Qatar Airways has retired its remaining Airbus A330 passenger aircraft and temporarily assigned more than a dozen pilots to Rwanda’s national carrier, as the prolonged Iran war and soaring jet-fuel prices accelerate the retirement of older aircraft across the aviation industry.

According to two people familiar with the matter and data reviewed by Reuters, the move reflects the growing pressure on Gulf airlines from higher operating costs and reduced capacity amid continued regional disruption.

Qatar Airways had leased four Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft from Oman Air last year, with plans to operate them through 2026. However, the aircraft never entered service, and the airline has now completed the retirement of its A330 passenger fleet.

One of those aircraft was acquired earlier this year by RwandAir, Rwanda’s flag carrier. Qatar Airways has longstanding links with RwandAir, and a group of Qatar Airways pilots has been seconded to the African airline. Some of the pilots had not operated commercial flights since the war began.

The secondments, along with details of Qatar Airways’ A330 retirements, had not previously been reported.

A Qatar Airways spokesperson said regular fleet reviews were part of the airline’s normal operations, involving the retirement of older aircraft and the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient jets. The airline expects to receive 138 new aircraft over the next five years.

Qatar Airways currently operates 239 passenger aircraft and 30 freighters across Airbus and Boeing fleets. Its A330s accounted for around 7% of its passenger fleet as of March.

The airline said a group of A330 pilots had been offered voluntary, short-term secondments with RwandAir. The arrangement allows the pilots to maintain their flying experience while helping meet the operational needs of both carriers. Qatar Airways did not specify the duration of the assignments.

Fuel costs rise as regional disruption continues

The aviation sector has faced widespread disruption since the conflict involving Iran began, with Gulf hubs including Doha and Dubai particularly affected following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Although flight activity has recovered to levels close to those seen before the war, airlines continue to face higher operating costs.

The sharp increase in fuel prices has made older, less-efficient aircraft increasingly expensive to operate. Analysts say Qatar Airways can reduce costs by keeping its A330s parked rather than flying them while oil prices remain elevated.

Flight-tracking data shows the remaining A330s leased by Qatar Airways from Oman Air have been parked in Teruel, Spain, or Doha for several months. Two A330s based in Doha and leased from aircraft lessor Jetran are scheduled to be returned to the lessor in October.

Older aircraft face renewed pressure

Aircraft such as the Airbus A330, which is no longer in production, had been expected to leave many airline fleets earlier. However, aircraft manufacturing delays and strong demand following the COVID-19 pandemic extended their operational lives.

The latest rise in fuel prices has changed that calculation. Global operations of the A330-200 and A330-300 have fallen by about 12% compared with September 2025, based on seven-day averages calculated by Cirium Ascend.

Gulf airlines have also faced restrictions on airspace use and changes in passenger flows since the war began.

“Middle East carriers are not flying the aircraft as much because of restrictions on the use of airspace there,” IBA head of consulting Dan Taylor said earlier this month.

Cirium Ascend data shows Qatar Airways’ seven-day average available seat kilometres, a standard measure of passenger capacity, was 10% below the level recorded a year earlier in September. Emirates also recorded a 10% decline, while global industry capacity remained broadly unchanged.

Qatar Airways was operating 12% fewer flights than a year earlier and using 4% fewer aircraft on average, according to Cirium. The company remains on course to resume capacity and network expansion by 2027.

Qatar continues to invest in newer aircraft

Despite weaker short-term demand, Qatar Airways expects growth to return as regional disruptions ease. The airline also plans to begin recruiting pilots for its newer aircraft.

More than a dozen employees are being seconded to RwandAir, allowing pilots qualified on the A330 to continue flying. Such arrangements are sometimes used by airlines with international partnerships.

RwandAir, which has a codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways, did not respond to a request for comment. In August, the airline said on X that it had received the first of five A330 aircraft it expects to receive.

Qatar Airways continues to take delivery of new aircraft despite the current challenges. Company data shows it has received two large wide-body aircraft from Airbus and two from Boeing this year.

The airline plans six aircraft exits and 19 new aircraft deliveries between September 2026 and the end of 2027.

Looking further ahead, Qatar Airways has 410 aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing as part of its long-term expansion plans into the 2030s. The order book includes 160 aircraft announced during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar in May last year.

Source: Reuters News

Lufthansa expects its additional jet fuel costs this year to exceed the €1.5 billion burden it previously forecast, as the Iran war contributes to higher oil prices, Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said.

Speaking to journalists at an event in Frankfurt on Monday, Spohr said the final additional fuel expense expected to be reported at the end of the year would be higher than the €1.5 billion estimate announced in August. He did not provide a revised figure.

The warning makes Lufthansa the latest major airline to highlight the impact of elevated jet fuel prices. Fuel typically accounts for around 30% to 40% of airline operating costs, with carriers including Ryanair also reporting pressure from higher expenses.

Lufthansa said in August that it expected total fuel costs of €8.66 billion for 2026, including the additional €1.5 billion burden. That estimate was below its earlier forecast of €8.9 billion, although the airline warned that higher costs could weigh on profits.

The German airline has reduced some exposure to fuel-price fluctuations through extensive hedging. Lufthansa Chief Financial Officer Till Streichert said in August that the group had hedged 86% of its expected 2026 fuel requirements and slightly more than 50% for 2027.

Despite the expected increase in fuel expenses, Spohr maintained Lufthansa's forecast for an operating profit of between €1.7 billion and €2.2 billion, compared with €2.0 billion in the previous year.

He said the group's wider turnaround plan had also faced pressure from rising industry costs. The programme targets an operating margin of 8% to 10% between 2028 and 2030.

Spohr said Lufthansa's financial performance had not yet reached its targeted level this year amid the fuel-related challenges affecting airlines across the sector.

At the same time, he pointed to strong demand for the group's premium economy and business-class cabins. The trend is consistent with increased premium-cabin bookings recently reported by competitors Air France-KLM and British Airways parent IAG.

Source: Reuters

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged regulators to accelerate the certification of new aircraft from Boeing and other manufacturers, citing growing competition from China.

Speaking at an event in Washington on Wednesday, Duffy said lengthy certification procedures were slowing the introduction of new aviation technology. He stressed that safety must remain a priority while asking whether the approval process could be made more efficient.

Certification of a new aircraft can take five years or longer and typically involves extensive testing, data collection and documentation. In June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed changes aimed at modernizing and shortening the certification process for new commercial aircraft.

Duffy later told reporters that the United States risked falling behind China if certification could not be carried out more quickly. He also warned that lengthy approval timelines could discourage private investment in aviation innovation, as investors may be reluctant to commit capital when regulatory approval could take a decade.

Faster certification could benefit major aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier.

Boeing's 737 MAX 7 took more than eight years to receive certification before gaining approval in August. Meanwhile, certification of the company's 777X remains more than five years behind its original schedule.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has also advocated changes to the certification system. Earlier this year, he said the agency was working with industry on several projects aimed at streamlining the process.

Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told Reuters in 2024 that the agency was examining how improved technology could help make certification more efficient.

Reuters first reported in September on planned FAA changes that would reduce the number of exemptions, special conditions and equivalent-level-of-safety findings required during aircraft certification.

Duffy also called for greater competition in the commercial space sector, saying the industry needs more participants and a more dynamic market. He added that the US government is seeking to accelerate processes in the space sector to encourage faster innovation.

Source: Reuters

Air Algerie has started direct flights between Doha and Algiers, adding a new connection between Qatar and Algeria and expanding Hamad International Airport’s network.

Hamad International Airport (HIA) announced the arrival of Algeria’s national carrier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of its new nonstop service between the two capitals.

The route gives travelers another direct option between Qatar and Algeria while strengthening Doha’s connectivity with North Africa.

Following Air Algerie’s addition, HIA now serves 37 airline partners, including Qatar Airways, connecting Doha to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

Source: The Peninsula

Jazeera Airways has delayed the planned restart of transfer and transit passenger services through Terminal 5 (T5) at Kuwait International Airport until further notice.

The decision follows a request from the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to postpone the resumption of such operations.

The airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans could be affected by the delay. Eligible customers will be able to receive a full refund or change their travel date without paying an additional fee.

Jazeera Airways said airlines at major aviation hubs across the Gulf and wider region have gradually restored transfer and transit operations since March 2026.

The airline said restarting these services through Kuwait would give passengers more travel options, support the markets it serves and enhance Kuwait’s regional and international air connectivity.

Jazeera Airways acknowledged that restoring transfer and transit operations requires coordination with the KCAA and adequate operational readiness.

The carrier said it remains in close contact with the authority and will continue supporting preparations for the eventual resumption of services through T5.

Jazeera Airways also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kuwait’s aviation sector and expanding connectivity through the country.

Further information on when transfer and transit services will resume will be announced at a later date.

Source: TradeArabia

Thai Airways is reducing its scheduled services from Bangkok as heavy rain and flooding continue to disrupt operations, with the airline planning to cut about 30 flights on Tuesday, September 29.

Chief Executive Chai Eamsiri said the cancellations represent around 30% of the airline’s planned departures from Bangkok. He added that the reduction in services is expected to continue for at least three days.

Eamsiri said almost all Thai Airways flights had been delayed over the previous two days, with fewer than 3% operating on schedule as the airline struggled to maintain normal operational capacity.

Thai Airways also announced several cancellations involving flights to and from Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among the affected services are TG407 from Bangkok to Singapore and TG408 from Singapore to Bangkok.

Flights involving New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt, Munich and Brussels are also affected by the disruptions.

The Thai government said floodwater in Bangkok could recede within three days if there is no additional rainfall. The capital received around 320 millimetres of rain over two to three days last week, nearly matching the amount of rainfall the low-lying city typically records throughout September.

Source: QCAA