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ch-aviation • Hilka Birns

Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal calls for a pan-African airline alliance to boost intra-continental connectivity

Speaking at AFRAA’s 14th Stakeholders Convention in Johannesburg on May 18, George Kamal urged African carriers to back a pan-African airline alliance aimed at strengthening connectivity and improving competitiveness across the continent. The push frames alliance formation as a lever to scale inter-regional travel.

2026-05-20T10:04:59.916787-07:00

ch-aviation

Cabo Verde Airlines wet leases Boeing 737-8 to cover maintenance

2026-05-20T08:39:48.789830-07:00

ch-aviation

Portugal probes David Neeleman over 2015 TAP takeover

2026-05-20T06:24:30.409777-07:00

AeroTime

Berjaya Air takes delivery of the first ATR 72-600 in ATR HighLine all-business-class cabin configuration

2026-05-20T02:09:39.031988-07:00

News Timeline

ch-aviation

Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal calls for a pan-African airline alliance to boost intra-continental connectivity Speaking at AFRAA’s 14th Stakeholders Convention in Johannesburg on May 18, George Kamal urged African carriers to back a pan-African airline alliance aimed at strengthening connectivity and improving competitiveness across the continent. The push frames alliance formation as a lever to scale inter-regional travel.

2026-05-20T10:04:59.916787-07:00

Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal calls for a pan-African airline alliance to boost intra-continental connectivity

ch-aviation

Cabo Verde Airlines wet leases Boeing 737-8 to cover maintenance Cabo Verde Airlines has wet leased a Boeing 737-8 as maintenance cover, using short-term aircraft supply to protect schedule reliability while its aircraft are out of service. The arrangement highlights how carriers use wet lease capacity to manage operational risk during fleet availability constraints.

2026-05-20T08:39:48.789830-07:00

Cabo Verde Airlines wet leases Boeing 737-8 to cover maintenance

ch-aviation

Portugal probes David Neeleman over 2015 TAP takeover Portugal is investigating David Neeleman regarding his 2015 takeover of TAP Air Portugal, adding legal and governance scrutiny to a privatization moment that has already attracted major European airline groups. The probe raises the stakes for any transaction diligence around TAP’s ownership history.

2026-05-20T06:24:30.409777-07:00

Portugal probes David Neeleman over 2015 TAP takeover

Skift

Capital A emerges from six-year restructuring, opens route to dual listing in Hong Kong and the U.S. Capital A says it has completed a six-year restructuring and is now positioning for an “ambitious twin-listing” plan spanning Hong Kong and the U.S. The update signals a shift from balance-sheet clean-up toward new capital-market access and broader investor reach.

2026-05-20T04:04:03.873358-07:00

Capital A emerges from six-year restructuring, opens route to dual listing in Hong Kong and the U.S.

Skift

Capital A completes restructuring, swings to profit, and clears way for U.S./Hong Kong dual listing Capital A Berhad says it has closed a six-year restructuring period and is positioning for a twin-track listing strategy in Hong Kong and the U.S. Financially, the group reported a net profit of 25.1 million Malaysian ringgits in the March-ending quarter, reversing its Q1 2025 net loss of 190.4 million ringgits.

2026-05-20T03:54:36.517538-07:00

Capital A completes restructuring, swings to profit, and clears way for U.S./Hong Kong dual listing

FlightGlobal

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Emirates completes first retrofit of high-density two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy Emirates has returned to service the first of 15 planned high-density, two-class Airbus A380-800 retrofits, adding a Premium Economy cabin upstairs. The reconfiguration introduces a three-cabin layout that reshapes the aircraft for higher-yield demand, including a 2-3-2 Premium Economy seating format.

2026-05-20T03:24:11.490593-07:00

Emirates completes first retrofit of high-density two-class Airbus A380 with upper-deck Premium Economy

AeroTime

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Berjaya Air takes delivery of the first ATR 72-600 in ATR HighLine all-business-class cabin configuration Malaysian leisure carrier Berjaya Air has received the world’s first ATR 72-600 equipped with ATR’s HighLine premium “All-Business Class” cabin, featuring 26 leather seats. ATR says Berjaya Air will serve this configuration on regional leisure routes as the concept launch operator, with the carrier set to take two -600s under the program.

2026-05-20T02:09:39.031988-07:00

Berjaya Air takes delivery of the first ATR 72-600 in ATR HighLine all-business-class cabin configuration

economymiddleeast.com

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Qatar Airways FY2025/26 profit holds at QAR7.08bn despite Middle East airspace disruption; 41m+ passengers, 160+ destinations, 2 Qatar Airways Group posted a post-tax profit of QAR7.08bn ($1.94bn) for FY2025/26, down 10% year-on-year, attributing resilience to strong passenger traffic, cargo and operational performance despite Qatari airspace closure and broader Middle East flight restrictions. The airline carried 41.1m passengers, maintained connectivity across 160+ destinations via Hamad International, and moved 2.8m tonnes of cargo.

2026-05-20T02:05:37.426710-07:00

Qatar Airways FY2025/26 profit holds at QAR7.08bn despite Middle East airspace disruption; 41m+ passengers, 160+ destinations, 2

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Airlines News

Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal calls for a pan-African airline alliance to boost intra-continental connectivity

Cabo Verde Airlines wet leases Boeing 737-8 to cover maintenance

Portugal probes David Neeleman over 2015 TAP takeover

Berjaya Air takes delivery of the first ATR 72-600 in ATR HighLine all-business-class cabin configuration

News Timeline