By Garth Calitz As widespread protests gripping Iran entered their third week, several major international airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to and from the Islamic Republic, citing safety concerns, operational challenges and a deteriorating civil situation. The disruptions have affected routes linking Tehran and other Iranian cities with hubs across the Middle East and beyond, leaving travellers facing uncertainty and airlines on alert. The cancellations began lat

By Garth Calitz On 6 January 2026, the aviation industry takes a moment to recognise a significant milestone. Exactly a century earlier, in the chilly winter atmosphere of Berlin, a merger occurred that would permanently change the course of global commerce and travel. The joining of Deutsche Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr led to the creation of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Today, a hundred years after those groundbreaking times, Lufthansa marks its centenary not just as an airli

At the end of 2025, the midsize business jet market saw a major new addition with the official entry into service of the Cessna Citation Ascend, delivered to its first retail customer on 30 December. This milestone represents the completion of a program announced in 2023 and demonstrates Textron Aviation's commitment to enhancing performance, technology, and cabin experience in one of the most competitive sectors of business aviation. The Citation Ascend received type certifi

By Garth Calitz Urban transportation transformed on December 19, 2025. At Embraer’s famous flight test facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, a quiet revolution unfolded in the air. Eve Air Mobility embarked on the flight-test phase of its mission, achieving the first hover flight of its full-scale, uncrewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype. For an industry that has long vowed to turn "The Jetsons" from fiction into reality, this milestone signifies mo

Turkish Airlines, Türkiye's national flag carrier, and South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of South Africa, have made a major advancement in enhancing aviation cooperation between the two nations by signing a new codeshare agreement. This partnership was officially established on 4 December 2025 at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, coinciding with the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting. Senior executives from both airlines attended to formalise t

Only a few months after entering service, the newly certified, ultralong-range Gulfstream G800 has established itself as a top-tier speed machine, securing its eighth city-pair speed record en route to the Dubai Airshow 2025. This recent achievement highlights the aircraft's remarkable capabilities, efficiency, and range, reinforcing Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.'s leadership in the high-speed, long-distance business jet market. On November 17, 2025, the eighth record was achiev

By Garth Calitz Airbus' A320 series, a key player in short- to medium-haul flights globally, gained significant attention in late November when the manufacturer, along with international regulators, released an urgent Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandating a compulsory software update. This directive was prompted by an incident in which an A320 experienced an uncommanded altitude change due to a rare flight-control data corruption event. Although there were no injuries, a tho

Uganda Airlines has further enhanced continental connectivity by establishing a new interline agreement with Airlink, a top privately owned regional airline in Southern Africa. Announced on 24 November 2025, this partnership offers travellers throughout East and Southern Africa a more seamless and integrated travel experience by connecting Uganda Airlines’ hub in Entebbe with Airlink’s extensive network through Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). For both a

This week represented a significant milestone in the global commercial aviation industry as the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) made its inaugural appearance at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Starting on November 17th at Al Maktoum International Airport, the event marked the Middle Eastern debut of China's domestically developed narrow-body airliner, the C919, along with its regional jet variant, the C909 business jet. COMAC's participation in the renowned air

By Garth Calitz The long-anticipated MOSAIC regulation package from the FAA, which stands for Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Certification, represents the most substantial update to American light aviation regulations in 20 years. Supported by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), MOSAIC significantly broadens the capabilities of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA), revises Sport Pilot privileges and establishes a contemporary, more adaptable certification framework for