Paddle Your Own Kanoo
• Mateusz Maszczynski
The UAE says Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, a Flydubai co-pilot, tried to seize a flight bound for Israel and intended to crash it into Ben Gurion Airport, causing mass casualties. Prosecutors said he had taken two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to study the route and airport; the pilot was stabbed during the cockpit attack.
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The UAE says Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, a Flydubai co-pilot, tried to seize a flight bound for Israel and intended to crash it into Ben Gurion Airport, causing mass casualties. Prosecutors said he had taken two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to study the route and airport; the pilot was stabbed during the cockpit attack.
TAM Aviação Executiva has inaugurated a new fixed-base operator facility on the south apron of Belo Horizonte Pampulha Airport. The opening adds business-aviation ground-service capacity at the Brazilian airport.
ITA Airways will continue operating the Alghero–Milan Linate public service obligation route through Jan. 31, 2027, Sardinia’s government said Oct. 6, 2026. The extension follows a tender that attracted no bids, leaving ITA in place to maintain the subsidized connection.
Boards and candidate shortlists point to a widening gap between the capabilities airports will need and the experience of executives seeking the top job. By 2035, airport CEOs are expected to differ from their 2015 counterparts in experience, judgment and credibility, raising questions about how leadership talent is identified and developed.
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Birmingham Airport’s draft 2026–2041 master plan proposes £2 billion of investment to raise annual capacity to about 30 million passengers. The expansion would add terminal and aircraft-stand capacity, support more long-haul links and air freight, and contribute to job creation across the West Midlands.
The partnership combines a searchable library with operator-specific notes for briefings on departure and destination airports. The announcement points to a tool for bringing general airport information and operator-provided details together, though the available report does not specify the product’s coverage, users or rollout.
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American Express plans new Centurion lounges at Newark, opening in 2027, and Heathrow Terminal 5, due in 2028, alongside larger lounges in Philadelphia and Houston. Separately, British Airways has announced a major Heathrow lounge investment that includes a new Terminal 5 facility scheduled for 2028.
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