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What’s Inside
Today's briefing covers developments over 50 airlines, nearly 110 airports, and dozens of route changes across the globe.
- WestJet cancels 10 U.S. routes as Canadian travel to the United States continues sharp decline.
- Qantas completes 24-hour non-stop test flight for ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise.
- Class-action lawsuit targets CSI Aviation and Global X over migrant deportation flights.
- Etihad Airways network deep-dive: Analyzing Abu Dhabi's sixth-freedom hub operations.
- ICE expands airport enforcement, arresting foreign nationals at gates and check-in counters.
- June passenger traffic totals at Mexico's airports.
For as little as 34¢ an issue, you can access the full datasets, global fleet movements, and expert context relied on by industry leaders. This issue contains over a dozen additional subscriber-only stories, the complete route intelligence report, and the full aviation security briefing.
Route Intelligence Report
New and Proposed Routes
China Southern Airlines (CZ) will expand into Ethiopia this fall with the launch of service from Guangzhou (CAN) to Addis Ababa (ADD) via Changsha (CSX). Beginning Oct. 12, the airline will operate the Boeing 787-9 route 2x weekly.
JSX (XE) will expand its California network with the launch of service between Santa Monica (SMO) and Oakland (OAK). Beginning Sept. 14, the airline will operate three ATR 42-600 flights daily, with two daily departures on Saturdays.
Delta Air Lines (DL) will launch new daily service between Raleigh, N.C. (RDU) and Ft. Myers, Fla. (RSW) beginning Nov. 21. The route will be operated with CRJ-900 aircraft by a regional airline partner under the Delta Connection banner.
Dropped and Suspended Routes
Delta Air Lines will permanently discontinue three routes from New York Kennedy (JFK). The airline will end service to Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Memphis, Tenn. (MEM) and St. Louis, Mo. (STL), with no plans to resume any of the routes.
🔒 Subscribers unlock the complete weekly Route Intelligence Report.
Missing from this preview: Flightline Pro subscribers receive every new route, frequency increase, aircraft change, launch date, suspension and cancellation announced worldwide. This week's complete report also includes:
★ WestJet canceling 10 U.S. routes for Winter 2026-27, including five from Vancouver, with a full breakdown of every affected market.
★ Air Europa launching new Boeing 787 service to Colombia.
★ EgyptAir adding a new Scandinavian destination.
★ Xiamen Airlines launching three new routes across Southeast Asia.
★ Scandinavian Airlines delaying its long-awaited Mumbai launch again.
★ Alaska Airlines adding new seasonal Colorado ski service.
★ Aeromexico making its Monterrey-Paris route year-round.
★ flydubai resuming Budapest service.
★ Qanot Sharq suspending London Gatwick service.
Subscribers receive more than 25 global network changes every issue, complete with frequencies, aircraft assignments, launch dates and schedule revisions, starting at just 34¢ per Flightline.
Fleet Intelligence
LATEST AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES
🇩🇿 7T-VLR, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air Algérie (AH) on July 28.
🇩🇿 7T-VLS, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air Algérie on July 27.
🇭🇷 9A-CAS, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Croatia Airlines (OU) on July 28.
🇸🇬 9V-NCN, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Scoot (TR) on July 27.
🇨🇳 B-229H, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to China Southern Airlines on July 25.
🇨🇳 B-32SA, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Southern Airlines on July 28.
🇨🇳 B-32SJ, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Xiamen Airlines on July 28.
🇨🇦 C-FJGX, a Bombardier DHC-8-315 Dash 8 Q300, was delivered to Chrono Jet (MB) on July 27.
🇨🇱 CC-BME, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to LATAM Airlines Chile (LA) on July 28.
🇫🇷 F-HOZH, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Air France (AF) on July 27.
🇹🇭 HS-SYB, an Airbus A330-223, was delivered to Siamwings Airlines on July 27.
🇺🇸 N350CD, an Embraer ERJ-175LR, was delivered to Envoy Air (MQ) on July 28.
🇺🇸 N795CA, a Boeing 777-F, was delivered to National Airlines (N8) on July 28.
🇧🇷 PS-LHQ, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to LATAM Airlines Brasil (JJ) on July 29.
🇵🇭 RP-C3512, an Airbus A350-1041, was delivered to Philippine Airlines (PR) on July 28.
🇱🇧 T7-FBC, an Airbus A320-233(WL), was delivered to MEA - Middle East Airlines (ME) on July 28.
🇹🇷 TC-LDA, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Turkish Airlines (TK) on July 28.
🇹🇷 TC-VFO, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AJet (VF) on July 28.
LATEST AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS
❌ No recent retirements to report.
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Aviation Safety & Security
An Austrian Airlines (OS) flight from Košice, Slovakia (KSC) to Vienna (VIE) was delayed by about two hours after crew members boarded the aircraft before dawn and discovered a man asleep in the first row of an Embraer E190. According to reports, the individual had spent hours wandering the nearly empty airport overnight, entering closed food outlets to make himself coffee and a meal before climbing the airport’s perimeter fence, walking across the apron, and boarding the unattended aircraft via its attached stairs. After the crew found him, police detained the man, who reportedly carried documents indicating he was a psychiatric patient. The aircraft underwent a full security inspection, including a police dog sweep, before being cleared for departure. The incident has raised serious questions about airport security after the man was able to move through multiple restricted areas and board the aircraft without being stopped.
Aviation Industry News
Air Astana (KC) has applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP), seeking authority to launch nonstop service between Kazakhstan and the United States. If approved, the airline plans to operate flights from either Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ) to either New York Kennedy or Newark, N.J. (EWR) using 303-seat Boeing 787 aircraft. The filing does not specify a launch date or initial route selection.
A Southwest Airlines (WN) flight attendant was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while reporting for work at Nashville (BNA) on Saturday after authorities alleged he had remained in the United States beyond the expiration of his visa. ICE identified the employee as Lorenzo Thompson, a Jamaican citizen who entered the U.S. in 2021 and is now being held pending immigration proceedings. Thompson’s union, TWU Local 556, said it is supporting him and his family, while supporters contend he has a pending asylum case and valid work authorization, disputing ICE’s characterization of his immigration status.
🇨🇦 Canadian travel to the United States remained under significant pressure in 2025 and into early 2026, according to Statistics Canada. Total return border crossings from the U.S. fell 25.4 percent year over year in 2025, marking the steepest sustained decline outside the COVID-19 period. Travel to the U.S. dropped 23.5 percent, or 7.1 million visits, compared with 2024, while domestic travel increased 1.5 percent (+5.0 million visits) and overseas travel rose 10.2 percent (+1.3 million visits). Among overseas destinations, travel to Europe climbed 13.6 percent and Asia increased 16.7 percent. Leisure travel to the U.S. declined 21.5 percent, while visits to friends and relatives fell 9.0 percent. Canadian spending on U.S. travel decreased by C$3.3 billion to C$18.8 billion, as leisure spending fell C$2.2 billion to C$12.1 billion. Meanwhile, leisure spending on overseas travel increased C$3.6 billion to C$22.8 billion, and domestic travel expenditures rose 8.7 percent to C$81.3 billion, underscoring a continued shift away from U.S. travel toward domestic and other international destinations.
🇲🇽 June 2026 Passenger Traffic Totals at Mexican Airports
Here are the June 2026 passenger totals at nearly 70 commercial airports across Mexico.
If you were a paid subscriber, you wouldn’t see the blurry version of the dataset!
🔒 Subscribers unlock the complete Flightline 115 aviation intelligence briefing.
Missing from this preview: Paid subscribers receive the complete Aviation Industry, Network Intelligence and Air Cargo sections. This issue also includes:
★ Etihad Airways Network Overview with a comprehensive breakdown of the carrier's August network, including its largest markets, fleet deployment, hub strategy, partnerships and global connectivity through Abu Dhabi.
★ Qantas completing a 24-hour Project Sunrise endurance flight, proving the A350-1000ULR ahead of planned nonstop London and New York service.
★ Frontier Airlines reporting record second-quarter revenue, improving margins and a strong outlook for the second half of 2026.
★ Air Nostrum returning to profitability with record load factor, stronger revenue and repayment of pandemic-era debt.
★ TAP Air Portugal introducing a new lightweight aircraft paint system expected to reduce fuel burn, emissions and maintenance costs.
★ CSI Aviation and Global Crossing Airlines facing a major lawsuit over migrant deportation flights to El Salvador.
Subscribers receive every aviation intelligence section, complete network analysis and exclusive industry reporting starting at just 34¢ per Flightline.
📈 Flightline Financials 🏦
| Airline & Airport Operator Stock Prices Most Recent Closing Price | |||
| AAL American $14.84 | AERO AeroMéxico $15.08 | ALGT Allegiant $95.69 | ALK Alaska $45.84 |
| BA Boeing $214.01 | CPA Copa $136.28 | DAL Delta $86.25 | EMBJ Embraer $67.66 |
| JBLU JetBlue $5.72 | LTM LATAM $52.05 | LUV Southwest $44.38 | RJET Republic $18.05 |
| RYAAY Ryanair $57.86 | SKYW SkyWest $109.66 | UAL United $119.42 | ULCC Frontier $6.50 |
| VLRS Volaris $7.56 | BRENT CRUDE Oil Per Barrel $90.71 | ||
| ASR Asur $271.97 | OMAB OMA $106.38 | PAC GAP $216.97 | CAAP Corp America $25.53 |
| Global Currency Exchange Rates $1 USD Equals: | |||
| EUR Euro 0.87 | GBP British Pound 0.75 | MXN Mexican Peso 17.46 | CAD Canadian Dollar 1.40 |
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Daily Passenger Counts at U.S. Airports, 2026 vs. 2025
A Note of Thanks
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