2026-09-21 · 12 storiesGenerated 3:01:09 AM
The FAA deploys its SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories) AI system in the D.C. area today, the first phase of a $875M, 12-year nationwide rollout to cut delays and cancellations.
China Southern Airlines relaunches daily nonstop service between Guangzhou and New Delhi on September 21, restoring a key route suspended since February 2020 following a bilateral air links agreement.
A flight data processing fault at UK air navigation provider NATS on September 8 cancelled over 2,000 flights across Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, stranding an estimated 330,000 passengers.
Cathay Pacific and Google have expanded their AI-powered contrail mitigation trial across ultra-long-haul routes, with early results showing roughly a 40% reduction in contrail warming impact across over 80 flights.
EASA's 2026 ReFuelEU Annual Technical Report confirms EU aviation fuel suppliers delivered 2.8% SAF at Union airports in 2025, surpassing the mandatory 2% minimum blending requirement for the first time.
Saudi start-up Riyadh Air launched 3x-weekly Boeing 787-9 service from Riyadh to Manchester Airport on September 19, growing its network from 11 to 14 destinations and boosting monthly seat capacity by 18.6%.
Athens International Airport has initiated a tender for the first phase of its North Terminal expansion, expected to cost €950 million and be completed by end of 2030 to accommodate sustained traffic growth.
Indian regional carrier FLY91 signed a landmark $1 billion firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft on September 3, the largest ATR order ever placed by a regional airline, with deliveries from 2027 to 2032.
IATA announced its 2026 WSOC, themed 'Performance Through People', will take place October 6–8 in Istanbul hosted by Turkish Airlines, spotlighting the human role amid growing AI and automation in aviation safety.
European LCC Wizz Air has resumed flights to Amman and Jeddah and plans to progressively restore 12 routes and 49 weekly services to Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia from nine European cities over the winter season.
Severe thunderstorms and FAA traffic restrictions at Chicago O'Hare on September 20 caused over 5,855 delays and 201 cancellations across U.S. airspace, with Delta, United and American Airlines most affected.
Spanish LCC Volotea launches four new international routes from Florence today including Seville, Valencia, Strasbourg and Berlin, supported by a second based aircraft at the Tuscan airport.
