In many locations, November, December, January, and February offer harsh weather conditions. These winter months can lead to disruptions which could tempt travelers to stay inside and wait for more welcoming spring conditions. Whether it’s a holiday vacation to see family and friends or a much-needed winter getaway to a warmer climate, the FlightAware app can help travelers navigate winter travel challenges and delays. Using FlightAware to Make Your Next Trip Go Smoothly. (blog.flightaware.com) More...
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Boeing 717 that will have a material impact on the operations of at least two US airlines. The AD was prompted by the investigation into a 2023 incident with a Delta Air Lines 717 that landed without nose landing gear, and requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the upper lock link assembly. The AD will impact nearly 100 Boeing 717s that are currently active with Delta and Hawaiian Airlines.… (www.msn.com) More...
Kuala Lumpur International Airport has seen just about everything, but nothing quite prepared it for the morning in December 2015 when it woke up on the front pages of newspapers around the world. The story was too strange to ignore. Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad had taken out an advert in The Star politely asking the public a question no major airport should ever have to ask. In plain print, beneath three photos of jumbo jets, it basically said: if these Boeing 747s are yours, please come… (luxurylaunches.com) More...
The Bell 206 made its first flight on December 8, 1962, starting life as the Army’s YOH-4—an aircraft that initially lost out in military testing. But Bell saw potential where others didn’t. After a complete redesign and a new name, the JetRanger went on to become a favorite of pilots, police departments, news crews, and operators around the globe. More than 7,000 built later, it remains one of the most recognizable and successful light helicopters ever created. (vintageaviationnews.com) More...
Air India received a surprise parking bill of nearly 10 million rupees (about $120,000) after rediscovering a long-lost Boeing 737-200 that had been quietly sitting in a remote corner of India’s Kolkata Airport for more than a decade — a jet that somehow slipped entirely out of the memory of anyone at the airline. The aircraft, registered VT-EHH, was taken out of service and parked on a remote pad at Kolkata Airport in 2012. Over the years, staff turnover and record-keeping gaps meant the jet… (www.aerotime.aero) More...
Airbus has called for immediate precautionary action across all global operators of A320 Family aircraft following the discovery of a rare but critical vulnerability linked to intense solar radiation. (aeroxplorer.com) More...
A pilot ejected safely as an F-16 fighter jet from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team crashed on a dry lake bed in San Bernardino County on Wednesday, Dec. 3, officials said. The fiery crash was reported shortly before 11 a.m. along Trona Road in Trona, about three miles south of Trona Airport and about 25 miles northeast of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Air Force officials. (www.desertsun.com) More...
This month marks a major milestone in aviation history: the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Douglas DC-3. Introduced in 1935, the aircraft revolutionized commercial air travel, reshaped military airlift capabilities, and cemented its place as one of the most enduring and influential airplanes ever built. Nine decades later, the DC-3 remains an icon-still flying, still inspiring, and still central to a vibrant community dedicated to preserving its legacy. That community has evolved… (www.msn.com) More...
Spirit Aviation will transfer two airport gates to American Airlines for $30 million after a judge at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the company's request on Monday. In August, Spirit filed for bankruptcy for a second time as it grappled with dwindling cash reserves and mounting losses. The company has already exited 14 airports and rejected leases for over 80 aircraft. As part of its network optimization, Spirit determined it no longer needs all… (www.msn.com) More...
After 11 years working together, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Disney/Lucasfilm are winding down their Star Wars movie partnership. ANA has opened up a lottery to allow up to 80 people (40 ANA Mileage Club members and one accompanying guest each) to have the chance to view the C-3PO skinned aircraft one last time at its Haneda maintenance hangar before the livery is decommissioned. (www.gatechecked.com) More...
Boeing has been under intense public scrutiny in recent years, largely due to high-profile issues involving the 737 Max and ongoing quality-control concerns with the 787 Dreamliner. These headlines have fueled a perception that Boeing aircraft may be less safe than Airbus jets. However, a closer look at hard data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) tells a very different story—one where both manufacturers operate at extremely low accident rates. (airguide.info) More...
Airbus is imposing new cold-weather operating restrictions on certain A320neo aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines, the company confirmed Friday Nov. 28, following an earlier report by aviation outlet aeroTELEGRAPH. The manufacturer said it has updated ground-handling and engine-operation procedures to ensure safe performance when temperatures drop below freezing. (airguide.info) More...
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will waive the remaining $11 million in fines Southwest Airlines owed as part of a record $140 million penalty over its operational meltdown during holiday travel in 2022. “In lieu of a payment of an $11 million civil penalty to the government, this order provides Southwest with an $11 million credit for significantly improving its on-time performance and completion factor through its $112.4 million investment in its Network Operations Control… (www.msn.com) More...
A Beijing court has ordered Malaysia Airlines to compensate several families of passengers who were onboard missing flight MH370, ruling that the carrier must pay more than 2.9 million yuan ($410,240) per case, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The judgments apply to eight cases involving eight passengers. (airguide.info) More...
Alaska Airlines is reportedly planning to open a new crew base in Southern California. The Anchorage Daily News reported that the airline will open a 737 base in San Diego on June 1, 2026. The carrier expects to station up to 250 captains and first officers there, the newspaper said. As part of the expansion, Alaska will hire 90 new first officers during the first quarter of 2026, though they will not all be based in San Diego. The airline acknowledged that, to fully staff San Diego, pilots will… (www.msn.com) More...
Pegasus Airlines has signed an agreement to acquire Czech Airlines and its subsidiary Smartwings for €154 million as part of its global expansion strategy. The deal, announced Monday, includes both airlines and related receivables. The transaction remains subject to mandatory regulatory approvals and other transfer conditions. Pegasus Airlines, established in 1990, currently operates flights to 158 destinations across 55 countries with one of the world’s youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets.… (www.investing.com) More...
Qantas welcomed its tenth and final Airbus A380 aircraft back to Sydney on December 2, 2025, ending a nearly six-year storage period that began during the COVID pandemic (www.aerotime.aero) More...
There has been an ongoing war of words between United Airlines and American Airlines regarding service at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, a major transit hub for both companies. The two carriers are jockeying for customers and airspace and it has led to pointed public comments from both sides. Last week, American Airlines vice chairman and chief strategy officer Steve Johnson spoke in front of an assembly of the company's Chicago workers. During the conversation, Johnson sent a… (www.msn.com) More...
The Switchblade Flying Car is back in the headlines, this time for a patent that tackles one of the biggest engineering hurdles in the flying car world. (avgeekery.com) More...
The FAA has named Peraton as the prime integrator for a sweeping, multi-year effort to replace the United States’ aging air traffic control infrastructure. (www.aerotime.aero) More...
Investors in the U.S. airline sector had a choppy year, with the Dow Jones US Airlines Index (DJUSAR) underperforming the S&P 500 Index by a wide margin. The major concerns centered on rising costs, weaker-than-hoped demand/pricing, and balance sheet risk, even as travel volume stayed solid and jet fuel prices eased. Looking ahead to 2026, Deutsche Bank thinks the U.S. airline industry is preparing for a new year that will see upside from modest domestic capacity increases, a healthy pricing… (www.msn.com) More...
Air Transat has received a 72-hour strike notice from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing the company's 700 pilots. (dcnewsroom.blogspot.com) More...
Boeing has officially completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, bringing one of its largest suppliers in-house and marking a major shift in the company’s commercial and defense operations. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg described the move as a pivotal moment for the manufacturer, emphasizing the focus on stability, high-quality aircraft production, and strengthened aftermarket and defense capabilities as integration begins. (airguide.info) More...
Venezuela has authorised the resumption of US-operated migrant repatriation flights, reversing course just days after announcing the program’s suspension amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The flights — operated by Eastern Airlines with a Boeing 777-200ER — will continue operating between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport. (airguide.info) More...
The U.S. Navy has announced plans to host a virtual Industry Day in late January, inviting defense contractors and technology firms to submit innovative solutions to modernize its critical MH-60R and MH-60S multi-mission helicopter fleet. (dcnewsroom.blogspot.com) More...
India’s new pilot-fatigue rules triggered massive roster strain at IndiGo, leading to 900+ cancellations and severe nationwide delays. IndiGo admits planning failures and now seeks exemptions as stricter rest, night-duty, and flight-hour limits expose crew shortages. Expect ongoing cancellations and reduced schedules as IndiGo cuts operations to match staffing, with gradual recovery into early 2026. India’s largest airline IndiGo (6E-IGO) has cancelled over 900 flights in just four days, causing… (www.flightradar24.com) More...
A distinguished U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet, a veteran of countless training flights, is set to undertake an unusual cross-country journey, not through the skies it once dominated, but by road. (dcnewsroom.blogspot.com) More...
Artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era of accuracy and safety in aircraft weight and balance (W&B) management. Aviation innovators are developing advanced, on-aircraft systems that deliver precise real-time measurements—reducing reliance on manual calculations and minimizing the risks associated with human error. (airguide.info) More...
Air traffic controllers at Islamabad International Airport (ISB) prevented a potentially catastrophic runway incident after stopping a Saudi Airlines Boeing 777-300ER moments before it attempted to land on a runway closed for maintenance. The near miss comes as Pakistan and India both investigate separate runway-misalignment incidents involving foreign carriers, raising renewed concerns over pilot situational awareness and adherence to NOTAMs across the region. (airguide.info) More...
JetBlue is adding temporary routes to and from its hub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to accommodate spring break travelers. The airline said it will offer flights to six destinations it does not ordinarily serve from Fort Lauderdale: Denver; Dallas/Fort Worth; Bozeman, Montana; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City; and Jacksonville, Florida. JetBlue will also connect Fort Lauderdale with Portland, Maine, during the week of Patriots' Day, which is observed in eight U.S. states, most notably in Maine… (www.msn.com) More...
A new review of aviation safety standards is calling for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and trained flight crews on all commercial aircraft to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest in the air. Although in-flight cardiac arrest (IFCA) accounts for less than 1% of medical emergencies, it remains the leading cause of in-flight fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for standardized equipment and training across airlines. (airguide.info) More...
The lawsuits allege negligence and name multiple defendants, including UPS, engine manufacturer General Electric, Boeing (which acquired the aircraft’s original manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas) (www.flyingmag.com) More...
The retirement marks a significant step in KLM’s €7 billion fleet renewal programme, which will see its European Boeing 737 fleet replaced by the Airbus A321neo. (www.aviation24.be) More...
Allegiant Air's pilots' union is blocking the airline's attempt to secure permanent residency for dozens of foreign pilots from Chile, Australia and Singapore, leaving their immigration status - and the company's staffing - in limbo. The union has refused to certify to the U.S. Department of Labor that the pilot positions, which start at about $50,000 a year, about half of what pilots at other regional airlines earn, meet "prevailing wage" standards. That… (www.msn.com) More...
Sun Country Airlines will establish a new base at Cincinnati International Airport, an important Amazon logistics hub, with operations set to begin on January 31, 2026. The base will initially support the carrier’s expanding cargo division, which operates twenty Boeing 737-800BCFs exclusively for Amazon’s Prime Air network. (airguide.info) More...
While 2025 has brought with it countless airline bankruptcies as smaller carriers struggle to compete for passengers and the rising cost of operations, the closure of an entire airport is a more drastic step that usually comes amid a major change in demand or redevelopment in a given area. Over in Belgium, calls to permanently shut down Antwerp International (DNR) known locally as Duerne have increased in recent months as it goes largely unused by all but charter airlines given the proximity of… (www.thestreet.com) More...
A battery fire onboard an Air China flight has renewed attention on the growing risk posed by lithium power banks and the strict safety rules airlines are enforcing to prevent in-flight fires. The incident occurred on Oct. 18, about 30 minutes after takeoff, when a lithium battery inside a passenger’s carry-on bag suddenly ignited in the overhead compartment of an Airbus A321 operating as Air China Flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Seoul. (airguide.info) More...
Spirit is reversing course on plans to furlough hundreds more pilots early next year. In a statement, the ultra-low-cost carrier said it is no longer moving forward with a previously announced furlough of 365 pilots, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 31, 2026. The airline did not give a reason for canceling the furloughs. Spirit is also lowering the number of captains downgraded to first officers from 170 to 25. Spirit has furloughed hundreds of pilots in an effort to contain costs since… (www.msn.com) More...
Airlines around the world are facing an acute shortage of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, yet a growing number of nearly new jets—some only six years old—are being stripped for parts and effectively scrapped. This contradiction is emerging at the very moment when carriers urgently need more A320-family aircraft, Airbus is increasing production rates, and leasing companies are struggling to keep fleets in service. (airguide.info) More...
