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.

SAS steps closer to SkyTeam with Atlanta announcement

SAS has added a new route connecting Copenhagen with Atlanta to its summer 2024 programme.

Loganair bids fond farewell to the Saab 340

Scotland’s Loganair has retired its venerable Saab 340 fleet after more than 24 years of service.

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Cathay Cargo adds A350F

The Cathay Group has ordered six new Airbus A350Fs to join the airline’s cargo division, Cathay Cargo, with the right to acquire 20 more aircraft.

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Alaska to buy Hawaiian

In a surprise announcement, Alaska Airlines has announced its intention to purchase Hawaiian Airlines in a deal worth $1.9bn. Alaska Air Group will pay $18 in cash per share to Hawaiian Holdings, taking on the Honolulu carrier’s $900m debt.

First A350-1000 for JAL

Japan Airlines’ (JAL) first Airbus A350-1000 has arrived in Tokyo.

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Turkish Airlines rebrands its low-cost carrier

Turkish Airlines has announced that it will rebrand its low-cost subsidiary AnadoluJet as AJet Air Transportation Inc – AJet for short – and move the carrier to its own AOC starting in March 2024.

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Ryanair lands in Norwich

Low-cost giant Ryanair announced in December that it will begin operations for the first time at Norwich Airport this summer, with three routes commencing from April 1.

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BA CityFlyer set to return to a London airport

London City-based BA CityFlyer is to make a return to London/Stansted in May 2024, its first operation at the facility in four years.

Spirit takeover blocked

JETBLUE’S $3.8bn bid to buy rival Spirit Airlines has been blocked by William Young, a US district judge in Boston, on anti-competitive grounds.

All change at Abha Airport

​The Saudi Arabian government plans to expand Abha International airport. Investors and airport operating companies have been invited to bid for concessions to the country’s airport operator, Matarat, to develop and run the facility for 30 years.

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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