Airlines News

AeroTime

Sri Lankan lawmaker faces 24 charges over alleged bribe tied to SriLankan Airlines-Airbus deal

Sri Lankan lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa faces 24 charges over an alleged bribe linked to SriLankan Airlines’ purchase of Airbus aircraft. The allegations concern a historic aircraft deal; the charges have not been established in court.

AeroTime

Passenger rights group sues DOT over rule shifting flight delay costs to travelers

Bloomberg

High activity

Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport trigger flight cancellations and hub suspension

Missile strikes on Riyadh’s airport killed more than a dozen people and prompted Saudi authorities to suspend hub operations, worsening an already difficult year for Middle East airlines. The disruption has driven flight cancellations and put the region’s airline operations under further pressure.

FlightGlobal

Air Congo to launch Boeing 787-9 service under MIAT wet lease

MIAT Mongolian Airlines will supply a Boeing 787-9 for Air Congo under a wet-lease arrangement, with the aircraft scheduled to enter service on Oct. 31. The deal, arranged by Chapman Freeborn, supports the Congolese carrier’s fleet development and plans to expand its passenger offering.

Cranky Flier

JetBlue earnings disappoint, but less than feared, as Frontier reports and Alaska eyes Tokyo

A weekly airline-industry roundup puts JetBlue and Frontier earnings alongside Alaska’s plans for Tokyo. The available coverage characterizes JetBlue’s results as weak, though not as poor as some had predicted; it provides no financial figures or further detail on the carriers’ results or Alaska’s plans.

ch-aviation

Southwest Airlines prices $1.25 billion in notes

Southwest Airlines has priced notes worth $1.25 billion, according to ch-aviation. The available report does not specify the notes’ maturity, coupon, intended use of proceeds or other terms, leaving the financing’s cost and strategic purpose unclear.

ch-aviation

JetSMART targets fourth-quarter 2028 debut for Airbus A321XLR

Chile-based JetSMART is targeting the Airbus A321-200NY(XLR) for entry into service in the fourth quarter of 2028. The aircraft would extend the low-cost carrier’s fleet strategy, though the article provides no details on order quantities, routes or delivery arrangements.

FlightGlobal

High activity

Air Canada struggles to pass higher fuel costs through to fares

Executives say differences in its network and booking trends limit Air Canada’s ability to recapture fuel costs, leaving it trailing U.S. rivals as stubbornly high fuel prices test airlines’ pricing power.