Category Archives: Airlines

IATA’s 2024 WATS Report Reveals Strong Premium Cabin Growth and Asia-Pacific Airport Pair Dominance

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(IN SHORT) IATA’s 2024 WATS report, drawing on data from over 240 airlines, delivers an in-depth view of global air transport metrics for the previous year. Key highlights include an 11.8% rise in premium-class traffic—totaling nearly 117 million passengers—and Asia-Pacific’s leadership with 22.8% premium growth. Jeju–Seoul topped the busiest airport-pair rankings at 13.2 million flyers,… Read the full news article

Cathay Pacific Relaunches Four-Weekly Hong Kong–Brussels Flights Amid Near-100 Weekly Services to Europe

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(IN SHORT) Cathay Pacific has resumed four-times-weekly flights between Hong Kong and Brussels as of 3 August 2025, joining nearly 100 weekly return services connecting Hong Kong with Europe during the summer peak. The airline’s expanded network includes multiple daily flights to London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Manchester, Milan, Paris and Zurich; four weekly to Barcelona, Madrid… Read the full news article

Blue Islands Launches Direct Festive Flights for Channel Islanders to Bruges Christmas Markets

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(IN SHORT) Blue Islands will operate direct flights from Guernsey and Jersey to Ostend this December, offering day-return, two-night and three-night festive packages to Bruges. Each booking includes hold luggage and a coach transfer to Bruges’ city centre, where visitors can enjoy the Winter Glow festival, Christmas markets, mulled wine, boutique shopping, and seasonal attractions… Read the full news article

Samsung Wallet Partnership Streamlines TAP Air Portugal’s Digital Travel Experience

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(IN SHORT) TAP Air Portugal has teamed up with Samsung to become the first airline in Portugal to support Samsung Wallet, offering passengers a seamless, secure digital travel experience. Samsung-enabled users can add TAP boarding passes and their Miles&Go loyalty cards directly into the Wallet app, benefitting from Samsung Knox security. TAP’s Digital & eCommerce… Read the full news article

Fourth Daily Dubai to London Gatwick Rotation Enhances Emirates’ Evening Connectivity

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(IN SHORT) Emirates will launch a fourth daily flight between Dubai and London Gatwick on 8 February 2026, operated by its new Airbus A350-900. The service, EK069/070, departs Dubai at 17:05 and returns from Gatwick at 23:55, serving as the last daily connection on the route in both directions. Equipped with 32 lie-flat Business Class… Read the full news article

Enhanced Connectivity: Garuda and SIA Unveil Expanded Routes, Fare Integration, and Lounge Access

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(IN SHORT) In August 2025, Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines will launch joint fare products, extend their codeshare network, and introduce reciprocal lounge access for frequent flyers. Travellers can book combined itineraries on both carriers between Singapore and Indonesian cities—Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya—and choose from an expanded range of fares. The codeshare expansion adds four… Read the full news article

Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino Appointed Lufthansa Hub Manager Frankfurt

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(IN SHORT) Francesco Sciortino, currently Chief Operating Officer of Austrian Airlines, will transition to Hub Manager Frankfurt and Accountable Manager on the Lufthansa Airlines Executive Board starting 1 September 2025. During his 4½-year tenure at Austrian, he championed the introduction of the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787-9, led the decision to phase out the Embraer… Read the full news article

Adairs Linen Lovers Members Now Earn Qantas Points on Every Purchase

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(IN SHORT) From 30 July, Adairs’ Linen Lovers members can earn 1 Qantas Point per A$1 spent at any of Adairs’ 170 stores in Australia and New Zealand or online. To participate, shoppers scan their Qantas Frequent Flyer digital card in-store or enter both loyalty numbers at checkout online. Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance noted… Read the full news article

LEGO®, Pandora, Starbucks and More Join Manchester Airport’s Upgraded Terminal 2 Experience

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(IN SHORT) Manchester Airport has opened a new section of its revamped Terminal 2 departure lounge, featuring six new high-profile shops and eateries including LEGO®, Rituals, Pandora, Starbucks, Joe & The Juice, and Upper Crust. This milestone forms part of a £1.3 billion, 10-year redevelopment project that will see over 70% of passengers use the… Read the full news article

South African Airways to Launch Direct Cape Town–Mauritius Flights Beginning December 2025

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(IN SHORT) South African Airways (SAA) will begin its first direct flights between Cape Town and Mauritius on 9 December 2025, with service three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The new route reflects SAA’s commitment to expanding its regional footprint and supporting tourism between the Western Cape and Mauritius. Temporary adjustments will… Read the full news article

Three Decades of Service: Korean Air Commemorates Washington, D.C. Route Milestone at Dulles Airport

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(IN SHORT) Korean Air has celebrated 30 years of service between Seoul and Washington, D.C., with a special event at Dulles International Airport, where gifts were distributed to passengers and a complimentary round-trip ticket to Seoul was awarded to the 30th check-in passenger. The airline began operating the route in 1995, initially with a stopover… Read the full news article

Kuala Lumpur–Trivandrum Service by Malaysia Airlines to Operate Daily Starting December 2025

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(IN SHORT) Malaysia Airlines will boost its Kuala Lumpur–Trivandrum service to five weekly flights from 12 September 2025, with daily operations launching on 1 December 2025. This move responds to strong demand and impressive load factors since the route’s debut in November 2023. The increase is part of the airline’s broader strategy to strengthen connectivity… Read the full news article

New Era for Austrian Miles & More Credit Cards as Erste Bank und Sparkasse Takes Over with Expanded Travel and Banking Benefits

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(IN SHORT) Austrian Airlines and Miles & More have chosen Erste Bank und Sparkasse to manage their Austrian credit card portfolio starting in 2026, with Mastercard continuing as payment provider. The new credit cards will be linked to the George digital banking platform and will introduce expanded benefits such as cashback on foreign currency payments,… Read the full news article

Lufthansa, Fraport and zeroG Roll Out AI System “seer” to Optimize Aircraft Handling at Frankfurt

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(IN SHORT) Lufthansa, Fraport AG, and tech subsidiary zeroG are rolling out “seer,” an AI-powered camera system designed to enhance aircraft turnaround efficiency at Frankfurt Airport. After a successful pilot program, “seer” is being implemented at more aircraft positions, with plans for widespread deployment. The system captures and timestamps key ground handling steps in real… Read the full news article

Coast-to-Coast Comfort: American Airlines Adds Premium Economy on New York–Los Angeles Flights

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(IN SHORT) American Airlines will introduce Premium Economy service on its flagship transcontinental route between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) starting October 5. Passengers opting for Premium Economy will enjoy priority airport services, wider seating with extra legroom, premium amenities including an Ostrichpillow® and skincare products, and a full hot meal served with… Read the full news article

New Business Class Menu Features Tick‑Box Breakfast Selection and Austrian‑Sourced Gin, Whisky, Vodka

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(IN SHORT) Austrian Airlines has refreshed its Business Class service on long‑haul routes with a newly structured menu card that lets passengers tick off breakfast items—reintroducing the Kreuzerlfrühstück for personalized trays. The airline has also replaced several international spirits with Austrian‑made selections: Gin X1 by Wolfgang Achs Apetlon, Gurktaler herbal liqueur, Roggenhof Whisky Single Malt from… Read the full news article

New EVA Air–UATP Prepaid Card Empowers Businesses with Flexible Payments, Integrated Reporting, and Exclusive Upgrades

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(IN SHORT) EVA Air has introduced a new co‑branded prepaid UATP card for corporate clients, in partnership with UATP’s dedicated air‑travel payment network. Unlike traditional credit cards, businesses preload funds and unlock tiered benefits—ranging from free Economy tickets to Royal Laurel Class upgrades—according to deposit levels. The card can be used with any UATP‑accepting airline… Read the full news article

Qatar Airways partners with Hans Zimmer to debut a full sonic identity and album, enriching the journey of Skytrax’s 2025 World’s Best Airline

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(IN SHORT) Qatar Airways has partnered with acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer to craft a dedicated sonic identity for the airline, reinforcing its focus on emotionally engaging travel experiences. The score—set to feature across onboard and brand touchpoints—will also be released as a full album on streaming platforms and the airline’s channels. CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed… Read the full news article

From Mahi Mahi to mocktails: Fiji Airways elevates inflight service with chef-finished dishes, island-inspired drinks and upgraded Economy options

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(IN SHORT) Fiji Airways is overhauling its onboard offering with a Pacific Rim–inspired menu and a new Dine on Demand service in Business Class, initially on select long-haul flights. The program lets passengers choose dishes and timing, elevating personalisation and comfort. Signature items—such as Grilled Mahi Mahi with Prawn Chilli Oil, Hamachi Crudo with Octopus… Read the full news article

UAE logistics gets a fintech upgrade as PayCargo and Emirates SkyCargo roll out a unified online payment platform for air freight stakeholders

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New collaboration reshapes cargo payments and boosts efficiency for freight forwarders and cargo players across the UAE (IN SHORT) PayCargo has launched its digital cargo payment platform in the UAE, with Emirates SkyCargo as the first regional carrier to adopt the system. The integration allows freight forwarders and other stakeholders to make instant payments via… Read the full news article

Emirates launches Aircrafted 2025 limited edition upcycled luggage collection with 167 pieces made from A380 and 777 materials to benefit children in need

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(IN SHORT) Emirates has released the Aircrafted by Emirates 2025 Collection, a second limited run of 167 handmade luggage and bag pieces created from upcycled materials taken from retrofitted A380 and 777 aircraft. Available now at the Emirates Official Store, the items—priced USD 80–350—are expected to sell out quickly. The lineup includes three new trolley… Read the full news article

Emirates Group launches global hiring campaign to add 17,300 people across 350 roles with 2,100 recruitment events in 150 cities

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(IN SHORT) The Emirates Group has begun a global recruitment push to hire 17,300 people across 350 roles in FY 2025, reinforcing rapid growth at Emirates and dnata. Roles span cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, HR and finance, with dnata alone adding over 4,000 cargo, catering… Read the full news article

Strategic MoU sets dnata and IAG on a path to innovation, consistency and long-term value with LAX win and wider rollout ahead

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(IN SHORT) dnata has signed an MoU with International Airlines Group, becoming the inaugural ground handler in IAG’s Preferred Partner Programme. The pact establishes a long-term framework to drive innovation, consistency and value across North American stations, with services due to commence in Q4 2025. David Barker of dnata and Gurm Nijjer of IAG emphasized… Read the full news article

Bulgaria’s seaside base grows stronger as Wizz Air holds 20% market share in Varna, flies 13 destinations to six countries and records 99.1% flight completion

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Wizz Air adds four new routes from North Macedonia to Italy, Germany and Denmark

(IN SHORT) Wizz Air is celebrating eight years at its Varna base, Bulgaria’s first summer base, having served more than 4.8 million passengers since 2017. In April 2025, the airline added a second Airbus A321neo in Varna to match growing demand. The carrier now offers 13 routes to six countries, including exclusive services to Milan… Read the full news article

Wizz Air celebrates 8 million passengers in Iași after a decade of growth, 21 winter routes and a dominant share of airport traffic

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Wizz Air adds four new routes from North Macedonia to Italy, Germany and Denmark

(IN SHORT) Wizz Air has surpassed 8 million passengers at Iași International Airport, marking more than ten years of operations since launching flights in December 2014 and opening its base in July 2016. The 8,000,000th traveller, arriving from Milan Bergamo on July 22nd, received a €100 voucher. Today, Wizz Air offers 21 routes to 13… Read the full news article

Travelport+ Accelerates Air Searches by 23%, Delivers Sub‑One‑Second Results Amid 200% Volume Surge

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(IN SHORT) Travelport has accelerated its Travelport+ platform’s air search speed to 0.84 seconds—23% faster—despite a 200% increase in search volume since 2023. Enhanced booking capabilities and integrations like Content Optimizer and Productivity Automator provide travel agents with streamlined workflows and greater upsell potential. Independent research by Dynata and user feedback on G2.com rank Travelport+… Read the full news article

Globespan and Amadeus Cytric Team Up to Deliver Air Canada NDC Bookings via OBT Across North America

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(IN SHORT) Globespan Travel Management is now reselling Amadeus Cytric’s corporate booking solution throughout North America, granting full use of Cytric Easy—including Microsoft Teams integration. As part of this launch, Globespan became the first TMC in Canada to execute a live NDC booking for Air Canada via an OBT powered by Amadeus, enhancing access to… Read the full news article

American Airlines and Mastercard Deepen Four‑Decade Partnership to Elevate AAdvantage® Experiences

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(IN SHORT) American Airlines and Mastercard have extended their nearly 40‑year partnership, naming Mastercard the exclusive network for all AAdvantage® co‑branded credit cards. The renewed agreement harnesses Mastercard’s payment technologies and analytics to tailor offers, enhance reward redemption, and secure transactions throughout the travel process. AAdvantage® members will also access more Mastercard Priceless Experiences—VIP events,… Read the full news article

Brussels Airport Showcases Belgian Heritage Year‑Round with Record Chocolate Sales, Comic Souvenirs, and Cultural Installations

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(IN SHORT) Brussels Airport, handling up to 90,000 travelers each summer day, celebrates Belgian identity year‑round through its retail and hospitality offerings. Chocolate leads sales—1.5 kg per minute, 850 tonnes annually—with Neuhaus customizable boxes, Leonidas hazelnut tablets, and salted‑caramel bars topping the list. The new “Chocolate Shack” lets visitors personalize confections. Tintin and Snowy souvenirs dominate non-food… Read the full news article

IHG and Hainan Airlines Launch “Where Dreams Bloom, Journey to the Oasis” with Garden‑Oasis Lounge and Dual Gourmet Menus

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(IN SHORT) To honor its 50th anniversary in Greater China, IHG Hotels & Resorts has deepened its partnership with Hainan Airlines through “Where Dreams Bloom, Journey to the Oasis.” Highlights include a tranquil co‑branded “Garden Oasis” lounge at Shanghai Pudong Airport; two new business‑class menus (“Flavours of Suzhou and Hainan” and CHAR Bar & Grill’s “Grilled & Gliding”); a branded “IHG… Read the full news article