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Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7th July 2026: In a landmark step towards accelerating aviation decarbonisation across Asia-Pacific, the SAF Association (SAFA) and NGen Energy Sdn Bhd had launched the India–APAC Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Working Group – a high-level regional platform designed to drive policy leadership, industry collaboration, investment mobilisation, and market development for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The announcement marks the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between the SAF Association and NGen Energy to establish one of the region’s most influential industry-led platforms dedicated to advancing the SAF economy across India and the Asia-Pacific. As governments and aviation stakeholders intensify efforts to meet net-zero commitments, the India–APAC SAF Working Group will serve as a catalyst for regional cooperation, bringing together policymakers, airlines, airports, energy companies, fuel producers, technology developers, certification bodies, financial institutions, investors, research organisations, and international agencies to collectively shape the future of sustainable aviation. The Working Group aims to become the leading platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action on SAF across the region, helping bridge policy ambitions with commercial implementation while strengthening regional supply chains and investment opportunities. Building the Future of the Regional SAF Economy The India–APAC SAF Working Group will focus on five strategic pillars critical to the development of a globally competitive SAF ecosystem: ● Feedstock Development – Unlocking sustainable feedstock potential through agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, industrial waste streams, biomass, and next-generation feedstocks. ● Certification & Sustainability Standards – Promoting internationally recognised sustainability certification, lifecycle emissions accounting, and harmonised sustainability frameworks. ● Regional SAF Trade & Supply Chains – Facilitating cross-border trade, commercial partnerships, offtake agreements, logistics integration, and market access across the Asia-Pacific region. ● Policy Leadership & Harmonisation – Encouraging coordinated policy development, regulatory alignment, and knowledge exchange between governments and industry. ● Investment & Project Development – Connecting investors, project developers, financial institutions, and technology providers to accelerate bankable SAF projects and large-scale commercial deployment. Beyond policy discussions, the Working Group will establish specialised task forces, executive roundtables, technical committees, investment forums, research collaborations, capacity-building programmes, and annual regional dialogues to accelerate implementation across the SAF value chain. Establishing a Regional Leadership Platform The India–APAC SAF Working Group represents a shared commitment by the SAF Association and NGen Energy to build an enduring regional institution capable of supporting the next generation of sustainable aviation growth. By fostering stronger collaboration between India and the Asia-Pacific region, the initiative seeks to position the region as one of the world’s leading centres for SAF production, innovation, investment, technology deployment, and sustainable aviation policy. The Working Group will actively engage with governments, multilateral organisations, financial institutions, industry associations, and private sector stakeholders to create practical pathways for scaling SAF production and accelerating aviation decarbonisation. Rohit Kumar, Secretary General, SAF Association, said, “The transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel is no longer a national conversation – it is a regional and global imperative. The India–APAC SAF Working Group reflects our vision of creating a permanent platform that brings together governments,industry, finance, technology providers, and academia to collectively shape the future of sustainable aviation. The SAF Association is committed to providing strategic leadership that transforms dialogue into implementation, accelerates investment, and builds resilient regional SAF value chains. Together with NGenEnergy, we are laying the foundation for a new era of cooperation that will help position India and the Asia-Pacific as global leaders in sustainable aviation.” LT Leong, President & Executive Director, NGen Energy Sdn Bhd, said, “The future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel will be built through partnerships that combine policy vision with industrial capability. As Malaysia strengthens its role in the regional clean energy transition, NGen Energy is proud to partner with the SAF Association in establishing the India–APAC SAF Working Group. We see this platform as a catalyst for attracting investment, enabling technology collaboration, strengthening regional supply chains, and accelerating commercially viable SAFprojects. Together, we are creating a strategic platform that will help define thefuture of sustainable aviation across Asia-Pacific.”

Delhi, 4th July 2026: Akasa Air has inductee  40th aircraft in its growing fleet, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s journey. The first leg of the aircraft’s delivery flight commenced from Seattle, USA, to Reykjavik, Iceland and concluded with the final leg from Cairo, Egypt, to Bengaluru, India. Bearing registration number VT-YBQ, the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on July 3, 2026.  Within four years of commencing operations, Akasa Air has emerged as a formidable player in the Indian aviation landscape, while establishing a strong foundation for long-term growth. The milestone comes at a time when the airline continues to expand its network, strengthen its operational capabilities, and invest in building an airline for generations. The aircraft is purpose-built to Akasa’s specifications and equipped with Safran Z200 seats, a next-generation seating solution designed to elevate the in-flight experience. The seats feature a generous four-inch recline, an ergonomically contoured backrest, and enhanced cushioning for superior sitting comfort, alongside thoughtfully positioned additional conveniences such as USB-C and USB-A ports to support the needs of today’s hyper-connected travellers. Akasa Air has placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with a pipeline of 186 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next six years. As India’s aviation sector continues to witness sustained growth, the airline remains committed to contributing meaningfully to the country’s evolving air travel ecosystem. With continued expansion, Akasa Air remains on track to become one of the top 30 airlines across the globe by the turn of this decade

New Delhi,3rd July 2026: Air India has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) to explore a collaboration in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) which will contribute to the development of India as a global aviation MRO hub. The MoU was signed in Mumbai on 3 July 2026 by Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, and SIAEC Chief Executive Officer, Chin Yau Seng. This follows Air India’s earlier collaborations with SIAEC to strengthen maintenance and component support for its growing fleet and network expansion: Signing of a 12-year Inventory Technical Management (ITM) agreement with SIAEC for extensive component support coverage for Air India’s current fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft on 21 February 2024; Appointment of SIAEC as Air India’s Base Maintenance strategic partner for the development of the airline’s Base Maintenance facilities located in Bangalore on 11 May 2024. The latest MOU aims to deepen the partnership between both parties by tapping on SIAEC’s MRO and technical expertise to bolster Air India’s established airline operations network by jointly developing a world-class MRO ecosystem in India. This collaboration could include the potential formation of an MRO Joint Venture in India, serving the increasing needs of the Indian and regional aviation markets. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “India’s rapid aviation growth is driving the need for a stronger, more self-reliant MRO ecosystem within the country. As fleet sizes expand and operations scale up, developing local maintenance capacity will be important to support efficiency, resilience and long-term growth. Partnerships such as this can play a constructive role in enabling that broader direction and developing India as a global aviation hub.” Chin Yau Seng, Chief Executive Officer SIAEC, said: “India is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, and the continued development of its MRO capabilities will be an important step in strengthening its position within the global aerospace ecosystem. Through this MOU, we look forward to exploring how SIAEC’s technical expertise can support the progressive build-up of capabilities and capacity in India, alongside our ongoing partnership with Air India.” The potential collaboration, which is legally non-binding, is likely to be progressively firmed up with material developments in future.

São Paulo (SP),3rd July, 2026 : Embraer has reported that it has delivered 65 aircraft in 2Q26, marking its strongest second-quarter delivery performance over the past 16 years. Deliveries increased 48% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) and 7% year-on-year (YoY). In 1H26, Embraer delivered a total of 109 aircraft, circa 20% more than the 91 aircraft delivered in 1H25, supported by continued progress in the company’s production levelling initiatives. Commercial Aviation delivered 20 new aircraft during 2Q26 – 6 of which were E195-E2 models, Embraer’s largest aircraft currently in production in the segment. The business unit’s volume increased 100% in comparison with 1Q26 when it delivered 10 aircraft, and 5% in comparison with 2Q25 when it delivered 19 aircraft. Executive Aviation delivered 45 aircraft during the quarter, up 55% QoQ from 29 aircraft in 1Q26, and up 18% YoY from 38 aircraft in 2Q25. Growth was driven by higher deliveries across both small and medium jet segments, reflecting sustained demand and continued operational execution. There were no deliveries in the Defense & Security segment during the quarter. Embraer continues to expect deliveries between 80 and 85 aircraft in Commercial Aviation (midpoint up 6% YoY and between 160 and 170 aircraft in Executive Aviation (midpoint up 6% YoY) in 2026. In India, the regional airlines Star Air is the sole commercial operator which has fleet of all-Embraer aircraft. As of now, it has fleet size of 12 aircraft, including 8 Embraer E175s and 4 Embraer E145s, and as per the company website they are looking to expand the fleet to 25 aircraft over the next 36 months. However, they are many Indian NSOPs which uses Embraer business jets for regular charter operations. 

Mumbai, 1st July 2026: Air India today began deploying its newest Boeing 787-9 aircraft between Mumbai and London Heathrow, bringing its latest-generation onboard product to one of its flagship international routes. Effective today, Air India flights AI131/AI130 between Mumbai and London Heathrowwill be operated by the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft featuring all-new cabin interiors designed exclusively for Air India and installed directly on Boeing’s production line. These line-fit aircraft are the first Boeing 787s purpose-built for Air India, embodying the airline’s new standards of comfort, technology, and customer experience. The deployment also introduces Premium Economy Class on the route, offering customers a broader range of travel choices across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. Air India’s second daily service between Mumbai and London Heathrow will continue to be served by its upgraded Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring First Class, ensuring customers on both services enjoy an enhanced onboard experience. Air India’s brand-new Boeing 787-9 aircraft feature a three-class cabin configuration with 30 Business Class suites, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 238 Economy seats, blending contemporary design, advanced technology, and Indian-inspired aesthetics.

Varanasi, 25 June 2026: Air India has inaugured its first ‘Easy Connect’ flight under the Government of India’s new hub-and-spoke framework, launching the transformative model aimed at linking the length and breadth of India seamlessly with the world, and vice versa. The inaugural Easy Connect service, flight AI1111,departed Varanasi at 09:23 AM today, with international passengers on the flight connecting onward from Delhi to 9 destinations outside of India, such as Dubai, Colombo, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kathmandu, Phuket. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of  India, inaugurated the first ‘Easy Connect’ flight from Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. At the occasion, he said, “Today we take a major step forward towards realising our vision of making air travel more accessible and building a future-ready, self-reliant Indian aviation industry that is efficient, inclusive, and globally competitive. Our new hub-and-spoke model paves the way for a monumental shift in how our citizens travel – where regardless of the city one lives in India, one can begin their international journey from their home city and travel across the globe with ease and confidence, on India’s own wings.” At the launch, the minister presented the first passenger to check-in for the inaugural Easy Connect flight with a commemorative boarding pass. Also present at the occasion were Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India;Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India; P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India; among other senior officials from government agencies and Air India. Nationwide rollout As the first airline to begin the hub-and-spoke services, Air India is leading a phased nationwide rollout that will progressively connect more domestic “spoke” cities in addition to Varanasi to the airline’s primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, unlocking seamless, end-to-end international travel for millions of Indians. Over the next few months, Air India aims to introduce ‘Easy Connect’ services from several other Indian cities progressively, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Patna, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam, thus fundamentally changing the way Indian travellers access destinations around the world. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “India is a major force in global aviation, and yet, for decades a meaningful share of Indian travellers flying abroad have routed their journeys through overseas transit points – often at the cost of comfort and convenience. Air India’s ‘Easy Connect’ flights is a response to that reality, and we are grateful to the Government of India for its vision and support in enabling this framework.” Wilson added: “In today’s India, a family in Varanasi, Amritsar, or Vishakhapatnam should not have to navigate unfamiliar transit environments to reach the world. They should be able to begin their international journey from their home city, on their own soil, feeling confident, comfortable, and proud as they connect seamlessly to global destinations.” Nearly 25 million passengers travel long-haul to and from India annually, of which close to 20 million are connecting travellers – and around 85% (approximately 17 million) of whom currently transit through overseas hubs rather than Indian airports.

Delhi, 22 June 2026: Akasa Air has received delivery of its 39th aircraft, consistently building scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The aircraft marks the airline’s eighth induction in CY2026 and will support its continued network expansion and operational strength. The first leg of the aircraft’s delivery flight commenced from Seattle, USA, to Reykjavik, Iceland and concluded with the final leg from Cairo, Egypt, to Bengaluru, India. Bearing registration number VT-YBP, the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on 22nd June 2026. The aircraft is purpose-built to Akasa’s specifications and equipped with Safran Z200 seats, a next-generation seating solution designed to elevate the in-flight experience. The seats feature a generous four-inch recline, an ergonomically contoured backrest, and enhanced cushioning for superior sitting comfort, alongside thoughtfully positioned additional conveniences such as USB-C and USB-A ports to support the needs of today’s hyper-connected travellers. Akasa Air has placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with a pipeline of 187 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next six years. As India’s aviation sector continues to witness sustained growth, the airline remains committed to contributing meaningfully to the country’s evolving air travel ecosystem.

Delhi, 17 June 2026: Akasa Air has also commenced operations from Noida International Airport, (NIA) on 16th June after the official inauguration of the airport a day before. The airline’s inaugural flight departed Navi Mumbai International Airport at 0725 hrs and arrived at Noida International Airport at 0935 hrs. The inaugural flight from Noida International Airport, (NIA) departed at 1015hrs and arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 1230 hrs. Anand Srinivasan, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air said,“The commencement of operations from Noida International Airport marks an important milestone in Akasa Air’s growth journey. As one of India’s newest aviation gateways, the airport offers significant opportunities to enhance connectivity for travellers across the National Capital Region and neighbouring states. Our early presence at Noida aligns with our long-term strategy of building a strong network across key growth markets while supporting the development of modern aviation infrastructure. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Noida International Airport and delivering seamless, dependable travel experience to our customers in the Akasa Way,” he added. Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman, Noida International Airport said, “Akasa Air’s arrival at Noida International Airport is an important step in expanding connectivity for our passengers and the region we serve. As one of the first airlines operating from the airport, Akasa Air will help create new travel opportunities and greater choice for passengers. Together, we look forward to providing a seamless and convenient travel experience while creating new opportunities for connectivity, economic growth, and development across Uttar Pradesh and Northern India.”  

Bengaluru, 16th June 2026: Star Air has announced the launch of scheduled commercial services to Mundra (MDA), Gujarat, marking the airline’s 32nd destination on its expanding domestic network.Operations are set to commence from 23 June 2026, further strengthening Star Air’s commitment to connecting underserved regions of India with major economic and cultural centres. Star Air’s new flight services will link Mundra with Mumbai (BOM), Hindon (Delhi NCR) (HDO), Goa (GOX), Surat (STV), Belagavi (IXG), Bengaluru (BLR), Kolhapur (KLH) and Nanded (NDC), offering greater convenience and reduced travel times for business travellers, professionals, industrial stakeholders, and tourists. The airline will operate five weekly direct flights between Mumbai and Mundra, with departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, ensuring frequent and convenient access for travellers. Additionally, three direct flights per week will link Mundra with Hindon (Delhi NCR), operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Commenting on the launch, Capt. Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO of Star Air, said, “Every new destination added to our network reflects our belief that enhanced connectivity can unlock opportunities and drive inclusive growth. The commencement of our services to Mundra, home to India’s largest private commercial and container port, reinforces Star Air’s commitment to strengthening regional connectivity through reliable, convenient, and affordable air travel. We thank the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of India for their continued support through the UDAN initiative as we continue connecting more communities across India.” Adani Airport Holdings Limited CEO Arun Bansal said, “We welcome the commencement of Star Air’s flights from Mundra to Mumbai and other locations, marking an important milestone in strengthening air connectivity in the Kutch district. This development is expected to boost local tourism, trade, and economic growth. We thank the Ministry of Civil Aviation for its transformative UDAN scheme and look forward to a strong partnership with Star Air, contributing to the continued progress of the Indian aviation sector.” In addition to direct flights, Star Air is enhancing regional connectivity with a range of convenient one-stop connections through Mundra. Passengers can now travel between Mumbai and Hindon (Delhi NCR) with one-stop flights operating every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday via Mundra, departing Mumbai at 12:10 pm and arriving in Hindon at 3:45 pm, with the return leg departing Hindon at 4:15 pm and reaching Mumbai at 7:45 pm. Travellers heading between Surat and Goa can benefit from one-stop connections via Mundra from Tuesday through Friday, as well as on Saturdays, offering seamless travel between these cities. For those flying between Bengaluru and Mundra, one-stop flights are available via Goa from Tuesday to Friday, departing Bengaluru at 6:00 am and arriving in Mundra at 9:25 am. Connections from Mundra to Nanded are also offered from Tuesday to Friday via Goa, while return flights from Nanded to Mundra operate on Saturdays. Additional one-stop options include flights linking Kolhapur and Mundra five days a week via Mumbai, and services from Mundra to Belagavi via Mumbai on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. These thoughtfully designed one-stop routes further strengthen Mundra’s position as a key transit point and gateway to the Kutch region, offering passengers greater flexibility and access across Star Air’s expanding domestic network.

Jewar, Greater Noida, 16th June 2026: The Noida International Airport at Jewar, Greater Noida finally becomes a reality with first aircraft operated by IndiGo touched down from Lucknow in the early morning of 15th June 2026. The aircraft had onboard some special passengers as the citizens who handed over their land to airport officials for developing India’s most awaited and talked about airport. Onboard as the exited first timers both the male and female citizens of Jewar Village seemed happy while giving media bytes sharing their excitement and pride in becoming the privileged first passengers. The airport launch carrier IndiGo has started operations from DXN to many major airports across India. In its earlier press note, the airlines had mentioned that once operational, they will connect over 16 cities across the country through direct flights. These include major metro cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, along with important destinations such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Pantnagar and Srinagar. Noida International Airport has plans to be developed in three phases. In March 2026, when it received DGCA clearance to start flight operations, it completed first phase of development where it will serve 12 million passengers annually and will have one runway along with departure and arrival buildings. While addressing the media, Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman, Noida International Airport, said, “We are delighted to welcome our first passengers and flight operations. From the outset, our focus has been on creating an airport that combines operational excellence with an outstanding customer experience. We’re excited that IndiGo has launched operations at the airport today, and we look forward to providing passengers with a smooth, hassle-free experience in an airport that reflects the hospitality, culture and character of this region.” The other carrier Akasa Air has also shown interest in operating from NIA soon and its completing its operational readiness to commence services . However, Air India Express which has shown its interest earlier has temporarily halted its program citing reason due to heavy loss incurred by the TATA group airline in the last FY. ( Image Courtesy: IndiGo/ LinkedIn Page)