The home of market intelligence for
the aviation and travel industry.

Vertical Aerospace completed (16-Apr-2026) a two-way piloted transition flight with its eVTOL aircraft on 14-Apr-2026, involving switching from vertical flight to wingborne cruise and back to a vertical landing. Vertical stated it is "the second company globally to complete a two-way piloted transition flight in a full scale tiltrotor eVTOL and the first to do so under civil aviation Design Organisation Approval regulatory oversight". Vertical is targeting certification of its Valo aircraft in 2028 and entry into service "shortly thereafter". The aircraft is expected to be used on routes such as London Heathrow-Canary Wharf and New York JFK-Manhattan. The company's partners include American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow Group, GOL and Japan Airlines. [more - original PR]

Lufthansa Group announced (16-Apr-2026) plans to accelerate the implementation of its restructuring programme in response to increased kerosene costs and additional burdens from labour disputes. The initial restructuring package includes the following measures:

• Permanent removal of Lufthansa CityLine's 27 operational aircraft from the flight programme, effective 18-Apr-2026;
• Retirement of the last four A340-600s and grounding of two Boeing 747-400s from Oct-2026;
• Reduction of five additional aircraft from Lufthansa's short and medium haul operations during winter 2026/27;
• Accelerated allocation of nine additional A350-900s to Discover Airlines;
• Targeted administrative cost savings. [more - original PR] [more - Aviation Week]

Fiji Airways, via its official website, confirmed (16-Apr-2026) the following schedule adjustments from Nadi in response to "substantially higher fuel prices and the current geopolitical environment":

• Brisbane: One weekly frequency will be temporarily suspended from 25-Apr-2026. A daily service will continue to operate;
• Dallas Fort Worth: One weekly frequency will be suspended from 05-May-2026 to 16-Jun-2026. A twice weekly service will continue to operate.

Fiji Airways, via its official website, advised (15-Apr-2026) passengers travelling to and from Funafuti that the Government of Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency due to critical fuel shortages arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict. As a result, Fiji Airways services are required to operate with return fuel being carried on the outbound sector and flights cannot operate at full seating capacity. The arrangement may also result in baggage restrictions, cargo limitations or potential offloads of baggage or cargo to accommodate fuel requirements and ensure safe operations.

VietJet Air signed (16-Apr-2026) a lease agreement with SPDB Financial Leasing for 10 COMAC C909 aircraft. The aircraft are expected to be deployed on routes between Vietnam and China. VietJet has been operating two C909s since Apr-2025 on services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, under a wet lease agreement with Chengdu Airlines. [more - Aviation Week]

Adelaide Airport welcomed (16-Apr-2026) the introduction of A330-900neo equipment on Kuala Lumpur-Adelaide service by Malaysia Airlines. The aircraft change follows a frequency adjustment from five times weekly to daily in Feb-2026. Airport executive GM people, culture and customer Dermot O'Neill stated: "Today's new aircraft launch reinforces Malaysia Airlines longstanding commitment to our market". Mr O'Neill added: "In addition to business and leisure traffic, we know this service is popular with international students flying from Malaysia and further afield including India, China, Nepal and Vietnam to study in Adelaide. Being a widebody jet it also creates greater export opportunities for our local producers". [more - original PR]