Greetings from Austin! We had some winter weather, including snow, sleet, ice, and freezing rain, so this week’s update is a bit behind schedule. Thankfully, we didn’t have anywhere to go and it was a relatively slow week on the aviation and travel front. With that being said, let’s dive in to the ATX Jetsetter weekly recap for the week ended January 25, 2026.
In this post:
Cayman Airways is Launching Service to Austin
Cayman Airways is launching seasonal nonstop flights between Austin and Grand Cayman. Flights will run from May 24 to August 16, 2026, with weekly Sunday service using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. This will give Central Texas travelers a new direct link to the Cayman Islands when tickets go on sale January 30, 2026.
FAA Makes Helicopter Restrictions Around Reagan National Airport Permanent
Temporary airspace restrictions placed around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after the collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter have become permanent.
The FAA published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) aimed at significantly reducing midair-collision risks when Runways 15 and 33 at DCA are in use.
United Airbus A321neo Loses Wheel After Hard Landing in Orlando
A United Airlines Airbus A321neo lost part of its nose gear during a rough landing at Orlando International Airport. No injuries have been reported and the aircraft has been removed from service for evaluation and repairs.
Air Canada is Adding Flights to Sapporo, Japan
Air Canada is launching 3x weekly flights between Vancouver and Sapporo for the 2026-2027 ski season. This will be the only direct flight between North America and Sapporo which should open up a ton of one stop connecting opportunities via the carrier’s Vancouver hub.
American and United Continue to Battle at Chicago O’Hare
American Airlines and United Airlines are taking their rivalry in Chicago to the next level. American is adding flights in an effort to stave off United’s expansion while United believes it can bleed American dry in Chicago.
While this battle is far from over, passengers in the Windy City will likely see some attractive airfares as this battle rages on.
Summary
Winter weather overshadowed most of the news this week but, there were a few unique route announcements and other things that still managed to make headlines. As always, thank you for reading and for checking out the weekly recap for the week ended January 25, 2026!