Aviation

AirBaltic places order for 10 more A220 aircraft

airBaltic, the Latvian flag carrier, exercised the option to purchase 10 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft, increasing their total order to 90.

These options originated from the additional purchase rights for an additional 20 A220-300 aircraft during the Dubai Airshow, when airBaltic placed a firm order for 30 A220-300 aircraft. This is the fourth time airBaltic ordered the A220 aircraft, increasing its total firm order to 90 A220 aircraft.

This is in line with their fleet expansion plans to operate approximately 100 A220-300 aircraft by 2030, with the 40 aircraft on order slated to be delivered from 2026. Currently operating a fleet of 48 A220-300 aircraft, airBaltic is the largest operator of the A220 in Europe, and the largest A220-300 operator in the world.

The Latvian flag carrier bases these aircraft out of 4 main airports, Tampere, Tallinn, Vilnius and its main hub, Riga. airBaltic was also the launch customer for the A220 aircraft in 2016, and has operated an A220-exclusive fleet since 2020, retiring its then ageing Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 fleet.

airBaltic offers flights within Europe, usually connecting major cities together through their hubs located in the Baltic States using a hub-and-spoke strategy. Currently, the airline operates more than 130 routes from its 4 main hubs and Gran Canaria, a seasonal hub.

Marking this occasion, Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic praised the A220 for playing a part in the ‘success story of airBaltic’, further emphasising this order as a show of confidence in the A220 program.

Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.

The A220 can carry up to 150 passengers on flights up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700km), with the largest cabin in its class, enabling a 2-3 abreast configuration to be feasible, together with the largest cabin, seats and windows in its category. At the end of July 2024, the A220 aircraft have had more than 900 orders from around 30 customers of the A220.

An Airbus A220-300 aircraft on an aerial display

Aviation

Qantas Reintroduces Airbus A380 Flights to Dallas/Fort Worth

Qantas Airways has announced a series of updates to its international network, including the return of its iconic Airbus A380 to the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) route.

Starting August 11, 2025, Qantas will resume operating the A380 between Sydney (SYD) and DFW, reinstating a service that was paused during the pandemic. The route will follow the existing schedule, with QF7 departing Sydney at 12:10 PM and arriving in Dallas at 12:30 PM, and QF8 leaving Dallas at 10:40 PM to arrive back in Sydney at 6:55 AM, two days later.

Emirates Close to Sealing New Freighter Order for A350 and 777X

The airline’s decision to bring back the A380s comes as demand for long-haul travel continues to rise. While the fleet consists of 10 aircraft, not all have been reactivated since being grounded during the pandemic. Currently, Qantas also deploys its A380s on other major routes including Sydney to Johannesburg (JNB), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), and Singapore (SIN).

In addition to the return of the A380, qantas airways has introduced new services and adjustments across its network. A new route from Brisbane (BNE) to Palau (ROR) has been launched, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been reintroduced for flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles (LAX) as well as Auckland (AKL).

Qatar Airways Adds Direct Toronto-Amritsar Flights with Stopover in Doha

Meanwhile, the airline has decided to discontinue its mainline service from Sydney to Seoul (ICN). Starting mid-June 2025, the route will be operated by Jetstar, Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary, which will increase the frequency from four flights per week to a daily service.

These changes come as Qantas looks to redeploy its mainline aircraft to other routes experiencing strong demand, qantas entertainment movie list with Qantas Group International CEO Mr. Cam Wallace noting the airline’s strategic adjustments to meet evolving travel patterns.