Howard Hardee
Howard Hardee is Americas aviation reporter for FlightGlobal.com and Flight International magazine, covering major and regional airlines in North America and low-emissions initiatives throughout the industry. He formerly covered politics for journalism nonprofit Wisconsin Watch and has written about science, music, travel and forestry as a freelancer for dozens of blogs, newspapers and magazines.
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Airline BusinessCanadian carriers shift focus to Latin America amid US tensions
With air travel between Canada and the USA still suppressed, Canadian carriers are pushing farther south in pursuit of warm-weather destinations, with the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico squarely in their sites.
NewsGlobalX purchases first A320, pursues new ‘hybrid ownership model’
Global Crossing Airlines, which operates as charter carrier GlobalX, has executed its first-ever aircraft purchase and signed leases for an additional four Airbus jets.
NewsPorter to sell and lease-back four E195-E2s
Canadian carrier Porter Airlines has secured a sale-leaseback deal involving four Embraer E195-E2 jets to be delivered later this year.
NewsAvelo planning closure of Burbank base, total withdrawal from West Coast
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines is planning to withdraw from the West Coast of the USA by year-end, a sweeping strategic change that signals significant financial difficulty for the start-up.
NewsAir Canada deepens ties with future Star Alliance carrier ITA Airways
ITA Airways has formed a codeshare partnership with Air Canada as part of the Italian carrier’s entry into Star Alliance.
NewsAlaska Air Group receives DOT approval for transfer of Hawaiian’s operating certificate
The DOT approved on 14 July the de facto transfer of “certificates and other economic authorities” held by Hawaiian to Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and wholly owned regional subsidiary Horizon Air.
NewsEngine fuel-supply switches transitioned to ‘cutoff’ before Air India 787-8 crash: investigators
India’s civil aviation regulator has released a preliminary report indicating that both of the jet’s fuel cutoff switches flipped to the “cutoff” position shortly after take-off – but neither pilot believed they had moved the switches manually.
NewsFinal NTSB report on Alaska 737 Max 9 blow-out faults Boeing’s worker training and FAA oversight
The US National Transportation Board (NSTB) has released its final report on the January 2024 in-flight depressurisation of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 – an incident that proved tectonic for Boeing’s commercial business and prompted sweeping changes in the airframer’s C-suite and on its factory floors.
NewsTrump’s trade posture toward Brazil raises potential threat to Embraer’s regional jet business in USA
Heightened trade tensions between the USA and Brazil – and the prospect of swingeing tariffs – could pose problems for Embraer and US airlines that hold orders for the Brazilian airframer’s regional jets.
Airline BusinessDelta’s tone shifts as Bastian touts stable demand and ‘solid’ US economy
Fears of a dramatic, tariff-related drop-off in demand for air travel have largely subsided, with the summer season humming along and at least one major US carrier taking a notably different tone.
NewsCanada’s Flair Airlines permanently installs Maciej Wilk as CEO
A year into leading Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines on an interim basis, Maciej Wilk has been confirmed as the airline’s permanent chief executive.
NewsAirline industry veteran Bryan Bedford confirmed as new head of US civil aviation regulator
Bedford is charged with oversight of the USA’s civil aviation regulator at a time of intense focus on aviation safety.
Airline BusinessJettison of Sunseeker Resort shows Allegiant’s focus is back on airline operations
Allegiant Travel Company’s ill-fated decision to build its own resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, has finally run its course.
NewsMammoth on pace to deliver 777-300ERMF conversion to AviaAM in 2025
Mammoth Freighters is tracking to complete its first passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion of a Boeing 777-300ER before year-end.
Airline BusinessWeek 28 2025: Airline earnings season set for take-off with demand in focus
The airline earnings season will kick off with major US carrier Delta Air Lines reporting its second-quarter results on 10 July and European low-cost carrier Norwegian set to share results the following day.
Airline BusinessStar Alliance chief focuses on seamless customer journeys across ‘vast’ member network
Theo Panagiotoulias describes how the 25-strong consortium of carriers is focused on boosting technology platforms to provide more-seamless experiences for passengers.
NewsStart-up airline Argentum plans operations with Silver Airways’ former assets
Weeks after Florida-based regional carrier Silver Airways ceased operations across its network in the Southeast USA and the Caribbean, an effort is underway to resume scheduled passenger service under the new Argentum Airways brand.
NewsBombardier secures 50-strong executive jet order from mystery customer
Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier has landed a firm order for 50 Challenger- and Global-family jets from an anonymous first-time customer.
NewsMexicana takes first E195-E2 delivery from Embraer
Sao Paulo-based Embraer says that Mexicana’s first example of the latest-generation narrowbody jet departed its headquarters in the morning on 30 June.
NewsEve targets potential air taxi operations in Costa Rica
US air taxi developer Eve Air Mobility has secured a letter of intent that calls for the potential delivery of up to 50 electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles to a start-up operator in Costa Rica.