TAV Airports and the Government of Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of cooperation on May 20, 2026, committing €315 million ($353.9 million) to the second-phase expansion of Almaty International Airport (ALA).

The agreement, announced in a company press release, brings the Turkish airport operator’s total completed and ongoing investments at the Central Asian aviation hub to €572 million ($642.5 million). The funding targets airside enhancements and operational upgrades scheduled for completion in 2027, supporting surging passenger traffic along the Middle Corridor route.

Advertisement

Expanding Central Asia’s busiest gateway

The second-phase investment program covers the 2025 to 2027 period and focuses on airside infrastructure and operational efficiency. Almaty International Airport serves as the primary hub for Kazakhstan flag carrier Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan. As of late 2025, the facility handled 42 airlines connecting to 86 destinations across 30 countries.

Passenger volumes at the facility have grown rapidly. According to TAV Airports, the hub processed 11.9 million passengers in 2025. Recent data highlighted by TAV Airports CEO Serkan Kaptan during the Organization of Turkic States summit in November 2026 showed the airport handled 9.47 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026, driven by an 11 percent increase in international traffic.

Kaptan noted the strategic importance of the location for both regional connectivity and international freight.

“Almaty continues to grow both in passenger traffic and cargo as one of the key stops on the modern Silk Road extending from Asia-Pacific to Europe and Africa, and on the Middle Corridor, which is also of great importance for our country,” Kaptan said.

Turkish Airlines currently operates approximately 50 weekly flights to Almaty, including dedicated cargo aircraft services, while Pegasus Airlines maintains direct routes between Almaty and Turkish destinations including Istanbul and Antalya.

TAV’s transition from manager to owner

The Almaty expansion represents a distinct operational model for TAV Airports Holding, a member of Groupe ADP. When TAV acquired an 85 percent stake in the airport in April 2021, with the remaining 15 percent held by the Kazakhstan Infrastructure Fund, it marked the first facility in the company’s portfolio that it owns and operates outright rather than managing under a time-limited concession.

The operator inherited a facility serving approximately 6 million passengers annually. The first phase of TAV’s investment program, valued at €257 million ($288.7 million), concluded on June 1, 2024, with the opening of Terminal 2. The new international terminal and accompanying VIP facilities doubled the airport’s annual passenger capacity to over 14 million.

TAV Airports currently operates 15 airports across eight countries, providing integrated services including ground handling, security, and duty-free operations. The company reported serving 113 million passengers across its global portfolio in 2025.

AirPro News analysis

We view TAV’s deepening financial commitment in Kazakhstan as a direct response to shifting global airspace dynamics. With Russian airspace remaining restricted for many international carriers, the Middle Corridor connecting Asia and Europe through Central Asia has gained structural importance. Almaty’s geographic position allows it to capture both increased technical stops for cargo operators and rising point-to-point demand, justifying capital expenditures that exceed half a billion euros over a six-year period.

Finnair (AY) has selected Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES to provide multi-orbit in-flight connectivity (IFC) for its incoming fleet of 18 Embraer E195-E2 regional jets, aiming to replicate ground-based internet speeds for passengers.

Announced in a press release on November 2, 2026, the agreement highlights a broader aviation industry transition toward hybrid satellite networks that combine Geostationary (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity. The electronically steered array antennas (ESA) will be line-fitted directly at Embraer’s manufacturing facilities before the aircraft enter service on Finnair’s European and domestic routes.

Advertisement

Integrating multi-orbit satellite networks

The inflight connectivity market is increasingly shifting toward multi-orbit solutions. These systems combine the high bandwidth capacity of traditional GEO satellites, which are effective for managing dense traffic over busy aviation hubs, with the low latency provided by LEO networks, which orbit closer to Earth and enable real-time applications.

For this deployment, SES is partnering with Eutelsat Group, which acquired the OneWeb LEO constellation, to deliver the low-latency component of the service. The hardware enabling this hybrid connection is the SES electronically steered array antenna. By opting for line-fit installation at the Embraer factory, Finnair ensures the aircraft arrive ready for connected service, bypassing the need for aftermarket modifications.

Simon Large, Chief Customer Officer at Finnair, stated that customer needs drive the airline’s decisions and that connectivity is an increasingly important part of the overall travel experience.

“We are excited to partner with SES to bring a home-like broadband experience to our customers,” Large said.

Blane Boynton, Senior Vice President Aviation at SES, noted that inflight Wi-Fi has become a core part of the travel experience.

“SES’s multi-orbit network delivers the reliability, performance and flexibility airlines need today while providing a clear path for future growth. This agreement is another testament to the growing confidence leading airlines are placing in our solution,” Boynton said.

Thierry Polycarpe, Vice President for Aviation and Maritime at Eutelsat, added that the high-speed, low-latency network supports real-time applications and complements GEO coverage to deliver a resilient connection.

Finnair’s narrowbody fleet renewal program

The connectivity agreement follows Finnair’s March 23, 2026, announcement of a comprehensive narrowbody fleet renewal program. The cornerstone of this initiative is a firm order for 18 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, supplemented by 16 options and 12 purchase rights.

These aircraft will be operated by Finnair’s partner, Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra). They are slated to serve regional traffic to and from Finland, acting as a critical feeder network for Finnair’s long-haul operations out of Helsinki Airport (HEL).

Finnair has specified a 134-seat configuration for the E195-E2 fleet. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2027. According to Finnair’s initial fleet renewal announcement, the airline expects to receive three aircraft in 2027, six in 2028, and six in 2029. The delivery timeline for the remaining three firm orders has not been explicitly detailed by the airline.

The carrier has been actively preparing for the introduction of the new type. In its third-quarter 2026 interim report, released on October 27, 2026, Finnair confirmed that preparations are underway to take delivery of the first E195-E2 next year. This follows a strong second quarter in which the airline reported a 16.4 percent increase in revenue, reaching 916.7 million euros.

AirPro News analysis

We view Finnair’s decision to line-fit the SES electronically steered array antenna directly at the Embraer factory as a significant operational advantage. Factory installation eliminates the need for post-delivery modifications, reducing aircraft downtime and accelerating the entry into revenue service. Furthermore, the selection of a multi-orbit solution underscores a growing consensus among European operators that legacy GEO-only networks are no longer sufficient to meet passenger expectations for streaming and low-latency applications. By leveraging Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO constellation alongside SES’s established GEO assets, Finnair is effectively future-proofing the passenger experience on its regional feeder network.

Emirates will deploy its new Airbus A350 on the daily route between Dubai and Durban starting March 1, 2027, bringing the carrier’s Premium Economy cabin to the South African city for the first time.

The equipment change on flights EK 775 and EK 776 to King Shaka International Airport (DUR) completes the rollout of the airline’s Premium Economy product across all three of its South African gateways. The route upgrade was detailed in an October 30, 2026, press release from the Dubai-based carrier.

Advertisement

Premium Economy product and cabin specifications

The introduction of the Airbus A350 to the Durban route will provide passengers with Emirates’ newest seating products and inflight amenities. Passengers traveling in the Premium Economy cabin will receive a checked baggage allowance of 35kg and a carry-on allowance of 10kg.

The cabin features the airline’s electrically powered Premium Economy seat, which was officially unveiled on September 3, 2026. The seat design includes a full-height adjustable privacy screen, integrated wireless charging capabilities, and a cradle recline position. For inflight entertainment, the Premium Economy cabin is equipped with 13.3-inch personal screens connected to the upgraded Emirates ice system, which offers over 6,500 channels.

There is a discrepancy in the published seating layout for the new aircraft. The October 30, 2026, press release announcing the Durban deployment describes the Premium Economy cabin in a 2-4-2 configuration. However, earlier official specifications released by Emirates in September 2026 for the 28-seat A350 Premium Economy cabin indicated a 2-3-2 layout.

Afzal Parambil, Regional Manager for Southern Africa at Emirates, highlighted the passenger experience upgrades associated with the new aircraft.

“We look forward to welcoming travellers from Durban onboard the A350 in the new year, where they can experience elevated onboard amenities and Emirates’ signature service that make this aircraft a passenger favourite.”

South African market strategy and passenger demand

The expansion of Premium Economy to Durban follows the product’s initial South African launch in Cape Town and Johannesburg in September 2025. According to Emirates, the cabin has generated consistently high demand and healthy load factors from both leisure and corporate travelers since its introduction to the region.

The Durban market presents a specific traffic profile for the airline. A significant portion of the international traffic departing from King Shaka International Airport consists of passengers visiting friends and family. These travelers primarily connect through Dubai International Airport (DXB) to onward destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, India, France, and the UK.

“The deployment also reflects our broader commitment to Africa, with all our gateways now offering the latest inflight experience. South Africa remains an anchor of our African network, with some of the busiest gateways globally, and we are committed to continually enhancing the travel experience for our customers by providing them with more choice, connectivity and comfort.”

Emirates’ Airbus A350 fleet integration

The deployment of the Airbus A350 to Durban is part of a broader fleet diversification strategy for Emirates. Historically, the carrier has operated an all-widebody fleet consisting exclusively of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777. The introduction of the A350 allows the airline to serve mid-sized markets efficiently while offering its latest generation of cabin products.

Emirates holds orders for 73 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to continue through 2031. The airline took delivery of its first A350 on November 25, 2024, and placed the aircraft into commercial service in January 2025 on the Dubai-Edinburgh route.

The Durban announcement follows closely on another regional equipment change. On October 22, 2026, Emirates announced it would deploy the A350 to Mauritius starting November 1, 2026, replacing the Boeing 777 on the daily EK709 and EK710 service.