East African Airways was the jointly owned flag carrier of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania during the era of the East African Community. The airline was founded in 1946 under British colonial administration as East African Airways Corporation and later evolved into one of Africa’s most respected international carriers during the jet age.

Initially operating smaller piston aircraft and regional routes across East Africa, the carrier expanded significantly during the 1960s and 1970s with turboprops and jet aircraft including the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 707, Super VC10, and Fokker F27. Nairobi (NBO) became the airline’s principal hub, with international services reaching Europe, the Middle East, India, and other African destinations. East African Airways became particularly well known for its elegant yellow, green, red, and black cheatline livery and its small but iconic fleet of Vickers Super VC10s.

Despite its operational reputation, the airline became entangled in growing political and economic tensions between the three partner states. Disputes over funding, route rights, asset ownership, and governance intensified after Idi Amin’s rise to power in Uganda and worsening regional relations during the 1970s. The collapse of the original East African Community in 1977 effectively doomed the carrier. East African Airways ceased operations in 1977, and its assets were divided among the successor national airlines, primarily Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, and Uganda Airlines.

Today, East African Airways remains highly regarded among aviation historians and enthusiasts for its distinctive branding, ambitious long-haul operations, and role as one of post-colonial Africa’s most prominent multinational airlines.

My late father, who passed his love of aviation on to me, often said the VC10 was his favorite aircraft to fly on. This image is included in recognition of his birthday.

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🇳🇬 5N-CGD, a Boeing 737-8BK(WL), was delivered to Air Peace (P4) on May 23.

🇸🇬 9V-MBW, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Singapore Airlines (SQ) on May 23.

🇨🇳 B-32R7, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to China Eastern Airlines (MU) on May 27.

🇸🇦 HZ-ASBA, an Airbus A321-253NY XLR, was delivered to Saudia (SV) on May 24.

🇯🇴 JY-RAQ, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to Royal Jordanian (RJ) on May 25.

🇱🇹 LY-TEN, an Airbus A320-214, was delivered to GetJet Airlines (GW) on May 25.

🇩🇰 OY-FSG, a Saab 2000, was delivered to Skåne Aviation (S6) on May 25.

🇦🇺 VH-8VD, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Virgin Australia (VA) on May 26.

🇦🇺 VH-X4L, an Airbus A220-300 (BD-500-1A11), was delivered to QantasLink (QF) on May 22.

❌ No recent retirements to report.

The Trump Administration has proposed that all federal employees be mandated to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA). This would of course apply to employees of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), among other agencies.

Houston Intercontinental (IAH) has become one of only three U.S. airports designated to conduct enhanced Ebola screening for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan amid an ongoing outbreak in Central Africa. Beginning May 27, passengers who have been in those countries within the previous 21 days must enter through Houston, Atlanta (ATL), or Washington Dulles (IAD), where they will undergo temperature checks, symptom questionnaires, and additional evaluation if necessary. Travelers without symptoms will receive health monitoring instructions and have their contact information forwarded to public health authorities for follow-up. The measures were implemented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CBP, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a precautionary effort to prevent the virus from entering the United States.

Did You Know? During the 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the United States used five airports for enhanced Ebola screening.

The FAA has proposed a $165,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines (AS) for allegedly allowing intoxicated passengers to board flights. FAA regulations prohibit airlines from allowing anyone who appears to be intoxicated to board an aircraft. The alleged incidents occurred on 11 flights between February 2024 and February 2025. Alaska Airlines has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.   

UPDATE: DHS is reportedly developing contingency plans that could suspend or reduce CBP processing at airports located in so-called “sanctuary cities,” a move that would have far-reaching implications for the U.S. aviation industry. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has publicly acknowledged discussing the concept with industry stakeholders, signaling that the proposal has advanced beyond political rhetoric into at least the preliminary planning stage. While no formal policy has been announced, the concept would affect some of the nation’s largest international gateways, including airports serving New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and other major markets.

Should such a policy ever be implemented, the consequences for airlines, airports, tourism, cargo operators, and local economies would be substantial. International arrivals depend on CBP staffing and inspection facilities, meaning a reduction or withdrawal of those services could effectively curtail international flights at affected airports. Industry groups have warned that alternative airports lack the infrastructure and capacity to absorb displaced traffic, potentially creating widespread disruption across the national air transportation system. For now, the proposal remains under discussion and would almost certainly face legal and political challenges before any implementation could occur.

The airports potentially affected by the proposal collectively handle well over 100 million international passengers annually, making them some of the most important gateways for inbound tourism, business travel, and international trade in the United States.

Thai Lion Air (SL) has significantly reduced its international flying schedule for June and July 2026, with the carrier cutting at least 52 percent of its international departures from Thailand in June and 42 percent in July. The latest revisions, made during the last several days, primarily affect the peak summer travel period and represent a substantial reduction in planned international capacity as the airline continues to adjust its network and operating schedule.

Emirates has cut June flying by 14 percent compared to 2025; Qatar Airways (QR) has reduced its slate next month by 19 percent compared to last year.

A recent Cathay Pacific (CX) flight from Brisbane, Australia (BNE) to Hong Kong encountered severe turbulence approximately two hours before landing, injuring 10 people, including six cabin crew members and four passengers. The Airbus A350-900 operating flight CX156 experienced a sudden drop while meal service was underway, sending food carts, meals, and unsecured items flying through the cabin. Eight of the injured were transported to local hospitals after the aircraft landed safely in Hong Kong, though Cathay Pacific said all injuries were minor. Passengers described the event as feeling like a sudden free fall, with some unbelted travelers reportedly striking the cabin ceiling. The incident serves as another reminder of the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened whenever seated.

American Airlines (AA) has selected SpaceX’s Starlink as the provider for its next generation inflight connectivity platform, with installations planned on more than 500 narrow-body aircraft, including Airbus A321neo and A321XLR jets, beginning in the first quarter of 2027. The carrier says Starlink will provide significantly faster, lower-latency internet service than traditional satellite systems, supporting streaming, video conferencing, and other bandwidth-intensive applications. The move builds on American’s recent rollout of complimentary Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members and aligns the airline with a growing list of Starlink customers that includes Air France (AF), Alaska Airlines, Emirates (EK), Lufthansa (LH), Southwest Airlines (WN), and United Airlines (UA).

Did You Know? Starlink now operates a constellation of more than 10,410 low Earth orbit satellites, making it the largest satellite network ever deployed and one of the fastest-growing communications systems in history.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global airline demand reached a record high in March 2026, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increasing 3.3 percent year-over-year while industry capacity rose 5.3 percent. The worldwide load factor declined 1.6 percentage points to 80.7 percent as airlines added seats faster than demand growth, though international traffic remained particularly strong, rising 4.9 percent year-over-year. Latin American carriers led all regions with a 7.7 percent increase in international demand, followed by Asia-Pacific airlines at 9.9 percent growth, while North American airlines recorded a 0.1 percent decline in international traffic.

Denver (DEN) is moving forward with plans to build underground pedestrian walkways connecting Concourses A, B, and C, giving travelers an alternative to the airport’s automated train system. Airport officials said the project is being driven in part by reliability concerns, with the train system reportedly experiencing 131 service disruptions in 2025 alone. The new walkways would utilize portions of DEN’s existing underground tunnel network and are part of a broader expansion program designed to accommodate future passenger growth toward 100 million annual travelers. Airport leaders say the additional access option will improve resilience during train outages, reduce congestion, and provide passengers with a more reliable way to move between concourses.

Ryanair has become debt free for the first time since 1997, marking a significant milestone for Europe’s largest airline by passenger traffic. The carrier reported that it fully repaid the remaining €850 million of bonds that matured in May 2025, leaving the airline with no net debt on its balance sheet despite continuing an aggressive fleet expansion program centered on the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The achievement highlights Ryanair’s strong cash generation, disciplined cost structure, and resilience through industry disruptions ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to recent aircraft delivery delays. Management noted that the airline now holds several billion euros in cash while remaining well positioned to fund future growth, pursue opportunistic investments, and weather economic downturns. Becoming debt free is particularly notable given that most major global airlines continue to carry substantial debt loads accumulated during the pandemic and subsequent fleet renewal cycles.

Delta Air Lines (DL) CEO Ed Bastian says the carrier’s success has come from making consistent, timely decisions rather than pursuing sweeping strategic shifts. In a New York Times profile, Bastian highlighted Delta’s continued focus on premium travelers, operational reliability, airport lounge investments, and customer experience enhancements, arguing that airlines should continually refine their strategy rather than rely on major course corrections. The approach has helped Delta remain the most profitable U.S. airline while differentiating itself from competitors through a growing portfolio of premium products and services. Read the full article here, no paywall.

Here are the April 2026 passenger totals at airports across Finland. Monday’s issue will look at 50 airports in Türkiye.

Air China Cargo (CA) has expanded its commitment to the Airbus A350F freighter program by converting four previously held options into firm orders, increasing its total A350F order book from six to ten aircraft. The move reinforces the carrier’s long-term strategy to modernize its cargo fleet, optimize operating efficiency, and strengthen its long-haul freight network. Air China Cargo became the first mainland Chinese customer for the A350F when it placed its initial order in 2025, and the latest agreement confirms its intention to make the next-generation freighter a cornerstone of future growth. Deliveries are expected to extend into the early 2030s as the airline gradually introduces the fuel-efficient widebody freighters alongside its existing Boeing 777F, Boeing 747-400F, and Airbus A330 cargo fleet.

Cathay Pacific Cargo has exercised purchase rights for two additional Airbus A350F freighters, increasing its firm commitment from six aircraft to eight as the Hong Kong-based carrier continues to expand and modernize its cargo fleet. The additional aircraft will support long-term cargo growth and eventually complement Cathay’s existing Boeing 747 freighter operation. Cathay first ordered six A350Fs in 2023 and retains rights for additional aircraft beyond the eight now committed. With Cathay’s latest commitment, the Airbus A350F program has accumulated more than 100 firm orders from 14 customers worldwide, despite the aircraft not yet entering commercial service.