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• Daniel Martinez Garbuno
Lufthansa Group and Portugal’s government have signed an agreement for the German group to acquire a 44.9% minority stake in TAP Air Portugal for €1.025 billion. Completion remains subject to approval by the European Commission and other authorities; the deal would make Lisbon Lufthansa’s seventh hub, according to one report.
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Middle East Airlines has restored service between Beirut and Riyadh after suspending operations for three weeks following Houthi rebel attacks on a Saudi Arabian airport. The restart returns the route to MEA’s network, though the reported suspension underscores how regional security incidents can interrupt airline operations.
Air Mauritius reported net profit of €78.6 million ($85.5 million) for the year to March 2026, with shareholders’ equity turning positive for the first time since the pandemic. The result benefited from one-off accounting gains, lower fuel prices and a stronger euro, while the carrier warned of fuel headwinds.
AirBaltic plans to return six leased Airbus A220-300s, including newly delivered aircraft, as part of its U.S. Chapter 11 restructuring and expects to operate a smaller fleet in 2027. SWISS plans to retire its nine A220-100s by the end of 2027 and eventually replace its remaining A220-300s with A320-family aircraft on short-haul routes.
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Lufthansa Group and Portugal’s government have signed an agreement for the German group to acquire a 44.9% minority stake in TAP Air Portugal for €1.025 billion. Completion remains subject to approval by the European Commission and other authorities; the deal would make Lisbon Lufthansa’s seventh hub, according to one report.
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ITA Airways is considering a Milan Malpensa–Lima service operated as part of a single rotation with its Rome–Lima flights, rather than establishing a separate base in Lombardy. The proposal would return the carrier to scheduled long-haul flying from Malpensa after nearly three years, as Emirates awaits approval to serve the route with fifth-freedom rights.
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India’s largest airline is discussing a potential order for 100 Embraer regional jets, with options for about 50 additional aircraft, according to people familiar with the talks. If completed, deliveries could start in or after 2030. Separately, IndiGo now expects its first A350-900s in the second quarter of 2028.
Polaris Airlines (PAP) has opened ticket sales and outlined its initial route network ahead of its planned Nov. 5, 2026 operational debut. The airline’s first passenger flight is scheduled to link Chisinau International with Istanbul Airport; the announcement provides no fleet or capacity details.
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