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Airbus reported (12-Jan-2026) commercial aircraft deliveries increased 4% year-on-year to 793 in 2025. Details include:

• Deliveries: 793 aircraft to 91 customers;
  • A220 Family: 93;
  • A320 Family: 607;
  • A330 Family: 36;
  • A350 Family: 57;
• New gross orders: 1000 aircraft from 57 customers (889 net orders);
  • A220 Family: 49;
  • A320 Family: 656;
  • A330 Family: 100 (plus two A330 MRTTs);
  • A350 Family: 193;
• Backlog: A record 8754 aircraft, including 1124 widebodies, as of 31-Dec-2025. [more - original PR]

Etihad Airways announced (09-Jan-2026) plans to commence three times weekly Abu Dhabi-Luxembourg service with A321LR equipment on 29-Oct-2026. Etihad will be the first airline from the Middle East to serve Luxembourg. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Ethiopian Airlines Group announced (10-Jan-2026) construction of Bishoftu International Airport commenced on 10-Jan-2026. Phase one of the project is expected to be complete by 2030 and will have capacity for 60 million passengers p/a. The airport will have capacity for 110 million passengers p/a when fully complete. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the new airport is "a major step towards addressing the infrastructural gap in Africa and a key player in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area". [more - original PR]

Emirates announced (08-Jan-2026) plans to expand its premium economy offering to 10 new destinations and increase frequency for multiple destinations where premium economy is already available in 2026, with deployment of premium economy class configured Boeing 777s and A350s on the following routes:

• Dubai-Kochi/Cochin: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 29-Jan-2026;
• Dubai-Basrah: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 29-Jan-2026;
• Dubai-Kuwait: Commence deployment of 777 on select frequencies, effective 01-Feb-2026 to 30-Apr-2026, deploy A350 from 01-May-2026;
• Dubai-Barcelona: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 01-Feb-2026;
• Barcelona-Mexico City: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on daily service from 15-Feb-2026;
• Dubai-Karachi: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 01-Mar-2026;
• Dubai-Addis Ababa: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 01-Mar-2026;
• Dubai-Taiwan Taoyuan: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies, effective 15-Mar-2026 to 30-Apr-2026, deploy A350 from 01-May-2026;
• Dubai-Rome: Commence deployment of A350 on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
• Dubai-Brisbane: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
• Dubai-Tehran: Commence deployment of 777 on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
• Dubai-Copenhagen: Deploy A350 on second daily frequency from 01-Jun-2026;
• Dubai-Phuket: Deploy A350 on third daily frequency from 01-Jul-2026;
• Dubai-Cape Town: Deploy A350 on third daily frequency from 01-Jul-2026.

Emirates will deploy premium economy class configured aircraft on more than 84 routes by 01-Jul-2026. [more - original PR]

Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Allan Kilavuka, speaking to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit World 2025, stated (12-Dec-2025) Africa is "the most fragmented market in the world". Mr Kilavuka said: "Africa has the largest number of commercial airlines", but added: "Most of them are not viable". He said: "The idea should be to consolidate this aviation market, particularly the airlines, a lot more". [more - CAPA TV]

US Department of State identified (06-Jan-2026) nationals from the following countries as needing visa bonds:

• Effective in 2025: Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Zambia;
• Effective in Jan-2026: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

Any eligible citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries must post a visa bond for USD5000, USD10,000, or USD15,000, as determined at the time of the visa interview. All visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the US through Boston Logan International Airport, New York John F Kennedy International Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. [more - original PR]