Welcome to the October edition of “Let’s Fly”!

Since our last edition in August, we’ve been quite busy here at RDU. We launched routes to Denver and Seattle and made a major announcement about Paris.  We’ll recap recent air service news at RDU and then share news from the airlines.

RDU Route Roundup

This year has been quite a busy one for route announcements and launches. Here’s a recap of some of the recent happenings, with links to in-depth information.

• On September 24, Delta Air Lines announced new daily nonstop service from RDU to Paris (Charles De Gaulle) beginning May 12, 2016. The flight will use Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
  • Read the Press Release
  • Read a column by RDU President and CEO Michael Landguth

• Alaska Airlines initiated daily nonstop service from RDU to Seattle on October 1. The flight will use B-737 aircraft.
  • Read the press release
  • Read an article in “Your RDU,” a community affairs newsletter.

• We bid farewell to US Airways on October 16. Following a years-long merger of American Airlines and US Airways, the two airlines merged reservations systems on October 17 marking the official end of the US Airways brand. The last flight at RDU was a departure to Washington-Reagan. View a photo of the last flight.

• United Airlines launched twice daily nonstop service to Denver on Sunday, Sept. 13. Both flights use E-175 aircraft and adds to the number of existing choices to reach the mile-high city by Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Launches International Routes From Houston

Houston-Hobby Airport is the nation’s newest international airport following the launch by Southwest Airlines of daily nonstop flights from HOU to Mexico and Costa Rica earlier this month. The airline plans to expand its offerings from Hobby to destinations in the Caribbean in November.

Southwest Airlines offers daily nonstop service from RDU to Houston-Hobby.

JetBlue Planning Free Wi-Fi and Expanded Codeshares

By Fall 2016, JetBlue is planning to install free Wi-Fi service for passengers on its entire fleet. Currently, the airline has free WiFi on all of its Airbus aircraft and will be working over the coming year to install the service on all Embraer jets.

Also, the airline recently announced that it is expanding codeshare opportunities from its San Juan hub to destinations throughout the Caribbean operated by Seaborne Airlines. The expansion will make it easier to book flights to popular smaller islands like Anguilla, Dominica, St. Kitts and destinations in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

JetBlue offers daily nonstop service from RDU to Boston, Ft. Lauderdale and New York-Kennedy.

Chicago-O’Hare Opens New Runway

Frequent travelers to and from Chicago’s O’Hare airport may notice new scenery when departing and arriving at the busy Midwestern hub.

The airport opened a new runway, 10R/28L, earlier this month. The runway will help ease crowding at the airport and includes a new second air traffic control tower for the airport.

Chicago O’Hare is served by American Airlines, Frontier and United Airlines at RDU.