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After 20+ years, Hot Topics will no longer be published from tomorrow. <br/>This is your final edition.<br/>Thank you for reading! <br/>Samantha Brown<br/>sagabrown@gmail.com<br/>

The future of commuting in New York could soon take off. Archer Aviation, in partnership with United Airlines, has announced plans to launch the city's first air taxi network, aiming to transform airport commutes by reducing travel times from up to two hours by car to just 5-15 minutes by air. ​ Flights will connect Manhattan with major airports such as JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, as well as regional hubs like Westchester County Airport, Teterboro Airport and Republic Airport. "The New York region is home to three of the world's preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150m passengers annually. But the drive from Manhattan to any of these airports can be painful, taking one, sometimes two hours," Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer, said. "We want to change that by giving residents and visitors the option to complete trips in mere minutes." The electric aircraft, called Midnight, is a piloted vertical takeoff and landing vehicle designed to carry four passengers and a pilot. Midnight can fly up to 100 miles at speeds reaching 150 mph. It uses tilt rotors to lift off and land vertically like a helicopter then shifts into forward flight like a traditional airplane. Unlike traditional helicopters, Midnight has 12 smaller propellers for increased stability and built-in redundancies, allowing it to continue flying even if one engine fails. Its fixed wings also allow for gliding up to 20 miles in the event of power loss-an added layer of safety during potential weather disruptions. Midnight also produces less noise and emissions than a traditional helicopter, Archer Aviation said in a news release. Initially, the air taxi service will operate from existing helipads and airports, with plans to establish dedicated 'vertiports' in the future. While pricing for Archer's air taxi flights hasn't been finalized, a one-way seat on a Blade helicopter from Manhattan to JFK typically costs around $265.<br/>

United Airlines (UA) is set to revolutionize its premium cabin experience with the introduction of a new business class product on its upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner deliveries in May 2025. The aircraft will feature an unprecedented 64 business class seats, establishing a new benchmark for premium capacity among U.S. carriers. This strategic move comes as United prepares to receive 140 new Boeing 787s, which will both expand their fleet and replace aging 767 and 777-200 aircraft. Aviation sources indicate the new premium-heavy configuration will debut in early May, featuring door-equipped suites and advanced amenities like wireless charging, flagged ViewfromtheWing. United’s new 787-9 configuration represents a significant premium capacity increase compared to its current fleet and competitors. The existing United 787-9s offer 48 business class seats, while American Airlines (AA) currently provides 30 business seats on their 787-9s, with plans to increase to 51 on new deliveries. United’s upcoming configuration will offer 25% more business class seats than American’s new layout and double the premium capacity of Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A350-900.<br/>

Turkish Airlines announced Monday that it will increase its weekly Istanbul–Damascus flights from seven to 12, starting July 8, responding to growing demand following the resumption of service earlier this year. The flag carrier had suspended flights to Syria in April 2012 due to the civil conflict but resumed operations on January 23, 2025, marking the end of a 13-year hiatus. The inaugural flight TK 846, which carried 349 passengers, was an emotional journey for many Syrians returning home after more than a decade. Initially scheduled three days a week, the Damascus route was soon expanded to daily service due to rising demand. The upcoming increase to 12 weekly flights reflects continued interest, particularly amid sweeping political changes in Syria. The surge in travel follows the December departure of longtime Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad to Russia, ending the Baath Party’s rule that began in 1963. In January, a transitional administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa took control, dismantling key state structures including the constitution, armed factions, and security apparatus.<br/>

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in collaboration with Lufthansa Airlines, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring sustainability in the aviation sector. This firm commitment was made at the Exclusive Discourse Event organized by Lufthansa Airlines at Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos. Director of Air Transport Regulations, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, who was represented by Evelyn Tanko, Deputy General Manager, (Commercial Agreement & Aviation Environment) stated that the Authority is empowered by the Civil Aviation Act, 2022 to regulate environmental issues and further to reiterate its commitments to the sustainability of the industry, NCAA has domesticated ICAO Annex 16 on Environmental Protection into the National regulations under Part 16 of Nig. CARS which covers requirements for monitoring, reporting, and verification of CO2 Emissions for international aviation, and Part 5 addresses aircraft noise and emission certification. Also speaking at the panel session, the Senior Director (Sales), Lufthansa Sub-Sahara Africa, Rene Koinzack said that the airline has deployed Science- Based Target Initiatives (SBTI) which comprises modern fleet, efficient flight operations, carbon neutral flying, and sustainable aviation fuel, reduction of waste and plastics as part of their effort to sustain the industry.<br/>

Air India is looking to take Boeing planes rejected by Chinese carriers, people familiar with the matter said, joining the ranks of Asian airlines vying to benefit from the trade war between Washington and Beijing. The Tata Group-owned carrier, which urgently needs aircraft to expedite its revival, plans to approach Boeing about acquiring a number of jets the US planemaker was readying for Chinese airlines before reciprocal tariffs thwarted the handovers, according to the people, who are familiar with discussions at the Indian airline and didn’t want to be identified because the information isn’t public. Air India is also eager to take up slots for future deliveries should they become available, the people said. The carrier has benefited from China’s pullback in the past — through March, it had accepted 41 737 Max jets originally built for Chinese airlines. Their deliveries had been deferred due to issues including safety concerns with lithium batteries in the planes’ cockpit voice recorders. Representatives for Air India and Boeing declined to comment. Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd. too is in talks with Boeing over delivery slots vacated by Chinese carriers, Bernama reported on Sunday. Chinese airlines were told by the government not to accept Boeing aircraft, Bloomberg News reported last week, after Beijing set reciprocal tariffs of up to 125% on US-made goods. About 10 planes were being prepared for delivery at the time, and some 737 Max jets in China already have since been sent back to the US.<br/>