By Garth Calitz Air Botswana, Botswana’s national flag carrier, is facing a growing operational challenge as two of its Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets remain grounded in Namibia, despite earlier expectations that they would return to service by July 2026. Their continued absence has contributed to schedule reductions and the cancellation of routes including Gaborone–Windhoek and Maun–Windhoek. The situation highlights a familiar problem in African regional aviation: owning or

The arrival of electric air taxis in the United Kingdom has moved another step closer to reality, with Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic signing a definitive multi-year agreement to develop and launch commercial electric air taxi services across the UK. Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow on 22 July 2026, the agreement turns a partnership first announced in 2025 into a binding commercial framework and establishes Virgin Atlantic as Joby’s exclusive airline part

Brazilian approval clears the way for deliveries of Cirrus Aircraft’s latest-generation Vision Jet, bringing greater cabin capacity, enhanced avionics and additional safety and convenience features to the South American market. Cirrus Aircraft has secured an important regulatory milestone for its latest-generation Vision Jet, with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) granting type certification for the G3 Vision Jet. The approval, announced on 6 August 2026, clears

Alaska Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th Boeing 737 MAX, marking an important step in the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal and expansion programme. The milestone comes as the carrier prepares for further growth in both its domestic network and international operations, supported by an expanding fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 787 Dreamliners. The latest delivery took place in Seattle, Washington, where Alaska Airlines employees joined Boeing personnel to mark the a

By Garth Calitz If South African aviation had a frequent flyer programme for regulatory amendments, many aircraft owners would already qualify for lifetime platinum status. After months of uncertainty, countless meetings, legal opinions, media statements and enough paperwork to keep several forests in business, there finally appears to be a glimmer of light at the end of the regulatory tunnel. Whether that light is the sun, an approaching train, or simply another committee me

By Rob Russell I remember writing an article, albeit in November 2018, talking of the consequences of there only being one runway available at Cape Town. Should it become blocked, there would be diversions all over the country. And passengers stranded at Cape Town that could not fly out. Read it here Well, it happened on a grey, misty and overcast day, Tuesday the 4th August 2026 to be precise An international operator due to land mid-morning on a scheduled flight had to dive

Kumba Iron Ore's privately operated Sishen Airport has received the prestigious Gold Aviation Safety Award, recognising its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of operational safety. The award followed the airport's annual compliance audit conducted by aviation safety specialists Liston and Associates, which assessed the facility against the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The achievement is particularly noteworthy as the audit r

The first factory-produced aircraft delivered under the United States Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) regulations signifies a major advancement for recreational aviation. The handover of a Van's Aircraft RV-12 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 illustrates the transition of this long-anticipated regulatory change from policy to practical implementation. The aircraft was officially delivered during EAA AirVe

Airbus has taken another major step towards making the world's longest commercial flights a reality, completing an extraordinary development flight campaign with its new A350-1000 Ultra Long Range (ULR) aircraft. The milestone saw the aircraft fly non-stop between Toulouse, France, and Melbourne, Australia, before returning to Europe via an even longer route, providing engineers with invaluable data ahead of the aircraft's entry into service. The aircraft at the centre of the

One of the world's leading aircraft lessors has reinforced its confidence in the future of single-aisle aviation with a major commitment to Boeing. At the Farnborough International Airshow, SMBC Aviation Capital announced an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 60 737-10s and 40 737-8s, marking one of the largest commercial announcements of the event. The agreement is particularly significant as it represents SMBC Aviation Capital's first-ever order for the Boein