Aviation News

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific has pushed the Boeing 777X delivery timeline to 2027 and delayed the debut of its new first class suites, according to the airline's 2024 full-year financial report. The news was first reported by Executive Traveller.

While interactions between flight attendants and passengers are mostly cordial, there are times when things can get tricky for a number of reasons. Recently, a traveler took to social media, detailing her account of how the crew of United Airlines tried to remove her son’s ventilator before a flight.

On March 22, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) announced that a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-5D Buffalo in the care of Trident Aviation Ltd. with the registry 5Y-RBA went down about 24 kilometers (14.9 miles) from the Somalia capital of Mogadishu. The crash was at 14:43Z (5:43 PM local time and took all five souls aboard attempting to fly from Dhobley in southwest Somalia to Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby delivered an optimistic message to employees amid concerns over a recent slowdown in demand, assuring them that the airline's long-term growth goals are still in place. Kirby acknowledged the brief decline in travel, especially government-related travel, in a video address to staff members, but he was confident that United's strategic investments will allow it to weather the storm and keep up its growth track, according to aviation website "Live and Let's Fly."

Passengers traveling in premium cabins aboard Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8 might soon be in for a treat. The airline announced it will begin retrofitting its jumbo jets with its new Allegris seats this year. These new seats, praised for their forward-thinking design and enhanced passenger experience, have had a troubled introduction to service.

Air India might be considering a major aircraft order. Sources state that the carrier, which is currently in the middle of an ambitious and large-scale turnaround initiative, might be considering a widebody aircraft order split between European aircraft manufacturer Airbusand its American counterpart Boeing.

Air Canada has opened its new Air Canada Café lounge in Montreal, Canada, providing travelers with an opportunity to grab a quick snack or beverage before their flight out of the airport.

United Airlines plans to deploy the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on its route between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Barcelona-El Prat International Airport (BCN) for the first time during the upcoming summer season, according to the aviation analytics company Cirium data.

Lufthansa Cargo is now banking on Asian freight demand as the North Atlantic begins to dry up. Particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger airlines had shifted further towards their existing or newly created air cargo businesses to capitalize on the growing worldwide demand. It was also a safer bet: worldwide freight needs to continue to flow even if lockdowns limit passenger travel. The air cargo market is facing a bit of a slowdown now, though, particularly when it comes to destinations in North America.

Bangkok Airways is gearing up for expansion, planning to acquire at least 30 new aircraft, according to a Bloomberg report. This news comes as Thailand, a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia, expects a record 40 million visitors in 2025, driven in part by the global success of HBO's series The White Lotus.

United Airlines flight attendants based in Guam have, unsurprisingly, joined their counterparts nationwide in demanding negotiations continue as the union and the airline have not agreed on a new contract.

FedEx has postponed the retirement of the MD-11 tri-jet fleet from 2028 to 2032 and exercised its purchase options for eight more Boeing 777 freighters, as stated in its third-quarter financial report. The news comes alongside the cargo airline’s latest order for ATR 72-600 turboprop freighters.

The world’s fifth-busiest airport has resumed operations after a fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out the power at London Heathrow Airport. After a short period of uncertainty, the flights resumed on Friday evening and are continuing as normal on Saturday and Sunday.

Korean Air is set to close a $32.7 billion contract with Boeing and GE Aerospace, which would greatly expand the airline's fleet and boost its position in the global aviation market. The agreement, which includes a major purchase of Boeing aircraft and GE engines, was announced on March 21 during South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn's visit to Washington, D.C.

Air Premia, the South Korean "hybrid airline," has unveiled major changes to its US network in 2025, focusing on expanding services to Los Angeles while reducing other routes.

American Airlines has received a lot of criticism for falling behind compared to legacy peers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The Dallas-based carrier has failed to invest in its premium offering to maintain competitiveness, leading to poor financial performance and brand value compared to full-service rivals. However, the carrier seems to be focused on turning itself around.

Korean Air has made headlines in recent weeks. The carrier caused controversy earlier this month when it unveiled a new livery as part of its larger efforts to refresh the Korean brand. Now, the carrier is making other changes, but this time, to its long-haul schedule.

LATAM Airlines Group reportedly plans to expand its route network by adding Fifth Freedom flights between Buenos Aires and Miami through its joint venture agreement with Delta Air Lines. According to a report by ch-aviation, the carrier aims to launch the new corridor by the end of 2025.

Cathay Pacific and Finnair have expanded their codeshare network, with the latter’s operated flights adding the former’s codes on flights to Brussels, Munich, and Rome.

United Airlines chief executive officer Scott Kirby announced earlier this month at a Barclays industrial event that it plans to retire part of its fleet early in 2025, according to a report by ch-aviation. This decision comes as the Chicago-based airline anticipates lower-than-expected profitability results for the first quarter of the year.