Commercial Aviation News

The latest commercial aviation news and analysis about new airlines and airliners entering service, new routes being opened up by the world’s many carriers, their cabin offerings, and many other topics can be found here. From the future of one long-haul aircraft type to the retirement of another, the mix of airliners that the airlines operate is changing.

Airlines continue to grow in number in Asia while Europe sees operators fold in their challenging mature market but new routes between the two continents continue to be opened. Alliances between airlines shift and mergers have seen fewer airlines in North America while carriers in the Far East have proliferated. Despite China’s dominance in manufacturing and a strong export sector, air freight has stagnated on long-haul routes while internet shopping boosts the industry’s short-haul profitability.

Airlines are constantly having to adopt new technologies and tactics to deal with increasing volumes of passengers, security threats and environmental challenges. More and more biofuels are being approved for use and airlines in recent years have used them for revenue earning flights, while also investing in the most efficient engines.

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Bristell e-aircraft flown to AERO 2024

A Bristell B23 Energic, HB-SXD, powered solely by electricity, flew from Sion, Switzerland, to Friedrichshafen, Germany to be showcased at AERO 2024 general aviation trade show.

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Aegean Airlines ramps up routes

Aegean Airlines is increasing frequencies on routes between Greece and key European hubs. It has secured a fourth slot at London/Heathrow for a new daily (except Saturday) Athens service.

BA’s pilot cadet scheme opening for new applications

Scheme offers successful candidates free training and a job on graduation

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Airbus A320 upgrades for American Airlines and Air Canada

More than 200 Airbus A320 Family aircraft based in North America are to receive major cockpit and avionics upgrades.

Record Stansted Airport passenger numbers

London Stansted Airport registered its busiest-ever year in 2023/24, new figures show.

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First E-Jet Freighter flies

Embraer has flown the first E190F conversion from its São José dos Campos facility in Brazil.

Repercussions from Boeing 737 MAX delivery delays

Airlines are having to change fleet plans to cope with delivery delays of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

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Royal Jordanian inducts inaugural E2s

Royal Jordanian Airlines’ first two Embraer E195-E2s have joined the fleet. In total, eight examples are expected to operate on RJ’s short and medium-range routes.

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Airlander 10 starts certification

Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has formally begun the process of applying for a type certification for its in-development Airlander 10 aircraft, which it says is “designed to be the world’s most efficient large aircraft”.

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Qantas welcomes Airbus A220

Qantas introduced the carrier’s first two Airbus A220-300s on March 1, 2024. The carrier’s QantasLink subsidiary operated aircraft, VH-X4A (c/n 55253) and VH-X4B (c/n 55269), from Melbourne to Canberra and Brisbane.

Global Corporate and Business Aviation News

On this page you will find the latest news on airlines expanding their fleets and changes in aircraft types, covering a wide range of commercial airlines, countries and regions, whether it’s the growing regions of Asia and Africa or the more mature markets of Europe and North America.

Airlines are also examining new technologies and greater fuel efficiencies on the ground with electric power for taxiing. When passengers board the aircraft they have their faces recognised by a computer instead of airline staff checking boarding passes. Security threats were once hijacking terrorists, but now conflict zones’ airspaces are to be avoided and virus carrying passengers pose a problem for crew and customers alike.

Airlines across the planet are expanding their fleets and sometimes ordering as many aircraft as they have in service or even up to two to three times more. The aim of many airlines is to have the youngest fleet with the most efficient engines, and that may see a mix of orders and leasing. Aircraft development is seeing more truly international collaboration, from Airbus absorbing the Bombardier C series to Boeing and its joint venture with Brazil’s Embraer. Markets are seeing strategic manoeuvres by major players.

In business aviation, the corporate jet market aimed at the time constrained executive is being teased with supersonic jets that could enter service in the 2020s. This market is also seeing onboard technical improvements so aircraft can be tracked anywhere over land and oceans. The larger the corporate jet, the more valuable the asset to be tracked and secure. Another trend in the market has been more demand for larger business aircraft and that is set to continue well into this decade. These larger aircraft are also adopting new features aimed at passenger wellbeing with lower altitude cabin air pressures and lighting that compliments the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Keep on top of the latest news from the rest of the aviation industry including airport news, new airport technology and trends and aviation engineering.

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