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Delhi, 08 January 2026: Emirates will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy and its latest onboard products to more cities across its network. The airline will deploy its A350 on new daily services to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town, adding an extra frequency and offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience. Additional frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town will complement existing schedules and provide much-needed capacity to meet the anticipated surge in summer travel demand. The Premium Economy has extra legroom and added amenities, elevated dining, and more. The airline will deploy its Premium Economy retrofitted A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with the latest cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its focus on delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network. Additional flights and capacity to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket and a third daily to/from Cape Town will come into effect from 1 July. All three services will be operated with the airline’s latest A350 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy, in addition to the latest Business and Economy Class cabins. The airline will also operate its A350 to Rome from 29 March and Taipei from 1 May.

Delhi,7th January 2026: IndiGo, India’s largest airline inducts Airbus A321XLR aircraft in its fleet and becomes the first Indian carrier to achieve this milestone in its long-term international expansion strategy. The long-range variant of the Airbus A321neo will be deployed on the IndiGo’s upcoming non-stop services connecting Mumbai to Athens from 23 January 2026, and Delhi to Athens from 24 January 2026, operating thrice weekly on both routes. The Airbus A321XLR, a next-generation narrow-body aircraft with a range of up to 8,700 kms and enhanced fuel efficiency, will enable IndiGo to serve longer international routes from India while maintaining high-cost efficiency. The aircraft features a dual class configuration offering 12 IndiGo Stretch and 183 economy class seats. Both cabins feature thoughtfully designed RECARO seating, delivering a comfortable and pleasant onboard experience, especially suited for long-distance journeys. Of a total firm order of 40 A321XLR aircraft, nine (9) are expected to be delivered in CY 2026. After its first international induction to operate non-stop services to Athens, subsequent aircraft will be deployed on existing routes such as Istanbul, Turkey and Denpasar, Bali. Thereafter incoming deliveries will enable IndiGo to expand to new long-haul routes in Europe and East Asia. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “IndiGo is honoured to be the first Indian airline to welcome the Airbus A321XLR into its fleet – an important milestone as we prepare to redefine long-haul travel for India. The advanced capabilities of this aircraft enable us to reach newer regions across the globe and further strengthen India’s position as a key player in international aviation. This reinforces our commitment to giving wings to the nation by connecting it to the world.” “We are happy to partner with Airbus and RECARO on this journey as we combine next-generation aircraft performance, enhanced fuel efficiency, and a thoughtfully designed cabin environment to deliver a comfortable, onboard experience”, he added. Jürgen Westermeier, President & Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia said, “The arrival of the first A321XLR marks a new milestone in our journey with IndiGo and a proud moment for Indian aviation. We are honoured by the trust IndiGo places in Airbus, and we remain committed to supporting the airline as it continues to give wings to the nation’s aviation aspirations. By opening up mid-to-long haul routes that were previously unreachable by single-aisle aircraft, this delivery serves as a catalyst for IndiGo’s international growth while significantly enhancing India’s global connectivity. The A321XLR will act as a bridge, linking Indian cities to new destinations across the world and further support India’s ambition to become a global aviation hub.” Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding said, “A great moment for celebration, the IndiGo maiden flight with the A321XLR and a cabin fully equipped with the RECARO premium seating solutions, R5 in business class and R2 in economy class. Both seats come with unparalleled comfort features which will make the flight a very pleasant one for all IndiGo passengers. Congratulations to the whole IndiGo team and Pieter Elbers for kicking off 2026 with this spectacular highlight. A true testament for the RECARO vision – driving comfort in the sky.” Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International said, “We are honored to be such an integral part of IndiGo’s continued success and are very excited by today’s introduction of the LEAP-powered A321XLR. The extra-long-range capability of the aircraft, coupled with the benefits provided by our LEAP engines – including the more durable configuration we continue to roll out – launches an important new phase for IndiGo and its future growth.” The IndiGo A321XLR Experience IndiGo’s state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 12 IndiGoStretch seats in a 2X2 configuration with a generous 44-inch seat pitch and a 6-inch recline. The aircraft also features 183 Economy Class seats offering a 31-inch seat pitch and 5-inch recline. The aircraft is equipped with advanced RECARO seating, offering ergonomic comfort with improved recline, lumbar support and legroom, specially designed for long-duration flights. Features such as adjustable headrests, optimized cushioning, integrated device holders, in-seat power supply, and coat hooks will add to the comfort, delivering an elevated travel experience comparable to wide-body aircraft cabins. IndiGo has partnered with Bluebox to offer next-generation digital inflight experience on its A321XLRs to ensure customers stay engaged throughout the journey.

Hong Kong, 6th January 2026: Cathay officially kicked off its “80 Years Together” anniversary celebrations at a special event, hosted by Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam (fifth from right), Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau (fifth from left), Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan (fourth from left), and Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sharpe (fourth from right). Stepping into 2026, Cathay has launched its 80th anniversary celebrations, marking eight decades of moving its home city, people and global customers forward since 1946. To usher in this milestone year and honour its legacy of bringing people together, Cathay will be hosting a series of special events, initiatives and activations throughout 2026 — all anchored by the unifying theme of “80 Years Together”. As a prelude to its “80 Years Together” celebrations, Cathay also unveiled a special aircraft livery on one of its long-haul Airbus A350 passenger aircraft today. Adorned with the airline’s iconic “lettuce leaf sandwich” design as well as the 80th anniversary year mark, the livery pays homage to the much-loved green-and-white striped paint scheme, echoing Cathay’s storied legacy while symbolising its continued growth and progress. A second “lettuce leaf sandwich” livery on one of Cathay’s Boeing 747 freighters will also be revealed in the coming weeks. Speaking at the event, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Today marks not just an important milestone for Cathay, but a celebration of our ’80 Years Together’ with Hong Kong. Guided by our purpose to move people forward in life, Cathay and Hong Kong have grown together over the past eight decades, supporting each other through thick and thin. From Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok, whether it’s studying abroad, conducting business, exploring the world, reuniting with family, or delivering vital supplies at critical moments, Cathay has always stood with the people of Hong Kong through countless shared journeys and memories. “Looking ahead, through our investment of well over HK$100 billion into our fleet, cabin products, lounges and digital innovation, Cathay will continue to elevate the customer experience as we strive towards our refreshed vision to become our customers’ most loved service brand. At the same time, we remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a leading international aviation hub. “With the continued support and encouragement of our people, customers and partners, I am confident that Cathay, as an iconic Hong Kong brand, will soar to even greater heights in the years to come.” Cabin crew donning Cathay Pacific’s vintage uniforms through various design eras also made a special appearance, paying tribute to the generations of people who have defined the signature Cathay service in the skies. Throughout 2026, around 1,000 to 2,000 of Cathay’s cabin crew and ground employees will wear and showcase these vintage uniforms at work, bringing the evolution of the Cathay brand to life in true Cathay fashion.

Brazil, 6th January 2026: Avion Express Brasil, the Brazilian ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) airline, starts the year on a high note, expanding its fleet to two Airbus A320 family aircraft. The second aircraft was registered in Brazil during December 2025. This growth strengthens the company’s operational capacity and marks a significant milestone as it starts to operate its first long-term ACMI project. “Expanding our fleet was part of our plan from the beginning of the year, and I am very proud to share that we added a second aircraft by the end of our first year in the market. Our goal is to grow the fleet to five aircraft in 2026. A growing fleet demonstrates our credibility and serious commitment to the Brazilian market,” says Esteban Jauregui Lorda, CEO of Avion Express Brasil. “Brazil’s aviation sector continues to experience robust growth, driven by rising passenger demand and the need for flexible capacity solutions, and we are fully prepared to meet that demand.” The newly added aircraft was transferred from Avion Express’s European AOCs and is now fully registered under the Brazilian AOC, further reinforcing Avion Express Brasil’s commitment to the local market. The company has also signed its first long-term ACMI contract with Argentine carrier Flybondi, providing a strong start to its ACMI operations in Latin America. “Since obtaining our Brazilian AOC in February 2025, Avion Express Brasil has steadily developed its local operations, assembling fully Brazilian crew and establishing the infrastructure to support ACMI and charter services. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of ACMI in Brazil and Latin America as a flexible, cost-efficient solution for airlines managing seasonal demand and fleet planning,” adds Lorda.