2026-08-16 · 12 storiesGenerated 3:01:46 AM
Riyadh Air begins 3x-weekly Boeing 787-9 nonstop service from Riyadh to Lahore, Pakistan on August 16, growing its network to nine destinations as part of its plan to reach 22 cities by March 2027.
Lufthansa Group will introduce SpaceX Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi free of charge for Miles & More members starting August 19 on an A320neo, with a full group-wide rollout across 850 aircraft planned by 2029.
The UK Court of Appeal on August 4 rejected all remaining legal challenges to Gatwick's Northern Runway Project, allowing the £2.2 billion expansion to proceed toward dual-runway operations targeting 100,000 extra flights per year by 2030.
Archer Aviation and Boeing signed definitive agreements on August 10 for Archer to acquire three Boeing subsidiaries—Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu—combining eVTOL, autonomous flight, and airspace management under one AI platform, with Boeing taking a ~20% stake.
IATA's Board of Directors has appointed Saadia Zahidi, a World Economic Forum executive, as its ninth—and first female—Director General effective November 1, 2026, succeeding Willie Walsh who stepped down July 31.
Istanbul Airport's new 2,820m east-west fourth main runway has reached temporary acceptance in August and is set to enter commercial service in Q4 2026, boosting operational flexibility and capacity toward a 120 million passenger goal.
A new market report projects the global SAF market to surge from $4.86 billion in 2026 to $31.45 billion by 2031 at a 45.3% CAGR, as IATA reports 2026 SAF production reaching 2.4 million tonnes—0.8% of total jet fuel consumption.
BloombergNEF reports European SAF prices spiked to $2,830 per tonne in Q2 2026—up 31%—driven by Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions raising conventional jet fuel costs and amplifying demand for biofuels under EU blending mandates.
FlightAware recorded 5,849 delays and 275 cancellations across the US on August 12, with Chicago O'Hare and Denver International accounting for over 35% of all domestic delays after severe thunderstorms triggered FAA ground-delay programs.
Multiple international carriers including Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, and Air France have suspended or heavily curtailed Dubai flights amid ongoing regional tensions, with some cancellations extending into early 2027.
Taiwan's Starlux Airlines has launched 3x-weekly nonstop service between Taipei and Prague using an Airbus A350-900, marking the carrier's first-ever route to Europe, with frequency increasing to 4x-weekly from October.
FAA confirmed Delta Air Lines Flight 2122 made a precautionary landing at Denver International Airport on August 9 after the crew of the Boeing 757-300 reported a pressurization issue en route from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
