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• Hilka Birns
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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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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Air India is on track to add 100 aircraft to its fleet over the next two years, signaling continued fleet expansion as the airline advances its growth and renewal plans.
India’s Akasa Air has signed a sale-and-leaseback agreement covering seven Boeing 737-8 aircraft, adding a fleet-financing transaction to the carrier’s expansion strategy. The deal highlights the role of leasing structures in supporting fleet growth while preserving airline capital flexibility.
Japan’s two largest airlines will coordinate flight schedules on the Tokyo Haneda–Okayama route from late October, marking their first domestic schedule-coordination agreement. The move is part of efforts to maintain a more sustainable domestic network, with both carriers leaving open broader future cooperation, including with competitors.
Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA and Singapore Airlines faced the same sharp fuel-cost pressure in the second quarter, but produced markedly different outcomes. Their varied responses highlight how fleet mix, network exposure, pricing power and financial resilience shape airline performance during an operating-cost shock.
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Korean Air will resume nonstop service between Seoul Incheon and Melbourne three times weekly from Dec. 18, 2026, through March 14, 2027. The seasonal route, operated with 787-9s on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, replaces service previously flown by Asiana Airlines before its merger with Korean Air.
Air New Zealand will appoint former Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson and former CFO Robert McDonald as directors. The appointments take effect Sept. 24, when Air New Zealand holds its annual shareholders’ meeting, bringing two former airline executives into its boardroom.
Fiji Airways has secured parliamentary approval for a FJD200 million (US$90.5 million) government guarantee supporting additional borrowing. The carrier is facing liquidity pressure and elevated fuel costs, making the state-backed financing an important measure to shore up its financial position.
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