Airline News in Brief 17 June 2026

Vietnam Airlines launches non-stop Hanoi–Amsterdam service: Vietnam Airlines has officially inaugurated its nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate a direct route connecting Vietnam and the Netherlands. The new service marks a significant milestone in the airline’s international network expansion strategy and further strengthens air links between Vietnam and Europe. The inaugural flight, VN83, departed Noi Bai International Airport at 3:50 AM on June 16, carrying nearly 300 passengers aboard an Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. After a flight time of more than 12 hours, the aircraft landed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In the opposite direction, flight VN82 departed Amsterdam for Hanoi at 2:00 PM (local time) on the same day. Vietnam Airlines will operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using Airbus A350 aircraft. The new route provides a direct air link between the two capitals, while offering passengers greater convenience and seamless onward connectivity across Europe and beyond. Pegasus Airlines expands its London presence: Pegasus Airlines launched a new direct summer route on 15 June 2026, between London Gatwick and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International, further strengthening its UK presence network and enhancing connectivity between the UK, Türkiye and beyond. The new London Gatwick route joins Pegasus Airlines’ existing daily service between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International and London Stansted, giving passengers across London and the Southeast greater flexibility and choice when travelling between the UK and Türkiye. Through Pegasus Airlines’ primary hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International, passengers can connect onwards to 160 destinations in 56 countries, including 39 destinations across Türkiye – among them popular summer resorts such as Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman. London Gatwick marks the latest addition to a UK network that now spans six airports, as Pegasus Airlines continues to invest in one of its most important markets. Air India Express connects Pune and Amritsar: Air India Express has commenced direct flights between Pune and Amritsar. The inaugural flight departed from Pune on June 15, marking the launch of the new service and providing travellers with convenient access to Amritsar, renowned for its spiritual, cultural, historical, and culinary experiences. The direct connection offers convenient travel options for leisure travellers, pilgrims, students and business travellers. Amritsar, the spiritual and cultural heart of Punjab, is home to the revered Golden Temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world. The city is also known for the historic Jallianwala Bagh memorial and the vibrant Attari-Wagah Border ceremony, drawing visitors from across India and abroad. Renowned for its rich culinary traditions, heritage architecture, and warm hospitality, Amritsar offers an immersive cultural experience. With the launch of this service, Air India Express now operates about 105 weekly flights from Pune, connecting the city directly to 12 destinations including Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. From Amritsar, Air India Express operates 24 weekly flights, connecting the city to Delhi, Dubai, Pune, and Sharjah. Akasa Air launches operations from Noida International Airport: Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, today commenced operations from Noida International Airport, (NIA) marking a defining milestone in its network expansion strategy and strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region (NCR), one of India’s most significant aviation markets. The airline’s inaugural flight on 16 June 2026 departed Navi Mumbai International Airport at 0725 hrs and arrived at Noida International Airport at 0935 hrs. The inaugural flight from Noida International Airport, (NIA) departed at 1015hrs and arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 1230 hrs. With this, Akasa Air becomes one of the first airlines to operate commercial services from Noida International Airport, reflecting the airline’s commitment to participating in the development of emerging aviation infrastructure and expanding access to high-growth markets across India. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]