Air travel news: Air Europa, Azores Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, American Airlines, Air Transat, Iberia Express, etc.

Qantas‘ plan to launch direct flights between London and Sydney in early 2027 has been delayed due to « supply chain issues, » according to sources. The Australian airline was due to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, an ultra-long-haul aircraft, this October, with commercial flights scheduled to begin early next year. Known as Project Sunrise, the customized A350s—capable of flying nonstop for up to 22 hours, connecting Sydney to London and New York—are now expected to arrive in April 2027. The launch of commercial services will likely be postponed until late next year. Qantas anticipates its delivery schedule will be back on track by November 2027, when a fifth Project Sunrise aircraft is expected to arrive.

Air Europa continues to make progress in developing agile and innovative methods for managing its customer relationships and, since April, has offered a new WhatsApp channel through which users can not only resolve their questions and access information, but also purchase tickets, download them to their mobile devices, and easily check the status of their bookings.

SATA Holding has announced the publication of the terms of sale for at least 75% of the share capital of SATA International-Azores Airlines, with the aim of establishing a transparent and open competitive framework.
For the company, this transaction represents an investment opportunity in a strategically important airline in the North Atlantic, which plays a central role in the connectivity of the Azores. Furthermore, it aims to increase the asset’s value, attract qualified investors, and contribute to the airline’s long-term viability.

Iberia Express has scheduled eight additional flights between Madrid, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, along with nearly 1,500 extra seats, to meet the increased demand generated by Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the archipelago.

Air Transat is strengthening its flight schedule from Bordeaux by now offering year-round nonstop flights to Montreal. Previously offered only during the summer season, the Bordeaux-Montreal route underwent a successful trial extension last winter. Based on these results, Air Transat is now making it a year-round service. It will now operate two nonstop flights per week during the winter months using Airbus A321LR aircraft.

Philippine Airlines and Qatar Airways will extend their codeshare agreement, Philippine Airlines announced. Effective June 1, Philippine Airlines will add its code to Qatar Airways flights between Doha and Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao, as well as connecting flights to more than 20 major European cities, including Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt via Hamad International Airport.
Qatar Airways will also add its code to Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights on June 1 for passengers arriving in Manila and Cebu and wishing to travel to destinations such as Caticlan (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa, according to Philippine Airlines.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club loyalty program has partnered with Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles program to extend benefits to members of both programs.

Emirates has reached a significant milestone in its ambitious multi-billion-dollar modernization program with the successful reconfiguration of its first two-class A380. The newly refurbished aircraft (A6-EUX) now operates flights EK 39/40 between Dubai and Birmingham. It boasts a brand-new interior and offers Emirates’ latest innovations across three classes: 76 seats in Business Class, 56 in Premium Economy, and 437 in Economy Class.

This is the first of 15 two-class A380s in its fleet that Emirates will refurbish as part of its commitment to providing customers with an ever-improving flight experience.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, has announced the opening of public sales for its flights between Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and London Heathrow (LHR).

This strategic route, which will debut the new aircraft on July 1, 2026, reinforces the airline’s mission: to connect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to key global and regional hubs and deliver a world-class travel and logistics experience.

Volotea continues its expansion from its Lille base with the arrival of a third Airbus on the tarmac at Lille Airport and the launch of five new routes: Seville and Valencia today, followed by Madrid, Bari, and Burgas in the coming days. These new routes, already available on the Volotea website, strengthen the airline’s network, which now offers 40 destinations from Lille.