Emirates has been named the best airline in the world for 2016 by Skytrax. This is the fourth time Emirates has garnered this honour in the last 15 years, and its first win since 2013. Emirates' victory unseats last year's top airline, Qatar Airways. The Persian Gulf-based airline also took home the top prize for best in-flight entertainment, an award it has won the last 12 years. Other winners include Turkish Airlines which took home the honours for best airline in Europe while Norwegian won for best long haul low cost airline in the world and best low cost airline in Europe. The Skytrax awards are decided based on independent surveys completed by nearly 20m passengers from around the world. <br/>
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AirBaltic is planning to use the Bombardier CS300s it will receive from October to serve farther destinations. Being able to fly from Riga, Latvia, to Abu Dhabi was a requirement from the carrier, noted a Bombardier official. The carrier has chosen a 145-seat, two-class cabin layout. AirBaltic CE Martin Gauss promised passengers will immediately notice the change from the current Boeing 737-300s and -400s. He referred to space, quietness, mood lighting and a small inflight entertainment system. AirBaltic has ordered 20 CS300s to replace the airlineÕs current jet fleetÑ13 Boeing 737sÑand grow it by seven aircraft. The first six of the 20 C Series aircraft are to be delivered this year. <br/>
Norwegian Air Shuttle said Britain's decision to leave the EU and the economic uncertainty associated with it was not having any impact on its bookings. "We haven't seen anything from it so far," Bjorn Kjos said Tuesday. Norwegian has a large base at London Gatwick, flying to destinations across Europe and to the US. Kjos said Norwegian was in fact seeing a rise in US passengers traveling to London due to currency moves. The weaker pound had also not yet dampened British demand for holidays to Europe and the US. "The simple fact is that most people have already purchased their summer vacation so it might happen next year that it will be lower demand from UK side," Kjos said. <br/>
AirAsia has placed a firm order for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft, in a deal valued at US$12.6b based on list prices. The order brings AirAsia's total orders of A320-family aircraft to 575. Over 170 have already been delivered to the low cost carrier and its units in Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. AirAsia Group CE Tony Fernandes said "The A321neo will be operated on our most popular routesÉ and allow us to bring higher passenger volumes with the same slots." <br/>
India's GoAir has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 72 A320neos in a deal worth around US$7.7b at current list prices. The deal will help continue GoAir's growth, the airline said, and built on its existing order for 72 of the same aircraft which it made in 2011. "The new aircraft will help us in unlocking new domestic routes while providing a springboard for continued international network expansion in the years to come," Go Air CE Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said. <br/>
Germania has placed a firm order for 25 Airbus A320neos, in a deal worth US$2.68b at list prices. The contract was signed at the Farnborough Airshow. Germania said it had also taken out an option for a further 15 A320neos. <br/>
Boeing and Kunming Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 10 737 MAX 7s, in a deal worth US$660m at list prices. "We look forward to welcoming Kunming Airlines as a 737 MAX 7 launch customer in China," said Boeing commercial planes CE Ray Conner. <br/>
Boeing and TUI Group have agreed an order for 10 737 MAX 8s and one 787-9 Dreamliner. The order, worth US$1.4b at current list prices, also includes an option for an additional 787-9. The order brings TUI's total orders to three 787-9s and 70 737 MAX aircraft. <br/>