Commercial Aviation
KlasJet Secures FAA Part 129 Approval for US ACMI Operations
Lithuanian wet-lease carrier KlasJet gains FAA Part 129 approval to conduct ACMI and charter flights involving the United States.

Lithuanian charter and wet-lease operator KlasJet has secured Part 129 Operations Specifications approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), clearing the carrier to provide immediate capacity to Airlines facing fleet constraints.
Announced in a press release on September 17, 2026, the authorization allows the Avia Solutions Group subsidiary to conduct Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) and charter operations involving the United States. The approval positions KlasJet to capitalize on a North-America market currently managing seasonal demand fluctuations and ongoing aircraft Delivery delays.
Regulatory clearance and operational readiness
The FAA approval marks the culmination of a multi-agency certification process. KlasJet confirmed it has secured all necessary authorizations from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to commence commercial flights to, from, and through US territory.
Diako Rad, Director Flight Operations at KlasJet, noted that the regulatory clearance fundamentally shifts the company’s discussions with prospective US clients.
“The question has changed when we are in discussion. Previously, when a carrier asked whether we could operate in the US, the answer was that we were working towards it. Today, the answer is yes,” Rad stated in the press release.
The ACMI model allows airlines to wet-lease aircraft to cover temporary capacity shortfalls without committing to long-term leases or hiring additional crew. Rad emphasized that KlasJet provides the aircraft, crews, maintenance, and insurance, integrating directly into the client airline’s existing network.
Boeing 737 fleet composition and regional expansion
KlasJet currently operates a dedicated ACMI fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each configured to accommodate between 186 and 189 passengers. The carrier also maintains a separate VIP charter fleet comprising two Boeing 737-300s and three Boeing 737-500s.
The US authorization builds upon the company’s broader North American expansion strategy. In late 2023, KlasJet obtained a Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC), establishing its initial footprint in the region.
Driven by global aircraft shortages, KlasJet reported that its ACMI block hours and passenger volumes nearly tripled in 2024 compared to the previous year. To meet this sustained demand, Chief Executive Officer Justinas Bulka has previously outlined a target to expand the carrier’s ACMI fleet to 40 Boeing 737-800s by 2028.
AirPro News analysis
We view KlasJet’s entry into the US market as a timely development for domestic operators struggling with capacity constraints. With major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) facing persistent supply chain bottlenecks and delivery delays, US airlines are increasingly reliant on wet-lease providers to protect their schedules during peak travel seasons. By securing FAA Part 129 approval, KlasJet transitions from a regional European player to a viable capacity provider in the world’s largest aviation market. This move aligns with the broader strategy of its parent company, Avia Solutions Group, which actively positions its various subsidiary airlines across multiple global jurisdictions to ensure year-round fleet utilization and mitigate regional low-season risks.
Sources: KlasJet
Airlines Strategy
easyJet Shareholders Approve Apollo Takeover Ahead of Court Hearing
easyJet shareholders approved the Apollo-backed takeover at 7.15 pounds a share on November 11; court sanction and regulatory approvals come next.

easyJet (U2) shareholders approved the £7.15-per-share cash takeover by Apollo-backed Eagle Bidco Ltd on November 11, 2026, clearing both shareholder votes and leaving court sanction and regulatory approvals as the remaining steps before a completion that easyJet expects before the end of the first quarter of 2027.
In a regulatory announcement titled “Result of Meeting,” published on November 11, 2026, easyJet said the scheme of arrangement won 97.07% of the shares voted at the Court Meeting and 96.67% of the votes cast at the General Meeting. The deal, whose terms the boards agreed on August 6, 2026, values easyJet’s entire issued and to be issued share capital at approximately £5.7 billion, according to the original offer announcement.
How the votes were counted
The Court Meeting required a majority in number of the scheme shareholders voting, representing 75% or more in value of the shares voted. According to the announcement, 289 shareholders (83.29% by number) voted in favour and 58 (16.71%) voted against, with 13 shareholders splitting their votes and counted on both sides. In all, 334 shareholders voted 295,889,610 shares, or 39.03% of the eligible share capital. The General Meeting resolution, which also amends easyJet’s articles, needed at least 75% of the votes cast. It received 247,835,560 votes in favour out of 256,364,323, with 387,424 votes withheld.
European ownership rules shaped the count. easyJet said EU persons held 35.07% of its shares at the time of the General Meeting, and it suspended the voting rights of 233,921,894 “Affected Shares” held by non-EU persons; the poll results reflect that suspension. The company had 758,010,025 shares in issue at the Voting Record Time of 6.30 p.m. on November 9, 2026, and held none in treasury.
easyJet said the shareholder conditions, numbered 2(a) and 2(b), are now satisfied. The resolution will be filed with the Financial Conduct Authority and made available on the National Storage Mechanism.
What still has to happen
The scheme still needs the Court’s sanction and the other conditions set out when the deal was announced on August 6, 2026. That announcement listed approvals or confirmations of non-objection from the regulators of easyJet’s aviation licences, with no written notice of intent to suspend or revoke a licence; merger control approvals in Austria, Egypt, Germany and the UK; and foreign direct investment approvals in Austria, France, Italy, Malta, Spain and the UK.
The timetable is set against the date of the Sanction Hearing, which easyJet expects before the end of the first calendar quarter of 2027. The last day of dealings in easyJet shares would be one business day after the hearing, the scheme would become effective two business days after it, and the listing would be cancelled by 8.00 a.m. three business days after it. Cash consideration is due within 14 calendar days of the effective date. The Long Stop Date is 11.59 p.m. on August 6, 2027.
How the Apollo offer is structured
AirPro News reported on the £5.7 billion Apollo agreement in August. Eagle Bidco is indirectly owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Capital Management, L.P. The August 6 announcement put the £7.15 price at a premium of approximately 81% to easyJet’s closing price of £3.94 on the Unaffected Date, as the announcement defines it.
Shareholders could instead choose an Alternative Offer of unlisted Rollover Shares in a Bidco parent company, one for each easyJet share, subject to a cap of 49.9% of Topco’s issued share capital and to scaling back. The Haji-Ioannou Family Concert Party gave irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour and to elect for the Alternative Offer over 116,061,871 easyJet shares, about 15.31% of the total.
The ownership plan is built around airline ownership and control rules. After completion, the August announcement said, Topco is expected to be owned 45.1% to 49.9% by Rollover Shareholders, up to 5% by an EU Trust and the balance, up to 49.9%, by the Apollo funds, with governing documents that include provisions to keep the structure compliant.
The easyJet directors, advised by Evercore, unanimously recommended that shareholders vote for the scheme and called the cash offer fair and reasonable. They made no recommendation on the Alternative Offer, saying they could not determine whether its terms were fair and reasonable. The scheme document was published on October 15, 2026.
Route Development
Jacobs to Prepare 25-Year Master Plan for Cochin International Airport
Jacobs will prepare a 25-year master plan for Cochin International Airport in Kerala, India, covering capacity, operations and sustainability.

Jacobs (NYSE: J) has been appointed by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to prepare a 25-year master plan for Cochin International Airport (COK) in Kochi, Kerala, India. The plan will guide long-term development at an airport that CIAL describes as the world’s first fully solar-powered airport and that handled 11,442,583 passengers in the 2025-26 financial year.
Jacobs announced the appointment in a press release distributed by Business Wire from Dallas on November 11, 2026. According to the release, the plan is intended to increase capacity, improve operations and sustainability, and reinforce the airport’s role as a gateway for tourism and economic activity in the region. The release does not disclose the value of the contract or a schedule for the plan.
What the master plan covers
Beyond infrastructure planning, Jacobs will develop an environmental and social impact assessment framework to guide future development at the airport. The release says the framework will help CIAL balance daily operations with sustainability and community priorities.
Jacobs will lead the master planning from its India operations, with support from specialists in the United Kingdom. The company has supported infrastructure and industrial development in India for more than 50 years and has more than 4,100 professionals across eight offices in the country, according to the release.
Sinead Giblin, Executive Vice President at Jacobs, said strategic aviation infrastructure is essential to “supporting regional connectivity,” economic growth and sustainable development. She said the plan will prepare the airport for future passenger and cargo demand and build on its leadership in sustainable operations.
CIAL Airport Director Manu G called the 25-year plan “a significant milestone” in shaping the company’s long-term vision and future growth. He said CIAL looks forward to working with Jacobs and hopes to make Kerala a leader in sustainable and resilient development.
The airport behind the plan
Cochin International Airport began operations on May 25, 1999, and CIAL says it was India’s first airport built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The company is not publicly listed. According to CIAL, it has 19,000 investors from 28 countries, most of them expatriate Keralites, and the Government of Kerala is the largest investor with a stake of about 34%.
The airport sits 28 km northeast of downtown Kochi on a site of about 1,300 acres. CIAL lists three terminals: a domestic terminal, a business jet terminal and an international terminal, Terminal 3, which opened in March 2017. Their combined peak-hour handling capacity is 8,000 passengers, according to the company. The AirPro Atlas records a single runway, 09/27, 11,155 feet long and 148 feet wide; CIAL gives its dimensions as 3,400 meters by 45 meters.
Solar power is central to the airport’s profile. CIAL inaugurated a dedicated solar plant at the airport in 2015 and puts its cumulative installed solar capacity at 50 megawatt-peak (MWp) across seven plants at the airport, a solar carport and a plant at Payyanur. The United Nations named CIAL a Champion of the Earth in 2018 for its solar work, according to the company.
Traffic, finances and a consultancy arm
In its results for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, CIAL reported 73,134 aircraft movements alongside its passenger total. It was the fourth consecutive financial year in which the airport handled more than one crore (10 million) passengers. Total revenue was Rs 1,220 crore, up 6.6% year on year, and net profit rose from Rs 499 crore to Rs 502 crore, the first time the company’s annual profit has exceeded Rs 500 crore.
CIAL’s board also approved the company’s entry into the airport consultancy business. CIAL said it plans to offer services to airports across India, citing expected investment of more than Rs 50,000 crore in the sector over the following decade. Its proposed portfolio includes airport master planning, runway development, cargo infrastructure, ground handling, duty-free operations, commercial development and real estate management.
Jacobs’ airport portfolio
Jacobs says it is ranked No. 1 in aviation by Engineering News-Record for the second consecutive year and delivers work at more than 150 airports worldwide. In India, it is the program management consultant for phase one of Noida International Airport, which Jacobs calls “India’s first net-zero emissions greenfield airport.” That phase covers a terminal, runway, taxiways, cargo facilities and ancillary buildings on a 3,296-acre site, according to Jacobs.
Its other airport work includes concept validation and runway design for King Salman International Airport, which Jacobs says is designed to handle up to 100 million passengers a year, and an intelligent aviation infrastructure engagement at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with PA Consulting. Jacobs, headquartered in Dallas, reports about $12 billion in annual revenue and about 47,000 employees.
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
CDB Aviation Leases Two Airbus A321ceo Jets to Freebird Airlines
CDB Aviation signs its first leases with Freebird Airlines: two Airbus A321ceo jets in a livery marking the Turkish carrier’s 25th anniversary.

CDB Aviation has signed lease agreements for two Airbus A321ceo aircraft with Turkish leisure and charter carrier Freebird Airlines (FH), the first deal between the two companies. The lessor announced the agreements in Istanbul on November 11, 2026, the year Freebird marks 25 years of flight operations.
In a press release dated November 11, 2026, CDB Aviation said the aircraft will support the growth of Freebird’s all-Airbus fleet and will serve the carrier’s leisure and charter network. Both jets will wear a special livery marking the anniversary. For an airline whose fleet page lists only A320s, the deal brings in what Airbus calls “the longest fuselage member” of the A320 Family.
A first deal in the anniversary year
Gavan Daly, Head of Commercial EMEA at CDB Aviation, said the lessor was “very happy to commence our relationship with Freebird Airlines” and to support the continued development of its fleet. He congratulated the Freebird team on its 25th anniversary and said CDB Aviation looks forward to building “a strong and lasting partnership.”
Selim Tükenmez, Managing Director of Freebird Airlines, said: “As we celebrate 25 years of Freebird Airlines, we are delighted to welcome CDB Aviation as a new partner.” He said the two aircraft “will expand our fleet and provide additional capacity and flexibility” across the airline’s leisure and charter network, and that Freebird looks forward to a long relationship with the CDB Aviation team.
The release did not disclose the lease terms, the delivery dates, the ages of the two aircraft or their cabin layout.
What the A321ceo adds to an A320 operation
Freebird’s milestones page lists 14 A320 aircraft, 11 registered in Türkiye and three in Malta. Its fleet page shows 11 A320s at Freebird Airlines and three at Freebird Europe, and gives the A320-214 a passenger capacity of 180 and a maximum payload range of 5,550 km (3,000 nautical miles).
Airbus’s A321ceo product page lists typical seating of 170 to 210, up to 220 seats in a high-density layout, and a range of 5,950 km (3,213 nautical miles) with Sharklets. The release does not say how Freebird will configure the two jets or which routes they will fly.
Freebird Airlines at 25
Freebird, a group company of Gözen Holding, was established in 2000 and began commercial flights on April 5, 2001, with three MD-83 aircraft, according to the CDB Aviation release. The airline’s milestones page says its fleet was renewed with the Airbus A320 series in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and that its operations base moved from Istanbul to Antalya in 2013.
The carrier is based at Antalya Airport (AYT), which handled 39,000,177 passengers in 2025, according to AirPro Atlas airport data. The release says Freebird serves more than 100 destinations, linking Europe with holiday destinations in Türkiye and beyond.
Freebird Airlines Europe, registered in Malta, began operations in 2019, and Freebird launched scheduled flights from Europe to holiday destinations in 2022, according to the milestones page. In 2006, Freebird became the first private Turkish airline to obtain IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, the release says.
CDB Aviation’s narrowbody book and earlier business in Türkiye
CDB Aviation is an Irish subsidiary wholly owned by China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (CDB Leasing), which the release describes as a 41-year-old Chinese leasing company backed mainly by China Development Bank. CDB Leasing has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since July 2016. CDB Aviation’s fleet page lists 44 Airbus A320ceo Family aircraft in its fleet as of June 30, 2026, alongside 134 A320neo Family aircraft in the fleet and 100 more committed.
The release describes Freebird as a new Turkish customer. CDB Aviation has leased aircraft in Türkiye before: in a press release dated April 24, 2024, it said seven new leases with Turkish Airlines would bring the number of aircraft it has on lease to the flag carrier to 17. Those leases included six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to be received between 2025 and 2026 by Ajet, the Turkish Airlines subsidiary.
Other CDB Aviation announcements listed alongside the Freebird release include an additional Boeing 737-800 for Neos on October 28, 2026, the first of four 737-8s for Norwegian on September 29, 2026, and five A321neo deliveries to LATAM on September 8, 2026.
Photo Credit:
-
Commercial Space6 days agoFirefly to Supply 36 Engines for AST SpaceMobile Blacklift Rocket
-
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries5 days agoGE Aerospace Signs Record CIIE Deals Including 202 LEAP-1A Engines
-
Space & Satellites3 days agoNASA Picks Eight Firms for $10 Billion CLPS 2 Moon Delivery Contract
-
Technology & Innovation7 days agoGE Aerospace and BETA Complete Hybrid Electric Assisted Takeoff
-
Regulations & Safety4 days agoFAA Proposes Tighter Falcon 7X Airworthiness Limits for 161 US Jets
