SIA will increase services between Singapore and Amsterdam from daily to 10 weekly flights between August 1 and October 22, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

The additional Amsterdam frequencies build on recent European network growth, including increased services to Manchester, Milan and Munich, a double-daily operation to London Gatwick, and a new five-times-weekly Madrid service via Barcelona.

Separately, SIA and Air New Zealand will increase capacity across their joint Singapore-New Zealand network by 17 per cent, adding around 72,000 seats.

Air New Zealand will launch a new three-times-weekly Singapore-Christchurch service and add four weekly Auckland-Singapore flights. Combined with SIA’s existing Christchurch operations, the airlines will offer up to 15 weekly Christchurch services during the peak period from November 2026 to February 2027.

SIA will also deploy the Airbus A380 on one of its two daily Auckland services, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on that frequency.

Cathay Pacific to launch Almaty flights
Cathay Pacific will commence direct flights between Hong Kong and Almaty in the first quarter of 2027, marking the airline’s first destination in Central Asia.

The carrier intends to operate three weekly flights using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The route will be the only direct air service between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

The new service will expand Cathay Pacific’s network in Central Asia and strengthen connectivity between Hong Kong and a key Belt and Road market.

Philippine Airlines, Qantas strengthen frequent flyer partnership
Philippine Airlines and Qantas Airways have expanded their frequent flyer partnership, allowing members of the Mabuhay Miles and Qantas Frequent Flyer programmes to redeem points across both airlines’ networks.

Mabuhay Miles members can now redeem miles on Qantas international and domestic flights, while Qantas Frequent Flyer members gain access to Philippine Airlines’ network across the Philippines and South-east Asia.

The agreement broadens redemption options across both carriers and marks the fourth airline partnership under the Mabuhay Miles programme.

Vietjet adds Prague and Nha Trang routes in network expansion
Vietjet will launch services between Hanoi and Prague from October 10, 2026, and between Nha Trang and Singapore from December 11, 2026.

The additions expand the airline’s European and South-east Asian network, strengthen connectivity between Vietnam and key international markets, and increase access to destinations across Vietjet’s network.

The new Hanoi-Prague route will operate twice weekly using Airbus A330 aircraft, with a stop in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The service marks Vietjet’s expansion into the Czech market and further strengthens links between Vietnam and Europe.

Vietjet has also introduced a new direct service between Nha Trang and Singapore. The route will operate four times weekly and will become the airline’s fifth direct connection between Singapore and Vietnam.

Credits: TTG

The post Aviation roundup: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more first appeared on AircrewNews.com.

During its flight from Auckland on 31 May 2024 one of the aeroplane’s three hydraulic systems failed, disabling nosewheel steering and the right engine’s thrust reverser. The flight crew followed standard operating procedures and continued with the flight to land at Christchurch where they planned to use differential braking to steer off the runway on to the rapid exit taxiway.

The landing went according to plan until the turn when the crew lost directional control and the aeroplane veered off the taxiway, hit an aerodrome signboard and continued across the grass until stopping back on the main runway. Nobody was injured but hitting the sign caused significant damage to an engine.

The Commission found the captain had unintentionally moved the thrust levers from maximum reverse to climb power when they meant to move the levers to forward idle for taxiing. The lever position went unnoticed, the engines responded and the aeroplane accelerated.

Chief Investigator of Accidents Louise Cook says it’s likely the engines spooling up startled the pilot, who responded instinctively, pulling both thrust levers back to maximum reverse. This produced reverse thrust on the left, but – due to the hydraulic failure – forward thrust on the right, and created a leftward turning force. “On the face of it, this option appeared safe and achievable to the pilots because Airbus documentation, repeated in Jetstar’s Flight Crew Techniques Manual, provided no guidance on use of differential braking specifically for steering off the runway via a rapid exit. The pilots could have planned to stop on the runway and wait for a tow but to avoid blocking the runway and delaying other flights, they opted for the rapid exit they had often used before. They were likely so focused on making that exit that they missed important cues that the position of the thrust levers was not as intended.”

To prevent a reoccurrence, Jetstar have since changed their guidance to flight crews who find themselves in a similar situation. Airbus has accepted the Commission’s recommendation to revise aircraft manuals and instructor guidance to mitigate the risk that other pilots may move the thrust levers while on the ground to an unintended position, which would lead to an unexpected increase in engine thrust. Airbus plans to do this in April and May 2026.

This accident also highlights the importance of maintenance engineers conducting a detailed inspection of new parts for potential damage before installation. In this case, a titanium hydraulic pipe was just 1mm out of shape – slightly oval, not round. It is very likely the deformity occurred when the pipe’s packaging was damaged in transit between Airbus warehouses in 2015. The damage was not detected before or after installation and failed after 18 months of service.

Credits: JetStar

The post Jetstar changes pilot guidance after 2024 NZ runway incident first appeared on AircrewNews.com.