Breeze is adding two Learjet 45 business jets to its fleet, but they will not be used by commercial passengers.
Breeze founder and CEO David Neeleman told Aviation Week that the airline will use the two aircraft to transport crew members, technicians, and parts. By flying technicians directly to problem aircraft, the company can reduce downtime and improve overall efficiency and reliability, he said.
The jets will be based at the low-cost carrier’s maintenance center in Charleston, South Carolina. They are expected to enter service in February.
According to Aviation Week, Breeze has so far hired five pilots for the aircraft, and expects to increase that number to eight. They will begin training next month.
The pilots are being given seniority numbers, Neeleman noted, which has helped the carrier attract more experienced applicants.
Breeze’s current fleet consists of Airbus A220s and Embraer E190s.
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 Flight Attendants Call For Change in Airline Leadership
The APFA slammed executives over the carrier’s latest earnings report.
An American Boeing 787-8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The labor union representing flight attendants at American Airlines is calling for a change in corporate leadership after fourth-quarter and full-year earnings fell short of industry expectations.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said the latest financial results show American is falling further behind its main competitors, namely United and Delta.
“This is no longer an anomaly, but rather a pattern of failure under the leadership of CEO Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors,” the APFA said. “American’s workforce is not the problem. Leadership is.”
The union noted that while American’s and Delta’s full-year operating revenues were somewhat in line – $54.6 billion and $58.3 billion, respectively – Delta produced pre-tax profits of $5 billion, while American generated $352 million.
“It is easy to see why employees, investors, and Wall Street are deeply concerned, and it is no surprise why CEO Robert Isom has ended all labor-management meetings, employee town halls, Crew News sessions, and, perhaps most telling, the question-and-answer session at today’s State of the Airline,” the union said. “They don’t have answers, and the excuses have run out.”
The organization pointed out that American ranks below United and Delta in several metrics measured by J.D. Power North America’s Airline Satisfaction Study and The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 Best and Worst Airline Rankings. For Overall Best Airline, American fell from fifth place in 2023 to last in 2025, according to the union.
American A321 at Reagan National. (Photo: Ryan Ewing)
The statement expressed support for recent upgrades to American’s premium cabins but noted that coach cabins, “where many of our most loyal customers are seated,” remain “outdated, uncomfortable, and far from competitive.”
“For years, CEO Robert Isom and his team have solely focused on accountability, reliability, and profitability, ignoring investment in our product and the overall customer experience,” the APFA said. “During that time, our competitors focused on all aspects of their airlines, while American now stumbles to pick up the pieces.”
“The employees at American Airlines, our passengers, and the investors can no longer wait for Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors to deliver on their empty promises,” the union continued. “As the entire industry leaves American Airlines in the dust, it is time for new leadership and a new vision for American Airlines.”
Looking For a Rebound
The carrier on Tuesday 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. American 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 the airline 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 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.
A BA A350-1000 in London. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a wheel while departing Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Monday.
The takeoff was captured by an automated livestream of the airport’s runways Monday night. The wheel can be seen falling to the ground as the aircraft climbs and its landing gear retracts. It appeared to fall from the right landing gear.
It was not immediately clear what caused the separation.
The airport confirmed to KVVU-TV that the wheel was located on airport property. It did not injure anyone or cause any damage to airport facilities, officials said.
The flight landed safely at its destination, London Heathrow.
“Safety and security underpins everything we do and we’re supporting the authorities with their investigations,” British Airways said in a statement.
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.
The carrier said Tuesday that it committed to purchasing 16 more A330-900s and 15 more A350-900s, with options for 20 additional widebody aircraft.
Deliveries are set to begin in 2029.
Delta leaders said the new airplanes will enable growth in long-haul markets such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the South Pacific. Recently announced and launched routes to Taipei, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Riyadh are using or will use A350s.
The new jets are also expected to help expand premium capacity, an increasingly important revenue channel for the airline.
“As we grow our international footprint and prepare our fleet to serve expanded long-haul markets, these aircraft will enhance our capabilities and elevate our premium offerings,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. “We value our long-standing partnership with Airbus, and with these widebody aircraft we will see long-term growth and cost benefits for years to come.”
A Delta A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
The A330-900s will be powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine, while the A350-900s will utilize the Trent XWB-84 EP. Delta said it entered into a long-term maintenance agreement with Rolls-Royce to service the engines.
With this week’s orders, Delta’s A330-900 fleet will increase to 55 aircraft, officials said, and the A350 fleet will reach 79 aircraft, including 20 A350-1000s that the airline expects to begin receiving in early 2027.
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 Projects Revenue Growth in 2026
The carrier said it is seeing an encouraging increase in bookings this month.
An American 777-300ER aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
American Airlines said it is poised to grow revenue this year after absorbing a financial blow from the federal government shutdown and a late-year softening in bookings.
The carrier said Tuesday that systemwide revenue intakes for the first three weeks of 2026 are up double digits year over year, driven by strong performance in the premium cabins and corporate channels. Based on those bookings, officials said, the company expects positive first-quarter unit revenue growth between 7% and 10%.
Executives expect that momentum to continue as American begins to benefit from what they described as years-long investments in its aircraft fleet, network, premium products, and loyalty program. Projections call for nearly $2.00 of improvement in adjusted earnings per diluted share compared to 2025.
“American Airlines is positioned for significant upside in 2026 and beyond,” CEO Robert Isom said in a statement. “We have built a strong foundation, and we look forward to taking advantage of the investments we have made in our customer experience, network, fleet, partnerships, and loyalty program.”
American on Tuesday posted fourth-quarter operating revenue of $12.6 billion, up slightly from the year-ago period, and net income of $99 million, down from $590 million over the same interval. The federal government shutdown – which led to significant delays and cancellations at some of the nation’s largest airports – cost the carrier about $325 million in revenue in the quarter, officials said.
Full-year revenue amounted to $49.6 billion, while net income came out to $111 million.
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.
Avelo Launches Credit Card
Users will get Avelo Cash back on purchases, a free carry-on bag, and other perks.
Avelo on Tuesday announced the launch of its own branded credit card, known as the Avelo Airlines World Elite Mastercard.
The ultra-low-cost carrier is partnering with credit card platform Cardless to introduce and manage the cards.
Airline officials said the Mastercard gives cardholders 5% in Avelo Cash back on Avelo purchases and 2% Avelo Cash back on all other purchases. Avelo Cash is the carrier’s digital travel credit system.
Other benefits include a free carry-on bag, priority boarding, and standard seat selection capabilities.
“Our customers have been asking for a loyalty program with unique perks for Avelo travelers, [and] the Avelo Airlines Mastercard offers just that,” Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a news release. “This is the future of airline financial products, and we’re bringing it to our customers today while continuing our purpose of inspiring travel through convenience, affordability, and industry-leading reliability.”
Avelo leaders said Cardless’ platform allows for faster approvals and more intelligent management of benefits and offers than a card issued by a legacy bank. The partners said they will continuously review data from the cards to optimize rewards and use AI to personalize the card for users.
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.
A United Express Embraer E175 operated by Republic Airways. (Photo: Shutterstock | oasisamuel)
United is again building up operations in its hometown ahead of the spring and summer.
The carrier said Tuesday that it will add nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare to Champaign/Urbana, Illinois; Kalamazoo, Michigan; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Lansing, Michigan; and Bloomington/Normal, Illinois.
Service to Champaign/Urbana and Kalamazoo will start April 30, while service to La Crosse, Lansing, and Bloomington/Normal will commence May 7.
Each new connection will operate four times daily, airline officials said.
United also plans to add flights on over 80 existing routes from Chicago. The carrier did not name them all but said destinations such as Boston, Nashville, Tennessee, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas/Fort Worth are included.
The airline also plans to connect Chicago with Guadalajara, Mexico, between June 8 and 27 to help fans attend soccer games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The temporary service to Guadalajara will operate daily.
With these additions, United expects to operate up to 750 flights per day from Chicago O’Hare this summer. The carrier’s Chicago hub will become the third-largest hub operated by any airline in the U.S., executives said.
“We have spent the past decade building and executing a strategy that is focused on winning brand loyal customers by giving them more value when they fly United – and nowhere is that more apparent than in Chicago,” Omar Idris, United’s vice president for Chicago O’Hare, said in a statement. “This growth at O’Hare highlights our commitment to invest in our network, customers, and hiring in the city we call home.”
United is also in the process of adding new destinations from Chicago announced late last year, including Santa Barbara, California; Eugene, Oregon; Monterey, California; Bristol/Tri-Cities, Tennessee; Erie, Pennsylvania; Rochester, Minnesota; Wausau, Wisconsin; and Marquette, Michigan.
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.
UPS Retires MD-11 Fleet
Carrier confirms accelerated retirement in fourth-quarter earnings following fleet grounding.
UPS has officially retired its remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters, formally ending operations with the three-engine aircraft following a deadly November accident and the subsequent grounding of the fleet.
The decision was disclosed in the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release, published Jan. 27, in which the company confirmed it recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge tied to the accelerated retirement of the MD-11 aircraft. UPS did not specify an exact retirement date but indicated the fleet was removed from service during the fourth quarter.
UPS grounded its MD-11 fleet in November after an accident involving one of the aircraft. At the time, the company said the grounding was taken out of an abundance of caution while the incident was investigated.
The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing to investigate the accident.
A UPS MD-11 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)
Prior to the grounding, the MD-11 made up a minority portion of UPS’ widebody fleet and was primarily used on long-haul international cargo routes.
The company maintained the second-largest MD-11 fleet in the world, with 31 aircraft in service before the accident, which killed 15 people. FedEx has the largest MD-11 fleet with 61 jets, which are also grounded.
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.
The carrier will connect Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri with Phoenix, an airline spokesperson confirmed to AirlineGeeks. Flights will operate once a week starting on May 23, operated by an Embraer E175.
Further information is expected to be released by Springfield-Branson National Airport.
“We’re eager to welcome travelers from Southwest Missouri on our new service to Phoenix this summer,” Jordan Pack, American’s director of domestic network planning, said in a statement. “As we’ve steadily grown our flights out of SGF, travelers have responded positively. This has given us the confidence to add flights to Phoenix that will unlock more access from Springfield to the Southwest and Western U.S.”
American currently connects Springfield to Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
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.
Memo: FAA Denied Request to Reduce Arrivals Before Fatal Potomac Collision
Air traffic controllers who raised concerns about Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were allegedly told the matter was 'too political' to address.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | TJ Brown)
The FAA reportedly denied a request to reduce flight arrivals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the months leading up to a fatal midair collision over the Potomac River in January 2025.
The Washington Times reported this week that the FAA did not act on a request from air traffic controllers at Potomac Consolidated TRACON in Virginia in 2023. The request pointed to difficulties maintaining separation among arriving commercial aircraft.
The Times cited an internal FAA memo released by the NTSB, which is investigating the collision.
According to the document, an FAA manager resisted forwarding the request to higher-ups. The controllers who made the request were later told the matter was “too political,” possibly because members of Congress depend on flights to and from the airport to travel between their home districts and Washington, D.C.
The NTSB on Tuesday will vote on a final report about the probable cause of the crash. The agency is expected to hand down numerous safety recommendations drawn from its investigation, but it is not clear if reducing slots at Washington National will be among them.
An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Washington National on Jan. 29, 2025. A total of 67 people on board both aircraft were killed.
For much of the last 12 months, conversation among regulators and lawmakers has centered on ADS-B broadcasting for military aircraft and measures to further separate civilian and military air traffic in the capital region. An interim rule published by the FAA last week prohibits helicopters and powered lift aircraft from operating in certain areas near Washington National.
The FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation have also closed a potentially hazardous helicopter route in the area and eliminated the use of visual separation within five nautical miles of the airport. In October, the FAA updated helicopter routes and zones at Washington National, Washington Dulles, and Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland.
Concerns about commercial traffic at Washington National have occasionally come up, however. During a public NTSB hearing on the crash last August, an FAA contractor said the center overseeing Washington National is under constant pressure to “make it work” despite limits on their resources and manpower.
At that hearing, the FAA maintained that the airspace around Washington National is the safest it has ever been, due in part to the changes made after the crash.
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.
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