Flightline 25 - August 28, 2025

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Eurowings (EW) will add weekly Airbus A320 flights from Stuttgart, Germany (STR) to Amman, Jordan on October 27.

Air Europa (UX) will begin twice daily flights from Madrid (MAD) to Geneva (GVA) on June 19. Both routes will be operated by Boeing 737-800 equipment.

Cayman Airways (KX) will add its sixth U.S. destination on May 30 when weekly flights from Grand Cayman (GCM) to Austin, Texas (AUS) begin. A Boeing 737 MAX 8 will be rostered on this one.

Contour Aviation (LF) will add three stations soon throughout the Caribbean: Dominica (DOM), San Juan, P.R. (SJU), St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. (STT). Exact routes and frequencies have you to be announced.

Air Cote d’Ivoire (HF) begin daily flights from Abidjan (ABJ) to Paris deGaulle (CDG) on September 18. This route will be operated by Airbus A330-900neo equipment.

We have good news to share for those of you who are looking for daily flights from Hangzhou, China to Kuala Lumpur: Xiamen Airlines (MF) will briefly add that route from September 30 through October 8. Look for a Boeing 737-800 to operate these flights.

United Airlines (UA) has announced it will return on its seasonal Newark, N.J. (EWR) to Nuuk, Greenland (GOH) route next summer. Dates and further specifics have not yet been announced.

Delta Air Lines (DL) is adding two trans-Atlantic summer seasonal routes from Boston next year: daily to Madrid on May 16 and 3x weekly to Nice, France (NCE) on May 17.

Finnair (AY) is adding a quartet of seasonal flights from Helsinki to southern European locations next summer, to include:

• Catania, Italy (CTA), 3x weekly, March - October

• Florence, Italy (FLR), twice weekly, April - October

• Kos, Grece (KGS), twice weekly, May - October

• Valencia, Spain (VLC), twice weekly, April - October

Discover Airlines (4Y) will suspend flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to Philadelphia (PHL) for the month of February.

Austrian Airlines (OS) will suspend two U.S. routes from Vienna (VIE) in early January, with flights to Boston (BOS) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) both going dark from January 11 through February 11.

AeroMexico (AM) will drop flights from Monterrey (MTY) to Atlanta (ATL) in mid-April.

JetBlue Airways (B6) has pruned two more routes from Tampa, Fla. (TPA), with service to Newark, N.J. and Providence, R.I. (PVD) ending in mid-December.

Pakistan Int’l Airlines (PK) is ending its route from Lahore (LHE) to Paris DeGaulle. The route commenced just two months ago and will conclude by mid-September.

On August 25, a Ryanair (FR) flight departing Manchester (MAN) for Agadir, Morocco (AGA) was forced to return just twenty minutes after departure when a female passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door while airborne. Fellow passengers intervened and alerted cabin crew, who promptly relocated her from the exit row. The captain then monitored the door until the aircraft safely touched down back in Manchester, where Greater Manchester Police boarded and arrested the individual. Engineers later inspected the door and replaced the plastic cover before the flight resumed its journey approximately two hours later. 

It’s important to understand why such an attempt could never succeed at altitude. Cabin pressurization inside a modern airliner exerts immense outward pressure on the fuselage and doors—so much so that opening an emergency exit mid-flight would require near-superhuman force. Emergency exits are designed to remain firmly sealed until the aircraft is on the ground and cabin pressure equalized. The fact that the plastic cover was removed does not compromise the structural integrity of the door itself—but the incident was nonetheless a serious safety breach and disruption.

TSA DATA PAUSE: The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has not released any updates on firearms discovered in carry-on bags since June 26, halting what had been regular reporting from airports nationwide. These weekly snapshots often drew public attention, as TSA screeners intercept several thousand guns each year at security checkpoints.

Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $78.75 million to settle a class action lawsuit tied to a 2020 incident when one of its Boeing 777s dumped about 15,000 pounds of jet fuel over neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange counties, including several schools. The aircraft was returning to Los Angeles (LAX) after engine trouble when the fuel was released at low altitude, causing minor injuries to dozens of people on the ground. Plaintiffs argued the fuel should have been dumped at a higher altitude or over the ocean to avoid populated areas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later cleared the pilots of wrongdoing, but Delta chose to settle in order to avoid further litigation costs. After legal fees, an estimated $50.6 million will be distributed to roughly 38,000 affected residents and property owners.

Southwest Airlines (WN) has announced a significant shift in its “customer of size” policy, set to take effect on January 27, 2026. Previously, plus-size passengers who occupied more than one seat could request an additional seat—often with a refund or, in some cases, no extra cost if space was available. That generous accommodation was a hallmark of Southwest’s inclusive ethos and a key reason many flyers preferred the airline. Under the new policy, passengers who cannot fit within a single seat must purchase a second ticket at booking, and seats must be in the same fare class. Refunds are strictly limited: they’ll only be granted if the flight isn’t sold out and a request is filed within 90 days of travel. 

RUSSIA TO SEIZE CARGO AIRLINE? Volga-Dnepr (VI) founder Alexey Isaykin has informed staff that the company is highly likely to be transferred to state control in short order. He made the remarks recently during the airline’s 35th anniversary event in Ulyanovsk, citing mounting operational challenges from international sanctions and the strategic importance of its unique cargo fleet. Sources close to the matter suggest the nationalization could include all assets, from the fleet of Antonov An‑124 heavy transports and Ilyushin Il‑76s, to its MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) centers—and could be finalized in the coming months. Notably, these aircraft remain vital to Russia’s military logistics capabilities.

Mexicana (XN) has officially placed its first Embraer E195‑E2 into revenue service on August 25, launching commercial flights from Mexico City/Santa Lucia (NLU) to Tulum (TQO). The move marks the airline’s entry into a modern fleet era as part of a firm order for 20 Embraer E‑Jets (10 E190‑E2 and 10 E195‑E2), with the first deliveries beginning July 1 and additional units scheduled through December.

Zurich (ZRH) achieved its strongest first half on record, earning a consolidated profit of nearly $178 million, surpassing analysts’ expectations by roughly six percent. Passenger traffic hit a high of 14.96 million, with freight volumes increasing to 219,410 tonnes.

Oh, Canada 🇨🇦 

Canada Jetlines and its former chairman have agreed to pay a fine of about US $73,000 to the British Columbia Securities Commission after regulators found the airline failed to promptly disclose a material change in its operations. The case centered on a delayed aircraft lease announcement in 2018, which the commission ruled misled investors by not being reported in a timely manner. The penalty comes after Jetlines ceased operations in 2024 and was folded into Global Crossing Airlines (G6), where its aircraft now fly deportation charters for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Saskatoon, Sask. (YXE) has launched construction of a 1 MW solar farm projected to supply up to 20 percent of terminal electricity upon completion this fall. The investment is part of the airport’s broader carbon-reduction strategy, which has already achieved a 27 percent emissions drop since 2015 and is working toward net-zero by 2050. While the airport itself hasn’t confirmed the exact budget or payback period, similar commercial-scale solar installations in Canada typically range from roughly $100,000 to $350,000 for capacities between 50 kW and 200 kW. Extrapolating to a 1 MW system, cost estimates could reach $500,000 to $1.75 million. Average solar payback periods run between 7 to 10 years, though that may vary with energy rates, incentives, and system lifespan. Once complete, this project could reduce the airport’s total emissions by over 40 percent by 2027. 

Halifax, N.S. (YHZ) has kicked off a months-long pilot featuring two “passenger experience robots” designed to assist travelers navigating the terminal. These bilingual bots can answer questions, offer directions, and even escort passengers within geofenced areas. This pilot aligns Halifax with airports around the world. For example, Munich (MUC) has trialed “Ottobots” that help with flight updates and rebooking, while their “JEEVES” snackbot autonomously delivers cold drinks and snacks. Seoul’s Incheon (ICN) is also ahead of the curve, with AI-driven robots that guide travelers, carry luggage, and deliver food, including the “Air Porter” automated cart and the self-driving “Air Ride” shuttle for passengers in need.

Air Cargo 📦️ 

UPDATE: Bridges Air Cargo (5B) has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190 freighter conversion, marking a significant milestone for the airline. The aircraft, which was converted by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), will be used to support Bridges Air Cargo's growing cargo operations. The E190 freighter conversion program is designed to provide airlines with a reliable and efficient solution for transporting cargo on regional routes, leveraging the aircraft's existing certification and maintenance infrastructure.

🇸🇬 9V-MBS, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Singapore Airlines (SQ) on August 27.

🇷🇼 9XR-WU, a Boeing 737-8H6, was delivered to RwandAir (WB) on August 26. This frame was previously 9M-MSG with Malaysia Airlines (MH), 2013-2025.

🇨🇳 B-20DS, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air China (CA) on August 27.

🇫🇷 EI-IKR, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Ryanair on August 25.

🇫🇷 F-HPNU, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Air France (AF) on August 25.

🇰🇷 HL8579, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to T’Way Air (TW) on August 26.

🇸🇦 HZ-NS94, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Flynas (XY) on August 26.

🇺🇸 N17407, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines on August 26.

🇺🇸 N17408, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines on August 27.

🇺🇸 N311UN, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to American Airlines on August 27.

🇺🇸 N54543, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to United Airlines on August 27.

🇺🇸 N847MF, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to American Airlines on August 27.

🇺🇸 N8964L, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines on August 27.

🇹🇷 TC-RFT, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Pegasus Airlines (PC) on August 25.

🇮🇳 VT-NCS, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to IndiGo (6E) on August 26.

🇺🇸 N425UA, an Airbus A320-232 with United Airlines, was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on August 25 to Marana, Ariz. (MZJ) for part-out and scrap.

$AAL ( ▼ 0.15% )  $ALGT ( ▲ 0.76% )  $ALK ( ▲ 2.52% )  $BA ( ▲ 0.34% )  $CPA ( ▼ 0.58% )  $DAL ( ▲ 0.18% )  $FLYY ( ▼ 8.0% )  $JBLU ( ▼ 0.56% )  $LUV ( ▼ 0.63% )  $MESA ( ▲ 2.09% )  $RJET ( 0.0% )  $SNCY ( ▲ 1.95% )  $UAL ( ▲ 0.08% )  $ULCC ( ▼ 1.24% )  

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