Airlines News Page 3
United Airlines and DIRECTV Team Up to Stream Live TV - Including Live Sports
United Airlines and DIRECTV are teaming up to enable passengers to watch live streaming TV on Starlink-enabled, United seatback screens through July 20, which will allow soccer fans to catch all the action from the summer’s biggest sports tournament through the last match on as many as 150 Starlink-enabled aircraft thanks to the world’s fastest, most reliable inflight Wi-Fi service. Through DIRECTV and BBC, United customers on these aircraft have free access to more than a dozen live TV channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1, Apple F1, ABC, ESPN, TNT, CNN, CBS, NBC, TBS and BBC News, offering live soccer, sports, news, weather, business and entertainment.
Etihad steps up pilot recruitment across Europe and Türkiye
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will host a series of pilot recruitment sessions across Europe and Türkiye this summer, inviting experienced First Officers and Captains to join the fastest-growing airline in the world. The informal, drop-in sessions will take place between June and August 2026 across seven cities in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Türkiye. They are open to experienced First Officers and Captains, and form part of a wider recruitment drive as Etihad expands its fleet and network through to 2030
“Aviation cybersecurity is no longer just a technology challenge”
ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec recently warned of the growing threat posed by AI-enabled cyberattacks in aviation, bringing into focus a challenge the industry can no longer defer. OneReg, the aviation compliance and safety software platform, says the response requires airports to think differently – not just about their individual defences, but about how the sector reduces systemic vulnerability. Carly Waddleton, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder at OneReg, identifies two priorities that should sit at the heart of the industry’s response: Reducing complexity, and using collective intelligence.
Asiana Airlines to Exit Star Alliance
Asiana Airlines, headquartered in Seoul, will formally leave Star Alliance on December 16, 2026, 23:59 Korea Standard Time. Since joining Star Alliance in 2003, Asiana Airlines has played a valued role in delivering seamless customer experiences across the network. On behalf of all member airlines, Star Alliance thanks Asiana Airlines and its employees for contributing to the exceptional customer experience that the Alliance is known for worldwide.
Emirates brings its global travel rehearsal programme to the Maldives
Emirates, the world’s first Autism-Certified Airline, has conducted its first-ever “Travel Rehearsal” programme in the Maldives, at Velana International Airport (MLE). The Travel Rehearsal programme allows people with accessible travel requirements to experience a guided simulation of the complete air travel journey, familiarising them with airport procedures and onboard environments ahead of time – helping reduce anxiety and build confidence before an actual flight. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative conducted at Male’s airport, organised by Emirates and supported by airport stakeholders in addition to other partners.
Make more of your summer with Emirates
Emirates is kickstarting the summer holidays with exclusive offers for passengers travelling to or through Dubai. From complimentary stays at the iconic JW Marriott Marquis*, to hundreds of discounts through the popular My Emirates Pass, travellers can enjoy even more value while exploring the city, whether visiting for a longer getaway or a short stopover. Emirates is inviting South African travellers to make the most of their summer holidays with exclusive offers for passengers travelling to or through Dubai.
AirHelp app hits one million users as travellers switch from airline channels to independent flight
AirHelp, the world’s leading air passenger rights platform, today announced that its independent flight tracking app has reached one million users in just 12 months – a milestone that reflects a fundamental shift in how travellers manage disruption. As airlines continue to face challenges in real-time communication, passengers are increasingly seeking independent data to track flights, monitor disruptions and protect their schedules. Over the past year, app users conducted more than five million searches for flight numbers, airline and airports – and nearly half (46%) were monitoring someone else’s journey, suggesting that live, independent flight data has become a way for people to track loved ones rather than wait on carrier updates.
Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines launch strategic joint business partnership
Malaysia Airlines (MAB) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have launched their strategic joint business partnership, formalised in January 2026 following the regulatory approvals, with the introduction of joint fare products for travel between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The new joint fare offerings build on the airlines’ existing codeshare partnership, enabling MAB and SIA to provide customers with a greater variety of fare options between the two capital cities, as well as enhanced connectivity across the combined network of both carriers.
VOLOTEA’S DIRECT FLIGHT MODEL AVOIDS 54% OF CO₂ EMISSIONS
Volotea, the airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, operates a direct-flight connectivity model that helps significantly reduce the environmental impact of air travel. According to a company study, direct flights can avoid CO2 emissions by 54% compared with itineraries requiring connecting flights. This improvement is driven by several factors, including avoiding 58% of the travel time associated with connections and a 37% decrease in distance travelled. As a result, fuel consumption, and therefore CO₂ emissions generated per journey, is significantly reduced. These benefits are further supported by a load factor that has remained above 90% since 2018 and reached 91% in 2024, helping maximize operational efficiency and optimize resource utilization.
WIZZ AIR NAMED WORLD’S MOST PUNCTUAL LOW COST AIRLINE IN MAY AS IT PREPARES FOR SUMMER PEAK
Wizz Air has been recognised by OAG* as the world’s most punctual low cost airline in May 2026, achieving an on time performance score of 87.8 per cent and a flight completion rate of 99.99 per cent across its network. As the airline enters one of the busiest periods of the year, operating a record 1,200 flights a day and carrying more than 200,000 passengers daily, Wizz Air has also introduced a range of operational and customer service measures designed to support reliable performance throughout the summer travel season.
United Accelerates Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout with First Widebody Transatlantic Flight
United is accelerating the rollout of fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members as United flight 14 is set to depart Newark/New York for London this evening aboard a Boeing 777-200, marking the airline’s first transatlantic widebody customer flight equipped with Starlink and the first of nearly 60 United widebody aircraft expected to have Starlink this year. United expects to have its entire widebody fleet outfitted by next summer as the airline expands Starlink’s high-speed, reliable internet across its fleet.
UK lifts travel advisory for Dubai
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) welcomes the decision by the United Kingdom to lift the travel advisory. Dubai is open, with hotels, attractions, restaurants, retail destinations and other destination experiences ready to welcome back UK visitors to the city. Dubai International (DXB) has remained operational. Emirates is currently operating 97% of its global network, serving 138 destinations across 73 countries. Dubai Airports and airline partners continue to work to restore capacity and connectivity.