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A Southwest Airlines flight was less than 200 feet behind a business jet when the Southwest pilot aborted the landing and made an emergency maneuver to narrowly avoid a collision at Chicago Midway Airport on February 25, U.S. safety officials said on Tuesday. A FlexJet Challenger business jet entered the runway without authorization, prompting the Southwest Boeing 737-800 to circle and re-approach the landing, a maneuver called a go-around. The Southwest first officer saw the business jet and realized it was not stopping, called for a go-around and the captain executed it, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report. The FlexJet crew said the instructions from controllers did not make sense and said after they sought clarification they were given a new taxi route. The flight crew initially read back the instructions incorrectly but the ground controller immediately reissued the instructions and received a correct readback. The FlexJet flight crew said the sun was impeding visibility from the right side of the aircraft and crew members did not recall seeing any hold short line or pavement markings. The crew said it did not observe the Southwest jet on final approach. A controller instructed the FlexJet to hold short as it approached, but the transmission was not acknowledged, the NTSB said. This month, the Federal Aviation Administration said it was taking steps to address safety issues involving general aviation and business jets. After the Chicago incident, the FAA said it was initiating a safety-risk analysis of close encounters between pilots flying visually and pilots flying under air traffic control. The FAA said it had met with general and business aviation groups.<br/>

The Justice Department on Tuesday said it is in talks with Southwest Airlines about potentially resolving a suit filed by the Biden administration accusing the carrier of illegally operating chronically delayed flights. The U.S. Transportation Department in January said Southwest had operated unrealistic schedules, and said it was seeking maximum civil penalties. The Justice Department said on Tuesday it is engaged in discussions with Southwest "about a potential resolution of this action," and Southwest now has until May 30 to respond to the lawsuit. Southwest did not immediately comment. USDOT said in January that for five months in 2022, Southwest operated two chronically delayed flights: one between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and another between Baltimore and Cleveland. The department in January fined Frontier Airlines $650,000 for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. Frontier was required to pay $325,000 and will pay the remainder if it operates any chronically delayed flights in the next three years. Southwest said in January it was disappointed USDOT chose to sue "over two flights that occurred more than two years ago." Southwest said that since 2009, the carrier has operated more than 20m flights with no other violations.<br/>

When one free checked bag policy ends, another begins. Frontier Airlines will offer customers a free checked bag on select flights through this summer. “We’ve always had heart,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said in a news release on Tuesday. “Some airlines are walking away from what travelers love, but we’re running towards it. Think of this as the ultimate ‘divorce your old airline’ deal.” Customers will get complimentary to the carrier’s economy bundle – which also includes a free carry-on, seat selection and flight changes – for nonstop flights through Aug. 18. The free checked bag promo applies to flights departing between May 28 and Aug. 18 with the promo code FREEBAG. Travelers must book by March 24. The airline said it may make the deal permanent depending on customer response. “At the end of the day, travelers just want to be valued,” Biffle added. “We’re bringing back the things people love about flying - free bags, free seat selection, and flexibility - without the extra fees. No games, just great value.” The offer comes after Southwest announced last week that it would end its long-standing two-free checked bags policy for most passengers. The move is one of several major changes at the airline, from the addition of premium seating to seat assignments, and prompted pushback from some loyal flyers.<br/>

Amid a tense political climate, a Canadian airline says it is canceling flights between Canada and a Tennessee city already targeted by the country’s tariffs. In response to tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump, Canadians have made their opinion of the U.S. clear, booing the country’s national anthem at NHL and NBA games and removing American-made goods — including Tennessee whiskey — from their store shelves. Recent reports show Canadians are also avoiding any trips to the U.S. According to the Canadian Press, Canadians have been canceling travel plans to the U.S. Data from travel agency Flight Centre Travel Group Canada showed leisure bookings to U.S. cities dropped 40% in February over last February, with one in five customers canceling U.S. trips over the previous three months. Canadian airlines have taken note. One in particular, Flair Airlines, recently announced it would end flights to Nashville. “I can confirm that Flair won’t be flying to Nashville this summer,” said Kim Bowie, director of communications for Flair Airlines. According to Flair’s website, the airline’s flights to Nashville are its only route to Tennessee. During a Monday meeting of the Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell said it’s a loss of about 18,000 seats.<br/>

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is betting on the swift recovery of tourism in Lebanon as it expands its network with a new route to Beirut, following a ceasefire deal that ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The ultra-low cost airline will start flights from Abu Dhabi to the Lebanese capital three times a week starting on June 4, it said on Tuesday. Its entry into the market "is a sign of Lebanon normalising and focusing back again on VFR [visiting friends and relatives] traffic, but also building tourism back in the region. This is a sign of how consumers are reacting and how demand for Lebanese routes is increasing", Johan Eidhagen, managing director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, told The National. Tourism to Lebanon will recover "relatively fast" with the Middle East as a tourism destination growing "massively", he added. Tourism is a major pillar of Lebanon's crisis-hit economy. The country's real gross domestic product contracted by 7.1% last year because of the war, “a significant setback compared to a no-conflict growth estimated at 0.9%”, a recent World Bank report said. The country's GDP has declined nearly 40% since 2019, with the war further compounding the economic crisis. Reconstruction and recovery will cost about $11b, with $3b to $5b needed to be publicly financed, including $1b for the country's infrastructure alone. Private financing is required for about $6b to $8b of the costs, mostly in the housing, commerce, industry and tourism sectors, the World Bank said earlier this month.<br/>

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has announced plans to launch direct flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, further expanding its network in Africa. This service marks Gulf Air's return to Nairobi, re-establishing a vital link to the capital city, which was last served in 2012. Starting June 2, Gulf Air will operate five weekly flights to Nairobi. Services will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, with two flights offered on Fridays, all operated by the modern Airbus A320neo aircraft. This direct service aligns with Gulf Air's strategy of calibrated expansion and serving new markets, providing passengers with greater choice and convenience for travel between East Africa and Bahrain, and beyond, the airline said. Gulf Air Group CEO Jeffrey Goh stated: "We are delighted to announce the launch of direct flights to Nairobi, offering convenient flight options to our passengers. The Nairobi route will enhance connectivity for both business and leisure travelers, fostering stronger ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Republic of Kenya."<br/>