Airline Weekly

01/09/2026

Boeing is cautiously increasing 737 production rates following enhanced FAA oversight after the Alaska Airlines incident, prioritizing quality and discipline over speed.

The company finalized its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems and is preparing to open a fourth 737 production line at Everett, with the next rate increase to 47 aircraft per month expected in 2026.

With a nearly 4,800 aircraft backlog and delivery slots sold out until 2030, Boeing is focusing on careful, sustainable growth in its narrowbody program.

Skift goes inside Boeing’s Renton 737 factory to examine how the company is rebuilding production, improving quality, and preparing to raise output.

01/07/2026

As airline CEOs prepared to ring in 2026, their LinkedIn New Year messages offered more than seasonal goodwill.

Some leaned into milestone storytelling and polished optimism, while others opted for granular scorecards of delivery and product improvements. One swapped a smart suit for playful pajamas and another delivered a near real-time account of capital restructuring, complete with regulatory frustration and all-caps typo-laden declarations.

With a handful of notable exceptions – more power to you, Tony Fernandes – it’s impossible to know which messages were personally written by CEOs and which were shaped by corporate social media teams.

Read on for the insights:

Skift analyzes LinkedIn New Year messages from 11 airline CEOs to uncover clues about leadership, culture, and airline strategy.

01/03/2026

U.S. airlines started canceling flights to the Caribbean Saturday after the FAA ordered all aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace.

The restrictions came as the Trump administration conducted strikes in the region that led to the removal and capture of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.

While U.S. carriers have not flown to Venezuela in years, the restrictions are causing disruptions on flights to popular tourist destinations like Puerto Rico, Aruba, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. airlines started canceling flights to the Caribbean Saturday after the FAA ordered all aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace.

01/01/2026

Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon sits down with Breeze CEO and aviation legend David Neeleman. In this fast-paced discussion, few topics are left on the table, as we hear Neeleman's views on everything from the health of the U.S. airline industry to sustainable aviation fuels.

Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon sits down with aviation legend David Neeleman. In this fast-paced discussion, few topics are

12/22/2025

New Airline Weekly Lounge Pod 🎧:

As Breeze Airways enters its fifth year of flying, Gordon and Jay discuss the challenges and opportunities for the David Neeleman-backed U.S. carrier. In part two, our attention turns to 2026, with a round-up of key industry topics to watch.

https://hubs.li/Q03YQx460

12/19/2025

Mexico’s two largest low-cost carriers are moving to combine forces. In details shared late Thursday evening, Volaris and Viva Aerobus outlined a new holding company structure to create the Mexican Airline Group.

This proposed merger of equals would allow both Volaris and Viva to continue operating independently. The companies said they will retain their existing brands, leadership teams, and operating certificates.

If approved, the merger would significantly reshape Mexico’s aviation landscape and position the brands as more formidable competitors to full-service flag carrier Aeromexico.

Volaris and Viva Aerobus announce a proposed merger, creating a new holding group while keeping both brands and operations independent.

12/18/2025

Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines and widely respected in the airline industry, is set to retire February 28, the carrier said Wednesday.

Hauenstein, 64, joined Delta in 2005 and became president of the airline in 2016. He has played a pivotal role in the carrier’s push into premium products, which has made Delta among the most profitable airlines in the U.S.

“Glen and his teams have been central to building our global network, driving our revenue premium, and establishing Delta as the top choice for travelers seeking premium experiences,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to staff.

Glen Hauenstein, a titan in the airline industry and the president of Delta Air Lines, is set to retire on February 28.

12/16/2025

Despite receiving billions of dollars in funding, flying taxis have long been stuck in no-man’s land, stranded by a maze of regulations.

The leading startups didn’t get much respect. “That’s great kids, come back when you’re ready to talk for real,” was how Joby chief product officer Eric Allison described his early reaction from the FAA.

But in this past year, the sector has experienced an almost seismic shift in attitude. Flying taxis are real and here to stay.

And you’ll be hearing a lot more about them in 2026.

https://hubs.li/Q03Y58XG0

12/15/2025

The holiday season is fast approaching, but we're still delivering a packed edition of Airline Weekly. Here's three reasons you can't miss the latest issue:

1) It’s that time again, with all of the numbers in, we exclusively reveal the results of our Airline Weekly Q3 profitability scoreboard. Who’s up? Who’s down? And who’s just about holding on?

2) 2025 was a tough year for American Airlines, but executives are hopeful that 2026 will bring a more profitable path. We’ve the latest insights from both the CEO and CFO.

3) David Neeleman launched Breeze with the promise of reinventing travel for underserved cities. But nearly five years on, it still hasn’t cracked annual profitability. In this week’s feature story, we ask what could come next.

Preview all our issues at https://hubs.li/Q03Y59rc0

12/13/2025

The global aviation industry’s decarbonization strategy is at risk, airline leaders warned on Wednesday, directly blaming European governments for policies that have stalled production and sent costs soaring.

“Europe’s fragmented policies distort markets, slow investment, and undermine efforts to scale sustainable aviation fuel production,” said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association. “Europe’s regulators must recognize that its approach is not working and urgently correct course.”

He warned that sustainable aviation fuel production is now expected to reach just 1.9 million tonnes — a sharp drop from earlier forecasts and only 0.7% of total jet fuel use.

Airlines say Europe's SAF mandates are driving up costs and stalling progress. With targets slipping, climate goals may be out of reach.

12/12/2025

EU regulators told 21 airlines last month that they can no longer use certain words or phrases about climate change and emissions during booking processes or on their websites. Their issue: They are misleading and could be considered greenwashing.

A Skift audit of the 21 airlines’ websites and booking process reveals variations in how carriers are responding.

The airlines involved include big players Lufthansa, Ryanair, EasyJet and Air France-KLM.

EU regulators told 21 airlines last month that they can no longer use certain words or phrases about climate change and emissions during booking processes The EU told 21 airlines to remove greenwashing claims from booking sites, targeting vague language about emissions, offsets, and sustainable avia...

12/11/2025

In this clip from Skift Aviation Forum, Breeze Airways Founder, Chairman, and CEO David Neeleman reflects on how much harder it is today for new airlines to break into the market. He compares the early JetBlue days, when live TV, leather seats, and that new plane feel dazzled travelers, with a landscape where the big three, plus carriers like Southwest and Alaska, have significantly raised the bar.

Read more here: https://hubs.li/Q03XqCsL0