AIRPORT - Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev airport

Kazakhstan National Guard - Mil Mi-171E 'Hip' - 02-YELLOW

Kazakhstan National Guard - Shaanxi Y8F-200WA 'Pegasus' - 03-YELLOW - Astana (NQZ/UACC) , May 2026

Kazakhstan Air Defense Force (602sqn, Shymkent Airbase) - Sukhoi Su-25 SM3 'Grach / Frogfoot' - 09-YELLOW

Kazakhstan Air Defense Force (602sqn, Shymkent Airbase) - Sukhoi Su-25 SM3 'Grach / Frogfoot' - 11-YELLOW

Kazakhstan Air Defense Force (602sqn, Shymkent Airbase) - Sukhoi Su-25 SM3 'Grach / Frogfoot'
10-YELLOW

Kazakhstan Air Defense Force (602sqn, Shymkent Airbase) - Sukhoi Su-25 SM3 'Grach / Frogfoot'

07-YELLOW

Kazakhstan Air Defense Force (602sqn, Shymkent Airbase) - Sukhoi Su-25 SM3 'Grach / Frogfoot'

12-YELLOW

Republic of Qazaqstan (operated by Berkut Air) - Airbus Helicopters H225 'Cougar' - UP-EC501

Astana NQZ / UACC, June 2026

Photos: Yannick VP

AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

Paul Bannwarth
 

2026 ROUTES

Wizz Air  has scheduled three new routes from Sarajevo for the upcoming winter 2026/27 season, to Berlin, Bratislava and Prague with A321neo.

Vietjet is returning to the Ho Chi Minh – Chiang Mai route on 25 October 226, followed by service to Cebu from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as on the Clark – Ho Chi Minh City route.

Starlux Airlines  plans Kaohsiung – Kobe route on 01 January 2027.

S7 Airlines plans Novosibirsk – Chengdu Tianfu route scheduled from 26 October 2026, with A320.

EastarJet plans to launch Busan – Xiamen route on 29 October 2026, with B737-800 aircraft.Air Busan (South Korea) plans Busan – Chengdu Tianfu route on 03 September 2026, with A321.

Air Astana is extending the suspension of its Dubai flights from Almaty and Astana until September 30, 2026, citing continued instability in the Gulf region.

*Please confirm with your company.

Photo: Flyingphotos

SPECIAL LIVERY / AIRCRAFT NEW - The First Airbus A350F Emerges with 'Delivery Box' Paint Job

The first flight test aircraft is now fully assembled and painted, with its maiden flight scheduled for the end of September.

Airbus has unveiled its first fully assembled and painted A350F.

The aircraft emerged from the paint hangar with a paint job resembling a large delivery package.

The paint scheme resulted from a competition organized by Airbus that attracted around 4,000 entries. Two winning concepts were combined to create the final scheme applied to the first A350F.

The aircraft is the first flight test prototype of the freighter and will now undergo ground testing before taking off.

Airbus has officially stated that the maiden flight will take place before the end of 2026.

Airbus currently anticipates the first customer delivery in the second half of 2027.

Airbus

Meet the Hawaiian Airlines engineer turning historic aircraft into LEGO art

By Hawaiian Airlines

Aug 19, 2026

By day, Ashton S. helps keep Hawaiian Airlines’ aircraft cabins in top shape, designing, maintaining and troubleshooting cabin systems as a Honolulu-based interior engineer. By night, he builds detailed replicas of the airline’s most iconic aircraft from his dining room table, one LEGO brick at a time.

Through Oct. 11, Oʻahu visitors can experience Ashton’s hobby up close when visiting Bishop Museum’s “Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi” exhibit, where five of his custom-built LEGO aircraft models are on display. The models pay homage to five aircraft types that played pivotal roles in Hawaiian’s nearly century-long history: the 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, a Douglas DC-3 and DC-9, a Boeing 717 and 787 Dreamliner.

The “Aloha Bricks” display marries Ashton’s longtime interest in taking things apart and rebuilding them or turning the pieces into something new. “I’ve always been into creating things,” he said. “Whether it was building train tracks across my floor as a kid or building LEGO models, I’ve always liked figuring out how things work.”

That love of tinkering led Ashton to earn a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before starting his career at Hawaiian. Now, he spends his days reenvisioning and finding solutions for aircraft cabin furnishings and materials, including seats, galley appliances, wall placards, stowage bins and lighting.

As he works, he draws on the problem-solving skills he developed from building with LEGO bricks as a child.

FLEET - Royal Airways Expands Fleet with First ATR 72-500

Royal Airways, the private airline of Chad, will receive a second-hand ATR 72-500 turboprop.

Image: Flyingphotos AI
 

PIA to add wet-leased capacity from early 4Q26

 

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) will add two aircraft on
a six-month wet lease from October 2026 as the newly privatised airline pushes ahead with plans to grow its fleet and expand its network. 

The lease for the two as-yet-undisclosed units, which will be deployed on the airline's routes to Europe, comes as PIA is reportedly close to confirming an order for sixteen B787s. 

The airline has previously said it plans to increase its fleet to 60 aircraft amid ongoing efforts to restore parked jets to service.

CH Aviation / Photos: PIA

FLEET - Ibom Air Adds Third Airbus A220-300 as Nigerian Airline Moves Forward with Fleet Renewal

Ibom Air is preparing to receive its third new Airbus A220-300 aircraft
The next delivery will bring the airline's A220 fleet to three aircraft, while the first two A220s are undergoing full maintenance overhauls and are expected to return to service by the end of the year.

Ibom Air currently operates a mixed fleet based on the Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet.

The airline has publicly stated its ambition to operate 18 aircraft.

Photo: Ibom Air

NEW AIRLINE - Zed Airlines began operating flights to and from the United States on May 22

A Zed Airlines airplane pictured midair. Photo courtesy of Zed Airlines

 

Airline company ZED Airlines officially inaugurated its flights linking Cap-Haïtien to Miami on Friday, May 22, 2026, during a ceremony organized at the diplomatic lounge of the Aéroport international du Cap-Haïtien. 

Zed Airlines flight 9710, operated by an Aeroregional aircraft, successfully took off from Toussaint Louverture International Airport (AITL) bound for Brazil.

SPECIAL LIVERY - SATENA / De Havilland Canada DHC-6-400 Twin Otter / HK-5469-X - Retrojet c/s

Satena

FLEET - Compagnie Africaine d Aviation (CAA) / ATR 72-212A(500) / VQ-CDA -

The Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation (CAA), the airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo, uses ATR 72 turboprop aircraft for regional and long-haul passenger flights, playing a key role in serving the country's smaller airports on short runways.

Integration of an ATR 72 configured in the Cargo version to reinforce logistics and the transport of goods on national routes.

 Photo: Jakub Dybicz

NEW AIRLINE - One Pacific Airways aims to connect the islands of Micronesia.

On One Pacific's website indicates plans to fly to nine airports around the region, from Koror (ROR) in the west to Tarawa (TRW) in the east and south to Honiara (HIR).

 "The story of One Pacific Airways began with a personal journey. Mr. Chih Wang found himself stranded on a remote island for weeks—cut off by canceled flights and a lack of dependable air service. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel to and between the islands became nearly impossible. Airlines halted operations, and communities were left disconnected for years.

​Moved by the urgent need for reliable inter-island transportation, and inspired by the resilience of the Pacific people, Mr. Wang made a bold decision: to launch an airline built for the islands, by someone who understands their needs. Thus, One Pacific Airways was born—an airline committed to connecting families, supporting tourism, and empowering local economies with affordable, dependable air travel across Micronesia."

One Pacific Airways

To establish initial operations, the airline presented a fleet plan starting with a Cessna 337 and progressing to De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops

AIRLINE REBRANDIG - LAM Deploys First Embraer E190 as Air Mozambique Rebranding Takes Off

Mozambican national carrier Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) reached a major restructuring milestone on Friday,  August 14, 2026, with the entry into service of one of two
Embraer E190s acquired in December 2025, alongside its transition to its new commercial name, "Air Mozambique."

2026 ROUTES

Condor launches daily flights from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv
Frankfurt/Main - The German airline Condor has officially launched its scheduled Frankfurt-Tel Aviv service following the arrival of its inaugural Frankfurt–Tel Aviv flight at Ben Gurion Airport on August 1, 2026 (Saturday). The new daily service strengthens air connectivity between Germany and Israel providing travellers starting in Germany with convenient access to Tel Aviv as vibrant destination.

Delta Air Lines will launch a new nonstop Seattle-Narita route on its Airbus A330-900neo starting March 27, 2027, adding a second direct option to Tokyo.

SAS (Sweden) plans services between Copenhagen and Mumbai on 01 October 2026, with A330-300.

Saudia Cargo will launch a new scheduled freighter route connecting Dhaka to Frankfurt on 14 August 2026.

VietJet Air (Vietnam) schedules Da Nang – Osaka Kansai flights from 20 December 2026, with A321.

Turkish Airlines plans flights from Istanbul to Chengdu on 11 November 2026, with B787-9.

Somali Airlines is expected to start operating in mid September 2026 out of Mogadishu with two A320s, as the carrier has been on hiatus since 1991.

Kam Air (Afghanistan) resumes Kabul – Kuwait City service on 24 August 2026, with B737-300.

Jeju Air (South Korea) plans to resume Seoul Incheon – Batam rout on 23 December 2026, with B737-800.

FedEx (US) has launched a nonstop B777F flight from its Guangzhou hub to Sydney, with serial 66262. The route began in May 2026.

El Al Israel Airlines no longer shows the scheduled Tel Aviv – Hanoi route from 24 October 2026, with B787-8/-9 aircraft.

Centrum Air (Uzbekistan) plans to launch services from Tashkent to Ekaterinburg. Perm and Ufa in early September 2026, with A320 and A320neo.

China Southern will inaugurate a new round-trip service between Guangzhou/Changsha and Addis Ababa on 12 October 2026. 

Cebu Pacific (Philippines) plans international service resumptions from Davao to Bangkok Don Mueang and Hong Kong, effective late October 2026 with A320 and A320neo.

FLEET - Indian regional carrier Star Air is on track to add two used Embraer E190 aircraft (featuring 108 seats) to its fleet.

G-CMZI / Embraer ERJ-190-100STD

Photo: Wesley Poxon

These upcoming 108-passenger jets will become the largest aircraft type in Star Air's fleet, supplementing their existing smaller Embraer E175s to handle high-demand regional routes

The aircraft involved are 12-year-old E190s previously operated by KLM Cityhopper and Eastern Airways. 

The jets, bearing serial numbers 19000659 and 19000661, are currently listed as stored and associated with future registrations in India.

Aviation India

AIRCRAFT Vintage - Lowa Corporation / Boeing 707-330B / N88ZL

Lisboa

Miami Opa Locka 

Photos: Flyingphotos

N88ZL is a historic Boeing 707-330B (MSN 18928 / Line 457) owned by Lowa Ltd / Lowa Corporation. 

Built in 1965 and originally delivered to Lufthansa, it later converted into a VIP executive layout, became famous for private music-tour and celebrity charters, and received quiet-engine hushkits
 

AIRCRAFT Vintage - Governo de Angola / Boeing 707-321B Adv / D2-MAN

D2-MAN is the international aircraft registration code for a historic Boeing 707-321B (serial number 20025) operated by the Government of Angola. Built in 1969, the vintage jetliner was frequently spotted across international airports over the decades, including visits to Lisbon, before later becoming derelict

Flyingphotos / Lisboa
 

AIRCRAFT - Lufthansa City Airlines to take delivery of A220 in mid-4Q26

First photo of A220-200 for Lufthansa

Lufthansa City Airlines (VL, Munich) will take delivery of its first A220-300 in November,
the carrier said in a social media post, pointing towards an on-schedule introduction to the
fleet.

“With delivery planned for November 2026, we are moving closer to a major milestone:
Lufthansa City Airlines will become the first German airline to operate the Airbus A220-
300 in scheduled service,” the post said.

The A220-300, msn 55501, with the future registration D-ACAA, is currently at Airbus
Canada’s final assembly line in Mirabel, Montreal.

Lufthansa City has forty A220-300s on order, while its fleet currently comprises of four
A319-100s and fourteen A320-200Ns. The aircraft currently in the fleet were either
delivered directly to Lufthansa City, or moved to the unit from elsewhere in the group. 

In April, Lufthansa Group decided to speed up its strategic decision and replaced capacity
provider Lufthansa CityLine with City Airlines.

CH Aviation

AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

 Paul Bannwarth

AIRCRAFT / FLEET - Qantaslink Fokker F100 Lands A New Role

After its final flight across Australia a QantasLink Fokker F100 jet aircraft has touched down at Shellharbour Airport where it will begin a new chapter at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).

The recently retired 100-seat aircraft has been donated by QantasLink to HARS where it will join its collection of aircraft as a public exhibit.

VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second aircraft to be donated to HARS, with another QantasLink F100 donated to its Parkes Museum in February.

Meekatharra will sit alongside Qantas’ first Boeing 747- 400, VH-OJA that was donated by Qantas in 2015. City of Canberra arrived at HARS following26 years of service and is one of the museum's most visited attractions.

QantasLink’s fleet of F100s are being gradually replaced with Embraer E190 aircraft to improve reliability, fuel efficiency and customer comfort. The first E190 is expected to arrive in Perth next month.

Meekatharra began flying for QantasLink in December 2016 and was the final F100 to be added to the fleet. The aircraft has flown more than 11,250 hours for QantasLink, carrying around a million passengers across regional Western Australia and as a critical support of the resource industry.

Comments from QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra:

“Meekatharra played an important role connecting regional communities across Western Australia for close to a decade, and we’re thrilled it will now be preserved by HARS for the future generations of aviation enthusiasts.

“HARS has become a natural home for some of our retired aircraft, helping keep important parts of Australian aviation history alive.

“As we farewell the F100 and prepare to welcome new aircraft into the fleet, we're grateful to the volunteers who will ensure its story continues to be shared.”

Comments from HARS President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Hunty:

“We're honoured that QantasLink has entrusted HARS with another important piece of Australian aviation history.

“Joining Qantas' first Boeing 747-400, and the former Qantas Boeing 707-138, Meekatharra will help tell the story of the aircraft that connected regional communities and supported industry across Western Australia.

“Our volunteers are passionate about keeping these stories alive and giving visitors the opportunity to experience these remarkable aircraft up close.”

Comments from Shellharbour Mayor, Chris Homer:

"We're proud to welcome another significant aircraft to HARS here in Shellharbour, strengthening our city's reputation as one of Australia's premier destinations for aviation history.

"This F100 served communities across Western Australia for many years, and it's fitting that its next chapter will be at HARS, where it will continue connecting people through education, tourism and the preservation of Australia's aviation heritage.

"HARS continues to attract visitors from across the country, and every new addition to its collection helps share the stories of Australian aviation with future generations while supporting local tourism and our visitor economy."

Fast Facts:

• VH-NPU joined the QantasLink fleet in 2016 and prior to that it flew for American Airlines and Austrian Airlines.

• Nine million kilometres and 7,543 flights flown for QantasLink

• The F100 aircraft have connected communities across Western Australia, including Kalgoorlie, Newman and Paraburdoo.

• QantasLink’s WA network operates over 600 flights per week to more than 25 destinations across regional Western Australia and to Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

• Its current Western Australian fleet includes 40 aircraft including Fokker 100, Airbus A319 and Airbus A320.

• The donation follows a QantasLink F100 donation to HARS Parkes in February 2026.

• HARS Albion Park is already home to Qantas' first Boeing 747-400, VH-OJA, donated in 2015.
Qantas

ROUTES - SWISS strengthens its Geneva base with larger aircraft

SWISS is adjusting its fleet at its Geneva base for summer 2027. The airline will replace two Airbus A220-300s with two Airbus A320neos. This will create additional seats on the high-demand Geneva–London Heathrow route.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is adjusting its fleet in Geneva. For the 2027 summer timetable, the airline will operate two Airbus A320neos instead of two Airbus A220-300s. While the A220-300 offers 145 seats, the A320neo has capacity for 180 passengers.

More seats on an important route

SWISS will deploy the two Airbus A320neos on its Geneva–London Heathrow route. This is one of the most in-demand routes from Geneva. The aircraft change will create additional capacity on the route and further strengthen SWISS’s offering for travelers.

“This sends a strong signal for our Geneva base,” says SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger. “We want to secure our position in Geneva for the long term and continue to strengthen it with targeted measures. An attractive, demand-oriented and profitable route network plays a decisive role in this.”

SWISS will finalize the operational details for its 2027 summer timetable over the coming weeks. The summer timetable will be in effect from 28 March to 30 October 2027.

Swiss

AIRCRAFT - COMAC - Commercial Aircraft Corporation Of China / COMAC C919-600 / B-002U / MSN: 00032

 Photo: Chiu Ho-yang

The first COMAC C919-600, a shortened C919 variant designed for high-altitude airport operations, is seen here getting towed back to the COMAC apron after it completed its second test flight before the Typhoon Dolphin hits. 

In the background, you can see the dust caused by the strong wind and the remains of ET-ARH, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777F that suffered a fire incident when loading cargo at PVG on July 22nd, 2020.