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Astana, 6th April 2026: As part of its fleet expansion plan, Air Astana has received a new Airbus A321neo aircraft on 3rd April 2026, delivered directly from the manufacturer’s facility in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft has become the 63rd in Air Astana Group’s fleet and will support further capacity growth and the development of the airline’s route network. Air Astana’s fleet predominantly consists of Airbus aircraft, ensuring a high level of fleet commonality, operational efficiency and reliability. The Airbus A321neo belongs to the latest generation of Airbus aircraft, offering high fuel efficiency, enhanced passenger comfort and reduced environmental impact. The new aircraft will be deployed on both domestic and international routes.

Gurugram, 2nd April 2026: Star Alliance has officially inducted ITA Airways as its newest member, marking the completion of the Italian carrier’s integration into the world’s largest airline alliance. ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3. The ceremony was presided over by ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, and Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx, in the presence of media and institutional guests. Starting April 1, ITA Airways will be fully connected into the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport, served by 17 Star Alliance members collectively, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide. Customers travelling across the network can now benefit from through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges, creating a more seamless customer experience, in and out of Italy. Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias said: “On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance. This is the result of a focused and collaborative integration effort. With ITA Airways on board, we not only expand our network to and from Italy, but also elevate the connected experience of our customers when travelling across multiple airlines, through access to the world’s largest network of airport lounges, more comprehensive loyalty benefits, and other benefits like baggage tracking – all designed to enhance the journey at every step.” Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “Joining Star Alliance marks a historic milestone for ITA Airways and a defining step in our growth. By becoming part of the world’s largest and most established global airline network, we significantly expand our international reach while offering our passengers a more seamless, consistent and high quality travel experience, with access to over 1,150 destinations worldwide, smoother connections, integrated services and a stronger premium proposition. At the same time, we enter Star Alliance bringing with us our distinctive Italian identity, enriching the Alliance and reinforcing ITA Airways’ role in connecting Italy with the world, combining global standards of excellence with the warmth and elegance that define the Italian way of flying.” ITA Airways’ induction into the Alliance has been mentored by the Lufthansa Group, and expert teams across the group airlines have facilitated an intense integration programme over the last several months. Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, said: “The Star Alliance membership is only possible thanks to the strong commitment and close collaboration of dedicated teams at ITA Airways, Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance. We are pleased to introduce ITA Airways as fully fledged hub airline into the Lufthansa Group and into the Alliance, expanding options for travellers across Europe and the world. Together, ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group, are unlocking a joint value proposition that will benefit our customers, our partners, and the Star Alliance ecosystem.” ITA Airways, which flies over 16 million customers every year, adds more than 350 daily flights to the Alliance network, supported by a strong domestic and regional footprint. The addition expands travel options across Italy and Europe, while improving connectivity between Southern Europe and key international markets. As part of its membership, eligible customers can enjoy priority services, lounge access across the Alliance network, and reciprocal frequent flyer programme recognition, including earning and redeeming miles. Star Alliance Gold customers will also have access to ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan and Catania. With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network spanning over 190 countries.

Delhi, 31st March 2026: The biggest Indian carrier, IndiGo has announced the appointment of William Walsh as its new Chief Executive Officer. This follows after the former CEO Peter Elbers resigned from his post in early March, which was accepeted by the Inter Globe management after the December 2025 operational fiasco. This strategic decision comes at a time when IndiGo seeks to strenghten its leadership team and drive growth and enhance its presence in the global aviation market. William Walsh’s role as CEO will involve overseeing the airline’s management and strategic direction, focusing on enhancing operational performance and customer experience. He is currently the Director General ‌of the International Air Transport Association(IATA) and will join the Indian airline in early August. On March 31, 2026, IndiGo’s Board of Directors approved the appointment of William Walsh as CEO, subject to regulatory approvals. Walsh, who is currently the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), will conclude his tenure there on July 31, 2026, and is expected to join IndiGo by August 3, 2026. Walsh is renowned for his extensive experience in the aviation industry, having previously served as CEO of British Airways and the International Airlines Group (IAG). His leadership is credited with effective restructuring and successful mergers and acquisitions. Walsh tenure at IATA is coming to end on July 31. He started as a commercial pilot, moving to different roles as the COO and then CEO of Aer Lingus (2000-2005) and later moved to British Airways as CEO (2005-2011), CEO of IAG (2011-2020) and to IATA. Walsh’s experience of “managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth,” said Vikram Singh Mehta, IndiGo’s chairman, in an exchange filing on Tuesday.

Delhi, 31st March 2026: Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives recently completed its 18 years of operations in India. For nearly two decades, India operations have remained a key pillar of Maldivian’s regional connectivity and growth. Maldivian currently flies 5 times every week to both Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin. Over the past eighteen years, these routes have played an important role in strengthening access to essential markets and enhancing connectivity between the Maldives and major Indian cities. The network has also supported tourism, trade, education, and medical travel, further reinforcing the close ties between the two neighboring countries. The airlines in an special event brought together key stakeholders, partners, and team members to reflect on the airline’s journey in the Indian market and to recognise the contributions of those who have helped shape this success over the years. As part of the celebration, long-serving staff and valued partners were presented with commemorative awards in recognition of their dedication, loyalty, and longstanding support throughout Maldivian’s 18 years of operations to India. Maldivian’s continued service to India underscores the airline’s commitment to maintaining strong regional links and delivering greater convenience for travellers journeying between the Maldives and India. As one of the airline’s most important international markets, India continues to contribute significantly to Maldivian’s broader vision of connecting the Maldives to key destinations across the region. With the largest domestic network in the Maldives, Maldivian also provides seamless connections for travellers arriving from India to destinations across the country, linking them to resort islands, local communities, business hubs, and essential services. “India has been an integral part of Maldivian’s international journey for the past 18 years,” said Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Maldivian. “This milestone is not only a celebration of our operations, but also a tribute to the dedicated staff, trusted partners, and loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years. We remain committed to strengthening this important market and further enhancing connectivity between the Maldives and India.”

Noida, 28th March 2026: The date 28th March 2026 will be remembered as an iconic day not only for the uttar Pradesh or Noida but also for the nation as the one of the much awaited airport at Jewer in Greater Noida finally got inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The PM said that this airport marks a new chapter in the Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat Abhiyan mission . With addition of Noida International Airport, Uttar Pradesh has now become one of the states with the highest number of international airports. There are total seventeen operational airports in Uttar Pradesh till now. Benefits of Noida International Airport The far-reaching impact of the new airport will benefit a vast region encompassing around Uttar Pradesh in the vicinity of 100-200 kilo meters range. The airport will bring numerous new opportunities for all the sections of the society. The PM said, “Aircraft will fly from here to the world, and this airport will also become a symbol of a developed Uttar Pradesh taking flight.” On the IDAN scheme the PM said,” Recently, the Central Government has further expanded the UDAN scheme with an approval of approximately Rs 29,000 crore, under which 100 new airports and 200 new helipads will be built in smaller cities in the coming years. UP will also benefit immensely from this.” Addressing a critical gap in India’s aviation ecosystem, the Prime Minister drew attention to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector, noting that 85 per cent of Indian aircraft still have to go abroad for MRO services. PM Modi noted that the government has resolved to make India self-reliant in the MRO sector as well and highlighted that today, the foundation stone of an MRO facility has been laid here at Jewar. “When ready, it will serve aircraft from India and abroad , generating revenue for the country, keeping our money within India, and creating numerous jobs for the youth,” announced The PM. The first phase of the Noida International Airport is projected to become the largest in India once fully built, with the capacity to handle 225 million passengers each year. Airport Operations Timeline Early this month on March 6th, the DGCA issued the aerodrome license to the airport after multiple delays due to various factors. As per the official project plan, the domestic and cargo operations is expected to start within 45 days after issuance of the license. However, the exact date is not yet announced but as per the media sources the commercial flight services may begin between mid-April and May 2026.The international flight are likely to begin from September 2026.The official sources confirmed that initially the airport will start operations with limited domestic flights mostly during daytime hours, before gradually expanding to full-scale domestic and international services. The airport officials also mentioned that the airport is now physically ready, commercial services will commence only after final approvals, including tariff clearance and airline scheduling, are completed. The Noida International Airport, has been already assigned the IATA code DXN and now the process of complete coordination with airlines, ground handlers, and other stakeholders before launching passenger flights is under process. Airport Development Plans Noida International Airport is spread across over 1,300 hectares and is being developed into multiple phases. The first phase which was inaugurated includes one runway and a terminal capable of handling around 12 million passengers annually. In its final form, the airport is planned to have up to five runways and a capacity of 70 million passengers per year by 2040, positioning it among Asia’s largest aviation hubs. (Pix Courtesy: PIB)

Ahmedabad, 27th March 2026: Air India has announced that all its domestic flight operations at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport will shift from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, effective 29 March 2026. The relocation covers Air India’s schedule of 210 weekly domestic flights operating to and from Ahmedabad, while the airline’s international flights departing and arriving in Ahmedabad already operate from Terminal 2. This transition is part of Air India’s ongoing efforts to enhance the airport experience for guests travelling to and from Ahmedabad. Spread across 49,000 sq. m built‑up area, Terminal 2 offers a significantly upgraded passenger experience and is equipped with 52 check‑in counters, self-baggage drop kiosks, DigiYatra kiosks, 17 departure immigration counters, 22 arrival immigration counters, 8 Fast Track Immigration e‑gates at departures and arrivals, and a wide range of retail and F&B options. Air India has begun proactively notifying all passengers booked to travel to or from Ahmedabad about the terminal change through SMS, email, and other direct communication channels. Travellers are also advised to double‑check their terminal information before heading to the airport to avoid any last‑minute inconvenience.

New Delhi, 23rd March, 2026: The Board of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) announced the appointment of Aloke Singh as Chief Strategy Officer.In this role, he will lead the Company’s long-term strategic planning function and drive enterprise-wide transformation initiatives focused on accelerating growth, enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening competitive positioning in a rapidly evolving global aviation landscape. He will partner closely with the leadership team on cross-functional priorities designed to improve agility, elevate customer experience and deliver sustainable shareholder value. Aloke Singh brings over three decades of aviation industry experience spanning Strategy, Planning, Operations and Commercial functions. He has a proven track record of leading complex operational and cultural transformation, driving rapid growth and managing large-scale expansion programmes. More recently, he served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air India Express, where he played a pivotal role in the airline’s transformation, delivering operational improvements and driving rapid growth. He has previously held senior leadership positions, including in the Strategy domain, at Air India and Oman Air. Welcoming Aloke Singh, IndiGo’s Managing Director Rahul Bhatia said, “Aloke brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and operational depth. His comprehensive understanding of the aviation ecosystem will be invaluable as we build a more agile, resilient and future-ready organisation, and accelerate our next phase of growth. For now, Aloke will report to me. Once the next CEO assumes office, he will transition to reporting to the new Chief Executive.” Commenting on his appointment, Aloke Singh said “I am delighted to join IndiGo at such a pivotal moment for the airline and for Indian aviation broadly. Having redefined India’s domestic and shorthaul international aviation landscape, IndiGo is taking its ambitions global. I look forward to working with colleagues across the organisation to sharpen our strategic direction, double down on operational excellence and deepen and broaden our markets.”

Dublin,24th March, 2026: ACIA Aero Leasing (“ACIA”),provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services, announced the completion of a financing transaction with volofin Capital Management (“volofin”), a specialty finance and alternative asset management firm focused on the commercial aviation market. The facility covers the refinancing of two ATR72-600 passenger aircraft on lease to Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services together with an accordion facility to fund additional aircraft. ACIA subsequently utilised a portion of the accordion to support the closing of a sale and leaseback of two ATR72-600 passenger aircraft operating with EWA Air, the primary airline of the French department of Mayotte. The new facility marks a significant milestone in broadening ACIA’s financing relationships. The addition of volofin to ACIA’s lending pool further diversifies the company’s funding sources and underscores growing lender confidence in ACIA’s business model, portfolio quality, and long-term growth strategy. “We are delighted to welcome volofin as a new lending partner to ACIA,” said Bradley Gordon, SVP Corporate Finance and Risk at ACIA. “The volofin team provided a flexible facility designed to meet our specific requirements. The efficiency with which we completed two transactions in such a short timeframe is a testament to the professionalism and commitment of the volofin team. Adding volofin to our lender pool is a significant step in our continued efforts to diversify and strengthen our financing base, and we look forward to building a long and productive relationship.” Robert Jack, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of volofin, commented: “We are very pleased to have established this new relationship with ACIA Aero Leasing. ACIA has built an impressive profile in the turboprop leasing market. We look forward to supporting ACIA’s continued growth and exploring further opportunities together.” These financings will support ACIA’s continued growth and its ability to provide innovative and flexible leasing solutions to regional airlines worldwide.

Panaji,19th March 2026: Goa-headquartered regional airline FLY91 has completed two years of commercial operations, flying 4,81,802 passengers across India’s emerging regional air destinations since its inaugural flight in March 2024, underlining the steady rise of regional aviation and the growing demand for direct connectivity between India’s smaller cities. Over the past two years, the airline has operated 9,569 flights and logged 12,896 flying hours, building a network that connects underserved destinations with regional aviation hubs. FLY91 commenced commercial services on March 18, 2024, when its first flight departed from Goa’s Manohar International Airport for Bengaluru, marking the entry of a new carrier focused on strengthening regional connectivity in India. Headquartered in Goa FLY91 operates from its home base at Manohar International Airport, Mopa and a second hub in Hyderabad which was added recently. The airline currently connects nine destinations including Goa, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Agatti and Jalgaon, and aims to scale up to 15 stations. Built as a pure-play regional airline, the carrier operates ATR 72-600 aircraft suited to short-haul sectors and efficient regional operations. Manoj Chacko, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of FLY91, said the two-year milestone reflects the growing importance of regional aviation in connecting India’s smaller cities. “Completing two years of operations is a meaningful milestone for our team and partners. When we launched, the objective was clear: to connect underserved cities and enable easier, faster travel for people who often had limited options. The response from passengers across our network has been extremely encouraging. As we grow, our focus will remain on measured growth, disciplined expansion, operational reliability and building a regional airline that communities can depend on,” he said. The airline’s network has seen particularly strong demand on routes linking emerging industrial centres with larger economic hubs. Among the busiest sectors has been the Jalgaon–Pune corridor, which accounts for a large share of repeat travellers on the network.

New Delhi, 17th March 2026: When Air India returned to the Tata Group in 2022, one of the airline’s biggest priorities was rebuilding its fleet and restoring world‑class operational capability. Among the inherited legacy fleet of 113 aircraft were 30 widebody and narrowbody aircraft that had remained long‑grounded and untouched for years. Post-privatisation, Air India committed significant resources to revive each of them. With the return of VT‑ALL, the last of the 30 grounded aircraft, a Boeing 777‑300ER, the final chapter of this massive revival effort is now complete. In the next phase, VT-ALL and the other B777 aircraft in our fleet will undergo a full retrofit, starting 2027. With the retrofit, the aircraft will offer the new Air India experience with new seats and modern amenities while sporting our new livery. A comeback six years in the making VT‑ALL had been grounded since February 2020 due to multiple unserviceable systems and aging components. In April 2025, Air India initiated efforts to bring it back to full operational life to support long‑haul expansion. The aircraft entered the AIESL Nagpur MRO facility in May 2025, beginning an intensive, nose‑to‑tail restoration programme. The scale of the task was exceptional: 3,000+ new key components installed – an undertaking rarely seen outside of deep structural overhauls 4,000+ maintenance tasks completed, including 80 mandated modifications such as the complex Longeron Modification, a crucial structural reinforcement Replacement of major assemblies including engines, APU, inlet & fan cowls, and thrust reverser cowls A full systems rebuild – covering air-conditioning, landing gear, hydraulics, oxygen, avionics, and engine systems – essentially reconstructing the aircraft’s functional backbone Each part replacement, system restoration, and structural repair underwent stringent testing, documentation, and regulatory oversight by DGCA, with technical guidance from Boeing. Skilled engineering teams worked nearly round the clock to bring the aircraft back to life. A collaborative engineering triumph The revival of VT‑ALL was driven by seamless coordination across Air India’s base maintenance, planning, technical services, procurement and supply chain, Project Management Office (PMO) powerplant, Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO), and quality assurance teams. Their combined effort ensured the aircraft was restored in record time and to the highest safety and performance standards.