Articles by Meelad Aslam

INFORMATIONAL Oct 14, 2026 Why Engine Lease Rates Are Still Climbing as Values Level Off Spirit Airlines’ shutdown released dozens of A320-family aircraft and spare engines into the market, but engine lease rates remain high despite stabilizing values. Explore how engine availability, MRO capacity and aircraft storage are shaping the narrowbody engine leasing market. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Oct 14, 2026 How the AI Chip Boom Is Squeezing Transpacific Air Cargo AI-driven semiconductor demand and Middle East disruptions have pushed transpacific air cargo rates higher, with Taiwan-US rates reaching $7.02/kg in May 2026. Explore why shippers are paying premium prices, shifting to shorter contracts, and whether the market will cool as AI demand evolves. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Oct 03, 2026 IATA's New Passenger Data Shows Global Air Travel Demand Shrinking for the First Time This Year Global air travel just hit a reverse that has not been seen in months -- the numbers point to something more interesting than a simple slowdown. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Oct 03, 2026 The $30 Billion Question: Why America's Air Traffic Control Overhaul Keeps Getting More Expensive The U.S. government is seeking $30 billion more to modernize America’s aging air traffic control system. Explore the rising $42.5 billion price tag, GAO oversight concerns, and where the new funding would go. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 27, 2026 Are Ultra-Long-Haul Routes Actually Profitable, or Just Good PR? Ultra-long-haul routes generate headlines, but their profitability hinges entirely on premium-cabin demand -- a lesson Thai Airways learned the hard way, and one Qantas is now betting nearly half a billion dollars on with Project Sunrise's record-breaking Sydney-London route. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 27, 2026 Why Airlines Are Facing New Legal Pressure Over AI-Driven Overbooking Decisions As airlines hand overbooking decisions to AI systems, traditional aviation insurance and liability law are struggling to keep up -- creating coverage gaps, antitrust exposure, and new discrimination risks that could pull software vendors into court alongside the airlines themselves. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 21, 2026 Why Is Turbulence Getting Worse, and Is It Actually Dangerous? Turbulence is increasing as climate change alters wind shear and atmospheric stability. Here's what worsening turbulence means for passengers and aircraft safety. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 21, 2026 Why Do Pilots Turn Off Cabin Lights During Takeoff and Landing? The Real Safety Reason Explained Why do airlines dim the cabin lights and ask passengers to raise their window shades during takeoff and landing? These routine procedures are designed to help passengers and crew respond more effectively in an emergency. Here’s how eye adaptation, emergency lighting, open window shades, and the 90-second evacuation requirement all connect to aircraft safety. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 14, 2026 How Ryanair and Alaska Airlines Are Using AI to Make Real Decisions, Not Just Predictions Airlines are moving beyond AI predictions and letting artificial intelligence make real operational decisions. Explore how Ryanair, Alaska Airlines and Cathay Pacific are using AI for crew scheduling, overbooking and contrail avoidance and what this means for the future of airline operations. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Sep 14, 2026 Why Do Some Flights Take Longer Than Others on the Same Route? Why do some flights take longer than others on the same route? From jet streams and seasonal winds to ATC congestion, great-circle routing, and airline schedule padding, several factors influence flight duration. Here's how flight paths, weather, and air traffic control affect your journey. Read More →