Asiana Airlines (OZ) will resume daily flights from Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Phuket, Thailand (HKT) on July 25. This route, last flown two years ago, will be operated by Airbus A330-300 equipment.

UPDATE: Breeze Airways (MX) has obtained permission from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to split its Essential Air Service (EAS) four from Ogdensburg, N.Y. (OGS) to Washington Dulles (IAD). The route will now serve Washington 4x weekly rather than seven, while now adding 3x weekly flights to Raleigh, N.C. (RDU). Raleigh service starts on September 2.

We recently reported that Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) is increasing its relatively new 4x weekly Hong Kong (HKG) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) route to 7x weekly on October 26. Now EVA Air (BR) will increase its new service from Taipei (TPE) to Dallas/Fort Worth, set to start this fall at 3x weekly to daily on December 15.

Royal Air Maroc (AT) will resume a pair of twice weekly European routes last flown in 2020 from Casablanca (CMN): Zurich (ZRH) on September 17 and Munich (MUC) on October 20. Both routes will be flown by Boeing 737-800 equipment.

IndiGo (6E) has commenced its first long-haul opertaions, with a thrice weekly sector from Mumbai (BOM) and Manchester, England (MAN). This route is operated by a damp leased Norse Atlantic (N0) Boeing 787-9. IndiGo took pride of place as noted by Skytrax as the Best Airline in India and South Asia for 2025.

Delta Air Lines (DL) is extending its planned seasonal service from New York Kennedy (JFK) to Sarasota, Fla. (SRQ). This route was initially tipped for a fortnight’s run from December 20, but is now scheduled until early May.

American Airlines (AA) will run a short daily seasonal run from Charlotte (CLT) to Vail, Colorado. (EGE) between December 18 and January 5. An Airbus A319 has been dedicted to this route, last flown by US Airways in 2008.

Edelweiss Air (WK) will add twice weekly summer seasonal service, starting on June 1, from Zurich to Windhoek, Namibia (WDH). This route will be flown by Airbus A350-900 equipment.

Delta Air Lines is suspending two domestic routes from New York Kennedy from early January through early May: Memphis (MEM) and St. Louis (STL).

United Airlines (UA) is suspending two routes from San Jose, Calif. (SJC) for most of December and through the end of March: Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Houston Intercontinental (IAH). Additionally, service fron Denver (DEN) to Winnipeg (YWG) will go dark along the same time frame.

Air Canada (AC) will suspend service at Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX) this winter, with flights being suspend from November through March.

The FBI has issued a warning to U.S. airlines about an ongoing cyber threat from the hacking group known as “Scattered Spider.” This group employs sophisticated social engineering techniques, often impersonating employees or contractors to deceive IT help desks into granting unauthorized access. Their tactics include bypassing multi-factor authentication (MFA) by convincing help desk personnel to add unauthorized devices to compromised accounts. Once inside a network, they aim to steal sensitive data and deploy ransomware for extortion purposes. The FBI is actively collaborating with aviation partners to address this activity, noting that while airline safety has not been impacted, the threat remains significant. Recent victims include Hawaiian Airlines (HA) and Canada’s WestJet (WS), though neither airline has confirmed the group’s involvement. 

In June 2025, Qantas (QF) experienced a significant cybersecurity breach when hackers accessed a third-party platform used by its contact center, compromising personal data of up to 6 million customers. The stolen information included names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and frequent flyer numbers, though financial and passport details were reportedly unaffected. The breach is suspected to be linked to the Scattered Spider ransomware group, which has previously targeted the aviation sector. Qantas promptly secured the affected system and is collaborating with authorities to investigate the incident. 

Clear membership has increase from $199 to $209 as of Tuesday. Clear allows members to bypass standard TSA ID checks and proceed directly to a biometric screening line and/or the head of the passenger queue at the screening checkpoint.

A man from Fort Lauderdale has been fined $60,000 by the TSA after attempting to bribe airport security staff and sneaking onto a Southwest Airlines (WN) flight without being screened. The incident occurred in February 2024 at Fort Lauderdale (FLL) when the man, arriving late for his flight, offered TSA officers $50 to let him bypass the screening process. After being denied, he slipped past a secure door and boarded the aircraft without proper security checks. The TSA later located him on the plane, removed him, and issued the civil penalty for multiple security violations.

Turkish Airlines (TK) will add 10x weekly flights from Istanbul (IST) to London Stansted (STN) on March 18. Airbus A321neo aircraft will be rostered on this route, which will be Turkish’s third in London after Gatwick (LGW) and Heathrow (LHR).

Oman Air (WY) officially became the 15th member of the one world alliance on Monday.

Las Vegas (LAS) based Allegiant Air (G4) reported a 9.2 percent year-on-year (yoy) increase in May passenger traffic, with the carrier transporting 1,545,033 passengers in May 2025. Allegiant filled 80.3 percent of its available revenue seats during the month, which was down over four percent from the prior year. Allegiant flew 11,174 flights in May, with an average stage length of 884 miles.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear American Airlines’ (AA) appeal seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that dismantled the Northeast Alliance (NEA) with JetBlue Airways (B6). The alliance, which allowed the two carriers to coordinate flights and schedules in the northeastern United States, was previously struck down after a federal judge determined it violated antitrust laws by reducing competition. The Supreme Court’s decision leaves in place the May 2023 ruling that ended the partnership, marking a significant legal defeat for American Airlines in its efforts to maintain the alliance.

Irish discounter Ryanair (FR) reported a record-breaking June 2025, carrying 19.3 million passengers with a load factor of 96 percent. This represents a nine percent increase in traffic compared to June 2024. The airline operated over 106,000 flights during the month, benefiting from strong summer travel demand and its expanding route network. Ryanair continues to lead European carriers in monthly passenger volume, solidifying its position as Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, with 202.6 million in the last 12 months.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its 2024 airline industry profitability forecast upward, projecting a net profit of $30.5 billion for the year, compared to the $27.4 billion forecast in December 2023. Total airline revenue is expected to reach $996 billion, with passenger demand projected to grow by 11 percent. Industry net profit margins will remain slim at 3.1 percent, with average profit per passenger at just $6.14. IATA highlighted strong consumer demand for air travel as the key driver but warned that challenges remain, including high costs, limited capacity growth due to supply chain constraints, and ongoing geopolitical risks.

Vietnam Airlines (VN) has suspended the flight crews of two aircraft involved in a recent ground collision at Hanoi (HAN). The incident occurred when one Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321’s wingtip struck another A321 while taxiing. No injuries were reported, but both aircraft sustained damage. The airline is cooperating with authorities and conducting its own internal investigation.

Scandinavian Airlines (SY) has announced a record order for 55 Embraer E-Jet aircraft, including 45 firm orders and 10 purchase rights for E195-E2 models, as part of its fleet renewal and growth strategy. The new jets will primarily replace older regional aircraft and enhance SAS’s connectivity across Scandinavia and Europe. Deliveries are set to begin in 2026, with the E195-E2 offering improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and reduced noise. This marks the largest single Embraer order by a European airline to date and aligns with SAS’s goal to modernize its fleet and improve operational sustainability.

New York spotters may be disappointed to learn that Asiana Airlines (OZ) will downgauge the Seoul Incheon (ICN) to New York Kennedy route from the Airbus A380 to A350 from September 4 - 30.

Late last month, an Air France (AF) passenger sparked controversy after being detained upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The incident began when the passenger requested water approximately three minutes before landing, a time when flight attendants are required to be seated for safety reasons. After her request was denied, she took unauthorized photos of the crew, violating French privacy laws. The situation escalated, leading to police intervention upon landing. The passenger later posted videos on social media alleging discrimination, which were subsequently removed for violating platform guidelines.

UPDATE: Memphis International Airport (MEM) is set to be renamed in honor of the late FedEx (FX) founder, Frederick W. Smith, who passed away on June 21, 2025, at the age of 80. The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority unanimously approved the resolution to rename the airport last week, acknowledging Smith’s transformative impact on the city and the global logistics industry. Smith established FedEx in Memphis in 1973, turning the city into a major logistics hub and significantly boosting its economy. The renaming process is underway, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, with further details to be announced as they become available.

According to IATA’s latest report, global air travel demand in May 2025 rose 10.7 percent compared to May 2024, with total traffic reaching 98.3 percent of pre-pandemic levels from May 2019. International traffic grew by 14.6 percent, with airlines in all regions reporting growth, while domestic traffic increased by 4.7 percent. The strongest international growth was seen in Asia-Pacific carriers, up 27 percent, followed by Middle Eastern and European airlines. North American carriers saw a 5.5 percent rise in international demand. IATA noted that despite ongoing infrastructure challenges and supply chain constraints, demand remains strong, driven by consumer preference for travel.

Nine baggage handlers at Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) have been arrested for their involvement in a major drug smuggling operation valued at approximately USD 14.7 million. Authorities allege the group exploited their airside access to move large quantities of methamphetamine through the airport. The arrests followed a six-month investigation involving surveillance and cooperation between police, customs, and other agencies. Additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.

ANIMAL CRUELTY: Charges have been withdrawn against Allison Lyn Gaiser, the woman accused of abandoning her French bulldog at Pittsburgh (PIT) in August 2023. Prosecutors dropped the charges after Gaiser agreed to pay nearly $2,000 in restitution to cover the dog’s care and related costs. The incident gained national attention when airport surveillance showed Gaiser leaving the dog near a parking lot after being denied boarding due to not having an appropriate carrier. The dog was later safely rehomed, and Gaiser had faced misdemeanor animal cruelty charges before the case was resolved through restitution.

SICKO SENTENCED: Brian Walker, 52, of Bradenton, Fla., was sentenced on June 25 to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material. Walker, a former Southwest Airlines flight attendant, pled guilty on March 25, 2025. According to court documents, Walker contacted a 12-year-old female living in his community over a social media application. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took over the minor’s social media account and engaged in chats with Walker in an undercover capacity. Walker engaged in sexual conversations with the undercover agent, whom he believed to be the 12-year-old female, and attempted to coerce and entice her to engage in sexual activity. Within the conversations, Walker shared his attraction to 12-year-old females and expressed his desire to meet in person. On June 24, 2024, Walker travelled to meet the minor in person at the community pool and was arrested at the scene. Law enforcement seized a cell phone from Walker and located hundreds of images and videos of minors, including those under the age of 12 years, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

🇶🇦 A7-BUB, a Boeing 787-8, was delivered to Qatar Airways (QR) on June 28. This frame was delivered new to Oman Air (WY) in November 2015 and is being leased to Qatar Airways.

🇨🇦 C-FDUY, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Air Canada (AC) on June 28.

🇨🇭 HB-IHC, an Airbus A350-941, was delivered to Edelweiss Air (WK) on July 1.

🇺🇸 N3260J, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to JetBlue Airways on July 1.

🇺🇸 N669FR, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to Frontier Airlines (F9) on July 1.

🇺🇸 N8961K, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines on June 30.

🇺🇸 N944DL, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, was delivered to Everts Air Cargo (5V) on June 27. This frame was delivered to Delta Air Lines (DL) in August 1989 and placed into storage in November 2018.

🇦🇺 VH-OGA, an Airbus A321-271 XLR, was delivered to Qantas on June 30.

🇫🇷 F-HSKY, an Airbus A330-343 with Corsair (SS), was wfu and ferried on July 2 to Marana, Ariz. (MZJ) where it was returned to its lessor.

🇬🇧 G-GATJ, an Airbus A320-232 with British Airways (BA), was wfu and ferried on June 30 to Glamorgan, Wales (DGX) for part-out and scrap.

🇦🇷 LV-CBT, a Boeing 737-76N with Aerolineas Argentinas (AR), was wfu and ferried on June 28 to Greenwood, Miss. (GWO) for part-out and scrap.

🇧🇷 PR-MYC, an Airbus A319-112 with Latam Brasil (JJ), was wfu and ferried on July 1 to Glamorgan, Wales for part-out and scrap.

🇦🇺 VH-VUI, a Boeing 737-8FE with Virgin Australia (VA), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on June 29 to Coolidge, Ariz. (P08) for part-out and scrap.

$AAL ( ▲ 0.52% )  $ALGT ( ▲ 2.05% )  $ALK ( ▲ 0.33% )  $BA ( ▲ 1.84% )  $DAL ( ▲ 1.46% )  $FLYY ( ▲ 4.07% )  $JBLU ( ▼ 0.22% )  $LUV ( ▲ 0.27% )  $MESA ( ▲ 0.03% )  $RJET ( 0.0% )  $SNCY ( ▲ 0.88% )  $UAL ( ▲ 1.67% )  $ULCC ( ▲ 3.49% )