Bloomberg
• Kate Duffy
Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline in Skytrax’s 2026 rankings, moving ahead of Qatar Airways, which placed second, and Cathay Pacific, which ranked third. The results underscore the competitive importance of cabin comfort and service as airlines differentiate their long-haul offerings.
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American, Delta and United are backing Airlines for America’s request that two Air China services linked to Xi Jinping’s planned U.S. visit be treated as charters rather than scheduled flights. The group argues access to Russian airspace creates a competitive imbalance for U.S. carriers operating China routes.
IndiGo CEO Willie Walsh is weighing a regional fleet renewal and a strategy to establish Delhi as an Asia gateway capable of competing with Middle Eastern hubs. The moves would mark the first major strategic priorities outlined since Walsh took over the Indian carrier several weeks ago.
South Korean F-35A and French Rafale fighters conducted a three-day joint aerial exercise at Cheongju air base, about 110 kilometers south of Seoul. The drill marked the first resumption of joint aerial exercises between the two countries in three years.
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Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline in Skytrax’s 2026 rankings, moving ahead of Qatar Airways, which placed second, and Cathay Pacific, which ranked third. The results underscore the competitive importance of cabin comfort and service as airlines differentiate their long-haul offerings.
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes dismissed reports that Malaysia’s government was considering whether rival airlines could absorb part of the carrier’s domestic capacity, while rejecting concerns about AirAsia’s financial health and signaling that the airline intends to resume growth.
Japan’s SkyDrive has signed an MOU with South Korea’s Verty to assess commercial eVTOL services from 2028, including short-distance sightseeing and inter-city routes. The partnership will address the integrated operating framework required for deployment, spanning flight operations, air traffic management and vertiport infrastructure.
Japan Airlines has agreed to buy carbon-removal credits from Climeworks Solutions in what both companies describe as the world’s first purchase agreement designed to meet ICAO’s CORSIA requirements. The portfolio will combine direct-air-capture and soil-based mitigation methods as airline interest in removals grows.
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