PaxEx News

FlightGlobal

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Saudia Cargo boosts Middle East cargo connectivity with Riyadh interline tie-up and new Riyadh–Melbourne freighter service

Saudia Cargo has signed an interline agreement with Riyadh Cargo to extend network reach for freight forwarders, offering broader access, additional routing options, and greater flexibility across international trade corridors. It is also adding a new scheduled Riyadh–Melbourne freighter route as part of its continued expansion of the international cargo network.

ch-aviation

Ryanair plans €50M MRO expansion at Shannon

Ryanair says it will invest €50 million (about $57 million) to expand its maintenance facility at Shannon. The move is intended to increase capacity at the Irish site and strengthen the carrier’s in-house maintenance footprint, underlining continued reliance on dedicated MRO capabilities.

PaxEx.Aero

HK Express launches “Cabin Connect” digital retail platform with Inflight Dublin for onboard snacks, souvenirs and space purchas

HK Express has rolled out “Cabin Connect,” a new in-cabin digital retail platform powered by Inflight Dublin. Passengers can buy items such as snacks, souvenirs and select “space” products via a few taps on their personal devices, expanding retail and ancillary revenue beyond traditional sales channels.

Bloomberg

JetBlue Q2 results top Wall Street expectations on strong demand, despite elevated Middle East-linked fuel costs

JetBlue’s second-quarter performance beat analyst expectations as demand remained solid enough to offset higher fuel expenses tied to the war in the Middle East. The company’s results underscore how pricing power and load factors are moderating near-term cost pressure from energy volatility.

Aviation Source

High activity

Porter to retrofit its full Dash 8-400 fleet with Expliseat TiSeat 2V, refreshing seats and cabin ambience

Porter Airlines will retrofit all 29 of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft with Expliseat light seats (TiSeat 2V) to address passenger complaints about seat padding. The program replaces seats, lighting and carpeting while keeping existing legroom unchanged.

Aviation Source

Porter Airlines refits Bombardier Q400s with new, more comfortable seats as part of broader cabin refresh

Porter Airlines says it will bring upgraded, more comfortable seats to its Q400 turboprop fleet, positioning the change as part of a wider cabin refresh program. The effort targets passenger comfort on the network-operated turboprop product and aligns cabin enhancements with fleet utilization.

Aviation Source

High activity

Etihad partners with Fastjet, Air Peace and Africa World Airlines as it sets up six new African route launches; adds daily Abu D

Etihad Airways has formalized strategic partnerships with Fastjet (Zimbabwe), Air Peace (Nigeria) and Africa World Airlines (Ghana) to expand its Africa network ahead of six new route launches, including a new interline agreement with Air Peace to connect the UAE–Nigeria market. The carrier also launched a daily EY 171 service between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Los Angeles (LAX) on June 1.

ch-aviation

High activity

India pushes hub-and-spoke connectivity: 44-airport network plans, Air India expands to nonstop Delhi–Toronto and adds Amritsar

India is advancing a hub-and-spoke international network proposal covering 44 airports, including four major hubs. In parallel, Air India is rolling out hub feeder connectivity from Amritsar via “Easy Connect” and is restoring Delhi–Toronto nonstops from Aug. 1, 2026 by eliminating the Vienna fuel stop. ATR also argues regional turboprop aviation can strengthen archipelago connectivity across Indonesia.