Latest News
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Turkish Airlines evacuated after a tyre flame ignited on landing in Kathmandu
Authorities said that a Turkish Airlines tyre caught fire after it landed in Kathmandu on Monday. The airport was closed for one hour. After the fire, all 277 passengers on the Airbus A330, including 11 crew members, were evacuated using the emergency exits. The fire started in the rear right tire of the aircraft. The plane was towed onto the taxiway after the fire was extinguished. "It is grounded," Bhul stated. Turkish Airlines reported that a smoke was detected in the landing gear as it towed and that technical inspections had been conducted. Initial assessments suggest that the smoke was caused by a malfunctioning hydraulic pipe," Yahya Ustun said, senior vice president of communications for the airline, on social media platform X. He added that an additional flight was planned to?return the passengers. (Reporting and writing by Gopal Sharma, Sakshi Dayal, Clarence Fernandez & Jamie Freed).
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British paratroopers drop hantavirus-suspected samples on Tristan da Cunha
British paratroopers dropped medics and supplies on Britain's remotest overseas territory, Tristan da Cunha. This was after a suspected case of hantavirus had been confirmed. Six paratroopers - and two military clinicians - from the 16 Air Assault Brigade jumped 'from a RAF A400M transport plane that flew 6,788km (4,218miles) from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Ascension Island. Then another 3,000km due south to Tristan da Cunha. On Saturday, oxygen and other medical supplies were dropped alongside the aircraft. A RAF Voyager refueled the A400M in mid-flight. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence stated that this was the first time UK military personnel have deployed medical 'personnel' to provide humanitarian assistance via parachute jump. Supplies were intended for a British passenger who, according to UK authorities, was on a cruise ship that docked in the island between April 13-15 and was affected by an outbreak of hantavirus. The WHO reported that the man had symptoms consistent with hantavirus and was stable in isolation. The Ministry of Defence said that oxygen supplies were at an all-time low on the island, and an airdrop of medical personnel with vital care was the only way to reach the patient before it was too late. Tristan da Cunha is home to around 200 people and lies halfway between South Africa, South America, and Africa. It's the most remote inhabited island in the world, located more than 2,400km away from its nearest inhabited neighbor, St Helena. The island is usually staffed by a two-person medical team to provide for its needs. It can only be reached by boat, as there is no airstrip. On May 7, a military plane delivered PCR tests to Ascension Island where a British man had debarked from the cruise ship before he was'medically evacuated' to South Africa. "The arrival of parachutists, medical personnel, and medical supplies has hopefully reassured Tristan da Cunha's people," said Brigadier Ed Cartwright. He is the Officer Commanding 16 Air Assault Brigade. (Reporting and editing by Aislinn laing)
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Ministry of Defense: South Korean ship hit by unidentified object in Strait of Hormuz on May 4, says
After a Friday inspection, the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the stern of a South Korean shipper's bulk carrier, HMM, was struck by an unidentified object while it was stranded on the Strait of Hormuz on May 4. Seoul reported an explosion and fire on the same vessel, the HMM Namu, in the strait while it was anchored near the United Arab Emirates. The incident did not cause any injuries. U.S. president Donald Trump stated at the time that an Iranian attack was responsible for the incident. Seoul investigated the incident and the vessel, which was damaged by fire on Monday, was towed into a port in Dubai. The ministry stated that it was unclear what the object was and that debris would be collected to analyze. Trump asked South Korea to join a U.S. led effort, currently suspended, dubbed "Project Freedom" to ensure shipping through the Strait after?the incident. The Iranian embassy in South Korea denied responsibility for this attack. The embassy did not respond immediately to a request made outside of normal working hours for comment on the object. A spokesperson for the HMM declined to comment on this statement. Reporting by Heejin KIM Editing by Bernadette BAUCH
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Swiss Air CEO says no immediate fuel shortage, eyes contingency plans
Swiss International Air Lines' CEO said in the NZZ on Saturday that the airline has enough jet fuel to last for the next six weeks. However, the company is exploring contingencies such as "tankering", amid industry warnings of fuel shortages linked to the Iran War. The newspaper Neue Zurcher Nachricht quoted SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger as saying that "the current forecasts of our suppliers, oil companies and refineries, are good." European airlines are warning of possible jet?fuel shortages in the coming weeks due to the U.S. - Iran conflict, which has caused energy prices to soar and curtailed'supply. "If there were to be a kerosene shortage, it would be first seen in Africa and?Asia. He told NZZ that he saw no evidence of this at the moment. The outlook is stable. However, Fehlinger stated that the airline, along with its parent company, Lufthansa Group were working on contingency planning, including "tankering," which involves filling up aircraft to capacity at a location where fuel supplies are plentiful, and then bringing additional fuel back to Zurich. Fehlinger said that such practices are currently prohibited by regulation, but there may be discussions with policymakers about reopening the possibility. He said that another option would be to strategically refuel at airports with good infrastructure along flight routes. For example, in Vienna, for flights from Europe to Asia. According to Fehlinger, the high oil prices will likely affect fares in time. SWISS has protected itself against recent fuel market volatility by hedging 80% of its kerosene requirements for the year. This will limit the immediate impact of increasing prices. He said that the airline had only seen a 20% rise in fuel costs.
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Tenerife welcomes a cruise ship affected by the hantavirus epidemic
The cruise ship that was hit by the deadly hantavirus epidemic arrived early on Sunday morning near Granadilla Port in Tenerife. The cruise ship will anchor near the Port of Granadilla in Tenerife for the evacuation and re-boarding of passengers. According to Spanish officials, the passengers will be tested to make sure they are asymptomatic by Spanish health authorities. They will then be transported on small boats to land. The passengers will be transported by sealed-off buses to the main airport of the Spanish island, which is about 10 minutes away. From there they will board their planes to fly to their respective countries. As a precaution, all passengers aboard the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius were deemed high-risk contacts by Europe's Public Health Agency late on Saturday. According to Spanish authorities, the evacuation will begin between 7:30 a.m. and?8.30 a.m. (06300-0700 GMT). Government officials announced on Saturday that Spanish nationals will disembark in groups first, followed by other nationalities. The ship will sail to Holland where it will be disinfected. Cape Verde's coast was the first port of call for the ship, which left on Wednesday to head towards Spain after World Health Organization and the European Union requested that the country?manage evacuation of passengers following the detection of the hantavirus. The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain's Interior and Health Ministers, and its Minister for Territorial?Policy, arrived in Tenerife on Saturday evening to coordinate the arrival of a ship. The WHO announced on Friday that 8 people were sick, three of whom died - a Dutch family and a German citizen. The WHO said that six of these people have been confirmed as having contracted the virus. Two other cases are suspected, it added. Hantavirus is usually transmitted by rodents, but can be transmitted from person to person in rare instances. WHO says the risk is low for the global population, but moderate for passengers and crew aboard the ship. Reporting by Corina Poons and Victoria Waldersee, Editing by Philippa Fletchcher
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Qatari LNG tanker sailing towards Hormuz Strait, shipping data shows
According to LSEG shipping information, the Qatari 'LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat sailed towards?the Strait?of?Hormuz after departing Qatar Ras Laffan enroute to Port Qasim Pakistan on?Saturday?. If the passage is successful, it will be the first time a Qatari LNG-tanker has transited the Strait since the beginning of the war against Iran. QatarEnergy has not yet responded to the?comment. According to LSEG, the vessel is managed by Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd, and sails?under Marshall Islands flag. It has a cargo capacity of 211,986 cu m. Sources at the time said that Iran's Revolutionary Guards stopped two Qatar LNG tanks, Al Daayen, and Rasheeda on April 6, and told them to remain in their positions without any explanation. Qatar is the second largest LNG exporter in the world, with most of its shipments going to Asian buyers. The 'Iranian attack' knocked down 17% of Qatar LNG export capacity. Repairs are expected to take three - five years. Reporting by Andrew Mills and Timour Azhari, Writing by Eman Aboushassira, Editing by Alexandra Hudson
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Airport says that a Frontier Jet hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway in Denver while taking off.
The airport released a statement on May 9, stating that a Frontier Airlines passenger plane struck and killed a pedestrian?on the runway?at Denver International Airport?during a planned takeoff to Los Angeles late Friday night. Frontier reported that it had struck a person during takeoff, and the flight was abandoned. The unidentified pedestrian had jumped over the perimeter fence and was struck just two minutes after crossing the runway. The?statement' said that the individual was not believed to be a member of staff at the airport. A brief engine fire caused smoke to fill the cabin of an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers, seven crew members and all were safely evacuated. The airport reported that 12 people had minor injuries, and five of them were taken to hospitals in the area. Frontier stated that it was investigating the incident, and gathering additional information in coordination with airport authorities and other safety?authorities. It said that the airport had closed the runway where the incident took place and expected to reopen it within a few hours. They also added that they had 'examined and found intact the fence line which the individual crossed. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transport secretary, said that local?law enforcers are investigating the occurrence with the support of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration. Reporting by Shivani Tana, Preetika Parshuraman and Gursimran K. in Bengaluru. Editing by Aidan Lewis & Toby Chopra.
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UK warships deployed to Middle East in anticipation of possible Hormuz missions
Britain announced on Saturday that it would be sending its warship HMS Dragon, to the Middle East to prepare for a possible multinational 'effort to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz once conditions permit. HMS Dragon was an air defence destroyer that was sent to Eastern Mediterranean in March shortly after the Iran War to defend Cyprus. The move to the Middle East comes after France deployed its carrier strike group in the southern Red Sea as part of a joint defensive plan to restore confidence in the trade routes. A spokesperson from the British Ministry of Defence stated that "the?prepositioning of HMS Dragon" is part of "prudent planning". This will ensure the UK's readiness to join a multinational coalition led by France and the UK, in order to secure the Strait when the conditions permit. France and Britain are preparing a plan to ensure a safe transit through the Strait when the U.S. and Iran reach a possible end of their 10-week-old war. Plan would require coordination with Iran, and?adozen countries have expressed a willingness to?take part. The Royal 'Navy is stretched and has to retire ships before they are replaced. (Reporting and editing by Alexandra Hudson.)
Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.
The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and re-evaluate their financial forecasts.
In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry where fuel can account for as much as a quarter or more of its operating costs.
Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue:
AEGEAN AIRLINES
The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as a spike in fuel costs will have a "notable" impact on its first quarter results.
AIRASIA X
Malaysian Airlines executives announced that the company has cut 10% of its flights in the group and imposed a fuel surcharge of around 20%.
AIR CANADA
The Canadian largest airline plans to reduce four of its daily flights to New York due to rising fuel prices. The four flights will be cut from June 1, 2026 to October 25, 2020.
AIR FRANCE-KLM
The airline group announced that it would increase the price of long-haul tickets to offset rising fuel costs. Cabin fares will rise by 58 euros (50 euros) for a round trip.
KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of the group, announced on April 16 that it would cancel 160 flights across Europe in the next month due to increasing fuel prices.
AIR INDIA
The Indian airline said that it will change its fuel surcharge system from a flat surcharge for domestic flights to one based on distance. The Indian carrier said that surcharges for international routes do not compensate the steep rise in fuel costs.
AIR NEW ZEALAND
On April 7, the airline announced that it would cut flights in May and June, and raise fares. It was one of the first airlines to announce a large increase in ticket prices after the conflict erupted. The airline also suspended its earnings forecast for the full year due to volatility in the fuel markets.
AKASA AIR
Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be introducing fuel surcharges ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14) for domestic and international flights.
ALASKA AIR
The sharp increase in jet fuel prices has put pressure on the carrier's margins.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
The U.S. carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked baggage by $10 for each of the first two bags, and $150 for the third bag on short-haul domestic flights and international flights. The airline also reduced certain benefits for economy passengers.
ASIANA AIRLINES
Newsis reported that the South Korean airline would cut 22 flights from April to July because of fuel price increases.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Two sources who are directly involved in the matter have confirmed that the Hong Kong airline group aims to raise HK$2billion ($255m) via a fixed rate Hong Kong dollar bond with a single or double tranche, they said.
CEBU AIR
The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a "key concern" and will continue to review pricing and network strategies for mitigation.
CHINA EASTERN EXPRESS AIRLINES
Air China said that it would increase fuel surcharges on domestic flights starting April 5. Flights of less than 800km will be charged a surcharge of 60 yuan, and flights above 800km will be charged a surcharge 120 yuan.
DELTA AIR LINES
Delta announced that it would reduce capacity by 3.5 percent from its original plan, and increase?fees on checked bags to offset the rising costs of jet fuel. The increase will be $10 for first and second bags, and $50 for third bags.
The U.S. carrier pulled all planned growth in capacity for the current quarter, and forecast profits below Wall Street expectations.
EASYJET
EasyJet has warned that it will suffer a larger half-year loss before tax of between 540 and 560 millions pounds ($731 and $758) in March, including an extra 25 million pounds of fuel costs.
FRONTIER AÉRIENS
Fuel prices have increased dramatically since the airline's last forecast.
GREATER BAY Airlines
The Hong Kong-based firm said that it will increase fuel surcharges for most routes on April 1, but keep them the same on routes to mainland China and Japan.
HONG KONG Airlines
The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49).
British Airways' owner IAG stated in March that it does not intend to increase ticket price immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel for the short to medium term.
INDIGO
India's largest airline announced that it will introduce fuel charges for domestic and international flights starting March 14. The charge for flights into the Middle East is 900 rupees and for flights into Europe, 2,300 rupees.
JETBLUE AERWAYS
Joanna Geraghtz is the CEO of a low-cost airline based in the United States. She told her employees, via a memo, that she would not be considering bankruptcy this year despite the fact that rising jet fuel prices threaten the carrier's financial recovery. According to an SEC filing, the company has entered into a debt financing agreement worth $500 million.
KOREAN AIR
Sources with knowledge on the subject say that South Korean carriers will be forced to enter emergency mode in April due to rising fuel prices.
LUFTHANSA
The airline group announced that it would ground 27 aircraft servicing its CityLine short-haul subsidiary earlier than expected, citing high jet fuel costs and industrial action. Lufthansa also plans to withdraw four Airbus A340 600 long-haul planes at the end the summer, and will reduce its short- and medium-haul fleet by five aircraft during winter 2026/2027.
PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Fuel surcharges are cited as the reason for raising domestic flight prices by $20, and international flights by up to $100.
QANTAS AIRWAYS
Qantas, an Australian airline, said that it has?delayed its planned A$150-million ($106-million) buyback. It also increased the estimated fuel bill in 2026 for the second half to A$3.1-A$3.3 billion from A$2.5 billion.
Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1,00 flights in April due to high jet fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline had cancelled "a couple hundred" flights.
SPIRIT AIRLINES
Air Current reported that people familiar with the situation said the U.S. low cost carrier requested hundreds of millions in emergency funding from the Trump administration to offset the rising fuel prices and prevent a potential liquidation.
SPRING AIRLINES
Budget Chinese airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting April 5. Details will be revealed later.
SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWAST AIRLINES
The American carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked bags by $10 each for the first two bags. This will bring the cost to $45 and $55 respectively for the first bag.
The Portuguese airline claimed that its price increases would partially offset the impact of fuel prices changes on its revenues.
THAI AIRWAYS
The airline based in Thailand said that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% due to rising fuel prices.
TURKISH AIRLINES LUFTHANSA
SunExpress is a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. It announced that it would be imposing a temporary fuel charge of 10 euros per person on routes between Turkey, Europe and the Middle East, starting May 1. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1, for departures after May 1.
Turkish Airlines announced on April 10, that it would not be distributing any dividends from its net profit for 2025, instead choosing to keep earnings and preserve cash.
T'WAY AIR
As part of measures taken to combat the effects of war, the South Korean low-cost airline said that it would furlough cabin crew in May and/or June without pay.
UNITED AIRLINES
Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will?cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for oil prices remaining above $100 until 2027.
In an emailed statement, the airline said that it would also increase first and second checked baggage fees by $10 to customers traveling in North America, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America.
VIETJET
A potential fuel shortage has led to the Vietnamese budget airline reducing flight frequencies on certain routes.
VIETNAM Airlines
Vietnam's aviation authority announced that the carrier will?cancel 23 flights per week on domestic routes starting in April after it?requested assistance from the government to remove an environment tax on jet fuel.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Corneel K. Koster, CEO of the Financial Times, said that even though fuel surcharges will be added to airline fares this year, it is unlikely to achieve profitability.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
Virgin Australia has said that it expects an increase of jet fuel costs of between A$30 and A$40 million in the second half of the fiscal year. It also anticipates a 1% decrease in capacity for the fourth quarter.
VOLOTEA
The Spanish low cost airline has introduced a new pricing strategy that links ticket prices with fuel costs. This could add an additional surcharge after purchase of up to 16.50 euros per passenger per flight.
WESTJET
Globe and Mail reports that the Canadian airline has reduced seat capacity in June due to rising costs. Canadian Press reported that the carrier would add a C$60 fuel surcharge ($43) to certain bookings, and combine flights due to rising costs.
(source: Reuters)