In the evolving landscape of commercial aviation, the Boeing 797 — officially known as the New Midsize Airplane (NMA) — once captured significant attention as a promising bridge between existing single-aisle and widebody jets. Among the few airlines that showed keen interest in this prospective aircraft was Qatar Airways, a global aviation powerhouse known for investing in next-generation technology. So, what fueled Qatar Airways’ enthusiasm for the Boeing 797, who else was interested, and why did this much-anticipated aircraft ultimately never take flight?

Back in 2019, Qatar Airways' CEO Akbar Al Baker publicly expressed strong interest in the Boeing NMA during an exclusive interview at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Seoul. The 797, designed to seat between 200 to 270 passengers, seemed tailor-made for the airline’s evolving fleet strategy.

Baker revealed that Qatar Airways was so impressed by Boeing's preliminary plans that they hoped to become the launch customer if the program moved forward. The airline viewed the NMA as the ideal platform for medium-haul routes, promising both improved capacity and efficiency to meet future market demands.

The Boeing 797 concept emerged through the 2010s as an innovative “middle-market” airliner intended to fill the capacity and range gap between the 737 MAX and the 787 Dreamliner. Its goal was to replace aging fleets of 757s and 767s  workhorse planes no longer ideal for modern fuel, efficiency, and emissions standards.

Although no firm specifications were ever finalized, analysts envisioned the 797 offering two variants, with ranges around 4,500 to 5,000 nautical miles. Unlike incremental upgrades such as the Airbus A321XLR, which have enjoyed widespread success, the 797 promised a clean-sheet design incorporating new engines and avionics, aiming to blend technology advancement with versatility.

This ambitious aircraft was anticipated to become a critical solution for airlines seeking to balance route flexibility, passenger capacity, fuel efficiency, and compliance with increasingly strict environmental regulations.

Qatar Airways was far from alone in its interest. Australian carrier Qantas expressed enthusiasm, seeing strong potential for domestic and regional flights that require higher capacity and longer range than currently available single-aisle options. Alan Joyce, Qantas’ CEO at the time, praised the NMA’s economic outlook well before the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Across the Pacific, U.S. airlines like Delta Air Lines also eyed the jet as the perfect successor to their aging fleets of 757 and 767 aircraft. Delta CEO Ed Bastian openly supported Boeing’s effort, anticipating a possible order of up to 200 jets once the program launch was confirmed.

Collectively, these airlines alongside aircraft lessors and other carriers  viewed the 797 as a logical progression to meet changing market needs, signaling strong customer demand that could have driven a robust launch.

Despite genuine interest from key players like Qatar Airways, Qantas, and Delta, Boeing ultimately decided not to proceed with the 797 program. Several converging challenges sealed its fate:

• 737 MAX Crisis: Beginning in 2018, the grounding of the 737 MAX following two tragic crashes delivered a severe blow to Boeing’s finances, reputation, and operational focus. Resources and attention shifted heavily toward resolving this crisis, leaving little room for new aircraft development.
• COVID-19 Pandemic: Early 2020 brought catastrophic disruption to the aviation industry. Airlines worldwide deferred deliveries, canceled orders, and prioritized survival over expansion, resulting in a dramatically shrunk market for new aircraft.
• Competitive Pressure: Airbus moved swiftly to capitalize on the middle-of-the-market opportunity by extending the A321neo family with the highly successful A321XLR. This less risky step enabled Airbus to seize market share Boeing might have targeted with the NMA.

In the face of these dynamics, Boeing chose to concentrate on stabilizing existing programs rather than launching a new, capital-intensive airliner project with uncertain timing and returns.

If launched, the Boeing 797 promised to revolutionize the medium-haul segment by combining cutting-edge technology with optimized range and seating capacity. For Qatar Airways and others, it represented a strategic opportunity to modernize fleets with efficient, next-generation jets suited to the evolving demands of global aviation.

While technology and market trends still point toward the need for a “middle-market” aircraft, the 797 program remains a powerful “what if” a glimpse of a potential future deferred but not forgotten.

Boeing may revisit the middle-market segment as recovery stabilizes and market conditions improve, but for now, airlines like Qatar Airways must rely on existing platforms and incremental innovation. The story of the Boeing 797 stands as a reminder of how unpredictable challenges shape aviation’s future  where ambition, market forces, and circumstance collide in shaping the skies of tomorrow.

In a strategic move to streamline its operations, AirAsia Indonesia has announced the suspension of its Bali to Cairns route effective September 19. The decision forms part of the airline’s broader demand-driven network optimization initiative aimed at focusing resources on routes with the most sustainable and robust demand.

Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, shared the reasoning behind the suspension in a statement posted on the airline’s website. He emphasized that the choice followed a thorough review of passenger demand trends and route performance, ensuring a sharper focus on profitable and high-demand services.

Passengers affected by the suspension have been promptly notified via email and SMS. AirAsia has provided several options to ease the impact, including full refunds, credits valid for two years toward future flights with AirAsia, and complimentary flight changes to earlier dates on the Bali-Cairns route prior to the cutoff.

This development comes just one year after AirAsia Indonesia launched the thrice-weekly service linking Bali and Cairns. Following the airline’s exit, Jetstar will remain the sole provider of direct flights between Denpasar and Cairns, maintaining up to four flights per week.

The Bali-Cairns connection has long held significance for travelers drawn to unique cultural and natural experiences. Bali is internationally celebrated for its rich cultural tapestry home to traditional dances, age-old rituals, and stunning ancient temples. Cairns, on the other hand, serves as a gateway to two renowned UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Daintree Rainforest, part of Queensland’s Wet Tropics, and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders.

With this route adjustment, AirAsia Indonesia aims to enhance operational efficiency while still catering to evolving traveler needs in the region.

Philippine Airlines is ramping up its service on the Manila to Melbourne route for the upcoming 2025/26 holiday season to meet growing traveler demand. From December 17, 2025, through January 19, 2026, the airline will increase its weekly flights from five to seven, except during the peak period between December 26, 2025, and January 3, 2026, when the regular schedule applies.

The enhanced schedule features daily flights, offering passengers greater flexibility and convenience for their holiday travel plans. Operating on the reliable Airbus A330-300 aircraft, the route maintains high standards of comfort and service.

Flight details include:

• PR209 departing Manila at 5:00 PM, arriving Melbourne at 4:10 AM the next day (aircraft configuration 3-3-3 with 246 seats).
• A second PR209 flight leaves Manila at 9:25 PM, landing in Melbourne at 8:35 AM the following day (246 seats).

Return flights from Melbourne:

• PR210 departs at 5:55 AM, arriving Manila at 11:20 AM (3-3-3 layout with 357 seats).
• The second PR210 flight takes off at 10:20 AM, reaching Manila by 3:35 PM (357 seats).

This seasonal increase underscores Philippine Airlines’ commitment to enhancing connectivity between the Philippines and Australia, supporting both leisure and business travelers during the busy holiday period.

In a landmark achievement for sustainable aviation, Air France’s Airbus A220-300 has successfully completed its inaugural ferry flight from Mirabel Airport (YMX) in Canada to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) powered by a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This historic delivery not only marks a milestone for Air France but also represents the first time Airbus has issued official sustainability credentials for SAF directly to an airline customer, signaling a significant step forward in the industry’s decarbonization journey.

The newly delivered Air France A220-300, christened VAISON-LA-ROMAINE and the airline’s 46th in this fleet, demonstrated remarkable environmental benefits. Over the course of its ferry flight, the use of SAF reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 tonnes compared to traditional fossil fuels. This achievement reflects Airbus’ ability to provide Proof of Sustainability (PoS) through the CORSIA Sustainability Certification Scheme, ensuring verified emission reductions linked to SAF consumption.

For Air France-KLM, one of the world’s largest buyers of sustainable aviation fuel, the integration of SAF at the point of aircraft delivery represents a key transparency enhancement, accelerating SAF adoption across the aviation sector. The airline group stresses that combining new, more efficient aircraft with SAF is central to meeting its decarbonization targets for medium-haul operations.

Since introducing SAF deliveries at its Mirabel manufacturing facility, Airbus has progressively integrated sustainable fuels into A220 production, acceptance tests, and now delivery flights. In 2025 alone, the Mirabel site anticipates saving around 400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions through the use of approximately 170,000 liters of pure SAF.

This local effort complements Airbus’ worldwide sustainability commitment, where 78% of all aircraft delivered in the first half of the year featured SAF blends. Airbus aims for full SAF compatibility across its entire fleet by 2030. Currently, A220 aircraft are certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends, showcasing both advanced technical readiness and adherence to evolving regulations.

The sustainable aviation fuel used on this flight is certified to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. This reduction is accounted for using a mass balance system that tracks certified SAF volumes alongside regular Jet A-1 fuel, ensuring a transparent and auditable chain of custody. Airbus emphasizes this approach as vital for maintaining operational feasibility while driving greater SAF transparency.

Since introducing its first A220 in 2021 as part of a 60-aircraft order, Air France has leveraged the model’s efficiency to reduce per-seat fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to older aircraft generations. The A220 family remains a cornerstone in both Airbus’ and Air France’s sustainability strategies, combining advancing aircraft efficiency with the accelerating adoption of sustainable fuels.

As the aviation industry charts its path to a low-carbon future, Air France and Airbus’ collaboration on SAF delivery flights underscores the tangible progress being made toward cleaner skies—one sustainably fueled journey at a time.

Emirates Airline (EK) has taken its First Class experience to new heights by introducing an enhanced caviar service, offering unlimited servings of premium Ossetra caviar on all routes. Reflecting a growing appetite among discerning travelers, Emirates has witnessed a more than 30% increase in caviar consumption year over year, with top routes including Dubai to London, Paris, Sydney, Moscow, and Bangkok emerging as the biggest consumers of the delicacy.

The airline’s commitment to sophistication is embodied in a meticulously crafted caviar ritual, which guarantees the freshest and most elegant presentation from start to finish. Each tin of caviar is chauffeur-delivered to the aircraft, handled with utmost care, and presented onboard by cabin crew dressed impeccably in white gloves.

Passengers are treated to a ceremonial service where a crisp linen tablecloth is laid out, and classic accompaniments such as melba toast, blinis, egg yolk, egg white, chives, white onions, sour cream, and lemon are thoughtfully arranged to enhance the tasting experience.

The caviar itself, served in a striking Emirates-engraved bowl, is a sensory highlight an offering that delights the palate with its delicate briny notes, buttery undertones, and smooth texture. To further elevate the indulgence, Emirates pairs the caviar with Dom Pérignon champagne, whose toasted brioche and almond flavors perfectly complement the caviar’s nutty saltiness while its crisp acidity refreshes the palate.

A thoughtful touch of luxury is the use of mother-of-pearl spoons a subtle but important detail that preserves the purity of flavor by preventing the oxidation that metal spoons can cause.

Sourced from the sustainable Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), the Ossetra caviar served onboard comes from fish native to Siberia’s pristine river systems. This species matures faster than other sturgeon varieties, making it a preferred choice for eco-conscious aquaculture without compromising the rich, clean flavor that caviar connoisseurs cherish.

With over 26,800 premium First Class seats available weekly, Emirates’ operational scale demands precision in every step of the caviar preparation process. From rinsing and lightly salting the roe to pasteurizing, sealing in ring-pull tins, and chilling in Dubai under strict conditions, the airline ensures consistent quality no matter the destination.

By blending tradition, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Emirates continues to redefine luxury air travel dining inviting First Class passengers to savor one of the world’s most exquisite culinary treasures high above the clouds.