AAV News in Brief 13 April 2026

Loganair launches new direct service to Bordeaux: Loganair is launching a new direct route to Bordeaux this summer. The new service will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays from 19 June through to 5 October, offering convenient access to one of France’s most celebrated regions for food, wine and culture. One-way fares will start from £79.99 from Jersey to Bordeaux and €89.99 from Bordeaux to Jersey. Alongside the new route, the airline will also operate several seasonal connections from Jersey, including flights to Norwich, East Midlands, and Paris Charles de Gaulle, further enhancing links between the Channel Islands, the UK and Europe throughout the summer months. Ronnie Matheson, Chief Commercial Officer at Loganair said: “Bordeaux is a fantastic addition to our Jersey schedule for summer 2026, offering customers a direct gateway to one of France’s most popular regions. Whether travelling for a long weekend or an extended break, this new route provides a convenient and enjoyable way to explore everything the area has to offer. We remain committed to enhancing connectivity for Jersey, and this latest addition, alongside our wider network of seasonal services, ensures customers have even greater choice when planning their summer travel.” Budapest Airport welcomes Asiana Airlines: Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, announced the launch of Asiana Airlines’ new twice-weekly direct service between Budapest and Seoul. This addition complements the existing Korean Air service, together offering over 2,000 weekly seats and daily non-stop access between the Hungarian and South Korean capitals, and strengthening travel options across this 8,134 km long-haul sector. “Welcoming Asiana Airlines to Budapest is a milestone for our airport and a great result for our strategy,” said Máté Ritter, Airline Development Director, Budapest Airport. “South Korea is a key, third largest global long-haul market for Budapest Airport, having almost 100,000 non-stop and 50,000 connecting passengers, and this new service opens more options for business and leisure travellers alike, while reinforcing economic and cultural ties. The current non-stop air service between the capital cities has an outstanding load factor, so we are confident that this new route will be destined for success.” The launch strengthens Budapest Airport’s Far East network, which in 2026 spans eight destinations: Beijing, Xi’an, Ningbo, Seoul, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. This expansion highlights the airport’s ongoing success in attracting major international carriers, on long- and thin-routes and supporting inbound tourism to Hungary, bilateral trade, and business travel between Hungary and Asia. APOC Aviation acquires A320-200 for teardown: APOC Aviation, a trading and leasing specialist for aircraft parts, engines and landing gear has purchased MSN 4533 from FTAI for teardown. Most recently operated by Jetstar Pacific Airlines, this 15-year-old A320-200 airframe will be dismantled at the Tarmac Aerosave Toulouse-Francazal facility in France, in May. “APOC is broadening its pool of mature, and newer assets designed to service a breadth of carriers from top-tier customers to those seeking parts for legacy equipment,” comments Craig Skilton, VP Components at APOC. “The new APOC exchange service will be launched this month with comprehensive stock from our recent A319 teardown activity in the UK and this new influx of in-demand components will further expand the inventory, following repair and re-certification.” APOC’s primary customer base for components is aligned to the narrowbody sector, affirms Skilton, and market demand for USM remains buoyant. However, he also comments that the Company offers both widebody and narrowbody landing gear, as well as CFM56-3/5A/5B/7B and V2500-A5 engines, for exchange, lease, and parts services. The deal with FTAI was co-ordinated by Karolis Jurkevičius, VP Landing Gear & Major Assets at APOC Aviation, who concludes, “We’re actively investing in and super-charging our disassembly programme. This is underpinned by solid financial support which is enabling us to make a step-change in our market offering. This exciting future is sustained by our growing team of experienced aviation specialists who are ready to embrace new challenges with energy, commitment and teamwork.” Hannover Airport joins BARIG: The international airline association BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany) is expanding its network with Hannover Airport (HAJ). With this new partner from the airport and infrastructure sector, BARIG and its member airlines can work together on various operational improvements. In particular, the passenger experience and ground services are set to be further enhanced for travellers. “The cooperation between airlines and airport operators is highly complex and encompasses many areas, such as ground operations, aviation security, and sustainability. That is why we are fostering constructive dialogue with airports and encourage all stakeholders to work together to improve processes at various levels,” mentions Michael Hoppe, BARIG Chairman and Executive Director. “Further optimising operations will benefit all parties involved, especially our airlines’ passengers. We look forward to a productive exchange with Hannover Airport.” Hannover Airport is the only international commercial airport in Lower Saxony. With its 24-hour operating license, HAJ has been an important part of northern Germany’s air transport network for years. In addition to serving tourist, ethnic, and business travel via scheduled and charter flights, it also serves as an air gateway for cargo, is home to the police helicopter squadron and the DRF air rescue service, serves as an alternate base for the emergency response unit, and functions as a freight and maintenance hub. In 2025, HAJ recorded around 5.3 million passengers. More than 60 direct destinations are accessible from Hannover. The airport serves a variety of destinations, including popular vacation spots, major cities, and several transit hubs. GIC International Catering opens second location: GIC International Catering (GIC), a specialist in customised in-flight catering for more than 25 years, is expanding beyond its headquarters in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt Airport to Munich. A new production facility, covering around 2,500 square meters with a capacity of 20,000 meals per day, is being built in CTPark Munich North, directly adjacent to the airport. Completion is scheduled for July 1, 2026. The independent airline caterer is investing around 1.8 million Euros in the development of its second location and is focusing on state-of-the-art infrastructure. In addition to high-quality standards for airline meals, GIC places particular emphasis on sustainable and efficient processes. The step into Bavaria is a key component of GIC’s long-term growth strategy. By establishing a presence at another major aviation hub in Germany, the company is responding to the demands of numerous international customers. Airlines increasingly request catering services in both Frankfurt and Munich from a single provider. The new location will enable GIC to fully meet these requirements. GIC already supplies Uzbekistan Airways and Somon Air at Munich Airport via a partner caterer. Across Munich and its Frankfurt headquarters, the company currently serves more than 20 airlines. “We want to continue our success story, which is why the decision to open a second branch in Munich is the next logical step,” says Göksel Yildirim, CEO of GIC International Catering. “At Germany’s second-largest airport, we see strong potential to optimally serve both existing and new customers. At the same time, we are also evaluating additional locations, including Berlin and international markets, but our initial focus is on successfully establishing operations in Munich.” AURA AERO scales up: AURA AERO is entering a new phase. Thanks to a new €50 million funding round, grants secured in France and Europe, and financial support from the State of Florida for its U.S. plant, AURA AERO has now brought its total funding to €340 million. With the building permit secured for its future factory in Toulouse and fi rm orders already placed for its ERA hybrid-electric regional aircraft, the company is putting all the pieces in place for a transition to industrial-scale production. This funding will enable AURA AERO to make significant progress on three priorities: the first flight of ERA, ramping up production of INTEGRAL, and expanding drone operations with ENBATA, while establishing the industrial capabilities necessary for their mass production in France (Toulouse) and the U.S. (Daytona Beach, Florida). At the same time, the granting of the building permit for the future factory at Toulouse-Francazal Airport physically anchors this transformation. Industrialization is also accelerating in the U.S., following the opening of a fi rst site, a 16-hectare plot at Daytona Beach International Airport, ready to host ERA’s American factory, which will be funded with the invaluable support of Space Florida. AURA AERO is no longer just preparing its programs; it is building the means to produce them at scale. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]