Air Transport

The airline is on track to complete its merger with Vistara and has launched a major aircraft upgrade program.

Our Route Opportunities feature explores the latest unserved and underserved routes promoted through Routes 360, providing supporting information for airline network planners to consider and capitalize on.

The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.

KM MALTA AIRLINES is expected soon to take delivery of new A320neo (12182) with LEAPs, increasing fleet to nine.

PORTER AIRLINES sold third new E195-E2 (146) to Elevate Capital Partners for leaseback as part of deal for four.

UNITED AIRLINES agreed to lease 20 new A321neos with GTFs from SMBC Aviation Capital for delivery starting 2026.

KLM and BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP teamed to develop Pathfinder AI tool to optimize airline operations, realize sustainability benefits from reduced fuel burn and reduce flight disruptions; tool was selected by Singapore Airlines.

TRUENOORD completed purchase of additional eight aircraft from Nordic Aviation Capital: four E190s leased to BREEZE AIRWAYS, three E190s leased to LOT, and one further Dash 8-400 leased to NEXUS, Australia. It now has 94 aircraft.

CDB AVIATION LEASE FINANCE (CDBALF) ordered 50 737-8s for 2028-2031 and now has 69 737 MAXs on order.

ACI WORLD is projecting y-o-y global air traffic increase of 10% from 8.7b pax in 2023 to 9.5b in 2024, which is 4% higher than 2019 levels; international traffic is expected to total 4.1b pax and domestic traffic will reach 5.4b.

RAA reports that in 2023 regional airlines served 634 US airports (63% relied solely on regional airlines for air service); 31% of scheduled departures in US were operated by regional airlines, including >70% for some states.

LOGANAIR leased ex-Avianca ATR 72-600 (1142) from Petrus Aviation, in partnership with Jetstream Aviation Capital.

BBN AIRLINES, Türkiye leased A321P2F (1670; ex-Air Busan) with V2500s from BBAM.

S7 AIRLINES signed MOU with United Aircraft Corporation to order up to 100 Tu-214s for fleet expansion; earlier in 2024, UAC announced plan to increase Tu-214 production to 10 aircraft per year in 2025/2026, then to 20 in 2028.

AVIAN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, FL acquired ex-JetBlue E190 (004) from Azorra for part out.

ETIHAD CARGO and SF AIRLINES announced project to establish joint venture to strengthen UAE-China trade.

AERCAP has Board authorization for $500m share repurchase program through 1Q25, increasing total to $4.4m since '23.

Mediated talks between Boeing representatives and its striking IAM employees offered little encouragement that the walkout will be short-lived.

An MRO issue may explain the rupture of a Rolls-Royce XWB-97 fuel hose that led a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 crew to return to Hong Kong, EASA says.

Discussions with activist investor Carl Icahn have been constructive, says JetBlue Airways CEO Joanna Geraghty.

Embraer is encouraging customers of its E2 family of small narrowbody jets that operate in hot and dusty environments to hold off on deliveries.

CDB Aviation Lease Finance has entered an aircraft purchase agreement with Boeing for 50 737-8s.

NTN Europe has been facing a number of problems with its own steel suppliers, as well as hiring challenges, a company executive says.

Qantas is seeking to switch more of its Tokyo flights to Haneda Airport by applying for the Haneda slots relinquished by Virgin Australia.

A group of e-fuel providers and Transport & Environment (T&E) have teamed up to call on Germany’s government to keep the country’s e-kerosene submandates.