Flightline Briefing 69 - February 12, 2026

🇨🇦 C-GMJV, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air Canada (AC) on February 11, 2026.

🇦🇴 D2-TAK, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to TAAG - Linhas Aereas de Angola Airlines (DT) on February 11, 2026.

🇸🇦 EI-LKD, an Airbus A330-302(P2F), was delivered to Saudia Cargo (SV) on February 7, 2026.

🇨🇬 ET-BCI, a Boeing 737-85P(WL), was delivered to Air Congo (4H) on February 11, 2026.

🇸🇦 HZ-FBT, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to flyadeal (F3) on February 9, 2026.

🇺🇸 N17430, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines (UA) on February 10, 2026.

🇺🇸 N435FR, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to Frontier Airlines on February 11, 2026.

🇪🇬 SU-GGE, an Airbus A350-941, was delivered to Egyptair (MS) on February 9, 2026.

🇹🇷 TC-LRB, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Turkish Airlines on February 10, 2026.

🇱🇻 YL-BTC, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to airBaltic (BT) on February 9, 2026.

🇨🇭 HB-IJK, an Airbus A320-214 with Swiss International (LX), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on February 10, 2026 to Teruel, Spain (TEV) for part-out and scrap.

🇺🇸 N565WN, a Boeing 737-76Q with Southwest Airlines (WN), was wfu and ferried on February 9, 2026 to Coolidge, Ariz. (P08) for part-out and scrap. This frame was delivered new to China Eastern Airlines (MU) as B-2680 in June 2002. It joined Southwest in June 2014 and had accumulated 65,043 hours and 42,265 cycles as of December 26, 2025.

Volaris (Y4) started 2026 with a 4.7 percent increase in January passengers, with Mexico’s largest airline (by passengers) welcoming 2.72 million people on board its flights. System-wide load factor for the month was just under 85 percent.

In contrast, Grupo Aeroméxico, which is of course comprised of flag carrier AeroMexico (AM) and AeroMexico Connect (5D), saw a nearly two percent drop in January traffic, finishing the month with 2.053 million passengers. System-wide load factor across both airlines was 87 percent.

The recent abrupt airspace closure at El Paso, Texas (ELP) serves as a stark reminder of the volatility in modern aviation coordination. Late on February 10, the FAA issued an unprecedented Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) classifying the area as "National Defense Airspace" and grounding all commercial, cargo, and general aviation traffic for an intended 10-day period. The closure, which caught local officials, airport management, and major carriers like Southwest Airlines and American Airlines (AA) completely off guard, was abruptly rescinded just eight hours later on the morning of February 11, after causing immediate operational chaos.

The official explanation from the Trump administration, voiced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, attributed the shutdown to a "Mexican cartel drone incursion" that required swift military intervention to neutralize. However, a significant rift has emerged between this narrative and reports from industry insiders. Multiple sources, including the Associated Press, suggest the closure actually stemmed from a high-stakes disagreement between the FAA and the Pentagon. The military reportedly sought to test high-energy, laser-based counter-drone technology near Fort Bliss, but the FAA—concerned about the safety of civilian aircraft during a live laser deployment—opted to shutter the airspace entirely when a scheduled coordination meeting on the matter was bypassed by the Department of Defense.

Despite the short duration, the "ghost closure" left a tangible impact on the ground. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson reported that critical medical evacuation flights were forced to divert 40 miles away to Las Cruces, and essential surgical equipment destined for city hospitals was delayed. FlightAware data tracked at least 14 cancellations and 13 delays during the window, while Representative Veronica Escobar and other lawmakers have called for a formal investigation into the lack of communication. As operations normalize, the incident has reignited a fierce debate over the balance between national security maneuvers and the integrity of the National Airspace System.

January 2026 Airline On-Time Performance statistics are available below for paid subscribers. This issue feature worldwide and North American rankings. Monday will show Asia/Pacific and Europe, while next Thursday we share Latin American and African airline data. 🔒 Upgrade your subscription to see this and more data throughout the year.

Irish discounter Ryanair (FR) posted a modest two percent annual January gain in passengers to 12.7 million people. Ryanair filled 91 percent of available revenue seats nearly 73,000 flights during the month.

Wizz Air (W6) flew 5,348,165 passengers in January, a hefty 8.5 percent increase from the first month in 2024. Wizz had a paying passenger in 84.4 percent of its seats last month.

Posting a bit behind other airlines, EasyJet shares that it filled 89 percent of its available revenue seats in December 2025 with the help of 7.488 million passengers.

Egyptair has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, marking a major step in the carrier’s wide-body modernization program. The aircraft, registered SU-GFR, is configured with 30 Business Class and 310 Economy Class seats, and will initially be deployed on medium and long-haul routes as Egyptair begins to introduce the type into scheduled service.

Oman Air (WY) reported a strong commercial performance for 2025, carrying approximately 6 million passengers, an eight percent increase over the previous year. This growth was largely driven by a twenty-nine percent surge in traffic to Europe, supported by a thirteen percent increase in capacity and the addition of new routes to Amsterdam (AMS) and Copenhagen, alongside the resumption of double-daily service to London Heathrow (LHR). A key highlight of the year was the airline's official entry into the oneworld alliance, expanding its reach to nearly 900 airports. Additionally, the carrier saw a thirty-four percent year-on-year increase in point-to-point traffic into Oman (MCT), aligning with its transformation strategy to boost regional tourism and achieve profitability by the end of 2026. Looking ahead, Oman Air plans to launch service to Singapore (SIN) in July 2026 and is currently evaluating "higher capacity narrowbodies" to further modernize its fleet following the phase-out of its Airbus A330s.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued General License 30B through Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), authorizing payments and essential services at Venezuelan ports and airports, including ground handling, refueling, maintenance, and airport fees, effective February 10, 2026. The move replaces a 2021 license and partially lifts operational restrictions imposed under the 2019 Venezuela sanctions regime, creating a legal pathway for U.S. airlines to resume service to the country. American Airlines is currently the only U.S. carrier publicly expressing interest in returning to Venezuela, having been the last U.S. operator to exit the market. OFAC emphasized that transactions with blocked individuals or entities remain prohibited, but the measure is intended to normalize logistics and aviation infrastructure access without exposing carriers to sanctions violations.

A tip of the Stetson to Redditor BrilliantBig12, who compiled a list comparing the prices of a plain Grande Coffee at two dozen U.S. airport Starbucks. We took that data and made this chart, if you are looking for savings!

DID YOU KNOW? Costco sells 199 million hot dogs at its food courts each year.