Saudi low-cost airline flyadeal has confirmed key cabin design and supplier partnerships for its first widebody aircraft, the Airbus A330-900neo, marking a significant step toward its planned long-haul operations.

The airline will introduce a two-class configuration across its fleet of 10 A330neos, featuring 406 Economy Class seats alongside 14 Premium Economy seats. Entry into service is expected in 2027, with deliveries beginning in the summer of that year.

The cabins are designed with long-haul travel in mind, incorporating ergonomic reclining seats, enhanced back support, adjustable headrests, USB Type-C charging ports, and ambient lighting intended to improve passenger comfort.

For the Premium Economy section, Italian manufacturer Geven will supply its Comoda AQ seats. Arranged in a 2-3-2 layout across two rows, the seats offer a 38-inch pitch and up to 8 inches of recline, aimed at increasing personal space and comfort on medium- to long-haul routes.

Economy Class seating will be provided by Chinese firm Jiatai, marking its debut in the Middle East market. The cabin will feature a 3-3-3 configuration, with seat pitch reaching up to 30 inches, focusing on efficiency while maintaining passenger comfort.

With a flight range exceeding 11 hours, the A330neos are expected to serve routes connecting Saudi Arabia with destinations across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Sanjiv Kapoor, Executive Vice President of Strategy at Saudia Group and acting CEO of flyadeal, said the airline spent nearly a year finalising cabin specifications. He noted that considerations such as comfort, weight, durability, sustainability, and overall cabin atmosphere guided the selection process. Kapoor added that the airline aims to differentiate itself by entering the widebody segment while maintaining its low-cost model.

Geven’s Managing Director, Alberto Veneruso, described the partnership as a milestone, highlighting the introduction of the Comoda AQ seat to flyadeal’s passengers. Meanwhile, Jiatai Chairman Jingfeng Liu said the collaboration represents a key step in expanding the global footprint of Chinese aircraft seating manufacturers.

Additional suppliers have also been selected as part of the aircraft interior programme. France-based Safran Cabin will provide customised galleys designed to improve workspace efficiency for cabin crew. Swiss firm Lantal Textiles will supply carpets and curtains, extending its existing partnership with the airline.

The announcements were made during the Aircraft Interiors Expo held in Hamburg, a major industry event focused on cabin innovation.

flyadeal has rapidly expanded since its launch, currently operating 46 Airbus A320 family aircraft from bases in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah and Dammam, serving more than 40 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, the airline aims to grow its fleet and network to over 100 aircraft and destinations by the end of the decade.

Source: ZAWYA

IndiGo Airlines (6E) has reached a historic benchmark, becoming the first airline globally to take direct delivery of 500 aircraft from Airbus. The milestone was achieved earlier this month with little fanfare, reflecting the airline’s understated corporate culture.

The 500th aircraft, registered VT-ION, is a CFM-powered A320neo. Its low-key induction into the fleet mirrors IndiGo’s origins as a cost-conscious startup that has since evolved into one of the world’s largest carriers.

The achievement traces back nearly 20 years to the 2005 Paris Air Show, when InterGlobe Aviation placed an order for 100 Airbus aircraft — a decision widely viewed as ambitious at the time. India’s private aviation sector then operated a combined fleet of just 55 aircraft. IndiGo’s first jet, VT-INA, entered service in August 2006, marking the beginning of a rapid growth trajectory.

With this latest delivery, IndiGo surpasses all other passenger airlines in terms of direct Airbus acquisitions. While aircraft lessors such as ILFC — now part of AerCap — and NAS Aviation USA have recorded higher cumulative deliveries, they do not operate commercial passenger services. Among airlines, Lufthansa follows with 466 aircraft, while China Eastern has taken delivery of 449, according to aviation analyst Ameya Joshi.

IndiGo also holds the largest Airbus order backlog globally, with a total of 1,400 aircraft on order. By the end of March 2025, the airline had received 499 aircraft, with additional deliveries in April pushing the total beyond the 500 mark.

Of the remaining 899 aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next decade, 60 will be A350-900 widebody jets. These aircraft are expected to support IndiGo’s planned expansion into long-haul international operations. In comparison, AerCap holds 801 orders, while EasyJet has committed to 705 aircraft.

A key factor behind IndiGo’s success has been its early and consistent focus on operating a single aircraft family. As the launch customer in India for the A320neo series, the airline leveraged the model’s fuel efficiency to build a high-frequency, low-cost network. This strategy enabled streamlined pilot training, reduced maintenance complexity, and improved operational efficiency compared with competitors managing mixed fleets.

Source: AVIATION A2Z

Turkish Airlines has undertaken a significant overhaul of its senior leadership, appointing new executives to key roles while also deciding to suspend dividend payouts from its 2025 earnings due to rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

According to a filing with Turkey’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), the airline named former Chief Commercial Officer Ahmet Olmustur as its new Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of long-serving CEO Bilal Eksi.

In another board-level change, Murat Seker has been appointed chairman, replacing Ahmet Bolat, who has stepped down from the position.

The restructuring also includes changes in the company’s financial and commercial leadership. Metin Gulsen, previously Senior Vice President for Accounting and Financial Control, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Meanwhile, Harun Basturk, who served as Senior Vice President for Regional Sales, has taken over as Chief Commercial Officer.

The airline said the leadership transition comes at a time when the global aviation industry continues to face significant challenges, including volatile fuel prices, capacity constraints, and ongoing disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East.

In a separate announcement, Turkish Airlines confirmed it will not distribute dividends from its 2025 net profit, which stands at 118.2 billion lira (about $2.65 billion). Instead, the company plans to retain earnings to strengthen its cash reserves.

The airline stated that the decision reflects a cautious financial strategy aimed at protecting long-term shareholder value amid heightened uncertainty and continuing conflict conditions in the region.

This marks a shift from recent dividend activity. Turkish Airlines did not issue dividends for its 2023 profits, but in 2025 it approved a cash dividend based on 2024 earnings, amounting to a gross 6.88 lira per share (5.85 lira net).

Following the announcements, Turkish Airlines shares rose 1.1 percent, while Turkey’s benchmark BIST 100 index gained 1.37 percent in trading.

The exchange rate was noted at 1 US dollar equal to 44.6763 lira.

Source: ZAWYA

International law firm Bird & Bird has acted as global legal adviser to Oman Air in its acquisition of a controlling stake in SalamAir, Oman’s leading low-cost carrier. The deal involves the purchase of 90% of SalamAir’s issued share capital, marking a significant development in the country’s aviation sector.

The move aligns with Oman’s long-term economic framework, Vision 2040, which prioritizes aviation as a key driver of diversification, tourism growth, and international connectivity. Authorities view the transaction as a step toward building a more competitive and sustainable aviation ecosystem.

Under the government’s dual airline strategy, both Oman Air and SalamAir will continue to operate independently, maintaining separate branding, market positioning, and service models. SalamAir will retain its focus on budget travel, while Oman Air will continue offering full-service operations, targeting premium and long-haul markets.

Officials expect that closer coordination between the two carriers will enhance operational efficiency across the sector. The approach aims to expand travel options for passengers while optimizing cost structures and improving overall financial performance, including in related services such as ground handling.

The acquisition is also intended to strengthen the financial sustainability of Oman’s aviation industry. With government backing, SalamAir is positioned to expand its low-cost network further, supporting regional mobility and attracting inbound tourism.

Established in 2016 and headquartered in Muscat, SalamAir operates a growing network across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. Meanwhile, Oman Air, founded in 1993, serves as the Sultanate’s national carrier, connecting Oman to key destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Bird & Bird legal team was led by partner Simon Allport in London, supported by senior associate Will Holder and colleagues from its Singapore office. The firm collaborated with Oman-based legal advisers Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co., led by partner Mansoor Malik.

Source: ZAWYA

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on Thursday that it is extending its guidance for airlines to avoid flying over the Middle East and Gulf regions. The advisory, originally set to expire on April 10, will now remain in effect until April 24, according to an updated bulletin on conflict zones.

EASA advises carriers to exercise caution when planning routes in these areas due to heightened risks associated with ongoing regional tensions. Airlines operating in or near the affected airspace are urged to review safety protocols and adjust flight paths accordingly.

India’s aviation sector experienced significant disruption in March, with airlines cancelling 3,025 international flights out of nearly 16,000 scheduled services, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The figure represents a thirteenfold increase compared to cancellations recorded in February.

Among carriers, Air India Express was the most affected, cancelling 1,215 international flights—approximately half of its planned operations for the month. SpiceJet also faced substantial disruption, grounding more than 55 percent of its international services.

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled around 10 percent of its 7,432 scheduled international flights in March. Meanwhile, Air India reported cancellations affecting 13 percent of its operations, a sharp rise from just 2 percent in the previous month.

The report further indicated that IndiGo and the Air India group collectively reduced over 310,000 seats on routes connecting India and the Gulf region compared to February. This decline reflects broader operational challenges linked to regional instability.

Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary at India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, noted that daily flights between India and the Middle East dropped significantly—from 300–350 services to just 80–90. Since the onset of the Gulf conflict on February 28, Indian carriers have cancelled more than 10,000 flights, he added.

Long-haul routes to Europe and North America have also been affected, with airlines forced to take extended flight paths due to airspace restrictions. These detours have increased travel times and operating costs, contributing to what officials described as “unprecedented disruption” in global aviation networks.

In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced temporary flexibility in flight duty time limitations for pilots operating long-haul routes. The measure allows extended flying hours and duty periods to help airlines manage operational strain and crew shortages. The relaxation will remain in effect until April 30, after which authorities will reassess the situation.

Officials emphasized that the situation remains fluid and subject to further review depending on developments in the coming weeks.

Addressing cost pressures, Ao highlighted that while global aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have risen sharply, the Indian government has moderated the impact domestically. With ATF accounting for roughly 40 percent of airline operating expenses, partial price adjustments have helped maintain stable domestic airfares.

Additionally, authorities have permitted international airlines to deploy passenger aircraft for cargo operations. This move aims to safeguard supply chains and ensure uninterrupted transport of essential goods despite ongoing disruptions.

Source: Khaleej Times