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AeroTime • Miquel Ros

LATAM launches onboard Wi‑Fi on long‑haul Boeing 787‑9, starts widebody rollout

LATAM completed its first long‑haul flight with onboard Wi‑Fi using a Boeing 787‑9, becoming the first South American carrier to offer connectivity on intercontinental services. The programme begins a wider rollout across its widebody fleet, targeting more than 60 aircraft with an investment above US$60 million.

2026-04-01T06:32:17.768215-07:00

AeroTime

Philippine Airlines posts $160M net income in 2025, takes region’s first A350‑1000 and increases A350 Manila–Seattle service

2026-04-01T06:11:05.425775-07:00

AINonline

Lithium‑ion battery thermal runaways average ~2 per week, mostly in cruise

2026-04-01T05:07:06.762905-07:00

Cranky Flier

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

2026-04-01T03:59:59.785634-07:00

News Timeline

ch-aviation

Icelandair in talks to buy 49% of PLAY Europe’s Maltese AOC to expand EU operations Icelandair has signed a letter of intent to acquire 49% of PLAY Europe, the Maltese carrier holding an EU air operator certificate, giving Icelandair access to expanded traffic rights and the option to register aircraft in Malta to support wider EU and charter operations.

2026-04-01T07:59:35.828457-07:00

Icelandair in talks to buy 49% of PLAY Europe’s Maltese AOC to expand EU operations

AeroTime

LATAM launches onboard Wi‑Fi on long‑haul Boeing 787‑9, starts widebody rollout LATAM completed its first long‑haul flight with onboard Wi‑Fi using a Boeing 787‑9, becoming the first South American carrier to offer connectivity on intercontinental services. The programme begins a wider rollout across its widebody fleet, targeting more than 60 aircraft with an investment above US$60 million.

2026-04-01T06:32:17.768215-07:00

LATAM launches onboard Wi‑Fi on long‑haul Boeing 787‑9, starts widebody rollout

AeroTime

Philippine Airlines posts $160M net income in 2025, takes region’s first A350‑1000 and increases A350 Manila–Seattle service Philippine Airlines reported $160 million net income for 2025 after carrying 16.3 million passengers and received the region’s first Airbus A350‑1000. From 3 May 2026 PAL will increase A350 rotations on Manila–Seattle from two to three weekly, replacing 777‑300ER flying.

2026-04-01T06:11:05.425775-07:00

Philippine Airlines posts $160M net income in 2025, takes region’s first A350‑1000 and increases A350 Manila–Seattle service

AINonline

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Lithium‑ion battery thermal runaways average ~2 per week, mostly in cruise Industry monitoring indicates roughly two lithium‑ion battery thermal runaways occur each week on aircraft — most while in cruise. That cadence exposes a persistent in‑flight fire risk and underscores the need for effective detection, containment systems and crew response protocols to prevent escalation.

2026-04-01T05:07:06.762905-07:00

Lithium‑ion battery thermal runaways average ~2 per week, mostly in cruise

ch-aviation

EU court opinion: Air France–KLM benefited from state aid to KLM An EU court opinion concluded Air France–KLM derived a benefit from state aid measures granted to KLM, ch-aviation reports. The finding forms part of an ongoing legal review of past government support under EU state-aid rules and related proceedings.

2026-04-01T05:00:16.072402-07:00

EU court opinion: Air France–KLM benefited from state aid to KLM

FlightGlobal

China Southern the only 'big three' Chinese carrier to report a net profit in 2025 as peers stay loss-making China's three largest carriers largely failed to regain net profitability in 2025: only China Southern Airlines reported a net profit, while China Eastern and Air China remained loss-making. The trio have struggled to post net profits since the Covid pandemic, highlighting an uneven recovery across major groups.

2026-04-01T04:45:37.507770-07:00

China Southern the only 'big three' Chinese carrier to report a net profit in 2025 as peers stay loss-making

AeroTime

Air Astana names Ibrahim Canliel Group CEO as Peter Foster retires after two decades Air Astana has appointed Ibrahim Canliel as Group CEO after 22 years with the carrier. He succeeds Peter Foster, who is retiring after roughly two decades at the helm, concluding a long incumbency and initiating a planned leadership transition at the airline.

2026-04-01T04:31:53.424760-07:00

Air Astana names Ibrahim Canliel Group CEO as Peter Foster retires after two decades

Cranky Flier

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Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating After just over two months of assigned seating, Southwest has abandoned the experiment and restored its traditional open‑seating model. The carrier framed the rollback as a response to public reaction and operational friction tied to the change, reversing a key element of its recent service overhaul.

2026-04-01T03:59:59.785634-07:00

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

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Airlines News

LATAM launches onboard Wi‑Fi on long‑haul Boeing 787‑9, starts widebody rollout

Philippine Airlines posts $160M net income in 2025, takes region’s first A350‑1000 and increases A350 Manila–Seattle service

Lithium‑ion battery thermal runaways average ~2 per week, mostly in cruise

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

News Timeline