All articles by Howard Hardee
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Airline BusinessAllegiant expects full-year capacity decline partially due to 737 Max delivery delays
US leisure carrier Allegiant Air issued a conservative outlook for the first quarter and full year, pointing to a ”modest delay” of 737 Max 8 deliveries from Boeing and a shaky demand outlook.
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Airline BusinessLATAM reinforces dominant position with strong revenue, capacity growth
LATAM Airlines Group reported a 50% surge in net profit to $1.5 billion for 2025 as the Chilean company consolidated its position as Latin America’s dominant airline operator.
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NewsVenezuelan carrier Laser Airlines renews push to launch Miami routes with MD-80s
Venezuelan carrier Laser Airlines has filed an updated application for a US foreign air carrier permit, seeking to launch twice-daily passenger services between Caracas and Miami with its ageing McDonnell Douglas MD-80 fleet.
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NewsTrump threatens to ‘de-certify’ thousands of Canadian-manufactured aircraft over Gulfstream dispute
Canadian-made aircraft have drawn the ire of US President Donald Trump, who is threatening to “de-certify” Canadian aircraft and levy a 50% tariff on those sold in the USA – unless Canada issues certifications for US-manufactured Gulfstream jets.
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NewsAmerican signals plan to restore Venezuela flights as US officials move to lift commercial ban
American Airlines has positioned itself to be the first US airline to resume passenger service to Venezuela following the Trump administration’s directive to re-open the country’s airspace to commercial flights.
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Airline BusinessSouthwest not ‘copying’ rival US airlines with assigned seating and baggage fees: CEO Jordan
Southwest is rejecting suggestions that recent product changes have stripped away the carrier’s identity, insisting the moves reflect evolving customer preferences rather than mimicking competitors.
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NewsCEO Isom: American ‘best in business’ at operational recovery as flight cancellations continue
American has cancelled 480 flights – 16% of its daily schedule – days after a winter storm battered its Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte hubs, while competitors Delta and United have returned to normal operations.
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NewsDelta reaches agreement for 31 Airbus A330 and A350 widebody jets
Delta Air Lines has doubled down on its long-haul fleet commitment, hot on the heels of a recent deal for 30 Boeing 787s.
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Airline BusinessJetBlue continues streak of full-year losses amid turnaround plan
JetBlue Airways never expected to grow or be profitable in 2025, a year that saw the East Coast leisure carrier purposefully curb capacity as it enacted major strategic changes.
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Airline BusinessAmerican expects profit jump in 2026 despite early weather-related setback
Despite sharing a poor earnings outlook for the first quarter – thanks in no small part to a major winter storm that pummelled much of the USA over the weekend – American Airlines still expects to be profitable for the full year of 2026.
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NewsAmerican reeling from largest weather-related disruption in airline’s history
While all US airlines were impacted by the storm to some degree – with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines both suffering from major network disruptions – American appears to be the hardest-hit carrier.
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NewsGol names interim board chair following death of founder Constantino de Oliveira Junior
Brazilian carrier Gol has confirmed the death of its founder and board chairman Constantino de Oliveira Junior, who reportedly succumbed to cancer in São Paulo on 24 January.
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NewsUS airline operations seized by icy grip of winter storm Fern
US airlines have been seized by the most widespread operational disruptions since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic as much of the country has been pummelled by a punishing winter storm.
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NewsOperational disruptions could snowball as US airlines brace for impact of winter storm
Major US carriers have cancelled hundreds of flights on 24 January as heavy snow and ice is forecast to hit airports across the Southeast and Midwest.
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Airline BusinessAlaska Air Group sticks to long-range goals after choppy 2025
Alaska Air Group has committed to purchasing 105 Boeing 737 Max 10s and five 787s as part of its strategy to establish itself as the USA’s fourth major international carrier, despite reporting reduced profits following operational disruptions in 2025.
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NewsAir Europa firms order for up to 40 A350-900s
Spanish carrier Air Europa has finalised an order for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s, confirming a significant strategic shift away from its current Boeing 787 and 737 fleet.
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NewsSouthwest completes 737-700 cabin modifications for assigned seating launch
Southwest Airlines has completed cabin modifications across its Boeing 737-700 fleet, removing one row of seats from each aircraft ahead of launching assigned seating and extra-legroom options on 27 January.
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Airline BusinessUnited targets revenue leadership as Delta’s commercial architect prepares to retire
United chief Scott Kirby has suggested his carrier could overtake Delta Air Lines as the world’s top airline by revenue, citing the imminent retirement of Delta’s president Glen Hauenstein as a potential tipping point in the rivalry between the USA’s two dominant carriers.
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NewsUnited set to take 20 Boeing 787 deliveries in 2026
United Airlines is set to receive 20 Boeing 787 aircraft in 2026, marking the largest annual widebody delivery to a US passenger carrier in nearly four decades as the carrier continues its aggressive international expansion.
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NewsBreeze leadership accused of anti-union tactics in ALPA lawsuit
The union representing Breeze Airways pilots is suing the airline for “bad faith, anti-union conduct” amid stalled contract negotiations, pointing specifically at the airline’s chief executive David Neeleman.