Flyingphotos Magazine News

quinta-feira, 7 de maio de 2026

FLEET - Air Marshall Islands receives first Cessna SkyCourier

The aircraft were ordered in late 2024 as part of a two-aircraft purchase agreement with Textron Aviation.
SkyCouriers will replace Air Marshall Islands' Dorniers.

Air Marshall Islands flies to 23 airports across the country, although several of these airports are only served intermittently.

The second SkyCourier is expected to arrive in about a month.

Photo: Office of President, Republic of Marshall Islands.

ORDER - AirAsia places landmark order for 150 A220s

Malaysia’s AirAsia has placed an order for 150 latest generation A220-300 aircraft. The purchase agreement is the largest single firm order placed for the A220 and propels the programme beyond the 1,000 firm order milestone, underscoring the aircraft's global market appeal.

The contract was announced at a ceremony at the Airbus facility in Mirabel attended by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Group and Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. The event took place in the presence of the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and the Honourable Christine Frechette, Premier of Quebec.

The purchase agreement makes AirAsia a new customer for the A220. The airline also becomes the launch customer for the aircraft's new cabin configuration of 160 seats. The increase in capacity, adding 10 seats, is made possible by the addition of an extra overwing exit on each side of the aircraft.

The A220 complements AirAsia’s existing Airbus fleet and will play a key role in advancing the Group’s network and growth. The aircraft will service destinations across ASEAN and into Central Asia, freeing up larger aircraft to fly longer routes.

“We have built AirAsia by making bold decisions at the right moment, not the easiest moment. This order reflects our long-term discipline and the scale of our ambitions. The A220 unlocks new markets and routes and brings us closer to building the world's first true low-cost network carrier,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to Air Asia Group. “Our partnership with Airbus spans more than two decades and has been central to everything we have achieved. Today is another milestone in that journey, and there are many more to come.”

“The A220 will provide an optimal platform for AirAsia, combining low operating costs with the range that will enable the carrier to open new routes across Asia and beyond,” said Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “Airbus and AirAsia teams have been working tirelessly to reach this landmark agreement, which is fully aligned with the airline’s new network strategy.”

Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 100 to 160 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). At the end of March 2026, 501 A220s had been delivered to 25 operators worldwide.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.

ROUTES / FLEET - Air Central plans to grow its fleet by six widebody freighters by 2029, with delivery of the first two in late 2026.

Ton Jochems - B-2473-B747-400F-BUD

They will help with expansion, including flights to the US.

Air Central (formerly China Central Longhao Airlines) is a Zhengzhou-based Chinese cargo carrier, established in 2015 and government-backed, specializing in domestic and international freight services. It is expanding its fleet with Boeing 747-400 freighters to service U.S. routes as of 2026, operating primarily from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO)

ROUTES - IberoJet plans flights from Barcelona and Madrid to San Salvador from mid September 2026 until mid-February 2027, with A350-900.

Flyingphotos-Madrid

AIRLINE - Gulf Air and BeOnd to codeshare from Bahrain

Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) and BeOnd (B4, Malé) will launch a codeshare and loyalty partnership from Bahrain International in the 2026 winter season, covering 1x daily Malé flights and European services operated by BeOnd.

The network will include Gulf Air's flights to Paris CDG, London Heathrow, Zurich, Moscow Sheremetyevo, Milan Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino by winter, with Málaga, Nice, and Geneva added in summer.

CH Aviation

FLEET - Emirates (UAE) bought out 29 A380s and five B777s at the end of their leases, in addition to 20 new aircraft deliveries during fiscal year ended 31 March 2026

The carrier also raised US$2.7 billion in aircraft financing via local and international markets. Emirates SkyCargo total freighter fleet stood at 13 B777Fs, with eight more units pending delivery.

Aviator / Photo: Flyingphotos

REBRANDING - DHL Aviation EEMEA (Bahrain) rebrands as DHL Air (Bahrain)

In line with the Civil Aviation Strategy for 2026–2027 The fleet includes 10 B767-300F aircraft and two B737-800 aircraft.

SPECIAL COLOURS - Copa Airlines Unveils “El Avión de la Sele” Panama’s National Football Team

The aircraft selected to carry this unique livery is a Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as HP-9819CMP.

FLEET - FlyOne orders two A321-200NX

FlyOne (Armenia) (3F, Yerevan) has ordered two A321-200NX aircraft directly from Airbus.
The contract was signed by the chairman of the parent company SIL Capital, Eduard Sukiasyan, during a visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Armenia.
The parties did not share the expected delivery timeline.
The aircraft would become the first A320neo family units operated by the FlyOne group.
The Armenian airline currently operates four A320-200s, one A321-200, and one ACJ319-100.
Its affiliates in Moldova (FlyOne) and Romania (FlyOne (Romania)) operate eight A320-200s and five A321-200s between them.
FlyOne Asia in Uzbekistan operates a single A320-200

CH Aviation / Photo: FlyOne Armenia

FLEET - Scoot (Singapore) announced a firm order for five A320neo family aircraft

The airline also exercised options for an additional six aircraft, from its 2014 order with Airbus.

The new aircraft will be progressively delivered from 2028.

quarta-feira, 6 de maio de 2026

AIRPORT - Frankfurt am Main-Germany

Photos: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt

FLEET - Avora Aviation Delivers Airbus A321 to Sky Vision Airlines on Operating Lease

Avora Aviation is pleased to announce the successful delivery of one Airbus A321-211 aircraft on a dry operating lease to Sky Vision Airlines, a Cairo-based carrier. The aircraft has been registered onto the Egyptian registry and ferried to its operating base ahead of entering commercial service, where it will support Sky Vision Airlines' route network growth across international markets.

The transaction reflects Avora Aviation's continued focus on placing mid-life A320/A321 family assets with growing operators across EMEA, Central Asia, and Africa, and reinforces the Group's commitment to providing flexible, well-supported leasing solutions to airlines scaling their operations

"Placing this A321 with Sky Vision Airlines is exactly the kind of partnership Avora was built to deliver — backing ambitious operators with the right aircraft and a structure that supports their growth plans" said Alim Lakhiyalov, Chief Executive Officer of Avora Group. "We're glad to be part of their growth story and look forward to a long-term relationship as the fleet expands."

Agora / Photo: Sky Vision

ORDER - Azorra Acquires Dae’s Airbus A220 Orderbook

Azorra today announced that it has acquired an orderbook of Airbus A220-300’s from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE).

The acquisition comprises eight A220-300 aircraft, including two that are currently on lease to TAAG Angola Airlines, marking Azorra’s first aircraft on lease with the carrier. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028, increasing Azorra’s total A220-300 commitments to 15 aircraft. The A220s will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines and placed with airline customers globally.

Andrew Zavatsky, VP Commercial at Azorra, says: “Acquiring DAE’s A220 orderbook strengthens our position in the small narrowbody segment and reflects growing demand for new generation, fuel efficient aircraft. The assignment of these aircraft underscores our long-standing partnership with Airbus and DAE, as well as our capacity to deploy capital at scale.

“The A220 has already proven to be a highly efficient and desirable aircraft for airlines globally, and we are strong believers in the program and its compelling economics. Our expanding small narrowbody portfolio firmly establishes Azorra as a leading lessor in the A220 segment.”

The acquisition highlights Azorra’s continued execution of its diversified growth strategy through mergers, acquisitions, opportunistic portfolio purchases, and OEM orderbooks.

Azorra currently owns and manages a fleet of 309 aircraft and engines. Including commitments and orders for new Airbus A220-300 aircraft and Embraer E190/195-E2 aircraft, Azorra’s total fleet comprises 309 assets.

FLEET - Frontier Airlines (US) expects to take delivery of seven A320 family aircraft in 2Q 2026, including five A321neo aircraft and two A320neo aircraft

Photo: Duncan Stewart - A320NEO-N390FR

And return 24 A320neo leased aircraft tied to a previous agreement.

Aviator

FLEET - LATAM Airlines Group expects the delivery of 37 aircraft through the remainder of 2026. Additionally, the group has incorporated into its order book and upcoming deliveries three B787-9 aircraft, two arriving in 2027 and one in 2028.

Photo:Ton Jochems - CC-BGY B787-9-AMS

FLEET - LOT will take delivery of the first two ex-Thai B787-8s in 4Q 2026, with the remainder scheduled for 2027. They are on lease from DP Aircraft I (UK).

Photo: Ton Jochems - HS-TQF B787-8-BRU

NEW AIRLINE - AirIdea is a new Italian regional airline based at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA), launching operations on June 8, 2026

Photo: Airldea

It focuses on connecting Genoa with major Northern Italian cities

Destinations:

GENOVA :

Venezia

Trieste

Bologna

Bergamo

Firenze

Olbia

Alghero

FROM JUNE 8 TO 28, 2026

Other routes:

Bergamo - Rimini

Rimini - Bergamo

*Always consult the company.

https://www.airidea.it

For the start of operations, AIRIDEA will use a 34-seat Saab 340B. In the coming months, BAE Jetstream 32s will also enter service. In this initial phase, AIRIDEA's routes will be operated during the summer season by the Maltese airline Luxwing.