ch-aviation
• Hilka Birns
A trial has opened in Madagascar over five Boeing 777 aircraft that were flown to Iran. The proceedings place the aircraft movements and their connection to Madagascar under legal scrutiny, though the available report provides no further details on the case or the parties involved.
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A trial has opened in Madagascar over five Boeing 777 aircraft that were flown to Iran. The proceedings place the aircraft movements and their connection to Madagascar under legal scrutiny, though the available report provides no further details on the case or the parties involved.
flydubai is preparing to begin direct operations to Nepal, adding a new South Asian market to the Dubai-based carrier’s network. The move expands connectivity between the Gulf and Nepal, although the available report does not specify launch dates, destinations or frequencies.
IndiGo is considering an order for regional aircraft as part of plans to develop its Delhi hub. The potential fleet decision signals an effort to align aircraft capacity with the airline’s evolving hub strategy, although the size, type and timing of any order remain undisclosed.
Air India’s incoming chief executive is weighing a merger between the full-service carrier and its low-cost subsidiary, according to Commercial Aviation News. The potential combination could reshape the group’s operating structure and brand portfolio, although no decision or timeline has been reported.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said the airline is seeing strong bookings for Australia’s summer travel season despite a surge in jet-fuel prices. Hudson also said Qantas still expects to pay dividends, signaling confidence in near-term demand and the carrier’s ability to absorb higher operating costs.
High activity
Qantas will launch the first nonstop commercial service between Sydney and New York in mid-2028, with Airbus A350-1000ULRs covering the route in about 18 hours. Tickets are expected to go on sale in August 2027, following Project Sunrise’s Sydney–London debut in October 2027.
SWISS is assessing alternatives for five Airbus A220-300s operated under a wet-lease agreement with financially troubled airBaltic. The Latvian carrier’s crisis could affect SWISS capacity planning, while Lufthansa Group’s 10% stake in airBaltic adds a corporate dimension to the fleet decision.
High activity
Iraq ordered its civil aviation authority to suspend Iranian carrier flights to Baghdad airport starting Wednesday, according to two sources cited by Reuters. The move follows a U.S. warning that airports servicing Iranian airlines could face sanctions, adding pressure to regional air links and airport operations.
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