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.

KLM tweaks livery for A321neo arrival

Dutch flag carrier KLM has unveiled a livery update for its incoming Airbus A321neo fleet.

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ETOPS extension for Embraer E2s

Embraer has secured 120-minute extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) approval for its E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets.

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‘Baby Boom’ takes flight

Boom Supersonic, the company attempting to build the world’s fastest airliner, successfully flew its technology demonstrator, the XB-1, for the first time on March 22

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Profit pressure at KLM

KLM warned of fleet challenges and constraints at its Amsterdam base in its annual results for 2023.

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Malta's Universal Airlines accepts maiden Dash 8

Malta-based charter airline Universal Air is launching scheduled passenger operations with a planned fleet of four De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s.

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Boeing delivery delays hit Ryanair’s schedule

Ryanair expects to receive just 40 of the 57 planned Boeing 737 MAX 8200 aircraft that were due to be delivered before the summer.

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Bumper profits for IAG

IAG, the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and LEVEL, reported “strong and sustained demand for travel, in particular in leisure” as it revealed operating profits of around £3bn in 2023, higher than its pre-COVID peak.

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City Airlines routes revealed

Lufthansa Group has unveiled the first destinations to be served by its newest carrier, Lufthansa City Airlines.

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Finnair marks 100 years of flight today

Finnair is celebrating 100 years of flight having operated its first-ever service today (March 20) in 1924.

New Flying Doctor King Air makes flying visit to Belfast

A new Beechcraft King Air 360C for the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service passed through Belfast International Airport on its delivery flight on February 26, 2024.

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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