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Czech Republic's Office for the Protection of Competition approved (11-Sep-2026) the acquisition of CSA Czech Airlines, and subsequently Smartwings, by Pegasus Airlines. The office imposed remedies to maintain efficient competition, as proposed by Pegasus Airlines. The conditions involve transferring a certain number of slots for the summer season on the Prague-Antalya route to another airline. The office has been reviewing the case since May-2026. It identified the main issue as the overlap of activities in the market for scheduled passenger air transport on Prague-Antalya route during the summer season. [more - original PR]

flydubai announced (11-Sep-2026) plans to commence dedicated freighter operations on 01-Oct-2026. The LCC will operate scheduled and charter freighter services with three Boeing 737-800Fs wet leased from SolitAir, with plans to evaluate passenger-to-freighter retrofits from 2029. flydubai Cargo will be based at Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International Airport). [more - original PR]

RwandAir acting chief commercial officer Reuben Mbonye stated (10-Sep-2026) the carrier aims to expand in Europe and Asia. Mr Mbonye said: "We have big plans in that direction". RwandAir is also considering expanding its cargo business, with Europe identified as a potential growth market. Mr Mbonye said the carrier's long term priority is to strengthen African connectivity. [more - Aviation Week]

IATA Economics stated (11-Sep-2026) fuel is the largest operating expense for airlines, and highlighted the following details:

• Given the "historically strong correlation" between jet fuel and crude oil prices, airlines have been able to manage fuel price exposure primarily through crude oil market risks. However, this strong correlation has weakened in recent years following the post-COVID recovery in oil demand;
• The market is now experiencing "higher and more volatile crack spreads", and the recent average crack spread is over USD12 per barrel higher than the pre-COVID average. Challenges in the refining sector were already lifting expectations for higher average crack spreads from the lows in 2020 to 2021, but the increased volatility since then was unexpected;
• A consistent but uneven decline in refining capacity, particularly in developed economies, has intensified the supply concentration risks that were already present in crude oil markets. Regions with shrinking refining capacity have become increasingly dependent on imports from surplus regions, exposing them to external supply shocks;
• Diesel tends to be the "major driver" of refinery profits. Disruptions in the middle distillate and notably diesel markets can have a disproportionate impact on jet fuel availability and pricing;
• The war in Iran has "crystalised the vulnerabilities in the jet fuel supply chains yet further, making fuel cost management increasingly challenging for airlines", in addition to the impact of the higher price of jet fuel. [more - original PR]

Vietnam Airlines, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (12-Sep-2026) it signed an MoU with Airbus for five additional A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2033 and 2034. The carrier identified a requirement for up to 30 widebody aircraft as a strategic priority under its long term fleet development plan. Vietnam Airlines also plans to use leased aircraft to address near term international network requirements. [more - Aviation Week]

Vietravel Airlines head of network planning Hoang Nguyen Tran Thuan, via his personal LinkedIn account, announced (12-Sep-2026) Vietravel Airlines and Airbus signed a letter of intent for 20 A220s and 30 A321 family aircraft, including A321neo and A321XLR variants. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2029. The carrier stated the A321neos will be used on routes with higher demand and to expand its network with longer international routes. [more - Aviation Week]