Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-300 (CS300 BD-500-1A11) N314DU (msn 55192) SNA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 961673.
Delta is deepening its commitment to Central Texas with the launch of three new nonstop routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), connecting travelers to Denver (DEN), Columbus (CMH) and Kansas City (MCI). In addition, Delta is increasing service on two existing routes, San Francisco (SFO) and Indianapolis (IND), providing even more options for customers traveling to and from Austin.
โWith these new routes and expanded service, Delta is building on a strong foundation in Austin and creating more ways for our customers to get where they want to go,โ said Paul Baldoni, Senior Vice President of Network Planning. โItโs another step in delivering the network, convenience and premium experience that sets Delta apart as Austinโs leading global carrier.โ
“This is another exciting investment in our community from Delta,โ said Ghizlane Badawi, AUS CEO. โWe are so grateful for their partnership and shared mission of connecting Austin and Central Texas travelers to more nonstop destinations. We look forward to the continued collaboration with the airline, especially as we make progress on expanding and improving our airport.โ
These new and expanded routes give travelers convenient access to key business and leisure markets. With them, Delta now serves nearly 30 destinations from AUS, furthering its strategic growth in a city celebrated for its vibrant culture and booming tech scene.
New nonstop service from Austin:
Denver (DEN)โฏโ Launching Nov. 9, 2025, this gateway to the Rockies serves as a major hub for business and outdoor adventure. Service will operate twice daily through Delta Connection partner SkyWest.ย
Columbus (CMH)โฏโ Beginning June 7, 2026, this rising tech, manufacturing, and education center in the Midwest will be connected with once daily service through Delta Connection partner SkyWest.ย
Kansas City (MCI)โฏโ Starting June 7, 2026, travelers can enjoy twice-daily service to this city known for its rich culture, barbecue, and growing innovation economy, operating twice daily through Delta Connection partner SkyWest.ย
Each of these new nonstop flights will be operated on an Embraer 175 aircraft, equipped with Delta First, Delta Comfort and Delta Main. The Embraer 175 allows a quieter, more comfortable ride for customers with modern interiors, larger windows and more personal space.
Expanded service:
San Francisco (SFO)โฏโ Beginning April 13, 2026, Delta will increase service from one to two daily frequencies, supporting growing demand between these two major tech hubs. This service will be operated on Deltaโs Airbus A319 aircraft, equipped with Delta First, Delta Comfort and Delta Main.ย ย
Indianapolis (IND)โฏโ Starting June 7, 2026, service will expand from one to three daily flights, connecting business and leisure travelers across the Midwest.ย
Investing in Austinโs growth
Delta has already carried more than one million passengers to and from Austin this yearโa 12% increase year over year. That momentum continues with new and expanded service, including domestic flights to Palm Springs (PSP) launching in November, and service to Cancun (CUN) and Cabo San Lucas (SJD) launching in December. These additions keep customers moving and reinforce Deltaโs commitment to connecting Austin with more of the destinations they love.
Customers in Austin also enjoy one of the most popular Delta Sky Clubs in the global network, known for its Texas-inspired design and premium tequila- and mezcal-focused beverage menu. For the last three years, it has ranked highest in customer satisfaction for the Southern region.
This October, Delta will also open a permanent flight attendant base in Austin, further strengthening its operational presence and long-term commitment to Central Texas.
โThis is fantastic news for the Lone Star State! Deltaโs decision to open a flight attendant base and continue its expansion in Austin will open more travel choices for Texans, bring hundreds of good-paying jobs, boost local businesses, and further cement Texas as a national leader in economic growth and innovation,โ said Texas Senator Ted Cruz. โI am excited to see the opportunities this brings to our great state.โ
Air Canada Airbus A220-300 (CS300 BD-500-1A11) C-GUPG (msn 55122) (Carter 15) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 964271.
Builds on flexible rebooking policy already in place to cover transport expenses
Full aircraft fleet returned to service today
Transporting more than 127,000 customers today across global network
MONTREAL, Aug. 21, 2025 /CNW/ – Air Canada continues to ramp up its operations and expects to deliver close to its full network schedule by Friday, August 22. Today, the airline updated its goodwill policy to cover reasonable additional accommodation and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by customers as a result of the labour disruption at the airline. The updated, exceptional policy applies to customers whose original travel was disrupted between August 15 and 23, 2025 inclusive and builds on the flexible rebooking policy implemented earlier to cover transport costs.
Air Canada Logo (CNW Group/Air Canada)
“Air Canada’s 40,000 coworkers, with their exceptional commitment and expertise, have allowed us to restore operations ahead of plan. We now expect to be operating very close to our normal schedule tomorrow. We deeply apologize to all customers whose travel plans were disrupted, and we’re committed to making things right for all customers โ particularly those who were stranded during their trip. Earlier this week, we put in place a special commitment to reimburse out-of-pocket transportation costs, including on other airlines, rail, ground or ferries. Today, we are taking another step forward, delivering with our policies to make things right. This updated plan includes reimbursement for reasonable accommodation, meals, necessary transportation and other costs,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.
Special Travel Expense Policy
Customers who experienced cancellations and delays between August 15โ23 and incurred reasonable expenses for hotel stays, meals, ground transportation, or other costs are eligible for reimbursement for their travelling party.
Claims must be supported with receipts and submitted through the airline’sย customer relations portal.
Airย Canadaย will work to address claims as quickly as possible, however due to the anticipated volume it may require up to four to six weeks.
The special policy which is above legal obligations covers reasonable accommodations, meals, transportation and other costs.
Flexible Rebooking continues
Earlier this week, Air Canada implemented a disruption policy to cover transport expenses which customers may have incurred to get to their destination during this disruption. If customers had a flight scheduled to depart between August 15-23, 2025 that was cancelled, and made alternate arrangements themselves because Air Canada was unable to rebook them, we will cover these transportation expenses. Some additional details:
Customers who received an email from Air Canada stating we were unable to rebook you, or you were offered alternative flight options that depart more than 5 days from your original departure
Customers who purchased a flight on an alternate carrier yourself in the same or lower cabin to your original flight
Customers can also claim for alternate transportation options to get you between your original origin and destination (bus, ferry, car etc.)
Customers must have booked the most reasonable and economical option(s) with your alternative travel, and ensuring that you reach your destination as soon as possible
Additional information for the exceptional expense and transport policies are at www.aircanada.com/action.
TWA (Trans World Airlines) Boeing 747-131 N93107 (msn 19673) CDG (Christian Volpati). Image: 906726.
In my opinion, perhaps no other aircraft type wore Trans World Airline’s (TWA’s) classic 1961-75 “double-globe” livery better than the Boeing 747-131. The look just seemed perfect on the original “Queen of the Skies” and from the first TWA 747 roll-out in late 1969 until 1979/80 when the last aircraft received the completely redesigned 1975 paint scheme it was always a pleasure to see one of these airplanes, whether at rest or in motion. Such views were readily available as TWA was a major operator of Boeing’s “Jumbo Jet,” with the airline being second only to launch customer Pan American World Airways in putting the type into service, inaugurating the first U.S. transcontinental 747 flights beginning in February of 1970 (the company actually flew 747’s from that year until retiring the last aircraft in 1998). One of those original -131’s, “N93107” is seen here at Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport, apparently just after a rainstorm, sometime in the 1970’s. The airline flew a total of 36 747’s during 28 years including the Special Performance (SP) model and a number of “second-hand” -200 variants. Also included among the -100 series aircraft were four 747-125’s originally ordered by Eastern Air Lines in 1967. These aircraft were under construction in Seattle in early 1970 when EAL decided to go exclusively with the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar as its widebody flagship for the 1970s. All four aircraft were sold to Trans World instead.
Garuda Indonesia has unveiled a striking special livery on its Boeingโฏ737โ800ย PKโGFUย to mark theย 80th anniversary of Indonesiaโs independence. The design, titledย โThe Flying Heritage of Indonesiaโs Unityโ, is the result of a collaboration with local fashion brandย CapโฏBaliย and two young Indonesian artists,ย Erika Richardoย andย Raka Jana.
On the forward fuselage, Erika Richardoโs โPeople with Cultureโ artwork depicts characters representing 16 different ethnic groups from across the archipelago, celebrating the nationโs diversity. Toward the rear, Raka Janaโs โJejak Garudaโ motif incorporates elements of Indonesiaโs natural and cultural heritage โ including orchids, traditional tenun sekomandi weaving patterns, and the kayonan (treeโofโlife) symbol โ woven into a flowing textileโinspired design. The tail and aft fuselage also carry the official 80โฏYears of Independence logo, reinforcing the unity and progress theme of this yearโs celebrations.
PKโGFU debuted the livery on Augustโฏ16,โฏ2025 with a JakartaโSamarinda flight, followed on Augustโฏ17,โฏ2025 by a themed โSpecial Flightโ from Jakarta to Denpasar for Independence Day. Onboard, Garuda offered commemorative services and promotions, while the CapโฏBali partnership extended to special discounts for passengers. The airline describes the project as both a celebration of connectivity across the archipelago and a visual narrative of Indonesiaโs cultural richness, carried on the wings of its flag carrier
Air Canada begins relaunching flights so customers can travel again
First departures are AC009 fromย Torontoย toย Tokyo-Narita, AC556 fromย Vancouverย toย Los Angelesย and AC489 fromย Montrealย toย Toronto
155 flights scheduled to depart today fromย Toronto,ย Montreal, andย Vancouverย acrossย North Americaย and toย Europe,ย Asia, South Pacific
Exceptional disruption policy to be implemented to cover transport expenses
MONTREAL, Aug. 19, 2025 /CNW/ – With the departures of AC009 from Toronto to Tokyo-Narita, AC556 from Vancouver to Los Angeles and AC489 from Montreal to Toronto, Air Canada resumed operations today to get Canadians moving again. The three flights were the first of 155 scheduled for the day as the airline gradually resumes service, beginning with a limited number of international flights this evening. This will gradually increase as the airline restores service in Canada, the U.S. and around the world over the coming days.
Air Canada (CNW Group/Air Canada)
“We’re laser-focused on getting our customers moving again. Restoring global operations will take up to ten days, as aircraft and crew are out of position. Additionally, mandatory maintenance checks are required, as aircraft have been on the ground for more than three days. Regrettably, during this period some flights will be canceled until the schedule is stabilized, and we’ll notify customers well in advance and provide options,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, at Air Canada.
“When customers buy a ticket on Air Canada, we are making a commitment to deliver them safely and on schedule. Following this disruption, we know confidence has been shaken. We’re working hard to fully restore their trust, starting by getting customers on their way again. To do that, we will be introducing an exceptional policy tomorrow, towards covering transportation expenses which customers may have incurred to get to their destination during this disruption. As well, we’ve created a dashboard on our website so anyone can transparently track our progress as our operations return to normal. We look forward to welcoming our customers and flight attendants back onboard,” concluded Mr. Nasr.
Air Canada’s recovery dashboard is available now at www.aircanada.com/action. The airline’s exceptional disruption policy will be available beginning August 20, 2025 at www.aircanada.com/action.
As Air Canada ramps up, customers should only go to the airport if they hold a confirmed booking, and their flights show as operating. Flight status can be checked on aircanada.com or on the Air Canada app. Those with cancelled flights can obtain a full refund, a travel credit, or, ask to be rebooked on our Star Alliance partners or other airlines, although capacity is limited due to peak summer travel. To assist in the rebooking process, Air Canada has designated 5,000 agents to assist customers in finding alternative travel. More information for customers about travel options including an FAQ is at: www.aircanada.com/action.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL continue to operate as normal.
A first for any global airline, members can choose how they earn points and status points when they fly with us โ by distance traveled, price paid or segments flown
The #1 airline rewards program is getting even better: Atmos Rewards members enjoy industry-leading generosity with even more ways to earn and redeem points for travel adventures around the globe
Unleash the full power of Atmos Rewards with our new premium credit card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infiniteยฎ card, offering a Global Companion Award and an even faster way to earn status
Alaskaย ushers in a new era of inflight connectivity with the installation of ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi, free for Atmos Rewards members beginning in 2026
SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On a mission to transform global travel, Alaska Airlines launched Atmosโข Rewards today โ our evolved, supercharged loyalty program that unifies the best of Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles into a combined platform to deliver more choice, more rewards and more global access than ever before for our members.
Introducing Atmos Rewards
Introducing Atmos Rewards
Atmos Rewards continues the generosity that Mileage Plan has long been known for. Alaska has the #1 airline rewards program according to U.S. News & World Report. And it’s getting even better. Atmos Rewards offers new ways to earn valuable points across an extensive worldwide network spanning over 1,000 destinations, connected by the strength of Alaska, Hawaiian and more than 30 global airline partners, including the oneworld alliance. We’ve also assembled a rich collection of partners to earn points with when our members are not flying.
Atmos Rewards is the global airline program that encourages members to tailor the program to their travel style and choose what matters most to them, from flexible point-earning options to preferred perks and personalized benefits in the new Atmos Communities.
“Atmos Rewards is more than a loyalty program โ it’s a reflection of how guests travel today,” said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. “We listened to what our members value most and built a program that’s grounded in generosity, personalization and practicality. We’re putting our members in the pilot’s seat, giving them control over how they earn and redeem, while honoring the legacy and values of both Alaska and Hawaiian.”
Choose among three ways to earn:ย We’re introducing a first for a global airline that gives our members ultimate flexibility. Later in 2026, points and status points can be earned in one of three ways when flying with us. Members can select the earning option that works best for them and change their preference once a year:
Distance traveled:ย Earn based on how far you go with one point for every mile flown. For thrifty travelers who take cross-country or international trips, this might be the best choice.
Price paid:ย Earn five points for everyย $1ย spent when purchasing a flight. This includes airfare and upgrades purchased in premium cabins. For travelers flying in our premium cabins, including our lie-flat suites, this might be the best choice.
Segments flown:ย Earn a flat 500 points for each flight segment flown. For flyers who take numerous short-distance flights, such as those between Neighbor Islands in Hawai`i or withinย California, this option guarantees a set number of points on every trip.
Reward yourself: We keep adding new ways for members to use their valuable points to see the world. They canย redeem points for award travelย to more than 1,000 destinations onย Alaska, Hawaiian and 30+ global airline partners, includingย oneworld member airlines. Redemptions start at only 4,500 points one-way.
We’re installing Starlink across the entireย Alaskaย fleet:ย Alaskaย and Hawaiian will addย Starlinkย inflight connectivity to more planes, bringing the fastest Wi-Fi in the skies to even more flights.ย Alaskaย has teamed up withย T-Mobileย to make this new Wi-Fi service free exclusively for Atmos Rewards members. Installations onย Alaska’sย fleet will begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027. ย
More partners, more points:ย Atmos Rewards members can now earn 2 points for everyย $1ย spent on everyday Lyft rides, and 3 points for everyย $1ย spent on airport and elevated Lyft rides. Link your Atmos Rewards and Lyft accounts atย alaskalyft.comย to earn more points wherever you go. Later this year, we’ll add more partners to our lineup.
Book stays:ย Explore nearly a million hotels and vacation rentals worldwide where you can earn or redeem points.
Atmos Rewards Unlocked: Points can also be used to secure tickets to unique events and travel experiences โ available only to Atmos Rewards members.
Endless earning:ย Points and status points are earnedย on flights with us and our partners, as well as through routine purchases with the Atmos Rewards Visaยฎ credit cards and Hawaiian Airlines Mastercardยฎ credit cards* and on purchases made with our non-airline partners. Members can also earn status points when they book award travel. Points are used for various redemptions, and status points track progress toward reaching status and milestones.
The power of our new premium card:ย With our newย Atmosโข Rewards Summit Visa Infiniteยฎ card, co-branded with Bank of America, cardholders can reach status and milestones even faster by earning 1 status point for everyย $2ย spent on purchases.
Milestones unleash perks: Rewards come earlier and more often when members reach milestones with their status points. Each milestone unlocks a choice of perks starting at just 10,000 status points.
More generous upgrades are on the way:ย For our Atmos Titanium members, we’ll be the only U.S. airline to offer complimentary, day-of-departure upgrades into global Business Class for them and a companion without requiring points or a certificate. Also, status holders and one companion can take advantage of complimentary upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines flights withinย North Americaย beginning next spring.
With new Atmos Communities, pick a group and enjoy extra benefits:ย All members can choose to be part of Atmos Communities later in 2026 with exclusive benefits tailored to what interests them most. Options include groups unique to members within a specific area of residence, like our popularย Huakaสปi by Hawaiianย for Hawai’i residents andย Club 49ย for residents of the state ofย Alaskaย (available now), or benefits aligned with interests like travel with families, wellness and more.
“Atmos Rewards is designed to set a new standard for airline loyalty โ more generous, more flexible and easier to use, whether members are flying across the globe or just across the Islands. With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we seized a rare opportunity to imagine how we could make the most generous loyalty program even better,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “With industry-first features like customizable ways to earn and unique benefits tailored to how people travel, we’re giving our guests more control, more value and more reasons to engage.”
What you need to know
As of today, Mileage Plan members are now Atmos Rewards members. They retain their existing account numbers with no interruption to their benefits โ there’s nothing they need to do.
With Atmos Rewards, Mileage Plan miles are now ‘points’ and elite-qualifying miles are referred to as ‘status points.’
One Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles mile = one Atmos Rewards point. The value of points does not change, and points do not expire. Members can continue to redeem for travel onย Alaska, Hawaiian and our global partners.
HawaiianMiles members and all their miles will automatically transition into Atmos Rewards onย Oct. 1. They will receive a new account number if they have not previously linked their HawaiianMiles account to a Mileage Plan account. We have more details for HawaiianMiles membersย here.
Alaska Airlines Visaยฎ cards are being rebranded as Atmos Rewards Visaยฎ cards. Account numbers and benefits remain the same. Use of the cards and benefits will continue without interruption โ there’s no action for cardholders to take.
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard* continues unchanged. The card name and benefits stay the same, and cardmembers do not need to take any action.
We’ll remain the only U.S. airline that offers points for miles flown, but later in 2026, members will be able to choose how they earn points: by distance traveled, price paid or segments flown.
For members who have status with us, benefits stay the same with more on the way. Learn more about the new Atmos tier names and updates to earning statusย here.
More about Atmos Rewards
The Atmos Rewards name is designed to inspire wonder. It’s a play on “atmosphere,” embodying an elevated brand that takes travelers to new heights through a visual identity reminiscent of an airplane window, inspiring flyers to dream. The soft gradients, smoothly transitioning in color and intensity, harmoniously weave together the blue of Alaska and the purple and pink of Hawaiian. The name also cues a promise of “most” โ demonstrating the 11 years of Alaska’s Mileage Plan being named the number one airline loyalty program and cueing more rewards, more destinations and more choice.
A perfect complement to Atmos Rewards is our new premium credit card: the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infiniteยฎ card. It features exclusive travel perks, including a unique Global Companion Award that can be redeemed on our partners and in premium cabins, accelerated points and status earning potential, Alaska Lounge passes, and other benefits designed to elevate every step of the journey.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signatureยฎ card and Alaska Airlines Visaยฎ Business card are being rebranded to Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signatureยฎ card and Atmos Rewards Visaยฎ Business card. Alaska’s Famous Companion Fareโข will now be our $99 Companion Fare. Account numbers remain the same, and cardholders will continue to enjoy all the same benefits and earning power with Atmos Rewards.
Current cardholders will receive an Atmos Rewards-branded credit card, featuring the new name and design, when their current card expires. Eligible Atmos Rewards Visa cardholders have access to select benefits across both airlines, including a free checked bag, the $99 Companion Fare, and 3x points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases.
For Hawaiian Airlinesยฎ World Elite Mastercardยฎ cardmembers, there is also no interruption in service or use of benefits now or upon the HawaiianMiles transition to Atmos Rewards on Oct. 1. Cardmembers enjoy select benefits across both airlines, including two free checked bags on eligible flights and 3x points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases.
Our growing global gateway in Seattle
Alaska continues to expand internationally with new flights from our hometown airport in Seattle โ where we’re the largest carrier โ to Rome, London and Reykjavik, Iceland. Nonstop service to those European markets is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. We currently fly from Seattle to Tokyo Narita, with flights to Seoul Incheon starting Sept. 12. By 2030, we plan to serve 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle. To support Alaska’s transformation, we’re establishing a 787-9 hub in Seattle that will deploy as many as 17 787s across our global network.
* Hawaiian credit cards continue to earn HawaiianMiles until Oct. 1, 2025.
**Terms and conditions apply. These credit card programs are issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.
Alaskaย is poised to offer the best inflight connectivity service fromย Seattle, delivering ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi on more departures from the carrier’s largest hub than any other carrier.ย
Building on Hawaiian Airlines’ lead as an early innovator of fast, free Wi-Fi,ย Alaskaย will start offering Starlink in 2026 and bring the technology to its entire fleet by 2027.
Starlink’s unrivaled gate-to-gate speed and responsiveness across multiple devices allows guests to stream, scroll, game and stay connected just like they would on the ground, no matter where they fly.ย
SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines is set to launch a transformational upgrade to the inflight experience: the fastest, most reliable Wi-Fi in the sky on every flight, everywhere we fly. Starting in 2026, Alaska guests will enjoy Starlink Wi-Fi with ultra-fast speeds and dramatically lower latency โ unlocking seamless access to live gaming, real-time messaging and high-quality streaming across multiple devices, far beyond what most carriers can deliver.
This isn’t just an upgrade โ it’s a reinvention. Alaska is set to bring fast, responsive and reliable Wi-Fi to its fleet starting in 2026, with all aircraft โ regional, narrowbody and widebody โ connected by 2027, alongside our Hawaiian Airlines Starlink-equipped aircraft.
Alaska will provide the most flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offering unrivaled end-to-end Starlink Wi-Fi and become the first U.S. airline to operate Starlink-equipped long-haul flights from the city. Following Hawaiian Airlines’ groundbreaking launch last year as the first major airline to offer Starlink, Alaska and Hawaiian are redefining the future of inflight connectivity.
“With Starlink already live on Hawaiian Airlines and installations starting this winter across Alaska’s fleet, we’re proud that we’ll offer the fastest, most reliable inflight internet in the skies โ with gate-to-gate connectivity on nearly every aircraft across both airlines,” said Ben Minicucci, chief executive officer and president of Alaska Air Group.
You’ll enjoy the same fast, uninterrupted connectivity you rely on at home โ stream, game, message and collaborate in real time. Plus, it’s free to our most loyal guests, thanks to an exclusive partnership we just announced today.
This innovative enhancement is part of Alaska’s multi-layer vision to deliver a truly elevated travel experience for every guest at every fare. From unifying loyalty into a single, seamless industry-leading program, to launching a premium credit card with unmatched travel perks, and now, bringing home-quality internet to the skies globally, even on full flights and in remote areas.
“We’re thrilled to provide reliable high-speed internet on Alaska Airlines’ flights,” said Chad Gibbs, Vice President of Starlink Operations at SpaceX. “From gate to gate, Alaska’s passengers will now experience the world’s best inflight connectivity.”
Alaska’s Starlink Wi-Fi: Fast, free, everywhere we fly
Real-time, ultra-fast speeds: Starlink’s low-latency, high-bandwidth performance is built for real-time applications like workplace messaging platforms, collaborative documents, video streaming, gaming and multi-device use. It offers an inflight internet experience that’s faster and more capable than what most travelers are used to. With latency less than 99 ms and speeds up to 500 Mbps, guests can expect an experience that’s at least 7x faster than the geostationary satellite-based Wi-Fi systems that most airlines use today.ย
Global coverage: With more than 8,000 satellites in orbit, Starlink provides uninterrupted connectivity for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines’ guests, keeping them connected from the moment they step onboard their aircraft and throughout their travels, even in remote areas. In 2026,ย Alaskaย will be the first U.S. airline operating long-haul flights fromย Seattleย offering consistent, uninterrupted Wi-Fi service โ a key pain point for many international travelers today who lose coverage or experience decreased speeds as their flights take northerly routes toย Asiaย and Europe.ย
Leader in innovation: As the only airline with a hub inย Seattleย to offer Starlink Wi-Fi,ย Alaskaย continues to lead the industry in innovation. In addition to bringing the fastest inflight internet to the skies starting in 2026 with completion by 2027,ย Alaskaย has recently introduced theย TSA PreCheckยฎ Touchless ID Program, offers an industry-first food and beverageย pre-order systemย through its mobile app, and a self-serve check-inย experienceย that starts before guests even reach the airport.ย
Sustainability in the skies:ย Starlink’s electronically steered antennas feature no moving parts and have a much smaller footprint atop our aircraft than competing systems โ reducing both weight and drag that impact fuel economy. This new technology, featuring the lightest equipment in the industry, will help us further reduce carbon emissions by conserving over 800,000 gallons of fuel per year, advancing our position as the most fuel-efficient premium U.S. carrier.ย
Starting in 2026, members ofย Atmos Rewards, an enhanced, combined loyalty program by Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, will enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi on Starlink-equipped aircraft.
Building on its long-time partnership to deliverย T-Mobile customers free Wi-Fi, T-Mobile is expanding this benefit to all Atmos Rewards members beginning on select flights in 2026.
T-Mobile customers who are also Atmos Rewards members will enjoy a seamless, ad-free sign-on experience toย Alaska’sย free, ultra-fast Wi-Fi โ with additional exclusive perks for T-Mobile customers to be announced later this year.
SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines and T-Mobile โ both Pacific Northwest-based leaders in innovation โ are setting a new standard in inflight connectivity, delivering ultra-fast Wi-Fi, free for Atmosโข Rewards members everywhere the airline flies.
To bring this next-level experience to life, Alaska is proud to name T-Mobile as its presenting partner for this new, free benefit to guests. Guests will experience one of the most advanced inflight connectivity networks in the industry. T-Mobile customers will enjoy exclusive benefits to enhance their inflight experience, including a seamless, ad-free Wi-Fi log-on – with more to be announced later this year.
“This collaboration goes beyond a typical sponsorship โ it’s a shared commitment between two hometown leaders focused on delivering more value, innovation and ease to travelers across the Pacific Northwest and beyond,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile. “At T-Mobile, our mission is to be the best in the world at connecting customers to their world โ and together with Alaska, we’re going one step further by extending the same seamless, in-flight Wi-Fi experience our customers love to every Atmos Rewards member.”
Alaska’s fleetwide rollout of new, ultra-fast Wi-Fi begins in 2026 โ including regional, narrowbody and widebody. When installation is complete by 2027, Alaska will provide the most flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offering unmatched gate-to-gate low-latency, high-bandwidth Wi-Fi, exclusively for Atmos Rewards members. Membership is free and easy to join.
Guests will be able to log in or easily sign up for Atmos Rewards to access Wi-Fi at no cost. Atmos Rewards is our industry-leading enhanced loyalty program that unifies the best of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles into a combined platform to deliver more choice, more rewards and more global access than ever before for our members.
Since 2014, T-Mobile has led the industry in delivering free inflight connectivity experiences to its customers, who already enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi on Alaska flights. Today’s announcement builds on Alaska Airlines’ longstanding partnership with T-Mobile, which already powers the tools the airline’s Flight Attendants, Pilots and Ground Crews use today to efficiently and safely operate the airline.
Astro Mechanica’s technology is first being developed for military use and then commercial aircraft as technology matures โ UAV is the venture capital arm of United Airlines
CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines Ventures (UAV), the venture capital arm of United Airlines, today announced an investment in aerospace startup Astro Mechanica. Astro Mechanica’s adaptive propulsion concept and advanced airframe design has the potential to unlock supersonic aircraft with near-term applications for national defense, orbital launch, and long-range cargo delivery.
UAV was established in 2021 to invest in early-stage start-up companies focused on innovative technologies with the potential to shape the future of aviation and travel.
Astro Mechanica Logo
“Astro Mechanica is developing an adaptive engine concept for strategic military and commercial applications, addressing the challenging yet worthwhile pursuit of supersonic flight,” said Mukul Hariharan, Managing Partner at United Airlines Ventures. “UAV is excited to join Astro Mechanica’s renowned investment partners to support its exceptional management team as they advance their engine technology and progress towards their first aircraft prototype.”
Astro Mechanica’s engine, Dualityโข, is being designed to utilize a hybrid electric architecture to optimize performance across a wide range of flight speeds and profiles, which would create an engine that would be efficient from takeoff to Mach 3+. With these changes, Astro Mechanica is developing the world’s first supersonic aircraft that has transpacific capability.
“We are excited to form this relationship with United Airlines Ventures (UAV),” said Ian Brooke, CEO and founder of Astro Mechanica. “This investment reflects strong conviction in Astro Mechanica from an experienced and credible industry leader, and we appreciated UAV’s deep technical grasp of our novel high-speed propulsion technologies. We look forward to working with them as an advisor and a collaborator as we move into flight testing for the next era of passenger travel.”
Dualityโข is designed to separate the propulsion units from the turboshaft engine by using electric motors. This allows it to behave like a turbofan at slower speeds, a turbojet at faster speeds just below supersonic, and switch to a ramjet at very high supersonic speeds.
About United Airlines Ventures
United Airlines Ventures (UAV) was established in 2021 to invest in early-stage start-up companies focused on innovative technologies with the potential to shape the future of aviation and travel. To date, UAV has made more than 30 investments in companies developing technologies across aerospace, technology, energy transition, and more. Learn more at unitedairlinesventures.com.
About Astro Mechanica
Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Its mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. The company believes that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, Astro Mechanica is integrating its advanced airframe and engine technologiesโwhich include Dualityโข, its proprietary dual-use propulsion systemโwith a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, the company is developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government. Learn more at www.astromecha.co.
You must be logged in to post a comment.