Civil Aviation

FORT WORTH, USA, 20th February 2026: American Airlines and CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, had announced that American’s future deliveries of Airbus A321neo aircraft will continue to be powered by the CFM LEAP-1A engine. These engines will be installed on Airbus A321neo aircraft that American ordered two years ago. As part of the expanded partnership, CFM International will continue to provide long-term maintenance for American’s CFM LEAP-1A engines for years to come. The agreement was announced by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. “American is proud to operate more CFM/GE Aerospace powered mainline and regional aircraft than any other airline in the world, and American’s aircraft have flown with GE Aerospace technology for almost a century,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “We are excited that CFM LEAP engines will power our next phase of A321neo deliveries, maximizing the power of our fleet investments to deliver the best network to our customers utilizing the best-performing engine in the business.” American currently operates 84 A321neo and 5 A321XLR aircraft, with 120 A321neo and 35 A321XLR aircraft on order through 2032, all to be powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. The airline also has options to purchase 116 additional A320neo family aircraft from Airbus which, if exercised, will also be outfitted with CFM LEAP-1A engines. “We are proud to be under wing powering American’s modernized fleet and appreciate their continued trust,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer at GE Aerospace. “We are committed to delivering best-in-class LEAP engines to support the growth of American’s network as they serve more destinations for their customers.” The airline recently debuted the A321XLR, elevating transcontinental travel. As the only U.S.-based airline to operate the aircraft, American offers customers luxurious Flagship Suite® seats, relaxing Premium Economy seats and a reimagined Main Cabin, all featuring high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary seatback entertainment with Bluetooth connectivity throughout the journey. “It is highly gratifying when an airline of this stature considers CFM and its products such an integral part of its long-term fleet strategy,” said Gaël Méheust, president and chief executive officer of CFM International. “While American has seen first-hand the benefits the LEAP engine provides, our total focus is on continuing to deliver the level of quality and support American has come to expect from us.”  

Jeddah, 17th February 2025: flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, has taken delivery of its first new aircraft of 2026 – an Airbus A320neo – boosting the carrier’s fleet to 45 all-narrowbody passenger jets. Arriving in Jeddah direct from Airbus’ assembly plant in Toulouse, the aircraft becomes the airline’s 34th A320neo, adding to the 11 A320neo variant that make up flyadeal’s total fleet. The delivery also marks a move away from the traditional naming of every aircraft after a constellation star. Named Al-Saqr (falcon) after the national bird of Saudi Arabia, it heralds the beginning of flyadeal’s new narrowbodies proudly adorning the names of different birds in the Kingdom. The falcon represents strength, courage, freedom and pride, deeply embedded in Saudi culture, reflecting the qualities so ingrained in the values of flyadeal. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “It’s always a good feeling celebrating a first. Our latest aircraft is the start of flyadeal’s push towards the half-century fleet mark, a significant milestone for such a young airline. As more aircraft are delivered to flyadeal this year, we’re able to increase frequencies on existing routes and deploy on new ones to keep up our growth momentum.” Captain Abdulaziz Bahri, flyadeal Chief Operating Officer, added: “Being an all-A320 operator, flyadeal has shown confidence in this wonderful aircraft that supports our flying requirements domestically, regionally and beyond with low cost and fuel efficiency, fulfilling our key operational needs. Just six months ago, we took delivery of our 40th aircraft. We’re now up to 45 and continue to hire more pilots, including those joining through the government-backed graduate cadet training programme that we began participating in last year.” Hazar Hafiz, flyadeal Head of Marketing and Customer Experience, explained: “Saudi Arabia is home to more than 500 bird species on one of the world’s most important migration routes, with millions of birds crossing the Kingdom every year. Birds naturally represent movement, travel, and freedom—values that strongly align with our brand. By associating ourselves with this rich and authentic narrative, flyadeal creates a deeper emotional link with our customers.” Featuring a spacious cabin of 186 all-Economy Class seats in a 3 – 3 configuration, flyadeal’s A320s have interiors of the highest standards and specifications for a low-cost airline. These include leather seats with a custom diamond stitch pattern and embossed logo together with sizeable overhead bins. flyadeal has rapidly developed into the Middle East’s fastest growing airline operating its young fleet from bases in Jeddah, Riyadh and Madinah and Dammam to more than 30 seasonal and year-round destinations across Saudi Arabia, and in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. By 2030, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, flyadeal expects to triple its network to over 100 destinations and more than double its fleet to 100 aircraft.

Panaji, 9th February 2026: Regional airline FLY91 today operated its inaugural flight on the Kochi–Agatti sector, launching a new daily service connecting Kerala with the Lakshadweep islands.The route is expected to significantly improve access to Lakshadweep via southern India’s key aviation gateway. With the introduction of Kochi services, FLY91 deepens its presence in southern India and further strengthens connectivity to Lakshadweep. The new Kochi–Agatti service complements the existing Goa–Agatti route, offering residents and visitors greater flexibility and seamless mainland access. “The daily Kochi connection significantly enhances onward travel options, given Kochi’s extensive domestic and international network,” said Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO, FLY91. “For residents of Agatti and neighbouring islands, this service makes essential travel for education, healthcare, employment and commerce easier, while also supporting the steady growth of tourism in Lakshadweep.” The launch of the Kochi–Agatti route aligns with FLY91’s broader vision of enhancing last-mile air connectivity to underserved and remote regions across India. By linking smaller towns and island communities with major urban hubs, the airline aims to make regional air travel more accessible, reliable and time-efficient. As part of its next phase of expansion, FLY91 will commence operations at six new regional stations in the coming months — Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Hubballi, Dabolim (Goa), Nanded and Indore.

New Delhi,9th February 2026: Embraer concluded another executive-level visit to India as it continues expanding and strengthening its supply chain in the country. The visit reinforces the company’s commitment to deepening industrial cooperation between Brazil and India and exploring new business opportunities across its portfolios. “We reaffirm our strong commitment to collaborating with India’s aerospace industry. Our focus is on advancing joint initiatives in defense and civil aviation, contributing to technological innovation, operational excellence, and long-term strategic partnerships,” said Roberto Chaves, Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain at Embraer. “India is a key partner in shaping the future of aerospace, and we are dedicated to building sustainable cooperation that supports both the domestic industrial base and global initiatives.” This visit builds on Embraer’s longstanding presence in India and follows ongoing discussions with local industry players and government stakeholders. Embraer assessed a range of potential suppliers in India, including capabilities in aerostructures assembly, machining, metal forming, composites, wiring systems, and hardware and software development. Embraer views India as a key strategic partner in the Asia Pacific region and plans to implement an extensive local supply chain program in the country. Recently, the company inaugurated its Indian office in New Delhi, further strengthening its Asia Pacific footprint. A dedicated local Procurement team has also been established to support Embraer’s supply chain initiatives in India. India represents a strategic market for Embraer across all of its business segments. The company currently has a fleet of more than 44 aircraft operating in the country, serving customers in Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, and Defense & Security. This includes five Embraer VIP jets operated by the Indian government and three EMB 145 AEW “Netra” aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force.

New Delhi,6th February 2026: Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI), a subsidiary of Amphibian Aircraft Holdings (AAH), and Apogee Aerospace Pvt Ltd has announced a strategic collaboration to establish amphibious aviation as a strategically important capability for India, anchored by the Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft platform. Albatross 2.0, the world’s first and only FAA or EASA certified Transport Category amphibious aircraft above 19 seats (up to 28 seats) in the Registered Passenger Transport (RPT) sector. Under the collaboration, Apogee Aerospace has been designated as AAI’s exclusive Authorized Representative Partner for the Indian Subcontinent in the Restricted Category covering defence and government requirements. The partnership extends across maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and capability development, simulation, end-to-end systems integration for the militarisation of the aircraft, and the establishment of aircraft tail-section manufacturing in India to support the global supply chain. Commenting on the collaboration, Khoa Hoang, Executive Chairman and Gopi Reddy, President & CEO of Amphibian Aerospace Industries said, “India is uniquely positioned to lead the next chapter of amphibious aviation, and this collaboration is a decisive step in that direction. With Albatross 2.0, we are bringing fully certified transport-category capability that can immediately serve India’s military & paramilitaries, government, and strategic civil aviation needs. Partnering with Apogee Aerospace allows us to go far beyond aircraft delivery, focusing on deep industrialisation, systems integration, skills development, and long-term sovereign capability.” “Through this partnership with Apogee Aerospace, our focus is on deep industrial integration, indigenous capability development, and establishing India as a centre for amphibious aviation operations, sustainment, and future growth.” AAI and Apogee will jointly promote and operationalise the Albatross 2.0 across defence, government, and strategic civil applications in India. Albatross 2.0 Operational Features: The platform’s ability to operate seamlessly from land, water, snow and ice, as well as open-sea conditions with wave heights of up to six to eight feet, positions it uniquely for India’s diverse operational environments. With a standing cabin height of 188 centimetres, a dedicated luggage compartment, a fully functional washroom, and an equipped galley, Albatross 2.0 is designed as a true transport-category amphibian rather than a niche seaplane solution.This makes the aircraft highly relevant for India’s vast coastline, island territories, riverine geography, humanitarian response requirements, and joint military operations, while also aligning with national initiatives such as the Sagarmala Programme, coastal economic development, and enhanced maritime domain awareness. Wg Cdr MVN Sai (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of Apogee Aerospace added, “Albatross is a force multiplier like no other before it, as it fundamentally redefines the point of launch and recovery of air power. The versatility of the platform enables operations across dimensions and verticals that previously required a combination of platforms to accomplish. This intervention provides India with strategic insurance to its status as one of the world’s leading economies through the assured maintenance of its Sea Lanes of Communication. We are witnessing the beginning of a new epoch in India’s glorious air power history.” Collaboration Details: As part of the strategic collaboration, Apogee Aerospace has placed an order for 15 Albatross 2.0 aircraft, representing an approximate programme value of ₹3,500 crore. Apogee will also invest up to ₹500 crore to establish tail-section manufacturing, maintenance and overhaul facilities, training and simulation infrastructure, and advanced systems integration capabilities in India. These system integration facilities will support the development and delivery of indigenised military variants of the Albatross platform for the Indian Armed Forces. In addition, Apogee Aerospace has invested $7 Million dollars (65 crore rupees) into Amphibian Aircraft Holdings, reinforcing long-term strategic alignment and shared execution commitment between the two organisations. Future Plan of Action: Through this collaboration, Amphibian Aerospace Industries and Apogee Aerospace aim to position India as a global hub for amphibious aircraft manufacturing, sustainment, training, and exports, while delivering a strategically vital, future-ready aerospace capability aligned with India’s long-term operational, industrial, and export ambitions. (Banner pix caption: Wg Cdr MVN Sai (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of Apogee Aerospace, Khoa Hoang, Executive Chairman and Gopi Reddy, President & CEO of Amphibian Aerospace Industries)

Hyderabaad, 29 January 2026: At the Wings India 2026, Air India announced placing an order to purchase 30 additional Boeing aircraft, comprising 20 737-8 and 10 737-10. These 30 single-aisle aircraft are in addition to the firm orders for 220 aircraft that Air India had placed with Boeing in 2023, taking the total number of aircraft orders placed with Boeing to 250. With the latest orders, Air India has a total of 198 new aircraft incoming from Boeing. The airline has, so far, received 52 aircraft from the original 220 ordered in 2023, including 51 737-8 in service with Air India’s subsidiary value carrier, Air India Express, and one brand-new 787-9 that enters commercial service between Mumbai and Frankfurt from 1 February 2026. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This additional order for 30 Boeing 737 aircraft is part of our broader fleet strategy to position Air India firmly for the future, as a world-class global carrier that India deserves and the world expects. Building on our 2023 orders and subsequent additions, this order supports steady deliveries and fleet upgrades planned over the next few years. “Air India’s order for more 737 MAX jets underscores the strong performance of their existing 737-8 fleet as they continue to expand connectivity across India and the South Asia region,” said Paul Righi, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Eurasia, India and South Asia. “We value Air India’s confidence in the 737-10 and 737-8 to provide the capacity and versatility they need as a cornerstone of their single-aisle growth strategy.” Powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines, the Boeing 737 delivers exceptional fuel-efficiency, passenger comfort, and operational reliability for robust single-aisle aircraft operations. Since its privatisation in January 2022, the Air India group has added nearly 170 aircraft to its fleet through a combination of new deliveries, strategic leases, merger of erstwhile Vistara into Air India, and the reactivation of long-grounded aircraft, thus marking significant progress in capacity expansion and fleet modernisation.

Hyderabad,23rd January, 2026: A new study finds that existing limits on flight and seat capacity between India and the United Arab Emirates may not keep pace with rising travel demand, potentially reducing the economic benefits that stronger air connectivity can support. The analysis shows that 27% of forecast passenger demand between India and the UAE could remain unserved by 2035 if capacity remains at current levels. This equates to a cumulative shortfall of approximately 54.5 million passenger journeys between 2026 and 2035, with 13.2 million unserved passengers on the Abu Dhabi–India corridor alone. This indicates particularly acute capacity constraints on the Abu Dhabi–India corridor. The report highlights strong structural growth in India’s aviation market. India’s travelling class—households with sufficient income to travel by air—has grown from 24%of the population in 2010 to 40% in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 300 million people. As a result, air travel demand is projected to grow by 7.2% per year through 2035, adding nearly 22 million additional passenger journeys per year over the next decade. Matthew Dass, Director of Consulting, from Tourism Economics, said, “India–UAE air travel demand is growing rapidly, underpinned by rising incomes, expanding international trade, and increasing outbound and inbound tourism. Load factors exceed 80% on major routes in the study period, indicating limited spare capacity under current schedules. In our baseline outlook, the gap between forecast demand and available seats widens over time and available capacity is expected to be exhausted by 2026.” The study also quantifies the economic activity enabled by the UAE–India air corridor, focusing on inbound travellers’tourism spending and airlines’ operational expenditure along the corridor. Under continued capacity constraints, the corridor’s GDP contribution is projected to grow at a 3% CAGR over the next five years; easing constraints under alternative scenarios could lift growth to 5.5%–7%. For example, doubling Abu Dhabi–India seat capacity is expected to enable an additional of $7.2 billion in GDP(including direct, indirect, induced impacts) over the next five years and support more than 170,000 jobs per year on average. Beyond immediate impacts, the study suggests that improved connectivity could contribute to productivity gains (up to $9 billion per year by 2035) and may support investment and trade outcomes over time. The report also notes that increased capacity and competition can place downward pressure on fares, benefiting passengers. The report concludes that aviation policy choices will play a critical role in determining whether India is able to fully capture the economic and consumer benefits of growth in international air travel.

New Delhi, 17th January 2026: Air Cambodia has launched its new Corporate Identity System (CIS), marking a significant milestone in the national flag carrier’s brand evolution and future growth journey. The airlines officially unveiled its refreshed brand identity, including a new logo and aircraft livery, at Techo International Airport (KTI), Phnom Penh.This represents the airline’s first comprehensive brand update since 2009 and reflects its renewed vision, ambition, and confidence in long-term expansion. Inspired by Cambodia’s national bird, the Giant Ibis (Tror Yorng), the new logo symbolizes protection, strength, and good fortune. The design integrates 18 feathers with aircraft engine fan blades and an upward 45-degree beak angle, representing power, long-haul capability, and sustained upward growth. The new aircraft livery prominently features royal blue, supported by gold, white, and red, highlighting professionalism, Khmer heritage, and warm in-flight hospitality. The new branding will be introduced in a phased manner across aircraft, digital platforms,and marketing assets, ensuring operational continuity during the transition. Alongside the rebrand, Air Cambodia continues to strengthen its fleet, having inducted new ATR72-600 aircraft and confirmed future deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and COMAC C909 aircraft,underscoring its commitment to regional and international growth. In India, Air Cambodia is represented by Aeroprime Group as the exclusive Passenger and Cargo General Sales Agent.

New Delhi, 16th January 2026: Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a commercial cooperation framework agreement, which will pave the way for them to deepen their long-standing partnership through definitive joint business agreements. This strengthened collaboration allows the airlines to explore ways to improve connectivity between Singapore and India, delivering greater choice and benefits for customers. The agreement was signed in Mumbai on 16th January 2026 by Air India CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson, and SIA CEO, Goh Choon Phong. Subject to regulatory approvals and the signing of definitive joint business agreements, the airlines aim to expand and enhance the product and service offerings, enabling seamless connections and more route options, and allowing customers to book flights across both airlines under a single unified journey. This partnership also envisages a closer coordination of flight schedules between Air India and SIA to improve convenience for customers. It could also expand to include greater cross-participation in the airlines’ corporate travel programmes to improve offerings to business travellers. The airlines will explore plans to progressively enhance privileges beyond the current Star Alliance benefits for members of Air India’s Maharaja Club and SIA’s KrisFlyer frequent flyer programmes. Further details will be announced as the plans are finalised. Air India and SIA also plan to explore opportunities to broaden the scope of their cooperation in select markets, beyond Singapore and India, subject to regulatory approvals. This would meet the growing demand for global connectivity, support traffic flow through both carriers’ hubs, and strengthen the air travel markets of both India and Singapore. Today, the airlines codeshare on 61 points in 20 countries and territories. This follows the October 2024 expansion of their codeshare partnership, which added 51 international and domestic destinations across both networks. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Air India, said: “Air India remains committed to expanding its global footprint, both by adding new aircraft to our own fleet and by forging stronger commercial partnerships, especially with our fellow Star Alliance member carriers. We are pleased to take our valued, long-term relationship with Singapore Airlines to the next level through this new commercial cooperation understanding, which establishes a clear and structured platform for both airlines to explore and define future areas of closer collaboration. With this measured approach, we aim to lay a strong foundation for sustainable, long-term value creation for our customers and other stakeholders.” Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “This agreement between Singapore Airlines and Air India is a natural evolution of our successful partnership, creating genuine value and delivering enhanced benefits to customers. It is a strategic, winwin collaboration that will strengthen connectivity between Singapore and India, support the growth of air travel and tourism in both countries, and deepen their long-standing business and people-to-people ties.”