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• Farnborough Airshow: Boeing and Airbus battle it out as orders surpass 300

  As the Farnborough International Airshow nears its conclusion in the United Kingdom, airlines have revealed over 300 plane orders. Boeing has a slight advantage over European rival Airbus in the race for sealing deals, according to a tally. Here are some of the biggest deals, with 327 firm orders. This is slightly more than?the previous Farnborough airshow in 2024. The?tally falls short of the 800 orders that were expected, due to supply-chain issues and production bottlenecks. SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL Boeing and SMBC Aviation Capital have announced that they have ordered 100 737-MAX aircraft, 60 737-10 jets and 40 737-8. SMBC announced that it had placed a firm 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft order, including 65 A321neos and 35 A320neos, for delivery to begin in the first half of the decade. RIYADH AIR Saudi carrier exercised options on 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners placed in 2023. 20 of these aircraft were converted to the larger 787-10 version. The firm has also confirmed the purchase of six Airbus A350 1000 aircraft, bringing its total A350 1000 order book up to 31 aircraft. PHILIPPINE AERIALLINES Boeing has announced that it received a "new order" from Philippine Airlines for up to twenty 787-10 Dreamliner twin-engine widebody jets. The order is composed of 15 firm orders, and five options. The airline has also placed orders for nine Airbus A350s and secured purchase rights for another five. It expects to receive its first Airbus A350 in early 2030. AERCAP The leasing giant AeroCap has placed an order to deliver 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners between 2033 and 2033. FLYNAS Saudi Arabia's budget airline Flynas has confirmed an order for 25 more Airbus aircraft. Flynas has now committed to Airbus 235 aircraft. OTHER ORDERS: Uganda Airlines has announced that it has placed orders for four Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes and four Boeing 787 jets. Boeing and MSC Air Cargo have announced that MSC Air Cargo has ordered five 777-8 Freighters. IBA, an aviation intelligence and advisory firm, said that Luxair had ordered two Boeing 737-10s worth $124m, based upon estimated prices after discounts. Shohin Airlines, a Tajikistani carrier, has ordered four Airbus A320neo family aircraft. BermudAir, a startup airline, has ordered 10 Airbus A220 aircraft to expand its routes. BermudAir plans to order up to 20 A220 aircrafts by 2030. EMBRAER JETS Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer announced that Japan's Fuji Dream Airlines had placed a firm two-jet order for the?E175 regional jet. Embraer has already included the?order in its backlog. Abra, a South American airline group, also ordered Embraer 20 E2 aircraft. This was the first order Embraer received from this airline group. Embraer announced that Spanish regional carrier Binter has ordered five E2 aircraft from the Brazilian planemaker, increasing its fleet of Embraer's latest generation regional jets. ENGINE ORDERS British 'Airways has announced that it will be using Pratt & Whitney GTF engine for up to 63 incoming Airbus A320neo aircraft. Singapore-based BOC Aviation has placed its largest ever engine order of up to 300 CFM International engines to support the expansion of its Airbus and Boeing narrowbody fleet. IndiGo, India's largest carrier, signed a "memorandum-of-understanding" with CFM International for more than 1,000 LEAP-1A engine purchases. This would be a record for CFM International, who has been criticized by the industry over maintenance delays.

• Saudi Flynas orders 25 more Airbus jets

  Saudi Arabian budget airline Flynas confirmed a?order on Wednesday for 25 more Airbus aircraft, joining a wave by other airlines in the kingdom who are expanding their fleets to support Saudi Arabia’s tourism and economic diversification objectives. Flynas has now committed to a total of 235 Airbus aircraft. This order highlights Saudi Arabia as one the fastest growing markets in the aviation industry. The airline 'confirmed' orders for a further?five Airbus A330 900 widebody jets, and 20 A321neos. Flynas has increased its A321neo A330neo order to 56 jets and their A330neo A330neo commitment from 20 to the latest deal. The agreement comes after a series major Saudi aircraft purchase, including Riyadh Air’s order for '34 widebody 'aircraft from Airbus or Boeing. Flynas operates a fleet consisting of 67 Airbus aircraft. This includes two A330-300s and 61 A320neos. (Reporting and writing by Shivansh Tiwary. Editing by David Goodman, Matt Scuffham and Maria Rugamer)

• EasyJet's bids are threatened by EU review of airline ownership rules

  An EU official revealed that the European Union was preparing to review airline ownership rules in order to prevent foreign investors gaining control over carriers. This could complicate US bids for easyJet, a low-cost airline. Officials said that the EU review was not previously reported and would "protect strategic independence" in order to keep control of regional carriers within the EU. The announcement comes as two U.S. investment firms compete for control of the major European budget airline easyJet. This is expected to test the limits of EU rules which require 51% local ownership. The official, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said: "This is so that foreign investors do not have complete control." "We need to ensure that we have enough headroom in terms of control." EasyJet backed an offer of PS5.7 billion ($7.65billion) by Apollo Global Management earlier this month, beating out a previous PS5.5 billion offer from Castlelake. However, it did not elaborate on how they plan to meet EU requirements for majority ownership, a major hurdle in any non-EU acquisition. If the deal goes through, it could set a precedent for European Airlines, opening the doors to private equity buyouts. Takeovers are usually done by another airline, with the backing of the government. Officials said the review would likely take place in 'the autumn' and will look to clarify what types of corporate structures are allowed, particularly around control, ownership, and ownership. Officials said that Apollo, Castlelake, and EasyJet had not discussed the details of the proposed deals with European regulators. EasyJet declined to comment. Castlelake didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. "The industry has a wrong perception that we are not enforcing the rules as strictly. The wrong perception will lead people down the wrong path," said the official.

• Data shows that more ships are changing course in the Red Sea following Houthi threats

  Ship-tracking data showed that four tankers changed their course in the Red Sea Wednesday. Two of them indicated the Suez Canal, after Yemen's Houthi militia warned ships to avoid sailing into Saudi Arabian ports. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, declared a naval blocade on Saudi Arabia Monday. This opened a new front in the war between the United States and Iran. It also raised the risk of global energy and trade outside the Gulf. The threat of Houthi hostile action against Saudi Arabia has started to have a general effect on the tanker industry, according to a ship broker's note. There are reports that several tankers have shifted their course to the Suez Canal after loading in Saudi Arabia's Yanbu Port in the Red Sea. Others are waiting for further instructions. RISK OF ATTACKS IS RISKIER In an advisory published by Aspides, the European Union naval force, ships with ties to Israel, Saudi Arabia, or the United States are more likely to be attacked by the Houthis. They are therefore advised to avoid travel through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, until the threat levels decrease. The advisory stated that any vessel that has recently visited,?loaded or discharged cargo in Saudi ports should reduce its electronic footprint. This includes reducing AIS (ship tracking) transmissions as well as limiting publicly accessible digital data that could facilitate targeting. According to LSEG, MarineTraffic, and Vanguard's analysis of ship tracking data, the four tankers shifted direction. Two of them signaled their destination as open water in the Red Sea. Shipping data revealed that a fifth vessel, a vehicle transporter named Liu Jiang Kou, appeared to have turned back in the Gulf of Aden Wednesday after it had indicated the Saudi Red Sea Port of Jeddah for its next destination. The manager of the vessel, China's COSCO Shipping Group, did not immediately respond to a comment request. On Tuesday, three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude for China and India turned around in the Red Sea to head towards the Suez Canal instead of the Yemeni coastline. Three oil tankers, including the Xin Long Yang managed by COSCO, made a U-turn in the Red Sea on Tuesday. They headed towards Suez Canal instead of facing Yemeni coast. Alternative to the Strait of Hormuz Saudi Arabia would lose a vital alternative to the Strait of Hormuz if the southern Red Sea gateway were closed. This could also increase fears of shortages. In a separate statement, Braemar, a ship broker in Saudi Arabia said that the Houthi embargo raised "serious" questions about the viability eastbound routes out of Yanbu port. Yanbu is the outlet for the east-west pipeline. Ship-tracking data revealed that a number of tanks were still visible Wednesday near Yanbu's Anchorage. Since the Houthi's began their attacks on Yemen's coast in November 2023, the Red Sea hasn't fully recovered. The group claimed that they were doing this in solidarity with Palestinians fighting in Gaza. Gaza's ceasefire in October last year was the only thing that brought an end to the group's attacks against merchant ships. The Houthis warned shipping companies to avoid loading or discharging cargo at Saudi Arabian ports, or else they could be targeted. Sources in maritime security said that they have received audio recordings of Houthi warnings sent to ships on the Red Sea. One shipping source, who received updates from a ship on the Red Sea, said: "They warn all ships intending to proceed into Saudi ports that they are open targets." (Reporting and editing by Jonathan Saul and Renee Maltezou. Reporting by Yannis Souliotis, Ahmad Ghaddar, and Renee Maltezou.

• As fighting continues, the EU Aviation Agency adds Jordan to its no-fly list

  The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)?on?Wednesday asked airlines to avoid the airspace of Jordan following the recent conflict between Iran and the United States. Last week, the agency re-issued and strengthened its warning for airlines in the Middle East to avoid the airspace of Bahrain Kuwait Qatar the United Arab Emirates, and the Gulf of Oman due to the renewed U.S. – Iran war. EASA reported that the advisory for Jordan was also extended until August 31. Iran's army claimed to have used drones in an attack on U.S. military bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain early Wednesday morning. The army claimed to have used Arash suicide drones to strike accommodation buildings and storage facilities at Al Azraq Air Base, Jordan. They also attacked equipment warehouses and aircraft hangars in Sheikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain. I was unable immediately to?verify the details of the attack. In the past few days, four U.S. soldiers have been killed by Iranian attacks against U.S. military base in Jordan and?Iraq. EASA stated in a statement that "since the middle of July 2026, security has rapidly deteriorated, with an increase in kinetic activity affecting Jordanian Airspace." EASA warned of the increased risks posed by recurrent Iranian air attacks, as well as Jordan's activation of its air defence system. This includes the possibility of misidentification civil aircraft. Last week, EASA extended its separate advisory to airlines asking them not to fly in the airspace of Iran and Iraq. It is valid until August 31. Reporting by Shubham Kalya in Bengaluru. Editing by Louise Heavens & Hugh Lawson.

• Shipping data shows that more ships are changing course in the Red Sea following Houthi threats

  Ship tracking data revealed that four tankers changed their navigational course on Wednesday in the Red Sea, with two of them indicating the Suez Canal as their new destination. Yemen's Houthi milita warned ships not to sail to Saudi Arabian port after warnings from the Houthi militia. According to LSEG and MarineTraffic'ship tracking data and analyses from British maritime -risk management group Vanguard, the?vessels changed their direction. The?other two indicated their destination as a?open?waters?in the Red Sea. According to shipping data, it appears that a fifth ship, a vehicle-carrier, turned back in the Gulf of Aden Wednesday after signaling the Saudi port of Jeddah for its next destination. Following the warning by the Iran-aligned Houthis, three oil tankers carrying 'Saudi crude' for China and India turned around in the Red Sea on Tuesday. They headed towards the Suez Canal instead of tackling the Yemeni coast at the mouth of the sea. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier; Reporting by Jonathan Saul)

• Documents show that India has rebuked its aviation watchdog for lapses in conflict of interest.

  The Indian aviation safety regulator has been reprimanded for not being vigilant enough to protect 'against officials who use their influence to help family get jobs in the industry and for failing to disclose such placements. Government documents examined by show. Documents show that India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, since mid-2025, has repeatedly challenged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, its safety body for handling conflicts involving relatives of officials in airlines. One instance involved Air India. The concerns are at a crucial time for the DGCA, which oversees one the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. It also faces staffing shortages following a year of increased scrutiny after an Air India Dreamliner accident, safety lapses by the airline, and disruptions at IndiGo, the country's biggest carrier. The DGCA also has to deal with a federal investigation into a bribery accusation against one of their officers. They are due in a few months to go through a routine U.S. - Federal Aviation Administration safety audit. In a document reviewed in January by the Ministry, the concerns expressed about the regulator's handling conflict of interest were summarized. It said that "(the) DGCA was not able to prevent or effectively manage the possible 'influence exercised by their officials in the recruiting or placing of their family members or dependents." The documents did NOT indicate if the Ministry planned to take further action. One document showed that 51 DGCA officials had revealed 59 relatives who worked in the industry as of January 31, this is up from 33 officials who disclosed 41 relatives one year ago. Some relatives were employed by IndiGo, Air India Akasa Air and Airbus India as well as some flying schools and airport operators. Requests for comment from the ministry, DGCA, and companies that employed the relatives were not answered. Disclosures and approval Indian regulations prohibit federal employees from using?influence or their position to secure jobs for relatives and require disclosures?and approvals. In India, conflict-of-interest issues have been raised in the public sector before, including by the DGCA where four officers received a censure in 2013. A senior official who has direct knowledge of this matter said that the civil aviation ministry is concerned about "potential regulatory influence", as DGCA officials could withhold information on relatives' employment with airlines they supervise and soften regulatory oversight. The official declined to name himself due to the sensitive nature of the issue. He cited an example in which a DGCA officer had around 12 relatives working in the industry, but that the ministry learned only after the officer retired. Faiz Kidwai, the then-DGCA chief, requested more power last year on'several administrative issues'. This included authority to deal with potential conflict of interest cases internally. In a letter dated July 2025, he argued that the approval process of the ministry led to "administrative delay" and that decisions should be made more quickly. The Ministry rejected the request and said that the DGCA "continued expressions of inability to assign responsibility for delays or lack?approval have been alarming," according to the document from January. Kidwai did not reply to a comment request. He is now working for the Department of Personnel & Training in India. AIR INDIA HIRES OFFICIAL’S SISTER Documents show that a DGCA assistant 'director of engineering' was questioned about an apparent conflict of interests after his sister was hired by Air India as a quality manager while he was involved with granting regulatory approvals affecting Air India. The DGCA argued that his sister is an independent widow, and that the rule requiring approval only covered dependents such as sons and daughters. However, it stated that he would not handle Air India issues out of precaution. In a document dated August 2025, the Aviation Ministry rejected the DGCA proposal to approve this case. "Influence/involvement of officer can't be ?ruled out ... The transparency and legitimacy of the appointment process remain ambiguous." The U.S. Ethics rules require that officials refrain from taking part in matters where their impartiality could be questioned by family relationships, whereas the European aviation regulator may ask for declarations of interests and restrict staff duties. Harsh Vardhanpratap Singh, President of the Association of Flying Training Organisations said that the DGCA could publish a list of all officers whose family members work in the industry it regulates. He said that transparency in the declarations of officers is crucial to achieving safety. (Reporting and editing by Adityakalra, Jamie Freed and Abhijith Gaapavaram)

• Cathay Pacific reports stronger first-half profits on travel and cargo demand

  Cathay Pacific Airways, based in Hong Kong, said 'on Wednesday that it expects a higher first-half-profit for 2026. This is due to a?stronger passenger and cargo demand?, an improved performance by low-cost carrier HK Express, and higher contributions from associates. The airline group 'forecast' a profit between HK$6 billion?and HK$6.5?billion ($765.39 mln to $829.12 mln) for the half-year ended June 30. This is up from HK$3.7 bln in the same time period a previous year. The results include a gain of HK$1.4bn from the partial dilution in Air China. The airline stated that, after removing the one-off item from the performance, it was driven by a solid demand for both its passenger and cargo operations. The results are coming as the aviation industry is grappling with a severe fuel cost shock. In June, the International Air Transport Association predicted that fuel costs for airlines would rise to $350 billion by 2025 from $252 billion. Jet fuel prices were estimated at $152 per barrel - almost 70% higher than 2025. Cathay admitted this headwind even though it reported stronger earnings. Cathay Cargo transported 9% more cargo than a year ago, and the total tonnage for the first half of the year was also up by 9%. Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial officer at Cathay Expert and Cathay Pharma, said that semiconductors and pharmaceutical shipments were key growth drivers. Strong cargo flows into Southeast Asia from mainland China, along with resilient shipments to Hong Kong and mainland China, also contributed. Lau stated that the group will monitor the impact of new customs tariffs on low-value imported goods into Europe on the e-commerce?flows. Cathay Pacific grew 12% in passenger numbers from June 2012 to June 2013, while seat kilometers increased 6%. Passenger numbers increased by 17% in the first half of this year. The load factors remained stable despite the fact that June is traditionally a slower month. This was due to the rerouted traffic via Hong Kong in the Middle East conflict, and the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The demand for premium cabins remained strong, driven by corporate travel and?premium holiday travel. Lau stated that the outlook for summer remains positive, especially across our long haul network. Budget airline HK Express had a'softer spot', with a 4% drop in passengers after the carrier lowered capacity to offset rising fuel costs. Lau reported that bookings for July were ahead of the previous year. The full results of the group are expected to be released in August. (1 Hong Kong dollar = 7.8391 dollars) (reporting and editing by Julie Zhu, Rajasik Mukherjee, and Christian Schmollinger).

• Trump announces that US airlines will be able to fly to Lebanon again for the first time since 1985

  After meeting with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun on 'Tuesday', Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government would allow all domestic airlines to fly direct to Lebanon. In 1985, all U.S. flight were suspended after the hijacking TWA Flight 847, which was flying from Athens to Rome. The plane was forced to land in Beirut. A U.S. Navy Diver?died during the 17-day ordeal. U.S. officials must conduct an extensive security review at the Beirut Airport and certify it's safety before flights to Lebanon can resume. The U.S. airlines' willingness to resume flights was not clear. U.S. major airlines American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have all halted their flights to Tel Aviv citing security reasons. The FAA stated that it was "looking forward to working with airline partners and our interagency partner to implement President's Directive and support the safe return of flights to Lebanon." U.S. State Department has issued a "Do Not Travel to Lebanon" advisory, citing the high tensions in Middle East. The?government in February ordered non-emergency U.S. employees and their families to leave Lebanon due to safety concerns. Trump ordered that the U.S. Transportation Department lifted a ban on passenger air service to Venezuela in January after the U.S. After the U.S. captured Venezuela's President,?Nicolas Maduro in a military action that month, passenger air service was resumed to Venezuela in early January. After seven years of service, American Airlines resumed its flight from Miami to Caracas in late April. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson, Christian Martinez and Mark Porter.

• Middle Eastern airline executives project stability at Farnborough, despite conflict

  The Middle East's aviation industry is open for business, aviation executives from regional companies, including Emirates President?Tim Clark on Tuesday, sought to calm fears about spiralling conflicts. Clark said on Tuesday that as long as the current situation is manageable we can continue with our work. The airline is flying at 90% capacity, and premium cabins are full. Iran attacked U.S. targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan on Wednesday, tearing apart a fragile interim agreement signed last month. Last week, Europe’s aviation safety regulator issued an advisory to avoid airspace in this region until July 29. Air France-KLM suspended flights from and to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as well as Dubai on July 27. Middle Eastern carriers are seeing their traffic fall since the Israel-U.S. War on Iran began? on February 28. Some have cut capacity to protect themselves from spiraling costs. At Farnborough regional leaders stressed that the Middle Eastern aviation industry is booming. Paul Griffiths CEO of Dubai Airports said, "I think that the closer you get to the Gulf operation the more normal things seem." CANCELLATIONS BUT CALLS TO POSITIVITY Airline Analyst John Strickland noted that the region has weathered many crisis in the past. However, it is unlikely that airline profits will remain untouched. Strickland said, "It will hit the bottom-line, of course. It has an impact." They will want their hatches to be battened as much as possible to avoid loss of cost when things get tough and return to profitability. Qatar Airways canceled its attendance to the show following the death of the former emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Etihad's Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves likewise opted out of the airshow. As Emirates' Clark said, the sector must "think positively, act positively, and be positive" when it comes projecting the recovery of the?region. Clark said that the airline has no plans to delay orders, and that its ambitions to open "a new airport" in the United Arab Emirates by 2032 are still on track. Griffiths confirmed the Dubai airport would still be opening on its scheduled date. In recent years, many of the largest regional carriers have placed substantial orders for aircraft. Marc Nichols said that their presence at the show reflects more on strategic priorities and maturity in fleet planning, than a change in confidence and growth ambitions.

• Abra orders 28 E2 jets from Embraer

  The Brazilian planemaker Embraer announced on Tuesday orders for 28 E2 aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow, England. These included 20 jets ordered by South 'American airline group Abra Group and orders placed by existing clients Luxair and?Binter?. Abra's purchase of E195-E2 aircraft marks the first Embraer aircraft purchased by the group which controls Brazilian airline Gol, and Colombian carrier Avianca. Both airlines' fleets are currently Boeing and Airbus. Abra has not yet revealed how the aircraft will be allocated, but Gol would join rivals Azul and?LATAM as Embraer jet operators in the home market of the planemaker if Abra added them to its fleet. Azul has been an Embraer customer for many years, and LATAM ordered a plane last year. Embraer and Gol have been discussing a possible order for some time, as the Brazilian government has been pushing all major Brazilian carriers to fly Embraer jets. Abra's agreement includes 10 options to purchase and 15 rights to purchase. The first aircraft delivery is anticipated to be in late 2027. Unclear Product Plans Arjan Meijer, CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, told reporters that the company has not yet decided on its future product plans. "We are a very competent company, but first we have to decide what we want." Embraer expects to see its record-high order backlog continue to grow. "A larger backlog?gives us greater security for future sales." Meijer stated that they wanted to expand the business. We're going to sell more in the future and we are seeing a?continued need. Embraer announced an order for five E195E2?jets from the Spanish airline Binter. Luxair, the flag carrier of Luxembourg, converted its purchase rights for three E190E2 jets into firm orders while also securing a second purchase right. Embraer announced that Japan's Fuji Dream Airlines ordered two E175 first-generation aircraft. Itau BBA analysts estimated that?firm orders are worth about $1.3 billion assuming a discount of 50% off list prices. This compares to Embraer’s backlog of $32.1 billion at the end the first quarter. The analysts sent a client note that stated, "Positive news from Embraer could keep the?sentiment surrounding the Farnborough Airshow elevated throughout the week." (Reporting and writing by David Shepardson, Gabriel Araujo and Maria Rugamer; editing by Andrew Heavens, Rod Nickel and Andrew Heavens)

• Airlines protest 'double whammy" of proposed EU carbon tax on certain international flights

  Emirates' president said that a European proposal to impose carbon charges on some international flights would hit carriers?twice. He was speaking as more airlines gathered behind a global deal to halt pollution. The European Commission released proposals on Friday for the implementation of costs for emissions on international flights that depart Europe, measured at a certain point in central Europe and land in countries as far away as 5,000 km (3100 miles). If approved, the proposal will 'exclude direct flights from the U.S. to the Middle East and North Africa, but some flights from the Middle East to Turkey, for example, would be affected. This would begin in 2029. The United States and the airlines' trade association IATA have denounced the proposal, while UN's Aviation?agency has warned that it will undermine the global CORSIA agreement which requires most airlines to offset their rising emissions on international flights. "This is double-whammy, because we already have CORSIA in place," Tim Clark, Emirates President told reporters on Tuesday at the Farnborough Air Show. The aviation community supports it and sees this as the best way to address the issue. Emirates, based in Dubai, has already bought credits to support rainforests in Guyana as part of the global deal brokered by the International Civil Aviation Organization?in 2016. Airlines for America, the trade group that represents U.S. airlines, stated on Monday, in a?statement, that it did not support "a fragmented approach" to taxing emissions from international aviation. A4A said that "expanding the scope of international flights outside the European region" violates international agreements. A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment citing a Belgian public holiday. (Reporting by Allison Lampert and Joanna Plucinska from Montreal, Additional reporting by Makini Brrice in Paris. Editing by William Maclean.