Air New Zealand transported more than 16 million passengers and operated 171,605 flights during a bustling 2024. The carrier’s engineering team completed 92 engine changes and spent 1.2 million hours maintaining aircraft amid ongoing engine availability challenges. CEO Greg Foran said the airline achieved significant milestones despite facing hurdles throughout the year. “We’d like to

Delta Air Lines expects to deliver its best financial performance in company history this year after reporting strong results for 2024. The US carrier plans to distribute $1.4 billion in profit sharing payments to employees next month following what it called industry-leading operational and financial performance. CEO Ed Bastian said consumer demand for premium travel

STARLUX Airlines has ordered five additional A350F cargo aircraft from Airbus, doubling its initial order from last year. The Taiwanese carrier will operate the A350F fleet on major global freight routes through its STARLUX Cargo division. STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai said the cargo market would become crucial to the airline’s operations. “The cargo market is

Vietjet has added 12 new aircraft to its fleet including two Airbus A321neo planes and four wet-leased aircraft. The Vietnamese carrier received two A321neo ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex) aircraft from Airbus in late December 2024. The airline secured an additional four wet-leased aircraft in January 2025 to handle increased passenger demand during lunar new year

Global air passenger demand rose 8.1 per cent in November 2024, with international travel leading the growth as airlines faced ongoing aircraft delivery challenges. Total capacity grew 5.7 per cent year-on-year while load factors hit an all-time November high of 83.4 per cent, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). International travel

Munich Airport emerged as Germany’s fastest-growing airport in 2024, with passenger numbers climbing by 4.5 million to reach 41.6 million travellers. Aircraft movements at the Bavarian hub increased 8 per cent to more than 327,000 takeoffs and landings, while maintaining a seat load factor above 82 per cent. Long-haul routes showed the strongest expansion, rising

Aircraft manufacturer Embraer delivered 206 aircraft in 2024, marking a 14 per cent increase from its 2023 total of 181. The Brazilian aerospace company shipped 75 aircraft in the fourth quarter, matching its delivery volume from the same period in 2023 and exceeding third-quarter deliveries by 27 per cent. Commercial Aviation achieved 73 deliveries for

Qatar Executive has expanded its private jet fleet to 24 aircraft with the delivery of two additional Gulfstream G700s. The luxury charter division of Qatar Airways Group now operates six G700 aircraft, with four more scheduled for delivery through early 2026. The company’s fleet includes 15 Gulfstream G650ER aircraft, two Bombardier Global 5000s and one

Embraer has secured a contract to supply four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to an undisclosed African customer. The Brazilian aerospace manufacturer signed the agreement on December 31, 2024, making this the sixth African nation to operate the light attack and advanced trainer aircraft. The aircraft will be used for border surveillance, intelligence gathering, close air

Boeing has appointed former US Department of Defense chief information officer Dana Deasy to lead its technology and data analytics division. Deasy will take on the role of chief information digital officer and senior vice president of Information Technology & Data Analytics, effective December 31, 2024. In his new position, Deasy will be responsible for

Qatar Airways will resume flights to Damascus from January 7 2025, offering three weekly services to the Syrian capital. The route will connect Damascus with more than 170 destinations through Qatar Airways’ global network via Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said the resumption highlighted the airline’s

CPaT Global secured a contract with Wizz Air to provide pilot and cabin crew training programs across the airline’s Airbus A320 fleet. The Houston-based aviation training provider will deliver aircraft systems courses and general subjects training for Wizz Air’s pilot programs. The contract includes cabin crew training modules featuring aircraft systems, safety protocols and 3D

American Airlines will become the only carrier offering nonstop flights between Washington’s Reagan National Airport and San Antonio International Airport from March 2025. The U.S. Department of Transportation approved American’s application to operate the route, with tickets going on sale from December 23. Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, said

Singapore Airlines Group recorded an 8.3 per cent increase in passenger traffic for November 2024, carrying 3.3 million passengers across its network. The group’s passenger capacity grew 9.3 per cent compared to the same month last year, while its passenger load factor decreased slightly to 87 per cent. Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot achieved

Hanwha Aerospace has appointed Michael Coulter as its Global Defense CEO to lead the company’s international defense initiatives. The newly created position will oversee the defense operations of Hanwha Aerospace and its subsidiaries, including Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems. Coulter previously served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development at Leonardo DRS and President

Embraer has achieved investment grade status from Moody’s, marking the third major rating agency to upgrade the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer this year. The company’s credit rating was raised from Ba1 to Baa3 with a positive outlook. The upgrade follows similar moves by S&P Global Ratings in February and Fitch Ratings in September. “Our focus on

The aircraft leasing industry faces a stable outlook for 2025, with strong travel demand and aircraft supply constraints expected to support solid financial performance, according to a new Morningstar DBRS report. Global air travel demand remains robust, driven by leisure travel and improving corporate bookings. “We expect continuing solid growth dynamics in global aviation along

Slovakia has signalled its intention to purchase Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft for its military transport requirements. The Slovak Ministry of Defense signed a Letter of Intent with Brazil’s Ministry of Defense to enhance industrial cooperation between the two nations. Formal steps toward acquiring three C-390 aircraft will begin in January 2025. “The C-390 is currently

The Republic of Kazakhstan has received its first Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, marking a significant upgrade to the nation’s airlift capabilities. The aircraft was delivered to Almaty following a ferry flight from Airbus’ assembly facility in Seville, Spain. “The A400M is a game changer for the Kazakh Air Defense Forces, delivering unrivalled tactical and

Airbus has appointed Carmen-Maja Rex as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, effective 1 April 2025. Ms Rex will join the Executive Committee and report directly to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. She currently serves as Human Resources Group Director at Heidelberg Materials, a global building materials manufacturer. The appointment comes as current HR chief Thierry

Qatar Airways has unveiled a star-studded in-flight safety video featuring comedian Kevin Hart as its new Global Brand Ambassador, aiming to capture passenger attention through entertainment. The video, directed by Hollywood filmmaker Tim Story, will debut on select flights in December before rolling out across the entire fleet by January 2025. Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and

Global airlines are facing significant shifts in the European aviation sector as geopolitical tensions reshape flight paths and market dynamics. Chinese carriers have seized a dominant 74 per cent market share on China-Europe routes, up from 60 per cent in 2019, amid ongoing airspace restrictions. The Russian airspace closure has forced European airlines to take

Air New Zealand has launched a new Christmas campaign highlighting how its crew brings festive magic to passengers who would otherwise miss December 25 due to international time differences. The airline’s “Let the Magic Find You This Christmas” campaign features cabin crew creating an onboard Christmas celebration for a young passenger traveling to New Zealand

CommuteAir has signed a contract with Embraer for inventory and repair services to support its E-Jet aircraft fleet through the Exchange Plus Program. The agreement gives CommuteAir access to Embraer’s global supply chain for parts management. “CommuteAir is excited to build on its existing partnership with Embraer for our ERJ145 aircraft to now include parts

Embraer launched its ONEChain Program to digitalize and streamline supply chain operations through a new integrated management platform. The aerospace company said the initiative would help balance production output and improve supplier collaboration as part of its growth strategy. “In addition to achieving enhanced operational efficiency, we have integrated all operations with our suppliers and

Philippine airline Cebu Pacific made history as the first company from the Philippines to project a promotional display on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, showcasing the country’s tourist destinations for 2025. The “Fly to Happy, Fly to the Philippines” show featured iconic locations including Boracay, Palawan and Cebu beaches, along with landmarks like Mayon Volcano and the

Romania has become the 20th nation to join the F-35 Lightning II program after signing a deal to acquire 32 of the advanced fighter jets through a U.S. Foreign Military Sale. The agreement strengthens NATO’s air defense capabilities in Eastern Europe and builds on Romania’s existing defense partnership with manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Lt. Gen Mike

Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has expanded its industrial cooperation in the Netherlands following the country’s purchase of the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The company selected Fokker Services Group to deliver modifications preparing the C-390 for NATO special operations missions. Embraer also forged research partnerships with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Royal NLR) to develop

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of up to 82 H145M light combat helicopters to the German Armed Forces at its Donauwörth site, less than a year after the contract signing. The helicopter will be used for training at the German Army’s Bückeburg base, with the first combat-ready version scheduled for delivery in 2025. Airbus

Embraer and Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore commercial aviation collaboration opportunities. The agreement was signed at the Indonesia-Brazil CEO Forum during the G20 Summit in Brazil, witnessed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and key government officials. PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan said the deal would

Singapore Airlines Group carried 3.3 million passengers in October 2024, up 7% from last year, as passenger capacity rose 9.2% across its network. The group’s overall passenger load factor declined slightly to 86% from 87.4% a year earlier, with main carrier Singapore Airlines achieving 86.1% and budget subsidiary Scoot recording 85.4%. Cargo performance strengthened significantly,

American Airlines expects to carry nearly 8.3 million passengers across more than 77,000 flights during the Thanksgiving period from November 21 to December 3. The airline projects passenger numbers will exceed last year’s figures by more than 500,000, with December 1 and 2 set to be the busiest travel days. American Airlines Chief Operating Officer

The air charter industry has responded to multiple humanitarian emergencies in 2024, providing critical aid and evacuation services across several continents. Air Charter Service’s Director Ben Dinsdale said the sector had united to address numerous disasters and conflicts. “The industry has been called into action multiple times this year, all around the globe, to facilitate

Singapore Airlines will be the only airline globally to serve Cristal 2015 champagne in its premium cabins from December 1, 2024, following an exclusive agreement with Louis Roederer. The premium champagne will initially be offered on flights between Singapore and eight major destinations including London, Los Angeles and Sydney. Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Customer

Cathay Pacific will resume direct flights between Hong Kong and Hyderabad from March 30, 2025, boosting its Indian network to 43 weekly flights across five cities. The service will initially operate three times weekly before increasing to five flights per week from September 1, 2025. Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said the

The Swedish Ministry of Defence has selected Brazil’s Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft to modernise its tactical transport fleet, marking the first purchase of the military aircraft in Northern Europe. The decision made Sweden the sixth European NATO member to acquire the C-390, following Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands and Portugal. Embraer Defence & Security president

Frontier Airlines has earned CAPA’s North American Environmental Sustainability Airline of the Year award for its industry-leading emissions reductions. The ultra-low-cost carrier received the accolade at CAPA’s Environmental Sustainability Awards for Excellence in Hong Kong this week. The award recognised Frontier’s achievement in operating 44 per cent more fuel efficiently than other major US carriers.

SITA and IDEMIA have joined forces to create an interoperable digital travel system that promises to streamline passenger identification across airports worldwide. The partnership aims to develop an open trust network allowing travellers’ digital identities to be recognised seamlessly across international borders. This new ecosystem will connect governments, airports and airlines through a decentralised framework,

Munich Airport will transform its terminal forum into a festive marketplace complete with ice skating, entertainment and visits from Santa Claus from November 15 to December 31. The Christmas and winter market will operate daily from 11am to 9pm in the Munich Airport Center, except for Christmas Eve when it closes at 4pm. More than

Deutsche Aircraft aims to enhance regional connectivity in western China with its new 40-seat D328eco turboprop aircraft. The manufacturer will target major western hubs including Lanzhou, Urumqi and Kunming to support economic development in remote areas. The aircraft can be configured for passenger, cargo, air ambulance or firefighting operations. Deutsche Aircraft Regional Sales Director Ryan

Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of Africa’s first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in Toulouse, expanding its premium service capabilities on key international routes. The delivery marks the first of four A350-1000s for Ethiopia’s national carrier, which already operates 21 A350 family aircraft. The new aircraft will serve destinations including Washington D.C., London, Paris and Frankfurt. The

Air New Zealand will launch its own wine label in collaboration with Villa Maria to commemorate its first trans-Tasman flight. The new Thirteen Forty Five label, named after the 1,345-mile distance of the inaugural 1940 Auckland-Sydney flight, will feature a sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. The wines have been crafted with Marlborough winemakers to suit

Singapore Cruise Centre has partnered with travel technology firm SITA to transform passenger processing at its Tanah Merah and HarbourFront ferry terminals. The upgrade will include biometric-ready kiosks, self-bag drop facilities and automated gates across both terminals. The terminals, which serve as gateways to Malaysia and Indonesia’s Riau Islands, handle over 7 million passengers annually.

Singapore Airlines will invest S$1.1 billion to upgrade cabin products across 41 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, including the introduction of first class on ultra-long-range routes. The retrofit program will cover both long-haul and ultra-long-range A350-900 variants, with completion targeted for late 2030. The airline will install new first class cabins on seven A350-900ULR aircraft serving the

Cathay has expanded its Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme with new partners tripling carbon emission reductions compared to last year. The airline has introduced a tiered structure for the program, which now includes 15 corporate partners across Diamond, Gold and Silver levels. Program partners have committed to using 2,650 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel in

Air Charter Service has recorded its strongest performance in Greater China with significant growth across its Shanghai and Hong Kong operations. The aircraft charter specialist reported an 18 per cent revenue increase in Hong Kong, while its Shanghai office saw charter numbers surge 40 per cent in 2024. The company’s growth followed a strategic decision

British Airways has resumed services to Bangkok following a four-year hiatus from the Thai capital. The first flight departed London Gatwick on Monday night and landed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Traditional dancers welcomed passengers with flower garlands and local gifts upon arrival. The airline will operate three weekly flights initially, increasing to

Embraer will provide advanced flight training solutions for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s C-390 Millennium aircraft program. The package includes a full flight simulator and cargo handling station trainer developed with Rheinmetall, plus computer-based training developed with ETI. All training systems are expected to be operational by late 2026. Embraer Services & Support President and

Eve Air Mobility has chosen Embraer-CAE Training Services to provide training for its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft program. The agreement covers training for pilots, maintenance technicians and ground handling personnel as part of Eve’s TechCare service portfolio. Eve Vice President of Customer Services Luiz Mauad said the partnership would ensure safe operations. “This

Cathay Pacific has commenced direct passenger flights between Hong Kong and Riyadh, strengthening connections between Asia-Pacific and Saudi Arabia. The inaugural flight departed on October 28, marked by a ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport attended by senior government officials and business leaders. The thrice-weekly service will operate using Airbus A350-900 aircraft featuring business, premium