Articles by Kalum Shashi Ishara

NEWS Jan 02, 2026 Thai Airways Welcomes First Airbus A321neo Thai Airways International (THAI) has officially ushered in a new chapter for its regional operations with the delivery of its first Airbus A321neo. The aircraft, registered as HS-TOA and christened with the royal name "Bowonrangsi," touched down at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) following a delivery flight from Hamburg via Dubai in late December 2025. Read More →

NEWS Jan 01, 2026 Emirates A380 Makes Emergency Return to London Heathrow After New Year’s Eve Gear Failure A high-capacity Emirates Airbus A380-800 was forced to make a precautionary return to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on the afternoon of December 31, 2025, after encountering a technical malfunction with its landing gear system shortly after departure. Read More →

INFORMATIONAL Jan 01, 2026 Final Delivery Tally and OEM Tracker As the curtain falls on 2025, the global aerospace manufacturing sector has navigated a year defined by aggressive production ramps, persistent supply chain "choke points," and a significant shift in the competitive duopoly. While Airbus once again secured the top spot for total deliveries, Boeing closed the year with a resurgent order book and a stabilised production line that signalled the end of its multi-year "bridge" phase. Read More →

NEWS Jan 01, 2026 ATC ‘Keep Your Speed Up’ Instruction Preceded United 737 MAX 8 Houston Runway Excursion Freshly released investigative documents from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have shed new light on the March 8, 2024, runway excursion involving a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8. The report highlights a critical sequence of events in which Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions, the pilot's perception of runway conditions, and a high-speed exit manoeuvre converged to send the aircraft into the grass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Read More →

NEWS Jan 01, 2026 “I’m Not Okay”: Chilling Audio Captures Near-Disaster as Pilot Tries to Kill Engines The aviation community and the public are getting a chilling, firsthand look at the moments of near-catastrophe aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 (operated by Horizon Air). Newly released cockpit voice recordings (CVR), made public in early January 2026 following the conclusion of legal proceedings, capture the exact moment off-duty pilot Joseph Emerson attempted to shut down the aircraft's engines mid-flight. Read More →

ROUTES Jan 01, 2026 Jazeera Airways to Become First Commercial Carrier at Amman Marka Airport In a historic milestone for Jordanian aviation, Jazeera Airways has officially signed a strategic agreement to become the first airline to operate scheduled passenger services from Amman Marka Airport (ADJ), also known as Amman City Airport. Read More →

ROUTES Dec 31, 2025 interCaribbean Airways Expands Barbados Hub with Five New Non-Stop Routes In a significant move to solidify its position as the premier regional connector, interCaribbean Airways has officially announced a major network expansion from its Southern Caribbean hub at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI). Starting March 8, 2026, the airline will launch five new non-stop routes, bringing its total number of direct destinations from Barbados to 12. Read More →

NEWS Dec 30, 2025 Alaska Airlines and LATAM Formally Dissolve Codeshare Partnership Marking the end of an era in Pan-American aviation, Alaska Airlines has officially terminated its nearly decade-old codeshare and loyalty partnership with LATAM Airlines Group. The split, finalised in a formal filing to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on December 29, 2025, follows a phased winding down of reciprocal benefits that began earlier in the autumn. Read More →

NEWS Dec 30, 2025 Global Drone Wingman Programs Accelerate Toward Critical 2026 Milestones as Competition Intensifies The race to field operational autonomous "loyal wingman" drones is accelerating into overdrive as 2026 approaches, with the United States Air Force poised to make critical production decisions, Australia demonstrating combat capabilities with live weapons, and rival programs in Europe and Asia rapidly maturing. Read More →

NEWS Dec 30, 2025 Iraqi Basra Airlines Secures Air Operator Certificate In a milestone for the Iraqi aviation industry, the start-up carrier Basra Airlines (BSQ) has officially secured its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA). This certification, granted on December 30, 2025, elevates the carrier to a fully authorised operator, allowing it to transition from charter and test flights to scheduled commercial service. Read More →