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.

Cathay Pacific reveals sobering January traffic stats

The flag carrier’s load factor dropped to just 13% during the month as it continues to deal with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements

Airbus reports €1.1 billion loss for 2020

The aerospace giant expects to deliver the same number of aircraft this year as it did in 2020

Finnair to dismantle A319 at Helsinki Airport

The narrowbody flew for the airline from October 1999 until it was withdrawn from use in September last year

Bombardier to end Learjet production this year

Nearly 60 years after first entering service, the ultimate flying symbol of luxury has finally received the chop

Berlin Tegel memorabilia and equipment goes up for auction

Fancy a snowplough? Well now’s your chance because the operator of Berlin’s airports is selling them

Which airline claims to have vaccinated its entire on-board crew?

As the world continues the rapid roll-out, one airline says it has already completed its programme to inoculate its flying crew

Singapore Airlines reveals major aircraft order book changes

The company made the alterations as part of a $4bn capital expenditure deferral programme

First UPS A300 receives cockpit upgrade

The jet gained increased capabilities and flexibility through a comprehensive flight deck modernisation programme

Eastern Airways relaunches Birmingham-Gibraltar link

The operator ended a four-year hiatus and aims to capture both leisure and business traffic

Korean Air produced $200m profit in 2020. Here’s how they did it...

The carrier’s operating profit fell by only 17% while gross sales reduced by more than 40%

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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