29 Jan 2026
Acumen Daily Aviation Brief - 29th January 2026
Acumen Aviation Newsletters
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IrishAero News
Aer Lingus Inaugural A321XLR to Shannon
Aer Lingus operated the first-ever Airbus A321XLR commercial service into Shannon Airport on 17 January, marking a notable milestone for both the aircraft type and the airport. The flight was operated by EI-XLW on a Dublin–London Heathrow–Shannon W-pattern rotation, replacing a scheduled A320neo service. This deployment underlines the A321XLR’s operational flexibility, demonstrating its ability to support short-haul network optimisation alongside its intended long-range role.
FlyArystan Adds EI-KFI A320neo
FlyArystan has expanded its fleet with the addition of a leased Airbus A320neo, bringing its total aircraft count to 28. The aircraft, registered EI-KFI (MSN 12684), was delivered from Dublin-based lessor Avolon and is configured in a high-density 188-seat, single-class layout. Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, the delivery further strengthens FlyArystan’s low-cost growth strategy, with its fleet now comprising 15 A320ceo and 13 A320neo aircraft.
Qanot Sharq Partners with Inflight Dublin
Inflight Dublin has entered into a new five-year partnership with Qanot Sharq, marking a significant step in the airline’s onboard product strategy. Under the agreement, Inflight Dublin will deploy its next-generation Everhub™ wireless inflight entertainment platform across Qanot Sharq’s Airbus fleet and act as the airline’s Content Service Provider. The announcement coincides with Qanot Sharq taking delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, leased long-term from Air Lease, supporting the carrier’s fleet modernisation and long-haul ambitions.
Aircraft Update
OY-KAU Airbus A320-232 Delivered to South African Airways
South African Airways has taken delivery of an Airbus A320-232, registered OY-KAU (c/n 3227), which was ferried from Shannon to Johannesburg on 11 January 2026. The delivery supports the carrier’s ongoing fleet deployment and operational requirements, reflecting continued utilisation of proven narrowbody assets within its regional and short-haul network.
TC-OHT Boeing 737-8 MAX Delivered to AJet
AJet has taken delivery of a Boeing 737-8 MAX, registered TC-OHT (c/n 67109), which was ferried from Boeing Field to Istanbul via Dublin on 16–17 January 2026. The delivery adds to AJet’s growing narrowbody fleet and supports the carrier’s network expansion plans, as demand for next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft continues across regional and short-haul markets.
Global Aviation News
IATA Warns European Parliament Stance on EU261 Risks Higher Costs and Reduced Choice
Airlines for Europe (A4E), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), and IATA have raised strong concerns after the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee voted to maintain its most stringent proposals to revise EU261 air passenger rights rules. Industry bodies argue the approach risks increasing ticket prices and undermining airline competitiveness, while limiting consumer choice, particularly on regional and short-haul routes. According to the groups, evidence suggests passengers prioritise value for money, reliability, and service punctuality over expanded compensation regimes, warning that additional regulatory costs could ultimately be passed on to travellers across Europe.
Kenya Airways CEO Calls for Greater Airline Consolidation Across Africa
Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka has called for increased airline consolidation across Africa, describing the continent as “the most fragmented market in the world.” Speaking to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit World 2025, Kilavuka noted that while Africa has the highest number of commercial airlines globally, many lack long-term financial viability.
Lufthansa Group and Amadeus Partner on ‘Offer and Order’ Products
Lufthansa Group has partnered with travel technology provider Amadeus to accelerate its transition to an “offer and order” retailing model using the Amadeus Nevio platform. Central to the initiative is the introduction of a simplified “Order ID,” designed to replace traditional passenger name records, ticket numbers, and electronic miscellaneous documents with a single, unified record. The new approach aims to make booking, modifying, and managing flights easier for travellers by consolidating flights, seat selections, baggage, and ancillary services such as upgrades or lounge access into one order, marking a significant step toward modernised airline retailing and distribution.
Mamoun Kuzbari Assumes Chief Operating Officer Role at Novus Aviation Capital
Novus Aviation Capital has announced that Mamoun Kuzbari has assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer, effective December 2025. As part of the transition, Kuzbari has relocated to the company’s headquarters in Dubai, aligning senior leadership more closely with day-to-day operations. In commenting on the move, Kuzbari highlighted the importance of being co-located with the broader team to support stronger collaboration, tighter strategic alignment, and disciplined execution as Novus Aviation Capital continues to scale its platform and expand its business.
MSC Air Cargo Adds Second 777-200F Under European AOC
MSC Air Cargo has taken delivery of its second newbuild Boeing 777-200 freighter registered in Italy under the airline’s European air operator certificate, marking another step in the expansion of its long-haul cargo platform. The aircraft, registered as I-MSCB Bellatrix, will add widebody capacity on key Asia–Europe trade lanes, with further route announcements expected in due course. MSC Air Cargo said the additional lift strengthens its ability to serve a broad mix of sectors, including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, automotive, high-tech, perishables, aerospace, and other time-critical cargo markets.
Navan Introduces NDC Content from Emirates
Navan has established a direct connection with Emirates to access the carrier’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content, expanding the range of fares and promotions available to corporate travellers. The integration unlocks NDC-exclusive offers not available via traditional EDIFACT channels and enables automated changes, cancellations, and refunds on Emirates flights. Navan users will also gain access to key ancillaries, including seat selection, baggage add-ons, and Emirates’ complimentary chauffeur service for First and Business Class passengers, enhancing flexibility and end-to-end trip management within the TMC platform.
Riga Airport Maintains Stability in 2025 with 7.1 Million Passengers and Growing Cargo Volumes
Riga Airport closed 2025 with stable operational performance, serving just over 7.1 million passengers, broadly in line with the previous year, despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Cargo activity was a notable bright spot, with handled volumes increasing by 7% year-on-year to 20,100 tonnes.
Royal Aeronautical Society Marks 160 Years at the Forefront of Global Aerospace
In 2026, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) celebrates its 160th anniversary, marking more than a century and a half of advancing aerospace knowledge, professional excellence and innovation across the global aviation and space sectors.
Rolls-Royce and Turkish Technic Break Ground on New Aero Engine MRO Facility
Rolls-Royce and Turkish Technic have broken ground on a new state-of-the-art aero engine maintenance facility at Istanbul Airport, marking a major expansion of global MRO capacity. First announced in May 2025, the site is Turkish Technic’s entry into the Rolls-Royce MRO network and is designed to support the growing long-term demand for next-generation large civil engines. The facility will strengthen Turkish Technic’s position as a leading independent MRO provider while complementing Rolls-Royce’s existing global maintenance footprint, supporting fleet growth, engine availability, and long-term aftermarket resilience as widebody utilisation continues to rise.
Sky Services Italy Achieves IS-BAH Certification
Sky Services Italy has officially achieved IS-BAH certification, marking a significant milestone in the company’s operational and safety journey. The certification reflects Sky Services Italy’s commitment to internationally recognised standards across quality, security, and reliability throughout its FBO network. The company noted that achieving IS-BAH is not just an endorsement of current practices, but a long-term commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and alignment with global best practices in business aviation handling. The recognition further strengthens Sky Services Italy’s positioning as a trusted handling partner within the Italian business aviation market.
Irish Aviation News
Click&Go Holidays Identifies Key Destinations to Watch
Click&Go Holidays has released new booking insights highlighting the destinations to watch in 2026, with sun holidays continuing to dominate customer demand. Lanzarote leads overall bookings, followed by the Algarve, Tenerife, Costa del Sol, and Gran Canaria, reinforcing the strength of short- and medium-haul leisure travel. For city breaks, Rome tops the list ahead of London, Amsterdam, Prague, and Budapest, while family travel demand is centred on Lanzarote, Disneyland Paris, the Algarve, Salou, and Orlando. Cruise interest remains strong across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Canary Islands, and Dubai, reflecting broad-based appetite for both regional and long-haul leisure travel among Irish consumers.
Dáil Debate Focuses on Dublin Transport and Airport Capacity
During a Dáil Éireann debate on 15 January 2026, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien rejected claims of transport delays, citing €24.3 billion in funding to 2030 and framing challenges as sequencing rather than delivery. Discussion centred on the timing of major Dublin projects, tensions around BusConnects rollout timelines, and aircraft noise impacts near Dublin Airport, with O’Brien committing to engage Aircraft Noise Competent Authority and reaffirming plans to legislate for removal of the airport’s passenger cap alongside stronger community mitigation measures.
Ireland’s Forgotten Jumbo Jets: The Rise and Fall of Aer Lingus’ 747s
For almost 25 years, the Boeing 747 symbolised Aer Lingus’ long-haul ambition, marking the airline as an early adopter of the world’s first jumbo jet. Operating the type from the early 1970s until the mid-1990s, Aer Lingus used a small 747 fleet to serve key transatlantic routes during a period of rapid growth in long-haul travel. However, limited scale, rising operating costs, and the emergence of more efficient twin-engine widebodies ultimately curtailed the airline’s 747 operations. The story of Aer Lingus’ jumbo jets offers a revealing case study in how economics, fleet strategy, and technological change shaped the end of the Queen of the Skies in Ireland.
Irish Air Spectacular 3 Raises Over €60,000 for SVP
The Irish Air Spectacular 3 book and calendar campaign has raised more than €60,000 for the Society of St Vincent de Paul, underlining the strength of community support within Irish aviation. The latest fundraiser brings the total proceeds generated by the initiative to an impressive €602,240 since its inception. Organisers paid tribute to sponsors, pilots, photographers, and the many volunteers who supported planning, access, safety, and logistics, noting that their collective effort was central to the campaign’s success. The milestone comes as the aviation community looks ahead to 2026, a landmark year that will also mark the 90th anniversary of Aer Lingus.
KKR Increases Ownership Stake in Altavair
KKR has agreed to increase its ownership stake in Altavair and its sister company AV AirFinance, deepening a long-term strategic partnership in the global aircraft leasing and financing market. The investment, funded from KKR’s balance sheet, builds on a relationship established in 2018, during which KKR-managed funds have committed more than US$5 billion to aircraft leasing and lending transactions. The move underscores continued institutional confidence in the leased aircraft market and strengthens Altavair’s capital backing as it scales its platform across commercial aviation assets.
Knock Airport Still Flying High After 40 Years
Ireland West Airport Knock is marking 40 years of operations, reflecting on a remarkable journey that began with a bold community vision rather than conventional planning certainty. Conceived in the early 1980s by Monsignor James Horan as essential infrastructure for the west of Ireland, the airport was built against significant financial and regulatory odds. His belief that an airport, like a road, exists to serve its community proved prescient. Four decades on, Knock Airport stands as a lasting example of regional ambition delivering long-term connectivity, economic value, and resilience well beyond its original expectations.
MSC Cruises Expands 2026 Fly and Cruise Packages with Aer Lingus
MSC Cruises UK & Ireland is pleased to unveil its expanded Fly and Cruise packages for 2026, developed in partnership with Aer Lingus. For Summer 2026, MSC Cruises will offer its largest-ever number of Fly and Cruise seats from Ireland, with a significant 20% increase compared to 2025, making it easier than ever for Irish guests to explore the Mediterranean in style and comfort.
Opinion Piece on U.S. Pre-Clearance in Dublin Sparks Debate on Immigration Efficiency
A widely shared December 2025 opinion article on Live and Let’s Fly has sparked renewed debate over the efficiency of the U.S. pre-clearance facility at Dublin Airport, questioning whether passengers effectively face duplicated screening and whether programmes such as Global Entry dilute its benefits. The commentary drew strong reactions from frequent flyers and the travel trade, prompting DAA to defend the system, noting that pre-cleared flights arrive in the US as domestic services, reducing connection times and congestion, with 1.9 million passengers using the facility in the first ten months of 2025 and new screening equipment introduced in October eliminating second security checks for most origin passengers.
Riviera Travel Invites Irish Agents to Riv Awards 2026
Riviera Travel has confirmed that Irish agents and partners will attend the Riv Awards for the first time, marking an expansion of the second annual ceremony celebrating top-performing trade partners in river cruising and touring. Following 14 trade award wins in 2025, the 2026 awards introduce four new categories, including two Ireland-specific honours: Top Regional Store Ireland and Best Up & Coming Ireland, alongside Top Performing Agent Ireland & UK and the River Champion Award. The ceremony will take place on 26 March at Hotel Café Royal, with Riviera highlighting the move as a reflection of its growing engagement with the Irish market and its focus on recognising sales performance, year-on-year growth, and long-term partner collaboration.
Ryanair Accounts for Over Half of Malta Airport Traffic in 2025
Ryanair carried more than half of all passengers travelling through Malta International Airport in 2025, strengthening its position as the country’s largest airline by market share. Airport data shows over 5.1 million of the record 10 million passengers flew with Ryanair, representing a 14% year-on-year increase and a 51% share of total traffic. By comparison, KM Malta Airlines carried 17% of passengers, marking an 8% decline, while easyJet, Wizz Air, and Lufthansa completed the top five carriers operating at the airport.
Tourism Ireland Launches 2026 Marketing Strategy in Dublin
Tourism Ireland has launched its 2026 marketing plans with a renewed focus on slow tourism, food-led experiences, and targeted international growth, aiming to deepen demand from the US and Great Britain while scaling efforts across Mainland Europe, Canada, and longer-term markets such as India and China. The strategy leans heavily on co-operative campaigns with air and sea carriers, delivering strong returns, and comes as overseas visitor numbers stabilised in 2025 despite economic uncertainty and the Dublin Airport passenger cap, with Tourism Ireland reaffirming its ambition to grow overseas tourism revenue beyond €10 billion annually by 2031.
Tweet Picks
@ATWOnline @KoreanAir_KE reported a higher net profit for the fourth quarter of 2025, boosted by strong short-haul passenger demand in key international markets.
@ByERussell "Ultimately, this combination is about expanding opportunity," @Allegiant CEO Gregory Anderson said the airline's proposed merger with Sun Country Monday morning. The deal is about getting bigger and creating more scale with a more diversified business.
@ByERussell "We don’t view this as all that meaningful to the industry, but it’s nice to have." - JP Morgan analysts on the proposed Allegiant-Sun Country merger $ALGT $SNCY
@CAPA_Aviation ACI World projects global airport passengers to grow 3.7% in 2025, reaching 9.8B. Africa leads growth (+9.4%), Asia Pacific adds 202M passengers. By 2030, traffic hits 11.8B, driven by emerging markets.
Acumen’s Take
Across fleets, networks, regulation, and infrastructure, the common thread remains capacity discipline in a constrained system. Airlines, lessors, and airports are prioritising flexibility, efficiency, and capital resilience over pure growth. Premium demand, cargo stability, and next-generation assets continue to outperform, while regulatory and infrastructure bottlenecks increasingly shape strategic outcomes. Technology, from retailing to maintenance, is quietly becoming a competitive separator rather than a headline trend. As 2026 unfolds, winners will be those aligning operational realism with long-term optionality, not just chasing headline expansion.
