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Independent.ie • John Mulligan

Aer Lingus to close Manchester base, suspends transatlantic sales from 1 April 2026; ~200 cabin crew affected

Aer Lingus will close its Manchester crew base by March 2026 and has suspended transatlantic ticket sales for travel on or after 1 April 2026, putting roughly 200 cabin crew roles at risk. The airline has opened consultations aimed at minimising job losses amid ongoing UK cabin‑crew industrial action.

2026-01-08T11:35:47.721651-08:00

emirates.com

Emirates expands Premium Economy to 10 more cities, adds A350 frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town

2026-01-08T01:13:54.412686-08:00

Skift

Frontier names James G. Dempsey president and CEO, effective Jan. 7, 2026

2026-01-08T06:09:17.801409-08:00

Airline Economics

Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations

2026-01-08T06:49:12.080554-08:00

News Timeline

Skift

Wizz Air CEO Váradi Tells O'Leary to 'Think Twice' as LCC Rivalry Escalates Wizz Air CEO József Váradi warned Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary to 'think twice', pushing back against recent public claims about the Hungarian carrier's future and warned he may take action. The rebuke highlights intensifying rivalry between Europe's low-cost carriers and could presage legal or commercial retaliation.

2026-01-08T13:32:28.307452-08:00

Wizz Air CEO Váradi Tells O'Leary to 'Think Twice' as LCC Rivalry Escalates

Independent.ie

Aer Lingus to close Manchester base, suspends transatlantic sales from 1 April 2026; ~200 cabin crew affected Aer Lingus will close its Manchester crew base by March 2026 and has suspended transatlantic ticket sales for travel on or after 1 April 2026, putting roughly 200 cabin crew roles at risk. The airline has opened consultations aimed at minimising job losses amid ongoing UK cabin‑crew industrial action.

2026-01-08T11:35:47.721651-08:00

Aer Lingus to close Manchester base, suspends transatlantic sales from 1 April 2026; ~200 cabin crew affected

ch-aviation

Canada's Pivot Airlines rebrands to pursue CPA contracts and launch scheduled services Pivot Airlines has rebranded and signalled a strategic shift from ad-hoc charters toward contracted capacity and its own scheduled routes, targeting capacity-purchase agreements (CPAs) with larger carriers while preparing to launch regular domestic services. The move aims to broaden revenue streams and raise fleet utilization.

2026-01-08T08:35:29.134039-08:00

Canada's Pivot Airlines rebrands to pursue CPA contracts and launch scheduled services

FlightGlobal

UK probe: Live-weather app helped limit injuries after British Airways A380 turbulence south of Greenland UK investigators found that crew access to a live-weather app helped limit injuries after severe turbulence struck British Airways A380 G‑XLEI on Dec. 6, 2024. The aircraft was cruising at 39,000 ft en route from Los Angeles to London when the encounter occurred south of Greenland.

2026-01-08T07:32:54.130609-08:00

UK probe: Live-weather app helped limit injuries after British Airways A380 turbulence south of Greenland

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

British Airways trims short‑haul Business Class catering to reduce costs British Airways is reducing food and drink offerings in short‑haul Business Class as a measure to cut costs. The carrier will pare back complimentary catering on short sectors, a move that alters the passenger product on European and domestic flights and could affect brand positioning against competitors.

2026-01-08T07:32:51.186076-08:00

British Airways trims short‑haul Business Class catering to reduce costs

Airline Economics

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Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations Turkish Airlines unveiled a TRY100 billion (about $2.3bn) investment initiative to bolster Türkiye’s aviation infrastructure, funding eight new facilities across cargo, maintenance, catering, training and IT. The plan includes SmartIST Phase 2—doubling cargo capacity from 2.2m to 4.5m tonnes/year—with phased delivery through 2027–28.

2026-01-08T06:49:12.080554-08:00

Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations

AirInsight

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COMAC’s state advantages aren’t fixing slow production; airlines left waiting Despite state ownership and captive customers, COMAC continues to struggle with slow industrial execution that delays deliveries, frustrates airline customers and constrains the planemaker’s ability to scale and win export business. Operational bottlenecks remain the primary limiter, not demand.

2026-01-08T06:49:09.533083-08:00

COMAC’s state advantages aren’t fixing slow production; airlines left waiting

Skift

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Frontier names James G. Dempsey president and CEO, effective Jan. 7, 2026 Frontier Group Holdings confirmed James G. Dempsey as president and chief executive, effective Jan. 7, 2026, elevating its interim leader to the permanent role. The move comes as the ultra-low-cost carrier updates Q4 2025 EPS guidance to $0.20 and prepares new product changes including first-class seats.

2026-01-08T06:09:17.801409-08:00

Frontier names James G. Dempsey president and CEO, effective Jan. 7, 2026

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Airlines News

Aer Lingus to close Manchester base, suspends transatlantic sales from 1 April 2026; ~200 cabin crew affected

Emirates expands Premium Economy to 10 more cities, adds A350 frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town

Frontier names James G. Dempsey president and CEO, effective Jan. 7, 2026

Turkish Airlines launches TRY100bn ($2.3bn) plan to expand SmartIST cargo hub, MRO and ground operations

News Timeline