Flyingphotos Magazine News

terça-feira, 3 de novembro de 2026

2026 ROUTES

PAL Elevates Manila–San Francisco Service with Flagship A350-1000 for Year-End Travel

Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) flagship Airbus A350-1000 flies daily between Manila and San Francisco, giving Filipinos on the U.S. West Coast access to the airline’s newest long-haul experience every day of the week. With the busiest travel season of the year approaching, the service offers more premium seating options and an elevated journey for those heading home to celebrate with family.

With San Francisco serving as one of PAL's most important North American gateways and a key link to the large Filipino-American community on the U.S. West Coast, the deployment provides customers with greater access to the airline's newest long-haul product during one of the year's busiest travel periods. Through Manila, passengers from San Francisco can also connect seamlessly to destinations across the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

Designed for long haul comfort, PAL’s Airbus A350-1000 features 42 Business Class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 316 Economy Class seats. Across all cabins, passengers can enjoy 4K inflight entertainment screens, inflight Wi-Fi, in-seat power, and both USB-A and USB-C charging ports, helping them stay entertained, productive, and connected throughout their journey.

More information: https://www.philippineairlines.com/ph/en/newsevent-listingpage/press-releases-statements/pal-elevates-manila-san-francisco-service.html

Hunnu Air inaugurates flights from Mongolia to Guangzhou, China, with the Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

Hunnu Air, the Mongolian airline, launched a weekly direct route between Ulaanbaatar and Guangzhou, a major commercial hub in southern China, in October, thus expanding the international presence of the Embraer E195-E2 in Asia.

Central China Longhao Airlines Launches UK Cargo Route to East Midlands

Cargo services with Boeing 747-400, twice a week, will strengthen cargo connections between China and the UK.

Central China Longhao Airlines has launched a new cargo service with twice-weekly frequencies, connecting Zhengzhou, China, to East Midlands Airport (EMA) in the UK.

The airline's first Boeing 747-400 cargo plane arrived in East Midlands on November 2nd, coming from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, marking the start of its first route to the UK.

Vietjet launches direct Hanoi–Tainan (Taiwan, China) route, further expanding its international network

Tainan, October 25, 2026 – Vietjet has officially launched its direct Hanoi–Tainan route, further expanding air connectivity between Vietnam and Taiwan (China). The new service offers passengers more convenient travel options while contributing to the development of tourism, trade and cultural exchange.

MIDDLE EAST AIRLINES / Airbus A330-900 / F-WWYZ msn 2136

Alain Charpentier

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE / A350-1041F / F-WXLD - msn 700

Alain Charpentier

FLEET - The Gabonese airline Afrijet Business Service has included aircraft from the Embraer ERJ family (including the ERJ-145 and ERJ-140) in its list of future acquisitions.

Embraer ERJ-140LR / T7-MKTA / MSN: 145554

Photo:Fred Willemsen

Historically focused on ATR turboprop aircraft

The ERJ-145 is a regional jet typically configured to carry up to 50 passengers on short- and medium-haul routes.

• Founded: 2004

• Main Hub: Léon-Mba International Airport (Libreville, Gabon)

• Destinations and Network:
Operates scheduled and regional flights connecting Gabon to Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Also operates under the Fly Gabon designation or brand on certain regional routes.

segunda-feira, 2 de novembro de 2026

FLEET - AVi8 Airways (Singapore) has signed an MOU with Serene Air (Pakistan) to explore the acquisition or leasing of A330 aircraft for potential P2F conversions, supporting its planned launch of operations from May 2027 out of Phnom Penh

Aviator / Avi8

FLEET - Costa Rica Green Airways has officially received its first De Havilland Canada DHC-6-400 Twin Otter aircraft (registered TI-BNA).

The aircraft departed from Switzerland and crossed the airspace of the United Kingdom, Greenland, Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Honduras, before finally landing in Costa Rica.

Photo: Green Airways

FLEET - Air New Zealand takes first iMTOW B787-9

Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) has taken delivery of its first B787-9 with increased maximum takeoff weight (iMTOW) capability, ZK-NZT (msn 66904), which arrived at Auckland International on October 29, 2026, the airline announced.

The GE Aerospace GEnx-powered aircraft was ferried from San Antonio Lackland on October 28, ADS-B flight tracking data shows. It is Air New Zealand's first new B787 in seven years, with a second iMTOW B787-9, ZK-NZS (msn 66903), expected to follow within the coming days.

The US Federal Aviation Administration certified the iMTOW option for the B787-9 and B787-10 in March 2026. The upgrade increases the B787-9's maximum takeoff weight by around 4.5 tonnes to 259.2 tonnes, which allows approximately three tonnes of additional payload or over 300 nautical miles (560 kilometres) of extra range, according to Boeing.

Air New Zealand expects to use the additional capability on its ultra-long-haul network, particularly between Auckland and New York JFK. Although the airline described ZK-NZT as the world's first certified iMTOW B787, United Airlines had already taken delivery of an iMTOW-capable B787-9 in May 2026, as previously reported by ch-aviation.

Air New Zealand operates a fleet of 114 aircraft, comprising seventeen A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, fourteen A321-200NX, thirty-one ATR72-600s, nine B777-300ERs, fifteen B787-9s, and twenty-three DHC-8-Q300s. It has firm orders for two more A321-200NX, four B787-9s, and five B787-10s.

CH Aviation / Photo: Duncan Stewart - ZK-NZC-LAX

Iraqi Government / YI-ASF / Boeing 737-800

Flyingphotos - LPPT

FLEET - Buraq Air Turns Page on Boeing Era With Sale of Last 737-800

Libya's first private airline has sold its last Boeing 737-800, which departed Benghazi for Malta. The carrier is now focused on the Airbus A320 family.

Photos: Buraq Air

FLEET - LOT Polish Airlines Retires Embraer E170 Fleet After 22 Years of Service

LOT Polish Airlines has retired its final Embraer E170, ending more than 22 years of operations with the regional jet type that the carrier became the first airline worldwide to introduce into commercial service in March 2004.

The last aircraft, registered SP-LDH, completed its final scheduled passenger rotation between Warsaw and Vienna on 30 October 2026, marking the conclusion of E170 operations at the Polish flag carrier.

LOT received its first E170, registered SP-LDA, on 8 March 2004 following a delivery flight from Embraer’s manufacturing facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The aircraft entered commercial service on 17 March 2004, operating the Warsaw–Vienna route with a 70-seat configuration.

Over the following 22 years, LOT operated 10 E170 aircraft, carrying approximately 13.8 million passengers across nearly 300,000 flights. The fleet accumulated more than 455,000 flight hours and covered over 230 million kilometers.

Configured with between 70 and 76 seats, the E170 served domestic and European routes, including Prague, Copenhagen and Budapest. The type also introduced fly-by-wire flight controls and winglets to LOT’s fleet.

The retirement forms part of LOT’s ongoing fleet transition, although the airline continues to operate several other Embraer aircraft types.

Its remaining Embraer fleet includes the E175, E190, E195 and newer-generation E195-E2, which continue to support the carrier’s domestic and European network.

CH Aviation / Photo: LOT

ORDER - Boeing and Icelease Sign Agreement for up to Three 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters

Agreement covers conversion of one 767-300BCF aircraft and secures options for two more

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire(opens in a new tab)/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Icelease agreed to an order for one 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) and options for up to two more as the leasing company continues to grow its freighter portfolio.

Induction of the first aircraft is scheduled for Q1 2027, with delivery of the converted aircraft expected in Q2 2027. Boeing will convert the airplanes at ST Engineering's airframe MRO facilities in Singapore.

Boeing and Icelease have agreed to an order for one 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter and options for up to two more. Shown here at a recent signing ceremony at Cargo Facts Symposium, from left to right in back: Jim Monohan, Boeing, Marc Van Ginkel, Boeing, Andy Ishige, Boeing, Bob Weiss, Boeing; Left to right in front: Sigthor Einarsson, Icelease, Lisa Dantzler, Boeing (Boeing photo.)

"This agreement with Boeing to convert up to three Boeing 767 aircraft marks an important milestone for both Icelease and its Dublin-based sister company IAT Leasing," said Sigthor Einarsson, Managing Partner, Icelease. "The history between Icelease and Boeing dates over 20 years and includes a multitude of new aircraft deliveries as well as cargo conversions. The Boeing 767-300BCF will join the growing managed cargo aircraft portfolio of IAT Leasing, which already includes seven Boeing 737-800BCF and other freighters leased to various customers."

"Icelease is an important partner for our Boeing Converted Freighter programs, and this agreement underlines our continued collaboration to meet global cargo demand," said Lindsey Douglas, vice president, Cabin, Modifications, Maintenance and Digital Services. "The 767-300BCF is a proven performer in the cargo industry, and we are confident it will continue to deliver value for many years to come."

Boeing and Icelease marked the occasion with a signing ceremony on Oct. 22, 2026 at Cargo Facts Symposium. The 767-300BCF is the world's most efficient medium widebody converted freighter and has a range of 3,300 nmi with a 57-tonne payload.