AirAsia, a leading Asian low-cost carrier, signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to purchase 50 A321XLR planes, with conversion rights for 20 more. This follows reports that CEO Tony Fernandes was negotiating for 50-70 of these long-range, single-aisle jets, potentially converting part of AirAsia's existing 360-plane Airbus order.
Starting November 26, 2025, Norse Atlantic Airways will launch the first direct flight between Manchester, UK, and Bangkok, Thailand, enhancing connectivity between the two cities. The weekly service will depart Manchester at 23:30, arriving in Bangkok at 18:00 local time, with return fares starting at £259.
The Airbus A220, a narrow-body jet designed for short to medium-haul flights, offers significant advantages but also faces challenges. Its key strengths include exceptional fuel efficiency, with Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines delivering up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat, reducing costs and emissions. The aircraft's 2-3 seating configuration...
Air France-KLM has announced plans to acquire a majority stake in SAS Scandinavian Airlines, increasing its holding from 19.9% to 60.5%. The transaction, expected to be finalized in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approval, will see the Franco-Dutch airline group purchase shares from Castlelake and Lind Invest—both of which acquired...
Ethiopian Airlines Group launched a new passenger service linking Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Porto, Portugal, on July 2, 2025. The inaugural flight took off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport after a lively ceremony attended by dignitaries, guests, and airline executives.
Half of flights in Nice and Corsica, and a quarter in Paris are cancelled on July 3. Disruption is also expected on July 4 just before the French school holidays begin. Major strike action by air traffic controllers is set to cause widespread disruption for passengers this Thursday and Friday (July 3 and 4) after France's Civil Aviation Authority...
IndiGo has launched its first long-haul service, introducing direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester, becoming the only airline to offer nonstop connectivity between these cities. The route operates three times weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays) using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, damp-leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, signaling IndiGo's...
On June 30, 2025, it was announced that the Bundeskartellamt, the German competition authority, had cleared Deutsche Lufthansa AG (the Lufthansa Group) to acquire a minority stake in Latvian-based carrier airBaltic Corporation AS. The airlines, which have enjoyed a wet-lease partnership for some years, have been moving closer together, and the...
Vietnam Airlines has launched its first nonstop flight between Hanoi and Milan, establishing the airline's ninth direct route to Europe and the first direct air link between Vietnam and Italy. Operating three times weekly with Boeing 787 aircraft, the flight covers the journey in approximately 12 hours.The inaugural event at Milan Malpensa Airport...
Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic partnership that includes a comprehensive codeshare agreement and expanded flight services between Kenya and Doha. The agreement was signed in Doha by Qatar Airways CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer and Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka.
Qantas, Australia's flag carrier, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the Asia-Pacific's launch operator of this long-range narrowbody aircraft. The aircraft, registered VH-OGA, is en route from Airbus's Hamburg facility to Sydney, with a crew stop in Bangkok, covering over 9,000 kilometers on its initial leg—the longest...
Aeroméxico began operations at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) with a direct flight from Mexico City, marking its 100th destination. The new daily service integrates into the airline's international network, strengthening air connectivity between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.The inaugural ceremony included aviation and...
Oman Air has joined the oneworld alliance as its 15th full member, bolstering the group's Middle East presence. This milestone aligns with the launch of Oman Air's new nonstop Muscat-Amsterdam route, expanding oneworld's network in the Gulf and South Asia. As the third Middle Eastern carrier in oneworld, alongside Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian,...
The Boeing 777X, a highly anticipated twin-engine widebody jet, faced a significant setback in 2024 when a structural fault in the GE9X engine's thrust link bolts grounded the test fleet. Discovered in August, the issue threatened the aircraft's certification timeline, already delayed from its original 2020 target due to prior technical challenges,...
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) launched a new direct flight from London Stansted to Casablanca on June 24, 2025, operating three times weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays) on a Boeing 737-800. This marks RAM's first service from Stansted, boosting UK-Morocco connectivity. On June 28, 2025, RAM introduced a direct flight from Catania, Italy, to...
