SPECIAL COLOURS - Starlux Airsorayama Gold - A350-1000, B-58554

The GOLD that will dazzle the world
The STARLUX AIRSORAYAMA GOLD makes its debut at AIRBUS headquarters!

Following the AIRSORAYAMA SILVER, the B-58554 has completed its paint job in Toulouse, France.

The flying masterpiece, designed by legendary Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, will soon illuminate the skies.

 Photos: StarLux

SPECIAL LIVERY - Spirit Airlines is fully embracing its most famous nickname — the “banana plane”

with a new marketing campaign that transforms six of its bright yellow aircraft into special banana-themed liveries.

The yellow Airbus A319/A320/A321 fleet is frequently dubbed the "Banana Plane" by aviation enthusiasts.

Photos: Spirit Airlines
 

FLEET / NEW LIVERY - Aeroitalia added its first Boeing 737-700 to its fleet in early 2026, registered as 9H-SIL

Photo: Eros Picari | Jetspeedit

Forli (Luigi Ridolfi) - LIPK, Italy

This aircraft was chosen to debut the company’s new, updated livery designed to showcase a refreshed brand identity.
Features a new, "all-Italian" look with a "Dynamic Tricolour" (green, white, and red) on the tail and a deep blue belly.

The introduction of the 737-700 marks a continued expansion of the carrier's fleet, which has historically relied on a mix of 737-800s, 737-500s, and wet-leased ATR 72-600s.

FLEET - Medsky Airways (Libya) took delivery of one E195, on wet lease from Marathon Airlines (SX-LUX) and powered by CF34-10E5 engines.

 Photos: Eros Picari | Jetspeedit

SX-LUX / Embraer ERJ-190-200IGW

Forli (Luigi Ridolfi) - LIPK, Italy

AIRPORT - Fort Lauderdale Airport

 Ronald Vermeulen

NEW AIRLINE - Mukhtara Air (MUH) is a new Saudi Arabian full-service carrier set to begin operations in early 2026, primarily serving pilgrims and travelers between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

 Owned by Manazil Al Mukhtara Group, it offers dedicated routes to Madinah, Makkah, and Taif using Airbus A330 and A320 aircraft, often in partnership with Zowar for travel packages.

Operational Focus: Specializes in Hajj and Umrah travel, connecting Indonesian cities (such as Surabaya, Denpasar, and Kualanamu) to Saudi Arabia.

Launch Date: Operations were scheduled to begin in January 2026.

Fleet: Operates Airbus A330s for international routes and A320s for domestic/regional flights, with plans to expand to 10 aircraft.

Parent Company: Owned by the Madinah-based Manazil Al Mukhtara Company Holding, which specializes in hospitality and travel services.

Headquarters: Located near Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia.

ROUTES - Armenia's NovAir restarts domestic operations

NovAir (Armenia) (NG, Yerevan) restarted scheduled passenger operations in Armenia on March 31, 2026, with flights between Yerevan and Kapan. The airline is deploying its only aircraft, Let 410 UVP-E20, EK4117 (msn 3017), which recently returned from lengthy maintenance in Czechia. Chief executive, Karen Vardanyan, said that for now, the airline had no expansion plans, but would reconsider buying a second aircraft if the Armenian government steps in with subsidies for domestic and regional connectivity.
CH Avaition

Full Story : Armenpress agency

 

REBRANDS - South Korea’s t'way Air rebrands as Trinity Airways

Shareholders of t'way Air (TW, Daegu) approved the change of the carrier's corporate name Trinity Airways at its annual general meeting on March 31, 2026, with 99.2% support of votes cast. The rebranding will take effect following approvals from domestic and foreign authorities. Until then, the airline will retain its existing name, 'TW' IATA code, flight numbers, and reservations.

Separately, the airline faces a KRW1.2 billion won (USD793,000) fine for using unauthorised components in aircraft maintenance. The case involves seven air supply duct parts installed on five aircraft which were not included in approved maintenance capability listings.

CH Aviation

Trinity Airways will maintain its fleet of 26 Boeing 737-800s, which will be expanded with 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s by 2027, and we will invest in long-range aircraft such as the Airbus A330-200/300, Boeing 777-300ER and future A330-900. International expansion was facilitated by the merger between Korean Air and Asiana, securing strategic slots for Europe and North America, specifically 46 destinations from Incheon.

 

SPECIAL COLOURS / ROUTES - On Easter Monday: Lufthansa special flights will fly the routes of the inaugural flights from exactly 100 years ago

• Just like on April 6, 1926: Two flights will depart from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne
• A grand ceremony is planned at BER Airport
• Numerous guests of honor, plane spotters, and spectators are expected

On April 6, 1926, the first flights of the first “Luft Hansa” took off from Berlin. On Easter Monday, April 6, 2026 - exactly 100 years later - this special anniversary will be celebrated in multiple ways.

On Monday morning, two long-haul aircraft will take off from Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich bound for the capital. A Boeing 787-9 will depart from Hesse, and an Airbus A350-900 from Bavaria. On board: more than 400 passengers, consisting of Lufthansa Group employees and their partners, who have been invited by the company. Also on board the flights: influencers and journalists. Both aircraft feature the special blue livery with a white XXL crane to mark Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary.

More than 600 guests are expected at a celebratory event at Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport.
On April 6, 1926, a Fokker Grulich F II took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport bound for Zurich, and a Dornier Komet III D-580 took off for Cologne. The flight to Zurich carried a newlywed couple, while the flight to Cologne had only a single passenger.

On Easter Monday, the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 will reenact these historic maiden flights. Both aircraft are scheduled to take off simultaneously from Berlin at around 3:00 p.m. Numerous spectators and aviation enthusiasts are expected on the BER visitor terrace for this special parallel departure.

The Dreamliner D-ABPU will depart for Zurich, and the Airbus D-AIXL for Cologne. They will also pass over the locations where the planes made stops on April 6, 1926. LH1926 (Boeing 787) flies from Berlin via Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart to Zurich, while LH2026 (Airbus A350) flies from Berlin via Magdeburg to Cologne. 100 years later, however, naturally without a stopover, but only as waypoints flown over in the air. Many aviation fans are also expected in Zurich and Cologne. Tickets for the two special flights sold out within a few days.

ROUTES - Malaysia's AirAsia X targets Istanbul as new hub for Europe

AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) is shifting its long-haul strategy towards Türkiye as the new intercontinental hub, after geopolitical tensions disrupted its earlier Gulf plans, Capital A chief executive Tony Fernandes said at a press conference.

"We're about to do a partnership with a very large Turkish airline, which will give us a huge European network," Fernandes said, quoted by Skift. He added that network plans and operations initially intended for Bahrain International are now being trialled in Istanbul. The Gulf airport, which AirAsia X planned to turn into a fifth-freedom connecting hub for its European operations, remains closed to all commercial traffic due to the risk of Iranian strikes.

AirAsia X earlier planned to launch services to London Gatwick via Bahrain from June 26, 2026, and to base up to 100 aircraft at the Gulf airport.

The airline continues to sell tickets on the Kuala Lumpur International-Bahrain-London Gatwick fifth-freedom route.

In a LinkedIn post dated March 16, 2026, Fernandes said amid the conflict, demand had strengthened for travel to Europe via Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Fernandes said the airline would seek to offset higher fuel costs through revenue and cost control, while maintaining low fares. It expects to return most of its aircraft from storage by end-April 2026 to improve operational reliability.

SPECIAL COLOURS - Highlight of the anniversary year: Lufthansa celebrates 100 years since its first flights in Berlin

• Special flights follow the routes from April 6, 1926, and take off for Zurich and Cologne on this special day
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• Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines: “Driven by a pioneering spirit, it all began here in Berlin”
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• The anniversary Boeing 787-9 aircraft is named “Berlin”: named by Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner

It is a special date for Lufthansa and a special day for all the employees who have shaped the airline with the crane logo: Exactly 100 years ago today - on April 6, 1926 - Lufthansa (at that time: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies on its first flights. On that day, two aircraft took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport bound for Zurich and Cologne. Exactly a century later, this special date was fittingly celebrated as a chronological highlight of the anniversary year on Easter Monday - including two special flights that retraced the historic routes of the inaugural flights.

A Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900, both in blue anniversary livery featuring a white XXL crane, had taken off from Frankfurt and Munich that morning. On board: hundreds of Lufthansa employees with their partners, who, as lucky winners of an internal raffle, had been invited by the company to join the anniversary flights and be there in person in Berlin on this special day. A total of more than 600 guests, including passengers on the fully booked special flights as well as invited guests from the political and aviation sectors, celebrated the highlight of the anniversary year at a festive event in Berlin. Among them was Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner. A special highlight: The Boeing 787-9 in anniversary livery was officially named “Berlin” during the ceremony.

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, emphasized in his speech: “Today, Lufthansa is celebrating its birthday! Driven by a pioneering spirit and passion, it all began here in Berlin. Exactly 100 years ago, the first flights of the original Lufthansa took off from here. Today, Berlin is one of our company’s largest locations. Around 2,000 Lufthansa employees live and work in the capital region. Lufthansa and the Group’s airlines will remain strong partners in Berlin in the future.”

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, emphasized in his welcoming remarks: “100 years of Lufthansa is an impressive anniversary. On April 6, 1926, two flights departed from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne, thereby establishing Lufthansa’s long-standing connection with Berlin. To this day, Lufthansa remains an outstanding partner for Berlin - and I am delighted that, on the occasion of this special anniversary, we are naming the Boeing 787-9 ‘Berlin.’”

Routes of the inaugural flights re-enacted

Around 3:15 p.m., the Boeing 787-9, which had previously been named “Berlin,” and the Airbus A350-900 with the registration D-AIXL then departed the capital for Zurich and Cologne. On their journey, the special flights flew over the locations where stopovers were made on April 6, 1926. The Boeing 787-9 flew from Berlin via Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart to Zurich, while the A350-900 flew via Magdeburg to Cologne. The flight numbers of the two flights, LH1926 and LH2026, also commemorated the special anniversary.

Lufthansa will celebrate its 100th founding anniversary in 2026. Berlin plays a special role in the airline’s history: the first Lufthansa was founded here on January 6, 1926. Today, the Lufthansa Group is one of the four largest airlines worldwide and the largest airline group in Europe. In Berlin, the company is the clear market leader. Around 30 percent of all flights in the capital are operated by airlines within the group.

The ceremonial highlight of Lufthansa’s anniversary year will take place on April 15 with a ceremony in Frankfurt. On this day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to attend at Lufthansa Group Hangar One, the new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport.

Lufthansa

 

ROUTES - Kenyan Carrier 748 Air Services to Resume Scheduled Flights in May

Kenyan airline 748 Air Services will resume scheduled domestic passenger operations in May 2026 under its Fly748.com brand, more than three years after suspending due to weak demand, the company said on Thursday March 2, 2026.

AIRPORT - Miami International Airport

Ronal Vermeulen

AIRPORT - 2026.EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

 Paul Bannwarth

FLEET - The first of 6 A320NEO for Edelweiss - “Hoch-Ybrig”, HB-JDB ex SWISS

Norwich - EGSH, United Kingdom

Photo: Bradley Bygrave

 

SPECIAL COLOURS - American Airlines, in partnership with Qatar Airways, celebrates FIFA World Cup 26 with new aircraft livery, final chance to score match tickets with the AAdvantage program and customer celebrations across the country

•  American debuts first sports-themed aircraft livery
• Announcement of last opportunity to redeem miles for match tickets
• Celebrations with customers at airports and popular locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is taking the excitement of the pitch to the skies. For the first time, the airline is debuting a special sports-themed aircraft livery — a bold nod to its role as the Official North American Airline Supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in partnership with Qatar Airways.

This livery is more than a design — it’s a symbol of how American connects people not just to destinations, but to the passions, teams and moments they care about most. The specially designed Boeing 737-800 entered service on Feb. 15 and will be visible throughout the tournament this summer — bringing fans to the action and turning heads along the way.

And the love for football doesn’t stop there. More than 1,460 aircraft — representing the majority of American’s fleet — proudly display a custom FIFA World Cup 26™ decal, honoring the airline’s commitment to connecting fans and teams to the world’s most celebrated sporting event.

“We’re honored to serve as the Official North American Airline Supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™ and to be part of a moment that brings people, cultures and communities together,” said Caroline Clayton, American’s Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications. “Our sponsorships help us create deeper connections with our customers, and this new sports-themed livery is just one of the ways we’re bringing the excitement of the tournament to their travel experience.”

On April 2, American kicked off its countdown to the world’s biggest sporting event with an aircraft livery celebration at its hub in Miami — the city’s hometown airline and the country’s largest gateway to the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America.

The airline transformed its Miami hangar into the ultimate football experience with the debut of its FIFA World Cup 26™-themed aircraft livery alongside food and beverages inspired by Miami’s rich culture and appearances by the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Mascots. Guests were welcomed with remarks from football icons Thierry Henry and Tim Howard, along with American executives including Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications Caroline Clayton, and Vice President of Miami Operations Juan Carlos Liscano. The program also featured remarks from FIFA Chief Business and Strategy Officer Amy Hopfinger and Miami‑Dade County leaders Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins. The remarks helped set the stage for an immersive evening that brought the spirit of the tournament to life.

“The excitement across North America is palpable and those of us who have been immersed in football for our entire lives are especially looking forward to how the tournament will grow both participation in and following of the world’s beautiful game,” said Tim Howard, former USMNT Goal keeper and sports broadcaster. “Brands like American are key to fueling that growth by enhancing the matchday experience and citywide celebrations for fans of all ages.”

This celebration is the first of many to come as American showcases the world’s beautiful game. Whether an avid or casual fan, American is bringing the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 26™ across 16 host cities through airport activations and surprise and delight moments — because the best plays aren’t always the ones on the pitch.

more information

FLEET - First KLM A350 Moves to Final Assembly Line

A major milestone in KLM’s fleet renewal: KLM’s first Airbus A350 is now on the Final Assembly Line at Airbus in Toulouse. Here, all the major components come together and the aircraft takes its final shape—the tail already features the signature KLM livery. KLM expects to take delivery of its first A350 by the end of the summer.

The Airbus A350 represents an important step towards a cleaner and quieter fleet. 

Compared to the Boeing 777-200ER, the A350 consumes 25% less fuel and has a 40% smaller noise footprint. For passengers, the A350 sets a new standard in comfort, offering the quietest cabin in its class, improved air quality, and higher cabin pressure. Pilots benefit from a fully digital cockpit, providing new opportunities for efficiency and support.

Fleet Renewal
KLM will invest €7 billion in fleet renewal over the coming years. In addition to the introduction of the Airbus A350, this includes the Embraer 195-E2 for KLM Cityhopper, new Airbus A321neo aircraft for European routes, and the Boeing 787 for intercontinental flights. In 2027, the A350F will join the fleet for cargo operations.

Photo credits: Simone Chellini, Airways Magazine