Airline news : Icelandair, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Condor Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, etc.

Condor Airlines will launch a route between Frankfurt, Germany, and London Gatwick Airport in April 2026, with three daily flights, the airline announced Friday. This will be the first time London has been part of the Condor network, according to the company. Earlier this year, Condor inaugurated nine European destinations and, in July, announced the addition of three new non-stop European routes on May 1, 2026, from its Frankfurt hub.

Emirates has ordered 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft for $38 billion, the airline announced Monday at the Dubai Airshow. Thanks to this new order, Emirates’ order book with Boeing now stands at 315 wide-body aircraft: 270 777Xs, 10 777 freighters, and 35 787s. The airline also announced the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet. The first aircraft to be equipped will be a Boeing 777, on November 23. The first Airbus A380 will benefit from it in early 2026, according to Emirates.
The rollout is expected to be completed by mid-2027. The service will be free « for all customers, in all cabins of aircraft equipped with Starlink, with simple one-click access that requires no payment or special Skywards membership, » according to Emirates.

China is developing its aviation industry in stages and with great caution. More than a year after its first flight, the C919 made its debut at its first major air show in Dubai. Last Friday, the aircraft, developed by Comac, arrived at Al Maktoum Airport to be the star of the air show held from November 17 to 21.

In reality, this aircraft, which only flies within China, has made a few brief forays abroad, but this is its first official public appearance. It has never been presented to the public before. Comac, the Chinese manufacturer wholly owned by the state, is also showcasing two other models in Dubai, but neither represents the commercial challenge posed by the C919, which goes to the very heart of Airbus’s business, targeting the same customers who buy the A320 (and its family) or the B737.

Delta Air Lines has just unveiled its new generation of « Distinctly Delta » uniforms, comprised of four distinct collections produced by Lands’ End in collaboration with the airline’s 65,000 employees.

This new line reimagines what it means to « be Delta, » combining traditional colors (navy, burgundy, and red) with a vibrant new pink that pays tribute to Delta’s long-standing partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Each piece meets OEKO-TEX® standards for safety and performance, and accessories from Missoni and Bombas add a sophisticated touch. Testing of the new uniforms will begin in 2026, with full rollout of the collection planned for 2027.

Malaysia Aviation Group has appointed Nasaruddin Bakar, Chief Operating Officer of Malaysian Airlines, as Group Chairman and CEO, effective January 31, 2026, the company announced. Bakar will succeed Izham Ismail, who is retiring as the group’s chief executive officer. The position of group chairman and chief executive officer will replace that of chief executive. Ismail had been in office since December 1, 2017.

Southwest Airlines has signed an interline agreement with Philippine Airlines, its fourth international partner carrier, the Dallas-based company announced Tuesday. In the United States, Philippine Airlines and Southwest are working together to serve international travelers connecting through Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Honolulu, according to Southwest.

Southwest’s three other international partnerships are with Icelandair, China Airlines, and EVA Air.

Cathay Pacific announced that, since November 15, it has been offering free Wi-Fi on board its flights to all Gold members traveling on board, regardless of their flight class, thus guaranteeing an even more premium onboard experience. Wi-Fi will now be free for all passengers traveling in First and Business Class. Diamond and Gold members of the Cathay Pacific loyalty program will also be able to take advantage of this benefit, regardless of their travel class.

The Canadian airline Air Transat announced its decision to double the frequency of its direct flights between Montreal (Canada) and Valencia for the upcoming summer season, in order to « consolidate the transatlantic connection » and strengthen this route. The Montreal-Valencia route, operated weekly from