As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals, CEO of the Latvian Aviation Association, just hours before the official kick‑off. Marking a decade of strategic dialogue and industry collaboration, Zigmars Vestfals reflects on how the Forum bega...
Global Jet Capital has released its sixth annual Business Jet Market Forecast, outlining a confident outlook for the sector. The updated analysis anticipates steady expansion over the next five years, driven by robust order backlogs, resilient macroeconomic conditions, and sustained global wealth creation. The forecast extends through 2030, offering detailed projections across both new aircraft de...
Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, has announced its decision to equip five Airbus A320neo‑family aircraft with CFM International LEAP‑1A engines. The selection covers three A320neoand two A321XLR aircraft, part of the fleet expansion first revealed in 2024. Drukair has been a CFM operator&nbs...
Samson Sky, developer of the Switchblade Flying Car, announced it has secured an $80 million investment from Dubai‑based Matin Group. According to Sam Bousfield, CEO, Founder and chief designer of the Switchblade, the funding will enable the company to establish its first 180,000‑square‑foot U.S. production facility, marking a major step toward industrializing Switchb...
Boeing and American Airlines announced the successful completion of the first landing gear exchange for a 737 MAX, marking a key milestone as the company extends its longstanding Landing Gear Exchange Program to the MAX platform. The exchange validates Boeing's ability to deliver fully overhauled, Boeing‑certified main and nose landing gear assemblies that arrive ready to install — reduc...
Uzbekistan Airways and Lufthansa Technik have renewed their cooperation with a long‑term agreement extending comprehensive component support for the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320ceo/neo fleets through 2035. The contract reinforces a partnership that has already delivered more than three decades of successful technical collaboration. The extended agreement ensures extensi...
flydubai unveiled the launch of its dedicated freighter operations, a dynamic expansion that advances the airline’s diversification strategy and further elevates Dubai’s standing as a global powerhouse for logistics and trade. Starting 01 October 2026, flydubai will introduce three Boeing 737‑800 freighters into its fleet under a wet‑lease agreement with SolitAir, adding 23,000 kg...
Gol Airlines continues to expand its South American reach, leveraging its Brazilian network to open new travel possibilities. European passengers can now access southern Argentina through São Paulo, choosing either a convenient connection or a multi‑stop itinerary that includes Brazil. This seasonal link from São Paulo to El Calafate and Ushuaia brings two iconic Patagonian destinati...
