Wall Street Journal
• Alison Sider
Southwest Airlines has begun construction on its first four airport lounges, marking a major step in its shift beyond the traditional low-cost model. The lounges, planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, are expected to open in late 2027 as part of a broader premiumization strategy and Chase partnership.
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Southwest Airlines has begun construction on its first four airport lounges, marking a major step in its shift beyond the traditional low-cost model. The lounges, planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, are expected to open in late 2027 as part of a broader premiumization strategy and Chase partnership.
Filings from Skyscanner, Kiwi.com and Wego offer a window into the economics of online flight search after Google reshaped how travelers discover and book airfares. The companies built distinct businesses around flight comparison, providing a clearer view of the value left for independent intermediaries.
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.
Frontier Airlines CEO Jimmy Dempsey says the largest U.S. budget airline still standing will rely on product upgrades—including first-class seating and in-flight Wi-Fi—to capture demand in a market reshaped by the disappearance of Spirit Airlines.
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JetBlue’s first domestic first-class product, BlueFirst, will add 12-16 premium recliner seats to Airbus A220 and A320-family aircraft later this year. The offering includes seatback screens, upgraded meals and sommelier-selected wines as the carrier positions the product as a potential profit driver.
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Kenya’s aviation workers have called off a two-day strike after reaching a return-to-work agreement with the government and aviation authorities. The industrial action disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other major airports, causing flight cancellations, delays and long passenger queues.
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Viasat has placed its third ViaSat-3 satellite into commercial service across Asia-Pacific, adding more than one terabit per second of high-throughput Ka-band capacity. The satellite, launched in April 2026, will support connectivity services including those used by Delta Air Lines and Qantas.
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