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What’s Inside
Today's 3,700 word briefing covers developments nearly 50 airlines, 85 airports, 35 aircraft deliveries and dozens of route changes across the globe.
- WestJet grounds mainline operations following a flight attendant strike over unpaid duty time
- Southwest Airlines adds 25 routes in major schedule extension through April 2027
- Delta aircraft involved in dangerous near-miss over Atlanta following go-around
- Malaysia Airlines pilot arrested in Indonesia for smuggling ecstasy and failing drug test
- US-Bangla Airlines orders 21 Boeing 737s in a major $1.5 billion fleet expansion
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
Turkish Airlines (TK) will resume service between Istanbul (IST) and Minsk (MSQ), restoring flights to Belarus for the first time since 2022. Service begins Sept. 20, 2026, with 6x weekly flights before bumping up to daily on Oct. 6.
LOT Polish Airlines (LO) will launch new year-round service between Warsaw (WAW) and Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) on March 31, 2027. The route will operate 3x weekly using Boeing 787 aircraft.
🔒 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:
★ Wizz Air launching 10 new routes across Europe and North Africa, including a major expansion from Santiago de Compostela and new Italian domestic service.
★ Southwest Airlines adding 25 routes through April 2027, including domestic returns and new international flying to Costa Rica, Aruba, the Dominican Republic and Hawaii.
★ British Airways launching Fuerteventura service and temporarily restoring Cologne flights from London Heathrow.
★ Condor adding new daily Frankfurt-Chicago summer service with the Airbus A330-900neo.
★ Ryanair launching new Morocco and Albania routes for the Winter 2026-27 schedule.
★ JetBlue securing a new two-year Essential Air Service contract for Presque Isle, including exclusive Flightline Intel passenger demand analysis.
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
🇭🇷 9A-CAU, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Croatia Airlines (OU) on July 30.
🇲🇹 9H-AKA, a Boeing 747-45E(BDSF), was delivered to Air Atlanta Europe (G2) on July 30.
🇦🇪 A6-EXX, an Airbus A350-941, was delivered to Emirates (EK) on July 30.
🇦🇪 A6-JHA, an Airbus A350-941, was delivered to Emirates on July 31.
🇨🇳 B-229A, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to China Eastern Airlines (MU) on July 31.
🇨🇳 B-229G, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to China Southern Airlines (CZ) on July 31.
🇨🇳 B-32RU, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Hainan Airlines (HU) on July 29.
🇨🇳 B-32RY, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Chengdu Airlines (EU) on July 30.
🇨🇳 B-32SQ, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Southern Airlines on July 30.
🇲🇦 CN-RHV, a Boeing 787-8, was delivered to Royal Air Maroc (AT) on July 31.
🇨🇦 C-GCAI, a Bombardier DHC-8-315 Dash 8 Q300, was delivered to Chrono Jet (MB) on July 29.
🇨🇦 C-GEMV, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air Canada (AC) on July 29.
🇵🇹 CS-TJT, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to TAP Air Portugal (TP) on July 30.
🇬🇧 G-ZXIH, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to easyJet (U2) on July 31.
🇰🇷 HL8765, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Jeju Air (7C) on July 31.
🇹🇭 HS-VZN, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to VietJetAir Thailand (VZ) on July 31.
🇸🇦 HZ-RXAG, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was delivered to Riyadh Air (RX) on July 29.
🇺🇸 N17467, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines (UA) on July 30.
🇺🇸 N17468, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines on July 31.
🇺🇸 N247LR, a Bombardier CRJ-900LR, was delivered to SkyWest Airlines (OO) on July 31. Wears American Eagle livery.
🇺🇸 N306XR, an Airbus A321-253NY XLR, was delivered to American Airlines (AA) on July 31.
🇺🇸 N405SV, an ATR 42-600 (42-500), was delivered to JSX (XE) on July 31.
🇺🇸 N57466, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to United Airlines on July 31.
🇺🇸 N61109, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to United Airlines on July 31.
🇺🇸 N616DN, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines (DL) on July 31.
🇺🇸 N680FR, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Frontier Airlines (F9) on July 30.
🇺🇸 N705SV, an ATR 72-600, was delivered to Argentum Airways on Aug. 1.
🇺🇸 N81110, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was delivered to United Airlines on July 29.
🇺🇸 N920UP, a Boeing 767-300F, was delivered to United Parcel Service (UPS) (5X) on July 29.
🇵🇱 SP-LYL, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines on July 31.
🇹🇷 TC-LCZ, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Turkish Airlines on July 31.
🇹🇷 TC-RGB, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Pegasus (PC) on July 30.
🇦🇺 VH-8IO, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Virgin Australia (VA) on July 31.
🇻🇳 VN-A924, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Sun PhuQuoc Airways on July 31.
🇿🇼 ZS-GAC, an Airbus A320-232, was delivered to fastjet Zimbabwe (FN) on Aug. 1.
LATEST AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS
❌ No recent retirements to report.
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Aviation Safety & Security
A Malaysia Airlines (MH) pilot has been arrested in Indonesia after authorities allegedly discovered more than 70,000 ecstasy pills, along with methamphetamine, concealed in his luggage following a flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Jakarta (CGK). Indonesian police said the 39-year-old pilot also tested positive for methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine, raising allegations that he had been under the influence while operating the flight. Investigators claim he admitted participating in previous drug smuggling operations and now faces charges under Indonesia’s strict narcotics laws, which carry a possible death penalty. Malaysia Airlines said it is cooperating fully with authorities and has launched an internal investigation.
Aviation Industry News
Airbus reported a stronger-than-expected second quarter, driven by higher commercial aircraft deliveries and robust defense demand. Adjusted operating profit rose 54% year over year to €2.43 billion on revenue of €20.53 billion, as the manufacturer delivered a record 237 aircraft during the quarter. The company reaffirmed its 2026 guidance, including a target of approximately 870 commercial aircraft deliveries, while CEO Guillaume Faury expressed growing confidence that supply chain constraints, particularly Pratt & Whitney engine shortages, will continue to ease. Airbus also reported a 90% increase in Defense and Space operating profit, reflecting stronger European military spending, while maintaining its long-term production ramp-up plans.
WestJet (WS) flight attendants began a strike Aug. 2 after contract negotiations with the airline failed to produce a tentative agreement, forcing the carrier to ground much of its mainline operation during one of Canada’s busiest summer travel weekends. The walkout involves approximately 4,400 cabin crew represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), with the union seeking compensation for all time worked, including boarding, safety checks, delays and other preflight duties that are not traditionally paid under the airline’s current credit-hour system. In response, WestJet proactively canceled more than 300 flights, issued refunds and rebooking options for affected passengers, and temporarily parked portions of its Boeing 737 and 787 fleets to avoid operational disruptions.
WestJet said it had presented what it described as a transformational contract offer, including double-digit wage increases in the first year and a move to hourly compensation covering all work periods. Union leaders rejected the proposal, arguing it failed to adequately recognize the value of flight attendants’ work and did not fully address longstanding compensation concerns. While the strike affects WestJet’s mainline operation, WestJet Encore regional flights and many partner-operated codeshare services continue to operate. Both sides have indicated they remain willing to return to the bargaining table, leaving open the possibility of a negotiated settlement in the coming days.
🇪🇸 June 2026 Passenger Traffic Totals at Spanish Airports
Here are the June 2026 passenger totals at over 40 commercial airports across Spain. If you were a paid subscriber, you wouldn’t see the blurry version of the dataset!
🔒 Subscribers unlock the complete Flightline 116 aviation intelligence briefing.
Missing from this preview: Paid subscribers receive the complete Aviation Industry, Network Intelligence and Air Cargo sections. This issue also includes:
★ Icelandair Network Overview with a comprehensive breakdown of the carrier's global network, including fleet deployment, top destinations, hub strategy at Keflavík and North Atlantic connectivity.
★ June Spanish Airport Traffic featuring passenger results for Spain's busiest airports, year-over-year trends and market performance across the country.
★ ANA Holdings expanding its Embraer E190-E2 order to strengthen domestic operations across Japan.
★ US-Bangla Airlines placing a $1.5 billion Boeing order as it prepares for major international expansion.
★ IATA reporting a third consecutive monthly decline in global passenger demand, with analysis of the industry's latest traffic trends.
★ American Airlines tightening its 24-hour refund policy for last-minute bookings, ending a customer-friendly exception that exceeded federal requirements.
★ Norse Atlantic Airways ending its IndiGo ACMI agreement while launching a strategic review that could lead to a sale, merger or partnership.
★ KLM and International Airlines Group reporting first-half financial results as airlines navigate higher fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainty.
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 $15.27 | AERO AeroMéxico $15.40 | ALGT Allegiant $98.08 | ALK Alaska $47.45 |
| BA Boeing $216.14 | CPA Copa $141.22 | DAL Delta $87.44 | EMBJ Embraer $68.33 |
| JBLU JetBlue $6.03 | LTM LATAM $52.76 | LUV Southwest $44.97 | RJET Republic $20.65 |
| RYAAY Ryanair $58.51 | SKYW SkyWest $106.97 | UAL United $121.33 | ULCC Frontier $6.75 |
| VLRS Volaris $7.83 | BRENT CRUDE Oil Per Barrel $87.93 | ||
| ASR Asur $275.62 | OMAB OMA $106.90 | PAC GAP $217.35 | CAAP Corp America $25.77 |
| Global Currency Exchange Rates $1 USD Equals: | |||
| EUR Euro 0.87 | GBP British Pound 0.74 | MXN Mexican Peso 17.35 | CAD Canadian Dollar 1.40 |
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Daily Passenger Counts at U.S. Airports, 2026 vs. 2025
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