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🇲🇹 9H-XLF, an Airbus A321-271NY XLR, was delivered to Wizz Air Malta (W4) on May 29.

🇹🇹 9Y-CUB, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Caribbean Airlines (BW) on May 28.

🇦🇪 A6-AQU, an Airbus A320-216(WL), was delivered to Air Arabia (G9) on May 27.

🇦🇪 A6-EBK, a Boeing 777-31HER(SF), was delivered to Emirates SkyCargo (EK) on May 28.

🇶🇦 A7-BIB, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Qatar Airways (QR) on May 29.

🇨🇳 B-228T, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to China Southern Airlines (CZ) on May 29.

🇨🇳 B-32Q3, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to Sichuan Airlines (3U) on May 29.

🇨🇳 B-32Q9, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Hainan Airlines (HU) on May 27.

🇨🇳 B-32QM, an Airbus A321-252neo, was delivered to Air China (CA) on May 27.

🇨🇳 B-32RE, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Xiamen Airlines (MF) on May 28.

🇨🇳 B-32RF, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Eastern Airlines (MU) on May 27.

🇨🇳 B-32RG, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Eastern Airlines on May 29.

🇨🇦 C-FKFO, a Bombardier DHC-8-314 Dash 8 300, was delivered to Voyageur Airways (VC) on May 28.

🇨🇦 C-GKZE, an Embraer E195-E2, was delivered to Porter Airlines Canada (PD) on May 29.

🇨🇦 C-GWSI, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to WestJet (WS) on May 27.

🇨🇦 C-GWSJ, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to WestJet on May 28.

🇲🇦 CN-RHQ, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Royal Air Maroc (AT) on May 29.

🇩🇪 D-ABQB, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Lufthansa (LH) on May 29.

🇪🇸 EC-OTA, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Air Europa Express (XG) on May 29.

🇮🇪 EI-SCI, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Scandinavian Airlines on May 29.

🇬🇧 G-SUNZ, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Jet2 on May 29.

🇬🇧 G-ZXIB, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to easyJet (U2) on May 27.

🇩🇴 HI1142, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Arajet (DM) on May 30.

🇵🇦 HP-9820CMP, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Copa Airlines (CM) on May 28.

🇸🇦 HZ-ASAQ, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Saudia on May 30.

🇺🇸 N14567, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to United Airlines on May 29.

🇺🇸 N244FE, a Boeing 767-300F, was delivered to FedEx Express (FX) on May 28. Final new build 767 for FedEx.

🇺🇸 N301NY, an Airbus A321-253NY XLR, was delivered to American Airlines on May 28.

🇺🇸 N3307J, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to JetBlue on May 28.

🇺🇸 N342KR, an Embraer ERJ-175LR, was delivered to Envoy Air (MQ) on May 28.

🇺🇸 N61106, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to United Airlines on May 30.

🇺🇸 N615DN, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines on May 28.

🇺🇸 N678FR, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Frontier Airlines (F9) on May 29.

🇺🇸 N845AK, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Alaska Airlines (AS) on May 29.

🇺🇸 N9002W, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines (WN) on May 27.

🇺🇸 N9008, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines on May 28.

🇺🇸 N9009U, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines on May 29.

🇳🇱 PH-YHF, an Airbus A321-252neo, was delivered to Transavia (HV) on May 29.

🇧🇷 PR-ANU, an Airbus A330-941, was delivered to Azul (AD) on May 29.

🇵🇭 RP-C3511, an Airbus A350-1041, was delivered to Philippine Airlines (PR) on May 28.

🇧🇩 S2-STD, an ATR 72-600 (72-212A), was delivered to Air Astra (2A) on May 29.

🇵🇱 SP-LYI, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines (LO) on May 27.

🇬🇷 SX-NAZ, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Aegean Airlines (A3) on May 27.

🇹🇷 TC-VFA, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AJet (VF) on May 29.

🇹🇷 TC-VFC, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AJet on May 27.

🇹🇷 TC-OHO, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AJet on May 28.

🇦🇺 VH-E2D, an Embraer E190-E2, was delivered to Virgin Australia (VA) on May 27.

🇦🇺 VH-E9A, an Embraer ERJ-190STD (ERJ-190-100), was delivered to QantasLink (QF) on May 27.

🇦🇺 VH-OLU, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Jetstar Airways (JQ) on May 30.

🇲🇽 XA-VXY, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Viva (VB) on May 30.

🇿🇦 ZS-CEA, a Bombardier CRJ-900ER, was delivered to Fly Gabon (GN) on May 28.

🇹🇭 HS-XTA, an Airbus A330-343 with Thai AirAsia X (XJ), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on May 30 to Caudé, Spain (CDT), where it was returned to its lessor.

🇮🇸 TF-FIK, a Boeing 757-256 with Icelandair (FI), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on May 29 to Marana, Arizona (MZJ), where it was returned to its lessor.

A passenger traveling through Manchester, England (MAN) last week caused major disruption after allegedly being denied boarding on a flight to Jamaica when airline staff determined he was intoxicated and had urinated on himself. According to reports, the man responded by climbing onto a bridge near Terminal 2 and staging a protest that forced authorities to close roads serving the terminal, disrupting airport traffic while police negotiated with him. Airport officials reportedly attempted to resolve the situation by offering a refund for his holiday before police ultimately arrested him and reopened access to the terminal.

A United Airlines Boeing 737-900 operating Flight 2005 from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) was forced to divert to Madison, Wisconsin (MSN) after an unruly passenger allegedly made multiple attempts to breach the cockpit. Crew members and law enforcement personnel onboard eventually restrained the individual, and the aircraft landed safely with 147 passengers and six crew members aboard. The passenger was removed by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, while the FBI launched an investigation into the incident. No injuries were reported, and the flight later continued to Minneapolis, arriving several hours behind schedule.

A customs officer at Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) has been suspended for four months while authorities investigate allegations that he extorted a foreign tourist by falsely claiming the traveler owed a $200 customs tax before being allowed to collect checked baggage. Prosecutors allege the luggage was actually exempt from duties and that the officer instructed the passenger to hand over the cash discreetly to avoid airport security cameras. The incident, which reportedly occurred on May 26, is being investigated by Costa Rica’s Office of the Prosecutor for Integrity, Transparency, and Anti-Corruption, with officials saying the suspension is intended to prevent interference with the ongoing inquiry.

Brussels, Belgium (BRU) announced plans to install next-generation CT carry-on baggage scanners and new body scanners beginning in 2028, a move that will allow passengers to keep laptops, tablets, and liquids inside their bags during security screening. The new technology will also raise the liquid limit from the current 100 milliliter restriction to containers of up to two liters, significantly streamlining the passenger experience while maintaining security standards. Installation work is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the first new screening lanes entering service in 2028 and the full modernization of Brussels’ departure screening checkpoints, including 19 new lanes, expected to be completed by summer 2029. Airport officials said the upgrade is designed to improve throughput and reduce checkpoint congestion while maintaining compliance with evolving European aviation security requirements.

Swiss International Air Lines (LX) has decided to permanently retire and dismantle two Airbus A220-100 aircraft, registrations HB-JBC and HB-JBD, rather than return them to service. The aircraft, which were among the original Bombardier CS100s delivered to Swiss in 2016, will be parted out to provide spare components for the airline’s remaining A220 fleet as it continues to grapple with ongoing Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engine shortages and maintenance issues. Swiss said engines removed from the smaller 125-seat A220-100s will help support operations of its larger, more efficient 145-seat A220-300 fleet. The carrier has already parked multiple A220-100s and plans to gradually remove additional aircraft from service for at least 18 months while it evaluates the long-term future of the subfleet.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global air passenger demand fell 3.4 percent year-over-year in April 2026, marking one of the first significant declines since the pandemic recovery. According to IATA, the downturn was driven almost entirely by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where airlines in the region experienced a staggering 46.6 percent collapse in passenger demand and a 37.2 percent reduction in capacity. Excluding the Middle East, global demand would have increased 1.2 percent, highlighting the extent to which the conflict distorted worldwide traffic figures. IATA also noted that jet fuel prices more than doubled during April, pushing airlines to reduce schedules and raise fares as they balance weaker demand with sharply higher operating costs. Middle East carriers accounted for nearly 9.5 percent of global passenger traffic before the conflict, meaning disruptions in the region have been significant enough to pull worldwide aviation demand into negative territory despite continued growth elsewhere.

A remarkable chapter in airline history is coming to an end as Delta Air Lines flight attendant Joan Prince Crandall prepares to retire after more than 66 years in the skies. Widely believed to be the longest-serving active flight attendant in commercial aviation, Crandall began her career in 1959 aboard 24-seat Douglas DC-3 aircraft with Pacific Airlines and remained in the industry through a series of mergers that ultimately brought her to Delta. During her career she witnessed aviation’s transformation from piston-powered propeller aircraft to modern jetliners, while also experiencing sweeping changes in employment practices that once forced flight attendants to retire at age 32 or leave the profession upon marriage. Based in Seattle, Crandall surpassed the longevity record previously held by the late Bette Nash and has become a symbol of dedication and professionalism across the industry. Her retirement marks the conclusion of a career that spanned nearly seven decades, eleven U.S. presidents, and some of the most significant changes in commercial aviation history.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Boeing’s request to increase 737 MAX production from 42 to 47 aircraft per month, marking another significant step in the manufacturer’s recovery following years of regulatory scrutiny and production restrictions. Boeing said the company has already begun ramping up toward the new rate and expects to reach sustained production of 47 aircraft per month within the next few months. The increase follows a successful FAA review of Boeing’s manufacturing and quality control processes, which were overhauled after the January 2024 Alaska Airlines door-plug blowout led regulators to impose strict production limits. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is comfortable with the increase and suggested additional production hikes could be considered later this year. Boeing ultimately aims to reach 52 737 MAX aircraft per month, supported by a fourth production line in Everett, Washington, as it works through a backlog of more than 4,800 unfilled MAX orders and seeks to improve deliveries, cash flow, and profitability.

Ryanair is deepening capacity cuts across Europe as disputes over airport fees, aviation taxes, and air traffic control charges continue to reshape its network. The carrier has announced reductions totaling millions of seats, including more than 800,000 seats and 24 routes in Germany, the closure of its seven-aircraft base in Berlin (BER), the closure of its three-aircraft base at Thessaloniki (SKG), and significant cuts in Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Belgium. Ryanair will also end service to the Azores, suspend winter operations at Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER), and remove more than 1 million seats from Brussels Charleroi (CRL). The airline says it is reallocating aircraft and capacity to lower-cost markets where airport charges and passenger taxes are lower, arguing that rising government levies and airport fees are making service at some European airports uneconomical.

Aspen, Colo. (ASE) will close for most of 2027 as part of one of the largest infrastructure projects in the airport’s history. The airport is expected to suspend all commercial and general aviation operations from approximately April through November 2027 while crews completely reconstruct and realign the runway to meet current FAA safety standards. The project will shift the runway westward, increase separation from the parallel taxiway, widen the runway, and address pavement that is well beyond its useful life. Construction of a new passenger terminal and FBO facilities will also begin during the closure, although commercial flights will continue using the existing terminal after the airport reopens until the new terminal is completed in 2029. During the shutdown, travelers will need to use alternative airports such as Eagle County (EGE), Grand Junction (GJT), Denver (DEN), or other regional gateways and then travel to Aspen by ground transportation. Airport officials say the closure is necessary to complete the work in a single construction season rather than extending disruptions over multiple years.

Spirit Airlines’ valuable portfolio of 22 takeoff and landing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), estimated to be worth nearly $87 million, is set to be auctioned as part of the carrier’s ongoing bankruptcy liquidation. The slots, which could support roughly a dozen daily roundtrip flights at one of the nation’s most constrained airports, are expected to attract strong interest from carriers including Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, American, and potentially Canada’s Porter. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has indicated a preference for the slots to remain with a low-cost carrier to preserve competition and consumer choice at LGA, warning that regulators may oppose further concentration among dominant incumbents. The winning bidder is expected to be selected through a court-supervised auction process scheduled for July.

Air Canada (AC) continues to lead Canada’s international market by a wide margin. From April through September 2026, the carrier is scheduled to offer an average of 274 international departures each day, representing about 37 percent of the country’s international capacity. That total is more than triple the international schedule planned by second-place WestJet.

Here is the most recent data ranking U.S. airlines for on-time arrivals, flight cancellations, and mishandled baggage.

Here are the April 2026 passenger totals at 50 airports across Türkiye.

Atlas Air Worldwide (5Y) has agreed to acquire a 49 percent minority stake in Iceland-based ACMI and aircraft management provider Air Atlanta (CC), creating a strategic partnership that expands Atlas’ global operating footprint and access to widebody aircraft capacity. As part of the transaction, Atlas subsidiary Titan Aviation Holdings will acquire the aircraft owned by the Air Atlanta group and lease them back to the airline. Air Atlanta operates a fleet of 14 widebody freighters, including Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft, along with four passenger Boeing 777s, and maintains operating platforms in both Iceland and Malta. Atlas said the deal strengthens its position in the constrained widebody freighter market while enhancing its ability to serve customers worldwide through a broader international ACMI network. Air Atlanta will continue operating under its current management team, which will retain a 51 percent controlling interest following completion of the transaction.

Global air cargo demand rebounded in April 2026, with IATA reporting a 5.8 percent year-over-year increase in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs) despite ongoing disruption across the Middle East. International cargo demand rose 6.5 percent, while industry capacity increased 6.3 percent. IATA said the recovery was driven by resilient global trade flows, growing demand for high-value shipments, and airlines rerouting freight around affected Gulf hubs. While Middle East carriers continued to face operational challenges from the regional conflict, strong performance in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa helped offset the impact. IATA noted that air cargo networks have demonstrated significant flexibility in adapting to geopolitical disruptions, although elevated fuel prices and supply chain uncertainty remain key concerns for the months ahead.

Did You Know? Air cargo accounts for less than one percent of global trade by volume but transports more than one-third of world trade by value, making it a critical component of global supply chains.