AAV News in Brief 18 May 2026

JetBlue Airways Selects ADB SAFEGATE’s Safedock FleX system: ADB SAFEGATE announced that JetBlue Airways has selected Safedock FleX — the company’s latest generation Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) — for a multi-airport technology refresh across four of its major U.S. stations. The program spans Boston Logan (BOS), New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL), and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU), and reflects JetBlue’s continued confidence in ADB SAFEGATE as its long-term gate technology partner. “We are delighted to deepen our partnership with JetBlue on this important program,” said Doug Woehler, ADB SAFEGATE Business Development Director. “By deploying Safedock FleX across their network, we are helping JetBlue achieve their goal of continuous innovation — delivering a scalable, integrated apron platform that will support safe and efficient operations well into the future.” The engagement builds on a relationship that began in 2009, when ADB SAFEGATE and JetBlue implemented gate management technology to support the airline’s operations. The hardware refresh now underway, and continuing through 2028, upgrades legacy ADB SAFEGATE equipment to Safedock FleX across more than 70 gates, further integrating JetBlue’s apron hardware and software into a unified, future-ready system. Air Astana operates from new terminal at Frankfurt Airport: Air Astana has started operating its flights from the new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport on 5th May 2026. Air Astana check-in counters, self-service check-in kiosks and baggage drop-off points are located in Zone 34 of Terminal 3. Business Class passengers and Nomad Club Gold and Diamond members have access to the new Priority Lounge located on the 5th floor beyond passport control. Air Astana has increased frequencies to Frankfurt in its summer schedule: flights from Astana now operate daily, while services from Almaty operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The airline also continue operating weekly flights from Uralsk. Terminal 3 is a modern, state-of-the-art facility equipped with self-service passenger technologies. For a smoother and faster airport experience, passengers are encouraged to use the self-service check-in kiosks and baggage drop-off facilities. Cathay Pacific updates boarding and gate closure times: Cathay Pacific is making some changes to its boarding and gate closure times. Effective 1 June 2026, boarding gates will close 15 minutes prior to departure for all Cathay Pacific flights, five minutes earlier than the current gate closure time. From the same date, flights departing from Hong Kong International Airport will also start boarding five minutes earlier. These 5-minute changes are designed to ensure customers continue to have a smooth boarding experience and have time to settle in once on board while we prepare for an on-time departure, Cathay said. Hong Kong Airlines launching new service: Hong Kong Airlines will launch a new service between Hong Kong and Lanzhou, Gansu Province, on 26 May. Operating once a week, this direct service will provide immense convenience for travellers and further strengthen connectivity between Hong Kong and the northwest region of the Mainland. Lanzhou is the only provincial capital in China where the Yellow River flows directly through the city. Beyond serving as the political, economic, and cultural centre of Gansu Province, Lanzhou acts as a crucial bridge connecting the inland areas with the western regions. Historically, it has been a major commercial hub and a vital transport artery along the Silk Road, as well as one of the earliest Chinese cities to embrace modern industrial civilisation. As a key planning area of the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’, Lanzhou plays a pivotal role as a transport and transit hub for Central Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia, making it a highly promising destination under the Belt and Road Initiative. The new route perfectly aligns with Hong Kong Airlines’ current network strategy and will generate a synergistic effect with existing routes such as Xining and Hulunbuir. It is poised to play a significant role in fostering commercial ties and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and inland cities along the Belt and Road. Wellington Airport seawall fast-track project approved:  Wellington Airport has welcomed fast-track approval for its southern seawall renewal project, which will help protect the airport from the forces of the Southern Ocean. “Wellington Airport’s seawalls were constructed starting in 1954, and from that date various improvements and extensions have been added. The southern seawall is now reaching the end of its lifespan and needs a major upgrade,” says Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke. “The south end of the airport runway faces directly into the Southern Ocean.  Wave heights in Cook Strait regularly exceed 10 metres and require substantial seawall defences to withstand major weather events. The renewed seawall will protect airport operations for decades to come, so we can continue connecting Wellington to the world. The seawall project is the first in the Wellington region to be granted a fast-track consent. Years of work has gone into planning this project, including optioneering, design, and constructability assessments, and careful consultation with airlines, councils, iwi and local residents. This approval reflects that hard work and we’ll continue to work closely with all of our neighbours and stakeholders throughout the delivery of the project. The project will completely overlay a new seawall over the old one, using large concrete armour units and rock. Enabling works are likely to begin this year and construction is planned to begin in the Airport’s 2029-2034 capital planning period, subject to further consultation with airlines. Avolon upgraded to BBB by S&P: Avolon announced that S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) has upgraded the Company’s issuer credit rating and senior unsecured debt rating to BBB, with a stable outlook. The upgrade by S&P recognises Avolon’s strong financial performance, supported by ongoing orderbook deliveries and active fleet management. The agency also affirmed Avolon’s stable outlook, reflecting confidence in the Company’s continued ability to generate sustained earnings growth, supported by fleet growth and strong lease yields. S&P has also upgraded the issue-level ratings on Avolon’s outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes issued by its wholly owned subsidiary, Avolon Holdings Funding Limited, consistent with the group upgrade. Following this action, Avolon is now rated Baa2 by Moody’s Ratings, BBB by S&P and BBB by Fitch Ratings. Ross O’Connor, Chief Financial Officer, Avolon commented: “This upgrade by S&P is an important endorsement of the progress we have made in strengthening Avolon’s earnings profile and credit fundamentals. Our focus on disciplined growth, active fleet management and maintaining strong liquidity has positioned the business well against a backdrop of sustained demand for our assets. With significant visibility from our orderbook and a resilient balance sheet, we remain confident in our ability to deliver long-term value through the cycle.” Web Manuals supports Australian operators preparing for SMS implementation: Web Manuals is helping helicopter and other aerial operators prepare for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) upcoming Safety Management System (SMS) deadline, as organizations across Australia work towards implementation by December 2, 2026. The mandate requires air transport operators under Part 119 and applicable aerial work operators under Part 138 to implement an SMS that is accepted by CASA, alongside supporting training and, where required, data monitoring processes. The framework is designed to formalize how safety is managed across an organization, connecting policies, risk management, assurance, and training into a continuous process. Web Manuals’ digital documentation platform and Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) consolidate manuals into a single source of truth and enable real-time updates, helping operators maintain structured, accurate and consistent documentation aligned with SMS requirements. This supports efficient version control and ensures information is readily available for regulatory review, reducing administrative workload and minimizing delays during audit and approval processes. As of May 2026, Web Manuals supports more than 90 customers in APAC, including 28 rotor organizations. Among them, LifeFlight and Surf Life Saving Services (SLSS) are examples of customers now better equipped to meet their compliance requirements. Aeropath launches global Instrument Flight Procedures training offering: Aeropath has launched a comprehensive range of Instrument Flight Procedure training courses, drawing on its extensive experience in flight procedure design to support aviation organisations globally. A subsidiary of Airways International, Aeropath is a specialist provider of instrument flight procedures and aeronautical information management services – designing over 4,500 instrument flight procedures and working with organisations across more than 20 countries. The Aeropath Procedure Design team has used this experience to develop a training programme that reflects real world operational challenges and evolving industry requirements. The course portfolio covers the full spectrum of procedure design, from foundational PANS-OPS concepts through to advanced Performance Based Navigation, including RNP AR procedures and specialised training areas. Training will be delivered face-to-face at Aeropath’s base in Wellington, New Zealand, or can be delivered for customers in country.  This flexible approach enables Aeropath to work closely with customers to meet their specific training and capability development needs. Etihad opens new Uzbekistan Airways codeshare: Etihad Airways and Uzbekistan Airways have signed a codeshare agreement that opens Central Asia for Etihad’s global guests and links Uzbekistan Airways guests to Etihad’s daily Abu Dhabi service. The agreement takes effect on 15 May 2026, with the first codeshare flights available for travel from 9 August 2026. Under the partnership, Etihad guests can book a single ticket on Uzbekistan Airways flights from Tashkent to eight destinations across Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Urgench, Nukus, Termez, Fergana, Namangan, Andizhan, and Bukhara – as well as several international destinations on Uzbekistan Airways’ network. Uzbekistan Airways guests, in turn, can now easily reach Abu Dhabi via Tashkent on the new Etihad daily service starting this summer. Etihad and Uzbekistan Airways are also developing a frequent flyer partnership between Etihad Guest and UzAirPlus, set to expand reward options for members of both programmes. Uzbekistan is one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing inbound markets. Travellers are drawn to the Silk Road heritage of Samarkand and Bukhara, the medieval citadel of Khiva, and the wide-open landscapes of Karakalpakstan. The agreement gives Etihad’s guests a single connection to all of it. Chapman Freeborn OBC adds Next Flight Out (NFO) service: Chapman Freeborn OBC is launching Next Flight Out (NFO), a new premium service designed to complement its established on-board courier expertise and provide clients with greater flexibility for urgent international shipments. Positioned between hand-carry and full charter solutions, NFO helps close the gap for shipments that require speed, reliability, and operational flexibility, while also taking shipment size, cost, and specific logistics needs into account. Leveraging its global airline network, 24/7 operations, and extensive time-critical logistics expertise, NFO will form part of the company’s Critical Freight Solutions (CFS) product line, strengthening the range of solutions Chapman Freeborn OBC can offer to clients worldwide. The new service features within 15-minute quoting and departures no later than 24 hours after pickup. NFO flights will offer round-the-clock operations, proactive tracking, and flexible solutions for shipments of different sizes. In addition, Chapman Freeborn OBC will be providing its clients with end-to-end support, including first and last mile, customs, security screening and palletization. Aimed primarily at time-sensitive industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, fashion, and healthcare, NFO will provide Chapman Freeborn OBC’s clients with faster deliveries at optimized cost, without compromising on service quality. Clients will also benefit from having a single point of contact, fully integrated support, and an opportunity to enhance the resilience of their supply chains. Azorra acquires DAE’s Airbus A220 orderbook: Azorra announced that it has acquired an orderbook of Airbus A220-300’s from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE). The acquisition comprises eight A220-300 aircraft, including two that are currently on lease to TAAG Angola Airlines, marking Azorra’s first aircraft on lease with the carrier. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028, increasing Azorra’s total A220-300 commitments to 15 aircraft. The A220s will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines and placed with airline customers globally. Andrew Zavatsky, VP Commercial at Azorra, says: “Acquiring DAE’s A220 orderbook strengthens our position in the small narrowbody segment and reflects growing demand for new generation, fuel efficient aircraft.  The assignment of these aircraft underscores our long-standing partnership with Airbus and DAE, as well as our capacity to deploy capital at scale. The A220 has already proven to be a highly efficient and desirable aircraft for airlines globally, and we are strong believers in the program and its compelling economics. Our expanding small narrowbody portfolio firmly establishes Azorra as a leading lessor in the A220 segment.” Azorra currently owns and manages a fleet of 309 aircraft and engines. Including commitments and orders for new Airbus A220-300 aircraft and Embraer E190/195-E2 aircraft, Azorra’s total fleet comprises 309 assets. 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