FlightGlobal
• Alfred Chua
Qantas plans to begin nonstop Sydney–New York passenger flights in mid-2028, establishing the second route in its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul program. The service would replace the airline’s current one-stop New York option via Auckland and become the first scheduled nonstop passenger link between Australia and New York.
PaxEx
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
Qantas plans to begin nonstop Sydney–New York passenger flights in mid-2028, establishing the second route in its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul program. The service would replace the airline’s current one-stop New York option via Auckland and become the first scheduled nonstop passenger link between Australia and New York.
American Airlines is preparing to launch its Airbus A321XLR, positioning the aircraft alongside United Airlines’ A321 Coastliner. Delta Air Lines is planning a premium A321 subfleet but has yet to launch it, leaving American and United ahead in deploying differentiated A321 products.
High activity
Iberia will mark its 100th anniversary on June 28, 2027, with a special livery for several aircraft and a central celebration at its La Muñoza facilities. The Spanish flag carrier also plans to begin refurbishing long-haul aircraft interiors and hold an air show.
United is partnering with DISH to deliver live professional and college football during the 2026–27 season on Starlink-equipped seatback entertainment systems. The service will be available on U.S. domestic flights, linking onboard connectivity infrastructure with live sports programming across aircraft fitted with the system.
High activity
Embraer is working with Honeywell to resolve a satellite-navigation instability affecting E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets worldwide. The GPS fault has led to flight cancellations and delays, while Embraer says it does not compromise operational safety and is pursuing a software-based remedy.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are introducing Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi, expanding high-speed connectivity options for passengers. Both airlines are cautioning travelers that service will be unavailable or limited over China, underscoring the geographic constraints that can affect satellite-enabled connectivity on international routes.
Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seats across its fleet next year, moving beyond the ultra-low-cost model that has defined the Denver-based carrier for decades. The change signals a broader product repositioning as Frontier seeks to alter how it competes for passengers.
flydubai is launching a cabin retrofit program as its fleet exceeds 100 aircraft, adding lie-flat business-class seats and larger overhead bins. The changes represent an investment in onboard product and cabin capacity as the Middle Eastern carrier continues operating at scale.
Create a free account to see more recent PaxEx stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
