Hawaiian Airlines has completed installation of Starlink wi-fi service across its fleet of 24 Airbus A330s. The Honolulu-based carrier says it is offering the wi-fi service free of charge to its passengers on all Airbus flights between the islands and the continental USA, Asia and Oceania. The carrier also plans to install Starlink on its Boeing 787-9 fleet, but not on its 717s used for short flights between the islands. "Becoming the first major airline to offer travellers Starlink at no cost is a remarkable achievement for our team, and we couldn't be more pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response from guests who have been enjoying our industry-leading connectivity onboard," states Evan Nomura, director of in-flight entertainment and connectivity and onboard products at Hawaiian Airlines. Starlink is operated by Starlink Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX, which was founded by billionaire Elon Musk.

US carrier Southwest Airlines intends to reduce the number of flights connecting with Atlanta's primary airport, as well as the staff size supporting its operation in that city in Georgia. Dallas-based Southwest says that booking patterns for flights involving Hartsfield-Jackson International airport do not support continuing its level of service. Southwest is set to operate 5,077 flights to and from Atlanta in October, the second-highest flight total among all carriers offering flights connecting with that city. Delta Air Lines has scheduled 51,119 flights connecting with Atlanta in October, while Frontier Airlines is set to operate 2,318 such flights that month. Fewer staff will be needed to operate its reduced schedule in Atlanta, Southwest notes, adding that changes to its schedule will not be enacted for at least six months. All affected employees will be given an opportunity to transfer stations, it adds. Southwest says that a scarcity of available aircraft has been "a driving force" in its decision to reduce its Atlanta operation. The all-Boeing 737 carrier is notably exposed to the US airframer's production woes, which have worsened with the strike called by its machinists this month. "We continue to optimise our network to meet customer demand, best utilise our fleet, and maximise revenue opportunities," Southwest says. "Decisions like these are difficult for our company because of the effects on our people, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of." It notes that while it is "drawing down some in Atlanta", it is in April adding service in Nashville, with new routes connecting with Albuquerque, New Mexico; Albany, New York; Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; Providence, Rhode Island; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Emirates Airlines plans to add a fourth daily flight between Dubai and Johannesburg, starting 1 March 2025. The carrier says the new service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. The expansion brings Emirates' service to South Africa back to pre-pandemic levels, with 49 weekly flights across three gateways. The new service, Emirates adds, increases cargo capacity by 300 tons a week, supporting the transportation of goods such as fresh produce, meat, and flowers. This development follows the recent introduction of a second daily Airbus A380 service to Johannesburg.