airline news

After months of near-zero availability, limited H-1B and H-4 visa interview slots have surfaced at US consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad for April and May 2026. With over 1.1 million US non-immigrant visas issued in India annually, the sudden reopening has sparked a digital scramble—but the biometrics bottleneck remains the critical hidden barrier.

Australia's government introduces landmark legislation establishing independent oversight for government aviation passengers through a new ombudsperson, Aviation Consumer Protections Charter, and enforcement authority in 2026. Airlines warn compliance costs could increase ticket prices.

Air France-KLM escalates its pursuit of TAP Air Portugal with a formal non-binding offer for minority stake. The strategic move signals serious intent in the competitive acquisition race for Portugal's flag carrier during 2026.

Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence has been rocked by simultaneous 36 cancellations and 36 delays, displacing travelers bound for Paris CDG, Amsterdam Schiphol, Copenhagen, Brussels, London City, and Madrid. Air France, KLM, SAS, and Vueling are the primary carriers affected in the unprecedented double-disruption event.

Fiji Airways and British Airways have announced a massive codeshare expansion via Vancouver. This strategic alliance connects the UK, Canada, and the South Pacific under a single ticket, boosting global tourism to the islands.

The Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a temporary ban on parallel landing procedures at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) linked to a six-month runway repaving project. The suspension eliminates simultaneous side-by-side aircraft approaches, significantly reducing hourly arrival rates and triggering cascading delays across United, Alaska, and international carriers including Air Canada and British Airways.

Ethiopian Airlines is hosting the IATA Focus Africa Conference 2026 in Addis Ababa on April 29–30. The landmark two-day summit brings Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal, AFCAC Secretary General Adefunke Adeyemi, and IATA Regional VP Kamil Alawadhi to tackle Africa's aviation safety crisis, the stalled Single African Air Transport Market, and IATA's EasyPay and API-PNR digital rollouts.

With a staggering 5.2 million seats booked, easyJet announces its busiest Easter flying season in history. From Spanish hotspots to late-season ski resorts, discover where UK travelers are flocking in 2026.

Dubai International Airport—the world's busiest by international passenger volume—is experiencing a severe operational crisis with 80 cancellations and 161 new delays. Emirates, flydubai, Air France, and Gulf Air are all affected, with passengers to Paris CDG, Bahrain, Muscat, Antalya, and İzmir scrambling for alternatives.

Dnata completes integration of Italian ground handling operations under unified brand in 2026, expanding to Rome Fiumicino and investing €25M in Milan cargo capacity to strengthen European aviation presence.

Delta Air Lines introduces 10 ultra-short routes spanning just 64 miles in April 2026, reshaping domestic network strategy amid competitive positioning against American and United Airlines.