AAV News in Brief 09 November 2026

Dnata advances fleet modernisation in Italy with four new electric buses: Dnata is expanding its passenger transport fleet at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) with four fully electric buses, expected to enter service by mid-November. The addition builds on over €30 million invested in fleet modernisation across dnata’s Italian ground handling operations over the past three years. During this period, the company has introduced more than 550 ground support equipment (GSE) units across Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Milan Linate (LIN), helping meet growing operational requirements while enhancing safety, efficiency and service quality. The equipment introduced includes baggage tractors, passenger boarding steps, conveyor belts, aircraft loaders, pushback tractors and passenger buses. In total, dnata operates more than 1,000 motorised ground support equipment units across Italy, with over 60% of the fleet now electric. Developed by airport bus manufacturer Cobus, the VEGA model is purpose-designed for fully electric apron operations. dnata will be the first ground handler to deploy the model, expanding its Fiumicino fleet of 40 buses, 23 of which are electric. The four buses will transport passengers between terminals and aircraft. They offer higher passenger capacity than standard airport buses, helping to manage apron transfers more efficiently and contribute to smooth aircraft turnaround operations. Improved climate-control systems enhance passenger comfort, while redesigned access doors facilitate faster boarding and disembarkation. Flyadeal launches Jeddah–Lucknow flights, expanding India network: Flyadeal has launched three weekly non-stop flights in each direction between Jeddah and Lucknow. Lucknow is the airline’s third scheduled destination in India, following Hyderabad and Mumbai. The new service, which commenced on 4 November 2026, strengthens flyadeal’s presence in the Indian market, offering greater convenience for passengers travelling between Saudi Arabia and India for business, leisure or to visit family and friends. The addition of Lucknow to flyadeal’s growing network reflects the airline’s continued expansion in India, an important market supported by strong travel demand and close ties between the two countries. Flyadeal now operates three non-stop flights a week in each direction between Jeddah and Lucknow, using its 186-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft. The service runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, offering more than 4,400 seats across both directions and giving travellers more choice when flying between Saudi Arabia and India. Eve Air Mobility and FlyBIS sign deal for up to 12 eVTOLs: Eve Air Mobility and FlyBIS Aviation announced the signing of a binding agreement for up to 12 electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The agreement comprises two firm orders and purchase rights for ten additional units. The agreement builds on the Letter of Intent the companies announced in 2022 and advances their collaboration to establish electric air mobility operations in Brazil. FlyBIS plans to deploy Eve’s eVTOL in Southern Brazil, initially connecting destinations in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Potential routes include connections in cities such as Navegantes, Balneário Camboriú and Florianópolis along Santa Catarina’s coastline, as well as services in tourism destinations in Rio Grande do Sul’s mountain region, including Gramado and Bento Gonçalves. Eve and FlyBIS will continue collaborating on the requirements to support entry into service, including network planning, operational readiness, infrastructure and the integration of eVTOL services into the broader transportation ecosystem. Air India expands Maharaja Club: Air India’s frequent flyer programme, Maharaja Club, announced the launch of ‘The Maharaja Shop’, a premium lifestyle marketplace that expands the programme beyond travel. The platform allows members to earn Maharaja Points on eligible purchases across a curated selection of leading Indian and global brands, bringing them closer to Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades with every purchase. The Maharaja Shop extends the Maharaja Club experience beyond travel, allowing members to build their Maharaja Points balance through everyday purchases. Members can earn Maharaja Points on eligible purchases across categories including electronics, luggage, travel accessories, fragrances, home essentials, wellness, watches, jewellery and more. These Maharaja Points can be redeemed towards Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades on Air India, turning everyday spending into future travel rewards. The platform features products from a curated portfolio of leading Indian and international brands across multiple lifestyle categories. Members will also enjoy complimentary shipping on eligible orders. GlobalTix and Plaza Premium Group partner on lounge access: GlobalTix and Plaza Premium Group (PPG) recently announced a new partnership that makes Plaza Premium’s award-winning airport lounges bookable through GlobalTix’s network of 15,000+ travel resellers across Asia-Pacific and beyond. The partnership launches with 10 locations across key Asia-Pacific gateways, with more to follow. This collaboration positions airport lounge access as an integrated ancillary product within the trade ecosystem, enabling travel agents, OTAs, and DMCs to package lounge access alongside flights, accommodation, and ground services. It creates a new, high margin upsell opportunity while giving travellers a more seamless, premium experience from the moment they reach the airport. Through GlobalTix platform, resellers now gain instant access to real-time Plaza Premium lounge inventory, with seamless booking, confirmation and fulfilment built in. Lounge passes can be sold as standalone products or bundled into broader travel packages — no separate contracts, no manual coordination. Everything is managed in one place, the same way resellers already sell tours, attractions, and activities through GlobalTix today. Jet Aviation unveils refreshed and expanded FBO in Amsterdam: Jet Aviation announced it has completed the refurbishment of its newly expanded FBO in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The refreshed facility provides flexible lounge environments to accommodate larger groups, alongside additional office and storage space for local operators. Some 400 additional square meters have been integrated into the facility, taking its total footprint to around 1,000 square meters. This includes a dedicated passenger lounge offering flexible layouts to provide accommodation for larger groups of travellers, a purpose-built meeting room, additional office space for local aircraft operators and brokers, and a storage area for locally based aircraft. Located within the General Aviation Terminal at Schiphol-Oost and directly adjacent to the business aviation platform, the facility provides immediate airside access, enabling an efficient arrival, departure and operational experience. Amsterdam joined the Jet Aviation network in 2018 and, together with the company’s facility in Rotterdam, forms part of a network of 12 FBOs in EMEA and some 30 worldwide. The expanded space is supported by a multi-year extension to Jet Aviation’s lease agreement with Schiphol Real Estate in the General Aviation Terminal at Schiphol-Oost, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to passengers, employees and operations in the Netherlands. 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