Recent News

New Delhi, 25th February 2026: The Cathay Group released its traffic figures for January 2026.At this moment, Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said, “As a Group, we have made a solid start to 2026 with momentum from the robust year-end travel peak sustaining into early January. Our passenger airlines Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried a combined total of more than 3.3 million passengers in January 2026, an 11% increase compared with January 2025. Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo carried over 130,000 tonnes of cargo during the month, marking a 5% increase year on year. “Our solid start to the year has continued in February. On 14 February 2026, both Cathay Pacific and the Cathay Group achieved new single-day passenger records. Cathay Pacific surpassed the 100,000 mark for the first time in its history, carrying 100,747 passengers onboard. Together with HK Express, we carried a combined total of around 128,000 passengers.” Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific carried 11% more passengers in January 2026 compared with January 2025, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 14%. Lavinia said,“We saw robust demand in early January, driven by outbound student traffic and travellers returning from the year-end holiday season. This was followed by a strong rebound in business travel, with load factor for our premium cabins performing better than in January 2025. We also experienced a significant increase in transit traffic as we continued to add frequencies across our network, further strengthening the connectivity of the Hong Kong international aviation hub. “The Lunar New Year holidays in February have just passed and we saw robust leisure traffic as customers across Asia took advantage of the extended holiday period. Looking ahead to Easter, travel demand remains robust. We anticipate bookings to accelerate as more customers book closer to their departure dates.” Cathay Cargo Cathay Cargo carried 5% more cargo in January 2026 than in January 2025, while Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 3%. Lavinia said: “Following the year-end cargo peak, our cargo business got off to a slower start in 2026 while still maintaining year-on-year growth. Meanwhile, our specialist solutions continued to perform well. Cherries and seafood from Oceania to Hong Kong and other major Asian cities contributed significantly to the demand for Cathay Fresh, while increased pharmaceutical movements from Europe and Central America supported the continued growth of our Cathay Pharma solution. In addition, we were proud to fly around 60 elite showjumping horses from Europe to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show 2026, demonstrating our expertise in transporting live animals as the event’s founding partner. “Looking ahead, we expect demand to pick up again in the rest of the first quarter after a softer period over the extended Lunar New Year holidays.”

New Delhi,20th February 2026: SriLankan Cargo, the air freight arm of SriLankan Airlines, has become the first airline in South Asia to be awarded the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) for Live Animals Logistics Certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Regarded as the premium global standard for the air transport of live animals, the certification serves as a powerful pledge to pet parents, livestock owners, conservationists and all shippers that SriLankan Cargo will transport animals in humane, safe and stress-free conditions across its worldwide network. Chaminda Perera, Head of Cargo at SriLankan Airlines, commented on the achievement, stating, “Earning the IATA CEIV Live Animals Certification underscores our dedication to animal welfare and operational excellence, ensuring safer handling, trained teams and peace of mind for our customers.” Sheldon Hee, Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific, said, “The CEIV Live Animals certification is not only about compliance, but ensures the safety and welfare of live animals transported by air. This is particularly relevant as this is a market that continues to grow with more than 200,000 live animal shipments globally in 2025. We are pleased to see SriLankan Airlines achieve this important certification and ensure the implementation of the highest standards across the supply chain.” The certification stands out for placing animal safety and welfare at the forefront, supported by best-in-class infrastructure and operational excellence. Achieving it requires a rigorous, multi-step process of training, assessment, validation, certification and recertification, ensuring that only organisations fully compliant with the IATA Live Animals Regulations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species gain membership in this highly exclusive circle of airlines, which currently numbers 12 worldwide.

Montreal,February 19, 2026: CAE has announced the qualification by the FAA and EASA of the world’s first Boeing 777-9 full-flight simulator, located in Boeing Commercial Training Solutions London-Gatwick Campus. This is a significant milestone in aviation training technology and reinforces CAE’s position at the forefront of next-generation simulator development. “This qualification is the result of a decade of innovation, engineering excellence, and close collaboration with Boeing,” said Alexandre Prévost, President, Civil Aviation at CAE. “We are proud to deliver the world’s first certified 777-9 simulator to Boeing, which will support effective pilot training for years to come.” The 777-9 simulator program reflects CAE’s long-term commitment to enhancing flight simulation. From concept to certification, the program has been shaped by technical collaboration and a continued focus on delivering industry-leading realism and safety. Developed in close partnership with Boeing, the 777-9 simulator program exemplifies strong co-development, including joint onsite testing. This collaboration ensures a seamless integration of Boeing requirements, aircraft data and training fidelity. “The 777-9 simulator qualification reflects the strength of collaboration between our Boeing and CAE teams,” said Chris Broom, Vice President, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing. “By working closely together — sharing technical expertise, testing, and validation — we’ve delivered a high fidelity training capability that will directly support airline readiness for the 777 9.” Since the launch of the 777X program, CAE has been collaborating closely with Boeing in the development of the 777-9 full-flight simulator and associated training equipment. CAE’s contribution to this development underscores its commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence in flight simulation. The simulator software has evolved alongside the airplane’s development to support crucial milestones. These enhancements reflect CAE’s dedication to delivering high-fidelity training solutions that prioritize aviation safety and operational realism.

New Delhi, 19th February 2026: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is carrying out a detailed investigation into the accident involving Learjet 45 aircraft VT-SSK at Baramati on 28 January 2026, strictly in accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017 and the international standards and recommended practices of ICAO Annex 13. The aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders. Both recorders were exposed to intense heat for a prolonged period during the accident and sustained fire damage. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), manufactured by L3-Communications, has been successfully downloaded at the AAIB Flight Recorder Laboratory. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), manufactured by Honeywell, is undergoing detailed technical examination. Assistance has been sought from the Accredited Representative of the State of Manufacture for specialised support in data retrieval. The AAIB is diligently following all prescribed technical and procedural protocols to ensure a comprehensive, objective and evidence-based investigation. The Bureau remains fully committed to transparency and will share further information at the appropriate stage of the investigation. The AAIB respectfully requests all stakeholders to avoid speculation and allow the investigation process to proceed in accordance with established procedures. (The report is published unedited and shared by the PIB.)

Delhi, 12th February 2026: The Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals of the Services at an estimated value of about Rs 3.60 lakh crore, on February 12, 2026. For the Indian Air Force (IAF), AoN was approved for the procurement of Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) {Rafale}, Combat Missiles and Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS). The procurement of MRFA will enhance the capability of undertaking air dominance roles across the spectrum of conflict and significantly boost the deterrence capabilities of IAF with long range offensive strikes. The majority of MRFA to be procured will be manufactured in India. The Combat Missiles will enhance the stand-off ground attack capability with deep strike power and very high accuracy. The AS-HAPS will be utilised towards carrying out persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Electronic Intelligence, telecommunication and remote sensing for military purposes. For the Indian Army, AoN was accorded for the procurement of Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav) and overhaul of Vehicle Platforms of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), T-72 Tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (BMP-II). Vibhav mines will be laid as anti-tank obstacle system to delay the advance of enemy mechanized forces. The overhaul of vehicle platforms of ARVs, T-72 Tanks and BMP-II will enhance service life of equipment ensuring readiness and operational effectiveness of the Indian Army. For the Indian Navy, AoN was cleared for 04 MW Marine Gas Turbine based Electric Power Generator and P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. Induction of 04 MW Marine Gas Turbine based Electric Power Generator under Make-I category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 will minimise the dependency on foreign manufacturers, ensure self-reliance in power generation requirement of Indian Navy. The acquisition of P8I aircraft will significantly boost the Navy’s combat/war-fighting capability of long-range anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and maritime strike capability. For the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), AoN was accorded for the procurement of Electro-Optical/Infra-Red system for Dornier aircraft. The procurement will assist in enhancing the efficacy of maritime surveillance capability of the ICG. Courtesy: PIB/MOD

Dubai, 12th February 2026: ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East completed its 20th anniversary at the onset of this year, commemorating two decades of sustained growth, technical excellence and a reputation fortrusted service to the region’s evolving business aviation market. The company started operations at Dubai International Airport in January 2006, making it one of the first dedicated business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies to establish operations in the Emirate. It relocated its main base of operations in 2023 to Al Maktoum International Airport, also commonly known as Dubai South. Nick Weber, Regional VP Middle East, ExecuJet MRO Services, says: “The 20-year milestone reflects our long-term commitment to delivering world-class MRO services in the region.From the early days, our focus has been on building a reliable maintenance operation based on quality, safety and long-term customer relationships. The growth we have seen over the years is theresult of our team’s commitment and the trust our customers place in us.” Since its inception, ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East’s growth has closely mirrored the development of the region’s business aviation sector. The operation launched with a team of 12 employees, doubling its workforce within its first year and delivering more than 21,000 labour hours in that initial period. “As the market continues to evolve, we will continue to invest in people, capabilities and infrastructure to meet our customer needs,” Weber says. “The foundation built over the past 20 years positions us well for the next phase of growth in the Middle East.”