The home of market intelligence for
the aviation and travel industry.

LOT Polish Airlines, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (30-Jul-2026) plans to launch three times weekly Warsaw-Hanoi service from 31-Mar-2027, operating with Boeing 787. Hanoi will be the fifth destination in the carrier's Asian long haul network, alongside Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi and Bangkok.

Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific, stated (29-Jul-2026) the A220 "is doing really well for us" and the airline is "pushing the utilisation up" for the aircraft type. Qantas intends to use its A220s on more international routes after deploying the type on Brisbane-Wellington service in Feb-2026. The airline was due to receive its 13th A220 on 29-Jul-2026 and take another 10 in FY2027, ending 30-Jun-2027. [more - Aviation Week]

Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson, speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific, stated (29-Jul-2026) the airline plans to deploy A321XLR aircraft on international routes from Oct-2026, initially replacing A330 equipment on Brisbane-Manila service, enabling an increase in frequency. The airline has received seven A321XLRs and expects to take another seven in FY2027, ending 30-Jun-2027. [more - Aviation Week]

Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) reported (30-Jul-2026) passengers increased 6.2% year-on-year to 8.4 million and international traffic increased 25% in FY2026, ended 30-Jun-2026, "outpacing the national average for airport passenger growth". QAL CEO Amelia Evans attributed the result to strong airline relationships and growing travel demand. QAL added new services, including from Gold Coast to Bali, Fiji, Hamilton, Dunedin and Auckland, and grew capacity in key markets such as Gold Coast-Melbourne, Gold Coast-Sydney and Townsville-Brisbane. [more - original PR]

Air France-KLM reduced (30-Jul-2026) its 2026 capacity growth forecast to 2%-3%, down from 2%-4%, as rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict impacted its profitability in 1H2026. The group expects its fuel bill to reach USD8.9 billion in 2026, which is USD2 billion more than in 2025. CFO Steven Zaat stated: "We don't hedge any further for 2026. We are already at 67% and currently at 40% for 2027". As previously reported by CAPA, Air France-KLM submitted a binding offer for up to a 49.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal and is interested in increasing its stake in SAS. When asked if Air France-KLM was also interested in easyJet, CEO Benjamin Smith said: "There are some interesting assets they have, of course, for any airline. But today, it's not something that we are studying or looking at extensively". [more - Aviation Week]

IATA Economics reported (30-Jul-2026) that without the supply of eligible fuel, the 'HEFA cap' and 'e-SAF cap' under the UK Government's sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate could drive costs to approximately GBP300 million (EUR350.58 million) in 2027 and up to GBP2 billion (EUR2.34 billion) in 2030, "without any associated emissions reductions". The figures would equate to an additional GBP183 (EUR213.85) per tonne of conventional aviation fuel supplied, in addition to any other mandate compliance costs. IATA commented: "Calculated costs per tonne show that the cost impact for airlines under the mandate is much greater than that felt by other UK transport sectors". The 'HEFA cap' will take effect in 2027 and will limit certain feedstocks, such as used cooking oil. The e-SAF supply mandate will commence in 2028. UK aviation fuel suppliers will be obliged to supply increasing volumes of 'non-HEFA' SAF and e-SAF, and those that are unable to source eligible fuel will pay a buyout price of GBP5875 (EUR6865) per tonne for main obligation SAF and GBP6250 (EUR7304) per tonne for e-SAF. [more - original PR]