Earlier this month at the Long Beach Convention Center, the aviation world gathered for the closing night of the 2025 APEX Global EXPO. The final evening carried history and emotion as United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby received the APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader. The honor recognized a career of bold decisions, remarkable resilience, and a vision that reshaped the global passenger journey. More than a tribute to one executive, the award marked a story of innovation and endurance that continues to influence the trajectory of the airline industry.

United Airlines has announced that the FAA has approved Starlink’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) amendment for the Boeing 737-800, to include its mainline aircraft fleet. United has completed the installation of Starlink inflight connectivity equipment on the first of its mainline aircraft – a Boeing 737-800 – and expects it will first be available to customers on a flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New York on 15th October. This certification comes less than five months since United launched its first Starlink-equipped customer flight, on an Embraer 175 regional aircraft, and less than a year since United signed the agreement with SpaceX for Starlink inflight wi-fi services.

Frontier CEO Barry Biffle pressed Senators to "level the playing field" for ultra-low-cost carriers as several lawmakers expressed alarm about industry consolidation squeezing out ultra-low-cost carriers. Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said allowing carriers to control the majority of gates at airports is hurting competition in the industry. “You can have the planes, pilots, fuel and crews, but if you don't have the gate, you don't get to play right now, too many of those gates are locked up by a handful of big airlines,” Biffle said at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

We’re accepting speaker, panelist, and moderator nominations for APEX TECH 2026, taking place 27–28 January in Los Angeles. The APEX Technology Committee invites industry experts to help lead timely conversations on topics like in-flight connectivity, personalization, content licensing, and emerging onboard tech. Self-nominations are encouraged. Submit your nomination by 5 October 2025!

Air France has introduced its new La Première first class cabin on flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Los Angeles. The airline, which unveiled the new suite earlier this year, is rolling the product out across its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. The first Paris-Los Angeles service equipped with the new La Première operated on 27 September. The new cabin features four enclosed suites, each offering 3.5 square metres of private space with a seat and a chaise longue that converts into a two-metre-long bed.

Boeing has started work on developing a new single-aisle aircraft that will eventually replace the Boeing 737 MAX, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The new aircraft is still in the early stages of development, and plans are still being finalized, according to sources who spoke with the WSJ. The company currently appears to be focusing on designing the flight deck for the new narrowbody aircraft. Earlier in 2025, Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg met with officials from Rolls-Royce Holdings in the United Kingdom to talk about a new engine for the aircraft, according to the WSJ report.

American Airlines will refresh the interior of its regional planes to mirror the look of its mainline aircraft. The revamped interior debuted on a new Embraer E175 in July. American has since has taken delivery of three more Embraers with the new interior. The 90 additional E175s on order and seven remaining CRJ-900s will have the new interior. The airline also plans to revamp nearly 500 planes in its regional fleet over the coming years, though it gave no specific timeline. American won't retrofit its 70 50-seat planes, all Embraer E145s. 

Boeing and Norwegian Group announced today that the airline group has placed an order for 30 737-8 airplanes as the airline looks to expand its service across Europe.The agreement represents the group’s first direct Boeing order since 2017 and increases their 737 MAX order book to 80 airplanes. “This milestone aircraft order is on attractive terms and secures our fleet growth in a way that supports our planned growth and sustainability targets. By exercising the options and adjusting the delivery profile, we maintain flexibility while reinforcing our commitment to operating one of the most modern and fuel-efficient fleets in Europe,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian. 

After a three-year hiatus, SWISS will restart publication of its in-flight magazine. The new magazine will only be available on the airline’s new A350s and the first edition contains a feature detailing aircraft production at the Airbus factory in Toulouse. There will also be the usual features on destinations the airline flies to, as well as an interview with a former flight attendant training to become a pilot for the airline.

Air Italy is back, but not the privately owned airline based in Sardinia, which ceased operations in 2020. Aeroitalia reportedly plans to revive the Air Italy brand after losing a legal case with ITA Airways. The decision to revive the Air Italy brand was made following a judge’s order to stop using its name, logo, and color scheme, which were deemed too similar to the bankrupt Alitalia branding, according to a report by Repubblica. ITA Airways reportedly paid roughly €220 million ($258 million) to retain the Alitalia brand during bankruptcy, including the IATA flight code AZ and accounting code 055.