Greetings from the gorgeous new Delta Sky Club in Terminal D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). I’m on my way to Charlotte to see friends and managed to squeeze in a check-in with my parents who are also traveling through Atlanta today. While quieter than last week, we still had a decent amount of travel news as well as a new hotel review. Check it all out below in the April 26, 2025 weekly recap!
For the First Time in Ten Years, Thai Airlines Can Fly to the United States
Thai carriers can resume direct flights to the United States after the FAA upgraded the country’s IASA rating to Category 1. This is a major victory for Thai aviation and represents years of work to meet the necessary standards. Thailand was dropped to Category 2 in 2015 which prevented Thai airlines from adding any new routes between the country and the United States. It will be interesting to see if any airlines announce new routes as a result of the changes.
British Airways Flight Cancelled After Crewmember Dies During Layover
A British Airways crewmember was found dead during a two night layover in San Francisco earlier this week. This caused a flight between San Francisco and London to be cancelled due to the circumstances. By all accounts, the crewmember was young and this was a very unexpected event. No foul play is expected but local police are investigating the incident.
Delta Flight Catches Fire in Orlando
A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300 bound for Atlanta caught fire upon start up earlier this week at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Fire and rescue crews responded and passengers deplaned via emergency slides. No injuries were reported and Delta ferried a new aircraft to Orlando to pick up the stranded passengers.
EVA Air is Launching Flights to Dallas-Ft. Worth
EVA Air is launching 3x weekly flights between Taipei and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport beginning in October 2025. Flights will operate Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Review: St. Regis Downtown Dubai
Our stay at the St. Regis Downtown Dubai was absolutely spectacular. The attention to detail from the staff really helped push this from good to great. The room was nice and spacious and there were plenty of on-site amenities to keep us occupied while on-site.
My only complaints are with the light controls in our room as well as the walkability of the property. My hope is that the latter will be resolved once construction along the boardwalk is complete.
Summary
This week was much calmer than last week but we still saw some new route announcements, regulatory changes, and Delta bringing the heat in Orlando. All of that and more can be found in the weekly recap for April 26, 2025!