If keeping an eye on budgeting, travel logistics and attendee experience means keeping an eye on the sky, there are some airline developments you may want to keep on your radar.
Delta 757s Retiring
Delta Air Lines has cut Boeing 757 flights by 26 percent compared to December 2024, accelerating retirement of this iconic fleet, the backbone of its network for decades. The carrier now operates 250 daily roundtrip 757 flights, down from 338 last year—a loss of 88 daily services representing one of Delta’s steepest single-year reductions in 757 operations ever.
Despite their valued performance, range and ability to operate in challenging airports, the aging airframes—many exceeding 25 years—face increasing maintenance costs. Delta has already removed 23 757-200s in 2025, more than double last year’s retirements, as the airline transitions to newer aircraft that sip, rather than gulp, fuel.
Delta’s capacity adjustment has eliminated 757 service from nine U.S. markets: Charleston, Chicago O’Hare, Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pensacola, Raleigh/Durham, and Savannah. These routes now use smaller aircraft or have reduced frequencies based on market demand and performance constraints.
Southwest’s European Connection
Southwest is teaming up with German airline Condor to create seamless connections for transatlantic travelers. Starting January 19, 2026, passengers can book their entire journey on one ticket through six major U.S. cities: Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle—making European adventures more accessible than ever.
“Adding Condor to our portfolio of partners brings transatlantic journeys between dozens of airports in the U.S. and exciting and aspirational places Condor serves,” Southwest COO Andrew Watterson said in a press statement.
Condor connects to almost 70 global destinations from its main Frankfurt hub. Southwest says this partnership will help U.S. travelers reach key European cities like Paris, Rome, Prague, and—by summer 2026—Barcelona, Budapest, and Venice.
Emirates Embraces OpenAI
Dubai-based Emirates has announced a new partnership with OpenAI. They’ll be rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise—a souped-up version with enhanced privacy and security—throughout their operations. The carrier has ambitious plans: exploring AI applications, building their own internal AI ecosystem and launching an ‘AI Centre for Excellence’ to stay at the cutting edge.
The airline did not provide any specific potential use cases but plans to launch AI literacy programs and joint sessions between its executives and OpenAI’s to explore applications. Meanwhile, their IT teams will collaborate on best practices.
While several carriers experiment with AI, only a few implement customer-facing functions, like Delta’s ‘Concierge’ tool and AI-guided ticket pricing.
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