service to Caracas will begin in days.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 05, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Avianca Airbus A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Colombia’s largest airline announced Thursday that it will resume service between Bogotá and the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

In a statement, Avianca said nonstop flights between the two cities will operate daily from Feb. 12.

“The decision follows a comprehensive assessment of operational and aviation safety conditions conducted in coordination with the appropriate authorities,” the carrier said.

According to the Associated Press, Avianca halted flights to Caracas in 2017, citing concerns about the safety of its crews and passengers, and Venezuela’s worsening airport infrastructure.

At the time, the country was wracked by protests against President Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro and his wife were captured and transported to New York by U.S. military and law enforcement personnel in a raid on Caracas last month. Since then, the commercial aviation industry in Venezuela has begun to normalize, with President Donald Trump announcing that he will soon open Venezuelan airspace to U.S. carriers.

The U.S. has prohibited passenger and cargo flights to the country since 2019.

American Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to announce a return to Venezuela. The carrier said it is working to resume daily nonstop flights to the country, though it did not set a start date or disclose any planned routes.

Zach Vasile

FAA Investigating Suspected Laser Event

An American crew reported seeing an out-of-place blue light.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, February 05, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American A321 in Charlotte. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

An investigation is underway after American Airlines pilots reported seeing a blue light, possibly a laser, while preparing to land in Charlotte, North Carolina, last week.

According to the FAA, the crew of American Flight 3114 “reported being illuminated by a blue laser” about five miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The incident took place around 7 a.m. local time last Thursday.

The flight landed safely and there were no injuries.

In a statement to FOX News, American said the blue light was reported as a laser event “out of an abundance of caution.”

The FAA alerted local authorities and is beginning its own investigation.

There were almost 11,000 suspected laser strikes on aircraft in the U.S. in 2025, according to FAA statistics. High-powered lasers can “incapacitate” pilots, the agency warned, putting passengers and crew at extreme risk.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime, with civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

Zach Vasile

Union Slams American Leadership After Earnings Report

The union is reportedly considering holding a vote of no confidence.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 04:45 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American Airlines Airbus A320 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Backlash over a lackluster earnings report from American Airlines continued to grow this week as the labor union that represents the carrier’s pilots slammed executives for their performance.

In a message released ahead of the Allied Pilots Association’s winter board of directors meeting, President Nick Silva criticized American leaders for failing to make up ground with competitors United and Delta.

“Last week’s financial results fell short of already modest company guidance, underscoring a deeper problem: The company under this management team appears to lack the tools, creativity, leadership, and willpower to return American to prominence among its peers,” he wrote.

Past strategies have not meaningfully improved American’s operations or financial health, Silva argued, and management’s relationship with the pilot group is now seriously frayed. He also said that poor financial performance has a direct effect on pilot compensation, and noted that Delta will pay more than $500 million in profit sharing to its pilots this year, which is more than American’s full-year earnings.

“Even into 2026, the gap will remain, with Delta projecting earnings three times greater than ours,” the statement read. “This pattern is not new, but it is now impossible to ignore. The problems extend beyond finances to the very culture and capability of management.”

An American A321neo. (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

The APA’s board is expected to discuss American’s weakened position and the ability of senior officers, including CEO Robert Isom, to address workers’ concerns.

“Over the next five days, we face difficult decisions at this table,” Silva continued. “The membership’s feedback is clear: They do not believe that, under the current leadership, this company can realize its full potential. APA pilots are the best in the industry… We deserve management that treats us as an asset, not a cost unit.”

The message does not mention a no-confidence vote in America’s leadership, but Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the union is considering holding one.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents flight attendants at American, has already called for changes at the corporate level.

American last week reported fourth-quarter net income of $99 million, down from $590 million in the year-ago period, and full-year net income of $111 million, down from $846 million in 2024. The airline lost about $325 million in revenue in the fourth quarter due to the federal government shutdown, officials said.

Executives acknowledged the difficult quarter but said American is well positioned going into 2026, with years-long investments in aircraft, network, and premium offerings beginning to bear fruit. Projections call for nearly $2 of improvement in adjusted earnings per diluted share compared to 2025.

Zach Vasile

Spirit Looks to Sell Two Gates at Chicago O’Hare

A proposed deal with a major airline could earn the budget carrier $30.2 million.

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, February 04, 2026 at 02:35 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A321 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Felipe I Santiago)

Spirit is seeking permission to sell two gates at Chicago O’Hare to United for a total of $30.2 million.

Reuters reported Wednesday that Spirit filed a request to transfer the gates with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The court is overseeing the carrier during its second stint in bankruptcy protection, which began in August.

According to court documents cited by The Engine Cowl, Spirit is looking to sell two preferential use gates, G12 and G14, along with their associated infrastructure. The ultra-low-cost carrier would use the proceeds from the sale to repay loans, the site reported.

Spirit will continue to operate from Chicago O’Hare, airline officials said in the filing.

Currently, Spirit connects Chicago with markets such as New York-LaGuardia, Newark, New Jersey, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, among others.

United is battling American Airlines for capacity at Chicago O’Hare. Both airlines are building up their schedules there, but because the airport is already tightly scheduled, available gates are a rarity.

Late last year, United was awarded five more gates by the City of Chicago. The move was challenged by American in court.

Spirit sold two gates at Chicago O’Hare to American in December for $30 million.

Zach Vasile

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

Spirit Introduces Trading Cards

The collectibles feature pictures of Airbus aircraft.

Zach Vasile

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

Verified

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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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