American Airlines will install SpaceX's Starlink connectivity across more than 530 Boeing mainline aircraft, the carrier announced this week. The commitment extends a deal American first disclosed for its Airbus fleet over the summer, with installations beginning early next year.

The move positions Starlink as the near-default connectivity choice among the five largest U.S. carriers. United has fitted regional jets. JetBlue has long relied on the network. Delta Air Lines remains the holdout, publicly backing Amazon Leo — Jeff Bezos's low-earth-orbit venture — though no other major carrier has followed.

What does the FAA ruling change for JetBlue at LaGuardia?

The FAA approved JetBlue's $58.5 million acquisition of 22 LaGuardia slots divested by Spirit Airlines. The order bars JetBlue from selling or leasing the slots to another carrier until after April 2028.

The agency rejected public comments asking it to ring-fence the slots for an ultra-low-cost carrier or impose a five-year operating requirement. JetBlue also secured a waiver on LaGuardia's "use-it-or-lose-it" rule through April 2027, giving it roughly twelve months of 80%-utilization operation before transfer options open up.

Is Southwest actually ready for a 787?

Unconfirmed reports this week suggested Southwest Airlines is weighing used Boeing 787s for a future long-haul push. The Dallas-based carrier has operated only Boeing 737s since its 1971 founding, with a brief 727 interlude early on.

Three constraints complicate any near-term move:

• A pilot contract covering a new aircraft type would take time to negotiate
• 787 production positions are sold out well into the next decade
• Southwest wants long-haul service within three years, pointing to secondhand availability

Norse Atlantic Airways — the Norwegian long-haul operator publicly seeking additional liquidity — holds the most plausible pool of available used Dreamliners.

What does Alaska's Breeze arrangement actually cover?

Alaska Airlines began selling Breeze Airways flights through alaskaair.com and awarding Atmos Rewards points on those itineraries. The setup covers three markets Alaska does not serve nonstop: Charleston (CHS), Las Vegas (LAS), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU).

Connecting itineraries across the two carriers remain unavailable, and the partnership stops well short of a codeshare or interline agreement.

What is Porter adding from London, Ontario?

Porter Airlines unveiled five new year-round routes from London International (YXU), all operated with Embraer E195-E2 or Dash 8-400 equipment:

• Halifax — 1x daily, E195-E2, from April 12
• Vancouver — 11x weekly, E195-E2, from April 12
• Edmonton — 1x daily, E195-E2, from May 6
• Ottawa — 20x weekly, Dash 8-400, from April 12
• Montréal/Metropolitan (YHU) — 20x weekly, Dash 8-400, from April 12

The expansion follows Porter's earlier addition of seasonal sun routes from the same airport.

Among other developments tracked this week: Air France plans Nashville and San Diego service at three weekly frequencies each from May 2027. Brazil's government cleared American's $100 million minority investment in Azul. SkyWest won an Essential Air Service contract for Bradford, Pennsylvania. Air India will introduce first class on Sydney flights. Icelandair begins four weekly St. Louis flights in May. Qantas applied for additional Indonesia capacity.

Whether Southwest's 787 pivot survives contract talks, regulatory approvals, and the used-aircraft market will determine if the carrier's first non-737 fleet type in five decades moves from rumor to firm order before this decade closes.