Airlines

Airlines
United adds new European cities to list of destinations
United Airlines has announced the expansion of their summer 2026 schedule, with new flights to four European cities. The services will head to Croatia, Italy, Scotland and Spain, launching on staggered dates from May of next year. The nonstop flights will take off from United's hub in Newark Airport, New York to Split, Croatia; Bari, Italy; Glasgow, Scotland and Santiago de Compostela, Spain, starting from May 8, May 27 and September 4 respectively. Existing weekly flights to Tel Aviv, Seoul and Reykjavik are also being increase "United has an unmatched international network, and we pride ourselves on connecting our customers to unique, trendsetting destinations no other U.S. airline serves," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. “With the addition of these new flights and the return of all of our new routes from last year, United now flies to 46 cities across the Atlantic - more than any other airline - and is the clear flag carrier of the U.S.”
Airlines
Delta beats estimates with strong premium ticket sales
Delta Air Lines surpassed estimates on revenue and earnings per share last quarter, supported by strong premium ticket sales. Revenue last quarter was a third quarter record of US$15.20 billion, rising 4.1% year-over-year and beating LSEG estimates of $15.06 billion. Earnings per share were $1.71, up 14% and passing estimates of $1.53. “Delta's competitive advantages and differentiation have never been more evident, and thanks to the hard work of our people, we continue to elevate the customer experience and extend our industry leadership. We delivered September quarter results at the top end of our expectations on a combination of strong execution and improving fundamentals," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. "Momentum is continuing into the final stretch of our Centennial year, positioning us to deliver strong December quarter earnings. Looking to 2026, Delta is well positioned to deliver top-line growth, margin expansion and earnings improvement consistent with our long-term financial framework.” Passenger revenue rose by 3% to $13.51 billion, while cargo revenue was up 19% to $233 million. Other revenue increased by 24% to $2.93 billion. Premium ticket revenue was up 9% to $5.80 billion, and main cabin ticket revenue d
Airlines
Air traffic controller shortages causing flight delays
A shortage in air traffic controllers is causing an increase in flight delays and cancellations, as the United States government shutdown enters a second week. Around 10,000 flights were delayed on Monday and Tuesday, but disruptions dropped to just over 2,500 on Wednesday. While there have also been weather issues that have contributed to the delays, the FAA has prompted Burbank, California, Nashville and others to halt or slow arrivals due to the staffing shortages. “As Secretary Duffy said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system,” the FAA statement said. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that there has been a “slight uptick” in sick calls of air traffic controllers. He also said the shutdown has exacerbated concerns about the strain on air traffic controllers. “Nearly 11,000 fully certified controllers remain on the job, many working 10-hour shifts as many as six days a week, showing extraordinary dedication to safely guiding millions of passengers to their destinations—all without getting paid during this shutdown,” the air traffic controllers’ union, the National Air Traffic Controllers
Airlines
Ryanair to scrap paper boarding passes in digital shift
Ryanair will eliminate paper boarding passes and airport check-in desks from 12 November as the airline moves to a fully digital system. From that date, passengers will be required to generate their boarding passes through the “myRyanair” app during check-in, replacing the option to print at home or collect a paper version at the airport. The budget airline said that nearly 80% of its customers already use digital boarding passes, and the change mirrors shifts in other industries such as music and sporting events, which have embraced digital-only ticketing. "Ryanair’s move to 100% digital boarding passes will mean a faster, smarter, and greener travel experience for our customers, streamlined through our best-in-class ‘myRyanair’ app, where passengers will also benefit from helpful in-app features, like Order to Seat and live flight information,” said Dara Brady, the carrier’s chief marketing officer. The airline has been pursuing a wider digital transformation, having recently introduced in-app options including seat service ordering, real-time flight updates, and disruption alerts from Ryanair’s Operations Centre. The push toward digitisation reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry. While no U.S. carr
Airlines
Vietnam's new airport starts calibration flights
Vietnam’s new international airport has begun calibration flights ahead of its 2026 opening, which will see it eventually accommodate 100 million passengers each year. Long Thanh International Airport will be located 40 kilometres east of Ho Chi Minh City, and is intended to relieve traffic at the city’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. “On September 26, 2025, Long Thanh International Airport marked a significant milestone in its preparation to bring the country's largest airport into operation by conducting its first official calibration flight,” wrote the Airports Corporation of Vietnam. “Long Thanh International Airport is set to become one of the leading modern international airports in the region, making a significant contribution to the nation's aviation and socio-economic development strategy.” Long Thanh will cover more than 5,000 hectares, making it the country’s largest by land area. It will also be Vietnam’s largest airport by capacity once fully complete, as its capacity is eventually expected to expand from 2.6 million annual passengers at its opening to 100 million passengers. Calibration flights will take place until 24 October to test the airport’s aviation equipment systems. Vietnam’s Air Traffic

Airlines
Electric air-taxis to be produced at Cotswold Airport
A company developing an all-electric air taxi is hoping to gain certification for commercial use by 2028. Vertical Aerospace (VA) is a Bristol-based company aiming to establish a factory at Cotswold Airport to produce 25 flying taxis, known as the VX4, annually. It would also build a new battery facility next to its research and development centre in Avonmouth to triple production of VX4 battery packs. The company also said the air-taxis could be ready for commercial use by 2028 if it secures US$700 million in funding. Alongside UK production, VA is still considering international locations for full production, which it plans to ramp up to 900 aircraft a year by 2035, but a final decision is expected next year. The air-taxis, or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) have been in the works for a while. They are designed to take off like a helicopter and not only promise to be quieter, cheaper and emission-free but are also designed to land right in the heart of the city. They will also have a 161km range and the ability to carry up to six passengers. "These things work. We know we can certify this," VA chief executive Stuart Simpson said at a webinar in New York on Wednesday. "Our craft has
Airlines
Europe airport disruptions caused by ransomware attack
Airport check-in system disruptions across Europe were caused by a ransomware attack, according to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). The cyberattack led to delays at London Heathrow, Brussels, Dublin, and Berlin airports over the weekend after check-in kiosks were taken offline. The attack targeted Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and baggage systems. “The type of ransomware has been identified. Law enforcement is involved to investigate,” said ENISA. ENISA did not say if it had identified the origin of the ransomware attack. During ransomware attacks, an attacker locks the victim’s software until a ransom is paid. London Heathrow reported 1,347 flights were delayed from Saturday to Monday, according to FlightAware. Disruptions at Dublin Airport have extended into a third day, with airlines operating in its Terminal 2 issuing boarding passes manually. Nearly 1,100 flights were delayed at Dublin Airport from Saturday to Monday, having also been disrupted by an evacuation after a passenger’s luggage triggered a security alert. Check-in systems at Berlin and Brussels airports had similarly not been restored by Monday. Collins Aerospace’s cMUSE software, which allows multiple airlines
Airlines
London Gatwick plans for second runway approved
The British government said it has approved a second runway at London Gatwick Airport. It approved the new 2.2 million pound (US$2.96 million) runway after revealing in February that it was ‘minded to approve’ the development that would bring its backup runway to full use and add millions of new passengers in the 2030s. The airport currently handles around 280,000 flights a year, and the plan would allow that number to increase to 389,000 by the end of the 2030s. A Department for Transport spokesperson said transport minister Heidi Alexander had issued a letter approving the airport's application to expand operations through routine use of its existing northern runway after careful consideration. Stewart Wingate, U.K. Managing Director of VINCI Airports, which owns a 50.1% stake in London Gatwick Airport, welcomed the approval ahead of the 27 October deadline. “This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2 billion investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK and create thousands of jobs,” he said. “As we’ve said previously, it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realis
Airlines
Spirit to cut flights by 25% after second bankruptcy
Spirit Airlines plans to cut flights by 25% from November, as it works to recover from its second bankruptcy in nine months. Its CEO Dave Davis also signalled incoming layoffs in a memo to employees. The budget airline filed for bankruptcy a second time in August, after declaring a first bankruptcy in November. “As planning begins, you will see a reduction of about 25% in capacity, year over year, as we optimise our network to focus on our strongest markets,” wrote Davis. “These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline.” Spirit emerged from its first bankruptcy in March after lowering its debt by around US$800 million. The company said when declaring its second bankruptcy last month that it would also need to reduce its presence in some markets and cut its fleet size. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said this week that United would not bid for Spirit’s fleet assets. In July, Spirit said that it would furlough 270 pilots from 1 November, and downgrade a further 140 pilots to first officer from 1 October. It also cut 200 jobs in January. The airline reported a net loss of $245.83 million last quarter, and saw operating revenues shrink by around $261 million y