Loading

The home of market intelligence for
the aviation and travel industry.

Get the whole story with CAPA - Centre for Aviation.
Join Now

CAPA Membership

An annual CAPA Membership provides a front row seat to global aviation news, analysis and data as it happens, with access to a comprehensive suite of tools that can be customised to your needs. Join aviation and travel industry leaders around the world who leverage our insights to identify new opportunities and improve their business.

Request a free trial

Discover opportunities

We provide the most comprehensive news, analysis and data year-round to help you stay ahead.

Connect

Our Summits explore key strategic industry issues and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Gain in-depth insight

Get comprehensive analysis of a feature of the aviation industry with our Research Publications.

<
What our members say
CAPA in itself is a renowned company. I’m very impressed by the factual and detailed analysis CAPA is always doing.
>

Newsletter

CAPA’s Aviation Analyst delivers weekly aviation News and Analysis, produced by CAPA’s industry leading analysts based in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. This weekly e-newsletter covers crucial industry updates and issues as well as detailed analysis of key trends and data.

Subscribe
See all

Latest Events

1-2 Oct | Chitose, Japan

CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Asia

1-2 Oct | Chitose, Japan

GAD Asia 2026

CAPA Data

The CAPA Data Centre is the hub for all CAPA data, including traffic, financials and other performance data for companies within the aviation and travel industry.

Learn More

News Briefs

We produce more than 1,000 global News Briefs weekly, covering all aspects of the aviation and travel industry.

Learn More
See all

Latest News Headlines

Riyadh Air and Boeing announced (20-Jul-2026) the carrier is exercising options for 28 additional 787 aircraft as part of its growth plan. The agreement to exercise most of the options from Riyadh Air's 2023 order also includes the conversion of 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant. The announcement includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 widebody aircraft. Riyadh Air's firm order count will grow to 67 787 aircraft once the remaining 17 have been finalised. [more - original PR - Riyadh Air] [more - original PR - Boeing]

Background

Riyadh Air took delivery of its first three Boeing 787-9s and advanced its initial Riyadh-London Heathrow launch to 10-Jun-2026, alongside planned starts to Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid and Manchester in Jun/Jul-2026.1 It targeted more than 100 destinations by 2030, with CEO Tony Douglas stating the fleet was expected to reach eight aircraft by end-Jul-2026 and the network 22 destinations by Mar-2027.2

Riyadh Air entered (20-Jul-2026) an agreement with Airbus to exercise purchase rights for six additional A350-1000 aircraft, bringing the carrier's total order to 31 confirmed A350-1000s. The agreement forms part of the carrier's original commitment for up to 50 A350-1000 aircraft announced in 2025. Riyadh Air will be the first carrier in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000. Riyadh Air also has 60 A321 aircraft on order, totaling 91 aircraft ordered with 19 options/purchase rights for the A350 aircraft still available to exercise. [more - original PR - Riyadh Air] [more - original PR - Airbus]

Background

Riyadh Air exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787s, including converting 20 to 787-10s, taking its firm 787 order to 67 once the remaining 17 were finalised.1 It launched scheduled operations on 10-Jun-2026 with daily Riyadh-London Heathrow flights using 787s, after taking delivery of its first three 787-9s.2 3 Riyadh Air also ordered 25 A350-1000s with options for 25 more and selected Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines with TotalCare.4 5

Air Zimbabwe, via its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, announced (20-Jul-2026) it received one leased A330-300 at Harare Robert Mugabe International Airport ahead of the launch of Harare-London Gatwick service on 22-Jul-2026. The three times weekly service will be operated by Plus Ultra Airlines under an ACMI agreement.

Background

Air Zimbabwe confirmed it planned to resume three times weekly Harare-London Gatwick service from 22-Jul-2026 using A330-300 equipment under a long term ACMI contract with Plus Ultra Airlines, supported by Chapman Freeborn1. Plus Ultra Airlines signed a 13 month ACMI agreement effective 01-Jul-2026, providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while Air Zimbabwe retained commercial control under its own flight code and branding2.

Loganair and BETA Technologies signed (20-Jul-2026) a term sheet under which Loganair will purchase five all-electric ALIA conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) CX300 aircraft, with options for five more. Loganair stated the agreement will ensure it is Europe's first commercial airline operating an electric aircraft fleet. The agreement builds on the UK's first electric flight demonstration programme completed in Mar-2026, during which BETA's CTOL flew 23 flights in 10 days across Loganair's network. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2029. [more - original PR] [more - Aviation Week]

Background

Loganair and BETA Technologies previously signed an MoU to widen electric-operations testing after the UK's first Scotland regional-network demonstration with Royal Mail, which validated performance, charging and integration with existing airport/airspace systems using targeted infrastructure upgrades1. Loganair also launched BETA ALIA CTOL demonstration flights on routes including Glasgow-Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Wick and Orkney to assess potential Royal Mail electric mail services2.

British Airways selected (20-Jul-2026) RTX's Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power 33 firm and 30 option A320neo aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will also provide maintenance for the engines through a 12 year EngineWise Comprehensive services agreement. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027. Pratt & Whitney president of commercial engines Rick Deurloo stated: "Today marks a pivotal moment and a strong vote of confidence in the GTF engine as the UK's flagship carrier, British Airways, becomes the newest GTF customer". [more - original PR]

Background

Pratt & Whitney said the EASA-certified GTF Advantage for the A320neo family was expected to enter service in 2026 and fully replace the baseline GTF as the production standard in 2028, offering 4% to 8% more take-off thrust and “up to double the time on wing”.1 Pratt & Whitney also used EngineWise Comprehensive agreements alongside multiple GTF selections, including Frontier’s 91 A321neo order.2

Honeywell Aerospace announced (20-Jul-2026) it was selected to provide avionics and power systems to support IndiGo's order of 810 new A320neo Family aircraft. The agreement is Honeywell Aerospace's "largest-ever commercial equipage and service deal". Alongside the new equipment, Honeywell Aerospace will deliver comprehensive aftermarket support to ensure long-term reliability and efficiency. The company has supported IndiGo's operations since 2015 across its existing fleet of more than 400 aircraft. Under the new agreement, Honeywell Aerospace will supply:

  • 131-9A auxiliary power units, designed to deliver reliable onboard power while supporting efficient aircraft operation;
  • Advanced weather radar systems to help pilots identify and avoid adverse weather conditions;
  • Traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS) which provide pilots with enhanced situational awareness and help improve flight safety;
  • Flight management systems that enable efficient route planning and flying. [more - original PR]

Background

IndiGo awarded Thales an 11-year avionics maintenance support contract covering its current 430 A320 Family aircraft and on-order fleet of more than 800 Airbus narrowbodies, with repairs handled at Thales’ Gurugram avionics MRO facility opened in Mar-2025.1 IndiGo also signed an MoU with CFM for more than 1000 LEAP-1A engines to power 510 A320neo Family aircraft, including long-term material services and support for an upcoming engine MRO facility.2

Most Read News Headlines

<

AirBorneo received (16-Jul-2026) one Boeing 737-800 (9M-LCV) through a wet lease agreement with Batik Air (Malaysia). The aircraft is one of two 737-800s that AirBorneo expects to receive in 2026. It will be deployed on twice daily Kuching-Kuala Lumpur service from 20-Jul-2026, followed by daily Kuching-Singapore service from 22-Jul-2026, pending the completion of operational testing. AirBorneo CEO Megat Ardian Aminuddin stated the airline plans to add three more aircraft in 2027, followed by one aircraft every quarter from 2028, growing its fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2030. [more - Aviation Week]

Background

Changi Airport Group EVP air hub and cargo development Ching Kiat Lim said, via LinkedIn, that AirBorneo CEO Megat Ardian confirmed the carrier secured Singapore traffic rights and was completing operational testing at Singapore Changi Airport, expected to be finalised “soon”.1 OAG data showed AirBorneo scheduled Kuching-Kuala Lumpur from 20-Jul-2026 and Kuching-Singapore from 27-Jul-2026, facing competition from Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Firefly, Batik Air and Scoot.2

South African Airways (SAA) and Turkish Airlines implemented (15-Jul-2026) a codeshare agreement for travel from 16-Jul-2026. Turkish Airlines will codeshare on SAA services between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls and Mauritius. SAA will codeshare on Turkish Airlines services from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to Istanbul, and on to Paris, London and Frankfurt. The agreement was signed on 04-Dec-2025. The airlines will explore additional opportunities for cooperation, including route development and network integration. [more - original PR]

Background

Turkish Airlines and South African Airways previously signed their codeshare on 04-Dec-2025, initially slated for ticket sales from 01-Mar-2026, covering SAA-operated services across South Africa and selected regional points, and Turkish Airlines-operated services from Istanbul to South Africa and onward to key European cities. Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat said it was “the largest non-African airline operating in Africa”.1 Turkish Airlines was also scheduled to lift Istanbul–Cape Town and Istanbul–Johannesburg to 10x weekly in winter 2026/27.2

>

Research Publications

Long-form in-depth analysis of a feature of the aviation industry, presented in PDF format.

Learn More