Air Travel

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has taken a significant step toward regional aviation integration by establishing a unified aviation authority following the 46th GCC Summit in Bahrain. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi announced the decision on December 3, 2025, marking a watershed moment for commercial aviation across the six-nation bloc comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The new regulatory body will be headquartered in the UAE and tasked with overseeing the implementation of a Unified Upper Airspace management framework—a critical infrastructure initiative that will harmonize airspace management across member states. Additionally, the authority will coordinate the rollout of numerous Advanced Air Mobility projects currently underway throughout the region, positioning the GCC as a leader in next-generation aviation technologies.

The Grand Palais: Where Aviation History Took Flight Paris’s Grand Palais stands as one of aviation’s most unlikely monuments. Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle to celebrate arts a...

Airbus has introduced operational restrictions for A320neo-family aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines, limiting takeoffs during freezing fog conditions when visibility falls below 150 meters. The measure follows reported engine performance issues in extreme winter weather and represents a significant operational consideration for airlines operating in cold-climate regions. The restriction emerged into public view after Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, experienced weather-related delays at Almaty Airport on November 15, 2025. The airline attributed the disruptions to heavy engine icing impairing engine performance under freezing fog and sub-zero temperature conditions. Air Astana confirmed the limitation applies across its A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR fleet—comprising 11 A320neos, four A321neos, and 13 A321LRs.

Belgium faces its most significant aviation disruption in months as a nationwide three-day strike enters its critical phase, with major cancellations expected at both Brussels and Charleroi airports o...

Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted spectacularly on November 23, 2025, marking its first significant activity in nearly 12,000 years. The eruption ejected massive ash columns 10-15 kilometers skyward, visible from space and documented across social media platforms. According to data from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC), the ash cloud traveled eastward over the Arabian Peninsula, first impacting Yemen and Oman before reaching northern Pakistan and India. By November 24, 2025, the ash had arrived in India’s Delhi-NCR region and spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. The India Meteorological Department projected the ash cloud would exit Indian airspace by November 25, continuing its trajectory toward Nepal, Bhutan, and central China.

The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for what will be the busiest Thanksgiving air travel period in 15 years, with projections showing more than 360,000 flights scheduled between November ...