By Garth Calitz As fuel prices surge across global markets, airlines have once again turned to a familiar mechanism: the fuel levy. For passengers, the reappearance of these surcharges often feels like an unwelcome addition to already expensive tickets. But are these levies genuinely necessary, or are they a convenient way for airlines to quietly boost revenue? The answer, as is often the case in aviation, lies somewhere in between. Jet fuel remains one of the most volatile a

TAAG Angola Airlines has taken delivery of its sixth Airbus A220-300, marking another important milestone in the carrier’s ongoing fleet modernisation programme and underlining its ambition to reposition itself as a competitive force in African aviation. The arrival of the new aircraft forms part of a broader strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency, expanding regional connectivity, and enhancing the passenger experience. As TAAG continues to transition away from ol

More than a decade after one of aviation’s greatest mysteries unfolded, the latest deep-sea search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has concluded without success. Despite sophisticated underwater technology and renewed determination, the wreckage of the aircraft and definitive answers for the families of the 239 people on board remain elusive. Flight MH370, operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, disappeared on 8 March 2014 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. C

By Garth Calitz A significant labour development is unfolding in South Africa’s aviation sector, as the government considers whether pilots, cabin crew, and certain aviation personnel should be designated as “essential services” under national labour legislation, a move that could fundamentally reshape industrial relations in the industry. At the centre of the process is the Essential Services Committee (ESC), a statutory body established under the Labour Relations Act. The c

India’s ambitions to build a homegrown regional aviation manufacturing ecosystem took a tangible step forward this week as Adani Defence & Aerospace and Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer exchanged an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore establishing a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the Embraer E175 regional jet in India. The agreement was formalised in the presence of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and India’s Minister of Commerce & Indus

By Garth Calitz South Africa’s airline landscape could be heading for another significant shake-up following reports that infrastructure investment firm Harith General Partners has signed a purchase order to acquire a controlling stake in low-cost carrier FlySafair. While the transaction still faces regulatory approvals and finalisation, the prospect of a new ownership structure at one of the country’s most consistently profitable airlines has sparked both optimism and unease

EGYPTAIR has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s long-haul fleet modernisation programme and positioning the carrier as the launch operator of the type in North Africa. The handover, completed in Toulouse on 9 February 2026, is the first step in a broader acquisition plan that will see EGYPTAIR introduce 16 A350-900s into service over the coming years. The new aircraft is expected to play a central role in reshaping th

Air Canada has quietly turned last year’s “undisclosed” widebody order into a very visible statement of intent, confirming a firm purchase for eight Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. While eight aeroplanes may sound modest in an industry accustomed to headline-grabbing mega-orders, the choice of variant speaks volumes about where Canada’s flag carrier sees its long-haul future heading. The A350-1000 represents the largest and longest-legged member of Airbus’ A350 family, designed to

By Garth Calitz South African Airways (SAA) has delivered a headline that would have seemed improbable just a few years ago: the national carrier claims to be profitable for a second consecutive year. At its Annual General Meeting in Johannesburg, the SAA Group announced a net profit of R155 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, with the airline itself contributing R30 million. For an airline long associated with turbulence of the financial rather than aerodynamic kind, t

By Garth Calitz In the aviation world, landing gear might not win beauty contests, but it is absolutely crucial to the safe operation of any aircraft, as they all have to land at some point and return safely to the sky. With that in mind, Boeing has been placing a renewed emphasis on its Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) programme, helping airlines keep their fleets flying and maintenance headaches on the runway. Landing gear is “boring but essential,” which makes Boeing’s exchange