What's Up at the Terminal: Q2 Preview; IATA May -2.2%; ALK Int'l Expansion

Research evidence excerpt

What's Up at the Terminal: Q2 Preview; IATA May -2.2%; ALK Int'l Expansion

Airlines

Equity Research

July 5, 2026

Americas

LUV Adds FlightAware Tracker for Independence One. Southwest partnered with FlightAware to add

a custom icon for Independence One, its America 250th anniversary specialty aircraft, from June

30 through Sept. 9. The airline will also celebrate with new aircraft trading cards, decorations at

Washington National, and participation in America’s Block Party in New York City on July 4.

AAL Operational Performance Slips into Summer Despite Strong May. American pointed to improved

May performance across arrivals, customer satisfaction, and baggage handling. However, June trends

have weakened, with only 70.0% of flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule and completion

falling to 96.2% per Cranky Flier. Operational pressure appears broad-based, with underperformance

at Washington/National, weaker disruption recovery versus United at Chicago O’Hare, declining on-

time departures at Dallas/Fort Worth despite schedule changes, and a sustained lag versus Delta and

United in Los Angeles.

Avelo Launches McKinney Service with Las Vegas and Florida Routes. Avelo will begin service at

McKinney National Airport on Nov. 11, becoming Collin County’s first hometown airline with nonstop

flights to Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa. The Texas-based airline will

base two Boeing 737 aircraft at DTX and create more than 100 local jobs.

Alaska & Hawaiian Add Starlink Tracker as Wi-Fi Rollout Reaches 150 Aircraft. Alaska and Hawaiian

launched a public tracker showing Starlink installation progress, with ~150 aircraft now equipped

and the rollout running ahead of schedule. Starlink will be free for Atmos Rewards members, with