🇩🇪 D-AIAH, an Airbus A321-211, was delivered to Condor (DE) on September 20.

🇺🇸 N3310J, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to JetBlue (B6) on September 18.

🇺🇸 N9030S, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines (WN) on September 18.

🇲🇽 XA-MXI, an Embraer E190-E2, was delivered to Mexicana (XN) on September 18.

Explosive-laden drones attacked an Aerocivil air surveillance radar near Cali, Colombia, on September 16, causing damage but no injuries. The 3D radar in El Carmelo, Candelaria, entered service in July 2025 and supports airspace surveillance in southwestern Colombia and operations at Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport. Aerocivil activated contingency procedures to maintain air navigation services following the attack. Subsequent reporting confirmed that the radar remained operational, with Candelaria’s mayor saying the system had avoided serious damage. Authorities offered a reward of up to 50 million Colombian pesos for information identifying those responsible, announced additional military and police patrols, and said three counter-drone systems were being acquired for the Air Force. Investigators are examining possible involvement by FARC dissident groups, but responsibility remains unconfirmed. EDITOR’S NOTE: A tip of the Stetson to reader A.K. for sharing this one.

Flightline Intel’s T100 section now features more than 22,500 pages of aviation data, covering 2015 through the first six months of 2026, the most recent data available. Explore 21,704 route pages, 439 airline pages and 428 airport pages to compare passenger traffic, seat capacity and load factors, track long-term trends and see how airlines and markets are performing.

Harbour Air (YB) has agreed to buy Pacific Coastal Airlines (8P), bringing together two British Columbia networks that serve different purposes: seaplanes and conventional airport services. The combined Canadian-owned group would have 59 aircraft, serve 25 communities across the province and employ more than 900 people. Both airlines would keep their names, operating certificates and teams. Financial terms weren’t disclosed, and the deal still needs regulatory approval. Existing bookings and services are unaffected.

Passenger demand remains strong, but higher fuel bills are prompting American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines to cut back their flying plans. American is trimming lower-margin routes and slowing holiday capacity growth. United is removing some December flights, with further cuts possible in early 2027 if fuel prices stay elevated. Southwest has roughly halved its original 2026 capacity growth target of 2 to 3 percent. All three are trying to protect margins as the Middle East conflict pushes fuel costs higher.

Istanbul (IST) takes the top spot in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 report, with 337 international destinations. The report uses flight schedules through August 2026 to compare possible connections with the number of destinations served on each airport’s busiest operating day. London Heathrow (LHR) slips to second following a 25 percent reduction in Middle East capacity. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is third, followed by Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Asia’s highest-ranked hub, and Chicago O’Hare in fifth. Asia Pacific airports dominate the global top 20, with Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and Hong Kong (HKG) among the region’s major connecting points.

BermudAir (2T) has announced plans to introduce an Embraer E190F leased from Regional One, becoming the first operator of Embraer’s E-Freighter in the Americas, subject to regulatory approval. The aircraft will provide dedicated cargo capacity alongside its passenger network, supporting express shipments, e-commerce and time-sensitive freight between North America, Bermuda and the Caribbean. It offers more than 100 cubic meters of cargo space and a payload of up to 13.5 tonnes.

Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez was sentenced on September 10, 2026, to 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting two TSA screeners and two police officers at Las Vegas. The November 3, 2025, incident began when he attempted to enter the secure passenger area using another person’s boarding pass, refused to provide identification and attacked an officer before resisting arrest. One officer suffered an injury requiring surgery. Vizcaino Ramirez pleaded guilty to five counts involving interference with screening personnel, assaulting officers and attempting to enter a secure airport area under false pretenses.

There’s enough bad news around, so here’s something I thought was pretty cool. Researchers have identified the Tilcayo tiger cat (Leopardus tilcayo), a spotted feline from Bolivia’s cloud forests that’s smaller than a typical house cat. They say it’s the first wild cat discovered entirely new to science in a century, with no previously collected specimens tucked away in museums. Local communities, of course, already knew it was there. Scientists believe it may be threatened, so getting to know this little cat also means figuring out how to protect its home.