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

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.

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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Edited By:

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

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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

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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

WestJet Adds New Route to South America

Service will start in November.

Zach Vasile

Monday, February 02, 2026 at 09:12 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A WestJet Boeing 787 enters the runway at Paine Field in Washington. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

Canadian airline WestJet is adding service to a new destination in South America.

Starting Nov. 8, the carrier will connect Calgary and São Paulo. Flights will operate three times per week using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The route will be WestJet’s first linking Western Canada and South America. São Paulo will also be the airline’s 100th destination from Calgary International Airport, officials said.

“Our first flight between Western Canada and South America is the beginning of an exciting chapter in WestJet’s Calgary story,” WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a news release. “We’re deeply grateful to our Calgary partners and the millions of guests who have trusted us over the years.”

WestJet currently serves numerous destinations in Central America and the Caribbean but only one in South America proper – Medellín, Colombia. The route is flown from Toronto.

Zach Vasile

Etihad Adds New Route to North America

Flights will start in November.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Etihad will launch nonstop flights between the United Arab Emirates and Calgary, Canada, later this year, the airline announced.

Service will start Nov. 3 and operate four times a week, using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The Abu Dhabi-to-Calgary route will be the only one in the world linking the Middle East and Western Canada, Etihad leaders said.

“The launch of our Abu Dhabi-Calgary service is both a significant and historic step in Etihad’s global expansion,” CEO Antonoaldo Neves said in a news release. “By creating the only nonstop link between the Middle East and Western Canada, we are opening new opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment, while giving travelers direct access to two distinctive and globally important destinations.”

Currently, Etihad flies to New York, Chicago, and Toronto. Service to Charlotte, North Carolina, will start in March.

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.

Lufthansa Plans A380 Cabin Retrofits

Work is set to begin in February.

Zach Vasile

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The new business class on Lufthansa's A380s. (Photo: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa announced Friday that it will install new seats across several of its aircraft types, including in business class on its Airbus A380s.

The overhaul, described by Lufthansa as its most extensive ever, will replace all seats in all cabins on the airline’s Boeing 747-8s and A350-900s.

On the A380, all business class seats will be replaced by new seats from manufacturer Thompson Aero. Each seat will have direct aisle access, width of 58 centimeters (or 22.8 inches), a bed length of at least two meters (or 6.5 feet), Bluetooth connectivity, and flexible partitions, Lufthansa officials said.

Retrofit work is set to start in February in Dresden.

Because the A380 cabin upgrade is covered by an existing certification, there is no extra approval process, the carrier said, and business class passengers will be able to access the new seats within a few weeks.

“The retrofit underscores our commitment to providing a top flight experience on the long-haul aircraft that is so popular with our customers,” Heiko Reitz, Lufthansa’s hub manager for Munich, said in a news release. “The new premium seats offer more privacy and significantly more comfort than before.”

The first fully retrofitted A380 is expected to return to Munich in April to reenter commercial service. Work on all eight of Lufthansa’s A380s is expected to be complete by mid-2027.

Zach Vasile

Livery of the Week: Starlux Unveils Metallic Gold and Silver Designs

The Taiwan-based airline is partnering with artist Hajime Sorayama to realize the liquid metal concept.

Zach Vasile

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 02:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Starlux A350 in Seattle (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

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.

Taiwanese carrier Starlux this week unveiled plans for futuristic gold and silver aircraft liveries that it hopes to have in the air by summer.

The airline is partnering with Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama on the project, dubbed “AIRSORAYAMA” by Starlux. Sorayama is known for his highly detailed and sometimes erotic illustrations, which prominently feature metallic elements.

The effort, about three years in the making, was formally announced in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Two Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will be coated with high-concentration mica color shades, one gold with silver accents, and the other silver with gold accents. Multi-coating techniques will give the airplanes the layered, fluid appearance of liquid metal, officials said.

Starlux gold — The mainly gold AIRSORAYAMA livery. (Credit: Starlux)

The off-color accents will be on the belly of the aircraft, and are meant to give the jets a shark-like appearance, in keeping with a famous Sorayama motif.

The two aircraft are named Starlux AIRSORAYAMA Silver (B-58553) and Starlux AIRSORAYAMA Gold (B-58554). They are expected to enter service in the third quarter of this year.

“What we sought was to bring warmth and beauty into the flying experience,” Starlux Chairman K.W. Chang said in a news release. “Sorayama-sensei’s creations embody futurism and breathe emotion into the metal, mirroring the precision and care behind aviation itself.”

Starlux silver — The mainly silver AIRSORAYAMA livery. (Credit: Starlux)

The coating was developed in collaboration with Airbus and coatings manufacturer Mankiewicz.

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

Zach Vasile