American Airlines partners with the Gary Sinise Foundation to host 20th annual Snowball Express

American Airlines announced on December 4 that it has joined forces once again with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) to support the annual Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express. Now in its 20th year, the annual event is dedicated to honoring the families of both fallen U.S. military service members and first responders.

Over two weeks in December, American will donate 16 charter aircraft and millions of AAdvantage^® miles to bring more than 2,600 family members to Walt Disney World Resort for an all-expenses-paid experience. Families will travel from 29 departure cities across the globe — spanning Alaska and Hawaii to Germany, Guam and more.

Airport team welcomes young travelers ahead of their flight.

Team members wave farewell to families ahead of the departure.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, American will coordinate air and ground transportation for nearly 1,600 families of fallen military heroes. Ten charter flights will depart from 21 cities across the country, heading to Orlando International Airport (MCO). One week later, on Saturday, Dec. 13, six additional charter flights will transport approximately 1,000 family members of fallen First Responders from eight departure cities.

“The mission of Snowball Express is to unite the families of the fallen and create new happy memories during the holiday season. This is just one of many ways American continues to honor the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Randy Stillinger, American’s Manager of Military and Veterans Initiatives. “Through our partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, we want to remind these families that their loved ones’ service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Snowball Express families boarding flight.

Team members and volunteers welcome families to MCO airport.

Each year, more than 1,000 American Airlines team members dedicate their time to bring this magical event to life. This includes pilots and flight attendants who donate their days off as well as airport teams who organize special send-off ceremonies and memorable inflight experiences. Their dedication reflects American’s ongoing commitment to honoring the legacies of those who have served, while supporting their families with compassion, care and a bit of holiday cheer this season.

Alaska Air Group reports on its Thanksgiving holiday period

With a record number of passengers taking to the sky this Thanksgiving holiday, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and our regional air carrier, Horizon Air, provided the most dependable air service to guests on nearly 7,100 flights between Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 30. This achievement reflects the dedication of our 35,000 employees in delivering outstanding care to our guests.

May 28, 2025; Seattle, Wash.; Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines tails at N gates of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Credit: Joe Nicholson-Alaska Airlines

Collectively, our airlines led U.S. carriers in key performance metrics:

A14 (82.3%) – the percentage of flights arriving within 14 minutes of their scheduled time;
Completion rate (99.1%) – the proportion of scheduled flights completed without cancellation; and
DOT on-time arrivals (80.5%) – the percentage of flights arriving within 14 minutes of their scheduled time, and taking into consideration cancellations, diversions, significant delays and cause of delays.

We appreciate our guests’ trust and confidence in our ability to provide reliable transportation during thebusy Thanksgiving holiday time. Our employees consistently deliver a premium, caring experience for our guests, and this Thanksgiving was no exception. I am grateful to those who dedicated their holiday to supporting our guests and maintaining an excellent travel experience.”

Jason Berry

Chief operating officerAlaska Airlines

airBaltic invites SmartLynx Airlines employees to an online Open Day

airBaltic will host an online Open Day for SmartLynx Airlines employees on December 10, 2025, at 11:00 (Riga time). During the online session, aviation professionals will be able to connect with the airBaltic HR Team to learn about current employment opportunities within the company and receive an overview of the recruitment process.

The Open Day session will introduce the current career opportunities available across various airBaltic’s departments, including flight crew (pilots and cabin crew), technical and operations departments, as well as several office vacancies such as IT, E-Commerce, Revenue Management, HR, and Finance.

American Airlines honors veterans with a month of service and support

In recognition of Veterans Day and in celebration of the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes, American Airlines supported a series of events throughout the month of November to honor and celebrate those who served.

These efforts are part of American’s ongoing commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces community, including military veterans and active-duty service members. Events throughout the month of November included:

Salute to Service with the Los Angeles Chargers (Nov. 9)
As the presenting sponsor of the L.A. Chargers’ annual Salute to Service game, American presented the Military Hero of the Game. Bill Dillon, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and the last surviving member of the USS Sailfish, was honored on field. Dillon is a decorated hero, having received two Bronze Stars and contributed to the development of the first GPS system and the launch of the United States’ first space satellite.
Faces of Freedom with the Texas Rangers (Nov. 13)
In partnership with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, American hosted veterans for a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Rangers’ Faces of Freedom program presented by American Airlines. Established in 2022, the Faces of Freedom program seeks to honor past and present members of the U.S. military. This year’s trip included 15 veterans representing four branches of the U.S. military, with recipients of the Purple Heart and Operation Enduring Freedom medals among them.
Salute to the Troops in Las Vegas (Nov. 14)
In partnership with USO and MGM Resorts International, American flew 75 service members from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas for a weekend filled with sightseeing, dinners, shows and a concert by actor and singer-songwriter Mark Collie, seen in the hit TV show “Landman.”
Seats for Heroes with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles (Nov. 23)
American, along with its partners at the Dallas Cowboys, hosted 40 military patients from Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas, for a VIP game day experience. American operated a private charter to transport attendees to Dallas-Fort Worth where they were greeted with a heroes’ welcome upon arrival and enjoyed the game in a private suite.
Welcoming Home Vietnam Veterans (Nov. 28)
American supported a journey of remembrance for 10 veterans returning to Saigon, Vietnam, in collaboration with Veterans United Home Loans and actor/humanitarian Gary Sinise. The 10-day trip allowed the group to retrace their steps and reflect on their experiences more than 50 years after their service. The group, which included one of 61 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, was welcomed home with a celebration at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Throughout the entire year, American is proud to honor active service members and veterans — including more than 11,000 of its own team members.

More airline news:

AerCap Holdings delivers the first Boeing 777-300ERSF to Fly Meta, to be operated by Air Atlanta Europe

AerCap Holdings on December 1, 2025 announced that it has delivered the first of three Boeing 777-300ERSF (9H-JJB, msn 32788) converted aircraft to Hong Kong-based aviation leasing and ACMI/CMI solutions provider Fly Meta Leasing Co., Ltd (Fly Meta). The first aircraft was delivered on November 21 and the second and third are scheduled for delivery in Q2 and Q4 2026, respectively.

The aircraft will be operated under a Crew Maintenance and Insurance (CMI) contract by Air Atlanta Icelandic under the Hungary Air brand. The Boeing 777-300ERSF, also known as “The Big Twin,” is the first passenger-to-freighter conversion program of the Boeing 777-300ER. It received FAA and CAAI certification on August 31, 2025, and entered service in mid-September.

Air Atlanta’s worldwide network:

Air Atlanta Icelandic was established in 1986, initially operating Boeing 707s for charter projects. Today, the Air Atlanta brand comprises two sister airlines: Air Atlanta Icelandic, headquartered in Iceland, and Air Atlanta Europe, founded in 2021 in Malta.

Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander type approved by TCCA in Canada

UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) type certification for the BN2T-4S Islander, the Rolls-Royce Model 250–powered turboprop variant of the company’s iconic utility aircraft.

The BN2T-4S, certified under TCCA Type Certificate A-92, also includes a series of additional enhancements that further elevate its operational effectiveness, including an increased Maximum Take-Off Weight of 8,925 lbs.

This approval complements existing Type Certificates held with the UK CAA, EASA and FAA, and marks a significant step in Britten-Norman’s global expansion. Certification in Canada opens new opportunities across one of the world’s largest remote and regional aviation markets, where operators rely on proven, rugged and reliable short-field aircraft capable of year-round operation.

New Islander aircraft build slots are now available, as well as pre-owned BN2T-4S models, currently receiving full OEM refurbishment at Britten-Norman’s UK MRO facility. Operators can choose whichever route best fits their needs when joining the Islander fleet.

BBN Airlines Thailand secures Vietjet Thailand as its first ACMI partner

BBN Airlines Thailand, an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) specialist operator, and a partner of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider, names Vietjet Thailand as its first partner airline. BBN Airlines Thailand is supporting Vietjet Thailand through an ACMI partnership that begins on 1 December 2025, supplying one Airbus A320 for domestic services between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Chiang Mai and Phuket.

BBN Airlines Thailand received its Air Operator Certificate in October, becoming Thailand’s first dedicated ACMI carrier. The airline had operated under the name Thai SmartLynx during its development phase before commencing full services as BBN Airlines Thailand.

The ACMI arrangement includes aircraft provision in a 180-seat economy configuration, experienced flight and cabin crew, maintenance, and insurance coverage, allowing Vietjet Thailand focus on network management and customer experience, while leveraging BBN Airlines Thailand’s operational flexibility and reliability.

airBaltic receives its 51st Airbus A220-300 aircraft

On December 1, 2025, the Latvian national airline airBaltic welcomed its 51^st Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-BTA, in Riga. This is the second aircraft of the type delivered to airBaltic in 2025. Thus far, the airline’s A220-300 fleet has carried more than 23 162 000 passengers, completed nearly 241 000 flights and flown 530 000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic operates all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

The airline is also gradually equipping its fleet with free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet, becoming the first European carrier to offer this service.

Hi Fly achieves another first: Airbus A330 lands in Antarctica

Hi Fly has once again made aviation history, successfully landing an Airbus A330 in Antarctica for the first time. The flight marks a new chapter in the airline’s pioneering Antarctic operations, just one month after celebrating five consecutive years of flights to the White Continent.

Hi Fly’s Airbus A330-302, registered 9H-HFI and equipped with General Electric engines, touched down safely on the blue-ice runway at Wolf’s Fang Runway, Antarctica, on December 1st at 11:59 p.m. local time. Commanded by Captain Carlos Mirpuri, Vice-Chairman of Hi Fly, the aircraft connected Cape Town, South Africa, to the remote airfield, continuing Hi Fly’s ongoing partnership with White Desert Antarctica for the 2025/2026 season. Joining the flight was Captain Antonios Efthymiou, Hi Fly’s CEO, who was on board to celebrate this important milestone.

The A330 shares the same fuselage as Hi Fly’s A340 but is powered by two engines instead of four, delivering comparable performance with greater cost efficiency and an improved environmental footprint. Twin-engine operations at Wolf’s Fang runway are now possible thanks to additional ground support equipment that was not in place when Hi Fly began Antarctic flights. Highly reliable, comfortable, and with an excellent safety record, the aircraft performs exceptionally well in extreme polar conditions.

This milestone builds on the airline’s historic 2021 achievement, when Hi Fly became the first to land an Airbus A340 on the frozen continent. The introduction of the A330, renowned for its efficiency, versatility, and environmental credentials, represents a new era in sustainable, flexible operations to one of the world’s most challenging environments.

Emirates celebrates 54th Eid Al Etihad with A380 flypast at Emirates Dubai 7s

Spectators at the Emirates Dubai 7s were treated to a spectacular Emirates A380 low-level flypast over The Sevens Stadium to mark the UAE’s 54^th Eid Al Etihad.

Taking off from Dubai International Airport, the aircraft made its approach over the stadium at 4:30pm, gliding past at an altitude of just 500 feet and delighting thousands of fans gathered for the region’s biggest sports and entertainment festival. Commanding the flight was Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri, Deputy Chief Pilot Airbus, supported by Captain Khalid Bin Sultan, Captain Philippe Lombet, and Captain Nabil Al Rustamani.

This year’s flypast continues Emirates’ long-standing tradition of celebrating Eid Al Etihad at the Emirates Dubai 7s, a tournament with more than five decades of history which has become the highlight of Dubai’s annual sporting calendar. The 2025 edition once again brings together world-class rugby action, numerous sports competitions, and vibrant music and family entertainment across an unforgettable Eid Al Etihad weekend.