Alaska’s Asia Plans, JetBlue at LaGuardia, New Unique International Routes, and More News

This week’s theme is routes, routes, and more routes. We take a look at newly announced services and routes that just had their inaugural flights. We’ll also discuss JetBlue getting more slots at LaGuardia, American relaxing restrictions at Provisions by Admirals Club, and how the end is nigh for U.S. passport stamps.

Shall we take a look?

What’s Next for JetBlue at LaGuardia?

After holding an auction for Spirit’s former slots at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the summer, the Federal Aviation Administration has now transferred the defunct airline’s 22 coveted takeoff and landing slots to JetBlue.

However, this doesn’t mean JetBlue can immediately add more flights at LGA. As it stands, it doesn’t have enough gate space to park the planes that would fly these extra flights. Given the circumstances, the FAA has granted JetBlue an exemption from the 80% use-it-or-lose-it rule for slots, giving it more time to secure gates for its routes.

Alaska Has Big Plans for Asia

Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) were just the start of Alaska Airlines’ Asian route network. The Seattle-based carrier wants to use its prime position in the Pacific Northwest to launch even more routes, hinting this week to Points Hacks that the airline will announce more Asia-Pacific destinations before the end of the year.

Flying routes already operated by several other airlines doesn’t seem to be deterring Alaska’s ambitions, which could mean cities like the increasingly popular tourist destination of Taipei (TPE), Taiwan, could be on the list.

American Removes 1-Item Rule at Charlotte’s Provisions by Admirals Club

Passengers can once again grab as much as they want and go when swinging by the Provisions by Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), North Carolina. After the lounge opened last year, the staff enforced a 1-item-per-guest rule for a time. As reported by View From the Wing, that rule has now been scrapped, and staff members appear to be actively offering snacks and drinks to passengers instead of imposing restrictions.

New International Routes

More Flights to San José, Costa Rica, and San José, California

Both Breeze and Delta launched new nonstop services this week to cities named San José: Breeze to the Costa Rican capital’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and Delta to California’s San José Mineta International Airport (SJC).

Delta’s daily service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)_, which started on October 6, is part of Delta’s wider growth plans at the Texas airport. Delta offers passengers an alternative to Southwest, the only other airline connecting the 2 cities.

Meanwhile, Breeze added the only nonstop connecting between Tampa International Airport (TPA), Florida, and San José, Costa Rica, on October 3. The launch marks the carrier’s first route to Central America, continuing its ever-expanding international network.

Bermudair Adds 2 New Routes, Switches Orlando Airports

The busy little leisure airline based in Bermuda will connect Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Florida, with nonstop service to Belize City (BZE), Belize, and Providenciales (PLS), Turks and Caicos, from October 26. Flying 3 times weekly, Breeze will be the only airline to offer nonstop service on the routes.

Additionally, the carrier’s service from Central Florida to L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) in Bermuda will move from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) on October 31.

St. Louis Gets Nonstop Flights to Iceland

St. Louis (STL), Missouri, has been announced as Icelandair’s 16th U.S. destination. The thrice-weekly seasonal route from Keflavik International Airport (KEF), near Reykjavik, Iceland, will operate from May 14 until October 24, 2027. As well as providing St. Louis residents with their only nonstop service to Iceland, the airline’s strategic schedule of departing and arriving flights at Reykjavik opens up a ton of onward connecting opportunities to cities across Europe.

Domestic Route Updates

Among the several updates to domestic routes this week, here are some of the most important to know about:

• American will resume nonstop flights between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Seattle (SEA) from April 6, 2027. The route will operate with twice-daily flights.
• American will switch its seasonal service from New York City to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZE), Montana, from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to JFK so it can increase frequency from once per week to up to 4 times a week.
• United is following in Delta’s footsteps by adding Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Arizona, to its route map after a 5-year interruption. Nonstop, twice-daily service from Denver (DEN) will start on August 10, 2027

U.S. Passport Stamps Are Slowly Being Phased Out

Discerning international travelers arriving in the U.S. might notice the absence of the once steadfast passport stamp at immigration when entering the country. Specifics about which airports this will apply to haven’t been revealed, but the move will eventually completely eliminate the stamping process nationwide, save for a few specific cases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it’s a cost-saving measure and that passport stamps have largely been supplanted by biometrics and automated records, but you can still ask for your passport to be stamped — though whether the border control agent obliges you is up to the individual officer.

Final Thoughts

It’s been another busy week in the airline world, with route updates taking up most of our roundup headlines. We’ll be back next week with more.