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.

European expansion for flydubai

Low-cost Emirati carrier flydubai is expanding its network further into Europe with the launch of four new routes. From August, the carrier will become the first UAE airline to operate services to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, serving the border region of France, Germany and Switzerland.

Global’s first A380 takes flight

The first ‘fully acquired’ Airbus A380 of UK start-up Global Airlines has taken to the skies. The former China Southern Airlines example, re-registered 9H-GLOBL (c/n 120), carried out a 20-minute test flight from Mojave Airport, California.

Volotea goes big in 2024

Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea has announced plans to increase its fleet and expand its network in 2024 after achieving “historic financial margins” in 2023.

Aeroflot’s fleet settlements continue

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has finalised further insurance claims with leasing companies for seven more aircraft.

International return for Tu-214

Russian carrier Red Wings has placed its restored Tupolev Tu-214 into service on international flights.

Take off for Air Astana IPO

Kazakhstan's flag carrier Air Astana has begun trading on the London Stock Exchange and Astana International Exchange (AIX).

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Bombardier bags Challenger 3500 order

Bombardier announced on December 22, 2023, that an undisclosed customer had placed a firm order for 12 of its Challenger 3500 super mid-size business jet, with the first deliveries expected in the second half of 2025.

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EasyJet reopens ‘Runway’

Low-cost airline easyJet reopened its ‘Runway’ university graduate training initiative in January.

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Red Wings Tupolev Tu-214 restoration

Moscow-based Red Wings Airlines has received a Tupolev Tu-214 as it looks to expand its fleet.

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Air Samarkand takes flight

New Uzbekistan carrier Air Samarkand has received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after conducting its maiden demonstration flight from Samarkand to Tashkent on December 28.

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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