Service between Oakland, California, and Kalispell, Montana, was removed from the airline’s schedule last week. This seasonal route was initially set to resume in June.
Las Vegas will also lose two Allegiant routes, including flights to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Grand Forks, North Dakota. These routes are now scheduled to end on May 4.
An Allegiant 737 MAX at Boeing Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
These network updates were included in last week’s Cirium Diio schedule update and reviewed by AirlineGeeks. An airline spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the changes.
Finally, the airline’s service between Bellingham, Washington, and Oakland will cease on May 26.
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.
A South African Airways A340-300. (Photo: Shutterstock)
South Africa’s flag carrier has formalized a codeshare agreement with privately-owned CemAir.
The deal relates only to domestic services, officials said.
“Unlike our international codeshares, this agreement focuses on connecting major cities with regional and leisure destinations that were previously beyond SAA’s reach,” SAA Group CEO John Lamola said in a statement. “By combining our strengths with CemAir, we’re delivering greater flexibility, convenience, and choice for our customers, while supporting tourism and economic growth across the country.”
Since the demise of South African Express, SAA’s former regional carrier, the airline no longer offers connectivity to many regional centers across South Africa.
Since restarting operations in late 2021, South African Airways has gradually been rebuilding its network. It currently operates regular service between South Africa’s gateways and larger hubs, as well as to various destinations in Africa and to Perth and Sao Paulo.
Re-establishing Regional Connectivity
CemAir offers service on many of the country’s regional routes, including those once operated by SA Express. It operates a fleet of regional jets and turboprops.
“This collaboration represents a shared vision to offer travelers better access, more flexibility, and greater reliability. By combining our strengths, we are helping to create a stronger, more connected network that benefits both business and leisure travelers,” said CemAir CEO Miles van der Molen.
Both airlines will place their codes on each other’s flights, enabling customers to book integrated itineraries.
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.
United Earnings Beat Expectations for Q4, Full Year
The carrier cited strong premium earnings, a rebound in business travel, and increased loyalty activity.
A United 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Strong performance in premium travel and loyalty helped lift United to higher profits for the final quarter and full 12 months of 2025 despite headwinds from tariffs, trade disputes, and a federal government shutdown.
The company reported full-year pre-tax earnings of $4.3 billion and net income of $3.4 billion. Diluted earnings per share of $10.20 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $10.62 for 2025 rose compared to 2024.
For the fourth quarter alone, United reported operating revenue of $15.4 billion and net income of just over $1 billion. Q4 revenue was the highest quarterly revenue in United’s history.
In a statement, CEO Scott Kirby attributed the gains to a business strategy built around winning and keeping “brand-loyal customers.”
Premium revenue climbed 9% for the fourth quarter and 11% for the full year, while loyalty revenue was up 10% for the fourth quarter and 9% for the full year. Revenue from basic economy grew 7% for the fourth quarter and 5% for the full year.
In an earnings call on Wednesday, United officials said a focus on efficiency and investments in technology are growing margins and delivering benefits for passengers. They also highlighted the strength of the airline’s international network, specifically transatlantic service and routes to Israel, though they acknowledged the somewhat precarious situation in the Caribbean.
Flights in the eastern Caribbean were temporarily canceled earlier this month when the U.S. military and law enforcement raided Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Looking forward to the rest of 2026, United said it expects to take delivery of over 100 narrowbody aircraft and approximately 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners this year. The new arrivals will be used to expand the carrier’s network, officials said.
United also plans to upgrade facilities at its Houston and Washington Dulles hubs.
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.
Airlines Brace for Major Winter Storm
Several large carriers are waiving change fees for the coming weekend.
An Allegiant A319 in Pittsburgh.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
U.S. airlines are cautioning passengers and waiving change fees ahead of a massive winter storm expected to barrel through the eastern half of the country later this week.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm will drop snow and freezing rain from Texas to New England between Friday and Monday. The Upper South, including parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, is most likely to see widespread heavy snow and dangerous ice, NWS analysts said.
Guidance for the Major Winter Storm shifted north a little overnight, further expanding the areas forecast to be impacted Friday through this weekend. Here are the latest Key Messages. pic.twitter.com/ljRYn7zyyR
Several large airlines have alerted passengers to the storm system and are waiving change fees to help them switch flights if needed. Each has its own conditions for changing flights, though at least four – United, Delta, American, and Spirit – all allow free changes for flights scheduled Jan. 23-25.
Each airline also has its own list of affected airports, mostly in the South and Mid-Atlantic. American lists 34 airports, Delta 41, United 26, and Spirit 13.
Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Memphis, and Nashville in Tennessee, Raleigh–Durham, North Carolina, and San Antonio appear on all or most of the lists, with many smaller cities also named.
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.
Starting May 6, the independent regional carrier will connect Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Pensacola, Florida. The seasonal service will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Contour said it will operate the route using a 30-seat regional jet, though it did not specify the aircraft type.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding service to Pensacola and to make nonstop travel to the Gulf Coast accessible for Cape Girardeau residents,” Contour President Ben Munson said in a news release. “Whether traveling for a beach getaway or business, passengers can enjoy a stress-free experience without having to drive to a larger airport.”
According to its website, the airline connects Cape Girardeau to Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth, and Pensacola to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on a seasonal basis.
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.
An Air Canada 787. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Air Canada plans to launch a one-of-a-kind nonstop route to Asia later this year.
Starting in December, the carrier will connect Vancouver and Sapporo, Japan. Sapporo is located in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, and is known for its numerous ski resorts and natural hot springs.
The winter seasonal service will operate three times per week using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The first flight will depart Vancouver on Dec. 17, and the last return flight from Sapporo will operate on March 26, 2027.
The route will be the only one in the world linking Sapporo to North America.
“With this new service, Air Canada is reinforcing its Vancouver hub as North America’s second largest Pacific gateway, building on strong premium leisure and ongoing travel demand to Japan, while providing yet another sought-after destination for our customers and Aeroplan members,” Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice president, COO, and president of cargo, said in a news release.
Air Canada currently offers year-round service to Tokyo-Narita and Tokyo-Haneda and summer seasonal service to Osaka-Kansai.
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.
An Ethiopian Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: Shutterstock/eka.viation)
Ethiopian Airlines is set to suspend passenger services between Addis Ababa and Atlanta from early February 2026, temporarily stepping back from its sole route into the southeastern United States.
Schedule data reviewed in mid-January shows the Star Alliance carrier will operate its final flight on the route on Feb. 1, with services from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport ceasing the following day. The airline currently serves Atlanta three times per week, deploying Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, with westbound flights operating via Rome Fiumicino.
The affected rotations are flight ET518, operating Addis Ababa–Rome–Atlanta, and the return service ET519. While earlier schedules indicated the route would continue through the Northern Hemisphere mid-year travel period, booking systems still show availability for dates from June 2026 onward, pointing to a suspension rather than a permanent exit.
Atlanta entered Ethiopian’s long-haul network in May 2023, providing the carrier with access to the world’s busiest airport by passenger numbers and strengthening connectivity within the Star Alliance framework through its partnership with United. Despite this strategic positioning, the route has faced headwinds, including competitive pressure on transatlantic traffic flows and softer-than-expected passenger demand.
Cirium schedule data for January 2026 further illustrates Ethiopian’s scaled-back U.S. footprint during this period. Following the Atlanta suspension, the airline’s remaining passenger services to the United States are concentrated solely on Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). From Addis Ababa, Ethiopian operates up to 11 weekly flights to Washington, routed via Rome Fiumicino and Lomé, using a mix of Airbus A350-900, A350-1000, and Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.
A Breeze A220. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)
The Air Line Pilots Association is suing low-cost carrier Breeze Airways for allegedly bargaining in bad faith and working to undermine the union as the legitimate representative of its pilots.
In a complaint filed in federal court in Utah, where Breeze is based, ALPA accused the carrier’s management of violating the Railway Labor Act by obstructing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Breeze’s pilots joined ALPA in 2022 and have been negotiating for their first collective bargaining agreement since early 2023.
Attorneys representing ALPA said Breeze is strongly opposed to the unionization of its pilots and is using different methods to obstruct the organization and undermine its position as the pilots’ legitimate representative. These tactics allegedly include bargaining without any real intent to reach a deal; disregarding agreements reached with ALPA; creating non-ALPA pilot committees; dealing directly with employees rather than through the union; implementing policies and practices without bargaining with ALPA; and repeatedly denigrating ALPA.
“Breeze leadership has said that the purpose of all its bad-faith conduct is to push ALPA’s Breeze unit to de-certify,” the lawsuit states.
“We were surprised and disappointed to learn of ALPA’s filing,” the carrier said in a statement to AirlineGeeks on Tuesday. “The claims outlined do not reflect the reality of our negotiations with ALPA and unnecessarily distract from our shared goal: to create a safe, enjoyable, and rewarding workplace for our team members. We remain fully committed to negotiating in good faith in order to reach an agreement that benefits our pilots and supports Breeze’s long-term success.”
A Breeze A220 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The budget carrier was formed eight years ago and began operations in 2021. It is headed by airline entrepreneur David Neeleman, who ALPA said harbors clear “anti-union animus.”
According to the lawsuit, Neeleman has derided ALPA in comments to employees and appears at new pilot orientations to “chill” union participation.
In 2022, before Breeze’s pilots had formally joined ALPA, the CEO allegedly asked Captain Alex Kluge, now the Breeze Master Executive Committee chair, to give him time to demonstrate that the pilots did not need a union to represent them.
“Breeze’s sustained pattern of bad faith bargaining and undermining of the pilots’ union under CEO David Neeleman has deprived our pilots of the rights guaranteed under the RLA, making today’s legal action both necessary and unavoidable,” Kluge said in a statement on Tuesday.
ALPA also criticized Breeze for allegedly making it difficult for member pilots to participate in union functions, stonewalling on certain issues, and failing to respond to union proposals with at least counterproposals.
“The company’s position that it is free to ignore what it has agreed to in negotiations pending a final CBA undermines the stability of labor relations at Breeze as well as both the bargaining process and the association, as it signals to Breeze pilots that ALPA is ineffective,” the lawsuit states.
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.
Edelweiss Rolls Out New A350 Interior Design
The first aircraft with the new cabin will enter service in December.
Airline officials said they prioritized high-quality materials, a calming color palette, clean lines, and passenger comfort while planning the interior. Dark blue tones and lighting meant to align with passengers’ circadian rhythm will be featured throughout, they said.
Edelweiss’ new A350 cabin is divided into four classes – Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and Business Suites.
Edelweiss Economy seats. (Photo: Edelweiss)
The Business Suites will feature lie-flat seats, closable privacy doors, 32-inch monitors, storage space, and a memory foam pillow.
Passengers in all classes will have access to free high-speed wireless internet via Starlink, 4K screens with Bluetooth audio connectivity, and an in-flight entertainment system with over 400 films and series.
USB-C and USB-A ports will be installed at all seats, and wireless charging will be available in Premium Economy, Business, and Business Suites.
“With the new Airbus A350, we seized the opportunity to rethink our entire cabin product and develop it consistently with our guests’ well-being in mind,” Edelweiss CEO Bernd Bauer said in a statement. “Our aim was to create a space that exudes tranquility, is of high quality, and clearly positions itself as a premium product.”
Edelweiss Business Suites. (Photo: Edelweiss)
The first aircraft with the new cabin will enter service in December, Edelweiss said. Conversions of currently operating A350s will take place in early 2027, and by the summer of that year, Edelweiss’ entire A350 fleet will be equipped with the new cabin.
Edelweiss is a sister company of Swiss International Air Lines, also known as SWISS. Like SWISS, it is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.
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 Expands Mobile App With Rebooking Options
New “self-service flows” are meant to help passengers navigate flight disruptions.
When disruptions occur, passengers using the app will now receive an informational alert and a list of options to address the situation. Depending on the circumstances, the app’s “guided self-service flow” could help travelers book another flight, track their bags, and access hotel, meal, and transportation vouchers.
Ground transportation options with Uber and Lyft are built in, officials said.
The new functionality is intended to help passengers resolve problems with a few clicks on their device, as opposed to waiting on the phone or in line to speak to an airline representative.
“Our new app enhancements are unlike anything else in the industry because they don’t just explain why travel was disrupted, they help customers take action,” American Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in a statement. “We’re giving travelers real-time options, real control, and real peace of mind when they need it most.”
The airline said additional functionality, including more flexible rebooking choices and enhanced hotel, meal, and transportation support, will come online later this year.
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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