Flight Buzz

Croatia Airlines adds new winter flights

Published

1 week ago

July 13, 2025

Croatia Airlines is upgrading its seasonal flights from Zagreb to Barcelona and Berlin into year-round operations, while services to Stockholm, as well as the Split – Istanbul route, will be extended into part of the winter season. On the other hand, the carrier will suspend its Dubrovnik – Frankfurt operation over a limited period. The development is in line with Croatia Airlines’ plans to reduce seasonality from its hub.

The Star Alliance member will maintain flights to both Barcelona and Berlin throughout the upcoming winter season, which begins on October 26, with three weekly rotations to each destination. Services between Zagreb and Stockholm will also operate three times per week during November and December, continuing until January 9, 2026. Meanwhile, flights between Split and Istanbul will be extended until November 30, then resume for the Christmas and New Year holiday period from December 21 to January 11. Afterwards, the route is scheduled to restart on March 5, 2026, and will operate three times per week during the winter period.

To accommodate growth in its network, Croatia Airlines will reduce frequencies on its domestic Zagreb – Dubrovnik service from 22 to 20 weekly flights for the entire winter season. Additionally, the carrier will suspend its Dubrovnik – Frankfurt route from January 11 to March 8, 2026. The move coincides with plans by Lufthansa’s leisure subsidiary, Discover Airlines, to upgrade its summer seasonal service between the two cities to year-round operations. For now, the remainder of Croatia Airlines’ network remains unchanged when compared to the 2024/25 winter.

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CDB Aviation and Loong Air Execute Lease Agreements for Six A321neo Aircraft

Published

56 minutes ago

July 20, 2025

the Editor

The lease agreements were executed during a signing ceremony held on July 17, 2025, at the airline’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, in the presence of Loong Air’s Chairman Qihong Liu and Vice Chairman and Executive President Jin Wang, and CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer Jie Chen and Head of Commercial, Greater China Michelle Wu.

Aircraft Will Support Airline’s Fleet Expansion and Modernization Strategy

HANGZHOU, China, July 20, 2025–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”), announced the execution of new lease agreements for six Airbus A321neo aircraft with its Chinese airline customer, Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co., Ltd. (“Loong Air”).

The Hangzhou-headquartered carrier is expected to take delivery of the aircraft in 2027 from the lessor’s orderbook. Renowned for its fuel efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and extended range capabilities, the A321neo, the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo family, is well suited to enhance Loong Air’s operational efficiency and sustainability goals.

“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Loong Air through this transaction, which underscores our commitment to supporting the growth of China’s aviation sector,” said Jie Chen, Chief Executive Officer of CDB Aviation. “The A321neo’s superior economics and passenger comfort align perfectly with Loong Air’s vision of expanding its domestic, international and regional network.”

Established in 2011, Loong Air operates a fleet of over 70 Airbus A320-family aircraft, serving major Chinese cities and select international routes. The addition of the A321neos will enable the airline to boost capacity on high-demand routes while maintaining its focus on cost efficiency and environmental responsibility.

“This agreement marks another milestone in Loong Air and CDB Aviation’s strategic partnership of more than 10 years,” commented Qihong Liu, Chairman of Loong Air. “We also hope to continue to explore new opportunities of cooperation with CDB Aviation and jointly promote innovative development in the future. The A321neo’s enhanced performance and cabin flexibility will allow us to offer an elevated travel experience to our passengers, while supporting our long-term sustainability objectives.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including with respect to CDB Aviation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or plans. CDB Aviation cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as “may,” “will,” “seek,” “continue,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “target,” “projected,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “believe,” “achieve” or other terminology or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CDB Aviation’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Loong Air

Zhejiang Loong Airlines Co., Ltd. (“Loong Air”) was established on April 19, 2011, with its first cargo flight launched on August 9, 2012, and its first passenger flight on December 29, 2013, Based on Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The company serves as Zhejiang Province’s leading home-based airline and one of the key players in the aviation industry. Loong Air has established three branches in Northwest, Southwest, and Central-South of China. To date, its fleet size reach to 73, operating domestic and international passenger and cargo routes covering Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and extending to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia, transporting over 10 million passengers annually. The company is committed to four major development visions: high-quality, group operations, intelligence and international, to establish itself as a world-class aviation group. www.loongair.cn

About CDB Aviation

CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”) a 40-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody’s (A2), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is one of the world’s largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating.

CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in China’s leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business – listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250718403953/en/

Contacts

Media contact: Paul Thibeau
Paul.THIBEAU@CDBAviation.aero; +1 612 594 9844

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United Airlines’ 1st Airbus A321XLR Delivery Is Delayed Again

Published

1 hour ago

July 20, 2025

Vyte Klisauskaite

United Airlines will not receive its first Airbus A321XLR delivery until the summer of 2026, according to the airline’s earnings call on June 17, 2025. United Airlines has 50 A321XLR aircraft on order.

The Chicago-based carrier had previously planned to begin receiving deliveries in January 2026. However, the timeline has once again been pushed back by at least six months, most likely due to supply chain issues. United Airlines did not specify why the delays continue to persist.

Deliveries In The Summer of 2026

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

During United Airlines’ earnings call on June 17, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Michael (Mike) Leskinen responded to a question about whether any A321XLR deliveries would occur this year, stating simply, “none this year.” Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella added that the aircraft are now expected to arrive “in the summer of 2026,” without specifying the exact month.

United Airlines placed an order for 50 Airbus A321XLR narrowbody aircraft in 2019, aiming to modernize its fleet by replacing aging Boeing 757-200s and to support an expansion of transatlantic service from key US hubs, including Newark/New York and Washington, DC.

Deliveries were originally expected to begin in 2024, with transatlantic operations planned to launch in 2025. However, the A321XLR program faced delays due to regulatory concerns and design modifications required by aviation regulators. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) raised fire safety concerns about the rear center tank (RCT), particularly regarding fuel tank crashworthiness and protection from fire in the event of a landing gear failure or fuselage breach.

Other US Orders For The A321XLR

Photo: M_Kaempfer | Shutterstock

United Airlines is not the only US carrier with Airbus A321XLRs on order, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways have also committed to the aircraft. Like United, American placed an order for 50 A321XLRs back in 2019.

In March 2025, the first Airbus A321XLR destined for American completed its maiden flight at Airbus’ facility in Hamburg-Finkenwerder, Germany. The airline had planned to take delivery of the aircraft, registered as N300NY, in the first half of 2025, according to media reports. However, that delivery has not yet taken place.

US Airlines With A321XLR Orders	Number Of Units On Order	Currently Anticipated Delivery Date
United Airlines	50	Summer 2026
American Airlines	50	2025
JetBlue Airways	13	Autumn 2025

Meanwhile, JetBlue ordered 13 Airbus A321XLRs by converting 13 existing A321neo orders in June 2019. According to a December 2024 report by FlightGlobal, the airline expects to receive its first A321XLR in the autumn of 2025. However, the exact delivery date remains uncertain, and the timeline could be pushed back further. Simple Flying has asked JetBlue and American Airlines for comment.

Icelandair Says The Airbus A321XLR “Can Do More” Than The Boeing 757

Interestingly, the words were spoken by an Icelandair senior manager and 757/767 pilot.

Frontier Airlines Backed Out Of A321XLR Commitment

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

The Denver-based airline’s interest in the A321XLR came about in June 2019 when it announced that its existing order for 18 A320neos would be converted to 18 A321XLRs. However, in 2024, Frontier Airlines announced that it had canceled its plans to acquire the highly anticipated Airbus A321XLR.

However, cost-saving measures and the A321XLR not quite living up to its expectations have persuaded Frontier to drop the narrowbody jet entirely. It has since doubled down on the Airbus A321neo narrowbodies, converting nearly 20 orders that were originally for the slightly smaller A320neo. At present, Frontier Airlines has a total of 153 A321neos on order, as per ch-aviation data.

Length: 146 ft 0 in (44.5 m)
Wingspan: 117 ft 5 in (35.8 m)
Height: 38 ft 7 in (11.8 m)
Engine Options: CFM International LEAP-1A, Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM
Range: 4,693 NM (8,693 km)

It is worth noting that only four operators worldwide have received the A321XLR, including Iberia, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air (the first airline to receive the PW-powered A321XLR), and Qantas.

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Aviation Minister slams Western media for speculative reporting on Air India Boeing crash probe

Published

2 hours ago

July 20, 2025

Gujarat Samachar

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday said the government will wait for the final report on the investigation into the Air India Boeing crash before making any comments, even as he slammed the Western media for its slanted coverage of the tragic incident.

He urged the Western media to avoid speculation on the cause of the Air India crash and praised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for successfully decoding the black box data in India.

“AAIB has made an appeal to all, especially Western media houses, which may have a vested interest in the kind of articles they are trying to publish,” the minister said.

“I believe in AAIB. They have done a wonderful job in decoding the whole black box and getting the data out in India itself,” the minister said.

“It was a huge success for us because in previous incidents, whenever the black box was seen to be damaged, it was always sent abroad to get the data out. But this is the first time that AAIB has successfully decoded everything. The preliminary report has also been prepared,” Naidu pointed out.

The minister stated that making any comments until the final report comes is not a good exercise for anyone. The government is being very cautious and studying the report thoroughly, and whatever necessary steps are required in terms of safety would be implemented, he added.

“Regarding the incident and investigation, we have to wait for the final report before we say anything,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairperson Jennifer Homendy also stated that recent media reports on the crash of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner that killed over 260 people were premature and speculative.

A report in the Wall Street Journal, which was followed up by another by Reuters news agency, was seen to be biased against the pilots in trying to pin the blame on them for the crash, even though no such conclusion has been reached in the investigation at this point.

Homendy said investigations of this magnitude take time, and that the NTSB will continue to support AAIB’s ongoing probe.

This came following AAIB’s public appeal issued on Thursday (July 17), noting a strong appeal to the public and media, raising concerns about “selective and unverified reporting” by certain international outlets in the aftermath of the crash.

“It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on the ground. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” AAIB said in a letter.

The Bureau clarified that at this stage, “it is too early to reach any definite conclusions,” and the final report will be published only after the investigation is complete, including the identification of “root causes and recommendations”.

(This story was taken from syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)

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