To say that February was an eventful month in the aviation world would be an understatement.
Commercial plane crashes in North America, large-scale job cuts to key agencies and potential mergers have defined the past few tumultuous weeks.
Let’s recap the biggest air travel stories from the past month.
Disaster Sheds Light on Air Traffic Control Shortages
Air traffic control shortages have been well-documented in recent years but January’s deadly collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, DC brought the issue to the forefront of American consciousness.
The reality is that the majority of the nation’s airport air traffic control towers remain understaffed which is a problem unlikely to be solved during a Trump administration hellbent on cutting jobs.
Air traffic control tower. (Photo Credit: ErsErg/Adobe)
Boeing’s Struggles Continue
2024 was a dark year for Boeing but the airplane manufacturer has faced additional struggles in early 2025, halting production of its wide-body aircraft this winter after reporting a $3.8 billion loss to begin the year.
Cancun Airport Enhances Service
Mexico’s Cancun International Airport implemented specialized tourism training for customs agents in an effort to improve the traveler experience in February.
The new program arrived in the wake of multiple complaints and the elimination of a controversial fee for passengers arriving with more than one large electronic device.
Spirit Airlines Charts a New Path Forward
February was a busy month for Spirit Airlines, which rejected yet another acquisition offer from fellow ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines days before receiving court approval for a $795 million funded debt equitizing plan to remedy its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Spirit Airlines aircraft. (Photo Credit: Spirit Airlines)
Trump’s Air Travel Impact
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom met with the Trump Administration over the aforementioned air traffic control issues in the wake of his airline’s devastating crash in late January.
While safety concerns were the leading topic, the administration was busy firing hundreds of FAA employees in a decision that was met with pushback from industry leaders as well as lawmakers in Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that only 400 out of 45,000 FAA employees were let go and only probationary.
Southwest Launches Red-Eye Service
Polarizing low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines debuted red-eye flights in February, offering overnight options on multiple routes including between Baltimore and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Dramatic Toronto Plane Crash
Less than one month after a mid-air collision killed 67 people over Washington, DC, a Delta Air Lines connection flight crash-landed in Toronto. Despite the plane catching fire and overturning, all 80 people onboard survived, with only a quarter requiring hospitalization for minor injuries.
Delta later promised to compensate the impacted travelers with $30,000 with no strings attached.
US Airlines Push Back Against Wheelchair Protections
Wheelchair user at the airport. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Yakobchuk Olena)
Several major U.S. airlines challenged a new DOT rule to increase penalties for airlines when passengers’ mobility devices are lost or damaged, claiming that the definition of discrimination is overly broad and that it unfairly holds them accountable for circumstances outside of their control.
The appeal filed by industry lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A) targeted a specific portion of the law that defines discrimination and requires that they pay certain fees if in violation, calling it overreaching and unlawful.
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