quarta-feira, 3 de junho de 2026
FLEET - VietJet Thailand remains committed to replacing its fleet with 50 new B737-8 planes over three years
while accelerating plans to phase out its existing A320 and A321 jets to streamline costs. If the carrier gets A330neos from its parent, Europe flights are on the table for early 2027.
AIRCRAFT - Emirates takes first B777-300(ERSF) post-conversion
Emirates (EK, Dubai International) has taken redelivery of the first B777-300(ERSF) after conversion by Israel Aerospace Industries. A6-EBK (msn 34481) was ferried from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion to Abu Dhabi International for repainting on May 28, 2026. The aircraft was operated by Emirates as a passenger-configured B777-300ER until late October 2025. It is the first of at least ten of its own B777s that Emirates is planning to convert into freighters.
CH Avaition / Phto: Flyingphotos
FLEET - AZORRA Delivers First Atr42-600 To JSX
The ATR’s performance capabilities will enable JSX to expand its public charter service to thousands more airports across the United States – airports that generally do not or cannot receive service from network airlines.
Michael Davis, Chief Marketing Officer, Azorra, says: “We are happy to announce that Azorra has delivered the first of two ATR 42-600s on lease to JSX. Building on the momentum of their 10-year anniversary, JSX continues to innovate by connecting underserved airports across the United States and enabling travelers to bypass congested airport hubs.
“JSX offers a hassle-free flying experience, and the introduction of these aircraft will provide even more travel options for their customers.
We greatly value JSX’s vision and are excited to begin this mutually beneficial partnership.”
Jeff Simmons, Chief Financial Officer, JSX, says: “We’re looking forward to expanding ATR42-600 operations as demand for our public charter service continues to rise. Balancing product and fuel efficiency is more important now than ever before and we appreciate Azorra’s partnership as JSX looks to shape the next generation of regional air travel.”
AZORRA
VINTAGE Aircraft - Fuerza Aérea del Perú (Peruvian Air Force) / Antonov An-32B / 327
Duncan Stewart - Lima Jorge Chávez (LIM / SPJC) - Peru
terça-feira, 2 de junho de 2026
2026 ROUTES
Aero Nomad (Kyrgyzstan) schedules Bishkek – Surgut on 16 June 2026. with A320.
Air Congo now plans Kinshasa – Brussels route on 01 July 2026, with B787-8 operated by Ethiopian
Airlines.Asman Airlines (Kyrgyzstan) plans to launch flights from Tamchi to Tashkent on 24 June 2026. The carrier will operate from Osh and Karakol in 2H 2026 — all with DHC8-400.
Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) plans to launch direct flights to Almaty from Hong Kong in 1Q 2027, with A330-300.
Dan Air (Romania) schedules Bacau – Paris Beauvais route from 16 June 2026, with A320.
El Al (Israel) to launch flights from Tel Aviv to San Francisco on 25 October 2026, with B787.Eurowings (Germany) plans to launch Berlin – Bologna route from 02 November 2026, with A320.
FlyOne Armenia launched Gyumri – Sochi route on 04 May 2026, with A320.
FlyOne Asia (Uzbekistan) launched flights from Tashkent to Baku in late May 2026, with A320.
Global Airlines (US) plans to launch flights to the Maldives before the end of 2026, with its sole A380.
Jazeera Airways (Kuwait) announced the relaunch of direct flights between Kuwait and Budapest, on 16 July 2026.
Juneyao Air (China) plans services from Shanghai Pu Dong to Jakarta and Manila in mid June 2026, with A320.
LOT Polish Airlines has launched flights to Crete and Mallorca in 30 May 2026.
MEA – Middle East Airlines (Lebanon) plans to resume Beirut – Amsterdam route from 03 July 2026, with A320.
Always check with your airline.
AIRCRAFT - KEPPLAIR Secures First ATR72 for firefighting conversion
Kepplair Evolution presents the KEPPLAIR 72, an innovative project to convert an ATR 72 into a multi-role water bomber, designed to meet the growing challenges of forest fire fighting and post-disaster response. By building on an existing platform, this ambitious project will considerably reduce time-to-market, scheduled for 2027, while optimizing initial investment costs.
FIRE-FIGHTING
Kepplair-designed 7,500-liter tank controlled by Trotter FRDS gen IV.
Two release options: “blast” effect for direct attack with water, or constant peak flow distribution system for indirect attack with retardants.
Faster, more precise intervention to combat forest and urban fires, improving the efficiency of fire-fighting operations.
MULTI-MISSION TO BOOST PROFITABILITY
Cargo
- Large loading door
- Capacity 8,500 kg / 75m3
- Compatible with standard LD3/ABZ pallets
- The aircraft can quickly transport equipment to disaster zones. Its large cargo area and high load capacity make it a versatile tool for rescue and logistics missions.
- Ready for medical evacuation and troop transport
- The aircraft can be used for medical evacuation missions and passenger transport in emergency situations.
- In the future, the aircraft could be converted for troop transport, in addition to fire-fighting and freight transport missions.
Rapid arrival on the market
– the time-to-market is reduced to three years (from July 2023), compared with eight to ten years for competing projects. This speed is crucial to meeting the urgent needs of civil security services in the face of increasing forest fires.
Optimized release performance
– In collaboration with the IMFT, enables precise control of release, guaranteeing unrivalled footprint regularity. This precision enhances intervention efficiency, reducing the number of passes required and optimizing the use of resources.
Virtually no industrial risk
– The use of a proven platform and an industrial chain already in operation – over 1,200 ATR 72s are currently flying worldwide – means that we can benefit from a well-established maintenance and parts supply chain.
– The Kepplair 72 is directly derived from the cargo version of the ATR72, and as such benefits from all the structural reinforcements included in the STC P2F or in the ATR72-600F version.
– The STC Kepplair 72 creates no significant modifications to the aircraft (the hatches are in the belly fairing area, and no frame is cut).
– The signing of a CAP between our DOA and EASA means that the regulatory framework is fixed from the very start of design work.
Reduced development costs
– With an initial investment of less than 50 million euros, the project is well below the billion-euro development costs for new aircraft. This cost reduction is made possible by using an existing platform and optimizing development processes.
Lower operating costs
– The KEPPLAIR 72 offers over 30% lower operating costs than other aircraft on the market. These savings are due to the efficiency of the release system, simplified maintenance and the versatility of the aircraft, which can be used for a variety of missions throughout the year. What’s more, Kepplair 72 pilots don’t have to practice scooping, which reduces training hours by over 50%. For some operators, this represents up to 25% of their activity, with the number of cycles saved having a direct impact on the equipment’s depreciation period.
High availability
– Based on the ATR 72 platform, the project benefits from the maintenance and parts supply chain of the world’s leading regional aircraft. Over 75% of commercial airports know how to service an ATR 72, guaranteeing simple, efficient maintenance in all aircraft configurations.
Mastered maintenance environment
– Aerotec & Concept, a key partner in the project, has the necessary approvals for aircraft maintenance and modification.
Kepplair
FLEET - Azul receives new A330-900N, ups Airbus order
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) has received its first A330-900N from its direct Airbus order, and has, simultaneously, disclosed an increase to this order, adding four more of the widebody jets and taking the total tally to 11.
The delivery took place on May 29, with PR-ANU (msn 2119) ferried directly from the Airbus factory at Toulouse Blagnac to Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves. It is expected that it will begin operations in June.
Azul expects the second unit in its order, likely PR-ANR (msn 2126), to be delivered in the second half of 2026, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered over the next few years. Besides these brand-new aircraft, Azul already operates three other A330-900Ns, ch-aviation data shows.
The widebodies will be deployed on long-haul routes, increasing the airline’s capacity on intercontinental flights between Brazil and Europe, as well as other international markets such as the United States, Azul said in a statement.
Azul expects the second unit in its order, likely PR-ANR (msn 2126), to be delivered in the second half of 2026, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered over the next few years. Besides these brand-new aircraft, Azul already operates three other A330-900Ns, ch-aviation data shows.
The widebodies will be deployed on long-haul routes, increasing the airline’s capacity on intercontinental flights between Brazil and Europe, as well as other international markets such as the United States, Azul said in a statement.
CH Aviation / Photo: Flyingphotos
NEW AIRLINE - Pyramids Airlines Launches Commercial Operations
The airline officially its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A321-211 (SU-PAE)
Target Destinations: The carrier aims to connect Egyptian leisure hot spots—including Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Cairo—with key outbound travel markets across the Red Sea, the Gulf area, Eastern Europe, and CIS countries.
Kicking off the soccer summer: Lufthansa flies the men's national team to the U.S.
National team travels to Chicago on Lufthansa Allegris in an Airbus A350-900
Passengers experience special surprises on board
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines: “We are delighted to fly the German men’s national soccer team to the U.S. Soccer and we share the common goal of connecting and bringing people together worldwide. We are proud of this long-standing partnership. On behalf of all Lufthansa employees worldwide, I wish the team a successful tournament and hope the cheering fans experience many exciting, unforgettable, and ultimately joyful moments.”
To ensure the DFB team starts the tournament under optimal conditions, the squad is traveling in the multi-award-winning Lufthansa Allegris premium cabin concept aboard an Airbus A350-900, one of the most modern aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet.
On board, the players and the coaching and support staff were welcomed by the 14-member crew led by Captain Freddy Niedner, Senior First Officer Corvin Jacobs, and First Officer Johanna Thoma, as were numerous passengers, some of whom only learned about the special flight when they boarded. As a welcome gift and to get everyone in the mood for the World Cup, all guests received an exclusive jersey designed in partnership with the DFB and Adidas.
The flight had another surprise in store for the DFB team and the passengers—to be seen starting June 3 on the Lufthansa Instagram channel.
FLEET - World's longest-range aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000ULR takes to the skies
The aircraft, fitted with special flight test instrumentation, flew for three hours 43 minutes reaching an altitude of slightly above 41,000 feet.
The aircraft was flown by a dedicated Airbus Flight Test crew.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed for Qantas Airways to enable non-stop flights between Sydney and London for the first time ever - a distance of almost 10,000 nautical miles, with flight times of up to 22 hours.
The A350-1000ULR is being developed for Qantas Airways to enable non-stop flights between Sydney and London for the first time ever - a distance of almost 10,000 nautical miles, with flight times of up to 22 hours.
This is made possible primarily by the integration into the aircraft structure of an additional rear centre tank (RCT), enhancing further the aircraft performance and increasing the range of the aircraft by 1,000 nautical miles.
During the first flight the crew carried out general aircraft performance checks and tested the
new fuel system architecture.
During the first flight the crew carried out general aircraft performance checks and tested the
new fuel system architecture.
This marks the start of a two month flight test campaign to certify the modifications.
In addition, a new galley air cooling system will also be certified, which features lighter and more efficient refrigeration units for very long flights.
The ventilation and temperature control of the cabin will also be thoroughly tested.
Following the flight test campaign, MSN 707 will be retrofitted to Qantas’ commercial specifications.
The second A350-1000ULR to be produced for Qantas and the first scheduled to be delivered to the airline in April 2027, is now at an advanced stage of final assembly and ready to roll out of the paint shop in the coming days. This will be followed by completion of the premium four class cabin layout and engine installation.
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant of the best-selling A350 Family, joining the A350-900, A350-900ULR and the A350-1000.
The second A350-1000ULR to be produced for Qantas and the first scheduled to be delivered to the airline in April 2027, is now at an advanced stage of final assembly and ready to roll out of the paint shop in the coming days. This will be followed by completion of the premium four class cabin layout and engine installation.
The A350-1000ULR is the fourth passenger variant of the best-selling A350 Family, joining the A350-900, A350-900ULR and the A350-1000.
Together, the aircraft have set new standards in long haul air travel, with a step-change reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and new levels of passenger comfort.
The passenger line-up will soon be joined by the all-new A350F freighter, also currently under development at Airbus, with first flight planned later this year.
At the end of April 2026, the A350 Family had won 1,579 orders from 68 customers, with over 700 aircraft flying with 41 operators, primarily on long haul services across the globe.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs under Project Sunrise, designed to overcome one of the last frontiers in non-stop travel from Australia.
The passenger line-up will soon be joined by the all-new A350F freighter, also currently under development at Airbus, with first flight planned later this year.
At the end of April 2026, the A350 Family had won 1,579 orders from 68 customers, with over 700 aircraft flying with 41 operators, primarily on long haul services across the globe.
Qantas has ordered 12 A350-1000ULRs under Project Sunrise, designed to overcome one of the last frontiers in non-stop travel from Australia.
In addition the carrier also has 12 standard A350-1000s on order for future operation across its long haul network.
SPECIAL COLOURS - STARLUX Airlines is collaborating with renowned Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama to introduce two revolutionary "AIRSORAYAMA" special liveries on its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft
Photo: A380_TLS_A350
Taxiing faster msn791, F-WZNI 1/6/2026
FLEET - QANTAS: The first aircraft, which currently bears test registration F-WZNK, was spotted in Toulouse with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, and the plane holds the manufacturer's serial number MSN 707
Qantas expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000ULR in April 2027, delayed from late 2026 due to supply chain issues
These ultra-long-range aircraft will be used for the airline's "Project Sunrise" nonstop flights to destinations like London and New York
Photo: A380_TLS_A350
First flight
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