The “remote terminal,” located about 25 miles west of Logan’s location in Boston, is intended to relieve congestion and reduce security wait times at the airport. Travelers check in for their flight, drop off their bags, and clear TSA before boarding a Landline bus directly to the airside gate area at Logan.
Currently, only passengers on JetBlue or Delta flights departing between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. are eligible to use the terminal.
“This pilot program is all about creating options for our travelers,” Ha Nguyen McNeill, acting administrator of the TSA, said in a statement. “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, TSA is constantly looking at new ways we can make the checkpoint experience smoother and faster for passengers, while our security posture remains equally strong.”
Tickets for the checkpoint are available for purchase at massport.com for $9, and children under 18 board the bus for free when traveling with a ticketed adult. Parking at Framingham is available for $7 per day.
Massport and Landline announced the Framingham terminal last month. Officials said it is the first of its kind in North America.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Livery of the Week: Horizon Air Promotes ‘Toy Story 5’
The design features familiar and new characters from the long-running franchise.
E175LR aircraft in Toy Story 5 livery. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)
Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.
Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.
Alaska Air Group recently unveiled its 10th aircraft livery dedicated to the Toy Story movie franchise.
As Toy Story 5 nears its premiere on June 19, Alaska regional subsidiary Horizon Air will fly a new design showcasing new-tech Toy Story characters, including Lilypad, Snappy, Atlas, and Smarty Pants.
E175LR aircraft in Toy Story 5 livery. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)
The unveiling ceremony on June 1 at Portland International Airport also gave the opportunity for Alaska to introduce the upcoming celebrations for Horizon’s 45th anniversary in September.
“I couldn’t think of a more special way to celebrate Horizon’s history with our guests than to bring out the kid in all of us,” said Andy Schneider, president and CEO for Horizon Air, in a press release. “Forty-five years of service is a meaningful milestone, and I couldn’t be prouder of our people who, each and every day, put their best foot forward to deliver the industry’s best and most caring travel experience.”
E175LR aircraft in Toy Story 5 livery. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)
The aircraft sporting the new Toy Story livery is an Embraer E175LR aircraft, callsign N659QX, powered by two GE CF34-8E engines. It was delivered new to Horizon Air on June 29, 2023, and has been with the airline ever since.
The aircraft is configured with 76 seats, the maximum allowed under the group’s scope clause preventing regional affiliates from operating larger aircraft, with 12 First Class seats, 12 Premium Economy seats, and 52 Economy seats.
Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.
Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.
For Delta Pilot, New Hong Kong Service Will Be a Homecoming
Victor Ngai will be at the controls when the carrier launches its latest transpacific route from Los Angeles.
As a boy growing up in Hong Kong, Victor Ngai attended a primary school near the now-closed Kai Tak Airport, where he watched airplanes arrive and depart. The experience inspired him to become an airline pilot, and on Saturday, things will come full circle when Ngai, now a first officer, pilots Delta’s inaugural flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
“It’s quite a journey,” he said of his career so far. “I’ve always dreamt of going back and being able to fly into Hong Kong.”
Ngai moved with his family to Utah when he was in fifth grade. He finished high school in only three years and entered Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at 17. After graduating, he worked for a few years as a flight instructor, then got a job as a commercial pilot at a Delta Connection regional carrier. He was hired by Delta in 2016, and has been with the airline ever since.
When the news reached Delta’s pilots, Ngai jumped at the chance to fulfill his childhood dream. Circumstances worked in his favor, as he is now based in Los Angeles and flies the A350.
“I was pretty excited,” he said. “As soon as that news came out, I just jumped up in the air. The first person I told was my mom, and she said, ‘Finally, we can take Delta back from now on.’”
Ngai said he hasn’t spent substantial time in Hong Kong since 2018, and is interested to see how it’s changed.
He’s also enthusiastic about making the journey in an A350, which he called a “Cadillac” and said is “very well made.”
“I pinch myself every day, just being able to do this as a career,” he said.
He also highlighted Delta’s recent expansion in the Pacific, including new routes to Australia. The arrival of the airline’s first A350-1000s will support even more transpacific connections, he noted.
“I’m really excited to see what else is in store,” he said.
Victor Ngai, as an aspiring pilot, and as a first officer. (Photo: Delta)
Ngai said there will be four pilots on board the Los Angeles-to-Hong Kong flight – two captains, and two first officers. They will take turns piloting the aircraft, going three hours on, three hours off, through the roughly 14-hour service.
Inaugural Service
Delta is setting up some special perks for its inaugural flight, including a meet-and-greet with chef Jereme Leung at LAX’s Delta One lounge before departure. Officials said Leung will curate the meal on board the flight to Hong Kong and on the return service to Los Angeles.
The airline has also put together a destination guidebook for Hong Kong, advising travelers on places to visit. The booklet, which Ngai contributed to, will be placed at every seat on the flight, along with Hong Kong-themed tote bags.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Boeing Delivers Riyadh Air’s First 787s
The start-up carrier has ordered up to 72 Dreamliners.
Riyadh Air’s first two 787 Dreamliners arrive in Riyadh. (Photo: Riyadh Air)
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air this week took delivery of its first two new, fully-owned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Boeing announced the deliveries early Friday after the aircraft touched down at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh Air’s main hub.
The start-up carrier called the deliveries an important “milestone” on its path to launching full-scale commercial service.
Riyadh Air has ordered up to 72 787s, in addition to 60 Airbus A321neos and up to 50 A350-1000s.
“To see our very first custom-built 787 Dreamliner airplanes touch down in Riyadh is a historic moment for us, and a momentous day for Saudi aviation,” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said in a news release. “I couldn’t be more excited or more confident about the future and the legacy we are creating. Not only are we building an airline, we are opening a new gateway to the world from the heart of the kingdom.”
Riyadh Air is currently using a leased 787, nicknamed “Jamila,” to connect Riyadh and London, but so far those flights have been open only to airline staff and their families. That will change in July, when the route becomes fully public. One of the new 787s is expected to take over the service at that time.
Riyadh Air has said it wants to add 100 destinations by 2030, including Cairo and Jeddah.
Riyadh Air is owned entirely by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund. It was formed three years ago as part of a broader effort by the Saudi government to diversify the country’s economy and increase tourism. It is the country’s second flag carrier, behind Jeddah-based Saudia.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
NTSB: United 767 That Struck NJ Turnpike Light Pole Was Only 19 Feet Above Highway
A tractor-trailer driver was injured after debris from the falling pole hit his vehicle.
A United Boeing 767-300. (Photo: Shutterstock | Michael Derrer Fuchs)
A United Boeing 767 that struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark last month was coming in slow and was only about 19 feet above ground level when it crossed the middle of the highway, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The incident made headlines in early May when video of the airplane appearing to strike the top of a tractor-trailer on the turnpike was widely shared on social media. The NTSB launched an investigation, with United, the Air Line Pilots Association, Boeing, and the FAA all participating.
Contrary to reporting at the time, NTSB investigators found no physical evidence of the aircraft’s landing gear directly striking the tractor-trailer. Instead, it appears that the falling light pole hit the truck, causing the damage seen in the video, as well as minor injuries to the driver.
United Flight 169 was arriving at Newark from Venice, Italy, on May 3 when it was instructed to land on Runway 29.
The pilot flying told the NTSB that he “got fast” while turning the airplane into a headwind and pulled the power levers back to compensate. As the 767 descended, airspeed decayed, and the first officer advised that the airplane was “slow,” and later, “still slow and a little low.” The pilot monitoring said that, while he thought the aircraft was low, he didn’t process the information fast enough to verbalize a call for a go-around.
Several members of the flight crew recalled an audible thump as they neared and went over the airport’s boundary. The flight landed safely at Newark, and there were no reports of injuries to crew members or passengers.
A graphic produced by the NTSB shows the 767 was about 19 feet AGL when it passed over the middle of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Officials said that United issued safety reminders and guidance to pilots about the approach to Runway 29 after the incident.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
United on Wednesday took delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the second U.S. airline with the long-range variant.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed the aircraft, registered as N64321, departed Hamburg and arrived in Tampa, Florida, Wednesday evening. The jet will have its Starlink wireless internet antenna installed in Tampa.
Neither United nor Airbus have commented on the aircraft’s delivery.
United has ordered 50 A321XLRs. It plans to deploy them on routes to smaller cities in Europe and North Africa, and to South America. The type will replace United’s aging Boeing 757s.
The airline has said it expects to take delivery of 12 A321XLRs this year.
American, the first U.S. carrier to receive the type, took delivery of its first -XLR last summer. It entered service in December.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Contour Airlines will add two new connections to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next month in time for the summer travel season.
The independent regional carrier will start flights from Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Altoona, Pennsylvania, on July 1. Both routes will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with service from Parkersburg running through Aug. 15 and service from Altoona continuing through Aug. 22.
Contour will fly both connections using 30-seat regional jets.
Officials said the seasonal routes will provide an “easy and stress-free way” for Parkersburg- and Altoona-area residents to reach the South Carolina coast.
The airline currently connects both Parkersburg and Altoona to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Lufthansa 787’s Landing Gear Collapses With Crew On Board
Several people were injured and are receiving treatment, the airline confirmed.
A Lufthansa Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Photo: Lufthansa Group)
Several Lufthansa employees were injured Thursday when the nose gear of a parked Boeing 787 Dreamliner collapsed at a gate at Frankfurt Airport.
The German airline said only crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the apparent gear failure, which dropped the jet’s nose several yards to the ground.
Alleged video of the incident shared by TMZ shows the landing gear rolling forward before the nose comes down. A ground worker can be see backing up quickly to get out of the way.
The injured employees are receiving medical attention, Lufthansa said. The carrier did not specify exactly how many people were affected.
The 787 was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles Thursday afternoon. The aircraft is about a year old, according to the Associated Press.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
JetBlue Flight Reports Close Call With Small Aircraft
The FAA is investigating but said required separation was maintained.
A JetBlue Airbus A321. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The FAA is looking into a reported close call involving a JetBlue Airbus A321 and a small aircraft, which appeared to turn toward the commercial flight as it neared Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The incident took place Monday evening as JetBlue Flight 1256, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, prepared to land at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Air traffic controllers alerted the flight that a Beechcraft 76 Duchess was flying in the area and was not in contact with the control tower.
“They’re turning toward us,” one of the JetBlue pilots said, according to audio captured by LiveATC.
The pilots told air traffic control that they received a collision avoidance alert about the other airplane and climbed higher to avoid it.
“That guy’s insane,” a controller said.
The two aircraft passed within about a mile of each other horizontally, and the JetBlue flight landed safely at the airport. The FAA said required separation was maintained.
ABC News reported that the Beechcraft is owned by a flight school in the area. In a statement to a local ABC affiliate, the flight school said the pilot of the small aircraft did not do anything wrong.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Former T-Mobile CEO Joins Alaska Board
Mike Sievert's experience leading a company with global reach will make him a "valuable addition," officials said.
Sievert joined T-Mobile in 2012 and served as CEO between 2020 and 2025. He presided over a period of “significant value creation” at the telecommunications company, Alaska officials said, with T-Mobile’s market value increasing from about $60 billion to about $260 billion during his tenure.
Sievert currently serves as vice chairman of T-Mobile’s board of directors.
“Mike is a proven leader who understands how to grow a business, strengthen customer relationships, and execute at a global scale,” Alaska Air Group Board Chair Patty Bedient said in a news release. “His experience leading a highly competitive, customer-focused company, combined with his strong connection to Seattle, will make him a valuable addition to our board.”
Prior to joining T-Mobile, Sievert held leadership positions at Microsoft, AT&T, IBM, and Procter & Gamble. He is also a licensed pilot and owns an amphibious seaplane.
“I’ve long admired Alaska’s focus on operational performance and doing the right thing for their guests,” Sievert said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the airline’s continued growth and helping strengthen its position as a global airline.”
Sievert’s appointment likely signals that Alaska will continue to expand internationally. Earlier this spring, the carrier launched its first routes from Seattle to Europe, presenting a new challenge to longtime competitor Delta. Alaska is also rolling out new premium products, specifically its International Business Class suites on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
With Sievert’s appointment, Alaska Air Group’s board has 10 independent director seats. Directors serve one-year terms upon election at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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