Airline News in Brief 01 April 2026

Cathay Pacific connects Hong Kong and Seattle: Cathay Pacific officially launched its non-stop passenger flights between Hong Kong and Seattle, providing customers with the only direct connection between the airline’s home city and Washington State’s vibrant cultural and tech capital. Operating five times per week, the new service extends the airline’s passenger network in North America to a total of nine destinations. As part of Cathay’s 80th anniversary celebrations, the inaugural Hong Kong-Seattle flight was operated by the airline’s special-edition Airbus A350 aircraft featuring its iconic “lettuce leaf sandwich” livery, honouring eight decades of moving its home city, people and customers forward since 1946. Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “As we celebrate ‘80 Years Together’ connecting Hong Kong with the world, the launch of our Seattle service highlights the deepening ties between two global centres of innovation, culture, and commerce. Seattle’s spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship mirrors Hong Kong’s own energy, making this route especially meaningful for us. Through the Cathay Group’s investment of well over HK$100 billion into our fleet, cabin products, lounges and digital innovation, we are committed to offering customers a seamless and elevated travel experience whether they are travelling to Hong Kong or connecting to onward destinations through our global network covering more than 100 destinations worldwide. This new service not only enhances connectivity for business and leisure travellers but also reinforces our role in supporting Hong Kong’s position as a leading international aviation hub.” Leon Software Welcomes Himalaya Airlines to Its Growing Global Community: Leon Software announced that Himalaya Airlines has officially joined the expanding Leon community. Based in Kathmandu, Himalaya Airlines is an international carrier established in 2014 as a Nepal-China joint venture, with a mission to enhance global connectivity while supporting tourism and trade development in Nepal. By adopting Leon’s cloud-based operational platform, Himalaya Airlines aims to strengthen its fleet and crew management capabilities while optimizing daily flight operations. The integration will support the airline in improving efficiency, enhancing operational transparency, and enabling data-driven decision-making across its organisation. Himalaya Airlines currently operates a fleet of four aircraft, including three Airbus A320-214 and one Airbus A319-115. With Leon Software’s advanced scheduling and operational tools, the airline is well-positioned to streamline workflows and scale its operations effectively in a competitive international market. New uniforms for flyadeal cabin crew: Flyadeal in Saudi Arabia has unveiled a newly designed cabin crew uniform which debuted across its four operational bases during Eid Al Fitr. Representing flyadeal’s continued evolution as a modern Saudi airline, combining style, inclusivity and practicality, the new-look reflects the airline’s youthful and vibrant identity – from flyadeal’s signature ‘equal sign’ logo subtly woven into the design, to the flexible comfort offered to crew. Designed with both cultural considerations and practicality in mind, the uniform respects traditional modesty preferences. Crew have flexible styling options, allowing personalisation within brand guidelines to suit them in a working environment, both in the air and on the ground. A distinctive feature is the necktie, scarf and hijab, decoratively complementing flyadeal’s logo and core purple brand colours. This subtle design element reinforces the airline’s philosophy of equality in travel, also serving to distinguish levels of seniority among crew, now totalling over 700. A collaborative effort between flyadeal’s inhouse design team and Saudi company Al-Harithy Tailoring, the refined design, look and feel also involved the crew department for feedback along the journey from creation to execution. ITA Airways joins Star Alliance: Star Alliance officially welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member, marking the completion of the Italian carrier’s integration into the world’s largest airline alliance. ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3. The ceremony was presided over by ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, and Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx, in the presence of media and institutional guests. Starting April 1, ITA Airways will be fully connected into the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport, served by 17 Star Alliance members collectively, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide. Customers travelling across the network can now benefit from through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges, creating a more seamless customer experience, in and out of Italy. Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias said: “On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance. This is the result of a focused and collaborative integration effort. With ITA Airways on board, we not only expand our network to and from Italy, but also elevate the connected experience of our customers when travelling across multiple airlines, through access to the world’s largest network of airport lounges, more comprehensive loyalty benefits, and other benefits like baggage tracking – all designed to enhance the journey at every step.” Gategroup and KLM announce strategic partnership: Gategroup and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have reached an agreement for gategroup to acquire a majority stake in KLM Catering Services (KCS). This landmark transaction establishes a long-term strategic partnership designed to redefine the future of inflight catering for KLM airlines at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Upon completion of the transaction, gategroup will acquire a 75% stake in KCS, with KLM retaining a 25% share. This structure ensures a shared commitment to the long-term success of the business while allowing KLM to focus on its core airline operations. The partnership merges gategroup’s global culinary expertise and operational scale with KCS’s deep-rooted heritage and local experience. To support the partnership’s ambitious goals, gategroup will invest in a flagship catering facility at Amsterdam Schiphol. This facility is designed to set a new global benchmark for the industry by integrating advanced automation, the highest environmental sustainability standards, and a modern work environment dedicated to employee wellbeing. This partnership allows KLM to sharpen its strategic focus on core airline operations while leveraging gategroup’s specialised global expertise to elevate its catering services. Together, the partners are dedicated to delivering a distinctive onboard experience for KLM passengers, defined by operational reliability, culinary innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainability. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]