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FL  136
October 12, 2026
Los Angeles

What’s Inside

    • Riyadh airport struck again after attack kills 13
    • Delta delays, suspends and drops routes
    • Avolon orders 110 Airbus jets, including 35 A330neos
    • Inside Helvetic’s network: 341,888 seats across 68 airport pairs
    • 🇮🇹 August 2026 passenger traffic totals for airports across Italy
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Route Intelligence Report

New and Proposed Routes

Air France (AF) plans to launch Paris de Gaulle, France (CDG) to Nashville, Tenn. (BNA), and San Diego, Calif. (SAN), for summer 2027, each with 3x weekly Airbus A350-900 flights. San Diego service is now scheduled to begin May 3, two weeks earlier than the previously planned May 17 launch. A Nashville launch date was not supplied.

Icelandair (FI) will add 4x weekly service from Reykjavik (KEF) to St. Louis (STL) this summer, with flights operating from May 14 through October 24, 2027. Icelandair is also adding 3x weekly flights from Reykjavik to Madrid (MAD) from April 9 through October 25, 2027.

Dropped and Suspended Routes

JetBlue Airways (B6) has removed its schedule filing for Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (FLL) to Caracas, Venezuela (CCS). The filing listed daily Airbus A320 service beginning no earlier than February 4, 2027, but reservations never opened.

Avelo Airlines (XP) appears set to close its station in Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX), as flights that were scheduled to resume in March from New Haven, Conn. (HVN) have been pulled from the schedule.


More routes in Flightline Pro

Flightline 136’s full route briefing includes Ryanair’s 27 summer additions, Delta’s route cuts and seasonal changes, Wizz Air’s new Yerevan routes, TUI’s three Gatwick additions and LOT’s long-haul charters. Plus Discover’s Jerez launch, China Eastern’s Riyadh return, Jet2’s summer 2027 additions and cuts from Saudia, Luxair and Ethiopian. Get the routes, launch dates and available frequencies in Pro.

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Fleet Intelligence

LATEST AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES

🇲🇹 9H-SAW, a Boeing 737-86N(WL), was delivered to SkyUp Europe (U5) on October 10.

🇦🇪 A6-FPM, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to flydubai (FZ) on October 7.

🇹🇼 B-18127, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to China Airlines (CI) on October 10.

🇨🇦 C-FHGE, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Air Canada (AC) on October 7.

🇬🇧 G-DHME, a Boeing 777-232LR(MF), was delivered to DHL Air UK (D0) on October 8.

🇹🇭 HS-TQK, a Boeing 787-8, was delivered to Thai Airways (TG) on October 7.

🇹🇭 HS-VZU, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to VietJetAir Thailand (VZ) on October 8.

🇦🇷 LV-JOI, a Bombardier CRJ-200LR (CL-600-2B19), was delivered to JOY Airline (JR) on October 9.

🇺🇸 N515GJ, a Bombardier CRJ-550, was delivered to GoJet Airlines(G7) on October 9. Painted in United Express livery.

🇺🇸 N621DN, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines on October 8.

🇺🇸 N924UP, a Boeing 767-300F, was delivered to United Parcel Service (UPS) (5X) on October 9.

🇳🇱 PH-AXV, an Airbus A321-252neo, was delivered to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) on October 8.

LATEST AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS

❌ No new retirements to share.

Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads

Home furniture brand Blu Dot blew up on CTV with help from Roku Ads Manager. Here’s how:

After a test campaign reached 211,000 households and achieved 1,010% ROAS, the brand went all in to promote its annual sales event. It removed age and income constraints to expand reach and shifted budget to custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.

The results speak for themselves. As Blu Dot increased their investment by 10x, ROAS jumped to 2,308% and more page-view conversions surpassed 50,000.

“For CTV campaigns, Roku has been a top performer,” said Claire Folkestad, Paid Media Strategist, Blu Dot. “Comping to our other platforms, we have seen really strong ROAS… and highly efficient CPMs, lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”

Using Roku Ads Manager, the campaign moved from a pilot to a permanent performance engine for the brand.

★
Flightline Feature
Stamp
Collection
Stamp
Unruly
Unruly Passengers 2026: 1,331
U.S. Flights - as of October 5, 2026

Aviation Safety & Security

A Houthi missile attack on a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 10 killed at least 13 people and injured 309, some critically, according to Saudi authorities and subsequent reports. The death toll, initially 12, rose after an injured Indian citizen died. The victims included four Saudi nationals and one U.S. citizen. Airport operations were suspended, flights diverted and Western embassies urged travelers to avoid the area. A senior Houthi official claimed responsibility, describing the strike as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. It was the deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab country since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began in February.

The airport was struck again yesterday while it remained closed. The Saudi-led coalition said a projectile hit Terminal 4, causing a fire, while air defenses intercepted another missile nearby. Saudi aviation authorities reported further injuries but did not immediately release a casualty count as officials assessed damage and checked the facilities. The Houthis claimed attacks targeting Riyadh and renewed warnings for airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports and airspace.

Aviation Industry News

A WestJet (WS) captain raised concerns about ground congestion at Seattle, after a flight to Calgary (YYC) burned approximately 800 pounds of fuel during a 32-minute taxi on Oct. 8. The Boeing 737-800 (C-FWIJ) was already three hours behind schedule when it pushed back. The captain had requested additional fuel before departure, which reportedly prevented a return to the gate for refueling to meet minimum takeoff fuel requirements. The aircraft eventually departed runway 16L at 1:35 p.m. local time. use Treasury regulations group passenger and cargo revenue together, and the Philippines still taxes cargo. Philippines’ challenge questions whether that grouping is consistent with U.S. law and whether Treasury properly considered industry objections when adopting the rule.

Aircraft lessor Avolon placed a firm order for 110 Airbus aircraft on Friday, comprising 35 A330-900s and 75 A320neo Family jets, to support airline fleet expansion and replacement into the next decade. The agreement brings Avolon’s cumulative orders to 114 A330-900s and approximately 650 A320 Family aircraft, maintaining its position as the largest lessor customer for the A330-900. Avolon cited strong demand for new aircraft and sustained interest in both aircraft families. Delivery dates and the variant breakdown of the 75 single-aisle jets were not disclosed.

A Sindbard Air Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia (5H-HLL) struck a zebra while taking off from Tanzania’s Seronera airstrip for Zanzibar (ZNZ) on Oct. 4, 2026. The aircraft diverted to Kilimanjaro (JRO) after the crew could not lower the main landing gear. The aircraft landed with its main gear retracted on Runway 9, sustaining substantial damage and prompting an airport closure of approximately five hours. All 26 passengers and four crew escaped without injury; the zebra was not as fortunate. Flightline spoke with a lion from a nearby pride who gave his name only as Juba: “We’d been chasing that fellow for a while, but he was a wily one. We certainly won’t turn down a free feed once all the commotion dies down.”

★

🇮🇹 August 2026 Passenger Traffic Totals at Italian Airports

Here are passenger counts at over 40 airports in Italy in August. I had originally planned to include U.S. airports but there are still quite a few that haven’t reported their totals yet, so I’ll hold off a bit. If you were a paid subscriber, you’d be able to see the below image unblurred!

Police Blotter

A Las Vegas woman, Tamya Norwood, made her initial appearance in federal court after allegedly checking two suitcases containing nearly 50 pounds of methamphetamine at Las Vegas on July 1, 2026, according to federal prosecutors. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners discovered the packages during baggage screening, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Norwood faces one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, with a jury trial scheduled for December 14, 2026. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.

★

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Go deeper with Helvetic’s network, airport security failures, passenger rights, airline finances and airport traffic data.

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What You’re Missing in the Free Edition

★ Inside Helvetic Airways
An October network overview covering 2,871 scheduled flights and 341,888 seats, with leading markets, airport pairs, the airline’s extensive SWISS operation, fleet details and a short history.

★ Airport Security and Border Technology
Four Houston police officers disciplined after the mishandled response to an explosive device at Bush Intercontinental. Plus the U.K.’s rollout of contactless airport border gates.

★ Passenger Rights Under Pressure
Changes to U.S. airline consumer protections, including fee disclosures, family seating, disruption compensation and wheelchair protections.

★ Delta’s Earnings and the Cost of Flying
Record quarterly revenue, rising fuel costs and $159 million in aircraft lease expenses. Plus Ed Bastian’s comments on higher fares and Delta’s 29 percent cargo revenue increase.

★ Airline Finances and Fleet Changes
Philippine Airlines’ challenge to a multimillion-dollar IRS assessment, Alaska’s planned 737-700 retirement and the financial pressures facing airlines this winter.

★ Airline and Airport Traffic
September passenger results from airBaltic and Viva, Canada’s screening totals and San Diego’s leading passenger flight growth.

★ Italy’s Airport Passenger Totals
The complete August 2026 passenger table covering 41 Italian airports, from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa to smaller regional gateways.

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📈 Flightline Financials 🏦

Airline & Airport Operator Stock Prices
Most Recent Closing Price
AAL
American
$12.76
AERO
AeroMéxico
$15.57
ALGT
Allegiant
$76.43
ALK
Alaska
$39.36
BA
Boeing
$190.37
CPA
Copa
$134.23
DAL
Delta
$82.17
EMBJ
Embraer
$71.16
JBLU
JetBlue
$3.84
LTM
LATAM
$50.25
LUV
Southwest
$41.66
RJET
Republic
$17.20
RYAAY
Ryanair
$54.24
SKYW
SkyWest
$96.52
UAL
United
$107.46
ULCC
Frontier
$5.86
VLRS
Volaris
$6.23
BRENT CRUDE
Oil Per Barrel
$104.72
ASR
Asur
$231.75
OMAB
OMA
$90.28
PAC
GAP
$201.50
CAAP
Corp America
$24.54
Global Currency Exchange Rates
$1 USD Equals:
EUR
Euro
0.89
GBP
British Pound
0.76
MXN
Mexican Peso
18.22
CAD
Canadian Dollar
1.43


Daily Passenger Counts at U.S. Airports, 2026 vs. 2025

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