Airlines News Page 7
Pegasus Airlines expands its London presence -daily direct London Gatwick - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen
Pegasus Airlines, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, launched a new direct summer route on 15 June 2026, between London Gatwick and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International, further strengthening its UK presence network and enhancing connectivity between the UK, Türkiye and beyond. The new London Gatwick route joins Pegasus Airlines’ existing daily service between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International and London Stansted, giving passengers across London and the Southeast greater flexibility and choice when travelling between the UK and Türkiye.
Air France Celebrates 80 Years of Connectivity Between Manchester and Paris
Air France is proud to celebrate 80 years of operations between Manchester Airport and Paris, marking eight decades of connectivity between the Northwest of England and France. Air France’s first flight to Manchester took place on 16 June 1946, when a Dakota aircraft F-BADX arrived from Paris Le Bourget Airport. The historic service dropped off one passenger that day and picked up a VIP party of 18 for the return journey. Shortly afterwards, Air France began operating the route three times weekly.
From Doha to the World: Qatar Airways Takes Off to Over 160 Global Destinations This Summer
Qatar Airways continues to deliver on its commitment to network restoration, and is steadily expanding its reach to more than 160 gateways for the ease and convenience of international travellers. Starting today, the airline is returning to 26 destinations in key global markets. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, resumed safe and secure operations from March 2026 to over 60 destinations. It gradually began rebuilding its network to facilitate connectivity across the globe, and will now serve more than 160 destinations this summer.
Riyadh Air Achieves Landmark IATA Membership
Following the successful completion of its inaugural flights to London and Jeddah, Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has now also officially joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Celebrated at the 82nd IATA World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the historic milestone integrates the airline into the global aviation ecosystem and accelerates Riyadh Air’s operational readiness and cements its commitment to world-class safety, efficiency, and industry collaboration.
LATAM Airlines partners with Meili to launch direct car rental booking experience in Latin America
Meili, the leading technology platform enabling direct ancillary distribution, has announced a strategic partnership with LATAM Airlines, the largest airline group in Latin America. The partnership marks a key milestone in Meili’s expansion across Latin America, strengthening its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. LATAM Airlines has selected Meili to enhance its car rental offering across all digital touchpoints. The partnership empowers car rental providers to distribute directly within LATAM’s ecosystem, eliminating third-party redirects and enabling greater control over customer experience, performance, and loyalty integration.
Vietnam Airlines Launches Nonstop Hanoi–Amsterdam Service
Vietnam Airlines has officially inaugurated its nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate a direct route connecting Vietnam and the Netherlands. The inaugural flight, VN83, departed Noi Bai International Airport at 3:50 AM on June 16, carrying nearly 300 passengers aboard an Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. After a flight time of more than 12 hours, the aircraft landed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In the opposite direction, flight VN82 departed Amsterdam for Hanoi at 2:00 PM (local time) on the same day.
Airbus and Lufthansa Group celebrate 50 years of partnership
Airbus and Lufthansa Group, at the opening of ILA Berlin Air Show, agreed on a series of further cooperative efforts and officially celebrated the 50th anniversary of their partnership which started with the delivery of the first A300 to Lufthansa in 1976.
Emirates Marks Milestone Success of Wimbledon’s Championing Nature Programme at Anniversary Event
The All England Lawn Tennis Club has today published its Championing Nature One Year Report, revealing the significant impact of the programme since its launch in May 2025 and marking the programme’s first anniversary with a special celebration event at Wimbledon. The report highlights that 28,539 people have taken part in 865 sessions and activities delivered through the programme over the past year, with 73% of participants coming from underserved communities. The impact of participation has been substantial, with 93% of those engaged saying they felt inspired to take action for nature, and 91% reporting increased confidence that their individual actions can make a difference.
Norwegian to acquire Nordic Leisure Travel Group
Norwegian has entered into an agreement to acquire Nordic Leisure Travel Group (NLTG), the leading hotel and leisure travel experiences company in the Nordics. The transaction brings together household names and award-winning brands such as Ving, Spies, Tjäreborg, Globetrotter, and Sunclass Airlines with Norwegian and Widerøe, creating a stronger and unique end-to-end Nordic travel player. The acquisition combines NLTG’s expertise in packaged travel and hotels with Norwegian and Widerøe’s existing network with 27 million passengers. Together, the combined company will create a leading Nordic provider of leisure and business travel. For travellers, this means a wider selection of destinations, simpler bookings, and seamless travel.
United Celebrates America with Custom 250th Anniversary Livery
United today unveiled a new specialty “Stars and Stripes” livery that celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and announced a milestone to the airline’s United Military Pilot Program, an initiative that provides currently serving active-duty U.S. military pilots access to a conditional job offer with the airline much earlier than they were previously afforded. United Celebrates America with Custom 250th Anniversary Livery and Military Pilot Hiring Program Milestone Since 2024, nearly 600 military pilots have transitioned to United through the program, with 500 more expected by the end of 202
RwandAir wins Best Cabin Service in Africa at the 2026 APEX Awards
RwandAir has been named Best Cabin Service in Africa at the 2026 APEX Awards, marking the first time the airline has received this recognition for its onboard customer experience. The award was presented during the APEX Future Travel Experience (FTE) EMEA event in Dublin and is based exclusively on independently verified passenger feedback from more than one million flights worldwide. The recognition is therefore a direct reflection of the experience delivered to customers onboard RwandAir flights.
PORTUGUESE NATIONAL TEAM IS FLYING WITH TAP AIR PORTUGAL TO THE 2026 WORLD CUP
The Portuguese national team is flying with TAP Air Portugal to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The national team delegation, led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo and manager Roberto Martinez, departed this Friday aboard the A330 CS-TUM, named Nuno Álvares Pereira and decorated with the slogan “It’s Portugal Time”, heading to West Palm Beach, where it is due to arrive at 10.30 pm local time.