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• Kerry Reals
Lufthansa Group has placed its first Starlink-equipped Airbus A320neo into service, launching a program to install SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet across approximately 850 aircraft operated by its airlines by 2029. The service is intended to provide onboard connectivity across the group’s fleet.
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Lufthansa Group has placed its first Starlink-equipped Airbus A320neo into service, launching a program to install SpaceX’s high-speed satellite internet across approximately 850 aircraft operated by its airlines by 2029. The service is intended to provide onboard connectivity across the group’s fleet.
Kenya’s National Treasury says it aims to finalize a strategic partnership for Kenya Airways by December 2026, seeking to recapitalize the flag carrier and reduce its reliance on government support. The timetable gives potential investors and policymakers a defined horizon for resolving the airline’s financial dependence on the state.
Hybrid-electric aircraft startup Ampaire has secured $19 million in Series B funding from IAG, Alaska Airlines and venture capital investors. The financing brings strategic airline backing alongside private capital as Ampaire advances its hybrid-electric aviation technology and commercialization efforts.
TAAG Angola Airlines plans to introduce a fifth-freedom service linking Dakar, Senegal, and Praia, Cape Verde, in the fourth quarter of 2026. The route would expand the Angolan carrier’s regional network and create a new West African connection operated under TAAG’s traffic rights.
Israel’s security agency has halted El Al’s plan to launch direct flights between Israel and Hanoi, blocking the airline’s proposed expansion into Vietnam. The decision underscores how security approvals can determine route viability, even after an airline has developed plans for new international service.
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An Indian court will rehear bankruptcy petitions filed by aircraft lessors against cash-strapped SpiceJet before a new bench, after the airline reached a last-minute settlement with one lessor. The ruling delays proceedings and resets a closely watched test of lessors’ remedies against distressed airlines in India.
Turkish Airlines plans to resume Istanbul–Havana service on Oct. 25, 2026, more than six months after suspending its Cuba operations. The planned restart comes as the country continues to face jet-fuel shortages and broader operational instability, leaving the schedule exposed to fuel availability and execution risk.
Somali Airlines is targeting a return to scheduled operations in mid-September 2026, more than 35 years after suspending service. The Somali Civil Aviation Authority says preparations for the relaunch are complete, marking a significant step in the revival of the country’s flag carrier.
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