The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) has announced its 2026 awards, highlighting Ethiopian Airlines and other African carriers for excellence in customer experience. APEX awards evaluate airlines globally based on passenger feedback, recognizing winners in categories like Best Entertainment and Best Cabin Service. Prominent airlines also ranked in the global star ratings segments.
Author: Emily Grant
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury remains confident in achieving the company’s 2025 delivery targets, despite engine shortages and supply chain issues. The A220 program faces challenges with Pratt & Whitney engines, while the A320neo family strives to overcome production hurdles. The widebody A330neo and A350 programs show continued stability, supported by Rolls-Royce engines.
The article examines the operations of Boeing 757 flights surpassing eight hours in duration, focusing on United Airlines and Icelandair routes in September. The decline in Boeing 757 services is attributed to aircraft retirements and replacements by more modern models like the Airbus A321XLR. Special attention is given to United’s new international routes from Newark to Faro and Bilbao.
Qatar Airways is launching high-density Airbus A321neo aircraft, optimizing for economy class across select routes starting next month. This move, away from its usual premium-heavy services, aims to meet growing customer demand. The new aircraft feature a configuration that supports 236 passengers, close to the model’s maximum capacity, marking a significant operational shift.
The Eurofighter Typhoon, once a top-tier multirole combat aircraft, faces obsolescence in a landscape dominated by stealth technology. Its distinctive design limits its stealth capabilities, positioning it as a supportive asset for new-generation stealth fighters. The Typhoon will remain operational, but its role will evolve towards complementing more advanced aircraft in modern air warfare.
British Airways Flight BA16, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, made an emergency return to Sydney an hour after departure due to reports of smoke or an odor in the cockpit. The flight was bound for Singapore and landed safely with all passengers disembarking without incident.
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force successfully completed early demonstrations of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, advancing autonomous combat aircraft capabilities. The program exceeded expectations, finishing ahead of schedule, and lays the groundwork for future mixed force structures involving both crewed and uncrewed systems. Future phases will focus on air-to-air weapons testing and further development.
A British Airways flight from Sydney to Singapore made an emergency landing back at Sydney Airport due to smoke in the cabin. Emergency services were prepared and all passengers disembarked safely. British Airways is investigating the smoke’s source, but the flight remains canceled. A comparable event occurred in August 2025 involving a British Airways Airbus A380 in Johannesburg.
SpiceJet is working to return ten grounded aircraft to its roster by April 2026 and has arranged new leases to bolster capacity by the 2025 winter season. The airline has undertaken engine overhaul efforts and financial restructuring to support these initiatives amid operational and financial challenges. The strategy aims to enhance SpiceJet’s fleet readiness and stability for upcoming peak travel periods.
Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport are poised to open soon, revolutionizing Indian aviation by easing traffic at overloaded Mumbai and Delhi airports. These developments mark India’s growing commitment to addressing overcapacity and enhancing airport infrastructure as cultural landmarks. Higher user fees at these new airports reflect their advanced infrastructure aims, underscoring the challenge of aligning costs with expectations.