Wall Street Journal
• Alison Sider
Southwest Airlines has begun construction on its first airport lounges, with initial locations in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville scheduled to open in late 2027. The carrier plans at least 11 lounges through a partnership with Chase, extending its shift from a low-cost domestic model toward fuller-service competition.
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German officials say Russia was behind an explosive-laden drone discovered near a German airport runway last month. The European Union’s chief described the alleged plot as bearing the “hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism,” elevating the incident from an airport security breach to a wider geopolitical concern.
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The South African Civil Aviation Authority is investigating a double flyover by Airlink Embraer jets before an international rugby match at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Authorities downloaded the aircraft flight-data recorders, while Airlink withdrew its application for another flypast planned at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium.
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Southwest Airlines has begun construction on its first airport lounges, with initial locations in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville scheduled to open in late 2027. The carrier plans at least 11 lounges through a partnership with Chase, extending its shift from a low-cost domestic model toward fuller-service competition.
The Federal Aviation Administration has extended its prohibition on U.S. flights to Haiti’s capital until March, citing persistent gang violence. The extension keeps scheduled U.S. air service suspended to Port-au-Prince and prolongs operational and connectivity challenges for airlines, passengers and humanitarian movements.
Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía has resumed limited domestic and international commercial operations nearly 10 weeks after twin earthquakes damaged facilities on June 24. The reopening relies on temporary modules, with the country’s principal air gateway still operating below full capacity.
American Airlines flight attendants say heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at airports is putting them in danger, including an allegation that an airline used its gate-announcement system to help arrange an arrest. The claims highlight growing tensions between federal enforcement operations, airline procedures and frontline crews.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has tentatively approved JetBlue Airways’ purchase of airport slots from Spirit Airlines, advancing a transaction that could reshape access to constrained airports while adding a regulatory dimension to the carriers’ broader competitive and strategic plans.
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The FAA is proposing unusual airspace restrictions around President Donald J. Trump International Airport, formerly Palm Beach International Airport, to address security concerns involving the nearby Mar-a-Lago residence. Only flights meeting unspecified “special safety and operational conditions” would be permitted to operate near the estate.
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