Home Blog Page 17

Singapore Airlines tops the 2026 Skytrax awards – but a prize is not necessarily news

By
André Orban
-
0

Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, reclaiming the top position from Qatar Airways. Cathay Pacific, ANA All Nippon Airways and Turkish Airlines completed the top five.

Among the other principal awards, Qatar Airways retained the title of World’s Best Business Class, while Singapore Airlines also won for Best Economy Class. Cathay Pacific was recognised for the World’s Best Cabin Crew, STARLUX Airlines as the World’s Cleanest Airline and Emirates for the best inflight entertainment.

AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, Scoot the best long-haul low-cost carrier and Bangkok Airways the best regional airline. Turkish Airlines won the award for Best Airline in Europe, while Vueling was named Europe’s best low-cost airline. The complete results include dozens of additional distinctions covering regions, cabins, catering, lounges and individual aspects of the passenger experience. Skytrax publishes the full list of winners here.

The awards are based on an international passenger-satisfaction survey. They therefore reflect the opinions and experiences of participating travellers rather than a purely objective measurement of an airline’s overall performance.

Factors such as the route flown, travel class, aircraft type, crew, airport and even the expectations of individual passengers can strongly influence an assessment. The results do not necessarily reflect punctuality, cancellation rates, consumer complaints, fares or the consistency of service throughout an airline’s network.

This does not make the Skytrax awards meaningless: they provide an interesting indication of customer perceptions and are valuable to the airlines concerned. Nevertheless, they remain subjective rankings rather than independently measured operational results.

For that reason, Aviation24.be will report the principal results together, but will not publish a separate article every time an airline issues a press release celebrating one of the many individual or regional awards. Such announcements are primarily promotional and, taken separately, offer limited additional news value.

KLM Boeing 777 returns to Amsterdam after power bank catches fire

By
Bart Noëth
-
0

A KLM Boeing 777-300ER operating flight KL735 from Amsterdam Schiphol to Curaçao returned to the Netherlands on Thursday, 17 September, after a power bank caught fire in the cabin while the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft, registered PH-BVP, had departed Amsterdam at 13:21 local time, according to flight tracking data, bound for Willemstad.

After several hours in flight, the cabin crew managed to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. The captain subsequently decided to return to Schiphol as a precaution, with the aircraft landing back in Amsterdam after more than five hours in the air.

Dutch media have reported that the power bank belonged to former KLM president and CEO Camiel Eurlings. KLM has not confirmed the identity of the passenger, citing privacy reasons. The airline has started an investigation into the incident.

KLM’s current rules state that passengers may carry a maximum of two power banks, which must be kept with the passenger rather than in an overhead compartment. The airline also explicitly prohibits the use or charging of power banks on board.

The incident highlights the continuing risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and power banks in aircraft cabins. Airlines and aviation authorities have introduced increasingly strict requirements for carrying and using such devices following a number of battery-related incidents in recent years.

Drone activity forces temporary closure of Luxembourg Airport, 19 flights diverted

By
Bart Noëth
-
0

Luxembourg Airport temporarily suspended all flight operations on Friday evening, 18 September, after unauthorised unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) were detected in the vicinity of and subsequently over the aerodrome. The disruption affected 19 inbound flights and more than 1,800 passengers.

Luxair confirmed that 17 of its flights were diverted, while one KLM flight from Amsterdam and one Air Dolomiti service from Frankfurt were also affected. The diverted aircraft were sent to airports including Cologne/Bonn, Brussels, Frankfurt-Hahn, Liège, Paris, Basel and Strasbourg. The first affected aircraft was a Luxair flight from Heraklion, which was scheduled to arrive at Findel at around 22:10 local time.

Luxembourg Airport said the suspension was implemented as a precautionary measure to protect passengers, crews, airport personnel and aircraft. Operations resumed during the early hours of Saturday, although delays and further disruption were expected as aircraft and crews were repositioned. Luxair CEO Gilles Feith said the drone sightings had been visually confirmed and that the airline’s pilots had also reported drone sightings near the airport earlier in the week.

The Luxembourg government’s interministerial drone assessment unit was reconvened on Saturday morning to evaluate the incident. Authorities have not identified the operators or origin of the drones. The incident follows reports earlier this week of possible unidentified drones in the Medernach area, although no connection between the two incidents has been established.

Italian Eurofighters scrambled after Russian aircraft violate Lithuanian airspace

By
Bart Noëth
-
0

Two Italian Air Force Eurofighters were scrambled from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania on Thursday, 17 September, after two Russian military aircraft violated Lithuanian airspace.

The two F-2000 Typhoons, belonging to the Italian Air Force’s Task Force Air “Baltic Thunder III”, were launched in the late afternoon as part of NATO’s air defence mission on the Alliance’s eastern flank. The operation was coordinated by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Uedem, Germany. The Russian aircraft were subsequently escorted out of NATO airspace, according to Italian media reports.

Italy currently operates four Eurofighter Typhoons from Šiauliai as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, covering the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The current Italian deployment began on 31 July under the “Baltic Thunder III” task force. The Italian Eurofighters have already been scrambled several times since the start of the deployment, including on 3 August to intercept two Russian military aircraft operating in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

The latest incident comes only days after two Italian Eurofighters were scrambled during a separate overnight incident involving a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace. Lithuanian authorities said the drone was subsequently neutralised and its wreckage was found in the country.

Aena Group airports handle 41.4 million passengers in August 2026

By
André Orban
-
0

Aena Group airports handled 41.38 million passengers in August 2026, up 4.7% from the same month last year. Aircraft movements increased by 4.5% to 330,526, while freight traffic fell by 5.7% to 116,723 tonnes.

Aena’s Spanish airports accounted for 34.89 million passengers, also up 4.7%. Madrid-Barajas remained the busiest with 6.54 million passengers (+4.8%), followed by Barcelona-El Prat with 5.93 million (+4.6%) and Palma de Mallorca with 4.81 million (+2.3%). Particularly strong growth was recorded at Alicante (+11.4%) and Valencia (+10.1%), while Tenerife South declined by 4.2%.

Spanish airports handled 273,292 aircraft movements, an increase of 4.3%. Freight volumes fell by 5.2% to 104,356 tonnes, mainly reflecting a 12% decline at Madrid-Barajas, despite increases at Barcelona, Zaragoza and Vitoria.

Aena’s 17 Brazilian airports welcomed 3.98 million passengers (+3.2%), while London Luton handled 1.95 million (+7.8%). Leeds Bradford, included in the group since May, recorded 561,312 passengers, up 3.2%.

Between January and August, Aena Group airports handled 272.25 million passengers, representing year-on-year growth of 4.1%. Aircraft movements increased by 3.7%, while freight volumes declined by 1.2%.

Two Britons among three killed in Cirrus crash near Leukerbad in Swiss canton Valais

By
André Orban
-
0
Source: X @SuisseSUI

Three people, including two British nationals, were killed when a Cirrus SR22T light aircraft (registration N44T) crashed in the Swiss Alps near Leukerbad, canton Valais, on Tuesday afternoon.

The single-engine aircraft had departed Lugano, stopped at Sion and was continuing towards Buochs in canton Nidwalden when it struck the northern mountainside in the Fluhalp area shortly after 16:00. The cause remains unknown. Witnesses reported heavy smoke following the impact.

Emergency services reached the site with three helicopters and two rescue specialists but found all three occupants dead. One victim was identified as Owain Davies, managing director of Welsh engineering company Amcanu. His company described the husband, father and grandfather as a determined and caring businessman with a passion for aviation.

The identity of the third victim had not been disclosed. The UK Foreign Office said it was assisting the families of the two British nationals and liaising with Swiss authorities.

The Swiss Safety Investigation Board has opened a technical investigation, while the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and Valais cantonal police are conducting a parallel criminal inquiry.

Lufthansa Group orders 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft

By
André Orban
-
1

Lufthansa Group has exercised purchase options for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft as part of its continuing short- and medium-haul fleet modernisation programme. The decision increases its total firm order for the 737 MAX family to 60 aircraft.

The options formed part of Lufthansa’s 2023 agreement for 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and rights to purchase up to 60 additional MAX aircraft. Deliveries of the newly ordered MAX 10s are expected to begin in the early 2030s.

The MAX 10s will gradually replace older Airbus A320-family aircraft across the group. Lufthansa says the larger model will provide greater seating capacity than the MAX 8, consume around 30% less fuel than the aircraft it replaces and reduce unit costs by approximately 20%.

The order has a list value of about $3.4 billion. Lufthansa Group expects to receive more than 250 new aircraft by 2035 as it invests in a younger, more efficient fleet.

Cathay Group carries record 3.6 million passengers in August 2026

By
André Orban
-
0

Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried more than 3.6 million passengers in August 2026, an all-time monthly record for the Cathay Group and 4% more than a year earlier. The result reflected strong demand during the latter part of the summer peak, despite elevated jet fuel prices.

Cathay Pacific’s passenger numbers increased by 5% year on year, while capacity rose by 3%. Demand was particularly strong on leisure routes from Hong Kong and mainland China, alongside student travel to North America and the United Kingdom. During the first eight months of 2026, the airline carried 15% more passengers than in the same period of 2025.

HK Express transported more than 790,000 passengers, down 1% year on year, despite a 3% increase in capacity. Its mainland Chinese routes performed strongly, recording an average load factor of 90%. Passenger numbers for January–August were 8% higher than a year earlier.

Cathay Cargo carried more than 150,000 tonnes of freight in August, up 9%, while capacity increased by only 1%. Growth was supported by semiconductor shipments within Asia, pharmaceutical traffic from Europe and mainland China, and inventory replenishment ahead of the year-end peak. Cargo tonnage for the first eight months rose by 8%.

Cathay expects passenger demand to strengthen around China’s National Day Golden Week, while new technology launches and the traditional peak season should sustain cargo demand.

Drone sighting briefly halts operations at Charleroi Airport

By
André Orban
-
0

Operations at Brussels South Charleroi Airport were suspended for approximately 25 minutes on Wednesday afternoon after a privately operated drone entered the airport’s airspace.

The drone was detected by Skeyes air traffic control systems at around 14:00 and was immediately intercepted. One arriving aircraft was placed in a holding pattern, while passengers were disembarked from another aircraft as a precaution.

Airport officials said the incident was brought under control quickly and caused no significant disruption to subsequent operations. Passenger and operational safety remained the priority throughout the response.

Police detained the drone operator, who could face a fine.

British Airways adds Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar as part of summer 2027 expansion

By
André Orban
-
0
British Airways Boeing 777 at Gatwick

British Airways will launch seasonal flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar on 29 May 2027, strengthening its East African network.

The triangular Gatwick–Kilimanjaro–Zanzibar–Gatwick service will operate three times weekly until 31 October. Boeing 777 aircraft will offer Club World business class, World Traveller Plus premium economy and World Traveller economy. Return fares start at £849.

BA is also increasing its Latin American capacity by 25% compared with summer 2026. Buenos Aires will receive a daily nonstop service from Heathrow, continuing onwards to Santiago, while Rio de Janeiro will become a dedicated daily route without an onward sector. The three-weekly Heathrow–San José service will operate year-round.

Elsewhere, Heathrow–Cape Town will increase from seven to ten weekly flights, while Las Vegas will rise from 13 to 14. Gatwick–Barbados will continue throughout summer 2027, with onward services to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago. St Lucia will retain four dedicated weekly flights.

The expanded summer programme begins on 28 March 2027. BA is also preparing to launch Gatwick–Colombo on 23 October 2026 and Heathrow–Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur on 9 January 2027.

An elephant emerges from the jungle with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.

Aegean Airlines reportedly set to take control of Volotea in financial restructuring

By
André Orban
-
0

Aegean Airlines is reportedly preparing to become the controlling shareholder of Spanish carrier Volotea through a restructuring involving a debt-for-equity conversion and a fresh capital injection.

The proposed transaction would convert €56 million of Volotea’s debt into shares and include a €15 million capital increase, of which Aegean would contribute €9.5 million. The Greek airline acquired its initial stake in 2024 and increased its holding to more than 20% following a 2026 capital increase. Volotea has neither confirmed nor denied the latest reports.

The development is particularly significant for Asturias Airport, where Volotea operates its main Spanish base and is the largest carrier. The airline plans to offer more than 1.1 million seats from Asturias this year, 35% more than in 2025, across 24 routes—including seven international services to Lisbon, Milan-Bergamo, Porto, Rome, Paris-Orly, Brussels and Florence.

Volotea has operated in Asturias since 2012 and employs around 160 people in the region. Its wider European network includes 21 operational bases.

The restructuring comes despite improved operating performance. Volotea generated €818 million in revenue in 2025, while operating profit rose by 41% to €47.4 million. However, it recorded a €64 million net loss, attributed largely to exceptional accounting adjustments involving tax assets and currency reserves. The airline is also preparing to discontinue several French routes ahead of the winter season.

Wizz Air to launch Malmö–Pristina route in December 2026

By
André Orban
-
0

Wizz Air will introduce a direct service between Malmö Airport and Pristina on 15 December 2026, further expanding its network from southern Sweden.

Flights will operate three times weekly—on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays—using a 239-seat Airbus A321neo.

Swedavia said the route reflects strong demand for international travel and will improve links between Sweden and Kosovo. Besides serving tourists and passengers visiting friends and relatives, the connection is expected to support business travel, trade, investment and closer economic ties.

Wizz Air said the service forms part of its continued expansion in Northern Europe and will provide passengers with more affordable and convenient travel options between Sweden and Kosovo.

Air Serbia launches direct Belgrade–Tenerife flights

By
André Orban
-
0

Air Serbia has inaugurated direct flights between Belgrade and Tenerife, expanding its Spanish network and establishing a nonstop link with the Canary Islands.

The service will operate twice weekly, departing Belgrade on Tuesdays and Saturdays and returning from Tenerife on Wednesdays and Sundays. The airline expects the route to attract passengers from Serbia and neighbouring countries, as well as connecting travellers using its Belgrade hub.

Air Serbia said strong bookings indicated clear demand for the service, particularly for autumn and winter travel, as Tenerife’s mild climate makes it a year-round destination.

The airline will further expand in Spain on 30 September with the launch of direct flights between Belgrade and Seville, bringing its Spanish network to eight destinations.

American Express opens continental Europe’s first Centurion Lounge at Schiphol

By
André Orban
-
1
Amex Centurion Lounge Schiphol Amsterdam

American Express will open a Centurion Lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on 17 September, becoming the first global credit card company to operate a lounge at the Dutch airport. It is the first lounge in continental Europe to carry the Centurion name and the network’s 33rd location worldwide.

Located between Concourses E and F, the nearly 6,000-square-foot—approximately 557-square-metre—facility will open daily from 06:00 to 21:30. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, a staffed Blue Roast Coffee Bar, a full bar, a seasonal buffet, quiet workspaces, a telephone room and various seating areas.

Its design draws inspiration from Amsterdam’s canals, canal houses and Dutch landscapes, using blue, green and earth tones alongside black quartzite, brass and wood. Works by Dutch artists Mieke Jonker, Reinder Schmidt, Geesien Postema and Thirza Schaap are displayed throughout the lounge.

The food offering will combine Dutch and wider European influences, while the coffee bar will serve locally sourced coffee prepared by baristas.

Eligible American Express cardholders now have access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide through the company’s Global Lounge Collection. Further Centurion locations are planned at Newark and Boston, with an additional Sidecar lounge scheduled for Charlotte.

Condor signs interline partnership with American Airlines

By
André Orban
-
0

Condor is expanding its North American connectivity through a new interline agreement with American Airlines, enabling passengers to combine flights operated by both carriers on a single ticket.

Condor passengers will gain access to American’s network through Boston, New York-JFK, Chicago and Los Angeles, with onward connections across the United States and Canada. American Airlines customers will meanwhile be able to connect through Frankfurt and Munich to Condor destinations across Europe and beyond.

The agreement will provide through check-in, baggage transfers to the final destination and coordinated connecting journeys. It will become particularly valuable when Condor resumes flights between Frankfurt and Chicago in summer 2027, as Chicago O’Hare is one of American’s largest hubs.

The cooperation expands Condor’s international partnership portfolio, which already includes a long-standing agreement with Alaska Airlines and a recently announced partnership with Qantas covering connections in Australia and New Zealand.

The joint itineraries will become available shortly through Condor’s website, travel agencies and other sales partners.

Korean Air finalises record order for 103 Boeing aircraft

By
André Orban
-
0
Korean Air Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787-10

Korean Air has finalised a record order for 103 Boeing aircraft, confirming a procurement commitment first announced in August 2025.

The order comprises 20 Boeing 777-9 passenger aircraft, 25 787-10 Dreamliners, 50 737-10 narrowbodies and eight 777-8 Freighters. It covers both passenger and cargo operations and will support the airline’s long-term fleet modernisation programme.

Previously listed by Boeing as an unidentified customer order, the agreement was formally announced at an event in Seoul attended by Korean Air chairman and CEO Walter Cho, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stephanie Pope, and senior US and South Korean officials.

Boeing described the deal as an outcome of bilateral trade negotiations and a sign of the continuing industrial partnership between the United States and South Korea.

Air France to move to JFK’s New Terminal One and open its largest overseas lounge

By
André Orban
-
0
Air France New York JFK Terminal One lounge

Air France will transfer all its New York-JFK flights to the airport’s New Terminal One in 2027 and open a new 2,700-square-metre lounge—the largest in its international network.

Spread across two levels, the lounge will accommodate more than 400 guests and serve La Première and eligible Business passengers, Flying Blue Elite Plus members, and qualifying KLM and SkyTeam customers. Business Light fares will not include access.

Facilities will include French dining areas, a bar serving French wines and champagnes, and dedicated spaces for beauty treatments, relaxation and work. Flying Blue Ultimate members will have their own reserved area.

La Première passengers will receive a personalised journey from arrival at the terminal through to boarding, alongside access to an exclusive section of the lounge with a menu created by a renowned French chef.

During the summer season, Air France operates up to six daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and JFK, including four using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with the new La Première cabin. Joint-venture partner Delta Air Lines operates another three daily services. Air France also flies up to twice daily between Paris and Newark.

The New Terminal One forms part of the Port Authority’s $19 billion redevelopment of JFK and will feature extensive naturally lit spaces, modern technology, and upgraded retail and dining facilities.

SkyAlps expands services and strengthens Antwerp–Bolzano route

By
André Orban
-
0

South Tyrolean airline SkyAlps is expanding beyond air travel with the launch of a frequent-flyer programme and a holiday-booking platform designed to make trips to South Tyrol more convenient.

Founded in 2021 by Bolzano entrepreneur and pilot Josef Gostner, SkyAlps now connects Bolzano with 25 European cities. Its direct Antwerp–Bolzano service, introduced in winter 2022/23, will enter its fifth consecutive winter season in 2026/27. The airline will also continue operating the route year-round in 2027 for a second successive year.

The new SkyAlps Circle loyalty programme allows members to earn Award Miles and redeem them for flights. It also offers online journey and status management, faster booking through stored passenger details, and a Family Pool for combining miles. Silver and Gold members receive additional benefits, priority services and exclusive privileges.

Meanwhile, SkyAlps Holidays enables customers to book flights together with accommodation at more than 200 selected luxury hotels across South Tyrol. Airport transfers and rental cars can also be added, with the entire trip purchased through a single booking and checkout. Combined bookings receive the protections associated with package holidays.

Flights resume at Malmö Airport after cargo aircraft landing incident

By
André Orban
-
0

Flights at Malmö Airport were temporarily suspended on Tuesday evening after a small cargo aircraft encountered problems while landing and remained on the runway.

Operations resumed normally shortly before 20:00 after the aircraft had been moved. Swedavia said there were no injuries and no damage to airport infrastructure.

The aircraft was a Fairchild SA227-BC Metro III operated by the Spanish cargo carrier Flightline, registration EC-GJM.

It was operating flight FTL323 from Tampere, Finland, to Malmö on 15 September when it suffered a runway excursion while landing on Malmö Airport’s Runway 17. The turboprop came to rest off the runway, forcing the airport to suspend operations until it could be removed. No injuries or airport infrastructure damage were reported.

Flightline Fairchild Metro II EC-JIP © Riik@mctr on Wikimedia Commons

Charleroi Airport urges renewed talks amid Skeyes industrial action

By
André Orban
-
1

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) has strongly criticised the latest industrial action at air navigation service provider Skeyes, stressing that the dispute stems from an internal labour conflict in which the airport is not involved.

BSCA said the disruption affects not only passengers but also airport employees, airlines, businesses operating at the site and the wider Walloon economy. It called on Skeyes management and trade union representatives to resume constructive negotiations immediately and reach a solution as quickly as possible.

The airport described the situation as resembling a “hostage-taking”, with passengers and the entire airport community bearing the consequences of a dispute beyond their control.

BSCA said its priority was to inform and assist travellers. Passengers are advised to monitor the airport’s digital channels, terminal information and communications from their airline for regularly updated guidance.

1...161718...1,632Page 17 of 1,632

Aviation24.be latest

Aviation24.be trending