US airlines are quantifying the financial damage from the 43-day federal shutdown, with major carriers slashing Q4 earnings forecasts due to flight disruptions and booking declines. Southwest cut guidance to $500 million from $600-800 million, while Delta reported a $200 million hit driven by refunds and reduced bookings.
Southwest Airlines will partner with Turkish Airlines beginning in early 2026 to offer one-ticket transatlantic journeys between the US and Istanbul. The partnership allows travelers to book single itineraries connecting Southwest's US domestic network with Turkish Airlines' global route system via shared gateway airports.
Southwest Airlines has officially ended its open seating policy after 55 years, replacing it with assigned seating starting January 27, 2026. This change comes as the carrier seeks to modernize its product and increase revenue through premium seating options.
Southwest Airlines has reported improved operational performance during the Full Year and Q4 2025 earnings call, with operating income rising by 33.3% to $428 million. The carrier has increased its 2026 earnings guidance to more than four times its 2025 figures, driven by an aggressive share buyback program and business transformation efforts.
Chaos erupted at Puerto Vallarta International Airport and Guadalajara International Airport following the death of a prominent cartel leader, prompting flight cancellations and warnings from airlines. Despite claims that the airports were unaffected, panicked scenes on social media suggest a broader security crisis in the area.
A five-year-old Colorado boy's keen eye for detail led him to discover an anomaly in the Southwest Airlines training manual. His mother shared his story on social media, catching the attention of Josh, a Southwest pilot who initiated a conversation about aviation.
A 38-year-old man based in the UK has been jailed for over four years in prison after orchestrating a $52 million fraud selling fake commercial aircraft used by global airlines. The scam involved over 60,000 engine parts worth $9.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began enforcing flight reductions at 40 of the nation's busiest airports, citing a need to manage workload during the federal government shutdown. The FAA confirmed that airlines were instructed to scale back domestic operations, with capacity reductions beginning around 4% and rising towards 10%.