On February 3, 2026, Collins Aerospace confirmed that both airlines had extended FlightSense contracts, a full lifecycle maintenance support program.

Singapore Airlines signed to cover its Boeing 777 fleet for five additional years. The 777 fleet consists of 27 aircraft, including five Boeing 777F aircraft that have been added to the program.

Singapore Airlines first adopted FlightSense in 2008 with Collins contracted to deliver maintenance support solutions for the airline’s Boeing 777 operations.

“Collins Aerospace has supported Singapore Airlines over the long term, demonstrating a consistent focus on trust, innovation, and reliability,” said Ryan Hudson, Vice President of Aftermarket for Collins Aerospace’s Power and Controls unit. “This ongoing commitment highlights Collins Aerospace’s dedication to delivering tailored service solutions that enhance operational efficiency and performance while evolving to meet the changing needs of the industry.”

According to Collins, FlightSense is tailored to support airlines’ “specific operational requirements, enabling improved operational performance”.

The FlightSense program also integrates Collins’ Ascentia platform for “advanced prognostics and health management software to provide customizable levels of support”.

All Nippon Airways renews FlightSense and MRO contracts

On February 3, 2026, All Nippon Airways also signed two separate FlightSense renewal agreements with Collins Aerospace.

The first is a five-year renewal for on-site support for the airline’s Boeing fleet of 737NG/MAX, 767, 777, 787 aircraft as well as its De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s.

The cost-per-flight hour agreement has been in place since 2001 and provides “guaranteed component availability, reduced downtime and cost predictability through a fixed-rate service model”.

Under the agreement, Collins will deliver “predictive, reliability-based maintenance support to ensure optimal performance of environmental, electrical, and engine control systems”.

“ANA is delighted to reaffirm our long-standing strategic relationship with Collins Aerospace,” said Yukifumi Ueda, Vice President and General Manager, Engine, Component and Supply Chain at All Nippon Airways. “Since 2001, this collaboration has been a cornerstone of the maintenance excellence at ANA Component Technics, an ANA group facility in Nagasaki. This renewal further strengthens our operational resilience, allowing us to ensure the highest standards of safety and reliability for our customers.”

Additionally, ANA has signed a three-year extension to the repair agreement that has existed with Collins since 2017 for MRO repair services on accessories for its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Accessories include engine electronic controllers, hydromechanical units, fuel pump systems and variable stator vane actuators.

“We believe the signing of this highly significant agreement marks an exciting new chapter for ANA and Collins,” added Iwao Takeshita, Vice President, Global Supplier Relations and Planning, All Nippon Airways.

This decision was formalized through a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Japan Airlines on February 3, 2026.

The goal of this agreement is to transition Jetstar Japan to a Japanese-led ownership structure to “set the airline up for its next phase of growth, sustainable development and success.”

In a statement released on February 3, 2026, Qantas said that the new ownership structure will be led by Japanese investors, with the Development Bank of Japan joining as a shareholder. 

Meanwhile, Tokyo Century, a financial services and leasing company based in Japan, will keep its 16.68% stake in Jetstar Japan.

The deal is anticipated to be completed by July 2026, with the transfer of shares and brand change finished by June 2027.

“We’re confident the new ownership structure will deliver greater value to customers, benefitting from the Development Bank of Japan’s domestic and international aviation knowledge and industry expertise as well as their strong, long-standing relationships with national and regional tourism bodies,” said Vanessa Hudson, CEO, Qantas Group.

With the new ownership, Jetstar Japan intends to refresh its brand from “Jetstar” to a new brand and expand its international network, centered on the future expansion of Narita International Airport (NRT).

“As we look to the next chapter in Jetstar Japan’s history, I am pleased to work with the new ownership group to lead our low cost carrier into the future,” added Masakazu Tanaka, CEO and Representative Director of Jetstar Japan.

Jetstar Japan said its current operations, bookings, and codeshare agreements with Qantas and Japan Airlines will not be impacted during the transition. 

The carrier currently operates flights to 15 domestic and four international destinations, managing 18 domestic and six international routes.

The order was disclosed on the first day of the Singapore Airshow 2026, and confirmed by Malaysia’s Sarawak Ministry of Transport (MOTS) in a statement released on February 3, 2026.

“The ATR platform has consistently proven to be the most suitable aircraft for our operating environment, and upgrading to the latest –600 series ensures we can continue providing essential connectivity while preparing AirBorneo for long-term growth,” said Megat Ardian, CEO of AirBorneo.

According to ATR, this marks a significant milestone in AirBorneo’s transformation into Sarawak’s state-owned airline, taking over the Rural Air Services (RAS) network that connects remote communities in East Malaysia, especially in Sarawak, Sabah, and Labuan.

The manufacturer added that this order aligns with AirBorneo’s long-term fleet renewal plan following the Sarawak government’s acquisition of MASwings and its rebranding to AirBorneo. Currently, AirBorneo operates eight ATR 72-500 aircraft that were inherited from MASwings.

“AirBorneo’s decision to invest in both the ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-600 reflects the strength and versatility of the ATR family and its suitability for demanding regional operations,” said ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude.

ATR mentioned that the aircraft has advanced avionics, modern navigation systems, and enhanced cabin comfort.

The aircraft are also designed to support medical stretcher operations and are optimized for dependable performance across various regional and rural routes in Borneo.

“The ATR 42-600, with its exceptional efficiency and low operating costs, is ideally suited for serving lower-density regional routes, while the ATR 72-600 provides additional capacity where it is needed,” Laude added.

The agreement also includes four purchase options, allowing for future growth opportunities beyond the RAS network, including possible regional expansion within the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.

According to Boeing, the Air Cambodia order for 10 737-8s, plus an option for 10 more, was previously unidentified on the US planemaker’s orders and deliveries website.

“The 737-8 gives Air Cambodia the ideal combination of range, capacity and fuel efficiency to support our next phase of growth,” said Dr. David Zhan, CEO of Air Cambodia. “This investment – Air Cambodia’s largest narrowbody purchase – will let us launch direct services to important markets across North and Southeast Asia, and offer competitively priced travel for passengers, while creating local jobs and training opportunities that strengthen our communities.”

To date, the new agreement marks Air Cambodia’s largest ever order for narrowbody aircraft. The carrier’s current fleet comprises of a handful of Airbus and ATR aircraft, according to ch-aviation.

“We are proud to welcome Air Cambodia as our newest 737 MAX customer and look forward to partnering with them to introduce the versatile and reliable 737-8 to the Kingdom of Cambodia,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “We are committed to supporting the growth of aviation in Cambodia and throughout the region as Air Cambodia strengthens ties across Asia with these fuel-efficient airplanes.”

Air Cambodia currently operates on domestic and international routes to Vietnam, India, Thailand, China, Japan and Hong Kong. The 738-8 will support the airline’s growing regional network.

On February 2, 2026, United Airlines confirmed that Starlink connectivity was now available to almost all its passengers flying on its regional service after starting the upgrade less than a year ago.

To mark the occasion during the “Big Game” on February 8, 2026, a new United Airlines space-inspired film will be televised demonstrating Starlink’s capabilities to enable passengers to watch live sports and play online games while on their flight.

“We are focused on what we call ‘travel truths’ in our advertising, so with this spot we wanted to recognize the truly giant leap Starlink Wi-Fi represents for our customers and what is now possible. Starlink is transforming the inflight experience on United planes with reliable connectivity that enables everything from productivity to streaming the biggest football game of the season,” said Maggie Schmerin, United’s Chief Advertising Officer.

The ad will air in local markets including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis and Kansas City – all cities where United’s Starlink-equipped regional aircraft fly.

In March 2025, United announced that it had started the roll out of SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity system on its regional aircraft fleet. This followed United signing the airline industry’s largest Starlink agreement of its kind with SpaceX in September 2024.

“United customers are loving the new Wi-Fi experience onboard our Starlink-equipped aircraft,” said United’s VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead. “We’re rolling out Starlink at an unprecedented speed and scale, and our milestone for our regional fleet is just the beginning – with more than 500 mainline aircraft expected to be equipped by the end of 2026. This is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”

United said that its customer satisfaction scores for inflight Wi-Fi have nearly doubled on aircraft equipped with Starlink.

This year, United plans to accelerate the Starlink rollout to its mainline feet and will seek Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval on more than a dozen different aircraft models, including the Boeing 737-900ER, the Airbus A321 family and Boeing 777s.

United expects to have Starlink access onboard more than half of its mainline fleet – an additional 500 aircraft – by the end of 2026

United received approval from the FAA for its first mainline aircraft fitted with Starlink Wi-Fi in 2025. On September 26, 2025, the US-based carrier confirmed that a Starlink fitted Boeing 737-800 had been certified by the FAA.

The last time the airline operated in Riyadh was from 2008 to 2014, when it left the market due to poor commercial results and low demand at that time.

The upcoming relaunch will therefore be SIA Group’s second attempt at this route, but the market conditions are significantly different now. Unlike the previous services that included stopovers, the new Singapore–Riyadh route will be non-stop.

“Our return to Riyadh comes amid its thriving business environment and ambitious development, which make it one of the Middle East’s most dynamic cities,” Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer of Singapore Airlines, announced in a statement, published on February 2, 2026. “Beyond a new destination, this service will potentially allow us to work with our partners to offer our customers additional travel options across the region.”

The outbound flight, SQ498, will leave Singapore for Riyadh on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 18:20 local time. The return flight, SQ499, will depart Riyadh for Singapore on the same days at 23:00 local time.

The airline said it will use the medium-haul version of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft for this route, which has a configuration of 303 seats divided into two classes: 40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class.

Riyadh will be the second destination for the SIA Group in Saudi Arabia, adding to low-cost carrier Scoot’s four-times weekly flights to Jeddah.

Currently, Singapore Airlines and Scoot serve over 120 destinations worldwide. Operating from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), the SIA Group offers global connectivity across Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and North America.

JetBlue reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $177 million, or 48 cents per share, widening from a $44 million loss a year earlier, as capacity declined and operating revenue slipped 1.5% to $2.24 billion. The airline cited macroeconomic uncertainty and uneven demand as factors that delayed a return to profitability in 2025, though executives said booking trends have begun to stabilize heading into the new year. 

In response to the results, pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) issued a public statement calling on management to take advantage of strong employee performance by delivering improved financial results. Contract negotiations between JetBlue and ALPA have been ongoing since April 2024. 

“JetBlue pilots are the reliable backbone of this airline,” said Capt. Wayne Scales, chairman of the JetBlue pilots’ Master Executive Council. “Our commitment to our craft, our passengers, and the long-term viability of JetBlue has been consistent and unwavering.” 

Scales added that while pilots remain invested in the airline’s future, continued financial underperformance should not be treated as inevitable. He said lasting success depends on management reaching an agreement that provides career progression and long-term security for pilots. 

JetBlue executives struck a cautiously optimistic tone during their earnings call, saying the airline expects improved performance in 2026 as demand normalizes and capacity growth resumes. JetBlue President Marty St. George said booking patterns now resemble a “very normal demand year,” a shift from the volatility that characterized much of 2025. 

The airline said it expects seat miles to grow between 2.5% and 4.5% in 2026, following a 1.6% capacity decline in the fourth quarter. JetBlue also said first-quarter results will be affected by winter storm disruptions and recent Caribbean airspace closures tied to US security events. 

Shares of JetBlue fell more than 8% following the earnings release and are down over 40% year over year, reflecting investor skepticism about the pace of the carrier’s turnaround. Analysts have pointed to ongoing cost pressures, competitive intensity in key markets, and labor uncertainty as challenges for the airline. 

Labor relations remain a key issue as JetBlue works to stabilize operations and restore profitability. ALPA represents nearly 4,700 JetBlue pilots and is the largest airline pilot union in the world, with more than 80,000 members across the United States and Canada. 

JetBlue management has not publicly commented on specific contract timelines, but pilots have increasingly linked their bargaining position to the airline’s broader strategy. The carrier is attempting to strengthen its network in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where gate availability has improved following capacity reductions by Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in 2025. 

Executives said JetBlue moved quickly to take advantage of new opportunities in the South Florida market, particularly for international flying. Spirit’s pullback has eased competitive pressure in certain routes, offering JetBlue potential upside if demand continues to firm. 

Still, pilots say long-term stability will require more than network adjustments. In their statement, ALPA leaders emphasized that workforce engagement and contractual certainty remain essential components of a sustainable recovery. 

“As committed as we are to the future of JetBlue, lasting success depends on management bringing its pilots forward with a contract that provides career advancement and security,” Scales said.

On January 30, 2026, Lufthansa shared photos of new premium business class seats that will be retrofitted on all six of its Airbus A380 superjumbos.

The retrofit will take place at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, with the program scheduled to begin in February 2026. Lufthansa’s ‘Mike-Charly’ will be the first A380 to be upgraded.

Each new A380 business seat will have direct aisle access, offer a seat width of 58 cm, a bed length of at least two meters, Bluetooth connectivity, and flexible partitions. The A380 will feature seats made by Northern Ireland-based Thompson.

“Lufthansa operates the only strong A380 fleet in the EU, stationed at our 5-star airport. The retrofit underscores our commitment to providing a top flight experience on the long-haul aircraft that is so popular with our customers. The new premium seats offer more privacy and significantly more comfort than before,” said Heiko Reitz, Hub Manager at Munich, Lufthansa Airlines.

He added: “We look forward to offering our passengers this enhanced travel experience in Business Class starting in April.”

While at Elbe Flugzeugwerke, each A380 will also undergo routine maintenance work, with the first aircraft due to be completed by April 2026. By mid-2027, all eight A380s are expected to be fully retrofitted.

Following the upgrade, each A380 will feature 68 new business class seats. Lufthansa’s A380 cabins currently include eight first class seats, 52 seats in premium economy, and 371 seats in standard economy.

Among other upgrades given the go-ahead, Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8s and Airbus A350-900s are to receive new seats across all classes.

The new service will operate three times weekly using Airbus A321LR aircraft, with flights scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Almaty at 19:10 local time and arriving in Shanghai at 04:25 local time the following day. 

Return flights will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Shanghai at 05:40 local time and touching down in Almaty at 10:15 local time. Block time for the westbound leg runs 6 hours and 15 minutes.

The Shanghai route will expand Air Astana’s existing China footprint, which includes flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya and Urumqi. The airline first began serving Chinese destinations from Kazakhstan more than 20 years ago, establishing itself as one of the primary carriers linking Central Asia to China’s major cities.

The A321LR, Airbus’s long-range variant of its popular single-aisle narrowbody, offers sufficient range to cover the roughly 3,200-kilometer distance between Almaty and Shanghai, while also providing flexibility in cabin configuration. Air Astana operates the type on several routes within its network that require extended range but which cannot justify widebody economics.

On January 29, 2026, US airlines began warning passengers of potential disruptions this coming weekend, with those likely to be affected given the opportunity to change their plans at no cost.

Storm Gianna comes just over a week after airlines alerted passengers to Winter Storm Fern, which resulted in thousands of flights across the US being cancelled.

This time, experts are warning of a bomb cyclone striking the southeastern coast, bringing extremely cold weather and heavy snow from January 30 to February 1, 2026.

According to meteorologists at the BBC, a bomb cyclone is described as “a storm that undergoes explosive cyclogenesis, where its pressure drops very quickly – by 24 millibars or more in 24 hours”.

We are closely monitoring Winter Storm Gianna and have issued a travel alert allowing those whose plans may be affected to make a fee-free change to their travel plans.

As winter weather may impact travel, flexible options and latest information can be found on the American app…

— americanair (@AmericanAir) January 29, 2026

In its latest update, the government’s National Weather Service said: “A rapidly intensifying coastal cyclone is forecast to bring heavy snow, high winds, and blizzard conditions for the Carolinas this weekend. The same weather system will spread high winds and coastal flooding potentials up and down the Eastern Seaboard by later in the weekend. An intense surge of arctic air behind the coastal storm will send below freezing temperatures down toward South Florida by Sunday morning.”

In preparation, Delta Air Lines declared that over 20 airports used by the airline could be affected by Storm Gianna between January 31 and February 1, 2026.

“Winter weather may impact travel in Atlanta and select Southeastern airports on Sat, Jan. 31. We encourage you to move your flight at no charge to minimize travel disruptions,” the airline said.

United Airlines listed 14 destinations that could face problems, with affected passengers given the option to move their flight for free.

“You can reschedule your trip and we’ll waive change fees and fare differences. But your new flight must be a United flight departing between January 28, and February 8, 2026. Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked,” the airline said.

A weak atmospheric river will continue periods of gusty winds, rain, and mountain snow over the Pacific Northwest through Friday. A rapidly deepening storm centered just off the North Carolina coast Friday night through Saturday night will produce widespread heavy snow and wind… pic.twitter.com/4lDBWpXRVv

— National Weather Service (@NWS) January 30, 2026

American Airlines named almost 30 locations where passengers could potentially experience delays or cancellations, again offering customers the chance to change their bookings.

“We are closely monitoring Winter Storm Gianna and have issued a travel alert allowing those whose plans may be affected to make a fee-free change to their travel plans,” it advised.

According to Southwest Airlines, nine of its airports could have flights delayed, diverted, and/or canceled between January 31 and February 1, 2026.

It stated: “Customers holding reservations to, from, or through the city(s) listed on the corresponding date(s) may rebook or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city pairs) without paying a change in airfare.”

On January 29, 2026, DAE, which is owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai, announced that the new Boeing 737-8 jets are scheduled to be delivered in 2027.

Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, said the agreement would “enhance the airlines flexibility to serve growing demand while delivering reliable connectivity between Africa, Europe, and beyond”.

“This agreement is fully aligned with Royal Air Maroc’s strategic ambition to become a leading global connector. The Boeing 737-8 Aircraft will strengthen our network development capabilities, enabling new route openings and increased frequencies with greater operational efficiency,” added Addou.

Commenting on the agreement, Firoz Tarapore, CEO of DAE, said, “We would like to thank the team at Royal Air Maroc for choosing DAE to partner on this significant fleet expansion project. The Kingdom of Morocco is a fast-growing tourist and business hub in Africa, with expanding air connectivity led by Royal Air Maroc. We look forward to seeing these new Boeing 737-8 aircraft enter the fleet, and to continuing to support Royal Air Maroc on their future fleet requirements.”

A previous lease agreement between DAE and Royal Air Maroc saw two Boeing 737-8s arrive in Morrocco last year. It was the first time the two companies had partnered together.

The first, registered CN-RHH, was delivered in June 2025, and was later followed by the second aircraft.

At the time DAE said: “The entire process, from signing the agreement to delivering the first aircraft was completed in a remarkably short time, reflecting our teams’ efficiency and the strength of our newly established partnership.”

Speaking during the company’s Q3 2026 earnings call, the airline executive minimized the significance of the application, stating that there are currently no plans for Wizz Air to launch transatlantic scheduled services. 

He said the filing is connected to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in the US between June 11 and July 19, 2026.  

However, Malin admitted that Wizz Air is looking at opportunities to operate charter flights to and from the US in connection with the sporting event, which is likely to attract thousands of fans across the Atlantic. 

Wizz Air is uniquely positioned to respond at relatively short notice to such peaks of demand, he added, since the A321XLR gives it this operational flexibility. 

“You sell the flight in advance; you collect the cash in advance; you price it accordingly, and the profits locked in,” Malin said. “That’s an example of us being opportunistic and looking at ways for us to diversify our revenue stream, but I would not expect there to be a material impact to the numbers based upon that.”  

He added: “The application allows for you to select a checkbox for scheduled, and that checkbox was selected, but I think somebody’s taken that far out of proportion.” 

Wizz Air’s CEO, Joszef Váradi, also referred to the US DOT application during the call, stating that this was a matter of having all the permissions in place for whenever they might be needed. Várady specifically referred to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent official trip to the US, which was conducted on an aircraft operated by Wizz Air UK.  

Unlike the airline’s other subsidiaries, Wizz Air UK is the most indicated within the Wizz Air group of airlines to perform these types of missions, since it is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for regulatory and oversight purposes, Várady added. 

“Hungary and Malta, the two other airlines, are under EASA governance, but EASA is not recognized by the US as a governance body because they only recognize the national authorities, not like a European authority,” he said. “That doesn’t translate into anything structural in terms of ambition to fly regular charters even, or, you know, certainly not scheduled flights.” 

Várady also highlighted the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as another major event that may generate demand for US charter flights but insisted that any such operations would have a marginal effect on the airline’s accounts, barely moving the needle in terms of revenue or profit.

On January 29, 2026, Air India announced that it had signed an order to purchase 30 additional Boeing aircraft, comprising 20 737 MAX 8s and 10 737 MAX 10 jets.

The carrier then later confirmed that it was converting an existing order with Airbus for 15 A321neos to the newer and more advanced A321XLR.

Discussing the Boeing order, Air India said its latest order at Wings India, was in addition to the firm orders for 220 aircraft that the airline placed in 2023, taking the total number of aircraft orders placed with the US firm to 250.

“This additional order for 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of our broader fleet strategy to position Air India firmly for the future, as a world-class global carrier that India deserves and the world expects. Building on our 2023 orders and subsequent additions, this order supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India.

So far, Air India has received 52 aircraft from the original 220 ordered in 2023, including 51 737-8s in service with Air India Express, and one brand-new 787-9 that enters commercial service between Mumbai and Frankfurt from February 1, 2026.

“Air India’s order for more 737 MAX jets underscores the strong performance of their existing 737-8 fleet as they continue to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region,” said Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Eurasia, India and South Asia. “We value Air India’s confidence in the 737-10 and 737-8 to provide the capacity and versatility they need as a cornerstone of their single-aisle growth strategy.”

A321XLR allure too strong for Air India

Air India’s conversion order with Airbus is the first time the carrier has purchased the European manufacture’s latest aircraft.

The conversion is part of Air India’s orders with Airbus in 2023 and 2024, comprising a total of 50 A350s and 300 A320 family aircraft.

Of the 300 single-aisle aircraft, the conversion to A321XLR applies to 15 of 210 A321neo aircraft ordered, while the 90 A320neo remain as originally structured.

We have converted 15 of our existing Airbus A321neo orders to the Airbus A321XLR – strengthening our single-aisle fleet with greater range, efficiency, and flexibility.

Announced at Wings India 2026, the A321XLR deliveries are expected between 2029 and 2030, enabling new… pic.twitter.com/NOgmUI3ut6

— Air India (@airindia) January 29, 2026

“The strategic conversion of a portion of our single-aisle Airbus aircraft orders to the A321XLR is in line with our effort of positioning Air India for the future. While we transform our current fleet at an accelerated pace with new and retrofitted aircraft, we are also carefully building our future fleet that, with scale and versatility, serves the rapidly evolving needs of travelers from and to India,” added Campbell.

Air India has outstanding deliveries of 344 new aircraft with Airbus. Deliveries of the 15 A321XLR are expected between 2029 and 2030.

“We are pleased to see Air India using the XLR’s efficiency and range to open new opportunities and strengthen India’s connections with the rest of the world,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales.

The 40-key all-inclusive lodge is scheduled to open by mid-2026 following a AU$50 million (US $34 million) renovation of the 7,000-acre conservation property located in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area of New South Wales. The project represents Emirates’ second major operator partnership for the site in less than two decades.

Emirates originally opened the property in 2009 as Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort before partnering with luxury hotel group One&Only Resorts to operate it as Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. 

The arrangement ended in June 2023 when the resort closed indefinitely due to ongoing road access problems caused by landslides that had cut off the primary route into the valley. The closure resulted in roughly 100 staff layoffs and left the property nonoperational, though Emirates maintained a small crew of local employees to care for the site.

The road issues stem from catastrophic landslides in late 2022 that forced the closure of Wolgan Road, the main access route. 

Emirates’ long-term commitment

Despite the access challenges, Emirates has invested a total of AU$200 million in the property since acquiring it in 2006, including extensive conservation work such as planting more than one million native trees and restoring historically significant structures like the original 1832 homestead.

“We are proud of our long-term investment into the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort which launched one of Australia’s first conservation-based luxury resorts,” said Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline. “Our unwavering commitment to the resort leads us to today’s announcement of an exciting agreement with Marriott International to open the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge.”

The partnership with Marriott marks a strategic shift for both companies. Ritz-Carlton Lodges represent a new category for the luxury brand: purpose-built sanctuaries designed to minimize environmental impact while delivering what Marriott calls “a heightened sense of luxury, comfort and craftsmanship” in natural settings.

“Marking the brand’s lodge debut globally, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will be a major drawcard for our network of 260 million loyal Marriott Bonvoy members around the world,” said Rajeev Menon, President of Asia Pacific excluding China at Marriott International.

What the lodge will offer

Emirates said that the renovated property will feature 40 freestanding lodges, each with private pools and what the companies describe as bespoke amenities. Plans include a signature “sleep-out experience” where guests are guided into remote wilderness for overnight camping under what the property markets as some of the world’s clearest night skies.

The main homestead will house a signature restaurant, lounge bar, wine room, and arrival spaces. Recreational facilities will include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, equestrian stables, a fitness center, and a Ritz-Carlton Spa. A dedicated naturalist hub staffed by a resident expert will offer conservation-focused experiences across the property, which occupies less than 2% of the 7,000-acre reserve.

Guests will access the resort either via the four-wheel-drive Donkey Steps route, which will be positioned as part of the “rural off-road experience”, or by helicopter.

Regional tourism and economic impact

The reopening could create approximately 150 jobs in the Wolgan Valley community and increase opportunities for local suppliers of food and other goods, according to Emirates.

The timing aligns with growing demand for premium nature-based tourism. Tourism Research Australia reported that regional NSW welcomed 15.5 million domestic visitors in the quarter ending September 2025, generating AU$5.9 billion (US $4.1 billion) in spending. International visitors contributed an additional 727,300 arrivals and AU$1.2 billion (US $846 million) in expenditure during the same period.

“For us, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will not only be an extraordinary resort appealing to discerning travellers seeking to be close to nature, but also a powerful engine for local economic growth, helping to rejuvenate the Wolgan Valley locality,” Clark said.

The property will join two other Ritz-Carlton hotels in Australia, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth (opened 2019) and The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne (opened 2023). However, it will be the only lodge-format property in the brand’s global portfolio.

Emirates has operated in Australia for 30 years and maintains extensive partnerships across the country, including major sports and arts sponsorships. The airline said it worked closely with federal and state governments, Lithgow City Council, and the Wolgan Valley community to make the project viable despite the ongoing infrastructure challenges.

Whether the road access situation improves before the lodge opens remains uncertain, but Emirates and Marriott are betting that high-end travelers willing to pay premium rates for an all-inclusive wilderness experience won’t be deterred by a rough entry.

On January 27, 2026, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) published a statement reflecting flight attendants’ displeasure over American Airlines’ performance.

“While we are pleased American achieved a small profit, our airline continues to lag its competitors by a significant margin. This is no longer an anomaly, but rather a pattern of failure under the leadership of CEO Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors,” said the APFA statement.

The union which represents over 25,000 of the airline’s cabin crew, added: “American’s workforce is not the problem. Leadership is.”

Central to the argument put forward by cabin crew staff is the perception that Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are surging ahead, leaving American Airlines a distant third.

Employees are understood to be frustrated with their profit-sharing bonuses compared to those in similar roles at Delta Air Lines.

The union points out that while American’ pre-tax profits for the year were $352 million, rival Delta’s were over $5 billion.

“To management we ask: What is American’s plan to compete? Why are we not hearing from the Board of Directors as American continues to fall further behind? The status quo is indefensible. The bottom of the rankings, quarter after quarter, is unacceptable. Accountability at the top is long overdue,” said APFA.

The statement said that while cabin crew were pleased to see the leadership upgrade its premium cabins, it said that its economy class was “outdated, uncomfortable, and far from competitive”.

“For years, CEO Robert Isom and his team have solely focused on Accountability, Reliability, and Profitability, ignoring investment in our product and the overall customer experience. During that time, our competitors focused on all aspects of their airlines, while American now stumbles to pick up the pieces,” continued the statement.

Before finally adding: “The employees at American Airlines, our passengers and the investors can no longer wait for Robert Isom and the American Airlines Board of Directors to deliver on their empty promises. As the entire industry leaves American Airlines in the dust, it is time for new leadership and a new vision for American Airlines.”

News of the statement came after American Airlines struggled to bounce back to full operations following thousands of industry flight cancellations due to Winter Storm Fern.

“We are grateful to our team members for their tremendous efforts this past weekend and this week as we’ve worked through this storm to take care of our customers — facing very difficult ramp conditions, gate congestion, challenges getting into work and close-in cancellations that are extremely disruptive for customers and team members, especially crew members,” said American Airlines.

You can read the full flight attendant statement on the APFA website.

The retrofit will introduce what the Lufthansa Group leisure carrier calls a “top-tier customer experience” across all three travel classes, featuring everything from Business Class suites with sliding doors to free Starlink internet throughout the aircraft.

The first aircraft with the new cabin configuration will enter service in April 2027, with the remaining fleet scheduled for conversion by mid-2028. Once complete, each A330 will seat 288 passengers: 227 in Economy, 31 in Premium Economy, and 30 in Business Class—a layout designed to balance capacity with the enhanced product offering.

Discover Airlines operates as the Lufthansa Group’s premium leisure airline in Germany, flying travelers from Frankfurt and Munich to beach and resort destinations worldwide. The carrier launched in summer 2021 to complement the group’s offerings in the growing leisure travel segment and currently operates 30 aircraft with approximately 2,100 employees. 

Interestingly, the airline started in 2020 as an internal project called “Ocean,” and air traffic controllers worldwide still use the call sign Ocean (OCN) when communicating with its cockpit crews.

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Design philosophy: Ocean Blue

The new cabin carries the name Ocean Blue, drawing inspiration from ocean colors and the sense of discovery associated with travel. The design language runs through all three classes with vibrant shades of blue, clean lines, and carefully selected color accents intended to create what the airline describes as a sophisticated ambiance that evokes a holiday atmosphere while signaling its Lufthansa Group affiliation.

The cabin also incorporates what the airline calls Human Centric Lighting, which uses varying light colors designed to support passengers’ biorhythms during long flights. The Ocean Blue name serves as a deliberate callback to the airline’s origins as the internal “Ocean” project.

What passengers get in each class

Economy Class passengers will see optimized seats offering more legroom and improved recline compared to the current configuration. Each seat features a six-way adjustable headrest and increased storage space. Passengers can still request seats with extra legroom for an additional charge.

Premium Economy gets a more substantial upgrade. Discover Airlines says its Premium Economy already ranks among the best in the leisure airline segment, and the Ocean Blue version aims to cement that position. The seats use an innovative hard-shell design that allows adjustments without affecting neighboring passengers. Discreet privacy screens provide separation, while integrated leg rests, wide recline capability, and built-in reading lights offer multiple seating positions for comfort on longer flights.

Business Class adopts a 1-2-1 configuration, guaranteeing every passenger direct aisle access. About half the seats are positioned as pairs with an adjustable privacy divider that can be opened for companions or closed for solo travelers. All seats convert to fully flat beds roughly two meters long and provide significantly more privacy, personal space, and storage than the current product.

The standout addition is the Business Class Suite—two seats in the first row featuring sliding doors approximately 1.2 meters high, 32-inch monitors, generous legroom, expanded storage, and what the airline calls an enhanced culinary offering. A privacy divider allows suite passengers traveling together to share the space or close it off for individual privacy.

Technology and connectivity

All seats across all classes will feature larger 4K touchscreens with integrated Bluetooth for connecting personal headphones and devices. Economy seats get USB-C ports, while Business and Premium Economy add power outlets and wireless charging capability. Premium Economy passengers will receive noise-canceling headphones for the first time.

While Discover’s long-haul fleet already offers internet access, the retrofit will upgrade all aircraft to Starlink connectivity and make it free for all passengers regardless of class.

“With this investment, we are setting new standards for long-haul leisure flying,” said Ulrich Lindner, CEO of Discover Airlines. “Five years after our founding, we are investing a nine-figure sum specifically in comfort, quality, and the travel experience of our guests. This is a clear commitment to the further development of Discover Airlines. We are proud of what we have achieved and look forward to welcoming our guests to the new Ocean Blue cabin soon.”

The nine-figure investment reflects the carrier’s bet that leisure travelers will pay for premium experiences on vacation routes, particularly as the line between business and leisure travel continues to blur in the post-pandemic market.

On January 28, 2026, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro confirmed that shortly before midday the SATENA Beechcraft 1900D, registered HK-4709, suffered a loss of communication.

After a search was launched involving the Colombian Air Force and National Army, at around 16:10 traces of the aircraft were found in Curasica, within La Playa de Belén in the north of the country.

President Petro has ordered the Ministry of Transportation and the Civil Aeronautics Authority to conduct a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy.

Among those who lost their lives was Diógenes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo.

#ATENCIÓN. Se conocen las primeras imágenes del avión de Satena accidentado en zona rural del mpio/Hacarí, cuando cubría la ruta Cúcuta–Ocaña. La aeronave fue ubicada en un sector de difícil acceso, mientras organismos de socorro adelantan labores de verificación.

En desarrollo https://t.co/j8WHF4HU1I pic.twitter.com/sghI368oWG

— Colombia Oscura (@ColombiaOscura) January 28, 2026

On Facebook, President Petro, wrote: “I am deeply saddened by these deaths. My heartfelt condolences to their families. May they rest in peace.”

SATENA Beechcraft 1900D, operated by SEARCA, Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport (CUC) at 11:42 and was due to land at Ocaña-Aguas Claras Airport (OCV) at around 12:05.

Government officials said that search and rescue efforts in the area where the aircraft crashed were hampered due to weather conditions.

Flightradar24 said that the last received position from HK-4709 was 8.199758, -73.13736 at 16:54 UTC.

Oscar Zuluaga, President of SATENA, released a video statement following the discovery of the wreck and said that the airline’s “solidarity is with the families and loved ones”.

Separately, in a statement from SATENA said: “We extend our most sincere condolences with profound sorrow and our deepest solidarity to the families of our passengers and crew who lost their lives in the accident. We will make all our resources available for humanitarian assistance to the families and to clarify what happened.”

The Civil Aeronautics Authority will formally launch an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The immediate activation of technical investigation teams has been ordered to establish, with rigor and transparency, the causes of this regrettable accident, in accordance with national and international protocols,” said Director of Civil Aeronautics Authority, Luis Alfonso Martínez.

Asia Pacific airlines wrapped up 2025 with strong traffic gains across both passenger and cargo operations, posting solid growth despite ongoing trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty that continue to shape the global aviation landscape.

Demand rose 11% when measured by revenue passenger kilometers, which factors in both the number of passengers and the distances they traveled. This growth was particularly strong on long-haul routes. Airlines added 10.2% more capacity to meet the demand, and planes flew fuller than ever and the average international passenger load factor hit a record 82.2% for the year, up half a percentage point from 2024.

“Asia Pacific carriers saw a year of strong growth in international passenger traffic, supported by robust demand across key markets in the region, including China, India, Japan and Vietnam,” said Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General. “This resulted in a 9.4% increase in the number of international passengers carried for the year.”

Cargo adapts to shifting trade landscape

The cargo side of the business proved equally resilient, though growth came against a more complicated backdrop. 

International air cargo demand rose 5.6% for the year as measured in freight tonne kilometers, building on the 14.9% surge recorded in 2024. That growth materialized even as new tariffs hit Asian and major global economies, forcing rapid shifts in supply chain patterns.

On the cargo front, Menon noted that airlines adapted quickly to changing conditions. “The region’s carriers demonstrated agility in responding to changes in trade policies and market dynamics, while benefiting from continued growth in e-commerce demand and intermediate goods flows from manufacturing hubs across the region,” he said.

Cargo capacity expanded faster than demand, with a 6.8% increase in available freight space, much of it coming from belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft as those networks grew. That pushed the average international freight load factor down 0.7 percentage points to 60.3% for the year, suggesting there’s room for further volume growth without major capacity additions.

Cautious optimism amid cost pressures

Looking toward 2026, Menon struck a cautiously optimistic tone. “The broader outlook for air travel remains positive in 2026, supported by steady economic growth and continued network expansion,” he said. “Air cargo demand is also expected to continue growing, but may be weighed down by trade tensions in the global economy.”

The industry isn’t without its challenges. Airlines across the region continue grappling with elevated operating costs driven partly by persistent supply chain disruptions affecting everything from spare parts to new aircraft deliveries. Those pressures are forcing carriers to sharpen their focus on cost discipline while simultaneously investing in digital tools and adjusting route networks to match shifting demand patterns.

“Overall, Asia Pacific airlines remain focused on active cost management, investments in digital capabilities, and network adjustments in response to market changes, as they navigate ongoing uncertainties while delivering sustainable, long-term growth,” Menon said.

The 2025 results show that even with geopolitical tensions and rising costs weighing on the industry, people kept flying and businesses continued to ship  goods by air. That underlying demand proved strong enough to drive steady growth across the Asia Pacific aviation market throughout the year.

The airline will operate three weekly return flights on the route using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, adding more than 40,000 seats annually between Canberra and one of Australia’s most popular vacation destinations. Virgin Australia will be the only Australian-based carrier operating international flights from Canberra and the sole airline on this specific route.

Flights went on sale on January 27, 2026, with the service scheduled to run seasonally from April 2026 through January 2027 to align with peak travel demand. The airline said it may increase frequency during busy periods.

“This is the first time in the history of the company that we will operate internationally from the capital, marking an important milestone in our broader network expansion story,” Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson said in a statement.

Tapping into Indonesia’s growing popularity

Virgin Australia said the flight schedule has been structured with traveler convenience in mind. Services will depart Canberra in the afternoon and return overnight from Bali, allowing passengers to maximize their time at both ends of the trip.

The route complements Virgin Australia’s existing Bali network, which includes direct services from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Same-day connections from these cities to Canberra will provide additional options for travelers looking to reach Bali from other parts of Australia.

Indonesia has recently overtaken New Zealand as one of Australia’s most popular international destinations. Virgin Australia carried more than half a million passengers between Australia and Bali last year, and demand continues to grow.

“As we continue to grow our network, we’re focused on offering greater choice and seamless connectivity for our guests,” Emerson said.

Broader capacity increases

The Bali launch coincides with Virgin Australia increasing capacity into Canberra by upgrading aircraft on the Brisbane-Canberra route. The airline is replacing smaller Fokker100 aircraft operated by Alliance Airlines with its own B737s on that domestic service.

Stephen Byron, CEO of Canberra Airport, welcomed the international expansion.

“Bali is one of Australia’s most popular international holiday destinations, and we know this service will be warmly welcomed by travelers across the region,” Byron said. “We’re delighted to be expanding our network with Virgin Australia and introducing Virgin Australia’s first international service from Canberra, with hopes that this marks the start of further international growth.”

The 737-800 aircraft will offer three cabin classes: Business, Economy, and Economy X, the carrier’s extra-legroom seating option that includes pre-boarding privileges.

The new route represents Virgin Australia’s continued network expansion as the airline rebuilds its international footprint following years of pandemic-related disruptions that reshaped the Australian aviation market.

The order comprises 16 A330-900s and 15 A350-900s, bringing Delta’s total commitments to 55 A330neo aircraft and 79 A350s once deliveries are complete. The total of A350s includes 20 A350-1000s, which Delta expects to begin receiving in early 2027, marking the carrier’s entry into the larger variant.

“As we grow our international footprint and prepare our fleet to serve expanded long-haul markets, these aircraft will enhance our capabilities and elevate our premium offerings,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement. “We value our long-standing partnership with Airbus, and with these widebody aircraft we will see additional operational efficiencies and long-term cost benefits in the years to come.”

.@Delta grows Airbus fleet with order for 31 additional widebody aircraft. Read more https://t.co/w5CrhUC8vk pic.twitter.com/VdC7C4GxiJ

— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) January 28, 2026

Targeting long-haul growth markets

The widebody additions support Delta’s push into key long-haul markets across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the South Pacific. The carrier has recently launched and announced services to Taipei, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Riyadh using A350 equipment, routes that leverage the aircraft’s extended range capabilities.

Airbus said that the A350-900 can fly up to 9,700 nautical miles nonstop, while the A330-900 offers a range of 8,100 nautical miles. Both aircraft types deliver approximately 25% better fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to previous-generation widebodies, according to Airbus specifications.

Delta’s A330-900s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, which have accumulated more than four million flight hours globally, including one million hours with Delta. The A350-900s will use the Trent XWB-84 EP variant, an enhanced version of the first-generation engine that provides additional fuel and range benefits.

The carrier has entered into long-term maintenance agreements with Rolls-Royce to service the engines. Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, noted that Delta is the manufacturer’s largest partner in the Americas.

Premium cabin focus

All incoming widebody aircraft will feature expanded premium seating configurations, including Delta One Suites in business class, Delta Premium Select, and Delta Comfort+ sections. Standard amenities will include seatback entertainment systems, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and enhanced food and beverage options.

The focus on premium seating reflects a broader shift across the airline industry as carriers chase higher-paying passengers on long-haul routes. Business and leisure travelers have shown increasing willingness to upgrade for better seats and service on flights that can stretch beyond 12 hours.

Delta works with partner airlines across multiple regions to funnel passengers onto its long-haul flights, expanding its reach beyond cities it serves directly.

Fleet composition and delivery timeline

With the new order, Delta now has 232 narrowbody and 85 widebody aircraft on its books awaiting delivery over the coming years. The airline already operates more than 500 Airbus planes, flying everything from the small A220 to the long-range A350-900.

Delta said the purchase fits within its existing spending and growth plans, though the airline didn’t reveal how much it’s paying or when exactly the planes will arrive.

Both the A330neo and A350 families are certified to operate on up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blends, with Airbus targeting 100% SAF compatibility across its fleet by 2030. As of December 2025, the A350 family had accumulated more than 1,500 orders from 67 customers worldwide, while the A330 family had logged over 1,900 orders globally.

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President of Sales, said the order reflects Delta’s confidence in the widebody family’s performance. 

“These aircraft offer the range, capacity, and premium cabin experience Delta requires to grow into new markets and connect more of the world,” he said.

The commitments position Delta to continue its international network expansion while retiring older, less efficient widebody aircraft over the coming years.

On January 27, 2026, Gulf Air announced that its passengers would have access to complimentary Wi-Fi onboard all its aircraft, from boarding through to arrival.

Recently appointed Gulf Air CEO, Martin Gauss signed the agreement with Global Head of Starlink Aviation, Nick Seitz at Awal Private Terminal in Bahrain.

Gulf Air Group Chairman, Khalid Hussain Taqi, senior government stakeholders, and other senior aviation industry leaders also attended the signing.

“Introducing Starlink across Gulf Air’s fleet demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. Advanced connectivity on every flight redefines what passengers can expect from the national carrier. It also supports Bahrain’s digital transformation goals, and empowers our cabin crew to deliver seamless, exceptional service,” said Taqi.

From the Kingdom of Bahrain to the world

Gulf Air will introduce free Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi across our fleet starting mid-2026, delivering seamless connectivity to every passenger, on every journey.

Innovation. Connectivity. Bahrain’s future in the skies. pic.twitter.com/1xpO2uTUJr

— Gulf Air (@GulfAir) January 27, 2026

Gulf Air joins a growing list of airlines that have turned to SpaceX’s Starlink to provide their inflight Wi-Fi network.

“With Starlink on board, Gulf Air is bringing next-generation in-flight connectivity to all passengers, whether traveling for leisure or business. From boarding until arrival, customers can stream, game, work, or stay in touch with loved ones, regardless of cabin or ticket type. This upgrades the entire travel experience and reinforces our commitment to delivering premium, seamless connectivity for every journey,” added Gauss.

Lufthansa Group was the most recent aviation company to sign up to Starlink with its subsidiary airlines, including SWISS, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines, set to benefit.

Emirates, IAG, flydubai, the Hanjin Group – Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul – have also committed to introducing Starlink over the last three months.

Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College emerged as the inaugural champion after four preliminary rounds and a final showdown. The winning team earned a place in the Cathay I Can Fly Youth Academy and a trip to Adelaide focused on aviation education and cross-cultural exchange.

“We feel extremely thrilled and heartened to have been named the winner,” the winning team said after the competition. “This truly feels like a dream come true, and we’re proud that all our hard work has paid off.”

The competition format combined traditional quiz elements with a hands-on aircraft building challenge for teams that didn’t advance to the finals. St. Joseph’s College won the plate competition, which judged participants on aircraft performance, geometry, structure, livery design, and teamwork.

From online platform to live competition

The 16 competing schools qualified through AeroQuiz, a web-based aviation knowledge platform launched by Cathay and the Hong Kong Youth Aviation Academy in June 2025. Schools with the highest average student scores on the platform earned spots in the live competition.

Since its launch, Cathay said that AeroQuiz has attracted more than 760 participants, including over 200 secondary school students from approximately 90 schools across Hong Kong. The platform remains open to the general public alongside its dedicated secondary school stream.

Finalists who didn’t win the championship received round-trip flight tickets to Asian destinations within Cathay’s network and flight simulator experiences. The top three teams gained priority access to the next edition of the I Can Fly Youth Academy.

Captain Lawrence Wong, Chief Flight Standards of the Civil Aviation Department, who attended as guest of honor, emphasized the industry’s need for talent development.

“The Cathay Inter-School Aviation Challenge Cup provides a valuable platform for young people to deepen their understanding of the aviation industry through reading and an interactive quiz format, helping to build a strong foundation for those aspiring to join the civil aviation sector in the future,” Wong said.

Broader youth engagement strategy

The competition sits within a larger framework of youth development initiatives that Cathay has been building over two decades. Originally launched in 2003, the I Can Fly program has become the carrier’s flagship youth engagement effort.

In 2025 alone, the program reached approximately 1,400 young people across Hong Kong, a significant scale of outreach as the city faces demographic challenges that threaten its workforce pipeline. Hong Kong’s aging population and declining birth rate have raised concerns across industries about maintaining adequate talent pools for specialized sectors like aviation.

Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, who hosted the event, said the airline is committed to making aviation education “more engaging, accessible and rewarding” for young people.

“By making aviation education more engaging, accessible and rewarding, initiatives like AeroQuiz and CISACC provide young people with a platform to build confidence, broaden their horizons and pursue their ambitions,” Lau said.

The airline plans to expand the competition into the Greater Bay Area and establish an annual cup format, allowing students to return and compete in subsequent years. The second edition of CISACC will take place later in 2026 as a defendable cup, with all schools encouraged to requalify through the AeroQuiz platform.

Industry-wide collaboration

The Civil Aviation Department has worked alongside local airlines, the Government Flying Service, training institutions, and aviation youth groups to develop talent across flying, engineering, maintenance, and aviation management through various training programs.

Captain Patrick Lau, Chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Aviation Academy, attended the event alongside other aviation industry representatives, reflecting the collaborative approach to youth development in the sector.

As Cathay enters its 80th anniversary year in 2026, the airline indicated it plans to launch additional community initiatives and partnerships, though specific details were not disclosed.

Together, AeroQuiz, CISACC, and the I Can Fly program form what the airline describes as “an interconnected suite of youth development initiatives” aimed at building Hong Kong’s next generation of aviation professionals.

For the 16 teams that competed in the inaugural challenge, the event represented both a test of their aviation knowledge and a potential pathway into an industry that continues to seek young talent despite ongoing workforce pressures.

The flag carrier, which is also celebrating 85 years of operations, becomes the 10th airline worldwide to operate the variant and the first in the Southeast Asian region, marking a significant milestone.

But beyond the ceremonial unveiling lies a meticulously crafted cabin experience styled in partnership with LIFT Aero Design, whose team spent months refining every detail of the 382-seat tri-class interior. 

AeroTime gained exclusive insights into the styling process and cabin features through conversations with Daniel Baron, CEO of LIFT Aero Design, and Aaron Yong, Design Partner, who walked through each cabin class and explained the thinking behind key styling decisions.

Business class: Privacy meets functionality

A notable feature of PAL’s “Mabuhay Studios” business class is the absence of overhead bins along the centerline. With all storage positioned along the sidewalls, passengers in the center seats of the 1-2-1 configuration have unobstructed ceiling space above them. This creates a greater sense of openness on long-haul flights that can exceed 14 hours such as New York’s John F Kennedy Airport (JFK). 

All 42 Collins Aerospace Elevation suites come equipped with sliding doors for enhanced privacy, a feature that has rapidly become standard rather than exceptional on premium long-haul products. Each suite measures 44 inches in pitch and 20.25 inches in width, lying fully flat for sleep.

The cabin incorporates multiple storage compartments within reach of each passenger: a wireless charging pad, dedicated spaces for personal items on both sides of the suite, and a purpose-built water bottle holder. The number of storage options, while practical, means passengers need to keep track of where they’ve placed their belongings during the flight.

The suites feature 20-inch 4K entertainment screens, in-seat power outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, and complimentary full-flight Wi-Fi for messaging, browsing, and streaming—amenities that have become increasingly common on competitive long-haul business class products.

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Premium economy: Measured upgrade from economy

Premium economy comprises 24 seats measuring 19 inches in width with 38 inches of pitch and seven inches of recline. Each seat includes a calf rest and footrest.

The cabin features genuine leather on headrests and armrests, distinguishing it from the fabric-covered economy seats. Each seat is equipped with a 13.3-inch 4K screen (the same size as those in economy) along with Bluetooth connectivity for personal device pairing and both USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

The bifold tray table allows passengers to deploy either half or the full surface depending on their needs, whether for dining, working, or maintaining access to the aisle.

Economy: Maximizing space through engineering

At 316 seats, economy class accounts for the bulk of the A350-1000’s capacity, configured in a 3-3-4 layout. Achieving a 17-inch seat width in the densest section required creative problem-solving.

“Airbus shaved millimeters off the sidewall panels on this newer A350 variant,” Baron explained. “It doesn’t sound like much, but those millimeters add up when you’re trying to fit 10-abreast seating while maintaining a competitive seat width.”

The 32-inch pitch is notably generous for a long-haul economy product, particularly on routes where PAL competes with ultra-long-haul carriers on transpacific services to the US mainland and Canada.

“Airlines don’t optimize for just one metric,” Baron said. “It’s the total package: pitch, width, recline, entertainment, charging options. We worked with a German fabric supplier on a two-tone weave that shifts from teal to orange depending on viewing angle. Small touches matter.”

The economy cabin mirrors premium economy in entertainment technology, with the same 13.3-inch 4K screens and Bluetooth connectivity. Adjustable four-way headrests, built-in mobile device holders, and both USB-A and USB-C ports round out the feature set.

Operational considerations

Beyond passenger-facing features, the A350-1000 brings operational advantages that influenced cabin design decisions. The aircraft delivers up to 25% better fuel efficiency compared to previous-generation widebodies and is compatible with sustainable aviation fuel – factors that will become increasingly important as aviation faces decarbonization pressure.

Enhanced cargo capacity strengthens PAL’s freight operations, while the aircraft’s extended range opens new route possibilities. The flag carrier plans to deploy the type on its transpacific services, with five additional A350-1000s arriving in 2026 and three more in 2027, bringing PAL’s total fleet to 82 aircraft.

The A350-1000 introduction comes at a time when  PAL is positioning itself for expanded transpacific operations. 

“The A350-1000 aircraft stands as a powerful symbol of our resurgence,” PAL Holdings President Lucio C. Tan III said during the unveiling ceremony. “It represents our confidence to compete globally, while remaining deeply rooted in who we are as Filipinos.”

Dubbed AIRSORAYAMA, Sorayama has adopted his distinctive style to create liveries that use a metallic aesthetic, transforming the A350-1000 aircraft into “flying masterpieces”.

On January 27, 2026, after three years of development, the unique designs were unveiled at a launch event at Tokyo’s Omotesando Hills where STARLUX also confirmed that the two AIRSORAYAMA jets are scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of 2026.

Describing Sorayama’s metallic aesthetic as liquid metal livery, STARLUX said that the aircraft is the “ultimate mechanical structure—rational, precise, inherently cold”.

“What we sought was to bring warmth and beauty into the flying experience. Sorayama-sensei’s creations embody futurism and breathe emotion into the metal, mirroring the precision and care behind aviation itself. Together we have created something unprecedented—a flying masterpiece that carries emotions across the world,” said STARLUX Chairman K.W. Chang.

STARLUX said it commissioned the two designs after learning of Sorayama’s lifelong aspiration to create the world’s largest artwork and felt his art exploring metal and emotion aligned “seamlessly” with the carrier’s brand spirit.

“These aircraft are works created jointly by Chairman Chang and me. It is rare to meet someone who truly understands my vision. We share a rebellious spirit—never settling for the status quo, always striving to stand apart. With STARLUX’s full technical support and my insistence on aesthetics, the collaboration was powerful,” said Sorayama.

He added: “Designing the Airbus A350-1000 as my canvas is a dream come true, and together we have created a truly distinctive ‘flying masterpiece’ that I hope will inspire the world.”

As well as the gold and silver liveries, Sorayama also personally designed the “STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA” logo.

To achieve Sorayama’s signature cool, liquid-metal effect, STARLUX collaborated closely with Airbus and coatings manufacturer Mankiewicz.

AIR × ART
空飛ぶマスターピース、幕開け。#STARLUX pic.twitter.com/0jgIu2itU9

— STARLUX Airlines Japan (@starluxjapan) January 27, 2026

“Each aircraft features Sorayama’s iconic metallic finishes, with underbelly linework inspired by his classic ‘Mechanical Shark (SORAYAMA Shark)’ motif—transforming the aircraft into a shark soaring through the sky. When viewed from the ground, the aircraft’s sharp, powerful lines create a striking visual impact as it ascends toward the horizon,” said STARLUX.

The two aircraft are named STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA Silver (B-58553) and STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA Gold (B-58554). The collaboration will also feature onboard amenities, a dedicated safety video and original merchandise.

The first of 18 Airbus A350-1000 widebody jets landed safely at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taiwan on January 6, 2026.

Beginning on January 27, 2026, the airline switched to assigned seating, ending one of the most defining and polarizing passenger policies in US commercial aviation. The change takes effect by calendar date, meaning any Southwest flight departing on January 27 local airport time will operate under the new assigned-seating system.  

That makes Flight 1791 from Honolulu to Los Angeles, scheduled to depart Monday evening in Hawaii, the final Southwest flight to board under open seating. After that aircraft pushes back, every Southwest departure worldwide will fall under the carrier’s new assigned-seating model.  

For Southwest loyalists, the shift marks the end of an era. Open seating had been a core part of the airline’s identity since its earliest days, rewarding frequent flyers who mastered boarding position strategy and tolerated the occasional gate-area scrum. Supporters liked the simplicity and the lack of seat fees. Critics never warmed to the cattle-call boarding or the uncertainty of where they’d end up sitting.  

Southwest says customer preference drove the change. Executives have acknowledged that many travelers were choosing competitors specifically because they wanted seat assignments and were willing to pay for them. The airline has also been upfront that the move is part of a broader effort to increase revenue and modernize its product.  

Under the new cabin layout, Southwest aircraft now feature three seating categories: Extra Legroom seats near the front and exit rows, Preferred seats in the middle of the cabin, and Standard seats toward the rear. Passengers select seats when booking, with access determined by fare bundle and frequent-flyer status.  

The airline has also overhauled its boarding process. Instead of lining up by letter and number and hoping for the best, passengers are now assigned one of eight boarding groups. Higher-fare customers and elite members board first, while Basic and lower-tier fares go last.  

The timing of the change is no accident. Southwest rolled out Extra Legroom seating last year, giving customers a preview of what monetized seating could look like. Assigned seating completes that transition, putting the airline more in line with legacy carriers it once proudly differentiated itself from.  

Whether passengers embrace the change remains to be seen. For some, assigned seating removes stress and uncertainty. For others, it represents the loss of something uniquely Southwest.  

Either way, when Flight 1791 lifts off from Honolulu, open seating goes with it, ending a 55-year experiment that helped define the airline, and ushering in a new chapter far more familiar to today’s travelers.

Kandir, who previously served as vice chairman of Gol’s board, steps into the role on an interim basis as the airline begins the process of identifying a permanent successor.  

Gol confirmed that de Oliveira Junior died on January 24 in São Paulo after a battle with cancer. He was 57. 

De Oliveira Junior founded Gol in 2000 and remained one of the most influential figures in Brazilian aviation for more than two decades. Under his leadership, Gol introduced the low-cost carrier model to Brazil, reshaping the country’s domestic air travel market and dramatically expanding access to flying. The airline grew rapidly, building a network centered on high-frequency domestic routes operated almost exclusively with a fleet centered on the Boeing 737. 

After serving as CEO for many years, de Oliveira Junior transitioned to the role of board chairman, where he continued to play a central role in strategic decision-making and long-term planning. Gol credited him with establishing the airline’s core business philosophy and culture, which emphasized efficiency, scale, and cost discipline. 

In a statement, Gol said Kandir will lead the board’s work while the company evaluates longer-term governance arrangements. The airline added that its operations, strategy, and commitments remain unchanged under the current executive leadership team. 

Kandir brings a background in public policy and corporate governance to the role. Prior to joining Gol’s board, he held senior positions in Brazil’s federal government and has served on the boards of several companies. Gol has not indicated how long Kandir is expected to remain in the chairman role or when a permanent appointment might be announced. 

The leadership change comes at a sensitive moment for Gol, which has been navigating financial pressures and broader restructuring efforts in recent years amid a challenging operating environment for airlines in Latin America. Gol is part of the Abra Group, a holding company that also controls Avianca, and has been working to stabilize its balance sheet while maintaining network scale in Brazil’s highly competitive domestic market. 

Gol said it would honor de Oliveira Junior’s legacy as it moves forward, noting his role in transforming air travel in Brazil and building the airline into a major regional carrier. 

No further changes to Gol’s executive leadership were announced. 

On January 25, 2026, Air Lease said the first Boeing 737-8 arrival was part of a long-term lease agreement with Air Canada signed in 2023 with the maiden delivery penned for 2026.

“Air Lease is pleased to deliver from our orderbook this first of five Boeing 737-8 aircraft on lease to our long-time customer, Air Canada,” said John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President of Air Lease. “This 737-8 joins Air Canada’s diverse and expanding fleet of the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.

According to ch-aviation, Air Lease, which is based in Los Angeles, currently has 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order.

As well as Air Lease, Air Canada also has lease agreements in place with BOC Aviation for 737-8s.

The Canadian flag carrier currently operates an active fleet of 194 commercial aircraft with the MAX its most widely used aircraft.

In December 2025, Air Lease also delivered the first of four Airbus A321XLRs to Uzbekistan based airline, Qanot Sharq.

At the time AJ Abedin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Air Lease, said: “Air Lease is proud to be the first lessor to introduce the A321XLR to Asia with our valued partner Qanot Sharq, an airline we have supported since day one. With its strong operating performance and strategic location in Uzbekistan, I believe Qanot Sharq is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of this game-changing aircraft.”

The Saudi Arabian airline startup said on January 26, 2026, that Neo Space’s Skywaves connectivity will give passengers speeds of up to 300 Mbps, using HBC+ hardware with a Thinkom Ka2517 antenna.

In April 2025, Riyadh Air contracted Viasat to provide in-flight connectivity for passengers travelling on one of 39 of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The new Neo Space service will be available to all Riyadh Air passengers for a fee, or free for Sfeer loyalty program members.

“Our first Airbus A321 is anticipated in Q4 2026, and our collaboration with NSG ensures every passenger, especially members of Sfeer, our loyalty program who receive free Wi-Fi, will enjoy a truly connected journey. We are dedicated to setting new global standards for digital aviation, leveraging the ambitious Saudi technical infrastructure that truly brings this partnership to life,” said Adam Boukadida, CFO of Riyadh Air.

Thai Airways also announced back in November 2025 that it would be line-fitting Skywaves across its 787 Dreamliner fleet.

“This partnership underscores NSG’s commitment to innovation and to delivering best-in-class connectivity across Saudi Arabia,” said Martijn Blanken, CEO of Neo Space Group. “We are proud to collaborate with Riyadh Air to create a digitally seamless experience for passengers, reflecting the Kingdom’s vision for the future of aviation.”

The airline said it plans to restore pre-pandemic routes to China and take delivery of seven aircraft in 2026.

Speaking during a press interview on the day of the airline’s milestone celebration, Xander Lao, President and Chief Commercial Officer, welcomed the government’s decision to bring the Philippines in line with its Southeast Asian neighbors on visa policy. He called it “a really great development” that makes the country more competitive.

While it’s too early to gauge booking trends from the policy shift, Lao emphasized the airline has the capacity and aircraft ready to rebuild connectivity to China.

“We haven’t necessarily seen any movement just yet in terms of overall bookings, but to be honest, it’s quite early,” Lao said. “The government just announced it this week. But we are excited if we do see a buildup in terms of traffic from China—clearly we have the capacity to add flying.”

Rebuilding China connectivity

China was a key market for the Philippines before the pandemic, with Cebu Pacific alone operating 35 weekly frequencies to Chinese cities in 2019. That number reduced to just seven weekly frequencies combined across the market today.

The carrier is currently seeing strong outbound traffic, with more Filipinos traveling to China. But Lao expects the visa policy change could reverse that imbalance over time.

“We do have the capacity, we do have the aircraft to bring back [routes] should the opportunities arise,” he said. “It was a key market for the Philippines back in 2019, and clearly that’s something we’d love to reestablish.”

International expansion and diversification

Beyond China, Cebu Pacific is focusing its 2026 international strategy on strengthening recently launched hubs rather than opening new routes. The carrier has made progress on international connections from Davao and Iloilo and will launch service to Riyadh in March 2026 as its primary new international route for the year.

The airline is also diversifying its revenue base geographically to offset Philippine Peso weakness, which affects roughly 70% of its costs that are denominated in US dollars. Sales from Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Australia are growing as the carrier invests in overseas distribution.

Japan and Australia emerged as the two fastest-growing markets for passenger traffic, according to Department of Transportation data, benefiting from Cebu Pacific’s capacity additions and joint promotional efforts with the Philippine tourism board.

“We’d like to see a better mix in terms of our passenger distribution,” Lao said. “For every airline, the home carrier will always carry a majority of their countrymen, but we’d like to see more foreign travelers taking local carriers.”

Fleet expansion amid engine issues

Cebu Pacific expects to take delivery of seven aircraft in 2026: two widebodies and five narrowbodies, as it targets capacity growth of roughly 10% year-over-year, similar to 2025 levels.

However, the carrier continues to manage grounded aircraft due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine issues affecting its new-generation GTF-powered fleet. The number of grounded aircraft fluctuates weekly, and Lao said the industry-wide problem likely won’t fully resolve for another couple of years.

“It’s not an issue that’s isolated to Cebu Pacific—it’s anyone that has a Pratt & Whitney new generation engine,” he said, adding that the airline has already factored supply chain challenges into its conservative growth forecast.

The carrier also strengthened its ATR turboprop fleet through the acquisition of local carrier AirSwift, bringing its total to 20 ATR 72-600 aircraft. Those aircraft will eventually relocate from Manila’s congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Clark International Airport (CRK) as part of a government directive to optimize scarce terminal capacity at the capital’s main gateway.

Lao said Cebu Pacific is working closely with airport authorities on the timeline for the terminal transfer, which he expects could happen in the third quarter, though no firm date has been set.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the foreign object was discovered at Sydney Airport (SYD) after the Qantas Airbus A380 returned from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

The ATSB confirmed in an investigation report that the Qantas Airbus A380, registered VH-OQK, had flown two sectors prior to the tool being located.

As part of its investigation, representatives from the ATSB will interview involved parties, examine maintenance records and collect any other relevant information to its inquiry.

“A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken,” said the ATSB.

The 14-year-old A380 has flown with Qantas since 2011. Between February and December 2024, the aircraft was in storage at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi.

The incident is not the first time that the ATSB has launched an investigation into Qantas following the discovery of a foreign object inside an aircraft.

On February 2, 2024, a compressor turning tool was discovered behind the fan blades of number one engine on a Qantas Airbus A380 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Mechanics at LAX were carrying out a maintenance inspection on the Airbus A380 when the foreign object debris was found.

In an investigation report drafted and published on the ATSB website, investigators said the tool in question was first reported lost on December 6, 2023.

The flight carried 278 passengers, completing the inaugural service of the new nonstop route between the Chinese and Emirati capitals.

The Boeing 787 widebody operated as flight CA 705, launching what the carrier describes as its first new international route of 2026. The service establishes the first direct air link between Beijing and Abu Dhabi operated by a Chinese airline, though Etihad Airways has long connected the two cities from the opposite direction.

Air China will operate the route four times weekly using Boeing 787. The Dreamliner configuration typically seats between 250 and 300 passengers depending on cabin layout, making it well-suited for the long-haul service between the two capital cities.

The route is served by flights CA705/6 with aircraft Boeing 787 on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

The route adds to Air China’s expanding Middle East network and provides an alternative to existing one-stop itineraries that typically route through Gulf hubs or Asian transfer points. For the Beijing-based flag carrier, the launch represents a strategic addition to its international footprint as Chinese airlines gradually rebuild their pre-pandemic long-haul networks.

The timing of the launch coincides with growing aviation ties between China and the United Arab Emirates, as both countries work to expand bilateral connectivity for business and leisure travelers. Industry observers noted the route could support increased traffic flows under the Belt and Road Initiative framework, though immediate demand projections were not made public.

Air China joins other Chinese carriers in gradually expanding their international route maps following years of constrained long-haul operations. The Boeing 787’s fuel efficiency and range make it a logical choice for markets where demand is building but not yet at the level required for larger twin-aisle aircraft.

The announcement was made on January 21, 2026, with a brief, cheerful note on the airline’s social media channels stating (in Spanish) “The wait is over!”. 

No details are known yet about the expected roll out of the service, other than it will start in October 2026. The selected supplier, the technology that will be used and the terms under which the service will be offered have not been disclosed yet. 

Copa Airlines reacts, in this mode, to recent announcements by some of its direct competitors in the Latin American region that they will start fitting their fleets with wi-fi. 

In December 2025, Avianca stated that it would have its whole fleet equipped with internet connectivity by 2027, and, a few months prior to that, in July 2025, LATAM Airlines also announced that wi-fi would be available on all of its long-haul routes.  

Copa Airlines’ Star Alliance partner United Airlines, which is a significant player in the US to Panama market, started, in October 2025, its rollout of SpaceX Starlink high-speed internet across its fleet. 

And American Airlines, which is also a major player in the Caribbean and Latin American markets in which COPA is active and already offers internet connectivity on most aircraft, is currently in talks with Amazon to upgrade its inflight internet offering. 

Although Copa Airlines’ entire fleet is composed of single aisle aircraft, some of the segments operated by the Panamanian airline are considerably long, such as those linking Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Canada and the Northeastern United States, therefore the availability of internet onboard will represent a considerable enhancement of the passenger experience.

The application, which was filed on January 23, 2026, by Holland & Knight, legal counsel of Wizz Air UK, refers to the terms of the Open Skies agreement of 2020 between the United States and the United Kingdom to request the right to conduct scheduled and charter operations between the two countries. 

Also noted in the request is the fact that William Franke, Chairman of WA Holdings, parent company of Wizz Air UK, is a US citizen. 

Wizz Air had applied to the US DOT for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) in January 2022, in order to be able to conduct cargo operations. At that time, the application, which was opposed by several pilot unions, was turned down.

If Wizz Air finally launches flights to the US, it would be, however, a remarkable departure from the airline’s previous policy of avoiding the Transatlantic passenger market.  

In a 2023 Executive Spotlight interview with AeroTime, Wizz Air’s CEO, Joszef Várady explicitly ruled out expanding in the North American market. However, the carrier’s strategy has changed significantly in the intervening years, including a withdrawal from some Middle Eastern markets and a readjusting of capacity. 

As of January 2026, Wizz Air UK has a fleet of 21 A321neo aircraft, of which three are of the XLR version, which has a range of 4,700nm (8,700 km), enough to reach large swathes of the United States from the UK. Wizz Air UK plans to receive another eight aircraft of this type in the near future, which will expand significantly its capability to operate regular services to the US. 

Wizz Air already had a test run of sorts for this type of operation in November 2025, when one of the airline’s A321XLR aircraft flew Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, between Budapest (BUD) and Washington DC, together and an official delegation.  

A Wizz Air entry could be potentially transformative for the competitive dynamics in the Transatlantic market. While there is currently no shortage of options to fly nonstop between the US and the UK, none of them is offered a pure low-cost carrier.  

The possibility of Wizz Air also obtaining permission, at a later stage, for its mainline EU subsidiary is also intriguing. Such a move would open interesting growth perspectives for airports in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Budapest, which currently see very limited Transatlantic service, or, in some cases, none at all.

The company reported earnings per share of $0.18 for the fourth quarter, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.43, which it said landed above both market expectations and its prior guidance range. Alaska generated $3.6 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, and it reported $1.2 billion in operating cash flow for the full year.  

CEO Ben Minicucci said Alaska expects momentum to build this year as the Alaska-Hawaiian combination strengthens. “We feel momentum accelerating in 2026 as the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines combination gains full strength,” he said, pointing to the company’s focus on expanding its network and improving the travel experience.  

Alaska now holds a single operating certificate covering both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, a key regulatory step in combining the two carriers. 

2026 off to strong start 

Alaska offered a cautious but upbeat view of early 2026 demand. The carrier said bookings in the first three weeks of January “have inflected positive” compared with last year, and it described several of the highest booking days in its history since January 1. Alaska said corporate revenues for the first quarter are running 20% higher year over year.  

For the first quarter, Alaska guided to adjusted earnings per share between a loss of $1.50 and a loss of $0.50, and it said it expects results to come in roughly flat compared with the prior year. For the full year 2026, the company guided to adjusted earnings per share between $3.50 and $6.50, while emphasizing that the range reflects uncertainty around the broader economy and fuel prices.  

In the fourth quarter, Alaska said it grew capacity 2.2% year over year. It also said passenger revenue rose to $3.25 billion, while total revenue reached $3.63 billion. On the cost side, the company reported that unit costs excluding fuel and certain special items rose 1.3% year over year, which it said came in better than its prior guidance and reflected renewed focus on cost control. Alaska reported a fuel price of $2.57 per gallon for the quarter and said elevated West Coast refining prices led to higher fuel costs.  

The company highlighted several areas of revenue growth that airlines have leaned on as traditional fare pressure has persisted in parts of the market. Alaska said premium revenue increased 7% year over year in the fourth quarter, cargo revenue rose 22%, and loyalty revenue increased 12%. The carrier also said corporate travel grew 9% year over year, and it pointed to stronger demand as yields rebounded from earlier weakness.  

Alaska also said it continued to invest in initiatives tied to its “Alaska Accelerate” strategy. During the quarter, it began selling new international routes from Seattle to London and Rome, with the first flights scheduled for spring 2026. The company also said it is now selling in six foreign currencies and has launched Japanese-, Korean-, and Italian-language websites to support sales outside the United States as it expands international flying.  

On the product side, Alaska said it began installing Starlink Wi-Fi on its Embraer 175 fleet in December, with installations on its mainline fleet expected to begin in spring 2026. It also announced the Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan of more than $600 million over five years, aimed at improving the end-to-end travel experience for Hawaiian customers, including aircraft interior retrofits, airport upgrades in Hawaiʻi, and technology improvements.  

On January 22, 2026, Air Europa’s President, Juan José Hidalgo, and Airbus’ Head of Sales for Western Europe, Ville Arhippainen, linked up on day two of the Spanish trade event to put the final touches to the agreement.

The two parties met at the Air Europa exhibit stand, where they gathered for photos and celebrated the milestone that will see the carrier introduce the A350-900 into its fleet.

The A350-900s arrival is expected to accelerate the replacement of older widebodies and strengthen Air Europa’s position on transatlantic routes, where demand remains strong.

Hidalgo previously said that the A350-900 is a “game-changer for key destinations in Latin America,” with the aircraft providing the “operational performance and economics needed to expand the airline’s network without compromise”.

Conectividad global, innovación y una clara apuesta por la sostenibilidad marcan la propuesta de @AirEuropa en #FITUR2026. Una aerolínea que sigue evolucionando para ofrecer una experiencia de vuelo más eficiente, responsable y adaptada a las nuevas formas de viajar.Pabellón 10 pic.twitter.com/TtagQlwwlp

— FITUR (@fitur_madrid) January 21, 2026

At Dubai Airshow 2025, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business, said: “We are proud to welcome Air Europa into the Airbus A350 family. This order is a strong endorsement of the A350 as the benchmark widebody platform for efficiency and passenger comfort in the long-haul market business.”

Air Europa currently operates a long-haul fleet centered on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and serves a network heavily focused on Latin America, one of the most competitive long-haul markets in Europe.

Citing people familiar with the discussions, CNBC reported that Spirit has not reached a merger agreement with fellow ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines, despite renewed talks in recent months, and may instead pursue a sale to Castlelake. 

Neither Spirit nor Castlelake have commented on the report. 

Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2025, after its previous turnaround plan failed to stabilize the business. The airline has since cut capacity, reduced its fleet and laid off employees in an effort to conserve cash. Pilots last year agreed to pay concessions totaling about $100 million, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, which urged creditors to support Spirit’s restructuring and avoid liquidation. 

The potential Castlelake deal would likely require the involvement of Spirit’s bondholders, though the structure and valuation of any transaction remain unclear. Castlelake, based in Minneapolis, manages about $33 billion in assets and has become increasingly active in aviation finance. 

In August 2025, Castlelake launched a new aviation lending platform, Merit AirFinance, with around $1.8 billion in deployable capital. At the time, the firm said the unit would provide debt financing to airlines and leasing companies for new and used aircraft. Castlelake has deployed more than $5 billion to airlines and lessors since 2020, according to company statements. 

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2025, Spirit disclosed that it was exploring a path forward, including a merger or sale, and was in discussions with multiple interested parties. Two months later, Bloomberg reported that Spirit was again in talks with Frontier, reviving a long-running potential tie-up between the two ultra-low-cost carriers. 

Frontier previously attempted to acquire Spirit in 2022, but Spirit shareholders rejected the deal. The airlines revisited merger discussions in 2024 without success, and in January 2025 Frontier offered to buy Spirit for roughly $2.1 billion in cash and stock as Spirit prepared to exit bankruptcy. This proposal was also rejected. 

Spirit’s troubles deepened after a federal judge blocked its planned acquisition by JetBlue Airways on antitrust grounds in 2024. This left the airline to navigate rising labor costs, shifting consumer preferences, and an oversupply of domestic capacity without the scale advantages of larger competitors.  
 
Spirit has since attempted to attract higher-spending travelers through bundled fares and upgraded seating options, though those efforts have yet to reverse its fortunes. 

Pilot hiring surged during and immediately after the COVID-19 recovery, then fell back in 2024 and early 2025 as airlines worked through an imbalance in their cockpits. Carriers hired large numbers of first officers during the post-pandemic boom, but still faced shortages of captains, forcing airlines to slow external hiring while upgrading pilots internally and managing aircraft delivery delays.  

That transition period now appears to be ending. Data released by ATP, one of the largest US flight schools, shows that airline hiring accelerated late in 2025, particularly at major and legacy carriers. According to ATP, its graduates saw increased placement activity as hiring regained momentum in the fourth quarter, a period that often signals how the following year will shape up.  

Hiring picks up at US majors

ATP reported that pilot hiring at major and legacy airlines rose 17% in 2025 when compared with the prior year. The flight school said normalization earlier in the year gave way to stronger demand, as carriers expanded training capacity and restarted new-hire classes.  

That trend aligns with hiring data tracked by Aero Crew Solutions, which reported that American Airlines and United Airlines had ramped hiring to maximum capacity late in 2025. According to the firm, both airlines ran weekly new-hire classes totaling more than 500 pilots per month combined, levels expected to continue into 2026 as demand builds.  

Aero Crew Solutions has suggested the hiring wave at the majors creates downstream movement throughout the industry. When a major airline hires a regional captain, the regional airline must upgrade another pilot, which then opens first officer positions. Though regional hiring remained uneven in 2025, the firm reckons that pattern should improve as captain upgrades work their way through the system.  

Airline representatives speaking at recent industry events have echoed that outlook. ATP cited statements from American, United and Delta showing strong hiring plans for 2026, including approximately 1,500 pilots at American, near-record hiring approaching 2,500 pilots at United, and continued near-term hiring at Delta.  

Mandatory retirements remain a major driver behind those numbers. According to estimates compiled by the National Air Carrier Association, more than 16,000 US airline pilots are expected to retire over the next five years. NACA’s modeling projects a cumulative shortfall of more than 28,000 pilots by 2030 under current assumptions, driven largely by retirements, training lag and long-term growth.  

While the term ‘pilot shortage’ is hotly debated within the industry, long-term demand indicators remain strong. In its latest Pilot and Technician Outlook, Boeing forecast that global commercial aviation will require about 660,000 new pilots over the next 20 years as airlines expand fleets and replace retiring crews.  

Boeing claims that global air travel demand is continuing to outpace economic growth, making effective training and a steady supply of qualified personnel essential to maintaining airline operations. This forecast reflects fleet growth, aircraft replacement, utilization rates, and regional staffing needs across commercial aviation. 

Hiring not confined to US

Outside the United States, pilot hiring activity also points to sustained demand heading into 2026. Global airlines continue to recruit at a steady pace, as international travel rebounds and long-term staffing pressures build.

Training specialist CAE has warned that airlines in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East face ongoing challenges rebuilding pilot ranks thinned during the pandemic. Large international carriers, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, have continued recruiting experienced captains and first officers, underscoring that pilot demand is not confined to the US market but part of a broader global reset now moving into its next phase.  

Taken together, the data points to a market that has shifted out of the post-COVID hiring surge and into a more measured but still active phase. Airlines are no longer hiring at emergency levels, but they are hiring consistently, with clear signals that demand for new pilots is rebuilding rather than contracting.

On January 21, 2026, MEPs voted 632 to 15 to maintain a passenger’s right to compensation for a three-hour delay and pushed back on several other suggestions they claim would “weaken air passenger rights”.

The vote was held after ministers for transport at the European Council published a new framework in June 2025 for changes to passengers’ rights.

Last year in its proposal the council said: “The new framework seeks to establish simpler and clearer rules for air passengers, while striking a better balance between a high level of protection for passengers and preserving connectivity and a level playing field for the aviation sector within the EU’s internal market.”

A key part of the council’s framework was that compensation only applies for delays of over four hours, depending on the flight distance, instead of the current three-hour threshold.

Ministers also want to set compensation between €300 and €500, while MEPs, who are against any decrease, voted for it to be set at €300 and €600.

Additionally, parliament wants to renew the list of extraordinary circumstances that would allow airlines to waive their responsibility to pay compensation.

With the responsibility of airlines limited to situations within their control, MEPs want the extraordinary circumstances list to be exhaustive and for it to be updated regularly.

“Parliament is ready to continue the fight for clearer and more predictable rules for airlines and a stronger aviation sector, but not at the expense of passengers. Our baseline is clear: we are determined to improve rather than dilute air passenger rights. We insist that reducing delays has significant overall benefits for Europe’s economy,” said Rapporteur Andrey Novakov.

He added: “Therefore, the three-hour threshold for compensation, the existing compensation levels, pre-filled forms and enforceable safeguards remain our red lines.”

Other requests MEPs voted in favor of:

• A pre-filled form for compensation and reimbursement from airlines.
• Passengers should be allowed one personal item plus one small piece of hand luggage for free.
• Adults accompanying under-14 children and travelers accompanying persons with reduced mobility should be allowed to sit with them at no extra cost.

Novakov said parliament wanted EU transport ministers to “reconsider their position” so a “mutually acceptable outcome” can be reached.

Under the second reading procedure, parliament’s position will be sent to the council. If the council does not accept all of parliament’s amendments, a so-called “Conciliation Committee” will be convened to find an agreement on the final shape of the bill.

The carrier will begin operating three weekly Boeing 787-9 services from Beijing to Helsinki  starting March 29, 2026, with departures scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. By June 20, 2026, the frequency will increase to daily rotations as demand builds through the summer travel season.

Flight CZ609 will depart Beijing at 14:20 local time, arriving in Helsinki at 18:35 local time. The return service leaves Helsinki at 20:35 local time, touching down in Beijing the following morning.

Flight time runs just over nine hours, making it one of the more efficient connections between northern China and Scandinavia.

Daxing’s first European gateway

The route marks a significant milestone for Beijing Daxing.The mega-airport opened in 2019 but has since struggled to attract long-haul international traffic. According to Finnish airport operator Finavia, Helsinki is Daxing’s first nonstop destination in Northern Europe and its inaugural direct link to any European city.

China Southern serves as the anchor tenant at Daxing and has been gradually expanding the airport’s international footprint. The carrier already connects Daxing to Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Rome, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, and Istanbul, but the Helsinki addition fills a geographic gap in its European network.

“We are pleased to see this highly demanded Beijing route reopened after a five-year break,” said Petri Vuori, Senior Vice President for route development at Finavia. “This flight will mark the first time China Southern Airlines is operating to Helsinki Airport and to the Nordics.”

Filling a connectivity void

The timing of the route launch reflects broader shifts in Nordic-Asian aviation. Finnair, traditionally the dominant player on Finland-China routes, drastically reduced its mainland China network after suspending services in March 2020. The Finnish flag carrier currently operates just two weekly winter flights to Shanghai, a fraction of its pre-pandemic schedule, largely due to routing challenges caused by closed Russian airspace.

This has left Helsinki with limited options for travelers heading to northern and central China. Juneyao Airlines currently offers flights to Shanghai and Zhengzhou, but China Southern’s entry provides the only direct access to Beijing from the Finnish capital.

For passengers, the new service opens extensive connectivity in both directions. From Beijing Daxing, travelers can connect to dozens of domestic Chinese cities as well as regional hubs across Asia, including Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Dhaka. Helsinki, meanwhile, serves as a compact transfer point for onward connections throughout Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Western Europe.

Commercial and cargo implications

Beyond tourism, the route is expected to benefit Finland’s export-oriented economy. The country’s technology, forestry, and clean-energy sectors rely heavily on air cargo for time-sensitive shipments to Asia, and direct service to Beijing provides same-day access to northern China’s industrial heartland.

China Southern’s widebody 787-9 offers belly-hold cargo capacity that could prove valuable for Finnish exporters looking to bypass congested European hubs. The aircraft typically seats around 290 passengers in a three-class configuration and can carry up to 15 tons of cargo, depending on fuel load and route requirements.

The resumption also signals growing confidence in travel demand between the two countries. Chinese leisure travelers have historically shown strong interest in Lapland’s winter tourism offerings, while business traffic flows in both directions as Finnish companies maintain operations in China and Chinese firms invest in Nordic clean technology.

On January 21, 2026, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines began warning customers of potential problems with their flights and offered alternative travel arrangements.

The Weather Channel said over 180 million Americans from Texas to New England will be targeted by “widespread snow and a potentially damaging ice storm”.

The storm has been named Winter Storm Fern and is expected to begin arriving on January 23, 2026, and continue to cause disruptions until January 26, 2026.

American Airlines said it was “closely monitoring Winter Storm Fern and its potential impact on travel in the coming days”.

Winter Storm Update

Here's the latest on the impending winter storm set to begin across the south-central U.S. on Friday. Confidence continues to increase for damaging ice accumulations across parts of the South. Preparations should be completed as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/hv4NeUhM1V

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 22, 2026

Passengers were directed to the carrier’s travel alerts webpage where it offered many customers the option to alter their trip with no change fee.

Passengers were advised they could change their flight if they were traveling to, through or from over 30 airports.

Similarly, Delta said it was “monitoring winter weather expected to impact travel over the next several days across Texas, the Southeast, including Delta’s Atlanta hub, and into the Northeast”.

Delta was offering customers traveling to, from, or through over 40 impacted cities the option to adjust any existing plans with no fees.

“The safety of our customers and our people remains our top priority and we will continue to monitor forecasts to determine necessary schedule adjustments,” said a spokesperson for Delta.

United Airlines and Alaska Airlines also updated their websites with information relating to Storm Fern, again offering customers across the US the chance to rearrange their flight with no adjustment fee.

The Weather Channel advised that the US has the “perfect setup expected this weekend, which is why models are leaning toward widespread winter weather”.

“There are two main factors that will contribute to the setup. The first is an arctic high that will set up shop over the Great Lakes near the end of the week, which will bring cold air to much of the South. We also have a storm system that began in the Southwest, heading east. Moisture lifting north ahead of the disturbance will cause the rainfall across the South that is expected this week,” said The Weather Channel.

It added: “With the arctic high pumping in cold air, temperatures will plummet, creating conditions that could be just right for winter weather.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the weather will become “nasty” on January 24, 2026, and “turn into a full-blown ice storm” in parts of the country on January 25, 2026.

Bryan Foong Chee Yeong will take over as Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business, while Low Wen Long assumes the role of Group Chief Strategy Officer, both effective February 1, 2026.  The appointments come as the aviation group enters what leadership describes as a new phase focused on “scaled and disciplined growth” following years of pandemic-era restructuring.

Both executives will report directly to Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, who becomes President and Group CEO on the same date.

Strategic reshuffling

In his new role, Foong will oversee the performance and direction of MAG’s airline portfolio, which includes flagship carrier Malaysia Airlines along with regional operators Firefly and Amal. He moves up from his current position as Group Chief Strategy Officer, where he helped guide the company through financial restructuring during the COVID-19 crisis and its subsequent return to profitability.

Low, who has served as Head of Corporate Strategy since 2018, will now lead enterprise-wide strategic planning across all business units. During his tenure, he’s been involved in shaping the group’s transformation roadmap under its second and third long-term business plans, with particular focus on fleet planning and network optimization.

“As MAG enters the next stage of its transformation, marking a shift from stabilization to scaled and disciplined growth, we are guided by a clear responsibility to build a financially sustainable and globally competitive aviation group,” Captain Nasaruddin said in a statement announcing the changes.

Broader leadership team

MAG said that the reshuffling is part of a wider executive realignment at the aviation group. Foong and Low join an existing leadership structure that includes Mohd Nadziruddin Mohd Basri as Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Services and Philip See leading Loyalty & Travel Services.

Recent additions to the team include Amran Mohd Tomin as Group Chief People Officer and Ong Min Hui as Group Chief Transformation and Customer Experience Officer.

The appointments signal MAG’s intention to strengthen coordination across its three core business areas as it works to execute what it calls Long-Term Business Plan 3.0, aimed at driving growth while maintaining financial stability.

In results released on January 20, 2026, United reported fourth-quarter revenue of $15.4 billion, the highest quarterly total in company history. The airline said it earned $3.19 per share in the quarter, or $3.10 per share on an adjusted basis. For the full year, United posted diluted earnings per share of $10.20, up 8% from 2024, and adjusted earnings per share of $10.62. 

CEO Scott Kirby credited “brand-loyal customers” choosing United, pointing to growth in higher-yield parts of the business. United said premium revenue rose 9% in the fourth quarter and 11% for the full year. Loyalty revenue, which includes sales tied to MileagePlus and co-branded credit card activity, increased 10% in the quarter and 9% for the year. Basic Economy also grew, up 7% in the quarter and 5% for the full year. 

United said it flew a record 181 million passengers in 2025, ranked No. 2 in on-time departures for the year, and posted its lowest seat cancellation rate in company history. United Express went 134 days without a single cancellation, the airline said, and its “Connection Saver” tool helped prevent more than one million missed connections during the year. 

Still, United acknowledged a major headwind in the fourth quarter: the federal government shutdown. The carrier said it took a roughly $250 million hit to pre-tax earnings, even as it offered full refunds to customers, including some whose flights were not canceled. United said that approach helped lift customer satisfaction, with November posting its highest-ever monthly customer satisfaction score. 

Looking ahead, United said it expects adjusted earnings per share of $12 to $14 in 2026, with adjusted capital spending below $8 billion. The airline plans to take delivery of more than 100 narrowbody jets and about 20 Boeing 787s this year, a widebody intake it said would be the largest by any US passenger airline since 1988. United also plans major airport upgrades at its Washington Dulles and Houston hubs. 

On the product side, United said Starlink Wi-Fi is now installed on nearly all of its dual-cabin United Express fleet, covering more than 300 aircraft, with completion expected later this month. Installations have also begun on mainline jets, and the carrier expects that pace to accelerate during 2026. 
 
For the full year 2025, United said total operating revenue rose 3.5% from 2024 to $59.1 billion, the highest annual revenue in the company’s history. 

On January 21, 2026, Riyadh Air described the new freighter service as a “core pillar of its commercial operations” as it looks to establish the Saudi Arabian capital as a “strategic global logistics hub”.

“The launch of the brand reflects a deliberate, phased approach to building a scalable and integrated cargo business, anchored at the airline’s Riyadh hub, and designed to grow in step with network expansion and operational maturity,” said a spokesperson for Riyadh Air.

According to the carrier, Riyadh Cargo has demonstrated operational momentum on the Riyadh to London-Heathrow (LHR) route, successfully transporting substantial cargo volumes across a wide spectrum of commodities.

“Riyadh Cargo has been built with a clear focus on operational discipline, reliability, and long-term scalability. Launching within a live environment allows us to test, learn, and continuously refine how we operate, while delivering real value to our customers from the get-go,” said Pravin Singh, Global Head of Cargo at Riyadh Air.

نفخر بالإعلان عن إطلاق "الرياض للشحن" في خطوة تمثل دخولنا رسميًا إلى سوق الشحن الجوي العالمي
وذلك ضمن نهج تدريجي ومدروس لبناء أعمال شحن متكاملة وقابلة للتوسع، مدعومة بأسطولنا عريض البدن، انطلاقًا من مركزنا الرئيسي في الرياض.

— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) January 21, 2026

He added: “The launch of the brand is a foundational step in building a cargo business that grows alongside our network expansion and supports Saudi Arabia’s broader logistics ambitions.”

As part of its plans to launch cargo operations, Riyadh Air has partnered with CHAMPS’s Cargo spot-neo, a next-gen cargo end-to-end platform.

“The digital management system enables greater operational control, enhanced data visibility, and more responsive decision-making, supporting service reliability as volumes and network complexity expand,” said the airline spokesperson.

On the ground, cargo handling and hub management are delivered in partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia Company.

Services are provided at key airports across Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam, and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah.

The carrier received its first A350-900 in March 2025, and currently operates four aircraft of this type, with two more expected to be delivered in the near future. 

These aircraft are relatively new and were previously operated by LATAM Airlines, which decided to dispose of its entire A350 fleet in 2021 and make the B787 its long-haul workhorse. Edelweiss temporarily kept the original cabin configuration with 30 Business and 309 Economy class seats. 

The new cabin interiors are part of a total revamp program, with the slogan “More room to feel good” and will cover all cabin classes.  

The Swiss carrier has opted for a more minimalist design, with a reduced color palette, the use of different shades of blue throughout the cabin, and simpler and cleaner lines. The goal is to induce a feeling of calm and relaxation onboard while also conveying a sense of sophistication. 

Edelweiss also aims to deliver a more premium experience overall, with seats on all service classes getting three more centimeters of space. The Swiss carrier will also introduce a Premium Economy section with 28 ZIMPrivacy hard-shell seats. 

The Business class cabin will also see enhancement through the introduction of new lie-flat Thompson Vantage XL+ seats with direct aisle access. Half of these seats will be double, designed specifically for couples traveling together. Additionally, some seats in Business class will be Business Suites, designed for extra privacy, featuring more space and fitted with privacy doors. 

All seats will be fitted with in-seat power outlets (with USB-C and USB-A ports), 4K seatback screens with Bluetooth audio connectivity, and access to the airline’s inflight entertainment (IFE) system featuring over 400 films and series, 3D flight maps, and external cameras.  

Like all other airlines within the Lufthansa Group, Edelweiss Air aircraft will also soon be fitted with high-speed internet access provided by SpaceX’s Starlink. This new service will be offered for free to registered users. 

Edelweiss Air expects the first retrofitted aircraft to enter service by December 2026, with the rest of its A350 fleet undergoing cabin conversion in the subsequent months, through to July 2027.

Dallas Pokornik, 33, from Toronto was indicted on October 2, 2025, for wire fraud and appeared in court on January 20, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty.

Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii said in a Department of Justice (DOJ) statement that the 33-year-old man was arrested in Panama, Cuba, and extradited to the US

Court documents alleged that Pokornik “falsely claimed he was an airline pilot and presented a fictitious employee identification card to obtain hundreds of flights at no cost on three different airlines”.

While the three airlines were not identified, the indictment said they were based in Honolulu, Chicago and Fort Worth, according to the Associated Press.

“During the fraudulent scheme, Pokornik requested a jump seat in the cockpit of the aircraft, even though Pokornik was not a pilot and did not have an airman’s certificate,” said the Department of Justice statement.

If convicted, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.

Court documents revealed that between 2017 and 2019, Pokornik worked as a flight attendant for a Toronto-based carrier.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the US Marshals Service. Pokornik will remain in custody until trial.

The new carrier is a brand of another Alaskan regional carrier, Aleutian Airways, which, started, in turn, started as a joint venture between Alaska Seaplanes and Sterling Airways, a subsidiary of investment firm Wexford Capital. Alaska Seaplanes, which exited the business three years later, was originally handling distribution, while the flying is conducted by Sterling Airways.

The latter, which is a Part 121 certified operator based in Jacksonville, Florida, remains fully involved in the business. In fact, all three airline brands, Aleutian Airways, Argentum Airways and Sterling Airways share the same Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wayne Heller, who is also a Senior VP of Wexford Capital and has previously acted as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Republic Airways. 

This investment firm’s foray into the airline business began with its purchase of Florida-based ViaAir, a small regional operator, in 2020. The airline went out of business in 2019 and the carrier was subsequently rebranded as Sterling Airways.  

The company entered the Alaska regional market in 2022 by the hand of Alaska Seaplanes with the launch of Aleutian Airways. This carrier focuses on providing connectivity throughout the Aleutian island chain, which stretches nearly 2,000km into the Pacific Ocean to the southwest of the Alaskan mainland. It operates a fleet of leased Saab 2000 turboprops.  

While Aleutian Airways filled a gap left by the bankruptcy of local operator PenAir in 2020, Sterling Airways aims to target a broader market across the Arctic state with the launch of the new Argentum Airways brand.  

Alaska is reliant on air travel to ensure the mobility of its residents across its vast mountainous terrain. However, Alaska’s largest regional airline, Ravn declared bankruptcy twice in the span of the last five years, opening opportunities for new operators. 

Wexford Capital purchased some of the assets belonging to Silver Airways, a now defunct regional carrier based in Florida. Silver Airways ceased operations in the summer of 2025, but one of its ATR72-600 aircraft was secured by Wexford in order to launch its new Alaskan brand. The name of the new airline “Argentum”, which is Latin for “silver”, may be a reference to this link. 

AeroTime has reached out to Aleutian Airways for additional comment on the airlines’ further plans. 

The Dubai-based carrier said it is developing new menu concepts that emphasize legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables rather than engineered meat replacements. The new dishes are expected to debut onboard in 2027.

With half a million vegan meals ordered onboard last year, this Veganuary – we are evolving our vegan cuisine philosophy and move towards a celebration of minimally processed, whole plant foods – highlighting real ingredients, authentic flavours and global culinary traditions.… pic.twitter.com/hpUAwtx5V5

— Emirates (@emirates) January 20, 2026

From substitutes to celebration

Doxis Bekris, Emirates Vice President of Food & Beverage Design, outlined the philosophical shift behind the change.

“Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate,” Bekris said. “These ingredients offer natural depth of flavor, texture, and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives. Instead of replicating meat, we want to draw from cuisines that have always been plant-forward like Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews.”

The airline said the approach aligns with growing consumer preferences for minimally processed foods and transparency about ingredients.

“It’s about transparency for our customers who want to know what they’re eating, as well as have confidence that it’s good for them and the planet,” Bekris said. “We want to shift from substitutes to a celebration of plants, where it’s not about what’s missing but instead what is gained in authenticity, flavor, and creativity.”

Current vegan offerings

Emirates currently serves approximately half a million vegan meals annually across its network of 140 destinations. The airline has 488 vegan recipes in rotation, representing a 60% increase from 2024.

London ranks as the top destination for vegan meal orders, followed by Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, Frankfurt, Manchester, Mumbai, Bali, and Singapore. According to Emirates, some of the demand comes from non-vegan passengers who opt for plant-based options as lighter, easier-to-digest alternatives during flights.

Passengers can request vegan meals up to 24 hours before departure across all classes of travel. On high-demand routes, plant-based options are also included as part of standard menu selections.

Farm-to-cabin sourcing

Emirates incorporates fresh produce from Bustanica, described as the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. The facility, which is a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering, supplies pesticide-free and chemical-free leafy greens including lettuce, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach directly to the airline’s catering operations.

Current vegan menu items vary by cabin class. Economy passengers can choose dishes such as pumpkin frittata with sautéed mushrooms or spinach cannelloni with tomato basil sauce. Premium Economy offers options like kimchi fried rice with roasted pumpkin and oyster mushrooms.

Business Class features dishes including braised mushrooms with vegetables in five-spice soy sauce served with jasmine rice, while First Class passengers can select items like pumpkin and barley risotto with caramelized walnuts or quinoa salad with grilled vegetables.

Lounge options

Emirates’ seven lounges at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 also offer vegan selections. The most popular vegan dish in the lounges is the Emirates Green Burger, made with soy and flax seeds with signature sauce and pickled cucumbers.

The shift toward whole-food plant-based cuisine reflects broader industry trends as airlines balance sustainability goals with passenger expectations for healthier, transparent food options during air travel.

Although disclosed on January 20, 2026, this order was reportedly finalized in December 2025, shortly after the Dubai Airshow. 

During that air show, Ethiopian Airlines also firmed an order for 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and secured eight Airbus A350s, six directly from the European aircraft manufacturer and two more through an agreement with leasing firm Novus Aviation Capital. 

This is a follow up order for the African carrier, which had previously ordered 11 787s and 20 737 MAX from Boeing (plus 15 and 21 options, respectively) at the 2023 Dubai Airshow.  

It is not clear whether Ethiopian Airlines is exercising any of these options with the nine-aircraft order announced today. 

In a press release announcing the order, Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, stated that the airline “will continue to acquire more aircraft and adopt the latest technologies as part of our strategic vision to advance sustainable aviation.” 

As of January 2026, Ethiopian Airlines already operates the largest Dreamliner fleet in Africa, with 30 aircraft (20 of which of the –8 version and 10 of the –9 version). The carrier’s widebody fleet is supplemented by 11 B777s and 25 A350s of different versions. 

This decision comes less than two years after the operator wound down its short-lived scheduled seaplane service linking downtown New York to Boston and Washington DC. Since 2024, Tailwind Air had focused on operating on-demand charter services with a small fleet of executive aircraft. 

Tailwind Air also had ambitious plans in the electric aircraft space, and, in 2021, it partnered with Airflow, a startup developing an electric regional aircraft which was later acquired by Electra.aero, in order to potentially electrify amphibious air services along the East Coast of the United States. 

However, this small operator seems to have been unable to raise enough funds to sustain this operation. According to media reports, the airline’s liabilities are estimated to be between $5 and 10 million.  

In December 2024, and following its withdrawal from the scheduled services market, Tailwind Air saw its Commuter Air Carrier Authorization revoked. In the months that followed, the airline also disposed of its entire jet fleet, which included one Cessna Citation CJ3 and several models of the Dassault Falcon jet family. 

The future steps for Tailwind Air are currently unclear, and it is not known if the carrier will be able to successfully restructure. 

AeroTime has contacted Tailwind Air for comment.

The plan also includes domestic route adjustments and the integration of recently acquired Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) into the group’s operations.

The Tokyo-based carrier revealed its FY2026 flight schedule on January 19, 2026, outlining expansion across passenger and cargo operations as it integrates Nippon Cargo Airlines into its network.

International expansion and new aircraft

ANA said that its international flight frequency will reach 105% of the 2025 capacity. The expansion includes converting the Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)-Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) route to daily service during the second half of the fiscal year and reintroducing seasonal service between Narita and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) from June through August 2026.

The airline will begin taking delivery of Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with new cabin interiors in August 2026. The aircraft will feature ANA’s latest Business Class product, “THE Room FX,” along with redesigned Premium Economy and Economy Class seats. The airline has not yet disclosed which routes will receive the new aircraft.

ANA’s low-cost subsidiary Peach will increase total flight frequency to 112% of the previous year, with seasonal adjustments on routes to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE), and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) from its Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) hub.

Domestic network adjustments

On the domestic front, ANA said it will operate at 98% of previous year capacity, implementing frequency reductions or suspensions on select routes based on demand trends and competitive conditions.

Notable changes include reducing its Haneda-Fukuoka Airport (FUK) service from 20 to 19 daily roundtrips and cutting Osaka Itami Airport (ITM)-Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) from six to five daily roundtrips. ANA will suspend service on routes including Kansai-Sapporo, Kansai-Okinawa, and Kansai-Miyako, though the airline indicated some routes will operate on select dates.

The carrier will add temporary service on routes including Nagoya Chubu to Asahikawa and Memanbetsu during the summer months from July through October.

Peach will increase domestic capacity on key leisure routes, including Kansai-Sapporo, Kansai-Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA), and Narita-Sapporo, while introducing limited seasonal service to Kushiro Airport (KUH) and Memanbetsu Airport (MMB) from Kansai.

New Boeing 737-8 aircraft will join the domestic fleet in June 2026.

Cargo network reorganization

ANA Group is restructuring its cargo operations following the integration of Nippon Cargo Airlines, positioning itself as what it describes as Japan’s largest combination carrier.

The reorganization assigns ANA-operated freighters to Asian routes using medium-sized Boeing 767 freighters, while NCA-operated flights will focus on North America and Europe using larger Boeing 777 and 747 freighters.

Starting March 29, 2026, ANA will increase freighter frequency on the Narita-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) route. NCA will add a combined five weekly roundtrips across its Narita-Chicago O Hare Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) routes.

The cargo expansion includes adjustments to routes serving Hong Kong, Shanghai, and several Chinese cities, with some frequencies still to be determined. European freighter service will continue operating via Amsterdam to Milan and Frankfurt.

ANA’s current fleet stands at 82 aircraft across its ANA, Peach, and AirJapan brands. The airline group was recognized as Asia Pacific’s Most On-Time Airline for 2025 and has maintained SKYTRAX’s 5-Star rating for 13 consecutive years.

All route changes and frequency adjustments are subject to regulatory approval. The airline indicated that specific implementation dates for some routes will be announced separately as preparations are completed.

The upgrades will affect Network Aviation, QantasLink’s wholly owned Perth-based subsidiary, which operates over 600 flights per week to more than 25 destinations across regional Western Australia, serving both local communities and the resources sector.

Cabin modifications and Wi-Fi installation

According to the airline, all 28 Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft in Network Aviation’s fleet will be equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to access the Qantas Entertainment App for movies and television content on personal devices.

The A320 aircraft will also receive new seats featuring USB A and C charging ports and device holders. The first refurbished aircraft is scheduled to enter service later this year, with the full cabin and Wi-Fi program expected to be completed in early 2027.

Fokker 100 replacement program

QantasLink has secured three mid-life Embraer E190 jets, which are expected to arrive by the end of 2026. The aircraft will begin gradually replacing Network Aviation’s Fokker 100 fleet, which has been in service for more than three decades.

The airline plans to acquire up to 14 E190s in total. According to QantasLink, the new aircraft will provide improved fuel efficiency and reliability compared to the Fokkers they are replacing.

The transition is being managed in phases, with F100s being retired as Network Aviation receives A320s from Jetstar Asia and takes delivery of the new E190s.

Network Aviation operations

Network Aviation operates flights to destinations including Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart, Christmas Island, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, in addition to more than 25 destinations across regional Western Australia. 

The airline’s current fleet exceeds 35 aircraft, including Fokker 100s, Airbus A319s, and Airbus A320s.

The subsidiary provides both high-capacity charter services and regular passenger transport, primarily serving Western Australia’s resources industry and regional communities.

Broader Qantas Group fleet program

The Western Australia fleet improvements are part of the Qantas Group’s larger fleet renewal initiative, which includes firm orders for more than 200 new aircraft and cabin refurbishments of Qantas’ Boeing 737 and A330 aircraft.

QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra said the investment reflects the airline’s commitment to Western Australia operations.

“This multi-million-dollar investment reinforces our long-term commitment to serving the critical resources sector in Western Australia and connecting regional communities across the state,” Dal Pra said. “Not only will it significantly enhance the travel experience for our customers, it will also help us improve reliability and efficiency across our WA network.”

Dal Pra noted that the investment builds on Qantas’ development of Perth as a Western hub, including recent investments in training facilities, infrastructure upgrades at Perth Airport, and the launch of routes to destinations including Newcastle, Hobart, Johannesburg, and Auckland.

The timeline for the Fokker 100 phase-out and the arrival of all 14 planned E190s has not been disclosed.

O’Leary told Reuters that Ryanair would not adopt Starlink, citing the cost and aerodynamic drag associated with the required antennas. He said the added drag would increase fuel burn and could cost the airline between $200 million and $250 million annually, which he translated to roughly an extra dollar per passenger. 

The Ryanair chief also questioned passenger demand, noting that the airline’s average flight lasts about an hour. In his view, few customers would be willing to pay for onboard connectivity on such short routes, making the economics unworkable for an ultra-low-cost carrier. 

Musk quickly responded on X, the social media platform he owns, warning that Ryanair risked losing customers to airlines that do offer reliable onboard internet. O’Leary fired back in a radio interview with Ireland’s Newstalk, dismissing Musk’s aviation expertise and escalating the tone of the exchange. 

“What Elon Musk knows about flight and drag would be zero,” O’Leary said. “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk. He’s an idiot. Very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot.” 

Musk responded with a post of his own, writing: “Ryanair CEO is an utter idiot. Fire him.” 

The exchange did not stop there. After an outage affected X, Ryanair’s official account mocked Musk with a post suggesting the platform needed better connectivity. Musk replied by floating the idea of buying the airline outright and appointing someone named “Ryan” to run it.

The clash comes as Starlink gains momentum across commercial aviation. Several major airlines have announced plans to equip their fleets with the satellite-based system, attracted by its higher speeds and lower latency compared with traditional inflight connectivity. Operators moving ahead with Starlink include United Airlines, Lufthansa Group, Qatar Airways, and Air France. 

Supporters of Starlink argue that newer antenna designs minimize aerodynamic penalties and that passenger expectations around connectivity continue to rise. Ryanair, however, has long resisted optional features that add cost without a clear revenue upside, instead focusing on low fares and high aircraft utilization. 

The incident occurred on January 15, 2026, as Flight TK1853 was approaching Barcelona-El Prat Airport following a scheduled flight from Istanbul. According to airline officials, the hotspot name was detected onboard, prompting the flight crew to treat the message as a potential bomb threat. 

As a precaution, the aircraft was diverted and escorted to a designated area of the airport upon landing. Spanish security forces conducted a full inspection of the aircraft, passenger cabin, and baggage. No explosives or suspicious items were found. 

The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321 carrying 148 passengers and seven crew members. All passengers disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported. 

Turkish Airlines said the emergency procedures followed standard security protocols and were carried out in coordination with Spanish authorities. Yahya Üstün, the airline’s senior vice president of communications, said security teams completed their checks and confirmed there was no threat to the aircraft or passengers. 

Authorities are now working to identify the passenger responsible for creating the hotspot. Turkish Airlines said legal action would follow once the individual is identified, noting that false security threats can carry serious legal consequences under Spanish law. 

The incident briefly disrupted operations at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, but officials said normal activity resumed shortly after the inspection was completed. 

While the threat turned out to be a hoax, any reference to explosives, regardless of how it is delivered, are usually treated by crew and authorities as credible until proven otherwise. Airlines are required to respond immediately to potential threats, including those originating from electronic devices. 

The case also highlights how personal technology can unintentionally or deliberately trigger major security responses. In recent years, airlines and regulators have warned passengers that jokes or pranks involving bombs, weapons, or threats can lead to diversions, arrests, and prosecution. 

Additionally, in its ruling on January 17, 2026, the Indian regulator also cautioned the airline’s CEO Pieter Elbers and issued warnings to its COO, the Senior VP responsible for the airline’s Operations Control Center (OCC), who will have to leave his post, as well as a number of other senior managers involved in the December operational meltdown. 

IndiGo has also been required to deposit 500 million rupees (US$6 million) with the DGCA to set up the so-called “IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme” (ISRAS). This amount will be progressively returned to the airline as IndiGo rolls out a number of measures to ensure its future operational resilience and minimize the risk of another similar general disruption episode taking place. 

The four-member DGCA committee investigating the case blamed IndiGo for having attempted to overoptimize its schedules and not having set up adequate operational buffers between crew and aircraft rotations. The DGCA also identified shortcomings in the amount of human and technological resources dedicated to guaranteeing the airline’s preparedness to fulfill its winter schedule.  

Over 300,000 of the airline’s passengers were left stranded at airports across India over several days in early December 2025 after IndiGo unexpectedly cancelled more than 1,500 of its flights.  

The reason for these bulk cancellations was reportedly a failure to adapt the carrier’s schedules to new Flight Duty Time limitations (FDTL) introduced by the DGCA which grounded aircraft throughout its entire domestic network. 

As an additional measure, the DGCA has dictated that, in addition to any refunds and regular compensation that affected passengers may be entitled to, IndiGo must also compensate those customers that suffered delays longer than three hours with a 10,000 Rupee voucher (US$100 approximately) valid for a period of 12 months. 

In its ruling, the DGCA also acknowledged that when the episode of disruption occurred IndiGo’s reaction was swift and the carrier managed to mitigate and redress the situation in a relatively short period of time. 

After the DGCA ruling was made public, IndiGo’s management issued a statement acknowledging that it had been received and committing to its implementation. The airline also stated that an internal review is underway in order to correct any deficiencies in its processes and strengthen its operational robustness. 

Footage taken by an eyewitness on January 18, 2026, showed the United Airlines flight coming into land and seemingly conducting a standard landing.

However, the rear left wheels appeared to bounce back up off the runway, forcing the weight onto the front of the aircraft.

Before the video cuts off, the nose wheel can clearly be seen detaching from the Airbus A321neo and rolling away from the aircraft at speed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently issued a ground stop shortly before 19:00 and a ground delay program at around 19:50.

MCO today, “can see what looks like a nose wheel roll off the gear and exit to the right “ pic.twitter.com/jjb0ofWY5c

— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) January 18, 2026

The two-year-old Airbus A321neo, registered N14502, left Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at 09:15 and arrived in Florida at 12:55.

In a statement, United Airlines said there were 200 passengers and six crew members onboard the flight, but no one was injured during the incident.

“United flight 2323 from Chicago to Orlando experienced a mechanical issue upon landing. Passengers are being bused to the terminal, and our team is working to remove the aircraft from the runway,” said a spokesperson for United Airlines, according to local news station FOX 25.

It is thought that the weather conditions at the time of the incident were difficult. Strong winds and rain were forecast for parts of Florida around the time of the landing.

Orlando Airport also issued a statement in which a spokesperson said: “United Airlines flight 2323 arriving from Chicago experienced an issue upon landing. There are no reported injuries. AARF is on the scene as passengers disembark the plane to take buses to the terminal.”

On January 17, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines said that 457 aviation professionals from 12 countries came together to celebrate their achievements and take the next step in their careers.

During the graduation ceremony, 58 pilots, 115 aircraft maintenance technicians, and 284 cabin crew members were recognized by Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew.

The graduating class comprised of trainees from Ethiopia, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Italy, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen.

“Ethiopian Aviation University has been the backbone of Ethiopian Airlines’ success for decades, training the skilled professionals behind the airline’s operations. By training aviation professionals from around the world, we proudly share our expertise and contribute to the growth of the global aviation industry,” said Tasew.

Ethiopian Aviation University graduates 457 aviation professionals from 12 countries. The graduates comprised of 58 pilots, 115 aircraft maintenance technicians, and 284 cabin crew. The graduation ceremony was held at the university campus, attended by Ethiopian Airlines Group… pic.twitter.com/9vcDvPD0ow

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) January 17, 2026

He added: “These graduates are tomorrow’s industry leaders, and we are honored to shape the future of aviation through the world-class aviators and specialists we train.”

Ethiopian Aviation University has been expanding its educational system providing a variety of higher education training programs, including short-term and medium-term training, as well as undergraduate and graduate programs.

According to Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Aviation University is the largest aviation center of excellence in Africa and is recognized as by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a Regional Training Center of Excellence.

On January 18, 2026, Saudia introduced the aircraft featuring a “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia” design, in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered HZ-ARF, livery includes the face of a smiling young boy and an Arabic decorative pattern using a variety of bold colors.

The tail and engines are also painted deep purple as is the writing that spells out “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia”.

“Our partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority is a strong example of how alignment around shared national objectives can drive real impact. The continued growth in visitor numbers reflects the success of our joint efforts to position Saudi Arabia as a leading global tourism destination,” said Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group.

Taking our heritage and #VisitSaudi to global horizons https://t.co/8qgmYgCqsI

— Visit Saudi (@VisitSaudi) January 18, 2026

He added: “This progress is supported by sustained investment in aviation infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and the creation of meaningful travel experiences that reflect the Kingdom’s rich identity and meet the highest international standards.”

The Boeing B787-9 aircraft featuring the new livery will operate across Saudia’s international network, carrying welcoming messages as part of an integrated year-round promotional campaign that highlights the Kingdom’s growing tourism momentum.

“We invite travelers to experience flying onboard this aircraft, capture memorable photos, and share them across social media platforms, becoming part of the Spirit of Saudi Arabia story and helping share Saudi welcoming messages with the world,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO Of the Saudi Tourism Authority.

The strategic partnership between Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority encompasses a broad range of initiatives, including attracting international tourists, bolstering air connectivity, and providing additional flights to meet increasing demand.

The completion of this transaction consolidates all AirAsia-branded airlines under a single airline platform, AirAsia Group, while Capital A pivots to grow its non-aviation portfolio.

On January 18, 2026, the CEO of Capital A, Tony Fernandes, described the conclusion of the process as “one of the most emotional moments” of his career.

“We are finally closing the most challenging chapter in our history. This represents the culmination of one of the most complex and rigorous restructuring exercises undertaken by an aviation group, since Covid brought aviation to a standstill six years ago,” said Fernandes.

He added: “Giving up was not an option, and we chose to rebuild the right way, step by step, approval by approval, and never taking ‘no’ for an answer. Now, the aviation disposal is finally complete.”

The transaction was settled via the allotment and issuance of 2,307,692,307 new ordinary shares in AirAsia X to Capital A and its entitled shareholders, together with Air Asia X’s assumption of $936 million (RM3.8 billion) previously owed by Capital A to AirAsia Berhad.

Concurrently, Air Asia X also allotted and issued 606,060,606 placement shares to investors. The consideration shares and the placement shares are scheduled to be listed and quoted on Bursa Malaysia on January 19, 2026.

“AirAsia will become one consolidated airline group to deliver better connections and value to our guests. At Capital A, our ecosystem – ADE, Teleport, AirAsia MOVE, AirAsia Next and Santan, will sharpen their strategic focus and accelerate growth, while ensuring long-term sustainability and value creation for our shareholders. I am excited for our next journey,” added Fernandes.

The consolidation is set to unlock operational and financial efficiencies, including improved fleet utilization, more integrated network planning and a more resilient operating platform. The group is also finalizing additional aircraft orders to increase its reach.

“This milestone marks a defining moment for the Group. With the consolidation now complete, we have established a stronger, more streamlined aviation platform that is well-positioned for sustainable growth, operational excellence and long-term value creation for all stakeholders,” said Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, AirAsia X Chairman.

The agreement was signed in Mumbai on January 16, 2026, by Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson and Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong. Any expanded cooperation remains subject to regulatory approvals and the signing of definitive agreements. 

Under the framework, the airlines plan to explore closer coordination of flight schedules, expanded codesharing, and enhanced product and service offerings. The goal is to provide passengers with more seamless connections, additional route options, and the ability to book travel across both airlines as a single unified journey. 
 
The agreement follows Pakistan’s April 2025 airspace ban, which forced Air India to suspend or reroute some US-bound services due to longer flight times and higher costs. Deeper cooperation with Singapore Airlines could help Air India preserve connectivity by offering alternative routings through Singapore while reducing duplication between the two networks. 

The carriers are also examining deeper collaboration in corporate travel programs, which could improve offerings for business travelers. In addition, Air India and Singapore Airlines said they will study ways to enhance frequent flyer benefits beyond existing Star Alliance reciprocity for members of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programs. 

The agreement could eventually extend beyond routes between India and Singapore. The airlines said they plan to explore cooperation in select additional markets, subject to regulatory approval, to support growing demand for global connectivity and to strengthen traffic flows through both carriers’ hubs. 

Air India and Singapore Airlines already maintain a substantial codeshare relationship. The airlines currently codeshare on 61 destinations across 20 countries and territories, following an expansion in October 2024 that added 51 international and domestic destinations to their combined networks. 

For Air India, the agreement aligns with the carrier’s broader transformation strategy under Tata Group ownership, which includes fleet renewal, network expansion, and upgraded onboard and ground services. The airline has been steadily rebuilding its international presence, including the introduction of new long-haul aircraft and refreshed cabins. 

“Air India remains committed to expanding its global footprint, both by adding new aircraft to our own fleet and by forging stronger commercial partnerships,” Wilson said in a statement. He described the framework agreement as a structured platform for defining future areas of closer collaboration and creating long-term value for customers. 

Goh said the agreement represents a natural evolution of the airlines’ existing relationship. He added that the partnership would strengthen connectivity between Singapore and India while supporting air travel, tourism, and economic ties between the two countries.

According to the airline, the aircraft encountered a “foreign object” while taxiing in dense fog after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. India’s aviation regulator later confirmed that the damage was caused by a stray cargo container that had fallen from a vehicle and come to rest on a taxiway. 

The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, had been operating a flight bound for New York but turned back to New Delhi after Iran temporarily closed its airspace. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the incident occurred at approximately 5:25 a.m. local time, shortly after the aircraft landed back at its origin airport. 

Photos released by the regulator showed visible damage to the inside of the engine’s air-intake area. The DGCA has declared that further investigation is under way to determine how the cargo container came to be on the taxiway and to assess compliance with ground-handling and airport safety procedures. 

Air India has confirmed that the affected aircraft has been grounded for inspection and repairs. “The aircraft is currently grounded for a thorough investigation and necessary repairs, which may cause potential disruptions on select A350 routes,” the airline said in a statement. Air India did not specify which routes could be affected. 

The carrier operates six A350 aircraft, which it has deployed on long-haul services from New Delhi to major international destinations including London, New York, and Newark, New Jersey. The airline also serves the same routes with older Boeing aircraft. 

Fog frequently disrupts flight operations at Delhi during the winter months, often affecting both airside and ground movements. 

Iran reopened its airspace several hours after the closure that forced the Air India flight to return. The closure followed heightened regional tensions that prompted airlines to reroute or cancel flights through Iranian airspace. 

Air India has not provided a timeline for returning the aircraft to service. The regulator said that it will continue its investigation and review findings related to airport ground operations and safety controls. 

On January 14, 2026, Wizz Air announced that 500 million passengers had flown with the airline since the start of its operations in 2004, a milestone achieved “faster than any major European peer”.

Wizz Air celebrated the occasion at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) where CEO József Váradi confirmed the introduction of a 16th aircraft in the Italian capital.

The airline highlighted that the half a billion mark meant it had now flown more people than the entire population of the European Union.

According to Wizz Air, the carrier reached 100 million passengers in its first 11 years, doubled that in just four more, and expanded from 200 to 300 million in only three years.

It then added an exceptional 200 million passengers in the past three years, reaching 500 million in just close to 22 years since its launch.

The airline was keen to point out that a “major competitor needed more than three decades to reach the same milestone”.

“Reaching 500 million passengers is an extraordinary milestone that reflects our ability to fundamentally reshape how people travel,” said Váradi. “This achievement is the culmination of 22 years of relentless growth and disciplined execution, and it demonstrates the trust that hundreds of millions of customers have placed in Wizz Air by choosing us time and again.”

Wizz Air welcomed its 250th aircraft in November 2025 and has since received two more as it continues its expansion.

“While many airlines founded in the early 2000s have since disappeared, Wizz Air has risen to become one of Europe’s leading low‑cost carriers. This milestone gives us powerful momentum as we continue to broaden our network, scale our operations, and shape the future of air travel together with our passengers around the world,” added Váradi.

Wizz Air introduces Wizz Class

On January 13, 2026, Wizz Air officially introduced Wizz Class after first releasing details about the new product at the end of 2025.

Passengers purchasing Wizz Class will be seated on the front row with the middle seats remaining empty during the flight.

As the first row also includes extra legroom, the service will ensure more space and comfort to relax or work while flying.

“Business travel is growing across our network, and we’ve listened to what our passengers want. They’re asking for a bit more space and speed, but they don’t want to pay legacy airline prices for business class. WIZZ Class answers that demand—offering passengers the room they crave and the service they deserve, without compromising our simple, convenient model,” said Silvia Mosquera, Commercial Officer at Wizz Air.

Mosquera added: “We are also committed to stay a single-class carrier with our efficiency targets.”

From January 1 through June 30, 2026, qualifying passengers transiting through Guangzhou or Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX) will receive complimentary accommodation for one night, including breakfast and transportation between the terminal and hotel, according to the airline.

The offering comes as the airline expands its Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Guangzhou Airport (CAN) service to three daily flights year-round, a record frequency for the route.

This represents the highest frequency ever on the route and establishes Sydney Airport as the airline’s largest market in Oceania.

Eligibility and booking

The free transit accommodation applies to passengers with confirmed seats on international and regional China Southern flights, including tickets to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The policy covers same-day or overnight transits, provided specific conditions are met.

According to the airline’s product usage rules, multiple flight segments must be issued under the same booking code with confirmed seats. The policy also applies to interline tickets redeemed with mileage.

Transfer time requirements vary depending on the connection type. For overnight transfers, the transit time must be between six and 30 hours for domestic-to-international or regional flights. For same-day transfers, the window extends to between six and 240 hours for international or regional mutual transfer flights, with the first flight required to arrive at the transit point between midnight and 08:00.

Passengers who do not meet the free accommodation criteria can book rooms at China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel, a hotel brand operated by China Southern Airlines Group, at preferential rates, subject to availability.

China Southern now offers online booking for free transit accommodation for passengers transiting through Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Travelers can book accommodations directly through the airline’s official website

Expanded Sydney service

The accommodation initiative supports China Southern’s expanded Sydney operations. Starting April 5, 2026, the airline will operate three daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights between Sydney and Guangzhou during the Northern Summer season, matching its three-daily Northern Winter schedule. 

A fourth daily service will be added during peak Chinese New Year periods.

The increase will deliver an additional 420 return flights and nearly 125,000 extra seats over the season, according to Sydney Airport. All services feature 28 business class seats and 269 economy class seats.

Greg Botham, Sydney Airport Group Executive Aviation Growth and Group Strategy, described the expansion as a strong vote of confidence in Sydney.

“For the first time, China Southern Airlines will be flying three times a day right across the year, giving passengers more choice and flexibility,” Botham said.

Jason Sun, China Southern Airlines Regional General Manager, said the expansion represents the highest level of service the airline has operated between the two cities.

“By strengthening our schedule, we are improving the overall travel experience for passengers, while also enhancing connectivity through our Guangzhou hub to destinations across China and our broader international network,” Sun said.

The enhanced schedule strengthens one-stop connectivity via Guangzhou to major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as onward destinations across China and the airline’s global network including Europe and South Asia.

The trial, initially scheduled to conclude at the end of January 2026, will continue operating on flights between Melbourne Airport (MEL) and the Gold Coast Airport (OOL) and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY). Virgin Australia said it plans to expand the service to additional domestic routes in the coming months.

More than 300 dogs and cats traveled on Pets in Cabin flights during the peak Christmas 2025 period alone, demonstrating strong demand from pet owners wanting to travel with their animals.

Starting January 31, 2026, cats will be permitted on all Pets in Cabin flights. Previously, feline passengers were limited to Melbourne-Sunshine Coast services only.

Exceeding forecasts

Libby Minogue, Virgin Australia Chief Marketing and Customer Operations Officer, said the response has exceeded the airline’s expectations, with bookings significantly above forecast.

“Our decision to extend the Pets in Cabin service trial until June this year reinforces the value of innovating around what our guests care about, and we know that they care deeply about traveling with their pets,” Minogue said. “We’ve not only received strong, positive feedback from pet owners, but also guests traveling without pets.”

Velocity Frequent Flyer members can book Pets in Cabin flights using 18,600 Velocity Points per eligible sector, in addition to their own fare.

Industry response

Dr. Katrina Warren, a veterinarian and pet expert, described the service as a game changer for owners of small dogs and cats.

“I’m thrilled that Virgin Australia is extending its Pets in Cabin trial,” Warren said. “It’s wonderful to see the success of the trial, and I hope it paves the way for a broader rollout in the near future.”

Airport representatives also welcomed the extension. Scott Dullard, Melbourne Airport General Manager Operations, said the trial has introduced greater choice and flexibility for travelers, opening new travel opportunities for all family members, including pets.

Chris Mills, Sunshine Coast Airport Chief Executive Officer, noted the positive response to the service.

“We know pets are part of the family and the response to the Pets in Cabin service has been very positive,” Mills said.

Marion Charlton, Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer, said the airport was proud to support the trial extension.

“Our customers value being able to fly with their pets, which is why we’re proud to support an extension of this trial that keeps our customers—both two- and four-legged—traveling together,” Charlton said.

Virgin Australia is the first major Australian airline to offer a pets-in-cabin service on domestic flights.

The carrier said Economy passengers flying on routes longer than 1,190 miles within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean can now preorder items such as burgers, sandwiches, and snack boxes beginning five days and up to 24 hours before departure. The change marks a significant shift in how United handles onboard food service in the cabin. 

Starting March 1, 2026, preordering will become the only way for United Economy passengers to purchase fresh entrees. United will continue to sell snack boxes, packaged snacks, and beverages onboard, but traditional in-flight ordering for freshly prepared meals will be eliminated. 

United said the move is designed to give customers more certainty about meal availability while improving catering efficiency and reducing food waste. The airline estimates the change will keep more than 100,000 pounds of unused food out of landfills each year by allowing caterers to better match supply with demand. 

“Preordering is a win for everyone,” Aaron McMillan, United’s Managing Director of Hospitality Programs, said. “Customers board the plane knowing they’ll get the meal they want, our catering partners know exactly how much food to prepare for each flight, and it helps our operation run more smoothly.” 

While the program is new for Economy passengers, United is not starting from scratch. The airline first introduced meal preordering in its mobile app for premium cabins in 2021, including United First and United Polaris on eligible routes. United has said that rollout led to a nearly 40% increase in customer satisfaction scores on domestic flights. 

The latest expansion applies that same concept to Economy, but with a more fundamental change to the service model. By making preorders mandatory for fresh meals, United is shifting away from the traditional cart-based approach in Economy and toward a more predictable, reservation-style system. 

United said it plans to expand the preorder menu later this year, adding options such as salads, gourmet sandwiches, and wraps. The airline also expects to introduce preorder-only premium beverage options in the coming months. 

Passengers can place orders through the Trips section of united.com or the United mobile app, and app users will receive a notification when preordering opens for their flight. United noted that preordered meals may not be available in certain circumstances, such as last-minute aircraft swaps. 

JSX launched ATR 42 operations in December 2025, initially flying the aircraft between Santa Monica Airport in Southern California and Las Vegas. The route represents the first time JSX has used a turboprop in scheduled passenger service and signals a broader evaluation of the aircraft type as the carrier looks to serve smaller and underserved airports with a premium passenger experience. 

The carrier plans to operate four ATR 42-600 aircraft in early 2026 as part of that evaluation. JSX has said the aircraft are configured with 30 all-premium seats, matching the capacity of its Embraer regional jets while offering access to airports that are difficult or impossible for jets to serve. 

JSX and ATR formally marked the start of service during a ceremony at Santa Monica Airport in early January 2026. The milestone builds on an agreement announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, when JSX signed a letter of intent covering up to 25 ATR aircraft, including both the 42-600 and larger 72-600. 

JSX has begun operating its first ATR 42-600 and has since confirmed plans to add additional aircraft through early 2026. The carrier has said it expects to deploy the turboprops on routes that benefit from shorter runway requirements and improved performance at higher-altitude airports. 

ATR received US regulatory approval in December 2025 for an avionics modification that allows the aircraft to operate at airports up to 11,000 feet in elevation, compared with a previous limit of 8,500 feet. The approval expands the range of airports the aircraft can serve in the western United States and supports JSX’s stated goal of connecting more secondary and regional markets. 

JSX’s ATR 42-600s are leased aircraft that previously flew with Silver Airways. Silver ceased operations in mid-2025, allowing the aircraft to be returned to the leasing market before entering service with JSX. 

JSX chief executive Alex Wilcox has described the ATR 42-600 as extending the carrier’s “hop-on” model to more airports without sacrificing the onboard experience. The carrier has emphasized that the aircraft will retain JSX’s core service elements, including spacious seating, onboard hospitality, and simplified airport access. 

The ATR move also comes as manufacturers and operators look for alternatives to aging 50-seat regional jets in the US market. ATR has said it views JSX as an important test case for renewed turboprop service in premium passenger operations, following limited success with previous US operators. 

JSX launched in April 2016 as JetSuiteX, launching its first flight between Burbank and Concord, California, with the idea of offering a hop-on jet service that feels more private than a typical airline flight. The company rebranded to JSX in 2019 and grew its network across the United States and into Mexico, operating point-to-point service from private terminals and using its Embraer regional jets.

It serves dozens of destinations in states including California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Utah, with bases in markets such as Burbank, Dallas-Love Field, Las Vegas, Miami-Opa Locka, and Scottsdale, and offers charters beyond its scheduled routes.

For now, JSX has not disclosed additional ATR routes beyond its initial deployments, nor has it announced firm orders beyond the evaluation phase.  

The festive flight schedule, operating from February 11 to 23, 2026, includes up to 198 additional services across MAG’s two carriers, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly, to accommodate increased passenger volumes during one of Malaysia’s busiest travel seasons.

Malaysia Airlines will operate up to 1,498 flights during the period, including 130 additional services beyond its regular schedule. Firefly will operate up to 962 flights between February 13 and 23, with 68 extra services added to meet festive demand.

Focus on domestic homecoming routes

The expanded operations primarily target key domestic routes connecting Peninsular Malaysia with East Malaysia, including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Kuching, Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu. These routes traditionally experience high demand during Chinese New Year as Malaysians travel to reunite with family.

The additional capacity reflects MAG’s response to seasonal travel patterns and aims to provide reliable connectivity during the peak festive period, according to the airline group.

Government-supported subsidized fares

In alignment with Malaysian government festive travel initiatives, both Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will offer subsidized fares for travel between Kuala Lumpur and selected East Malaysia destinations during the peak Chinese New Year period from February 13 to 16, 2026.

Malaysia Airlines will offer subsidized all-in one-way fares of up to RM569 (US$141) from Kuala Lumpur to destinations including Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu.

Firefly will provide subsidized fares of up to RM548 (US$136) all-in one-way from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuching, and Sibu.

The subsidized fares are designed to ease travel costs while ensuring broader access to the expanded festive flight capacity during the high-demand period.

Additional offerings

For travelers planning trips beyond Malaysia, the group’s Global New Year campaign remains available until January 20, 2026, for travel through November 30, 2026. The promotion offers all-in return fares starting from RM159, with Enrich loyalty program members receiving an additional 5% discount.

Both Malaysia Airlines and Firefly provide complimentary checked baggage, in-flight refreshments, and flexible flight change options across selected fare categories. Firefly operates from both Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Terminal 1 and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB) in Subang, offering passengers multiple departure point options.

Passengers connecting via Malaysia Airlines benefit from through-checked baggage and included meals, streamlining the travel experience for multi-leg journeys.

The Chinese New Year travel period, known as Chunyun, marks Asia’s biggest annual travel rush, driven primarily by large-scale domestic movement within China and significant outbound tourism to popular destinations such as South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and across Southeast Asia.

According to the airline’s CEO, Carolina Martinoli the airline will invest €5 billion in the period up to 2030 in order to fulfill the goal of jumping from the 40 million annual passengers it carries today to 60 million by 2035.  

However, the aspect of Vueling’s strategy that perhaps has attracted most attention from industry analysts is the airline’s fleet renewal plan.  

Vueling has confirmed that it will be transitioning from its current all-Airbus fleet to a Boeing 737 MAX one. IAG has already assigned a first batch of 50 B737 MAX 8 aircraft from its order book with Boeing. The first of these aircraft is expected to arrive in October 2026 with the second and third deliveries taking place before the end of the year. 

Vueling expects the transition to a Boeing fleet to take seven to eight years, with the two types of aircraft operating side by side during this time. 

Martinoli highlighted that by modernizing its fleet, Vueling will achieve fuel savings in the order of 20%. The low-cost carrier also confirmed its commitment to Barcelona-El Prat (BCN), an airport where it already enjoys a 40% market share and which will continue to be the main focus of its activity. Vueling has assessed that the fulfillment of its 2035 strategic roadmap will bring its contribution to the Catalan economy to €10.5 billion per year.

The 1,553-square-meter space accommodates 192 seats and features a design inspired by luxury hotel lounges, according to the airline. Standard amenities include buffet and live cooking stations, dining areas, a bar, shower facilities, and dedicated work areas for business travelers.

Ramyeon library part of interactive experience

The renovated lounge introduces several experiential zones designed to appeal to diverse passenger groups, moving beyond conventional airport lounge offerings.

A centerpiece feature is the Ramyeon Library, a self-service station where passengers can customize their own instant noodles. The facility reflects the growing global popularity of Korean food, allowing guests to select their preferred noodles and toppings before cooking them at automated machines.

The lounge also includes Cooking Studio L’atelier, operated in partnership with chefs from the Grand Hyatt Incheon. The studio offers hands-on classes such as chocolate bark making, with participation available through on-site reservations.

For entertainment, an arcade room provides photo booths, claw machines, air hockey, and car racing games, targeting younger travelers and families.

According to Korean Air, these interactive features are designed to create memorable pre-departure experiences and significantly expand options for passengers, particularly families with children and younger age groups.

Digital integration for improved passenger flow

The airline has incorporated technology-driven services to enhance the lounge experience and manage passenger flow.

A new lounge reservation system allows passengers using vouchers or mileage to secure access in advance through the Korean Air website or mobile app. First and Prestige Class passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members, retain priority access without requiring reservations.

Real-time crowd monitoring displays current lounge occupancy levels on the airline’s digital platforms, utilizing data from automated entry gates. This enables passengers to choose less congested facilities. Additionally, a mobile queuing system alerts passengers when seats become available during peak periods.

Part of broader Terminal 2 expansion

The reopening of the Prestige East (Left) Lounge, located on the fourth floor of Terminal 2 across from Gate 253, represents part of a larger infrastructure expansion at Incheon’s Terminal 2. The development comes as Korean Air prepares for its integration with Asiana Airlines.

Korean Air completed the first phase of its lounge renewal project in August 2025, opening a redesigned Miler Club and Prestige East (Right) Lounge, along with two Prestige Garden lounges at the terminal’s far ends. The airline plans to complete renovations of the First Class Lounge and Prestige West Lounge by the first half of 2026.Upon completion of all projects, Korean Air’s total lounge area at Terminal 2 will expand from 5,105 square meters to 12,270 square meters, an increase of 2.5 times. Total seating capacity will rise from 898 to 1,566 seats, significantly enhancing service capacity and passenger convenience, according to the airline.

The aircraft come from Virgin Atlantic’s existing orderbook and are scheduled to deliver between the second quarter of 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2027. Under the agreement, AerCap will purchase the aircraft at delivery and lease them back to the airline for long-term operation. 

Virgin Atlantic plans to use the A330neos to modernize its transatlantic fleet. The aircraft will feature updated Premium and Upper Class cabins, including additional Retreat Suites, as the airline continues its push toward a younger, more fuel-efficient widebody lineup. 

For Virgin Atlantic, the deal provides flexibility as it takes delivery of new aircraft without adding complexity to fleet planning. Sale-and-leaseback transactions allow airlines to introduce new capacity while keeping balance sheet commitments predictable, a structure that has become common as carriers manage fleet growth alongside operational uncertainty. 

For AerCap, the transaction reinforces strong demand for the A330neo, which has become a popular choice for airlines seeking long-range capability with lower fuel burn compared with older widebodies. The type has seen steady interest from both operators and lessors as airlines rebuild international networks and prioritize efficiency. 

AerCap Chief Commercial Officer Peter Anderson said the A330neo remains one of the most sought-after widebody aircraft globally, citing its range, operating economics, and flexibility across long-haul missions. 

The agreement also reflects a broader shift in how airlines approach fleet ownership. Rather than holding large numbers of aircraft outright, many carriers now rely more heavily on leasing to maintain flexibility, manage risk, and adapt capacity as demand evolves. Lessors, in turn, have become increasingly selective, favoring aircraft types with broad market appeal and long service lives. 

Virgin Atlantic has taken steps in recent years to simplify its fleet and retire older aircraft. The addition of leased A330neos supports that strategy while giving the airline room to adjust capacity as market conditions change. 

The deal highlights how airlines and lessors continue to align around newer-generation aircraft, particularly widebodies that can serve high-density long-haul routes while offering improved efficiency and passenger comfort. As deliveries begin in 2026, the six A330neos will play a growing role in Virgin Atlantic’s transatlantic operation. 
 
AerCap is the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, with a portfolio that includes more than 1,400 owned, managed, or on-order aircraft. Headquartered in Dublin, AerCap works with airlines around the globe, providing financing and leasing solutions across narrowbody, widebody, and freighter fleets. The company expanded its scale significantly after acquiring GE Capital Aviation Services in 2021, cementing its position as a dominant player in the global aircraft leasing market. 

The group’s multiple airlines (including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, among others) will start offering Starlink’s satellite-based internet connectivity in the second half of 2026. The installation process will take a couple of years, with the whole fleet expected to be connected by 2029. 

During this transition period, Lufthansa Group will continue to offer the current inflight internet service, FlyNet, which is based mostly on Viasat’s Ka-band service and is offered at a charge to Economy Class passengers (with some limited messaging and light uses offered for free).  

In fact, in January 2024, Lufthansa Group expanded its inflight internet access coverage to an additional 150 narrowbody aircraft. The airline group even complemented Viasat’s satellite connectivity with ground-based access provided in certain parts of Europe by Deutsche Telekom through its 4G/LTE network. 

Starlink’s high-speed inflight broadband service will be available for free across all classes of travel for status customers and Travel ID users (which is the free digital profile that anyone can register for on the group’s digital portals). It will even be possible to register for a Lufthansa Travel ID during a flight in order to be able to use the service straight away. 

Lufthansa joins a growing list of European airlines, including two of Lufthansa Group’s most direct competitors, Air France-KLM and International Airlines Group (IAG), which, despite political controversy surrounding SpaceX founder Elon Musk, are signing up for the firm’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based connectivity service.

This is the first Dreamliner order for the Atlanta-based airline, which has previously opted for Airbus models, such as the A350 or the A330, when it came to renewing its long-haul fleet. These aircraft will be deployed primarily on Delta’s transatlantic and South American routes. 

The announcement was made on the same day that the airline giant posted its financial results for the full year of 2025.  

In 2025 Delta Air Lines generated a GAAP operating income of $5.8 billion on an operating revenue of $63.4 billion, a margin of 9.2%. Pre-tax income was $6.2 billion, for an earnings per share of $7.66. 

While total revenue increased 2.3% over the preceding year, it was what Delta Air Lines defines as “diversified revenue streams” that experienced the biggest relative increases, representing around 60% of total revenue.  

Air cargo, for example, grew by 9% and the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business (Delta TechOps), expanded by a whopping 25%.  

Loyalty programs and credit partnerships also represented a significant part of the revenue, with the American Express co-branded credit card program bringing in $8.2 billion, an 11% increase over the previous year. 

In May 2025, the Spanish airline launched a four-weekly nonstop service linking Madrid-Barajas (MAD) to the Turkish hub. This was later increased to a daily service. 

Air links between Spain and Turkey were expanded in 2025 on the back of growing tourism and business links between the two countries, as well as connecting traffic. Turkish Airlines launched the first nonstop connection between Istanbul and Sevilla (SQV) in September 2025, while its fully owned subsidiary AJet followed with the launch of the services between Ankara-Esenboga (ESB) and both Barcelona and Madrid in October. 

Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling, part of International Airlines Group (IAG), also launched its own nonstop service between Barcelona and Istanbul (IST). This route started with three weekly flights in each direction, but frequency was increased to a daily service not long after its launch and is expected to grow to 13 flights per week in the summer of 2026. 

As per the bilateral agreement currently in place between Spain and Turkey, there is still room for Spanish airlines to add frequencies between the two countries. 

In November 2024, when Spanish Directorate of Civil Aviation assigned a daily frequency between Madrid and Istanbul to Air Europa, there were still 25 weekly frequencies available for Spanish carriers to operate between Barcelona and Istanbul. 11 of these appear to have since been taken by Air Europa’s (seven) and Vueling’s (four) capacity increases. Additionally, there were another 35 available frequencies per week between Madrid and Istanbul and 14 for the rest of the routes between the two countries. 

In the case of Air Europa, the launch of new Turkish routes represents an entirely new vector for growth. The Spanish carrier has traditionally been focused on Western European and Latin American markets. However, Turkish Airlines’ acquisition of a 26% equity stake in the airline opens up new commercial and operational opportunities.  

Speaking with AeroTime in Seville in September 2025, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board, Professor Ahmed Bolat confirmed that the two carriers will operate in closer alignment in the future, although he did not elaborate further on the operational or commercial details.  

The launch of new Turkish routes by Air Europe will, at the very least, facilitate connectivity between the two airlines’ highly complementary networks. 

AeroTime has reached out to Air Europa for comment.

The service had been paused in mid-2025 after Tehran and much of the Middle East became a challenging and unpredictable operating environment for international airlines. Last year saw regional tensions flare after Israeli strikes on Iranian territory and subsequent missile exchanges disrupted air traffic across the broader region, prompting airlines to cancel or divert flights and avoid sensitive airspace.  

Lufthansa’s latest postponement comes as anti-government protests that began in late December have continued to escalate. Demonstrations across multiple Iranian cities, triggered by economic distress and a plunging rial, have drawn heavy crackdowns by authorities and widened into a sustained political challenge for the clerical leadership. Broad internet outages and reports of hundreds of protesters being gunned down by security forces have compounded concerns about stability in the country’s capital and other population centers.  

Dozens of flights in and out of Tehran were canceled over the weekend, with several carriers suspending services or adjusting schedules as the situation unfolded. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, Pegasus, and others reported disruptions to their Iranian routes, while Austrian Airlines—the only European carrier still operating in the market earlier in the week—also halted flights amid growing uncertainty.  

Lufthansa’s decision underscores the persistent challenge airlines face when balancing commercial service with security considerations in geopolitically volatile regions. Although the Lufthansa Group had eyed a January return to Tehran after nearly seven months off the schedule, the company said on January 12 that it would instead defer that restart until at least January 28 and monitor conditions closely.  

Safety remains the central determinant in airline decision-making, and carriers typically factor in not only immediate protest activity but also broader risk indicators such as civil unrest, infrastructure disruption, and the potential for rapid escalation. In Iran’s case, regional dynamics including past military exchanges and ongoing diplomatic tensions add layers of complexity to route planning and risk assessment, even for airlines that do not overfly conflict zones directly.  

The latest series of cancellations and suspensions follows several rounds of airline pullbacks from Iranian destinations in early January as unrest gathered pace. Flight tracking data showed dozens of cancellations between Tehran and hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul in the days leading up to the postponement announcement, reflecting both precautionary planning and airline responses to passenger demand collapse amid the crisis. 

The airline said that the expansion forms part of its fleet retrofit program, which will see Premium Economy available on more than 84 routes by July 1, 2026 as the carrier deploys retrofitted Boeing 777s, A380s, and new Airbus A350 aircraft across its network.

A350 deployment 

Emirates will operate its latest A350 aircraft on new daily services from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) starting June 1, 2026  and to both Phuket International Airport (HKT) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) from July 1, 2026. The aircraft features the carrier’s Premium Economy cabin, alongside updated Business and Economy Class interiors.

The Copenhagen service will provide connections to East Asian destinations including Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket, along with links to Colombo, Male, and African cities such as Nairobi and Entebbe.

We’re introducing Premium Economy to more destinations across our network and deploying additional daily flights to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town with our next-gen A350s. https://t.co/tDxV2ql8aF pic.twitter.com/yKEe6n7UP1

— Emirates (@emirates) January 8, 2026

For Phuket, the third daily frequency offers an early morning arrival optimized for passengers connecting from European cities including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain. Return connections serve European and Middle Eastern gateways including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels and Zurich.

The Cape Town frequency addresses consistently high load factors on the route, particularly during peak periods, with optimized connections to London, Dublin, Mumbai, Brussels, Australasia and Asian markets.

Premium Economy phased rollout

According to Emirates, its Premium Economy cabin product will launch across multiple regions through the first half of 2026:

Europe and North America: Barcelona and Mexico City to receive retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft from February 2026, with Rome transitioning to A350 operations from March 29, 2026.

Asia: Cochin will see Premium Economy on select flights starting January 29, 2026, while Karachi transitions to the three-class configuration from March 1, 2026. Taipei shifts to retrofitted B777s in mid-March 2026, before receiving A350 service from May 1, 2026.

Australia: Brisbane to add a second Premium Economy service from March 29, 2026 using retrofitted B777-300ERs, complementing the existing A380 service.

Middle East: Basra, Kuwait City, and Tehran will all receive Premium Economy-equipped aircraft between late January and March 2026, with Kuwait City transitioning to A350 operations from May 1.

Africa: Addis Ababa set to receive retrofitted 777-200LR aircraft from March 1, 2026.

The phased deployment allows Emirates to introduce consistent Premium Economy service across long-haul routes while meeting anticipated summer travel demand, with additional capacity on key leisure and business destinations.

Emirates’ Premium Economy offers passengers extra legroom, enhanced dining options, and dedicated amenities positioned between the carrier’s Economy and Business Class products. The expansion continues Emirates’ investment in cabin products as the airline rebuilds capacity following the industry’s pandemic-era contraction.

This restores a route previously operated by AirAsia X, which established itself as the sole Malaysian airline connecting the two cities.

The service will operate four times weekly, making Busan the long-haul carrier’s 21st destination and its second point in South Korea after Seoul. The addition strengthens AirAsia X’s North Asian network, the region identified by the airline as its primary growth market.

“We’re thrilled to bring back this beloved route and proud to be the only airline in Malaysia operating direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Busan, a city of many wonders,” said Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X. “Building on our current route to Seoul, Busan further enhances our footprint in South Korea as we continue expanding across North Asia, which remains our strongest growth region.”

Timing with visit Malaysia 2026

The route’s return coincides with Malaysia’s national tourism campaign, Visit Malaysia 2026. This positions Busan as both an outbound destination for Malaysian travelers and a source market for inbound tourism.

Ismail noted that the airline expects to attract South Korean visitors alongside serving Malaysian demand for travel to the coastal city. “We are excited to welcome travellers from Busan to Malaysia, particularly in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026,” he said.

South Korea’s second-largest city after Seoul, Busan sits on the southeastern coast and draws visitors for its beaches, mountains and cultural attractions. The city hosts the Busan International Film Festival and features landmarks including Jagalchi Fish Market and hillside villages that have become tourist draws.

Promotional fares 

To mark resumption of the route, AirAsia X is offering promotional fares starting at RM299 (US $74) all-in one-way for economy class or RM999 (US $246) all-in one-way for its Premium Flatbed product. The promotion runs until January 18, 2026, for travel between June 17 and November 30, 2026.

The carrier previously served the Kuala Lumpur-Busan market before suspending operations during the COVID-19 pandemic era. The route’s return reflects AirAsia X’s strategy of restoring previously served destinations as part of its network rebuilding efforts.

With four weekly frequencies at launch, the service will provide connectivity, for both leisure travelers and those visiting friends and relatives, between Malaysia and South Korea’s primary southeastern gateway. The frequency allows for weekend travel patterns while providing midweek options for business and flexible leisure travel.

AirAsia X operates Airbus A330 aircraft on its long-haul routes, configured with both economy and Premium Flatbed seating. AirAsia X has stated that its Busan service will follow this configuration, offering travelers a choice between the carrier’s standard economy product and its lie-flat premium cabin.

The new MAB Academy Simulator Building at South Support Zone houses six full-flight simulator bays, including units for the Airbus A330neo, Boeing 737-800NG, and ATR 72-500. According to Malaysia Airlines, the facility was designed to support focused learning environments, with dedicated training spaces that encourage direct instructor-trainee interaction and structured skill development.

Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook officiated the launch ceremony alongside Khazanah Nasional Berhad Managing Director, Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, MAG Group Managing Director, Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, and MAG President and Group CEO-designate, Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar.

National firsts in aviation training

The facility introduces two features previously unavailable within Malaysia’s aviation training infrastructure. MAB Academy now operates the country’s first water survival training pool equipped with wave simulation capability, allowing cabin crew and pilots to practice emergency water evacuation procedures under realistic conditions.

The complex has also become Malaysia’s first aviation training center to receive Green Building Index certification, meeting standards for sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible design in its construction and operations.

Beyond the simulators, the building includes integrated safety and emergency training facilities, featuring a Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer for hands-on practice of aircraft evacuation procedures.

Strategic expansion

According to the Malaysian national carrier, the facility is the final phase of MAB Academy’s move from its previous Subang location. This aligns with Malaysia Aviation Group’s Long-Term Business Plan 3.0, which emphasizes disciplined growth and operational capability.

“The launch of MAB Academy’s new Simulator Building marks an important milestone in our long-term transformation journey,” said Datuk Captain Izham Ismail. “Our focus has always been on preparing aviation professionals for the realities of operations, and this facility strengthens that commitment by ensuring training is relevant, rigorous, and grounded in real-world experience.”

The academy plans to expand its simulator capabilities yet further with a Boeing 737-8 full-flight simulator. Expected to enter service by July 2026, it is set to support training requirements for next-generation narrow-body aircraft operations across the region.

Current operations and regional role

Operating as an Approved Training Organisation certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, MAB Academy currently delivers approximately 200 specialized training programs for airlines, corporations, aviation professionals, and international students.

The new infrastructure positions the academy to serve growing demand for qualified aviation personnel across Southeast Asia as the region’s air travel market continues to expand. The facility’s capacity and certification status allow it to function as a training provider, not only for Malaysia Airlines operations but also for third-party airlines and aviation organizations requiring certified instruction.

With the simulator building now operational, MAB Academy has established itself as one of the region’s more comprehensive aviation training facilities, combining technical flight simulation, safety training, and emergency procedure instruction within one organization.

The deal, which was announced on January 11, 2026, has already been approved by the boards of directors of both airlines and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, provided it doesn’t meet any objection from the competition authorities. 

The 0.1557 shares of Allegiant common stock and $4.10 in cash that Allegiant is offering to Sun Country shareholders represents has an implied value of $18.89, a premium of nearly 20% over the $15.77 closing share price of the airline’s stock on January 9, 2026. 

The two airlines have similar business models and largely complementary route networks. 

Allegiant, known for its culture of cost consciousness, focuses on linking multiple secondary cities throughout the United States to warm-weather destinations in Florida and the Caribbean.  

‘Sun-and-sand’ destinations are also a core market for Sun Country Airlines, although the carrier serves also a broad range of destinations throughout the US from its base at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). 

Once the merger is completed, the combined entity, which is expected to operate under the Allegiant brand and be led by Allegiant’s current CEO, Gregory C. Anderson, is set to carry around 22 million passengers per year and operate a dual fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.  

According to the ch-aviation database, all but 16 of Allegiant’s 131 aircraft are Airbus A320-family aircraft, while Sun Country Airlines has 68 Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet. The Minnesotan airline has also significant charter and freight businesses. The latter is conducted in partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon, with Sun Country Airlines operating 20 converted B737 freighters for Amazon’s Prime Air. Both the charter and business units are expected to continue operating as usual after the acquisition. 

In the press release announcing the deal, the two airlines stated that they expect to realize an estimated $140 million in annual synergies to result from the combination of their respective operations.  

The service is scheduled to begin on 29 October 2026, with three weekly direct flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Luxembourg Airport (LUX). Etihad will operate the route using its A321LR aircraft, which is designed for long-range efficiency while offering a premium three-class cabin. The aircraft features First Suites and lie-flat Business seats, all with direct aisle access, alongside a modern Economy cabin with generous legroom, 4K touchscreen entertainment, Bluetooth pairing, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

“For the first time, Luxembourg will be directly connected to the Middle East, with Etihad as the only airline offering a nonstop link to Abu Dhabi. This route is about more than connectivity – it is about building new bridges between Europe and the UAE, unlocking opportunities for business, tourism, and cultural exchange,” Antonoaldo Neves, the CEO of Etihad Airways, said in the statement.

Neves added that the service is timed to serve both business and leisure travelers. Business passengers will benefit from schedules aligned with corporate needs between Luxembourg, a key European financial center, and Abu Dhabi. Flights are scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi in the early hours, arriving in Luxembourg in the morning. Return services will depart from Luxembourg in the late morning, arriving in Abu Dhabi in the evening.

Etihad’s Airbus A321LR has quickly become a cornerstone of the airline’s medium-haul growth strategy. The first A321LR was delivered in mid-2025 and entered commercial service on 1 August 2025, initially operating between Abu Dhabi and Phuket.

Originally planned as a fleet of 20 aircraft leased through AerCap, Etihad has expanded its commitments to 30 A321LRs, including ten on direct order from Airbus. Deliveries are still ongoing, scheduled through 2026 and beyond.

The large-scale development, located near the city of Bishoftu in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, was formally inaugurated on January 10, 2026. According to Ethiopian Airlines, construction is now underway and will be delivered in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion by 2030.

The new airport will feature four runways and aircraft parking capacity for up to 270 planes. Once fully operational, it is designed to handle approximately 110 million passengers annually. During the first phase alone, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 60 million passengers per year and create employment opportunities for more than 26,000 aviation professionals.

Bishoftu International Airport is intended to relieve growing pressure at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), which is located about 45 kilometers (around 28 miles) from the new site. Ethiopian officials have warned that Bole Airport is likely to reach its operational capacity within the next two to three years. The new airport, which is yet to receive its own IATA and ICAO designations, is positioned as a strategic logistics and connectivity hub and is expected to play a key role in narrowing Africa’s aviation infrastructure gap.

Ethiopian Airlines plans to finance approximately 30% of the project’s total cost, with the remainder to be funded by financial institutions across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States. The airline has already committed $610 million to initial earthworks, while major construction activities are scheduled to begin in August 2026.

The project was initially estimated at $10 billion, but the budget has since been revised to $12.5 billion as the scale and scope of the development expanded.

On January 8, 2026, the airline partners announced that an existing agreement is to be extended by an additional four years to 2032. The number of PAL Airlines aircraft covered by the contract is expected to grow by five, to a new total of eleven.

Air Canada and PAL Airlines have signed a letter of intent which is subject to final negotiations between the two parties.

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and CCO, and President of Cargo at Air Canada, said: “Air Canada is committed to regional connectivity. Our proposed agreement with PAL Airlines will enable us to protect existing services from Montréal to destinations in Québec and New Brunswick and support the overall growth of our regional network.”

He added: “Since PAL Airlines began operating for Air Canada Express in 2023, it has proven to be a strong partner, offering our customers in eastern Canada reliability, excellent customer service and a greater choice of flying options.”

Under the agreement, PAL would increase its cover fleet by five additional Dash 8-400 aircraft on behalf of Air Canada on regional routes.

“PAL Airlines is proud to work on expanding our agreement with Air Canada, growing our considerable presence in Eastern and Atlantic Canada by delivering flexible solutions that support regional connectivity for the Air Canada network,” said Calvin Ash, President of PAL Airlines. “This proposed extended arrangement with Air Canada reflects their confidence in our operation, supports the continued growth of our airline, and will solidify our presence in the regions which have supported our development.”

The carrier has introduced what it calls ‘The Safetynovela’, positioning itself as the first airline globally to frame mandatory safety instructions within the narrative structure of a Filipino soap opera. The approach banks on a simple insight: if passengers won’t watch standard safety videos, perhaps they’ll watch a story that happens to include safety information.

Early reception suggests the gamble paid off. The video drew reactions from Filipino celebrities, television directors and scriptwriters, while also catching international attention from publications worldwide and Grammy-nominated singer Charlie Puth. More telling were comments from viewers who noted that they’d actually paid attention for the entire duration, a rarity for safety briefings.

“I’ve never actually paid attention to an inflight safety video this much from start to end,” one viewer wrote online. “Despite the emotional pull, every instruction came through clearly and stayed with me.”

Cultural strategy meets aviation regulation

The concept stems from the Philippines’ documented relationship with serialized drama. Homegrown telenovelas have dominated local television for decades, and current data shows Filipinos consistently ranking among the world’s highest consumers of online video content and screen time.

Philippine Airlines Vice President for Marketing Alvin Miranda explained the thinking: “As the Heart of the Filipino, Philippine Airlines always looks for ways to connect meaningfully with our passengers and champion Filipino culture in everything we do. The Safetynovela is a reflection of our renewed promise of Care That Comes from the Heart, showing that safety, too, can be delivered with warmth, creativity, and Filipino emotion.”

The production itself reads like destination marketing layered into aviation safety. Filming took place across Bohol, Boracay, Pangasinan, Malcapuya Island in Palawan, and near the historic Daraga Church in Albay. The shoot made great use of Hacienda Santa Rosalia, a heritage estate in Manapla, Negros Occidental.

Production and rollout

Director Marius Talumpas helmed the project, working with actors Kelley Day, Jay Gonzaga, Khalid Abdullah, Maritess Joaquin, and Robert Seña. The video was produced in partnership with advertising agency BBDO Guerrero and production house Arcade Film Factory.

The trailer previewed at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival before the full video debuted aboard PAL’s newest Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Two days later, on December 31, it rolled out across the airline’s digital platforms. The video now plays on all Philippine Airlines international flights.

The initiative forms part of PAL’s broader modernization program under its ‘Care That Comes from the Heart’ brand philosophy. The approach positions cultural insight as equally valuable to technological advancement in aviation service delivery, suggesting that passenger engagement might depend as much on storytelling as on hardware upgrades.

Whether the format inspires similar approaches from other carriers or stays as a distinctly Filipino experiment remains to be seen. For now, though, Philippine Airlines has found a way to make the industry’s most overlooked moment one that passengers might actually remember.

Dempsey has already held this position in an interim capacity since December 15, 2025, following the departure of long-time CEO Barry Biffle. 

Since 2023, Dempsey had also held the position of President, with direct responsibility for Commercial, Customer Care and Operations Research, Design and Planning functions. Prior to that, he had also held the roles of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the airline, and between 2014 and 2019, that of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Dempsey’s experience in the airline industry stretches all the way back to its country of origin, Ireland, where he also served as treasurer and head of investor relations at low-cost giant Ryanair. 

“Jimmy [Dempsey] has demonstrated over his more than a decade at Frontier that he’s the right leader to drive our airline forward. His expertise will help us capitalize on the opportunities we see ahead, preserve our industry-leading cost advantage and guide Frontier into the future.” stated Bill Franke, Chair of Frontier Airlines Board of Directors, in the press release announcing the leadership changes. 

Upon replacing Biffle, who had lead Frontier Airlines for nearly 12 years, Dempsey will have to steer the carrier within a market in which several fellow US low-cost carriers, such as Spirit Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have recently been struggling. 

In this regard, some media reports have pointed out that Frontier Airlines may have not given up on the idea of acquiring Spirit Airlines. Previous acquisition attempts have all been rebuffed, the latest in February 2025. 

Coinciding with change at the top, Frontier Airlines also issued revised earnings guidance for Q4 2025. Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted earnings per share now expected to be at the higher end of the previous $0.04 to $0.20-per-share range.

In 2024, the airline posted a net profit of 5.4 billion Kenyan Shillings (approximately US$42 million), its first profit in over a decade, marking a dramatic recovery following consecutive losses. This transformation, driven by the so-called Project Kifaru, has shifted the focus to operational excellence, diversification of revenue streams, and rigorous cost management.  

With the aim of leaving the crisis years behind, Kenya Airways has embarked on a five-year fleet expansion strategy aimed at increasing its aircraft count from 34 to 59 planes by 2032. The carrier has also announced plans to raise around US$500 million to fund future growth. In December 2025, Kenya Airways also announced it had requested governmental authorization to operate a small secondary hub outside of its home country, at Kotoka International Airport in Accra (ACC), Ghana, basing there of its Embraer E190 aircraft.

In addition to its goal of becoming an airline of note in Africa, Kenya Airways also plans to diversify by developing other revenue streams, such as its in-house maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and training capabilities, as well as boosting its air cargo business. 

December 2025 was a period of change for Kenya Airways. CEO Allan Kilavuka stepped down after six years at the helm, during which he presided over the airline’s turnaround. George Kamal, who held the role of Chief Operating Officer since 2023, was subsequently appointed acting CEO of Kenya Airways. 

Kamal is an industry veteran, who, in addition to years of experience as a commercial pilot, has held senior leadership roles at airlines such as Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, and Iraqi Airways. 

A few days before the leadership change, AeroTime met with Kamal and his team in Nairobi to learn more about the new acting CEO’s vision for Kenya Airways. We also had an opportunity to take a close look at a carrier that, true to its motto of “The Pride of Africa”, aims to serve as one of the continent’s leading airlines. 

Kamal began our conversation by highlighting the strong international orientation of Kenya Airways and the role it plays in connecting Africa to the rest of the world. 

“Kenya Airways is one of the anchor airlines in Africa and one of the oldest in the region,” he said. “We started as a regional airline for Africa. However, we have managed to spread our wings. We’re part of SkyTeam and are currently working on more routes.”  

“We currently serve more than 45 destinations in Africa, as well as Paris (CDG), London, flying daily both to Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW), plus Amsterdam, New York (JFK). The European routes are important for cargo,” he explained. “The flower business, for example, is booming, not only towards Amsterdam, but other destinations as well.  

“We also fly to the Middle East, to Dubai (DXB) and Sharjah (SHJ), the latter only for cargo. in Asia we fly to Mumbai (BOM), Guangzhou (CAN), Bangkok (BKK)[…] and we’re looking to expand further.” 

Kamal underlined the importance of ease of access in cementing Kenya’s role as hub for the region and beyond. 

“Our goal, our mission, and vision is to connect people and markets, and to make it viable for everyone to connect. We don’t want travel to be only for those that have lots of money,” he said. “We also want the middle or lower middle class to be able to travel, as well. You want them to be onboard our aircraft, not on the road. So, we have flights to most of countries around Africa.” 

“The country [Kenya] is visa free for all Africans, and for many other nationalities it’s visa on arrival. Others have the eTA [Electronic Travel Authorization – ed. note], you just go online and book it, and you get your visa within the same day, or the next, and you can come in. This opened up a number of possibilities. Last year [2024] we carried 5.2 million passengers. It was a record year for us.”  

Leaving the crisis behind

Network expansion is just one aspect of a more comprehensive transformation project called Kifaru, which was launched in 2020 and is now in its second iteration. 

Referring to the airline’s recent downsizing, Kamal said: “Project Kifaru is based on growth. We are now moving forward aggressively in the market. We had to shrink first to be able to grow.” 

2024 was also a pivotal year for Kenya Airways, as it managed to return a profit (5.4 billion Kenyan Shillings, approximately US$42 million) for the first time in a decade.  

Kamal also talked proudly about how the airline had posted a positive EBITDAR of 14.5 billion Kenyan Shillings (approximately US$112.5 million) for 2024, the carrier’s best results since 2012. 

“The good thing about EBITDAR, with an R for ‘rental,’ is that it gives a measure of the resilience of the company, of the health of its operational business,” he said. “So, we’ve done a good job!” 

The positive results of 2024, however, were somehow countered by a loss of 12.2 billion Kenyan Shillings (US$94.6 million) in the first half of 2025. 

Kamal attributed the drop to to the temporary grounding of three of its nine B787s, which resulted in a 14% drop in passenger numbers compared to the same period the year before. The grounding is related to the GEnx-1B engine issues, which have impacted Dreamliner operators globally. 

“Our [B787] aircraft are all the same vintage so, they’re almost at the same number of cycles, and they all needed to go to the shop more or less at the same time,” he explained. “The major issue was turnaround time. Due to the unavailability of spares the engines stayed up to 120 days on the ground, instead of the usual 60 to 70 days. Add to this, a single engine costs US$14 million. It’s a cash drain, as well. You have your assets on the ground, while you are incurring a fixed cost, like rentals, which don’t stop running.” 

At the time of our conversation, Kenya Airways had managed to reactivate one of the three affected Dreamliners, with Kamal expecting the other two to follow suit as soon as spare engines could be secured.  

Further fleet plans

Interestingly, the airline is also seeking to retrieve a Boeing 777 currently on lease to Turkish Airlines.  

“We want it back to support the network,” he explained. “To have more capacity, for example, when a flight is cancelled and we need a spare aircraft.” 

Kamal, who added that, given that the airline will add a new aircraft type, it may as well get a second B777. 

“It does add a bit of complexity, that’s why we’re looking to lease another B777. It depends on market availability,” he added, before going on to reveal that the airline may use these larger aircraft to add capacity on its London route. “We are also looking at a number of routes for the 777. We’re looking at a few routes. London, for example, because the demand for business class is stronger, and [the aircraft] it’s got flatbeds, and it can take more passengers.” 

One might be used for Heathrow, he said. But this is yet to be confirmed. 

Kamal shared that Kenya Airways is also looking at expanding its long-haul network as soon as all the Dreamliners and the B777 become available. A second destination in Asia and a potential new US destination are also currently being considered, although the bulk of the expansion will take place in Africa. 

Kenya Airways also plans to readjust its narrowbody fleet by disposing of most of its Embraers and upgauging by adding Boeing 737s. Shortly after this interview was conducted, Kenya Airways also confirmed it was considering using three of its E190s to set up a secondary hub in Accra, Ghana, for operations in West Africa.

“We sold four Embraers last year, and we managed to get one B737-800,” he said. “Now, for next year [2026], we are looking to add two leased B737-800s and three B737 MAX 8 aircraft.” 

“What we want to do, slowly throughout the years, is start phasing out the Embraers and replace them with a bigger aircraft,” he continued. “Don’t get me wrong, Embraers are not bad, they are very good aircraft, they are very good as route openers.” 

Kamal then revealed the surprising reason behind the decision to switch to larger aircraft. 

“In Africa, people fly with a lot of luggage so when you come into Nairobi, if you want to connect to any of our short-haul destinations served by Embraers, what happens is the following: I can take either 55 passengers with all their luggage or 98 passengers, but with only one piece of luggage plus hand luggage. So, it leaves a lot of packages and baggage behind, and it significantly impacts our customers, which then start complaining.” 

At this point in the conversation, after AeroTime mentioned the piles of luggage we had seen ready for check-in at the Kenya Airways counter at Dubai International Airport (DXB) when boarding for Nairobi. Kamal explained that, depending on the fare or the loyalty program status, Kenya Airways allows travelers to carry up to three bags. 

“It’s good for the passengers, but this becomes an issue if you need to connect to a shorter haul flight operated by the Embraer aircraft,” he said, explaining that this can lead to situations in which not all bags can be loaded onto the aircraft. 

“Even if the bag doesn’t get lost, it’s a pain,” he continued. “You can’t just book a ticket knowing your bag is not going to be there when you land. So, we decided to go bigger. That’s why we’re looking for 737s, to cover routes now flown by Embraers, to use them on those routes that are now mature.  

“But we will keep four Embraers, which are on lease now,” he added, “to be route openers and use them on thin routes.” 

Over the long-term, Kenya Airways is looking to expand its fleet even further. The number of aircraft inducted into the fleet may actually be larger than the difference, since the airline is also looking to replace the Embraers and some of its older B737s. 

“But this depends on the market, which is very volatile,” Kamal explained. “When you look for aircraft today, it’s very difficult. We must be careful. So, the fleet plan evolves with the market. As a company, we have to be very agile and update our plans based on market availability.  

“We have to move fast to try to get as many aircraft as we can. That’s what we were doing today.” 

Strategic partnerships 

Kenya Airways also aims to expand its international footprint through partnerships with other carriers.  

In addition to its well-established SkyTeam membership (KLM is actually one of the airline’s long-standing shareholders with 7% of its capital), Kenya Airways signed a codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways in 2025 on routes between the two respective countries. The two airlines also agreed to exchange expertise and cooperate in areas such as training and ground handling. 

As a result of this deal, Qatar Airways operates three daily codeshare flights between Doha (DOH) and Nairobi and Kenya Airways does the same on its flight between Mombasa (MBA) and the Qatari capital. 

Remarkably, both carriers are part of rival alliances. Kenya Airways is a SkyTeam member while Qatar Airways is part of oneworld. Kamal explained that Kenya Airways sought and obtained approval from SkyTeam for this partnership.  

“My passengers used to be able to fly to 45 destinations. Today with Qatar Airways, we are much more open, particularly when it comes to flying eastwards to China and Asia on routes we could not support on our own.” 

“This is a major problem in Africa,” he continued. “If every airline goes alone, how much can you grow your fleet? Where can you go? To every country in the world? You cannot. So, our goal is to get our passengers from Nairobi to everywhere in the world with the minimum cost for both them and us.”  

He added: “We think Qatar Airways is a good carrier and we had the opportunity to work with them. We’re open to everyone.”  

Qatar Airways also has close links to another East African airline, RwandAir. However, Kamal does not see any issues with this.  

“We actually see them as partners,” he said. “For example, we do maintenance for RwandAir. We are competing, but it’s actually more about complementing each other.”  

Developments in air cargo 

During our conversation with Kamal, we also touched upon another important component of Kenya Airways’ business: air cargo. 

The airline operates its own dedicated cargo center at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which handles freight carried on its own aircraft but also for third party operators and other logistics firms. 

The center has two separate facilities. One handles general cargo, ranging from electronics and spare parts to minerals, such as gemstones. Within this facility there is a specific IATA-certified temperature-controlled section which can handle up to 340 tons of pharmaceuticals per week. 

The other is a dedicated building that handles perishables, a major currency-earner for the Kenyan economy. This facility, which AeroTime also visited, is always kept at temperatures of between 8 and 2 C and handles some 420 tons of fresh produce per day. Every evening lines of trucks deliver fresh produce to be loaded onto waiting aircraft, which then depart mostly for Europe and the Middle East throughout the night and early morning. Some Amsterdam-bound passenger flights, for example, may carry some 15 tons of cut flowers in their bellies. 

Kamal explained that another reason for Kenya Airways’ desire to obtain B777s is the additional belly cargo capacity they would bring.  

“Cargo is extremely important for us. Today, we only have about 11% of market share at our own hub; that is, of the cargo that goes in and out of Nairobi. This is with four dedicated cargo aircraft, two B737-800SF and two B737-300 Classics, plus the belly capacity in the rest of the fleet. So, what are we looking for? The long range, that’s coming up in 2026. We are aiming to reach up to 30% of market share.”  

MRO excellence 

Kenya Airways has also been developing a diversified portfolio of ground-based businesses centered around its base at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. These ventures not only support the airline’s own operations but also generate revenue by serving third-party customers across the African continent and beyond. 

One of the crown jewels of this ecosystem, which extends far beyond traditional airline operations, is the MRO operations center, which has established the airline as a continental leader in this field.  

The carrier takes particular pride in its MRO center having become not only a carrier of note in Africa, but also in having achieved some world-class performance metrics that rival the best facilities.  

Kamal shared that the airline has achieved remarkably high schedule reliability rates, some of the highest in the world for aircraft types like the B737 and the E190 and maintains one of the highest aircraft utilization rates worldwide. 

Kenya Airways’ EASA Part 145 certified MRO facility is capable of performing comprehensive maintenance for the entire Kenya Airways fleet, including Boeing 737s, 787 Dreamliners, and Embraer E190s, performing all procedures up to C-check level. What’s more, its capabilities extend beyond its own operations, with the facility serving as the only approved service center for E-Jets in Africa. According to Kenya Airways’ MRO managers, this strategic capability is one the airline intends to maintain even as it reduces its own Embraer fleet. 

Looking ahead, Kenya Airways plans to expand its MRO operations with the construction of a new, much larger greenfield facility. This will also improve integration with regular airport operations, further cementing the airline’s position as Africa’s premier aviation maintenance provider. 

Diversifying revenue streams

During our visit to Kenya Airways’ facilities in Nairobi, Kamal also guided AeroTime through the diverse ecosystem of businesses the airline is building on the ground. These encompass ground handling services at Nairobi Airport, which the airline provides for both its own operations and third-party carriers, to more unusual ventures in areas such as advanced air mobility (AAM), education, hospitality, and medical services and even bottled water. 

Plans include developing a full-scale hospital for medical tourism, based on the airline’s existing aviation medical center, as well as the construction of a 300-room hotel with both airside and landside access, for which Kenya Airways is currently looking for investors. 

The airline is no stranger to the hospitality industry. The five lounges it manages throughout the airport (three of which are based in the international terminal), are already revenue centers contributing to profitability. Recognizing this potential, Kamal explained that Kenya Airways is exploring opportunities to add even more lounges at strategic locations within the airport. 

The airline has even ventured into the beverage industry with its own water brand KQuench, which is bottled within its premises and is onboard its flights and lounges as well to other airlines and retail supermarkets. Interestingly, Kenya Airways is also investing in a recycling plant to turn the discarded plastic bottles into fuel to power its ground support vehicles. 

Another of Kenya Airways’ fully owned ventures, albeit of an entirely different sort, is Fahari Aviation, a subsidiary focused on drone operations and AAM.  

Fahari Aviation is already bringing in revenue through its work in filming, aerial mapping, and agriculture, with its drone performing missions such as aerial seeding or crop spraying. Fahari is also the platform through which Kenya Airways is preparing for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) revolution that promises to transform urban transportation across traffic-clogged African cities.  

Training excellence at the Pride Center 

Kenya Airways is also taking the training of its staff, whether pilots, crews, or technicians, into its own hands. 

Its training activities are concentrated in the Pride Center, a modern campus located near the airport. This facility trains the airline’s crews and pilots while offering broader educational programs to the aviation community. As an Approved Training Organization (ATO), the center operates simulators for the Boeing 737NG and Dash 8 Q400, with plans to add Boeing 737 MAX simulators in the future. 

Keny Airways’ vision, as explained by Kamal, is to broaden the scope of the Pride Center to be able to offer a wider range of courses. With this aim, Kenya Airways signed a deal with London Metropolitan University to establish the university’s first international campus in Kenya.  

Through this partnership Kenya Airways will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in aviation management, engineering, as well as courses on artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Three cohorts of Kenya Airways staff are already enrolled, and plans are in place to expand these programs to external students. 

“We have left the crisis behind, and we are now moving forward,” Kamal reiterated, underlining the optimistic outlook with which Kenya Airways is now facing its future. 

Under its newly announced summer timetable, El Al will operate 55 weekly flights to North America, the highest level in its history. The increase is driven primarily by New York, where service from JFK and Newark will rise to as many as seven daily flights combined. The airline will also add one additional weekly frequency to Miami, reflecting sustained demand on US-Israel routes. 

The North America expansion underscores El Al’s strategy of concentrating capacity on high-yield, high-volume markets where it maintains a strong competitive position. New York has long been the airline’s most important overseas market, and the carrier has leaned heavily on widebody capacity to meet demand as global travel continues to normalize. 

El Al is also increasing flying to the Far East, with a total of 16 weekly flights to Thailand during the summer season. Service to Bangkok will gain two additional flights, while Tokyo, which El Al has served year-round since early 2024, will see peak-season service increase to as many as five weekly flights. 

To support the higher passenger volumes, El Al plans to deploy larger aircraft on several long-haul routes, including the Boeing 787-10, the largest variant of the Dreamliner family in the airline’s fleet. The aircraft offers increased seating capacity compared with earlier 787 models and is expected to play a central role in the airline’s long-haul growth. 

Within Europe, El Al is expanding frequencies across several core markets, with a notable focus on Italy. Flights to Rome and Milan will increase to 17 weekly services each, supported by continued service to Venice and Naples. In Germany, the airline will boost frequencies from Munich to as many as 11 flights per week. Additional increases are planned for Amsterdam, Budapest, Lisbon and Porto, with widebody aircraft scheduled on select European flights to accommodate connecting traffic. 

Shlomi Zafrany, El Al’s Vice President of Commercial Affairs, said the summer schedule reflects a long-term growth plan centered on strengthening key gateways and improving connectivity through the airline’s Tel Aviv hub. According to the carrier, further network initiatives are expected to be announced in the coming months as it continues to adjust capacity in response to market demand. 

The announcement was made jointly by the Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat, on January 8, 2026, at a ceremony in Istanbul. 

The project covers up to eight different critical facilities, located mainly in Istanbul, which support Turkish Airlines operations across several business functions, such as air cargo, catering, crew services, IT and data handling, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). 

The Turkish flag carrier will complete Phase 2 of the Turkish Cargo SmartIST project, which involves the setup of an air cargo center with the capacity to handle 4.5 million tons of freight per year. This facility, which is expected to be completed by 2028, will be one of the largest of its type in the world. 

Also in the field of logistics, the carrier is setting up a new e-commerce handling complex. Turkish Airlines offers a door-to-door integrated logistics service under the brand “Widect”. 

Likewise, Turkish Airlines is investing in one of its main differentiating offerings, inflight catering, with a new catering facility capable of serving more than 500,000 passengers per day. This facility is also scheduled for completion around 2027-2028.  

MRO is another area of growth for vertically-integrated Turkish Airlines. The Turkish Technic Engine Maintenance Center, capable of servicing Trent XWB-84, Trent XWB-97, and Trent 7000 Rolls-Royce engines, is also part of this initiative, which will also include the construction of new hangars.  

Turkish Airlines aims to expand its maintenance capacity by 20%. Once the new facilities are completed, the airline’s MRO arm will be able to service up to 12 aircraft simultaneously. 

In the digital domain, Turkish Airlines will be investing in operational resilience, with the establishment of the Istanbul Data Center, which, among other functions, aims to ensure the continuity of operations in case of disruption. 

Finally, Turkish Airlines is investing in training and crew services with the completion of Phase 1 of its Flight Training Center and an additional Crew Terminal Building, both expected to open within the 2026-2027 timeframe. 

Turkish Airlines expects that this raft of investments will help streamline its operations as well as the coordination between its different business units.

Qatar Airways made light work of the 777 upgrade, completing the project in nine months after the installation was initially scheduled to take two years.

Continuing with the project at pace, on January 7, 2026, the carrier announced that all A350-900s and A350-1000s had been fitted with Elon Musk’s lightning-quick satellite powered Wi-Fi.

According to the Qatar flag carrier, the entire A350 upgrade was completed in December 2025, within a “record-breaking” eight months.

What’s more Qatar Airways confirmed that work had already begun on installing Starlink on its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners – a first for the global aviation market.

So far, three Boeing 787 Dreamliners are now operational with Starlink bringing the total Qatar Airways widebodies with the technology to just shy of 120 aircraft.

“Within just 14 months, Qatar Airways started and completed the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Starlink installation programmes, and then expanded to its Boeing 787 Dreamliners,” said a spokesperson for Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways achieved a series of industry firsts in inflight connectivity: launching the world’s first 787-8 Dreamliner equipped with @Starlink, completing the A350 rollout programme, and connecting over 11 million global passengers with the fastest wi-fi in the sky.
With… pic.twitter.com/8IpLlITZ3v

— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) January 7, 2026

They added: “This progress cements the airline’s position as the global leader in Starlink-enabled long-haul and ultra-long-haul connectivity while also achieving the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped A350 fleet – building on Qatar Airways’ legacy as the aircraft’s global launch customer.”

According to the carrier, so far over 10 million Qatar Airways passengers have utilized the complimentary service.

Benefits of Starlink to flight and cabin crews

Qatar Airways flight and cabin staff are also benefitting from the upgraded technology with real-time data and information accessible during their journey.

Flight and roster updates are delivered instantly to crew’s devices, ensuring increased operational alignment throughout every journey.

There is also now enhanced cabin crew co-ordination with ground teams in real time during medical or service-related situations, enabling faster decision-making and reducing delays.

And engineers on the ground can monitor the inflight entertainment system during flights and prepare recovery plans before landing, improving turnaround efficiency.

The aircraft is the first of 69 aircraft of this type ordered by IndiGo from Airbus. These A321XLRs are part of the airline’s successive mega-orders, which have brought its order book with the European aircraft manufacturer close to the 1,000-aircraft mark. 

IndiGo has bet on the A321XLR as an important asset to implement its ambitious international expansion strategy. This narrowbody aircraft will enable the Indian carrier to open new markets throughout the Indian Ocean rim, East and Central Asia, Africa. 

The A321XLR is also expected to play a major role in boosting air links between Europe and India, since its range allows it to reach large swathes of the continent from IndiGo’s hubs in Delhi and Mumbai.  

The A321XLR willcomplement IndiGo’s future A350-900 fleet by operating thinner long-haul routes and making it possible to add more frequencies to certain international destinations. 

In fact, Athens (ATH), Greece, will be the first international destination served by IndiGo’s A321XLR. Starting on January 23, 2026, IndiGo will deploy the aircraft on nonstop flights between the Greek capital and both Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM), establishing what in IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers words, a direct link between two of the world’s oldest civilizations. 

IndiGo’s A321XLR will be fitted with 195 seats, including 12 “Stretch” ones (IndiGo’s business class). 

The airline will shut down its base in Mesa, Arizona, on January 27, 2026, and conclude all flying under the Department of Homeland Security’s charter program, the company said. Avelo had operated deportation flights for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through CSI Aviation. 

“The program provided short-term benefits but ultimately did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs,” the airline said. 

The decision marks a strategic retreat from a business line that was unusual for a publicly branded commercial airline. Deportation flights are typically handled by charter operators that operate largely outside of public view. Avelo, which launched service in 2021, became one of the few scheduled passenger airlines to publicly acknowledge flying removal missions for the government. 

Avelo first disclosed the ICE partnership in April 2025, saying at the time that the contract would provide financial stability and support growth. The airline used three Boeing 737-800s to operate domestic and international deportation flights. 

That move quickly drew criticism from lawmakers, local officials, and advocacy groups. While Avelo has consistently said the work did not affect customer demand, CEO Andrew Levy later acknowledged that the operation placed the company “in the center of a political controversy,” according to a message to employees cited by CNBC. 

The airline now says the underlying issue was economic, not political. Running the deportation flights required dedicated aircraft, specialized scheduling, and crew basing that differed significantly from Avelo’s point-to-point leisure-focused network. For a small carrier with limited fleet depth, the airline said pulling aircraft into government service reduced flexibility elsewhere in the system. 

The decision to exit the contract comes as Avelo reshapes its broader operation. The airline said it has recapitalized and is now in a stronger financial position than a year ago, allowing it to refocus on its core business and strengthen its balance sheet. 

As part of that reset, Avelo plans to concentrate flying around four bases: New Haven, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Central Florida. It will open a new base in McKinney, Texas, later this year while closing bases in Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, North Carolina. The Mesa base closure is tied directly to the end of the ICE flights. 

The airline is also evaluating potential job cuts as it relocates crew members to other bases. Avelo said the number of furloughs remains fluid. Avelo’s flight attendants’ union welcomed the decision to cease the controversial flights. 

“We’re hopeful that with the end of the ICE flying and new financing the future is more stable for flight attendants at Avelo,” the union said in a statement. 

The end of the deportation contract also comes as Avelo continues to face pressure in some of its legacy markets. Levy has previously told employees that performance in New Haven, one of the airline’s earliest bases, has weakened amid increased competition. The carrier also exited the West Coast last year, shutting down its Burbank base after struggling to gain traction there. 

The former will expand the airline’s fleet as well as replace some of the 248 Boeing aircraft it currently operates, while the latter will be used to strengthen its recently launched long-haul operations to Europe and Asia. 

The last couple of years have seen Alaska Airlines undergo massive corporate changes, first with the acquisition and integration of Hawaiian Airlines in 2023, then with the announcement, in 2025, of the launch of a dozen long-haul routes out of its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). 

This deal coincides with the 60^th anniversary of Alaska Airlines’ first Boeing aircraft order, a detail highlighted by both companies when announcing the deal. 

The order will be delivered through 2035, although no specific details have been provided about the expected delivery calendar or the cabin layout that the new aircraft will be fitted with. 

“These planes will fuel our expansion to more destinations across the globe and ensure our guests travel aboard the newest, most fuel-efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO of the Alaska Air Group at an event in Seattle, Washington, during which the order announcement was made. 

Alaska Airlines also used the occasion to publicly welcome the first B787-9, painted in the new blue-and-green Aurora Borealis-themed livery. The aircraft will be used by its long-haul fleet. 

The anniversary marks a century of operations for the airline group, which now transports over 150 million passengers annually across more than 300 destinations as Europe’s largest carrier.

The anniversary, celebrated under the motto “We are the Journey,” honors the 40,000 employees from 122 nations who work for the Lufthansa brand, and the 100,000 people from over 160 nations employed across the Lufthansa Group, which includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, and Brussels Airlines.

The first Lufthansa was formed through the merger of Junkers Luftverkehr and Deutsche Aero Lloyd on January 6, 1926, with its maiden flight taking place on April 6 of the same year. The airline established Germany’s domestic network and expanded routes across Europe, becoming a pioneer in German aviation.

Confronting the Nazi era

Lufthansa’s centenary has prompted the airline to directly address what it describes as “the darkest chapter” in its history – its active role within the Nazi regime during the 1930s and 1940s.

“The darkest chapter in Lufthansa’s history was during the Nazi era, when the airline became part of the regime and played an active role within it,” the carrier stated, announcing it would use the anniversary to “critically examine its involvement during this time and further address it based on historical research.”

During World War 2, Lufthansa was responsible for pilot training and aircraft maintenance for the Luftwaffe, Germany’s air force. The airline also utilized forced labor for these activities, with much of the work conducted at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, the company’s base.

The acknowledgment represents a shift from the airline’s previous approach. In 2016, German media outlet DW criticized Lufthansa for reducing its Nazi past to a footnote in its historical narrative. The current statement marks a more comprehensive reckoning, with the airline emphasizing that it “does not limit itself to the post-war chapters” and that “the years from its founding to the downfall of the first Lufthansa are equally part of the company’s story.”

Current CEO Jens Ritter acknowledged the airline’s “active role” during the regime. 

“Looking back also means facing the darkest parts of our history. During the Nazi era, Lufthansa played an active role in the regime. It’s important to acknowledge responsibility,” Ritter said in a LinkedIn post. 

Post-War rebirth and expansion

With Germany’s defeat in 1945 and subsequent Allied occupation, all remaining Lufthansa aircraft were grounded. On January 1,1951, Deutsche Luft Hansa was officially liquidated.

The airline’s second chapter began in 1953 when a new company, initially named Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (Luftag), was founded in Cologne. The following year, it acquired rights to the Lufthansa name, and in 1955, Deutsche Lufthansa AG officially resumed operations.

The airline initially operated domestic flights connecting Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Munich before expanding internationally. By June 1955, flights to New York had commenced. A symbolic milestone came in 1989 when, for the first time since 1945, a Lufthansa aircraft landed in Berlin, signaling Germany’s reunification.

The airline navigated subsequent challenges including hijackings, oil crises, the aftermath of September 11, 2001, economic recessions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Major achievements included privatization, the launch of its cargo division, and founding membership in the Star Alliance.

Anniversary celebrations

To mark the centenary, Lufthansa has created a special anniversary fleet of six aircraft featuring commemorative liveries: an Airbus A380, an Airbus A350-1000, an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A320, and a Boeing 747-8. Leading the fleet is the Boeing 787-9 named “Berlin,” registered as D-ABPU, which entered service in January. Two additional aircraft will feature retro liveries.

The airline’s iconic crane logo, designed by Otto Firle in 1918, remains its global symbol.

Throughout 2026, Lufthansa will host various activities including a permanent exhibition at Hangar One, special events, a history book, film productions, employee celebrations, and customer events. The anniversary emblem will appear on boarding passes, at airports, and onboard flights, while a poster campaign will display the airline’s history through iconic images in city centers.

According to Lufthansa, the centenary is “a moment of pride and reflection” while also representing “a bold look into the future and the beginning of the company’s second century.”

The service, which is sponsored by telecom operator AT&T with Viasat and Intelsat providing satellite connectivity, will be implemented progressively. 

Narrowbody aircraft (including regional aircraft with a two-class cabin) will be the first to be fitted, although free Wi-Fi will be accessible on nearly every American Airlines flight by the end of the year, including those operated by the carrier’s long-haul fleet. 

In order to connect to the free Wi-Fi, American Airlines’ loyalty program members will have to log in with their personal details via a dedicated web portal. 

In a press release announcing the new free broadband offering, American Airlines highlighted that it has more aircraft fitted with inflight connectivity than any other carrier in the world, with more than 900 planes equipped with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi. 

The advent of new forms of satellite connectivity, such as those offered by SpaceX’s Starlink through low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has led several major airlines, from Qatar Airways to Air France, to start offering free internet onboard. This has put pressure on large carriers to come up with similar offerings to stay competitive. 

On January 6, 2026, the four-year-old airline said that the developments were designed to “simplify” its fleet and network amidst a “balance sheet transformation”.

“Avelo Airlines has been recapitalized, and its cash position is now one of the strongest in the U.S. airline industry relative to its size. The airline will use this cash infusion and balance sheet strength to execute its long-term strategy,” said a spokesperson for the US carrier.

Avelo will remove six Boeing 737-700 aircraft from its fleet to focus primarily on its 737-800 jets. According to ch-aviation, the Avelo fleet is currently comprised of eight 737-700s and 14 737-800s.

As part of its plans, Avelo will streamline its network around four current bases. These include New Haven Tweed (HVN), Wilmington New Castle (ILG), Concord Regional Airport (USA) and Lakeland Linder (LAL). In addition, the airline will open a base at McKinney National Airport (TKI) in late 2026.

Avelo will close its bases at Phoenix Mesa Gateway (AZA), Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Wilmington (ILM).

Avelo will continue serving Raleigh-Durham from New Haven Tweed and Rochester (ROC) and Wilmington from Nashville (BNA), New Haven Tweed, Tampa, (TPA), and Baltimore Washington International (BWI).

“These changes enable Avelo to focus on sustainably scaling five core bases in 2026 and to prepare the company for growth in the coming years, facilitated by the company’s recent order for up to 100 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft,” added the Avelo Airlines spokesperson.

Hawaiian Airlines has announced a $600 million investment program aimed at revamping its passenger experience and infrastructure over a period of five years.

The Kahu‘ewai Hawai‘i Investment Plan, announced on January 5, 2026, will cover most of the airline’s customer touchpoints, from aircraft interiors and airport facilities to IT platforms. 

The carrier’s Airbus A330 fleet, which currently comprises 24 aircraft, will undergo a full cabin refit, with new seats, carpets and lighting. Those aircraft will also receive new business class seats, and a premium economy cabin will be introduced. In connection with this project, three A330s which are currently on lease will be acquired by the airline. 

Hawaiian Airlines is also investing in enhancing the passenger experience on the ground, with the building of a new 10,600-square-foot (984.7 square meters) flagship lounge at its Honolulu (HNL) base. The lounges at four other Hawaiian airports, Līhu‘e (LIH), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO), will also undergo a major renovation. 

In the digital domain, the goal of Hawaiian Airlines is to streamline both the customer experience and internal processes through the launch of a new website and app and the adoption of new IT tools, respectively. These technology updates will allow for greater and smoother integration between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines as well as with the carrier’s new oneworld partners.  

Some investment will also be allocated to sustainability and community initiatives, such as the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the endowment of a startup fund and business accelerator aimed at scaling up Hawaiian companies, and a number of community engagement projects throughout the archipelago. 

The announcement of this far-reaching investment program was celebrated by Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, who highlighted that it would help consolidate the archipelago as a top tourist destination. 

On January 6, 2026, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines confirmed that due to persistent snowfall, combined with strong winds, the carrier had to been forced to cancel 600 flights on January 7, 2025.

To make matters worse KLM admitted that de-icing fluid supplies were running low due to the constant daily use since January 2, 2026.

The carrier said that its supplier, based in Germany, was currently unable to guarantee timely replenishments after 85,000 liters of de-icing fluid had been recently used per day to clear aircraft.

With KLM responsible for de-icing most aircraft at Schiphol, the carrier visited its supplier to retrieve more stock and confirmed at 21:00 on January 6, 2026, that a fresh batch of fluid was on its way back to Amsterdam.

Vreselijk, al die wanhopige gestranden op Schiphol. En nergens meer een slaapplaats te krijgen.

Onderweg naar de luchthaven nu om die mensen hoop te geven. Voor €200 pp. kunnen ze kamer bij Widtvoet Airport Hotel boeken.

Hoop is belangrijk.#schiphol #sneeuw #sneeuw #schiphol pic.twitter.com/SfonnidaRc

— widtvoet (@widtvoet) January 6, 2026

Schiphol Airport has also confirmed that only limited air traffic is possible on January 7, 2026, with European flights taking the brunt of disruptions.

“As a precaution, more than 600 flights are cancelled. More cancellations are expected,” said am airport spokesperson.

Flight monitoring website flightradar24, which has been keeping a tally of disruptions, said 676 had been cancelled at Schiphol Airport today.

Including a further 57 already cancelled on January 8, 2026, according to flightradar24 across seven days of disruptions 3,308 flights have been unable to begin their journeys.

Schiphol has also been given the unenviable title of today’s number one most disrupted airport by flightradar24.

The airline plans to mark the anniversary throughout 2026 with a series of customer-facing updates spanning aircraft liveries, onboard products, digital platforms, and historical storytelling. The effort is designed to acknowledge American’s past while reinforcing its long-term strategy at a time of intensifying competition among US and international carriers. 

A central visual element of the campaign is a special centennial livery that will debut later this month on a Boeing 737, one of the workhorses of American’s domestic and short-haul international network. The design incorporates silver tones and an infinity-inspired motif near the aft fuselage, intended to reference both the airline’s heritage and its future direction. Additional aircraft will receive centennial decals over time, extending the branding across a fleet of more than 1,500 airplanes. 

Passengers will also begin seeing centennial branding integrated into the travel experience, including online booking sites, airport signage, inflight entertainment systems, and limited-edition merchandise. American has launched a dedicated centennial website highlighting milestones from its first century, including the evolution from mail carrier to global airline, the introduction of its AAdvantage loyalty program, and the development of premium cabin products such as Flagship Suite seats. 

Onboard, American plans to roll out limited-time centennial touches during the year, including commemorative amenity kits, specialty inflight dining items, and pajamas on select long-haul routes. Citi-issued AAdvantage credit cards are also receiving a temporary centennial design for new and reissued cards. 

Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom said the centennial reflects the airline’s history of adaptation and innovation rather than a single moment in time. “American is proud to be among the small group of airlines that have celebrated 100 years of flight,” Isom said in a statement, adding that the company aims to carry that legacy forward for customers and employees. 

The centennial celebration underscores how few airlines founded in the early days of commercial aviation remain. American’s survival through the Great Depression, world war, deregulation, fuel crises, mergers, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the airline’s staying power. 

While the campaign leans heavily on heritage, it coincides with ongoing fleet renewal, network adjustments, and investments in premium products and digital tools. American concedes that the centennial functions less as a retrospective and more as a statement of continuity, signaling that the airline intends to remain a central player in global aviation well into its second century.  

On January 6, 2026, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport warned customers that persistent bad weather means that only limited air traffic is possible to and from the global aviation hub.

And there appears to be no respite with the airport additionally advising passengers that the wintry conditions are expected to continue, causing disruptions to the flight schedule over the coming days.

According to the British Met Office, snow is predicted to fall at Amsterdam Schiphol on January 7, 2026, before easing on January 8, 2025.

The airport said that its snow crews have been working “around the clock to keep the runways clear, and aircraft are being carefully de-iced to ensure everyone can travel safely”.

Today at @Schiphol … pic.twitter.com/fuCEtt9pxe

— Sebastiaan Bartelds (@SBartelds) January 6, 2026

Passengers who are due to fly today are being advised to contact the airline they are flying with before traveling to the airport.

In an update from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines shortly before midday the carrier said: “Severe winter weather, including snow and strong winds, is currently disrupting flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We understand this is stressful, and we are doing everything possible to help you reach your destination.”

KLM added: “Due to limited capacity across airlines, crew scheduling adjustments, and operational constraints caused by the weather, rebooking is taking longer than usual. Please be assured that our teams are working around the clock to get you to your destination as soon as possible.”

How many flights have been cancelled?

According to flightradar24, over 400 flights have been cancelled today and 171 have already been cancelled on January 7, 2025, although this could rise.

The flight monitoring service said that across six days (including tomorrow) starting on January 2, 2026, around 2,597 flights have so far been cancelled.

On January 6, 2026, Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam spoke at celebratory service to kick off a year of 80th anniversary jubilations, marking eight decades since the carrier launched in 1946.

Celebrations commenced with the first commercial flight of Cathay Pacific’s retro designed A350-900, registered B-LRJ, departing from Hong Kong Airport (HKG) for San Francisco Airport (SFO) shortly after 13:45.

“Adorned with the airline’s iconic “lettuce leaf sandwich” design as well as the 80th anniversary year mark, the livery pays homage to the much-loved green-and-white striped paint scheme, echoing Cathay’s storied legacy while symbolizing its continued growth and progress,” said Cathay Pacific.

Unifying the birthday festivities is the theme of “80 Years Together” which will also see Cathay introduce a second lettuce leaf sandwich livery on a Boeing 747 freighter in the coming weeks.

“Today marks not just an important milestone for Cathay, but a celebration of our ‘80 Years Together’ with Hong Kong. Guided by our purpose to move people forward in life, Cathay and Hong Kong have grown together over the past eight decades, supporting each other through thick and thin,” said Lam.

He added: “From Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok, whether it’s studying abroad, conducting business, exploring the world, reuniting with family, or delivering vital supplies at critical moments, Cathay has always stood with the people of Hong Kong through countless shared journeys and memories.”

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for ! Our B-LRJ, dressed in special livery, made its inaugural flight today to set our 80th anniversary celebrations in motion . pic.twitter.com/3gtu9xmb7J

— Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) January 6, 2026

Another big part of this year’s celebrations will be cabin crew staff wearing vintage uniforms during flights from various Cathay design eras in a tribute to the generations of people that have worked for the airline.

“Throughout 2026, around 1,000 to 2,000 of Cathay’s cabin crew and ground employees will wear and showcase these vintage uniforms at work, bringing the evolution of the Cathay brand to life in true Cathay fashion,” said Cathay Pacific.

In addition, Cathay is also introducing a curated collection of merchandise inspired by the special liveries and iconic designs from different eras of its history.

Throughout the year Cathay will be announcing more ways to celebrate with September 24, 2026, marking the exact 80th anniversary date since the airline was founded.

The first of 18 Airbus A350-1000 widebody jets landed safely at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taiwan on January 6, 2026, shortly after 09:30 local time.

Kuo-Wei and STARLUX representatives met at the Airbus facility in southern France on January 5, 2025, where the new A350-1000 was officially handed over to the airline in a special signing ceremony.

STARLUX initially ordered 12 A350-1000s but reduced the order to eight and increased its order for the smaller A350-900 from six to 10.

Then at the Paris Air Show 2025, STAARLUX placed a new firm order for 10 additional Airbus A350‑1000 with deliveries expected to start from 2031. According to STARLUX, the carrier expects to receive a further five A350-1000s in 2026.

The new aircraft, registered B-58551, features a new livery design with a “carbon-fiber motif, representing the advanced composite materials integral to the aircraft’s construction”.

The A350-1000 has also been painted with ‘1000’ emblazoned on the fuselage to signal its role as the airline’s largest member of the A350 family and the new long-haul flagship.

The new A350-1000 will join a fleet of 10 A350-900s already in service with the airline which operates on long-haul services to Europe, North America and some destinations in the Asia Pacific.

台湾初導入の A350-1000
本日10時15分、台北にタッチダウン

B-58551の受領により、スターラックス航空のフリートは30機体制に。
新たなフラッグシップにご期待ください#STARLUX #A350_1000 pic.twitter.com/0wE30QH0IE

— STARLUX Airlines Japan (@starluxjapan) January 6, 2026

“The A350-1000 cabin design mirrors that of the A350-900 and is created by the BMW Designworks team. Based on the concept of “Glisten,” it presents a luxurious, polished look. Focused on “comfort, privacy, and a sense of belonging,” the design ensures that passengers in all classes feel “at home” during their journey,” said STARLUX.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, STARLUX said that the A350-1000 is “designed to deliver a calm, spacious, long-haul experience”.

The cabin features four first class seats, 40 business class, 36 premium economy and 270 economy class.

Marking the aircraft’s arrival, STARLUX posted a message on social media indicating that its fleet had now reached 30 jets.

The airline said that the new A350-1000 will initially operate on routes within Asia to “build operational experience”.

“Where will its very first destination be? Find out this February,” teased STARLUX in a social media post.

STARLUX currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising the A321neo, the A330-900, and the A350-900 aircraft. STARLUX has become the 11th global operator of the largest version of the A350.

Celebrating the new arrival, Airbus wrote on social media: “Congratulations Starlux Airlines on your 1st #A350-1000! The #LongRangeLeader will soon be flying passengers in style, offering superior comfort and connectivity in its beautiful #AirspaceCabin and delivering unmatched efficiency to its long-haul operations.”

Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has reportedly spoken with chief executives of at least two major UK and US-based international carriers as potential successors to Wilson, whose term officially runs until 2027, officials told the Indian news outlet.

The search for the new CEO comes amid growing impatience within Tata Group leadership over the pace of improvements at Air India following its 2022 privatization, sources told Reuters. Two people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed that the airline’s board is actively seeking Wilson’s replacement.

The crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad in June 2025 marked a turning point for the airline. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 more on the ground. A preliminary investigation found that the aircraft’s fuel control switches moved to “cutoff” three seconds after liftoff, though the cause remains under investigation.

Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, visited the crash site this morning. He has been in Ahmedabad since last night. The airline has over 30 technical people assisting. Air India also has a whole team on the ground to support the family and loved ones of those affected. pic.twitter.com/NzQHJkh02T

— Ajay Awtaney (@LiveFromALounge) June 13, 2025

Following the crash, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued show-cause notices to several senior Air India officials, including Wilson, over alleged violations including operating aircraft without emergency equipment checks, delays in replacing engine parts, and shortcomings in crew fatigue management. In one case, the airline operated an aircraft with an expired license.

Wilson, a New Zealand native who had previously spent 26 years at Singapore Airlines, took charge of Air India in July 2022 after Tata Sons regained control of the airline from the Indian government. After his appointment, Wilson announced a five-year transformation plan to rebuild the carrier into a global airline.

Under Wilson’s leadership, Air India successfully merged with Vistara and expanded its fleet, even overtaking market leader IndiGo on some metro routes. However, global supply chain issues delayed aircraft deliveries and refurbishments, affecting service quality and punctuality.

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense, known as CADE, approved the transaction without conditions, according to filings and company statements. The decision allows United to raise its economic interest in Azul from about 2% to nearly 8% through the purchase of newly issued shares. 

The investment forms part of Azul’s broader effort to restructure its balance sheet under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, a process the airline entered in May 2025. Azul has continued normal flight operations throughout the restructuring while seeking to reduce debt and strengthen short-term liquidity. 

As part of its Chapter 11 process, Azul plans to raise new equity through a combination of public and strategic investor offerings, including the investment by United. The proceeds are intended to support debt reduction and provide additional liquidity as the airline works toward an exit from bankruptcy protection. 

United has been a minority investor in Azul since 2015 and maintains a long-standing commercial relationship with the carrier, including codeshare and cooperation agreements. The expanded stake deepens that partnership but stops well short of control, a point regulators reviewed as part of the antitrust process. 

Azul is Brazil’s third-largest airline and operates a diverse fleet that reflects its hybrid business model. The carrier flies Airbus A330 widebodies on international routes, Airbus A320neo and A321neo narrowbodies on high-density domestic services, Embraer E195 and E195-E2 jets across its regional network, and ATR turboprops and Cessna Caravan aircraft serving smaller communities. 

The airline has faced sustained financial pressure from dollar-denominated lease obligations, fuel costs, and currency volatility, challenges shared by much of Brazil’s airline sector in recent years. Azul’s restructuring plan includes returning a number of aircraft to lessors, renegotiating lease terms, and issuing new equity that will dilute existing shareholders. 

Executives have said Azul expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in early 2026, following creditor votes and court approval of its plan. The approval of United’s expanded investment removes a key regulatory hurdle and provides further clarity around the airline’s post-restructuring ownership structure.