- Mr Plane Guy
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
This Week's Plane News
08 February 2026
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight Expert & Plane GEEK
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced lattes at the airport). Thanks for your support! Note: I’m also not a financial advisor just sharing my experience.
Welcome aboard this week’s Plane News Weekly, your Sunday fix of UK airline updates, aviation news, loyalty deals, and travel hacks.
Happy Valentine’s weekend, Plane Jet Setters ❤️✈️
I’ve been a little quieter on social media lately, what was meant to be a week or two off somehow turned into a full month. Turns out writing a book takes slightly more brainpower than posting airport Prosecco selfies.
The good news? The book is coming very soon 👀 and I’ve also been working behind the scenes on a brand-new guide to Virgin Red points soo.
Speaking of upgrades… Seatfrog have been in touch and have sent over some exclusive money-off codes for you. I’ll be updating them inside my full review so you can see exactly how the app works and how to upgrade your train tickets to First Class for less.
If you haven’t read it yet, start here:
Because as you know, we don’t travel standard class around here. We travel First Class for less.
This week I’ve also got a few airport lounge visits coming up. It’s so tough trying all those hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine!
Follow me as I post the stories and bring my travels to life this week.
Let’s arm doors for departure for this week’s Plane News.
This week in Plane News:
Wizz Air is expanding again from Gatwick
IndiGo is cutting back its long-haul network,
Istanbul Just Got an Upgrade (And It’s a Good One)
Loganair Avios Flash Sale: UK Regional Flights from Just 3,250 Points
This Week's PLANE FLIGHT DEAL OF THE WEEK Seattle from £272
✉️ Subscribe to Plane News Weekly for exclusive flight deals, loyalty tips, and aviation updates every Sunday. Sign up here.
Boarding Announcements, New Routes & Airline Updates Plane News Weekly
Wizz Air is expanding again from Gatwick
Launching twice-weekly flights to Santorini from 1 July, with fares starting at £45.99 one way. The new Greek island route adds to its growing UK network to Athens, Corfu, Mykonos, Rhodes and more. Santorini is genuinely one of my favourite places in Europe the sunsets alone are worth the trip. If you’re thinking of booking, make sure you know what to expect with Wizz’s ultra-low-cost model. I’ve covered baggage, seating and whether upgrades are worth it in my 👉 full review
IndiGo is cutting back its long-haul network,
IndiGo is pausing Copenhagen and reducing Manchester and Heathrow frequencies just six months after launching long-haul routes. In airline terms? That’s schedule tightening before problems escalate.
If you’re booked on one of these routes, keep a close eye on your emails for potential changes. I’ve broken down what this means for Manchester passengers, Heathrow flyers, and your compensation rights in the full write-up here → Read the full article on MrPlaneGuy.com.
Pre-Flight, Lounge & Airport Experience
Istanbul Just Got an Upgrade (And It’s a Good One)
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has officially welcomed a brand new Plaza Premium Lounge, giving travellers another polished pre-flight option on the ground.
Plaza Premium lounges are usually a safe bet for solid food, comfortable seating, and a calmer alternative to the gate chaos.
Even more interesting? A Plaza Premium First lounge is also planned for the airport. That means personalised hospitality, more private spaces, and an experience designed to feel closer to business class. even if you’re not flying it. Plaza Premium lounges are usually a safe bet I’ve reviewed several across Heathrow and Gatwick and this one looks like another solid addition.
If you’re transiting through SAW in 2026, this could be one to watch.
Frequent Flyer Briefing, Loyalty Offers & Points
Want to Land 2000 Virgin Points in 2 minutes?
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Limited time welcome bonus, these tend to disappear quietly.
Plane Points & Miles News:
Plane Avios Tip of the Week:
Loganair Avios Flash Sale: UK Regional Flights from Just 3,250 Points
Loganair, now part of the Avios family, is offering 50% off redemptions, dropping one-way flights from 6,500 to just 3,250 Avios for travel from 7 March 2026 (book by 10 February). That’s serious value on typically pricey regional routes like Heathrow to Sumburgh or Manchester to Inverness.
To redeem, you’ll need to link your British Airways Club and Loganair Loyalty accounts via Avios “Move & Combine,” as BA acts as the central hub. If you’re planning a UK multi-stop trip, this is a niche Avios sweet spot worth jumping on.
Reward Flight Finder
If you’re serious about using Avios properly, this is one of the tools you need.
Reward Flight Finder shows you up to 355 days of British Airways reward availability on one simple page.
Takeoff, Travel Deals & Flight Opportunities
This Week's PLANE FLIGHT DEAL OF THE WEEK
Return trips from London Gatwick (LGW:
Seattle from £272
Also from London Heathrow (LHR) from - £295
TRAVEL DATES
February-May and September-December (varies by route, excl. Easter)
AIRLINE
Icelandair
STANDARD FARE
£450 - £650
BAGS & FEES
Full-size cabin bag included. Checked bag from £90 rtn.
BOOK BY
At least a couple of days.
More details here about how to
Plane Talk, Insider Insight & Reader Engagement
Have a lounge or route you’d like reviewed? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram, your question might feature in next week’s edition!
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I’m Mr Plane Guy, sharing UK airline news, flight deals, and loyalty tips with a Plane Honest perspective and loyalty tips each week.
I test lounges, try new routes, and offer practical travel hacks so you can fly smarter, save money, and make the most of your points.
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Plane Honest Take: Airlines aren’t cutting routes because demand is weak. They’re protecting reliability. 2026 is the year of operational discipline, not expansion hype.That’s it for this week’s Plane News Weekly. As always, thanks for reading, supporting the site, and flying smarter with me.
Same time next Sunday. ✈️
Mr Plane Guy
Plane News This Week, 08 February 2026
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