Global aviation industry developments

The aviation industry continues to see developments in branding, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships.

In the United States, JSX introduced a ‘Freedom 250’ livery to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the country, while the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority renamed Memphis International Airport to honor FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith. Hawaiian Airlines also announced a partnership with Disney involving themed aircraft liveries.

On a global scale, ANA and Riyadh Air have reached a comprehensive partnership agreement that may include mileage integration, supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand its international hub functions. ANA has also announced its international business plan for the second half of fiscal year 2026, which involves increasing flight frequencies on routes including Haneda to Milan and Narita to Bangkok, Singapore, Mumbai, and Perth.

Other industry updates include Japan Airlines implementing new lightning protection measures for ground staff via a world-first mobile trailer house, and StarLux Airlines announcing plans to establish a base in Kaohsiung by early 2027.