AAV News in Brief 03 May 2026

China Airlines partners with Le Ruban: China Airlines has partnered once more with the luxury dessert brand “Le Ruban Pâtisserie”, to serve a range of signature specialty desserts and exclusive beverages on all outbound routes and selected inbound routes in Taiwan beginning in May. Travelers are invited to savour the rich flavours of Taiwanese ingredients as well as the skill of the pâtissiers for a deliciously sweet upgrade in the sky. Le Ruban is renowned for its fusion of  Taiwan elements with the elegance of desserts and has designed exquisite dessert menus for China Airlines since 2022. The partnership has undergone an expansion this year with the creation of seven exclusive specialty desserts and beverages that travellers on all routes will be able to sample. In Premium Economy Class, the classic taste of Lemon Sandwich Cookies is made with TAP (Traceable Agricultural Products) eggs and green and yellow lemons from Pingtung. Sweetness and tartness are interwoven together into a light, fluffy treat that has just the right amount of flavour. On trans-oceanic routes, Economy Class is offered the Red Oolong Egg Roll. Red Oolong from Taitung appeals to the sophisticated palate and has a sweet aftertaste. On Japan routes, the Mullet Roe Nougat Cracker in Economy Class is a masterpiece in salty fragrance and nostalgic memories of Taiwan. Southwest joins IATA Schedule Data Exchange Programme: Southwest Airlines has joined IATA’s Schedule Data Exchange Program (SDEP), bringing the number of contributing airlines to 190. The SDEP was launched in late 2023 to build a uniquely airline-owned schedule and minimum connecting time exceptions database. Schedule data underpins many aspects of an airline’s business, including network planning, slot coordination, and interline agreements. Data coverage now exceeds 70% available seat kilometres (ASKs) of airlines based in Asia, Middle East, and Africa, and is expected to reach 90% coverage globally by end of 2026. A key benefit of the SDEP lies in its give-to-get principle, where airlines provide their schedule data while receiving enriched global schedule data to power internal analytics and smarter planning. This includes details on flight schedules, aircraft types, cabin configurations, and cargo payload. The SDEP is governed by contributing airlines in compliance with competition and antitrust laws, strict data release policies, and adherence to data security and privacy best practices. Smiths Detection’s SDX 10080 SCT achieves ECAC EDS Standard 3.1: Smiths Detection announced that its SDX 10080 SCT has received ECAC EDS Standard 3.1 approval for hold baggage and air cargo screening – one of the most rigorous aviation security certifications, recognised across 44 ECAC member states spanning Europe and beyond. Meeting ECAC EDS 3.1 marks a significant milestone and provides clear evidence of the SDX 10080 SCT’s advanced detection performance in a highly regulated aviation security environment. The SDX 10080 SCT uses dual-energy Computed Tomography (CT) technology to produce high-resolution 3D images capable of identifying concealed explosive threats. Designed for high-volume operations, the system processes more than 1,800 items per hour through a large rectangular tunnel opening. An optional dual-view line scanner complements CT imaging with high-resolution 2D views. This is crucial for identifying thin wires and small objects (such as detonators) to ensure reliable on-screen alarm resolution. The SDX 10080 SCT is part of Smiths Detection’s established EDS portfolio and is built on a modular, upgradeable platform designed to accommodate future operational and regulatory requirements. The system is available for deployment now. European Flyers acquires Tecnam aircraft: European Flyers has finalised an agreement investing more than €7 million to acquire a fleet of 12 Tecnam P2010 TDI aircraft. This major fleet expansion reflects European Flyers’ clear dual strategy: ensuring its student pilots are trained on the most advanced, modern technology available on the market, while aggressively driving the academy’s transition towards full decarbonisation by the year 2050. The Tecnam P2010 TDI is perfectly tailored to meet these ambitious goals. Powered by the highly efficient Continental CD-170 diesel engine, the aircraft offers a drastic reduction in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to legacy AvGas-powered trainers. Combined with state-of-the-art Garmin avionics and a spacious, composite airframe, the P2010 TDI delivers an unparalleled, modern flight deck experience that directly prepares students for commercial airline environments. “We are very pleased to conclude this agreement at a globally renowned event such as Aero Friedrichshafen,” said Luis Miñano, Managing Director of European Flyers. “An investment of this scale reflects European Flyers’ ambition to provide its students with the most advanced technology on the market and to strengthen our leadership in aviation training in Spain.” Liebherr supplies first nose landing gear for commercial freighter aircraft: Liebherr-Aerospace has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its first nose landing gear for the Airbus A350F freighter aircraft, continuing a successful partnership with Airbus that began over 50 years ago. Liebherr-Aerospace has been a key program partner since the start of the A350 program, supplying essential flight control components and the nose landing gear. Over the years, the company has continuously advanced its landing gear technology to meet the evolving demands of new aircraft variants. The latest A350F version, designed for cargo operations over long distances, required substantial adaptations to both the aircraft’s base model and its onboard systems. One of the challenges of such a large freighter is to ensure its stability on ground while loading the main deck through the cargo door, which is located at the rear of the aircraft, i.e. behind the landing gear which creates a potential risk of tail tipping if loaded improperly. As part of its Safety Beyond Standard principle, Airbus has developed an innovative tail tipping warning system that prevents such an event. The aircraft’s balance on ground is computed based on the load on the nose landing gear. To get this load, Liebherr has developed a new electronic pressure sensor – integrated into the change-over valve – that monitors the internal shock absorber pressure. Loganair announces deal to transport offshore workers: Loganair has announced a new multi-year contract for the provision of personnel transportation flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in support of bp’s North Sea operations. The contract will utilise Loganair’s fleet of ATR-42 aircraft, providing safe, reliable air connectivity. Loganair has extensive experience delivering fixed-wing aviation services for energy sector partners and this new contract with bp underlines its long-term commitment to both island connectivity and to the crucial oil & gas industry. Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer at Loganair, said: “We would like to thank the bp team for choosing Loganair as its airline partner for the delivery of these flights. We are extremely proud to be extending our products and services to this key customer. We understand very well the relevance and importance of the energy sector in Scotland. These are essential flights, and we will deliver them with the safety, reliability and punctuality Loganair customers have become used to experiencing across the UK and Europe.” Changi Airport Group names Scoot as ‘Partner of the Year’: Changi Airport Group (CAG) named Scoot as Partner of the Year at the annual Changi Airline Awards (CAA) 2026, recognising the airline’s contributions to strengthening Changi’s connectivity and stimulating travel demand. The event, which is in its 19th edition, brought together more than 90 airline and aviation partners. During the year, Scoot increased its flight services to 13 new destinations across Southeast Asia, North Asia and Europe, of which 10 are new to Changi Airport. This significantly strengthened Changi’s connectivity, extending its network to more secondary cities across Southeast Asia. In addition, Scoot also forged new interline partnerships with six airlines at Changi, offering passengers more seamless travel options to destinations worldwide. Beyond expanding connectivity, Scoot collaborated closely with CAG to boost travel demand through joint marketing activations across various digital platforms and via in-market roadshows. This included the successful launch of a “Shall We Just Go” campaign in 2025 which tapped Singaporeans’ appetite for quick getaways. The campaign drove strong conversion, generating 46,000 bookings supported by promotional fares to over 40 Scoot destinations. Emirates SkyCargo expands freighter network to Toronto Pearson Airport: Emirates SkyCargo has launched a weekly freighter service to Toronto Pearson Airport, further strengthening air cargo links between Canada and the UAE. The new service expands cargo connectivity for Canadian businesses and supports growing bilateral trade flows. Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said: “Our freighter service to Toronto is an important milestone for Emirates SkyCargo as we continue to strategically expand our freighter fleet and network in line with evolving trade corridors. Exports from Canada to the UAE have been growing steadily in recent years, increasing 24% year on year between 2023 and 2024 facilitated by direct air connectivity and strong bilateral trade relations.” EK9943 departs Dubai World Central (DWC) airport at 07.10hrs local time on Fridays arriving at Amsterdam (AMS) at 12.15hrs local time. The flight then departs Amsterdam and continues to Toronto arriving at 16.55hrs local time. Malaysia Airlines resuming limited daily flights to Doha: Malaysia Airlines will resume limited services to Doha (DOH) from 2 July 2026, following Qatar’s reopening of its airspace to international carriers and the gradual reinstatement of operations at Hamad International Airport (HIA). The reopening of operations follows the issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), confirming operational readiness. International airline services are now gradually resuming, with initial flights operating through a designated flight corridor coordinated by the QCAA. Malaysia Airlines operations will initially be limited to one daily service (MH160/161). The remaining frequencies (MH164/165 and MH168/169) will continue to be suspended until 24 October 2026, subject to ongoing review. The Doha service was initially suspended from 28 February 2026 due to airspace closures affecting the region. The airline continues to closely monitor the situation through ongoing risk assessments and relevant NOTAMs before fully resuming operations. Air India Express reinstates some flights to Middle East: Air India Express has announced the reinstatement of operations to Qatar and Bahrain, along with additional flights to the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia, starting 30 April 2026. Flights have resumed from major Indian metros and regional gateways, including Amritsar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvananthapuram and Varanasi. Air India Express will continue operating to Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Muscat, with the reinstatement of established routes connecting India to the Gulf region. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]