FLY91 and ATR on September 3, 2026 announced the purchase of 40 ATR 72-600ย aircraftย for aroundย $1 billion,ย marking the largestย ATRย firm orderย inย almost aย decade, and the largest ever by a regional airline.ย Deliveries are scheduled from 2027 to 2032. The landmark agreement lifts ATRโs 2026 order intake to 54ย aircraft, already surpassing the companyโs total net orders for the whole of 2025, with more than three monthsย still remainingย in the year.ย
Less than three years after launching operations, pure regional player FLY91 is set to grow its fleet from sixย aircraftย toย 60 in the next five years. The order reflects both the airlineโs confidence in the countryโs growth potential and ATRโs conviction that regional aviation will playย a central roleย in connecting Indiaโs next generation of travellers.ย
United Airlines on September 1, 2026 announced an industry-first mobile app feature that gives customers more flexibility and options when travel plans are disrupted.
Now, customers who are rebooked to a later flight after a travel disruption can stand by for up to three earlier flights*. Instead of repeatedly checking the app to see if seats open up on earlier flights, United automatically monitors availability behind the scenes and sends a text notification when a seat becomes available.
This new feature is rolling out just in time for the busy Labor Day travel weekend; more than 3.4 million people are expected to fly United between September 3-8 โ about 300,000 more than last year. More than 85% of United customers use the airline’s award-winning mobile app on the day they travel, making digital tools an increasingly important part of how customers manage disruptions and navigate their journey.
Customers can use the new feature in three simple steps:
Add yourself to the standby list on up to three earlier flights.
Sit back while United automatically monitors those flights for available seats.
Get a text when a seat becomes available and choose whether to switch to the earlier flight โ while keeping your existing confirmed reservation until you decide.
“This feature reflects our commitment to making travel more seamless and less stressful for our customers,” said Jennifer Schwierzke, Vice President of Customer Operations, Strategy & Execution at United. “During disruptions, customers can keep their confirmed itinerary and stand by for three additional flights. We work behind the scenes to monitor availability and alert customers as soon as a seat becomes available.”
The feature expands United’s portfolio of self-service recovery tools, which allow customers to automatically rebook flights, receive meal and hotel vouchers when eligible and track checked bags during disruptions โ all without having to wait in line to speak to an agent.
Recent mobile app updates that help customers prepare for travel, navigate changes and stay informed include:
A more seamless airport experience:ย Customers can now use Digital ID in Appleย Wallet, which offers a secure and private way for users to add and use an ID in Appleย Walletย using information from their U.S. passport, to make it easier to enroll in TSA PreCheckยฎ Touchless ID right in the United app.
Real-time inbound aircraft status updates:ย United is expanding its “Where is my plane coming from?” app feature by showing customers their inbound aircraft directly on the flight status page, providing even more insight into where their plane is before departure.
TSA wait times tracker:ย As the first major U.S. airline to offer the feature, United introduced Transportation Security Administration (TSA)ย security wait time estimatesโ ย at U.S. hub airports, giving customers greater visibility into airport security lines before heading to the airport.
Personalized connection support:ย United launched new, personalized app features thatย make catching connecting flights easier, including personalized, turn-by-turn directions to connecting gates with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers, and notifications powered by United’s ConnectionSaver technology if the airline is able to hold a departing flight for those with an extra-tight connection.
Bag tracking enhancements:ย United integratedย Apple’s Share Item Location, so customers everywhere who travel with an AirTag or Find My network accessory can seamlessly share the accessory location with United’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event that it is misplaced or mishandled.
As theย National Archives Freedom Plane Tourย comes to a close, the team reflects on an extraordinary journey that brought history to life during Americaโs 250th anniversary.
Catch up quick:ย Inspired by theย Bicentennial Freedom Train, the Freedom Plane tour launched on March 2, making original founding-era documents accessible to Americans across the country. This unprecedented tour was more than a series of eventsโit was a nationwide tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom and the founding principles of America.
National Archives Freedom Plane Tour Recap Video
The 2026 National Archives Freedom Plane Tour, in honor of America’s 250th, is showcased in this recap video. Play Video
Watch a recap of the National Archives Freedom Plane National Tour. (ยฉ Ben Applebaum photo)
Boeing Backs America: Behind the scenes, hundreds of Boeing employees contributed to the success of the eight-city tour. The tour required precise planning and employees from every business unit across the company played an integral role. The impeccable care and secure transport of these treasured artifacts highlighted Boeingโs unwavering commitmentโnot only to safety, quality and aerospace excellence but also to supporting the country, uplifting Americaโs history, and engaging communities in meaningful ways.
By the numbers:
6
Months on tour
8
Freedom Plane tour cities
9
Original Founding-era documents
12,960
Miles the Freedom Plane traveled
30
Boeing flight crew employees who supported
77
Military members who supported arrival events
Over 100,000
Visitors who viewed the documents on tour
What theyโre saying:
“As we close out the Freedom Plane tour, I couldnโt be prouder of the dedication and expertise our Boeing team brought to this historic mission,โ said Jeff Shockey, executive vice president of Boeing Government Operations, Global Public Policy & Corporate Strategy. โSupporting the preservation and celebration of the countryโs founding documents during its 250th anniversary was an honor and a powerful reminder of the many ways Boeing Backs America.”
“The Boeing Company is one of those iconic, great American brands who has been a partner of the National Archives and National Archives Foundation for more than two decades,โ said Patrick Madden, CEO of the National Archives Foundation. โBoeing employees can take pride in this special partnership, and I share our gratitude for this deep commitment to America’s history.”
Whatโs next? On Aug. 17, the Freedom Plane returned to Washington, D.C. with the nine original Founding-era documents, which are now tucked away from public view. To safeguard these irreplaceable Founding-era documents for future generations, the National Archives limits their exposure to very low light levels. As a general rule, these documents receive no more than 365 days of low-light exposure spread out over a ten-year period and are stored in dark vaults the remaining time.
The tour commenced on March 2 in Washington, D.C. where the documents were loaded and then transported to Kansas City, Missouri for the first leg of the tour. Left to right, Jim Byron, former Senior Advisor to the Archivist of the United States, The Honorable Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol of the United States, Jeff Shockey, executive vice president of Boeing Government Operations, Global Public Policy & Corporate Strategy, Patrick Madden, CEO of the National Archives Foundation. (ยฉ Ben Applebaum)
Mozambiqueโs national carrier, Linhas Aรฉreas de Moรงambique (LAM), has officially introduced its newly acquired Embraer E190 regional jets into commercial passenger service under its modern rebranding, AirMozambique. The deployment marks a significant operational milestone in the airlineโs comprehensive turnaround program, aimed at expanding domestic and regional capacity, restoring schedule reliability, and replacing costly wet-lease contracts.
The first 100-seat Embraer E190, named “Limpopo” and registered as C9-AMA, completed its inaugural commercial revenue flight on August 14, 2026, operating between the capital of Maputo and Nacala in Nampula Province.
The aircraft was joined shortly thereafter by a second sister ship, registered as C9-AMB and named “Zambeze.” Both airframes previously flew for KLM Cityhopper until late 2025 before being acquired by LAM in a deal valued at approximately US $25 million, subsequently undergoing heavy maintenance and repainting into the fresh AirMozambique livery in South Africa.
The induction of the E190s is central to the restructuring overseen by the carrierโs management commission and major state shareholders, including Portos e Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moรงambique (CFM), Hidroelรฉctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), and Empresa Moรงambicana de Seguros (Emose). The arrival of the twin-jets increases LAMโs operational fleet to 10 aircraftโup from just three serviceable planes in early 2025โwith plans to reach 12 operational aircraft by the end of 2026. The expanded fleet is designed to boost domestic flight frequencies between major economic hubs like Maputo, Beira, Nampula, and Pemba, while setting the foundation for sustained regional connectivity and long-term financial self-sufficiency.
A lot can happen in 15 years โ just ask 787 Engineering leader Tyler Savell.
He had just joined Boeing as a Systems Integration intern a few months before the 787 Dreamliner received type certification on Aug. 26, 2011.
โI remember there was a lot of anticipation at that time because we knew it meant weโd soon be able to start delivering those first airplanes,โ Savell said. โMeanwhile, we were already working on what was coming next with the development of the 787-9 and 787-10.โ
Type certification cleared the way for the โall-new, game-changing 787opens in a new tabโ to enter airline service worldwide. In the decade-and-a-half since, Boeing has expanded the 787 into a true widebody family of airplanes and applied lessons learned from the growing in-service fleet โ and Savell has experienced significant milestones of his own.
Tyler Savell looks at the nose of a 787 in the Final Assembly building.ย
โSince then, weโve had two children,โ Savell said. โAnd for me professionally, itโs exciting to be leading the team that is helping to hire our own next generation. There are teammates joining Boeing today who will help determine what this program looks like another 15 years from now.โ
On Aug. 26, 2011, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt (right) presented the U.S. Type Certificate, which verifies that the 787 has been tested and found to be in compliance with all federal regulations, to 787 Chief Pilot Mike Carriker and 787 Vice President and Chief Project Engineer Mike Sinnett.
“This airplane embodies the hopes and dreams of everyone fortunate enough to work on it. Their dreams are now coming true,” said former Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh on the occasion of the 787โs certification in 2011opens in a new tab.
The widebody that changes whatโs possible: The 787 has carried more than one billion passengers and helped airlines open more than 540 new, nonstop routes that were never previously served. Its composite airframe design and fuel efficiency set a new benchmark for advanced materials and manufacturing.
โOver the past 15 years, weโve taken the foundation established with the original 787 and continued building on it,โ said John Murphy, 787 chief project engineer. โEach advancement reflects the same focus: understanding what our airline customers need and continuing to evolve the airplane safely to meet those needs.โ
Earlier this year, the FAA cleared an increase in the maximum takeoff weights for the 787-9 and 787-10, providing more payload or more range and opening new opportunities and greater flexibility for airlines.
All 787-9 and 787-10 airplanes assembled as of December 2025 are structurally capable of the higher weight. Certified operating weight is designated per airplane and can affect airport fees and route planning. For those reasons, airlines can choose to activate the capability at delivery or later. Offering iMTOW as an option lets carriers match certified capability to their network economics.
Evolution extending beyond the airplane itself: Strong customer demand for the 787, which has earned it the title of the bestselling passenger widebody in history, is also driving continued investment in the program and its production systemopens in a new tab. Boeing is expanding its 787 footprint and capabilities to support higher production rates and meet customer demand in the years ahead.
โOur expansion is one of the most visible signs of how much opportunity still lies ahead for the 787 Dreamliner,โ said Scott Stocker, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. โWhen you see the investment being made in this program, it reinforces that weโre not just celebrating every team member across the enterprise who helped create this airplane and what the 787 has accomplished. Weโre preparing for what comes next.โ
Second 787 Final Assembly construction progress
Located at Boeing South Carolina.Play Video
More milestones to come this year: Just a month after the 787 achieved type certification in 2011, the first delivery to ANAopens in a new tab (All Nippon Airways) occurred on Sept. 26, 2011, with entry into service following shortly after on Oct. 26, 2011.
โWhen I think about 15 years, I donโt just think about how we started,โ said Murphy. โWeโve continued to listen to our customers and apply that knowledge to make an already incredibly capable airplane even better. That continuous evolution is what helps shape the 787.โ
Air Canada on August 28, 2026 announced a new mobility aid travel policy designed to make travel simpler, more consistent and less stressful for customers who travel with mobility aids, including customers participating in adapted sports.
The new policy gives customers requiring the use of mobility aids, or travelling with adaptive sports equipment greater flexibility in bringing the items they need when they fly with Air Canada. It reflects the airlineโs ongoing work to identify, remove and prevent barriers for customers with disabilities, and to provide a more dignified and predictable travel experience at every stage of the journey.
Highlights of the new policy include:
Customers can now travel complimentary with up to three mobility aids.
Eligible items can include any combination of personal mobility aids, adaptive sports equipment, or personal or patient lift, or similar transfer devices.
The policy supports both adaptive athletes and recreational travellers with disabilities, helping remove barriers to participation in sport and leisure travel.
If a mobility aid is too large to travel on the same aircraft as the customer, Air Canada Cargo will complimentarily transport it within Canada.
The enhanced policy reflects Air Canada’s ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and creating an inclusive travel experience for customers with disabilities.
The policy supports customers with varied travel needs, including those travelling for business, leisure, medical reasons or adapted sport. It is intended to reduce uncertainty across different parts of the travel journey by providing a more consistent approach to how mobility aids are accommodated, handled and supported.
American Airlines is refreshing its onboard experience with a new menu of complimentary inflight snacks that offer a wider variety of sweet and savory options to Main Cabin guests. Guided by customer feedback and thoughtful testing, the updated lineup reflects how customers snack throughout the day while bringing greater choice and variety to the Main Cabin experience.
Morning flights will continue to feature the beloved Biscoff cookie, a customer favorite, especially when paired with Lavazza coffee. For a balanced sweet-and-savory start to the day, Goldfish will also now be offered. Later in the day, customers will continue to enjoy Goldfish and have the option of Tateโs Bake Shop chocolate chip cookies and Petersonโs savory and sweet snack mix. Customers will begin seeing these offerings on select flights in early October.
Petersonโs savory and sweet snack mix
โSmall details can make a meaningful difference in the travel experience, especially the familiar touches customers look forward to throughout their journey,โ said Americanโs Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden. โAs we looked at our snack offerings, we wanted to take the time to get this refresh right by listening to customer feedback and understanding what customers value most. This updated lineup brings together beloved favorites and new choices in a way that feels familiar, elevated and enjoyable.โ
This refreshed selection of complimentary snacks continues Americanโs focus on elevating the inflight experience, building on recently announced premium dining enhancements, includingย centennial-inspired inflight menusย andย new California wines on board.ย Snacks will rotate over time as American actively listens to customer feedback and reacts to customer preferences, so flyers can look forward to more choices in 2027.Whether starting the day with coffee and a Biscoff cookie or enjoying a sweet-and-savory snack later in the flight, customers across Americanโs network will soon have more to look forward to when the beverage cart rolls down the aisle.
Northeast Airlines and Travel, Inc., (Chicago) is a new contemporary revival carrying the heritage name and historic “Yellowbird” identity of the classic American carrier, has taken significant steps toward launching commercial cargo flying and establishing supporting aviation services.ย Operating from a Chicago base, the company is building out a dual business model that combines scheduled air freight operations with dedicated aftermarket aircraft services and travel management.
The cornerstone of the airlineโs operational plan is its formal entry into the Federal Aviation Administration application process to secure an Air Carrier Operating Certificate under Title 14 CFR Part 121. The certification specifically targets specialized cargo operations specifications utilizing an initial launch fleet of Boeing 737-800 Freighter aircraft.ย By selecting the 737-800F narrowbody platform, the company intends to tap into growing regional e-commerce, express logistics, and modern supply chain demand.ย The airline is working in coordination with the FAA Certificate Management Office, with full Part 121 cargo certification targeted for completion by the third quarter of 2027.
To steer this certification effort and oversee daily business integration, Northeast appointed commercial aviation executive Jayson Carver as its Chief Operating Officer on July 4, 2026. Carver brings extensive industry background from prior executive, board, and sales positions at Trans Meridian Airlines, Ryan International Airlines, and Jet X Aerospace.ย In his leadership role, Carver is responsible for managing corporate assets and integrating the company’s travel arm directly with its operational airline structure.
In parallel with its airline certification pathway, the company expanded its business scope by launching a dedicated Material and Asset Management group under its Northeast Services division, appointing James Campanella as its President.ย Campanella, a licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician with extensive background in aircraft maintenance, fleet dismantling, and end-of-life teardowns, leads the group’s aftermarket initiatives.ย The division focuses on end-of-life aircraft reclamation, recycling aged airframes, recovering reusable rotable parts and expendables for the aftermarket, and providing spare parts storage and inventory management for third-party commercial aviation clients.
All images by the company.
The original Northeast Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
The first Islander to be fully built in the UK since Britten-Norman repatriated production to Bembridge has begun its ground test program, with first flight targeted for September. Delivery to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) will follow completion of flight testing and customer preparation, and the company is opening its production line to customers and media ahead of the aircraft’s formal launch later this year.
The aircraft was rolled out at the company’s Isle of Wight facility on Thursday 30th July, the day after electrical power was successfully applied for the first time. The roll-out followed the installation of the aircraft’s engines, propellers, cowlings, electrical systems, brakes and flight control surfaces and mechanisms, and came in sequence with the programme’s previous public milestones: 75% structural completion confirmed in June, power-on on July 29, 2026, and roll-out the following day.
The aircraft is the first Islander to be fully assembled through Britten-Norman’s reshored UK production line, marking the return of complete civil Islander manufacturing to the United Kingdom following a period in which major assemblies were manufactured overseas prior to final assembly in the UK.
Behind this aircraft, the production line is already at work. A second airframe is progressing through the line, components for follow-on aircraft are in manufacture, and the company is establishing a continuous production cadence at Bembridge, supported by investment in new machinery, tooling and facilities and a workforce that has grown by more than 40% since production was reshored.
The new-build aircraft retains the qualities that have kept Islanders in service worldwide for more than five decades: low operating costs, rugged reliability and unmatched short-strip performance, now delivered through more modern manufacturing methods and tooling. This aircraft is built to the same standard its operators have always relied upon, an airframe with a proven track record of 50 years of service life.
American Airlines expands Flagshipยฎย Dining access, bringing its premium sit-down dining experience to more eligible customers at DFW and MIA beginning Sept. 15, with plans to reopen at LAX in late 2026.
A refreshed Flagshipยฎย Dining menu debuts with chef-inspired dishes, regionally influenced flavors and seasonal ingredients.
Chef Thomas Keller, co-founder of K+M Extravirgin Chocolate and a founding ambassador in Keller Hall Keller (KHK) Wines, brings an exclusive wine and chocolate pairing to Flagshipยฎย Dining guests and visitors to The Chelsea Loungeยฎย club. As part of the collaboration, KHK cabernet sauvignon will also be available in all Flagshipยฎlounges, adding another elevated touch to American’s premium lounge experience.
Flagshipยฎย Dining, the premium American Airlines sit-down dining experience available in Flagshipยฎย lounges at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Miami International Airport (MIA), is expanding access eligibility to more customers. To further enhance the experience, American is introducing an exclusive wine and chocolate pairing featuring KHK Wines and K+M Extravirgin Chocolate for Flagshipยฎย Dining guests. Chef Thomas Keller, who co-founded K+M Extravirgin Chocolate with Italian olive oil producer Armando Manni and is a founding ambassador in KHK Wines, curated the pairing. The offering will also be available at The Chelsea Loungeยฎย club at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), adding another elevated touch to American’s most premium lounge experiences.
Beginning Sept. 15, customers traveling in Flagshipยฎ Business Plus and Flagshipยฎ Business on qualifying long-haul international, transcontinental and Hawaii Flagshipยฎ routes can enjoy access to FlagshipยฎDining โ an opportunity previously offered to only those traveling in Flagshipยฎ First.
The private Flagshipยฎ Dining experience will also reopen at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in late 2026. Itโs an ideal retreat, especially popular among international travelers on layovers or with longer flights ahead of them.
A reimagined Flagship Dining menu
Launching alongside the expanded access, American is unveiling a refreshed four-course FlagshipยฎDining menu curated by Americanโs culinary team. Developed by Americanโs chefs, the seasonal offerings blend regional flavors, thoughtfully sourced ingredients and refined culinary techniques to create an elevated dining experience inspired by some of the worldโs most celebrated restaurants. The refreshed menu will also feature regionally inspired entrees that showcase flavors unique to Americanโs hubs, including, but not limited to:
Roasted purple cauliflower steak
Flagshipยฎ burger
Churro bread pudding
Texas pear and burrata salad
Mesquite-grilled beef filet
California artisan board
A chef-curated pairing elevates the Flagship Dining experience
As part of the enhanced Flagshipยฎ Dining experience, American is introducing an exclusive wine and chocolate pairing featuring KHK Wines, K+M Extravirgin Chocolate and K+M hazelnut dragรฉes. Chef Thomas Keller co-founded K+M Chocolate with Italian olive oil producer Armando Manni and is a founding ambassador in KHK Wines โ brands known for their shared commitment to quality, craftsmanship and hospitality.
The pairing features KHK Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon alongside a selection of K+M chocolates and K+M hazelnut dragรฉes, served at The French Laundry, Chef Keller’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Yountville, California. Together, the collection delivers a thoughtful progression of flavors designed to complement one another and provide a memorable conclusion to the dining experience.
The KHK Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon featured in the pairing was crafted in collaboration with acclaimed Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, whose wines have earned widespread recognition for their quality and sense of place, producing more than 60 cabernet sauvignons that earned 100 points over the course of his career. Brown helped create a cabernet sauvignon that pairs seamlessly with the flavors of the K+M Extravirgin Chocolate and dragรฉes, bringing an additional layer of craftsmanship to the experience.
Beyond Flagshipยฎ Dining, customers visiting all Flagshipยฎ lounges and The Chelsea Loungeยฎ club can enjoy KHK cabernet sauvignon. The addition further reflects American’s commitment to offering distinctive food and beverage experiences in collaboration with premium brands, bringing elevated hospitality and exclusive offerings to customers throughout their journey.
The pairing: KHK Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, K+M Extravirgin Chocolate and K+M hazelnut dragรฉes
Updated Flagship Dining access
Under the updated policy, access is available to customers traveling in Flagshipยฎ Business on qualifying long-haul international, transcontinental and Hawaii Flagshipยฎ routes.
These updates align Flagshipยฎ Dining access more closely with the premium travel experience while ensuring customers traveling on eligible Flagship itineraries can enjoy the benefit as part of their journey.
All 787-9 and 787-10 airplanes assembled as of December 2025 are structurally capable of the higher weight. Certified operating weight is designated per airplane and can affect airport fees and route planning. For those reasons, airlines can choose to activate the capability at delivery or later. Offering iMTOW as an option lets carriers match certified capability to their network economics.
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