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

US Department of Transportation (DoT) Secretary Sean Duffy announced (03-Sep-2026) the US FAA is investing USD481 million to improve infrastructure and enhance safety at airports. The FAA is delivering 191 grants to airports in 36 states and two territories through the Airport Infrastructure Grants programme, including:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: USD100 million for runway, taxiway and terminal reconstruction and runway safety area improvements;
• Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport: USD32.5 million to reconstruct the terminal;
• San Diego International Airport: USD30.3 million for terminal construction;
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport: USD14.2 million for taxiway construction and rehabilitation;
• El Paso International Airport: USD8.7 million to rehabilitate the apron. [more - original PR]

Fly91 placed (03-Sep-2026) a firm order with ATR for 40 ATR 72-600s valued at approximately USD1 billion, "marking the largest ATR firm order in almost a decade, and the largest ever by a regional airline". The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2032. Fly91 has a fleet of six ATR 72-600s and aims to expand to 60 aircraft within the next five years. Fly91 MD and CEO Manoj Chacko noted the airline has "operated more than 15,000 flights" since launching in Mar-2024, and expanded its network to 12 domestic destinations. Mr Chacko said the aircraft order "is the catalyst for our next phase of expansion", adding: "The ATR 72-600 offers the ideal operating economics for our network and our deepened partnership with ATR will be central to powering India's regional aviation revolution". [more - original PR - Fly91] [more - original PR - ATR]

airBaltic reached (03-Sep-2026) an agreement with certain existing bondholders and third party finance providers for up to EUR257 million of interim financing. The financing is intended to strengthen the company's liquidity and provide the financial resources needed to implement its new business plan. The proposed financing remains subject to approvals from airBaltic's bondholders and shareholders. A bondholder meeting to consider the proposal was convened for 11-Sep-2026. [more - original PR]

Southwest Airlines commenced (02-Sep-2026) construction of its first four lounges at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Honolulu Daniel K Inouye International Airport and Nashville International Airport. The lounges are planned to be approximately 33,000sqft in Baltimore, 30,000sqft in Nashville, 20,000sqft in Austin and 13,000sqft in Honolulu. The LCC is expected to open the lounges in late 2027. Passengers accessing Southwest's lounge network will require a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase, which is planned to launch in 2027. Southwest plans to open at least seven more lounges "over the next several years across high-demand business and leisure markets". [more - original PR] [more - Aviation Week]

Embraer delivered (02-Sep-2026) one E195-E2 aircraft to Azul, marking the manufacturer's 2000th E-Jet delivery and Azul's 50th E-Jet E2 aircraft. The E-Jet family entered service in 2004. [more - original PR]

AirAsia entered (02-Sep-2026) a codeshare partnership with Pegasus Airlines to expand connections between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The partnership will progressively open access to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe, with destinations including London Stansted, Moscow Vnukovo, Ankara, Zurich and Athens. Travellers will be able to connect from all Pegasus destinations through Istanbul and onward to Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia X will increase Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul frequency from four to seven times weekly by Feb-2027. The partnership is AirAsia's first codeshare agreement and enables Pegasus' first connection to Southeast Asia. [more - original PR - AirAsia] [more - original PR - Pegasus]