Civil Aviation

Almaty, 7th Nov 2025: Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, is setting course on a major long-haul fleet expansion with a new order for up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. This is the largest order ever placed by the airline, with it comprising of five firm positions, five options and five purchase rights. The company has secured Board approval and is now completing the final procedural requirements. This order is in addition to the three Boeing 787-9 aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2026/27, which now brings total commitments up to 18 aircraft. The newly ordered aircraft will be delivered between 2032 and 2035. The total value of the 18 Boeing 787-9 aircraft fleet including engines is US$7 billion based on manufacturer list prices. “Air Astana is strategically committed to boosting its service capabilities from Central Asia / Caucasus to Asia, Europe and the rest of the world over the next decade, with the arrival of the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner next year marking the start of this exciting phase of development,” said Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana. “With its customer friendly cabin, fuel efficiency and range flexibility, the fleet of up to 18 Boeing 787-9 aircraft is destined to become an outstanding success with the airline and its discerning passengers.” Air Astana has a long history of operating Boeing aircraft, with the start-up fleet in 2002 comprising of Boeing 737-700/800 aircraft for domestic/Central Asia flights and joined a year later with the introduction of Boeing 757-200 for longer range flights to Asia and Europe. Whilst the Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft were respectively retired from the fleet in 2007 and 2020, the airline took delivery of three new Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in 2013, with these aircraft continuing to be operated on international long-haul and domestic high-density routes.

London, 4th October 2025: Vietjet has converted its MoU signed in June, into a firm order for 100 A321neo aircraft.The finalisation of this contract underscores Vietjet’s network expansion and fleet modernisation strategy, bringing its total orders for the A321neo to 280 aircraft.This agreement follows closely on Vietjet’s earlier order of 20 A330neo widebody aircraft in May, further solidifying its long-term strategic partnership with Airbus. Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said,“This is not merely a commercial contract, but a symbol of trust, aspiration, and a shared vision for sustainable development and global connectivity.The A321neo’s proven efficiency and flexibility make it the ideal platform to support Vietjet’s ambitious expansion,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “Combined with the A330neo, this fleet will deliver the best economics and seamless commonality across operations, hallmarks of the Airbus product family.” The A321neo, the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offers long range and exceptional performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo provides a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort. At the end of September 2025, more than 7,100 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by nearly 100 customers across the globe. The A321neo is able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target to increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030, directly supporting the aviation industry’s sustainability goals.

Delhi, November 4, 2025: Building on the success of the first edition of this pioneering initiative, Akasa Air hosted the second Chiefs of Flight Safety (COFS) meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai. The initiative continues to serve as a collaborative platform bringing together the Chiefs of Flight Safety and their teams from leading Indian airlines and aircraft operators to exchange best practices, share insights, and collectively strengthen safety standards across the aviation ecosystem. The second meeting had participation from safety leaders across the industry, including Captain Nitin Anand (Vice President – Corporate Safety, Air India), Poonam Kohlatkar (Chief Manager, Flight Safety, Air India), Captain Manish Jha ( Chief of Flight Safety, Air India Express), Captain L. Shankaranarayan (Chief Flight Safety Manager, Blue Dart), and Captain Amardeep Sarai (Chief of Flight Safety, Fly91), reaffirming the collective commitment of Indian carriers towards advancing a shared vision of safety excellence. Under the continued theme of “Safety Beyond Competition,” the forum reinforced the importance of collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning in driving world-class safety outcomes. The participating airlines engaged in discussions on emerging safety trends, risk management practices, and data-driven safety frameworks to ensure that the highest standards of operational integrity underpin India’s aviation growth. Commenting on the initiative, Captain Gaurav Pathak, Chief of Flight Safety, Akasa Air, said, “The second edition of ‘Safety Beyond Competition’ is a reaffirmation of our belief that aviation safety transcends competition. What began as an idea to unite flight safety leaders has evolved into a constructive initiative of shared responsibility and learning. Each participant brings invaluable experience, and through this open exchange, we are collectively building a stronger, safer future for Indian aviation.” “We are deeply encouraged by the continued enthusiasm and participation from our industry peers. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks and further strengthen India’s position among the world’s safest aviation markets.” He added.

New Delhi,28th October 2025: Air India Express unveiled the new cabin interiors and refreshed onboard ambience of its latest Boeing 737-8 aircraft at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The aircraft, registered as VT-BWD, features the regal Tsüngkotepsü-inspired tail art, celebrating the warrior heritage of the AoNagas from Nagaland. The unveiling marks another significant milestone in the airline’s transformation journey, which began with the launch of its refreshed brand identity in October 2023. Winter Schedule 2025: Air India Express undertook a comprehensive network optimisation exercise beginning September 2025. The exercise aims to enhance connectivity, strengthen hub operations, and build frequency density across key markets. In April 2025, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru accounted for about 62% of the airline’s total domestic departures. By November 2025, this share is projected to increase significantly to around 74%, reflecting the growing focus on hub-based operations. From Bengaluru, Air India Express has further strengthened its short-haul international network with the addition of four new destinations – Bangkok, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh – as part of its Winter Schedule. Most of the realignment will be completed by the end of the Winter 2025 season.

Amman, Jordan, October 23, 2025: Ryanair has announced a record Winter schedule for Amman, offering over 300,000 seats across 18 destinations and connecting Jordan to 12 EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The rapid restoration of Ryanair’s full operations at Amman Airport and the pro-business approach of the Jordanian Government and the airport’s pragmatic support, reinforcing Jordan’s position as one of the Middle East’s most attractive and accessible tourism destinations. Ryanair also unveiled an ambitious investment proposal for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which envisions increasing annual traffic by 360% to reach 3 million seats, operating 50 direct connections from European cities to Jordan, launching new flights to Marka (Amman) Airport, and maintaining year-round services to Aqaba. Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said, “Ryanair is thrilled to announce the return to full operations to Jordan from Oct, underlined by a record Winter schedule for Amman. With 84 weekly flights across 18 routes to 12 European countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, Ryanair’s investment will ensure that Jordan remains a key tourist destination this Winter – delivering enhanced connectivity, increased tourism, and economic growth with Europe’s lowest fares. Ryanair’s rapid return to Jordan is built on a long-standing partnership between Ryanair and the Kingdom, whose pro-growth strategy will ensure Jordan remains the premier tourist destination in the Middle East. We are also excited to unveil our investment proposal which will increase Ryanair traffic to Jordan to 3m seats p.a., deliver 50 direct connections across Amman, Marka and Aqaba airports, driving job creation, tourism and economic growth. We look forward to working with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to deliver this exciting plan and introducing millions of passengers from across Europe to Jordan’s rich culture and unique history.”

Dubai, 21 October 2025: flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has announced seven new interline agreements, bringing the carrier’s total number of interline partners to more than 40. These strategic agreements give flydubai customers access to more than 30 destinations in Europe through Greece’s flagship carrier, Aegean Airlines, and Italy’s national carrier, ITA Airways. In addition, flydubai passengers travelling to the Far East and South-East Asia can enjoy greater connectivity to more than 90 destinations with Myanmar Airways International and Chinese airlines Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines. Through these new partnerships, passengers can benefit from a seamless travel experience with single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage, reflecting the carrier’s commitment to expanding connectivity and opening up new destinations. Today, flydubai has built a growing network of more than 135 destinations, enabling access to more than 300 destinations through its interline and codeshare partners. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “Since 2009, we have remained committed to enhancing connectivity and facilitating free flows of trade and tourism, which is why we are pleased to have added seven new interline partners. These agreements will provide our passengers even more flexibility and choice when planning their travel, offering access to our partners’ route networks across key markets in Asia and Europe. At the same time, more passengers will be able to access Dubai as a leading destination for tourism and business, reaffirming its position as an international aviation hub.” “We look forward to welcoming on board passengers from beyond our network, where they can discover our exciting destinations and enjoy a comfortable travel experience, whether they choose to fly in Business Class or Economy Class,” added Al Ghaith. With Aegean Airlines and ITA Airways, flydubai passengers can connect conveniently to more than 30 destinations across Greece, Italy and Europe including Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, Thessaloniki, Turin and Venice. Through its interline agreements with the Chinese carriers and Myanmar Airways International, flydubai passengers will also gain access to more than 90 destinations across the Far East and South-East Asia, including Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai and Yangon, offering greater choice and flexibility. Passengers travelling with flydubai can discover unique holiday destinations including AlUla, Basel, Krabi, Ljubljana, Mombasa, Muscat, Nairobi, Penang, Prague, Tashkent, The Red Sea and Zanzibar.

New Delhi,October 17, 2025: IndiGo has finalised a commitment for 30 Airbus A350 aircraft, converting a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June into a firm order. This brings the airline’s total A350 orders to 60 aircraft. The expanded order marks a strategic shift for IndiGo as it prepares to enter the long-haul international market, leveraging the A350’s long range and efficiency to support its global ambitions. “Today is a special day for IndiGo as we solidify our commitment to expanding our international footprint and offering unparalleled connectivity to our customers,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo. “The conversion of this MoU into a firm order for 30 additional A350-900s is a testament to our confidence in the future of Indian aviation and our strategic partnership with Airbus, further reinforced by the strong start of our long-haul operations. In line with India’s vision of becoming a global aviation hub and our aspiration to establish ourselves as a leading global aviation player by 2030, IndiGo is taking decisive steps forward. These aircraft, as they join our fleet in the years to come, will play a pivotal role in enabling IndiGo expand its reach, connect India with more destinations across the globe, and offer our customers new international travel opportunities.” “The A350’s unparalleled fuel efficiency, range and passenger comfort perfectly align with IndiGo’s ambitious growth plans and international long-haul network ambitions. This milestone reinforces our strong partnership with one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world, and we look forward to supporting their expansion into new long-haul markets,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business at Airbus. At the end of September 2025, the A350 had won more than 1,400 orders from 63 customers worldwide.

New Delhi, October 17, 2025: Embraer, the global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, inaugurated its new India office at WorldMark 4, Aerocity in Delhi. The event was graced by Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Brazil’s Minister of Defense Jose Mucio, India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and the Ambassador of Brazil to India Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nobrega. The opening of the office marks a significant deepening of Embraer’s long-standing commitment to India and sets the stage for an expanded role across all its business units — commercial aviation, defense, business aviation, services and support, and urban air mobility (UAM). The Delhi office will serve as the central hub for Embraer’s operations in India, as it builds capacity to capitalize on opportunities within the country’s ever-evolving aerospace and defense industry. This includes growing its teams across corporate functions and specialized units focused on procurement, supply chain and engineering. Embraer’s strategic investment reflects its long-term vision to strengthen its presence in India, and to collaborate closely with the local industry to support the country’s mission of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and its Make in India initiatives. Embraer’s history in India dates back 20 years, when the first E-Jets began operations in 2005, opening new frontiers in regional connectivity. Today, nearly 50 Embraer aircraft across 11 different types operate in India, serving the Indian Air Force, other government agencies, business jet operators and a commercial airline – Star Air. Francisco Gomes Neto, President & CEO of Embraer, said, “The opening of our New Delhi corporate office marks a bold new chapter for Embraer in India – a market central to our global vision. This office spans across all our business units and will strengthen collaboration with partners, customers, and suppliers. We are committed to bringing world-class technology and innovation to support India’s aerospace growth, advance self-reliance, and help realize its ambition of becoming a global aviation hub.” Speaking at the office inauguration event, Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security said: “Our office inauguration here in New Delhi reflects our ambition for further growth in the country. Our aircraft have earned a reputation for performance and reliability, and we are confident that our multi-mission medium transport aircraft, the C-390 Millennium, is perfectly suited to bring additional capabilities to the Indian Air Force.” The inauguration also underscores the strengthening of relations between India and Brazil, with Embraer’s expansion in the region reflecting a shared commitment to deeper collaboration and mutual growth. Embraer’s increased presence will enable greater engagement with Indian stakeholders, customers and the broader aerospace supply chain. Embraer’s activities in India span multiple sectors. In defense, the ERJ145 platform forms the basis of the Indian Air Force’s ‘Netra’ AEW&C aircraft, and the Legacy 600 aircraft is used for the transportation of government officials and VIPs by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF). Furthermore, Embraer is positioning the C-390 Millennium as the best solution for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. In commercial aviation, the E-Jets family continues to unlock ‘blue ocean’ opportunities in tier-two and tier-three cities, enhancing regional connectivity and supporting India’s ambitions to become a leading global aviation hub. Star Air is an all-Embraer operator of E175 and ERJ 145 aircraft and is growing its operations across India. Eve Air Mobility, backed by Embraer, is actively expanding into India through strategic partnerships aimed at advancing urban air mobility. This includes working with JetSetGo to explore the deployment of its Urban Air Traffic Management software, Vector, that helps address congestion and supports sustainable travel. Separately, Eve partnered with Hunch Mobility to study the launch electric commuter flights in Bangalore that would establish the city as the region’s first hub for urban air mobility using eVTOLs. ( News based on the Press Release)

Panaji, 16th October 2025: With Diwali festivities around the corner and travel demand surging across western and southern India, the regional airline FLY91 has announced additional flights on key routes to facilitate smooth festive travel. The airline has introduced extra flights on multiple routes during the festive period on October 17 between Goa–Bengaluru–Goa and Sindhudurg–Bengaluru–Sindhudurg; on October 18 and 19 covering Goa–Bengaluru–Goa, Goa–Hyderabad–Goa and Sindhudurg–Hyderabad–Sindhudurg; and on October 21 for the Goa–Pune–Goa sector. Tickets for these additional services are now available for booking on FLY91’s website. Manoj Chacko, managing director and chief executive officer, FLY91, said, “Diwali is a time when families come together and travel demand naturally peaks as people return to their hometowns to celebrate. We’ve added these additional flights to make festive travel more convenient and accessible for our customers. Our goal remains to provide dependable, comfortable and affordable connectivity across regional India, especially during such important occasions.”

Mumbai, 13th October 2025: Cathay Pacific has announced the appointment of three senior management positions to head key departments across its South Asia, Middle East, and Africa (SAMEA) region.The airlines vision is to deepen customer connections, enhancing commercial performance, and driving integrated brand growth. Piyuli Bhattacharjee has been appointed as Regional Head of Marketing for SAMEA. In her new role, she will lead regional brand marketing across passenger travel, cargo, and lifestyle business. With over eight years of experience spanning aviation, omni-channel retail, and brand strategy, Piyuli brings a deep understanding of digital strategy, customer insights and integrated campaign planning. Arjun Bhatia has been appointed as Regional Head of Corporate Sales for SAMEA. In his new role, Arjun will be responsible for driving strategic corporate sales initiatives, key account management, and revenue performance across markets. He previously served as Regional Head of Digital Sales for the region, where he strengthened Cathay’s digital commerce and customer experience capabilities. Vinod Viswanathan has been appointed as Regional Head of Trade Sales for India and Sri Lanka. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening trade partnerships, driving strategic initiatives, and expanding Cathay’s footprint across key markets. These appointments further reinforce Cathay’s strategic focus on strengthening leadership depth and customer engagement across key commercial functions in the SAMEA region. All three of them are based at Cathay’s regional headquarters in Mumbai.