Greetings from Austin! Mrs. ATX and I are back at home after a fantastic trip to Japan. The jetlag from this trip is hitting us harder than expected so I’ve been a little slower with articles this week. Hopefully I’ll be fully up to speed next week. For now, please enjoy the weekly recap for July 19, 2025.
Avelo Airlines is Cancelling All West Coast Routes
Avelo Airlines will no longer operate flights in the Western United States after December 2, 2025. The ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) will close its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport and redeploy the aircraft and crews to the East Coast in support of its operations there.
American Express is Introducing a New Lounge Concept Next Year
American Express has unveiled a new lounge concept that will open next year. Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is designed for passengers that only have a limited amount of time before boarding and are looking for a quick bite.
The first lounge will open at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas sometime in 2026. The lounge will offer gourmet dishes and specialty cocktails, but don’t expect much in the way of amenities. This won’t be a space to hang out for long periods as access will only be granted 90 minutes prior to departure.
Delta is Relaunching Flights to Hong Kong
Delta Air Lines has announced that it will return to Hong Kong for the first time since 2018. Beginning in June 2026, the Atlanta based carrier will operate one daily flight between Los Angeles and Hong Cong, competing head to head with United and Cathay Pacific on the route.
It’s interesting to see that Delta selected Los Angeles instead of its Seattle hub for the service, given the amount of competition that currently exists on the route, and it will be interesting to see how this flight performs.
The TSA is Considering Dropping its Liquids Rules
While no timeline has been announced, the head of the Department of Homeland Security has indicated that the TSA’s current liquid restrictions may be the next rule to be eliminated. This comes just over a week after the TSA officially amended its rules, allowing passengers traveling with REAL ID compliant identification to keep their shoes on at security checkpoints.
It would seem that this change is more of a when, not if, and could be happening in the very near future. Do you support changes to this rule?
Review: Emirates Business Class Lounge Dubai (DXB) Terminal 3A
The Emirates Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3 Concourse A at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is a massive space with plenty of amenities for passengers during a long layover. While the lounge isn’t cutting edge and could probably use a refresh, it was well maintained and had a decent food and beverage selection available. I’ll gladly visit the lounge again on my next trip through Dubai.
Summary
American Express made waves this week with the unveiling of a new lounge concept and the opening of its Centurion Lounge at Tokyo Haneda (HND). Avelo decided to pull up stakes on the West Coast and consolidate operations out east, and Breeze quickly swooped in to take its place. Thank you for checking out the weekly recap for the week ended July 19, 2025!