CNBC
• Sam Meredith
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian airspace is “completely unsafe,” urging airlines to avoid it as Ukraine expands drone operations. The warning raises fresh operational and safety concerns for carriers whose routes cross or approach Russian airspace amid the ongoing conflict.
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Ghana has enacted a long-sought tax concession exempting domestic airlines from duties and taxes on imported aircraft spare parts. Africa World Airlines welcomed the measure, saying it should lower operating costs and improve the financial sustainability of the country’s commercial aviation sector.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian airspace is “completely unsafe,” urging airlines to avoid it as Ukraine expands drone operations. The warning raises fresh operational and safety concerns for carriers whose routes cross or approach Russian airspace amid the ongoing conflict.
High activity
AirAsia has signed its first codeshare partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, creating connecting itineraries between Southeast Asia and Europe through Istanbul. The agreement expands both airlines’ network reach while linking AirAsia’s regional operations with Pegasus’ European market presence.
Luxembourg’s Luxair plans to invest more than €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to replace its entire fleet by the mid-2030s, excluding aircraft already newly delivered. The renewal will center on Boeing’s 737 MAX family, marking a long-term commitment to the narrowbody platform as the airline reshapes its fleet.
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All Nippon Airways has selected Airbus to provide ab-initio training for ANA Group and partner-airline cadets in Portugal. The comprehensive agreement will begin with 19 trainees later this year and expands a strategic relationship between the Japanese airline and Airbus spanning nearly four decades.
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Ryanair carried 22.2 million passengers in August 2026, up 6% year over year, but reduced its full-year passenger target and next year’s traffic outlook. The Irish budget carrier is trimming its winter schedule and limiting unhedged fuel exposure as oil prices rise amid the Middle East conflict.
Loss-making airBaltic is reducing its summer 2027 schedule and withdrawing destinations from its core Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius network. The Latvian operator says the changes follow a revised long-term business plan focused on its strongest markets and intended to stabilize its financial position.
Asia-Pacific airlines continue to benefit from strong long-haul demand, but high fuel prices are weighing more heavily on short-haul operations. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines said international passenger volumes continue to decline, while overall demand has moderated amid persistent cost pressures.
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