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The FAA is investigating Southwest Airlines after a series of safety incidents in recent months. The Wall Street Journal first reported the audit, and both the agency and the airline confirmed it was happening to USA TODAY. “The FAA has increased oversight of Southwest Airlines to ensure it is complying with federal safety regulations,” the agency said in a statement. “Safety will drive the timeline.” Southwest said it will cooperate with the FAA’s activities. “Southwest is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration in the review of recent events,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We recently formed a dedicated team of subject-matter experts and leaders from Southwest, our union partners, and the FAA to bolster our existing (safety management system). This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement. The FAA has been stepping up its oversight of airlines in the wake of safety incidents. In March, it announced increased monitoring of United Airlines following a series of close calls and other issues there. The Southwest audit comes after more than one plane came too close to the ground while preparing to land in recent months, and coincides with the NTSB’s ongoing investigation of the Dutch roll incident in June.<br/>

Travellers in Regina and Saskatoon will soon have a bigger pool of flights to pick from. WestJet announced this week that it is increasing the frequency of some domestic and international flights this winter at the Saskatchewan's two largest airports. James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, said the announcement is "nothing short of incredible." "This means more choice, more opportunities to fly to the cities they are going to in Canada," he said. "And this is on top of a nice slate of sun destinations WestJet is bringing back." James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, says the increased flight frequency will impact local GDP and jobs, and offer more options for travellers. WestJet said the new flights represent a 27% increase for Saskatoon and Regina compared to last year. It's part of a larger expansion by the airline this winter, including what its describing as a "48% increase in intercontinental capacity" at Canadian airports. Along with more flights to destinations like Puerto Vallarta and Cancun, the announcement also promises to substantially increase Regina and Saskatoon's connections with major Canadian cities over the winter months.<br/>

Pilots at Ireland’s national airline, Aer Lingus, have voted to accept a pay increase and end a labor dispute that led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, the two sides said Tuesday. Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association backed the 17.75% raise recommended by Ireland’s Labour Court, which intervened in the standoff between the pilots and airline management. Some 85% of union members who returned ballots voted in favor of the deal. The pilots staged an eight-hour walkout on June 30 and spent two weeks refusing to work overtime, accept changes in set rosters or take out-of-hours management requests. About 600 flights were canceled. They suspended the industrial action after the Labour Court intervened. “Aer Lingus welcomes the outcome of the ballot which has accepted the Labour Court recommendation,” the airline said in a brief statement. Union president Mark Tighe hailed the deal as “the greatest pay award seen in 30 years for Aer Lingus pilots.” Tighe added: “Companies making significant profits must ensure that their employees’ remuneration reflects the success of the company, and their salaries are protected from inflation."<br/>

IAG's Spanish low-cost airline Vueling is benefiting from off-peak season travel, helping it to break its own record last year of having airplanes full at 91% of their capacity as remote working changes travel habits. The airline's chief commercial, customer and strategy and network officer, Carolyn Prowse, said in an interview this month that the rise of flexible working has blurred the difference between business and leisure travel, with some people starting a long weekend trip as early as a Wednesday. "I think the big question is: What's the new normal? What we see from consumers is that not being able to travel made them perhaps realise how much they value it, and combined with remote working, it means that it's still a healthy demand environment," she said. Vueling said its load factor, which measures the percentage of available seats filled, increased over the winter, reaching numbers above 90%, and particularly improving on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On a Tuesday, it had an average load factor of around 90%, while before the pandemic it would be below 80%, according to data provided by the airline to Reuters. As part of its increasing push on off-peak season travel, Vueling said it currently offers 20% more seats in the summer season compared to winter. Before the pandemic the airline used to be more seasonal, offering nearly 50% more seats in summers.<br/>

Virgin Atlantic has ordered a further seven Airbus A330-900 planes, the airline said at the Farnborough Airshow on Tuesday. The wide-body planes will be delivered from 2027 and cost a combined $807m, according to estimated delivery prices from Cirium Ascend. The order builds on Virgin Atlantic's initial A330neo order made in 2019 and takes the airline’s total A330neo fleet to 19. Reuters reported on Sunday that Virgin Atlantic was close to placing a top-up order for A330neos.<br/>

Flydubai has begun exploring its next major aircraft purchase, a deal that would mark its biggest transaction yet to carry the company well into the next decade, Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said. The company is evaluating options with both Boeing Co. and Airbus SE, the CEO said in an interview at the Farnborough International Air Show. The airline operates an all-Boeing fleet for now, but significant delays and cancellations with the US company are prompting a rethink of that exclusive arrangement for the next purchase. “We have to make a decision for the next 10 years,” Al Gaith said. A new order would “certainly” be surpassing previous purchases, he said, the largest of which was in 2017, when the carrier snapped up 175 737 aircraft. “The opportunity is always there and there’s a choice for both Airbus and Boeing.” Flydubai is being forced to plan further in advance, which in turn stands to translate into the largest purchase in its 15-year history. Only last week, the airline was informed by Boeing that it wouldn’t receive any additional planes this year, leaving it with a significant shortfall at a time when air travel remains strong. <br/>

Berniq Airways has placed a firm order for six A320neo-family aircraft, Airbus confirmed during Farnborough air show on 23 July. The Libyan carrier – which already operates six A320s – had announced the purchase agreement in May, saying it would take A320neos and A321neos. “We are proud to be the first airline in Libya to order the advanced A320neo-family aircraft,” says Berniq Airways CE Waseem Ezzway. “This significant investment marks a new chapter for Berniq Airways as we continue to lead the way in modernising our fleet and enhancing our service offerings.” The carrier intends to use the twinjets to develop its regional and international routes, Airbus says. No engine selection has been announced. Privately owned Berniq initially emerged in 2018, and commenced operations in 2021.<br/>

India's SpiceJet said on Tuesday it plans to raise 30b rupees (around $360m) by selling securities, including shares, marking the troubled budget carrier's latest attempt to shore up funds to restore full operations. The company will issue shares to institutional investors, it said in an exchange filing, without disclosing the price at which they would be sold. SpiceJet has been scrambling to raise funds amid a string of quarterly losses, compounded by some lessors taking the airline to court to settle unpaid dues and requesting the country's aviation regulator to de-register their planes. As of March-end, SpiceJet had cash and cash equivalents of 1.87b rupees, while its cash from operational activities was a negative 6.13b rupees. Most top Indian carriers, from IndiGo to those under the Air India group, have inducted newer jets over the last year to cater to booming demand in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. SpiceJet, however, has struggled to even return grounded jets to the sky, losing market share in the process, weighed down by its legal and financial troubles.<br/>