October 2026 - Airliner World

Boeing 777 takes over NASA’s airborne research role

October 16, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

NASA’s newest airborne research aircraft is being readied for its first scientific mission, scheduled for January 2027. The former Japan Airlines aircraft, N577NA (c/n 32892), was built in 2003. The US space agency acquired it [Read More]

ITA Airways to launch Rome-Caracas route

October 15, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

ITA Airways will introduce flights between Rome/Fiumicino and Caracas on March 30, 2027, reviving a route Alitalia served almost 12 years ago. The Italian flag carrier plans to operate three weekly departures, using Airbus A330-900s. [Read More]

Lufthansa wins €1.2bn battle for TAP Air Portugal stake

October 14, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

Lufthansa Group has won the bid for a 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal, beating rival Air France-KLM with a €1.2bn offer for the Portuguese flag carrier. Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed the decision [Read More]

Airbus eyes decisions on stretched A220 and A350 before 2030

October 14, 2026 Thomas Haynes Comments Off

Airbus is looking to make decisions on potential stretched versions of its A220 and A350 families before 2030, as growing airline demand for larger aircraft puts pressure on the manufacturer to expand its product portfolio. [Read More]

JAL selects E2 for regional renewal

October 14, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

Japan Airlines (JAL) has ordered up to 26 Embraer E190-E2 regional jets to modernise its domestic subsidiary, J-AIR’s fleet. Announced on October 14, the agreement includes 16 firm orders and 10 options, with deliveries set [Read More]

Kenya Airways secures approval for $350m state loan

October 12, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

The Kenyan government has approved a $350m loan for Kenya Airways as the national carrier grapples with mounting debts and the cost of returning grounded aircraft to service. The funding was given the go-ahead by [Read More]

Birmingham Airport unveils £2bn expansion plans

October 9, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

Birmingham Airport has unveiled an ambitious £2bn master plan to more than double its annual passenger capacity to around 30 million by 2041. The 15-year blueprint outlines a major expansion of the Midlands gateway, which [Read More]

Embraer chief doubts large-scale US turboprop return

October 8, 2026 Thomas Haynes Comments Off

Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO Arjan Meijer has questioned whether turboprops can regain a substantial foothold with US airlines, as ATR targets the replacement of ageing 50-seat regional jets. Speaking exclusively to Airliner World, [Read More]

Biman bolsters fleet with Airbus order

October 8, 2026 Lee Cross Comments Off

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has placed a firm order for ten Airbus aircraft, marking a significant departure from its traditionally Boeing-dominated fleet. Announced on October 7, the agreement covers four A350-900 widebodies and six A321neo narrowbodies. [Read More]

British Airways reveals new cabins for Airbus A380 retrofit

October 5, 2026 Thomas Haynes Comments Off

British Airways has revealed the new interiors for its Airbus A380 fleet, detailing a major nose-to-tail retrofit that will introduce new seats across all four cabins, redesigned onboard spaces and what it says will be [Read More]

Airliner World

The global airline scene

Month: October 2026