2026-08-05 · 12 storiesGenerated 3:01:46 AM
Saudi Arabia's new carrier Riyadh Air began daily Boeing 787-9 flights to Mumbai on Aug. 4 and Dhaka on Aug. 7, expanding its network to nine destinations as part of its goal to reach 100+ cities by decade's end.
Taiwan's premium carrier Starlux Airlines launched nonstop Taipei–Prague service on Aug. 1, 2026 using an Airbus A350-900 in a four-class configuration, marking the airline's first foray into the European market.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a final decision allowing London Heathrow to recoup up to £320 million in early third-runway planning costs via incremental airline charges, expected to add ~15p per passenger from 2028.
IATA data released August 3 shows global RPKs declined 1.7% year-on-year in June 2026, driven by domestic market contractions in China, the US, and Japan, and ongoing weakness among Middle East carriers amid regional conflict.
Three major aviation bodies launched the Joint Runway Safety Initiative on July 28, 2026, targeting runway incursion prevention through improved data capture, strengthened Local Runway Safety Teams, and shared global best practices.
WestJet suspended all mainline flights effective August 2, 2026 due to a cabin crew labor dispute, contributing to over 5,400 delays and 576 cancellations across US airports combined with severe thunderstorms.
Ground staff strikes in Spain at Barcelona El Prat, WestJet crew disputes in Canada, and transport walkouts in Italy and the UK are threatening widespread flight cancellations across Europe and beyond throughout August 2026.
BloombergNEF reports SAF prices in Europe surged to an average of $2,830 per ton in Q2 2026, up 31%, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global fuel markets and drove demand for biofuels.
Air India will begin 3x-weekly seasonal nonstop Mumbai–Toronto Pearson flights from October 25, 2026, operating Boeing 777-300ERs and becoming the sole carrier on the nonstop route.
Etihad Airways launched daily Abu Dhabi–Tashkent service on August 9, paired with a new codeshare partnership with Uzbekistan Airways offering single-ticket access to eight Uzbek destinations.
ANA Aeroportos de Portugal selected US infrastructure firm AECOM to provide initial design for the New Lisbon Airport, slated to open in the mid-2030s to relieve congestion at the existing LIS hub.
Wizz Air stationed two Airbus A321neo aircraft at a new Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport base, launching domestic Italian and international routes to reach 1.3 million seats from Sicily in 2026 and a 16% market share.
