Sky information: Airborneo, Ita Airways, Riyah Air, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Aeroitalia, Delta Airlines, etc.

Analysts warn that the difficulties faced in recent months by **AirBorneo**—an airline owned by the State of Sarawak—must not worsen, lest they jeopardize the state’s ambitions for rapid development and greater autonomy. Observers note that the Sarawak government can still turn the situation around by ensuring AirBorneo improves its public communication and operational efficiency; they add that a thriving Sarawak-owned airline would strengthen the state’s case for greater control over its resources.

Meeting in Lomé for its 151st ordinary session, the Board of Directors of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) approved a major loan of 50 billion CFA francs (equivalent to 76 million euros) for the national carrier **Air Côte d’Ivoire**. This significant financial contribution aligns with the bank’s strategic roadmap, which prioritizes improving accessibility and inter-state air connectivity, boosting macroeconomic integration within the WAEMU zone, and strengthening the commercial standing of leading African airlines. The allocated funds will be used entirely to acquire four Airbus A319 single-aisle aircraft; this purchase will necessarily involve the used-aircraft market and international leasing firms, as the European manufacturer has permanently shut down the assembly line for this historic model to focus its industrial capacity on rolling out new-generation aircraft, such as the A320neo and A220 families. Regarding the Malaysia Airlines crash, the relentless quest to unravel one of the greatest mysteries in the history of international civil aviation has reached a pivotal new stage with Malaysia’s official decision to grant a one-year extension—running until June 30, 2027—to the deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity.
Engaged in seabed scanning operations off the coast of Western Australia under a bold « no-cure, no-pay » financial model, the technology company is continuing its voluntary search efforts after months of intensive surveying yielded no results, prompting engineers to significantly expand the initial search area.

Italy’s national carrier, ITA Airways—born from the ashes of Alitalia and recently acquired by the German giant Lufthansa—remains at the center of European aviation’s legal and corporate dramas in 2026. While integration into the German group led to the discontinuation of the fledgling Italian loyalty program « Volare » in favor of the unified « Miles & More » system, it is precisely that name— »Volare »—that has now triggered an official complaint against the Italian carrier. Filed in Alicante with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) by Spanish rival Volotea—which has a strong presence in the Italian market—the complaint accuses ITA of infringing on Volotea’s trademark by using the name for its in-flight magazine. First reported by the daily newspaper *Corriere della Sera*, this legal action involves a relatively modest claim for €450,000 in financial compensation; however, it is part of a systemic—and, for ITA, ironic—trademark war. The Italian carrier had previously filed a similar lawsuit against the smaller airline **Aeroitalia**, citing a resemblance deemed too close to the visual identity of Alitalia—of which ITA remains the exclusive legal owner. This move has fueled persistent rumors that the historic Alitalia brand might be revived to name the entity currently undergoing a complete restructuring by Lufthansa.

Boeing and **Copa Airlines** have announced an order for 40 737 MAX aircraft, with options for an additional 20. The agreement supports the airline’s plan to expand its fleet with over 100 737 MAX twin-jets, thereby strengthening connectivity between Panama’s Hub of the Americas® and the rest of the Americas.

**Pan American World Airways**®, one of aviation’s most iconic brands, has partnered with IBS Software—a leader in AI-native products for the travel technology sector—selecting its iLoyal platform to power the airline’s loyalty program as it prepares to re-enter the commercial aviation market.

**Riyadh Air**, Saudi Arabia’s new second national airline, will launch service between Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 30.