ARC NEWS
Spirit suspending 40 routes in November
September 30, 2025
Spirit Airlines' new vice-president of network planning is beginning his tenure by suspending about 40 routes in November and ceasing service to two cities. Andrea Lusso – who began his career as an intern with Spirit and gained a decade of route, network and enterprise planning at rival JetBlue Airways – told staff in a 26 September internal memo that the network adjustments "include multiple routes that are seasonal or only operate on certain days of the week". He adds that Spirit is discontinuing service to Hartford, Connecticut on 31 October and to Minneapolis on 1 December. Schedules data shows that Spirit currently operates flights from Hartford to Nashville, Fort Lauderdale and Myrtle Beach. From Minneapolis, it operates flights to Atlanta and had been scheduled to start daily services to Detroit in December. "While we previously reduced our presence at these airports, these decisions were still difficult, and we are incredibly grateful for our team members and partners at both stations," says Lusso. "We'll continue to make our routine schedule and network adjustments, but do not anticipate any additional airport exits in the near future." Before joining Spirit in September, Lusso was principal, supply chain and network design for Amazon Air. Spirit is restructuring under Chapter 11 for a second time and said earlier this month it was furloughing about 1,800 flight attendants from 1 December.


FAA approves United's Starlink-equipped 737-800
September 29, 2025
United Airlines has received a supplemental type certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration for the first of its Boeing 737-800s to be equipped with Starlink's wi-fi service. The US major expects its first Starlink-equipped 737-800 will depart Newark Liberty on 15 October. The FAA in May approved United's Starlink-equipped Embraer 175 regional aircraft. The Chicago-based carrier in September 2024 signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink's wi-fi service to its mainline and regional fleets. Starlink is operated by Starlink Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk.


Boeing to resume issuing 737 and 787 airworthiness certificates
September 29, 2025
The US Federal Aviation Administration has delegated to Boeing the issuing of airworthiness certificates "for some" 737 Max and 787 aircraft. The FAA notes that this "limited delegation" becomes effective on 29 September. The regulator adds that in 2019 it stopped allowing Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates for Max jets following the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, and for 787s in 2022 "because of production quality issues". The FAA says it is now "confident" that Boeing can safely issue airworthiness certificates for Max jets and 787s. "This decision follows a thorough review of Boeing's ongoing production quality and will allow our inspectors to focus additional surveillance in the production process," the regulator says. "The FAA will continue to maintain direct and rigorous oversight of Boeing's production processes."


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