Greetings from Austin! I’m home solo this weekend as Mrs. ATX headed off to Houston with some friends. Fortunately, there was plenty of aviation and travel related news to keep me busy. So, let’s dive right in to the May 3, 2025 weekly recap.
United is Partnering With JetBlue
While the rumors have been swirling since January, this week we finally got confirmation that United is entering into a partnership with JetBlue. While details are still limited at this time, it appears that the two carriers will not coordinate schedules and pricing like JetBlue and American did during the Northeast Alliance.
One has to wonder whether this is the first step towards a broader partnership or eventual merger as United is still looking for a way back into JFK and JetBlue continues to struggle financially.
Delta Gets Creative to Avoid Tariffs
Delta Air Lines is avoiding tariffs placed on European goods by the Trump administration by taking delivery of new aircraft outside of the United States. Once the airplane is placed into revenue service it is considered used and, as long as it continues to operate international flights, it won’t need to be imported into the country.
While this is a fascinating workaround, its not the first time Delta has done this in order to avoid paying tariffs. Delta CEO Ed Bastian made it clear the airline has no intention of paying tariffs on any new aircraft, and they are following through with that promise.
A Major Terminal Expansion is Coming to DFW Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines have just announced a major expansion to the already under construction Terminal F. The changes will see American become the sole tenant at the terminal and double the gate space versus previous plans. Construction is expected to open in phases with the first occurring in 2027.
Delta Adds Extra Flights for College Football Fans This Fall
Delta is once again adding special routes in anticipation of the upcoming college football season. The Atlanta based carrier will operate more than 40 flights for college football games this fall, adding more than 8,000 seats for customers looking to cheer on their team.
Southwest is Testing Free Wi-Fi on Select Flights
Southwest Airlines is testing free Wi-Fi on select flights over the next few days. If you’re flying with the airline between now and Monday, May 5, check your email to see if your flight qualifies. This is a great step towards rolling out free Wi-Fi across the entire Southwest Airlines fleet, assuming the bandwidth can keep up.
Exploring Dubai
To kick off our whirlwind trip across Asia we spent three days in Dubai. Each day brought new adventures and we saw everything from the beaches of Palm Jumeriah to the city at night from the top of the Burj Khalifa.
While we enjoyed our visit, even in late March it was hot. I can’t imagine doing many of the things we did during the peak summer months. Also, our visit occurred during Ramadan, which helped keep the crowds at bay during the day.
Summary
The news this week was dominated by the partnership rumors and ultimate confirmation of those rumors between United and JetBlue. We’ve also seen a few big passenger friendly moves including Southwest testing free Wi-Fi and a massive terminal expansion coming to DFW Airport. All of that and more can be found in the weekly recap for May 3, 2025!