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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Saudia takes first Airbus A321XLR for June entry on Saudi–Europe/Africa long-range narrowbody routes

Saudia has received its first Airbus A321XLR, positioning the carrier as an early operator of Airbus’s new long-range narrowbody. The aircraft will enter service in June on routes connecting Saudi Arabia with Europe and Africa, with a newly configured premium cabin layout.

2026-05-24T10:05:09.376457-07:00

FlightGlobal

RIAT 2026 canceled as Iran-war operations disrupt access to RAF Fairford

2026-05-22T04:05:33.753250-07:00

AeroTime

Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) secures $100m financing facility from QNB Group to scale MRO capacity for AirAsia

2026-05-22T03:23:53.099814-07:00

Bloomberg

Qatar Airways skips bonuses for ~60,000 staff after Iran-war flight cancellations; profit remains pressured despite still-strong

2026-05-22T04:25:35.513829-07:00

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Air Data News

Saudia takes first Airbus A321XLR for June entry on Saudi–Europe/Africa long-range narrowbody routes Saudia has received its first Airbus A321XLR, positioning the carrier as an early operator of Airbus’s new long-range narrowbody. The aircraft will enter service in June on routes connecting Saudi Arabia with Europe and Africa, with a newly configured premium cabin layout.

2026-05-24T10:05:09.376457-07:00

Saudia takes first Airbus A321XLR for June entry on Saudi–Europe/Africa long-range narrowbody routes

AeroTime

CENTCOM says 200+ aircraft and warships—including two carrier strike groups—are enforcing Iran blockade after 100 ships redirect U.S. Central Command says more than 200 aircraft and warships, including two carrier strike groups, are enforcing an Iran blockade after 100 ships were redirected. The statement underscores the scale of maritime/air power being used to monitor and control shipping lanes around the blockade effort.

2026-05-24T04:42:13.153540-07:00

CENTCOM says 200+ aircraft and warships—including two carrier strike groups—are enforcing Iran blockade after 100 ships redirect

aerospaceglobalnews.com

A-10C Warthog gains probe-and-drogue refuelling in the Middle East, plus Angry Kitten EW pod The US Air Force has deployed A-10C Warthogs to the Middle East with newly operational capabilities: a Probe Refueling Adapter enabling probe-and-drogue refuelling from the HC-130J, and the Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod carried on operations. The A-10C reached deployment-ready status in weeks after its first test.

2026-05-22T05:55:08.975323-07:00

A-10C Warthog gains probe-and-drogue refuelling in the Middle East, plus Angry Kitten EW pod

Bloomberg

Qatar Airways skips bonuses for ~60,000 staff after Iran-war flight cancellations; profit remains pressured despite still-strong Qatar Airways QCSC says it will not hand out bonuses to nearly 60,000 employees this year, blaming Iran-war-driven disruption that forced the carrier to cancel tens of thousands of flights and forfeit billions in revenue. The move follows reported FY2025/26 profit of US$1.94 billion as regional disruption persists.

2026-05-22T04:25:35.513829-07:00

Qatar Airways skips bonuses for ~60,000 staff after Iran-war flight cancellations; profit remains pressured despite still-strong

FlightGlobal

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RIAT 2026 canceled as Iran-war operations disrupt access to RAF Fairford Organizers of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) have canceled the 2026 edition, citing uncertainty over aircraft access to RAF Fairford. They point to ongoing US Air Force deployments supporting missions related to the Iran campaign, after “extensive discussions” with the RAF and the US Air Force, and note refund-related planning impacts.

2026-05-22T04:05:33.753250-07:00

RIAT 2026 canceled as Iran-war operations disrupt access to RAF Fairford

AeroTime

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Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) secures $100m financing facility from QNB Group to scale MRO capacity for AirAsia Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Capital A’s MRO unit, secured a US$100 million financing facility from QNB Group. The funding is intended to scale maintenance and repair capabilities, strengthening ADE’s ability to support third-party airline customers alongside its AirAsia Group anchor account.

2026-05-22T03:23:53.099814-07:00

Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) secures $100m financing facility from QNB Group to scale MRO capacity for AirAsia

Skift

EU air connectivity stagnates in 2025 as regulators, high costs and Middle East risk squeeze capacity; BA cuts summer 2026 frequ European air connectivity “essentially flatlined” in 2025, with IATA citing just 1% net growth in routes linking Europe internally and to global markets amid high costs and onerous regulation. In parallel, Europe’s safety regulator is grounding its own airlines, while British Airways is cutting capacity to seven Middle East destinations for summer 2026.

2026-05-21T09:04:44.924711-07:00

EU air connectivity stagnates in 2025 as regulators, high costs and Middle East risk squeeze capacity; BA cuts summer 2026 frequ

Bloomberg

Iran-war jet-fuel volatility tests airline hedging and triggers state-price pressure, as Jet2 reassures UK capacity Jet-fuel costs have surged and become more volatile since the Iran war began, exposing how unevenly airlines protect themselves against spot-price spikes. In parallel, India’s carriers are asking state refiners to delay domestic jet-fuel increases, while Jet2 says it has fuel for summer operations and will not add surcharges.

2026-05-21T08:12:33.835285-07:00

Iran-war jet-fuel volatility tests airline hedging and triggers state-price pressure, as Jet2 reassures UK capacity

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Middle East News

Saudia takes first Airbus A321XLR for June entry on Saudi–Europe/Africa long-range narrowbody routes

RIAT 2026 canceled as Iran-war operations disrupt access to RAF Fairford

Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) secures $100m financing facility from QNB Group to scale MRO capacity for AirAsia

Qatar Airways skips bonuses for ~60,000 staff after Iran-war flight cancellations; profit remains pressured despite still-strong

News Timeline