An annual CAPA Membership provides a front row seat to global aviation news, analysis and data as it happens, with access to a comprehensive suite of tools that can be customised to your needs. Join aviation and travel industry leaders around the world who leverage our insights to identify new opportunities and improve their business.
CAPA’s Aviation Analyst delivers weekly aviation News and Analysis, produced by CAPA’s industry leading analysts based in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. This weekly e-newsletter covers crucial industry updates and issues as well as detailed analysis of key trends and data.
The CAPA Data Centre is the hub for all CAPA data, including traffic, financials and other performance data for companies within the aviation and travel industry.
IndiGo announced (10-Mar-2026) CEO Pieter Elbers "will be stepping down", effective immediately. The LCC confirmed MD Rahul Bhatia "shall in the interim assume management of the affairs of the airline until such time that the company announces the arrival of a new leader, which is expected in short order". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
IndiGo made several senior leadership changes in the past two years, including appointing Isidro Porqueras as COO from 01-Nov-2024, replacing Wolfgang Prock-Schauer ahead of his retirement1. It also appointed Vikram Singh Mehta as chairman, replacing Venkataramani Sumantran2. Under Pieter Elbers, IndiGo emphasised “further internationalisation”, with international ASKs at around 28% and international destinations rising to 403.
Boeing recorded 107 gross orders in Jan-2026, including 50 737 MAXs for Aviation Capital Group and 30 787-10s for Delta Air Lines, and delivered 45 aircraft.1 In Nov-2025 it booked 149 gross orders, led by Emirates’ 65 777Xs, and delivered 42 aircraft.2 Airbus reported 28 gross orders and 35 deliveries in Feb-2026, including 25 A320neo-family orders from Air Astana.3
Airbus’ Jan-2026 activity comprised 49 gross orders and 19 deliveries, including large A320neo-family commitments from Spring Airlines and IAG, plus an A330-900 for Air Algérie.1 Deliveries in Jan-2026 included A220-300s to Air Canada, Air France and Breeze Airways, and multiple A321neos to United Airlines and Wizz Air.1
AirAsia MOVE’s flights segment grew in 4Q2025, with flight transactions (ex-B2B) up 12% quarter-on-quarter and gross booking value up 28%, supported by higher average spend and ancillary attach rates it said were 23% above peer OTAs.1 AirAsia MOVE also broadened airline content, adding partners including Air Arabia, Ethiopian Airlines, VietJet Air, Garuda Indonesia and IndiGo, taking direct airline partnerships to more than 70.231
Lufthansa Group, via its official website, announced (Mar-2026) its airlines will extend the suspension of services to the following Middle East destinations:
Gulf Air and Bahrain International Airport, via their respective official websites and Twitter accounts, announced (05-Mar-2026) "Flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Bahrain's airspace, as mandated by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority". The airline reported "it successfully repatriated over 400 transit passengers affected by recent regional developments and the temporary closure of airspace in several countries in the region". Gulf Air "continues to monitor developments closely and will resume normal operations once airspace conditions permit". [more - original PR]
UAEGeneral Authority of Civil Aviation: "Regional contingency plans have been activated in coordination with GCC Member States and ICAO, in line with established crisis response frameworks. Current operational capacity: Up to 48 flights per hour through designated emergency routes, with the ability to increase gradually in line with safety assessments";
Emirates Airline: "All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 23:59 UAE time on [04-Mar-2026], due to airspace closures across the region. Emirates continues to operate a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on" 03/04-Mar-2026;
Etihad Airways: "All Etihad Airways' scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on" 05-Mar-2026. "Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals";
Air Arabia: "Flights to and from the UAE are temporarily suspended until 15:00 UAE time on" 04-Mon-2026. Flights to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq are suspended until 05-Mar-2026;
Dubai Airports: "We urge you not to come to the airport unless your airline has contacted you with a confirmed departure time";