News & Events

AirAsia X London Relaunch: 16-Hour 1-Stop Flights Revealed
February 09, 2026

It appears that Malaysia's long-haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X will officially announce its return to the UK this week. While flights were previously nonstop on the Airbus A340-300, its operation this time will be very different. It is expected to reveal Airbus A330-operated flights from Kuala Lumpur to London Gatwick via Bahrain. The long route is due to be announced on February 12. This will be the airline's latest attempt to make UK flights work. It operated nonstop from the Malaysian capital to London Stansted between 2009 and 2011 (I was on one of the first flights), when it switched to Gatwick. The route to the UK's second-busiest airport ended in 2012.
A New Era: Emirates’ First-Ever Airbus A350 Flight Touches Down In London
February 09, 2026

On February 8, Emirates made history by flying the Airbus A350 to London Gatwick for the first time. It was the Gulf giant's inaugural A350 service to the UK capital. The type now has two routes to the country, joining flights to Edinburgh. The A350's arrival at Gatwick coincided with the start of four daily departures to the UK's second-busiest airport. Emirates now has up to 13 daily flights to London and up to 21 daily services to the UK generally. These figures only relate to passenger operations.
Boeing Set For Massive $80 Billion Order From India Following Trump Trade Deal
February 08, 2026

According to the latest rumors, India could soon be set to deliver Boeing one of its biggest ever single-country orders. Following an interim trade framework being approved between the United States and India that was announced this week, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that India is ready to place Boeing aircraft orders worth around $70-80 billion, potentially topping total order valuations of $100 billion when engines and spare parts are included.
More Premium: American Airlines’ 1st Retrofitted Airbus A319 Enters Service This Weekend
February 06, 2026

Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines is preparing to deploy its first retrofitted Airbus A319 into service this weekend. The news comes as the carrier has been working for months to refresh the aircraft with more premium seats and other upgrades. While the new cabin features an additional row in first class, it lacks seatback entertainment. The update aligns the interior with that of American’s other narrowbody aircraft – a move that reduces the planes’ overall weight.
Budget 2026: India's big planes and bigger flying dreams eye a safer runway
January 22, 2026

Anyone who has flown recently has sensed it — the discomfort during long delays, the fear after a technical fault announcement and the uncertainty that follows news of crashes or cyberattacks. With aircraft groundings, operational meltdowns and rising incidents fresh in public memory, the question ahead of Budget 2026 almost asks itself: Is Indian aviation growing faster than the systems that keep it safe
WestJet Cuts 11 US Routes In Major Network Shake-Up
February 09, 2026

Each week, airlines submit schedule changes to Cirium Diio, OAG, etc. In the latest update, WestJet, which is Canada's second-largest operator, revealed that it has cut a further 11 US routes. It has also made many changes to other routes, including shorter operating periods and fewer flights. The changes are, of course, largely in response to the lower demand for transborder travel, especially from Canadians. This broadly reflects the current political situation. In June, for example, the airline's schedule submission to Cirium shows WestJet plans 16% fewer US services than in 2025. Excluding the pandemic years, that's its lowest offering since 2016.
American Airlines Now Flying To 21 Destinations In Europe—Is Your Favorite On the List?
February 09, 2026

American Airlines' European network continues to grow. The airline's published 2026-2027 schedule spans 21 different European destinations across 13 countries, combining major business gateways with summer leisure destinations. The airline's primary European gateway at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remains the unquestionable anchor of this network, but the carrier also reaches deep into the Mediterranean and is only continuing to grow its presence in Central Europe. The frequency increase on the 7,620-mile (12,192km) route between Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) will become the UAE’s only non-stop connection to Atlanta, also known as the ‘Gate City, or ‘The Big Peach. The service will be operated using the airline’s five-strong fleet of Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft that accommodate 371 passengers in a two-class configuration – 44 in business class and 327 in economy class.
History In The Making: Vietnam Airlines To Launch First-Ever Direct Hanoi-Amsterdam Route
February 08, 2026

Vietnam Airlines will be taking off with a new non-stop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam this summer, which will be the first time the SkyTeam carrier has connected the two cities. This will complement both the airline alliance and the onward ability to travel at either end of the route. For travelers, the new route will commence on June 16, operating three times weekly onboard the Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Becoming the only carrier to offer the route non-stop will reap the rewards from business, or high-value travelers to the region, competing against alternative one-stop itineraries such as via China, or other Southeast Asian countries. The new route will fly three times a week, and is set to launch in July. When it launches, it will be the only direct route to India for the north of England.
Over 3,000 Miles: United Airlines' 8 Longest Boeing 737 MAX Flights In 2026
February 06, 2026

The United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX fleet is most commonly associated with dense domestic flying, but in 2026, it is also stretching into long-haul territory. On a handful of routes, the MAX is not just a short-haul workhorse, but rather a long-range tool that lets United connect niche markets with the right-sized aircraft.
EgyptAir Takes Delivery Of Its First A350 To Boost Intercontinental Growth
February 09, 2026

Egyptair has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, the next step in its ongoing fleet transformation. The aircraft (SU-GGE), which flew for the first time last month, completed its four-hour delivery flight from Toulouse earlier today, touching down in the Egyptian capital shortly before 04:00 PM local time. The aircraft will be inspected by EgyptAir's technical operations team before starting life with the airline on trunk routes to London and Paris for crew familiarization flights.
Singapore Airlines Makes Major Change To Its Dubai Route - And A380 Fans Will Love It
February 08, 2026

Singapore Airlines has made an exciting change to its route between Singapore and Dubai. Its initial plan was to deploy its A380s on the route for the Summer 2026 season, before reverting to the smaller Boeing 777-300ERs in October. However, its latest scheduling update shows that the airline is committed to operating the A380s to Dubai all year round. Dubai joins London Heathrow and Sydney as the airline's year-round A380 destinations.
Huge A350 Premium Boost: Starlux Adds Over 50% More Business Class On A350-1000
February 08, 2026

Having taken delivery of a new aircraft type, Taiwanese carrier Starlux showed off its brand new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at the Singapore Airshow, giving a glimpse of the cabin of the aircraft. A noticeable feature was that the larger variant offered 50% more business capacity and increased capacity in economy class, compared to its smaller A350-900 variant.
Boeing On India: A Market Of Scale, Talent & Long-Term Confidence
January 29, 2026

India’s civil aviation sector is poised for an exciting decade of rapid expansion and rising global significance. As the world’s third-largest domestic market, India benefits from strong demographics, growing incomes, supportive connectivity policies, and an expanding route network—factors that underpin durable, multi-decade demand. Boeing forecasts enormous fleet growth in South Asia, with India taking a large share of the more than 2,800 new deliveries expected over the next 20 years; the regional fleet could nearly quadruple by 2043. Over the next ten years, growth will be driven by a surge in single-aisle aircraft to deepen domestic and regional links, alongside notable widebody expansion as Indian carriers scale long-haul services. Network complexity and operational-efficiency initiatives will rise in parallel.