Turns Out Running a Beach Hotel is Less Profitable Than Running a 2x Weekly Beach Flight

In the least surprising plot twist since it connected Bismarck with Las Vegas, Allegiant is reportedly in talks to offload its Sunseeker Resort in a Florida swamp — the crown jewel of its “what if an airline travel company that looks like an airline also owned a hotel?” experiment. The resort just opened in late 2023 after years of delays, a hurricane, and roughly $225 million in budget overruns, all so Allegiant could sell you a flight to Florida along with a Florida sunset under one corporate umbrella. Now, after taking a $322 million impairment charge, Allegiant seems ready to say: “Maybe someone else can manage the cabanas since there isn’t a beach there anyway.”

It seems Blackstone is considering a potential deal, with Allegiant working with hotel whisperers Prospect Hotel Advisors to make the handoff look strategic and not like a midlife crisis in real estate form. Officially, it’s a “competitive process,” which sounds way more elegant than “please buy this thing before it sinks into the Gulf.” Allegiant still might retain a stake, but make no mistake — the airline is eyeing the exit ramp from resort management. And who can blame them? Selling cheap, sub-daily flights to Toledo is stressful enough without also worrying about towel inventory and poolside margarita margins.

Duffy Eyes 1979 Nostalgia, Minus the Bell-Bottoms and Gas Lines

At the Paris Airshow, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed a desire to roll back to the halcyon days of the 1979 zero-tariff Civil Aircraft Agreement — the era when aerospace parts crossed borders faster than a passenger trying to make a connecting flight. Duffy pointed out that the U.S. runs a cool $75 billion trade surplus in aerospace thanks to that deal — before accounting for Biscoff exports — and who wouldn’t want more of that sweet, sweet export cash?

But this isn’t just a throwback fantasy — it’s also a gentle jab at his boss’s tariffs that slapped 10% duties on aircraft parts under the “because security” banner. So far, those haven’t exactly been rolled back, and Europe’s been politely pretending not to notice. Meanwhile, Boeing’s still nursing its reputation, and Airbus is out here selling 150 A321neos to VietJet like it’s handing out candy at Halloween. If Duffy gets his wish, civil aviation might get its own SkyPriority lane in global trade talks — but until then, it’s stuck in boarding group 8 with everyone else, holding a lukewarm soda, soggy sandwich, and wondering where the overhead bin space went.

Turboprops, But Make It Bougie (At Least Bougie-Adjacent)

JSX, the service for people who want private jet vibes without private jet prices, is adding ATR 42-600 and 72-600 turboprops to its fleet. Yes, turboprops. The airline signed a letter of intent for up to 25 aircraft — which doesn’t actually commit to anything — with the first two ATR 42s arriving late this year. But before you picture a creaky regional plane with sticky tray tables and a crying baby, don’t worry — these will have 30 leather seats in a roomy 1–1 layout and Starlink Wi-Fi, which is JSX’s way of saying “don’t call us regional.”

The plan is to use the ATRs to fly into smaller airports that jets can’t reach — the kind of places where the baggage carousel is also the check-in desk and the only place to buy anything has a really generic name like “Cold Drinks and More” or “Essentials”. It’s potentially a winning move, letting JSX bring its breezy, no-middle-seat model to thinner routes without needing runways the size of JFK or the anger of a Newark or Tucson.

If you’ve ever dreamed of boarding a turboprop that doesn’t smell like coffee and despair with those sticky tray tables, this might be your moment — even if you live in Topeka. Ok, probably not Topeka.

Avelo Eyes McKinney; Southwest and American Eye the Exit Row

Avelo is reportedly in talks to launch service out of McKinney National Airport (TKI), a quiet general aviation field north of Dallas that suddenly wants to be the Metroplex’s cool indie terminal with cheap fees and chill vibes. The city just greenlit $72 million for a shiny new terminal, and Avelo, never one to pass up a low-cost airport with zero commercial competition, is allegedly interested in getting in early.

Naturally, this news went over like a middle seat on a delayed Spirit flight out of Newark with American and Southwest — who’ve spent decades building a cozy little duopoly at DFW and Love Field — and now face the horrifying prospect of someone offering cheap flights without their permission. Neither airline has said much, but you can practically hear the distant hum of lawyers warming up cease-and-desist letters as they desperately find a way to block this plan.

For two airlines used to running the Dallas show, McKinney could be an unwelcome third act… with a lot more purple and way fewer snacks.

LOT Leaves Embraer Left on Read

In a dramatic breakup of a long-term relationship, LOT Polish Airlines ditched Embraer and slid into Airbus’s DMs with a firm order for 40 A220s and options for 44 more. That’s up to 84 shiny new jets—marking LOT’s first-ever Airbus order and a not-so-subtle “it’s not me, it’s you” to the Brazilian planemaker. Deliveries start in 2027, giving LOT time to break the news to Embraer gently: “It’s been a great run, but we’re seeing someone with more legroom.”

For Embraer, this one stings — a lot. LOT was one of its flagship customers, flying Embraer aircraft long before it was cool. But Airbus reportedly offered a deal so aggressive it may have come with a complimentary espresso and breakup playlist. The A220 brings 25% more seats, better economics, and that all-important “we’re flying Airbus now” glow-up. Embraer, meanwhile, pitched commonality and loyalty — sweet, but apparently not sexy enough. Somewhere in São José dos Campos, a regional jet is sobbing quietly into its nose cone wondering where it all went wrong.

• Air Intuit will take over the Montréal – Kuujjuaq route from Canadian North two months early on August 6. Please adjust your plans to visit Kuujjuaq appropriately.
• Air New Zealand will begin to serve the new Western Sydney Airport by mid-2027.
• Airlink is leasing ten E2s.
• American is suspending its Doha flight through at least Sunday.
• ANA ordered planes from everybody.
• Blue Islands received its first ATR72-600.
• British Airways was fined more than £3 Million after a British judge saw just how medicore its premium product is an investigation revealed preventable safety failures that led to significant injury for a ramp worker.
• easyJet is adding 22 winter destinations for people looking to escape the UK.
• Egyptair added six to its 350-900 order, bringing its total haul of the aircraft to 16.
• Emirates is partnering with Uber. There’s probably a joke in there somewhere.
• flynas launched its IPO.
• Frontier is going with Pratt & Whitney for engines on on 91 A321neos following a recommendation from noted engine expert Tico, the two-toed sloth.
• Iberia is growing its long-haul fleet.
• ITA‘s new partnership with Lufthansa Cargo is underway.
• Riyadh Air is going with Rolls-Royce to put engines in its new A350s as it found the planes worked much better with engines rather than without.
• Singapore is offering jobs to Jetstar castoffs.
• Skywest is adding more than 60 E175s with the option of adding 50 more. The order of 60 is equal to an order of one E10500.
• STARLUX is looking for big planes made in Europe.
• Thai exited bankruptcy restructuring.
• VietJet Air placed an order for 100 A321neos with an option for 50 more like they were candy at Halloween.

What’s the leading cause of dry skin after a dip in the ocean or the pool?

Towels.