Southwest Airlines to Open 11 Lounges with Chase by 2027

Southwest Airlines will open its first airport lounges, entering a competitive market long dominated by other major U.S. Carriers. The airline plans to open 11 lounges nationwide, with the first locations scheduled to open by the end of 2027.

The lounges are a partnership with Chase and will blend Southwest's brand identity with the amenities of the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Network. Southwest stated the spaces will combine "the warmth and friendliness Customers expect from Southwest with sophisticated design, locally-inspired dining, high-quality amenities, and valuable travel benefits." The initial four lounge locations will be in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville.

Exact access procedures are not yet finalized. A Chase credit card will be a factor for entry, but it is unknown if passengers on Business Select fares will receive complimentary access.

Air Canada's 2027 Summer Expansion

Air Canada has detailed a significant summer 2027 expansion, adding five new international destinations from its primary hubs. The new cities are Basel, Dubrovnik, Guangzhou, Oslo, and Shannon.

New routes and schedules include several seasonal summer services. The carrier will use its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft on multiple routes.

Other changes include making Toronto to Guatemala City service year-round and adding a fifth daily flight from Toronto to London Heathrow. The new London flight will be a daytime service operated with an A321XLR.

American Airlines Shows New Flagship Suites

American Airlines has unveiled the cabin configuration for its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which are phasing out international first class. The new layout focuses on an expanded business class cabin, branded as Flagship Suites.

The updated aircraft will feature 70 business class suites, which American says will be the largest business class cabin among U.S. Carriers. This includes eight "Flagship Suite Preferred" seats in the front rows. The configuration also includes 44 premium economy seats and 30 Main Cabin Extra seats with extra legroom.

The first retrofitted aircraft, registration N718AN, has entered service. American will stop selling first class on these aircraft in November, even as the multi-year retrofit program continues.

JetBlue Nears Approval for LGA Slot Purchase

The U.S. Government has issued a notice indicating it is unlikely to block JetBlue's purchase of 22 dormant slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). JetBlue agreed to buy the so-called "ghost slots" from Spirit Airlines for $58.5 million in July.

A notice in the Federal Register stated the purchase "ensures that scarce public airspace resources are returned to active commercial service under a proven low-fare business model." The deal requires an exemption from an FAA rule that currently prohibits the sale of LGA slots. If approved, the slots could not be moved or sold by JetBlue until at least April 2028 and would remain subject to FAA authority. Interested parties have until September 21 to comment on the decision.

United App Adds Standby and Tracking Features

United Airlines has updated its mobile app with new features aimed at passengers during travel disruptions. The primary addition allows customers to list themselves on standby for up to three earlier flights to the same destination when their original travel plans are interrupted.

The app will then send a text notification if a seat opens on one of the standby flights, giving the passenger the option to switch. Other updates include displaying inbound aircraft location on the flight status page, showing TSA wait times at United's hub airports, and integrating Apple's "Find My" technology to help locate lost luggage.