The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now accepting West Virginia-issued mobile driver licenses (mDLs) at checkpoints with digital ID readers nationwide.

Travelers who have downloaded the West Virginia Mobile ID app to their smart phone can use that for identity verification during the screening process in lieu of handing over a physical photo ID and boarding pass to the TSA security officer at the entry to the checkpoints at West Virginia International Yeager Airport and Huntington Tri-State Airport and other airports nationwide.

West Virginia has made the mobile ID available to all state residents at no additional cost. First make sure that you have been issued a license, permit, or non-driver ID card by the state. Then just download the West Virginia mobile ID app to add it to your smartphone.

Travelers who want to take advantage of this new capability will find that their West Virginia mobile ID is a convenient option when going through the security process. Travelers should always carry an acceptable form of ID such as a card or passport.

West Virginia residents can use their TSA approved Digital ID for identity verification at dozens of airports where TSA has credential authentication technology units. These units are equipped with digital ID readers and a camera that captures a real-time photo of the traveler to match the face of the person with the face on their ID. After the TSA officer clears the person into the checkpoint, the photos are deleted.

The units are also able to verify that an individual is ticketed for air travel that day, so the traveler does not need to show a boarding pass to the TSA officer, although a boarding pass is needed to present to the airline gate agent.

West Virginia is now the 14th state that offers digital IDs with interoperability with TSA’s credential authentication technology. The other states offering mobile driver’s licenses are Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico and Utah. TSA digital ID readers also accept the Google ID Pass. TSA is activating additional digital ID readers at airports nationwide in the coming weeks.

TSA continues to integrate new technologies into its identity verification process. Read more about these programs at www.tsa.gov/digital-id.

Southwest Airlines Co. and BBAM today announced the sale and leaseback of 36 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft will be owned and leased to Southwest Airlines by Incline Aviation III, the third in BBAM’s flagship aviation investment fund series.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8H4 SSWL N8543Z (msn 63587) SEA (Bruce Drum). Image: 106070.

Steve Zissis, President and CEO of BBAM, said: “We are excited to partner with Southwest Airlines, one of the world’s most admired and awarded airlines, on this landmark sale-leaseback transaction. The transaction underscores BBAM’s commitment to delivering tailored fleet financing solutions and certainty of execution to our airline partners. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Southwest Airlines.”

Tammy Romo, Executive Vice President and CFO of Southwest Airlines, said: “This transaction is part of our ‘Southwest. Even Better.’ transformational plan introduced in September at Investor Day. By opportunistically monetizing surplus value from a portion of our existing all-Boeing 737 fleet, Southwest is generating significant cash to drive fleet modernization and offset capital expenditures in support of our capital allocation strategy. We are very pleased to partner with BBAM, one of the world’s leading aircraft lessors, on this transaction.”

For further information regarding this transaction, please refer to the Southwest Airlines Form 8-K filed with the SEC today.

We’ll offer the most nonstop destinations ever this summer from Alaska’s largest city along with daily Portland-Fairbanks service; other new nonstops begin this week across our network

For the first time this summer, Alaska Airlines is connecting Anchorage to both Detroit and Sacramento with seasonal nonstop flights, as well as resuming nonstop service between Fairbanks and Portland. Weekly, roundtrip flights to and from Detroit and Sacramento begin on June 14, 2025 – which adds up to 15 nonstop destinations between Anchorage and the Lower 48 and Hawaii, the most we’ve ever served in the summer. We’ll start flying the Fairbanks-Portland route on May 15, 2025. Tickets can be purchased now at alaskaair.com.

“Our new routes provide guests with more options than ever to vacation this summer in the great state of Alaska,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines. “The nonstop flights from Detroit and Sacramento will put travelers right in the heart of Alaska by skipping a layover, and Portlanders can enjoy nonstop service to Fairbanks.”

“Summer is a tremendous time to visit The Great Land of Alaska with our long, warm days, tremendous culture and adventure, and amazing wild Alaska seafood,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president of Alaska at Alaska Airlines. “There’s so much to do around Anchorage, and the city is a perfect jumping-off point to venture out to communities across the state, as well as hopping on a cruise. For Alaskans, we now have even more nonstop destinations to visit family and friends this summer.”

New nonstop routes

Here are the 15 nonstop destinations we’ll fly between Anchorage and the Lower 48 and Hawaii this summer: Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York JFK, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. 

We’re also launching a variety of new seasonal routes this week across our network with nonstops from Sacramento to the warm, sun-filled destinations of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Orlando and Tucson. We also now fly nonstop for the winter season between Boise and Orlando – home to major theme parks – in addition to our new service linking New York JFK and Puerto Vallarta.

Start of new service this month

Alaska’s elevated travel experience offers a blend of comfort and caring service for a seamless journey, including no change fees, the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class, and the most generous Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status. For inflight entertainment, our guests can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows streamed to their devices. Our mainline flights are enabled with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi available for purchase, the option to pre-order from a range of fresh meal selections and power outlets at every seat to charge devices. 

*Out of any U.S. legacy airline excluding lie-flat seats

Emirates has unveiled a new Real Madrid logo jet on A6-EQD:

From Reuters:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/american-airlines-back-big-3-carriers-brokerages-predict-strong-2025-2025-01-06/

New book coming on January 15 in the Great Airlines Series of books on Amazon:

From Zela Aviation:

Executive John Wiitala joins Alaska with more than 34 years of airline experience

Alaska Airlines has named John Wiitala as its new vice president of maintenance and engineering. In this principal leadership role, Wiitala will lead professionals throughout the division who maintain the highest levels of safety and compliance with more than 237 mainline Boeing aircraft across multiple maintenance bases.

Wiitala joins Alaska after 34 years with United Airlines, most recently as vice president and chief engineer of tech operations, safety and compliance, where he was responsible for the United fleet. Prior to that role, he was vice president of technical services. Wiitala joined United in 1992 and held other engineering jobs throughout the organization including director of engineering and managing director of project engineering.  

His responsibilities at Alaska will include line maintenance operations; maintenance of airframes, components and engines; stores and distribution; quality assurance; maintenance planning; engineering and reliability; and fleet projects.   

Among his accomplishments at United, he expanded the scope of operations of the airline, which grew from under 450 aircraft to 944. He was on board during the United-Continental merger, helping the airline successfully navigate integration and grow its multi-fleet operations.   

“With over three decades in technical operations’ leadership roles to include both narrow and widebody aircraft, I welcome John’s expertise, leadership and vision as Alaska becomes a global airline,” said Constance von Muehlen, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Alaska Airlines. “John will lead our team to uphold the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance for Alaska’s fleet while combining operations with Hawaiian Airlines.” 

Wiitala began his aviation career in 1988 in project engineering at Aircraft Modular Products in Miami. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and has served on the board of Argonaut/Davis High School, a Cleveland-based school that empowers youth to pursue pilot and technician certifications.