International airlines are steadily reinstating services to destinations across the Middle East after widespread disruptions caused by heightened regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. While several carriers have announced plans to resume operations, others continue to postpone flights to key destinations as security and operational assessments remain ongoing.

Aegean Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to Dubai until August 31, while services to Erbil and Baghdad remain cancelled through September 30.

airBaltic will not operate flights to Dubai until October 24.

Air Canada has prolonged the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai through October 24.

Within the Air France-KLM group, Air France has suspended flights to Beirut until August 2. KLM, meanwhile, kept services to Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai suspended until July 15, according to information published on its website.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific plans to restart flights to Dubai and Riyadh from September 1.

Delta Air Lines has extended the suspension of its Atlanta-Tel Aviv service until December 18. The carrier intends to resume flights between New York JFK and Tel Aviv on September 6, while the planned launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv route has been postponed indefinitely.

Finnair has cancelled flights to Doha until October 2 and continues to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel. Seasonal flights to Dubai are expected to resume in October.

At International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways has delayed the return of flights to Doha until August 1 and to Riyadh until August 8. Services to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman remain suspended for the rest of the summer season, with operations scheduled to restart on October 25. When services resume, the airline plans to operate one daily flight to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv, while removing Jeddah from its network.

Japan Airlines has suspended Tokyo-Doha flights until August 31, with Doha-Tokyo services set to remain paused until September 1.

Poland's LOT plans to resume its winter Dubai route in October and restart flights to Beirut as part of its Summer 2027 schedule.

The Lufthansa Group continues to maintain extensive restrictions across the region. SWISS has postponed the resumption of Tel Aviv flights until August, while Brussels Airlines has suspended services until October 24. Lufthansa and SWISS will keep flights to Dubai suspended until September 13.

Additionally, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines have extended flight suspensions to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24. Low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, which has already resumed flights to Erbil, Beirut, and Tel Aviv, expects to restore services to its remaining Middle East destinations during the autumn.

ITA Airways has also extended the suspension of flights to Riyadh until July 31 and to Dubai until October 24, citing operational reasons.

Norwegian Air has indefinitely postponed the launch of planned services to Tel Aviv and Beirut, with no revised start dates announced.

Singapore Airlines has prolonged the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai route until October 24. To accommodate increased passenger demand, the airline is adding capacity on routes linking Singapore with London Gatwick and Melbourne from late March through October 24.

SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, is scheduled to resume its Antalya-Dubai service later on July 15.

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Wizz Air continues to suspend flights from mainland Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until mid-September, reflecting the cautious approach many airlines are still taking as the regional situation evolves.

Source: Reuters News

DUBLIN: Aircraft leasing company Avolon has announced a sale-and-leaseback agreement covering up to seven Boeing 737-8200 aircraft with Indian airline Akasa Air.

Under the arrangement announced on August 14, 2026, Akasa Air will sell aircraft from its existing order book to Avolon and lease them back. The structure allows the airline to release capital for other business needs while continuing to operate the aircraft.

The Boeing 737-8200, also known as the 737-8-200, is the highest-density configuration of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 family. The aircraft is certified to accommodate as many as 210 passengers.

Akasa Air operates the aircraft with 197 seats in a single-class configuration. The Indian carrier currently has 17 Boeing 737-8200 aircraft in its fleet.

Akasa Air became the first airline in Asia to operate the 737-8200 in 2023. The latest transaction will allow the carrier to maintain operational use of the aircraft while strengthening its financial flexibility as it continues to expand.

Source: Aero time

PARIS: Cabin crew working for British low-cost airline EasyJet in France began a two-day strike on Saturday, demanding better working conditions and more predictable schedules.

The walkout was called by unions representing EasyJet’s France-based cabin crew after negotiations over employee schedules ended without an agreement, French broadcaster BFMTV reported.

Unions said unpredictable working patterns had placed significant physical and mental strain on employees. They are seeking changes aimed at improving working conditions for cabin crew.

The industrial action is expected to disrupt EasyJet operations across France, with around 100 flights scheduled for the weekend reportedly canceled as a result of the strike.

Reports put participation among EasyJet cabin crew in France at 68%, highlighting the scale of the labor action.

The strike is scheduled to continue for two days as unions press the airline for changes to scheduling practices and broader improvements to working conditions.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi low-cost airline flynas has added a new Airbus A320neo to its fleet, supporting the carrier’s expansion strategy while introducing another aircraft equipped with its latest-generation cabin.

The latest delivery brings the flynas fleet to 68 Airbus aircraft, comprising 62 A320neo jets, two A330s and four A320ceo aircraft.

The aircraft is the second in the airline’s fleet to feature the new-generation cabin, which was introduced earlier this year. The cabin is designed to improve passenger comfort while supporting greater operational efficiency and lower fuel consumption.

The new seats, developed in partnership with Safran, include integrated smartphone and tablet holders, high-speed USB-A and USB-C charging ports with a 60-watt capacity, larger meal tables, dedicated storage for books and magazines, and coat hooks.

Premium-class seats also feature additional legroom, adjustable headrests and a center-seat divider aimed at providing greater comfort for passengers.

The A320neo’s improved fuel efficiency compared with previous-generation aircraft is expected to reduce fuel consumption and operational emissions per seat. The addition therefore supports flynas’ wider sustainability program alongside its fleet growth plans.

The latest aircraft also reflects the airline’s efforts to enhance the onboard experience as it expands its network and responds to growing demand for air travel in Saudi Arabia.

Source: QCAA

DUBAI: Air Arabia reported a 51% decline in first-half net profit to AED 374 million ($102 million), as the Middle East and North Africa’s largest low-cost airline faced significant operational and cost pressures from the ongoing regional conflict.

For the six months ended June 30, 2026, revenue fell 1% to AED 3.48 billion, compared with AED 3.52 billion during the same period last year.

The airline carried more than 8.7 million passengers across its operating hubs, a 14% year-on-year decline. Despite the reduction, its average seat load factor remained at 83%, indicating continued demand for its services despite disruptions to operations.

The impact was more pronounced in the second quarter. Net profit dropped 77% to AED 96 million, while revenue declined 3% to AED 1.68 billion. Passenger traffic fell 23% to more than 3.9 million, reflecting reduced capacity, while the average seat load factor stood at 81%.

Air Arabia said its performance was significantly affected by the regional conflict, which began in February and disrupted aviation operations throughout the remainder of the first half.

Multiple airspace closures, temporary operational restrictions and reduced capacity affected the airline’s network, while record-high fuel prices added to operating costs.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said the airline’s ability to remain profitable despite the disruption demonstrated the resilience of its business model and financial position.

He said the carrier focused on preserving network connectivity, adapting operations to changing conditions and maintaining strict cost controls while protecting operational efficiency.

Despite the difficult operating environment, Air Arabia continued expanding its fleet and network during the first half of the year.

The airline added six aircraft, bringing its fleet to 96 owned and leased Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. It also introduced five new routes across its hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan.

In June, Air Arabia was named “Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline in the MENA Region 2026” by World Finance Magazine as part of its annual Sustainability Awards Programme.

Sheikh Abdullah said the airline remained confident in its underlying business strength as market conditions improve. He added that Air Arabia would continue focusing on responsible network expansion, financial discipline and its value-focused offering while seeking to create sustainable long-term value for stakeholders.

Source: TradeArabia

Turkish Airlines will expand its network in mainland China with the launch of scheduled flights to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, from November 11, 2026.

Chengdu will become the airline’s fourth destination in mainland China after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The new service will provide a direct link between the Chinese city, Türkiye and Turkish Airlines’ wider international network.

With a population of more than 21 million, Chengdu is one of China’s major metropolitan centers and an important hub for trade, logistics and finance. The city is also home to multinational companies operating in sectors including electronics, automotive, aviation, biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

The city has also gained global recognition for its culinary culture. UNESCO has designated Chengdu a “City of Gastronomy,” while attractions such as the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding draw millions of visitors each year.

Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur said China remains an important strategic market for the carrier and that the Chengdu service would further strengthen its presence in the country.

He said the new route is expected to support stronger commercial, cultural and tourism connections between Türkiye and China.

Turkish Airlines will operate three weekly flights from Istanbul to Chengdu on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Return services will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Flights will serve Chengdu Tianfu International Airport using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Each aircraft will offer 300 seats, comprising 30 Business Class and 270 Economy Class seats.

To mark the route launch, Turkish Airlines is offering promotional fares starting at $540 for Economy Class and $1,991 for Business Class for travel between Istanbul and Chengdu. The airline said fares are available through its official website and may vary at sales offices and travel agencies.

Source: TradeArabia