CNBC
• Leslie Josephs
United Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways are offering fee-free changes on eligible Northeast flights as an early-season nor’easter brings heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding. The storm is expected to pressure airline and airport operations, particularly across New England, although disruptions remained limited as of Friday morning.
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United Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways are offering fee-free changes on eligible Northeast flights as an early-season nor’easter brings heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding. The storm is expected to pressure airline and airport operations, particularly across New England, although disruptions remained limited as of Friday morning.
SATS is piloting autonomous cargo vehicles carrying up to 800 kilograms between Changi terminals and freight forwarders’ warehouses, while Singapore Airlines and DHL Express renew an agreement covering five Boeing 777 freighters. SIA will continue providing crews and maintenance for DHL’s Singapore-based intercontinental network.
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An AAIB report says a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 conducted three windshear escape maneuvers and was repeatedly diverted during Storm Amy before landing at Manchester with 363 kilograms of fuel. The investigation also identified a breakdown in air traffic control communications that left the aircraft circling during the serious incident.
Ethiopian Airlines has suspended scheduled flights from Addis Ababa to Mekelle, Axum and Shire in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region after Tigrayan forces reportedly took control of Mekelle airport. The disruption underscores renewed security risks and threatens air access to a region already facing instability and constrained essential services.
Muan International Airport is expected to remain closed through the second half of 2027, extending the disruption to airport operations and regional connectivity. The prolonged closure will require airlines, passengers and other aviation stakeholders to plan around the facility’s continued unavailability.
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Ethiopian Airlines suspended service to Mekelle, Axum and Shire after regional forces seized Mekelle Airport amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. The cancellations underscore the immediate operational impact of deteriorating security conditions on air connectivity to Tigray.
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Airports worldwide handled a record 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, with international traffic up 6.1% and domestic traffic up 1.7%, while U.S. regional airlines accounted for all growth in scheduled passenger departures. ACI says traffic has since slowed markedly, including a 21% Middle East decline in early 2026.
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A communications failure and severed fiber line at Philadelphia TRACON forced the FAA to ground flights at major Northeast airports, with delays and cancellations extending into Tuesday. The disruption renewed scrutiny of outdated telecommunications systems, decades-old Compaq computers and replacement parts sourced through unconventional channels.
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