Latest airline news: Riyadh Air, Delta Air Lines, Breeze Airways, Pan Am, Saudia, etc.

It appears that the legendary American airline Pan Am will rise from the ashes. Investors have just announced that they have filed their application for a certificate of airworthiness with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). And if Pan Am wants to establish itself, according to the company as early as 2026, it will have to compete with Southwest, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which will not be easy. An iconic brand is not always enough to convince customers. What is certain is that the company will have its main base in Miami and, to everyone’s surprise, will fly with Airbus aircraft.

Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines filed a legal appeal against the decision of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to dissolve their alliance before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which was made public last Friday. The DOT ordered the dissolution of the nearly nine-year-old joint venture effective January 1, 2026, citing antitrust concerns because it allowed them to coordinate decisions on scheduling, pricing, and capacity for flights between the United States and Mexico. With the end of the Aeroméxico-Delta alliance, airlines will face four business and operational changes at airports, according to industry experts. The first change concerns marketing, which they will have to implement independently. « Each will have its own sales force for tour operators, travel agencies, and corporations. »

United Airlines announced its summer 2026 schedule with service to four new cities in Croatia, Italy, Scotland, and Spain, leading the way with the most transatlantic destinations of any U.S. carrier.
In summer 2026, United will be the only U.S. airline to launch direct flights to four new destinations from its Newark/New York hub: Split, Croatia; Bari, Italy; Glasgow, Scotland; and Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The airline is also adding its first route between Washington Dulles and Reykjavik, Iceland; a new daily nonstop service year-round between Newark/New York and Seoul, South Korea; and four additional weekly flights, bringing the total to 18 weekly flights, between Newark/New York and Tel Aviv. Aviv (Israel).

Riyadh Air is preparing to launch its first daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow on October 26. This milestone is part of the operational phase of its « Pathway to Perfect » plan, prior to the fleet’s full entry into service. The Saudi airline is also launching Sfeer, an innovative loyalty program based on the exchange of points between members, which aims to create a unique community and digital experience.
Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will serve London Heathrow aboard a Boeing 787-9 (« Jamila »). These flights, initially reserved for a select group of the airline’s employees, will allow for the testing and refinement of operational procedures in real-life conditions, pending official delivery of the ordered aircraft.

Ryanair‘s winter season from Puglia includes four aircraft based there, serving all 34 routes from Bari and 12 from Brindisi, with the goal of transporting more than 5 million passengers per year. Present in Puglia for 21 years, the Irish low-cost airline has transported more than 58 million passengers to date and intends to continue investing and developing traffic in the Puglia region and Italy.

David Neeleman continues to think big and plans a significant expansion of the Breeze Airways fleet, which could even increase eightfold compared to its current size in the coming years.
The company’s founder is convinced of the enormous growth potential of the US domestic market, particularly in underserved cities. « We estimate there is a market potential in the United States for around 400 aircraft. However, we currently only have 50. This represents a tremendous development opportunity, with many levers to pull if we make the right choices. »
A niche strategy based on connecting secondary destinations and regional segments, often neglected by major American airlines.

Avianca is investing more than $800 million (€692 million) to strengthen its fleet and services, improve the customer experience, and consolidate its growth in 2025, the company announced in a press release. Specifically, the airline announced 13 new routes for this year, representing