If you’ve stood in a security line lately, you’ve probably felt it. That weird, jittery energy where the planes are packed, but the industry itself feels like it’s holding its breath. Honestly, looking at aviation news today 2025, most people think the "post-pandemic recovery" is over and we’re back to normal.
They’re wrong.
We aren't in a recovery anymore. We are in a bottleneck.
The big headline that hit the wires this January 15, 2026, is a perfect example of how weird things have stayed. The TSA just announced a $45 "identity fee" for people who still haven’t grabbed a REAL ID. Basically, if you don't have the right plastic in your wallet by February 1, you're paying a "non-compliance" tax just to get through the gate. It’s a small detail, but it’s part of a much larger, messier picture of an industry trying to modernize while its old gears are grinding.
The $1.5 Billion Merger Nobody Saw Coming
Just a few days ago, the budget travel world got rocked. Allegiant Air is officially moving to swallow Sun Country Airlines in a $1.5 billion deal.
Why does this matter to you? Because it’s a desperate play for scale.
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Allegiant has always been the king of the "small town to Vegas" route. Sun Country was the Minneapolis underdog. By smashing them together, they’re trying to create a leisure titan that can actually compete with the "Big Four." They’re eyeing those juicy international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean that Sun Country already has.
But here’s the kicker: the deal won’t actually close until the second half of 2026. Until then, it’s just more paperwork in an industry already drowning in it.
Why Aviation News Today 2025 is Obsessed with "Missing" Planes
You might have noticed your flights getting canceled or swapped for smaller, older planes. There’s a mathematical reason for that.
IATA (the big-wig International Air Transport Association) recently dropped some numbers that are kinda terrifying. We are currently short about 5,000 aircraft globally. These are the "lost deliveries"—planes that should have been built between 2019 and now but weren't because of the Boeing MAX crisis and the pandemic's total factory freeze.
- Boeing's 777X Nightmare: Boeing just pushed the first delivery of the 777X back to 2027. It was originally supposed to fly passengers in 2020. That’s a seven-year delay on a flagship jet.
- The Engine Problem: It’s not just the frames. Pratt & Whitney engines are still seeing "grounding" issues, meaning perfectly good planes are sitting on the tarmac because their engines need inspections that take months.
- The Silver Lining: Because planes are so scarce, airlines are actually making record profits. IATA expects the industry to hit $1 trillion in revenue for the first time this year. If they can't fly more planes, they just charge more for the seats they have.
The "Green" Lie and the Sustainable Fuel Reality
Everyone talks about "Net Zero," but if you look at the aviation news today 2025 feed, the reality of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a bit of a mess.
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California is currently trying to shove through a budget proposal that offers tax credits for SAF production. They’re looking at a $165 million hit to their tax revenue just to jumpstart the industry.
The problem? SAF is still four times more expensive than regular kerosene.
Airlines are caught in a brutal spot. If they use the green stuff, your ticket price doubles. If they don't, they get fined by regulators. Most "green" flights you see right now are mostly PR stunts or use a tiny 2% blend of SAF. We’re decades away from 100% carbon-free flight, no matter what the brochures say.
What Really Happened with the MD-11?
In the cargo world, things took a dark turn recently. After the crash of UPS Flight 2976, the world’s remaining MD-11 freighter fleet has been under intense scrutiny. This was the workhorse of the e-commerce boom. With those planes grounded or being phased out faster than planned, your "Next Day Air" packages might start taking two or three days.
FedEx and UPS are scrambling to replace them with 767 and 777 freighters, but as we already discussed—nobody is building planes fast enough.
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The Pilot Gap is Getting Grey
Let’s talk about the people in the cockpit. The median age of a commercial pilot in the U.S. has jumped from 45 to nearly 54 in the last couple of decades.
We are facing a massive retirement wave.
While airlines are throwing $50,000 signing bonuses at new recruits, you can’t "fast track" 1,500 hours of flight experience. This is why regional flights to places like Des Moines or Reading are disappearing. There simply aren't enough pilots to fly the small jets, so the airlines are moving everyone to the "big" routes between hubs like Atlanta and London.
How to Navigate This Mess
If you're planning on flying in 2025 or 2026, the landscape has changed. It's not about finding the cheapest flight anymore; it's about finding the flight that actually exists.
- Check the Aircraft Type: If you see a Boeing 737 MAX 10 on your itinerary for early 2026, be skeptical. Certification is still dragging, and those schedules are often "aspirational."
- The REAL ID Deadline is Real: Don't be the person paying $45 to the TSA because you forgot to update your license. Get it done before February.
- Book the First Flight of the Day: With the pilot shortage and maintenance backlogs, delays cascade. The 6:00 AM flight is your only real shot at on-time arrival.
The state of aviation right now is a paradox. It’s more profitable than ever, yet more fragile than it’s been in thirty years. We’re flying on aging fleets, waiting for "ghost planes" that are years behind schedule, and paying a premium for the privilege.
Keep an eye on the Allegiant merger. If the DOJ blocks it, expect budget fares to skyrocket as smaller carriers run out of cash. If it goes through, expect your favorite "secret" airport to get a lot more crowded.
Actionable Next Steps for Travelers
- Audit your ID today: Check for the "Star" in the top right corner of your driver's license. If it's not there, you have less than a month to avoid the new TSA ConfirmID fee.
- Monitor the Boeing 737-10 certification: If you are a frequent flyer on United or Delta, follow the FAA's weekly briefings. Any further delay in certification will lead to a massive wave of "schedule thinning" in late 2026.
- Download the "FlightRadar24" app: Instead of trusting airline apps, track your incoming aircraft's physical location. In this supply-constrained environment, "aircraft swaps" are happening at the last minute, and knowing your plane is still three states away can save you four hours at the terminal.