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London Heathrow Airport reported (11-Feb-2026) it handled 6.5 million passengers in Jan-2026, an increase of 2.2% year-on-year and the airport's busiest January on record. The airport reported Jan-2026 was the first month in which every passenger used new security lane technology across all terminals. The performance included multiple peak days exceeding 250,000 passengers, surpassing the previous January record of 246,000 despite adverse weather across the US and Europe. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Heathrow's passenger growth in Jan-2026 followed a record-breaking 2025, when it surpassed 84 million passengers for the first time, with December also marking its busiest on record. CEO Thomas Woldbye highlighted the airport's strong punctuality and ongoing expansion plans, noting the government's support and the need for regulatory certainty to secure private investment for future growth and connectivity enhancements1.

AirAsia X (AAX) announced (11-Feb-2026) plans to commence daily Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick service on 26-Jun-2026 with A330 aircraft. This marks the establishment of "Bahrain as AAX's first global hub", "marking the expansion of the airline beyond its homeground Asia" and "Leveraging Bahrain's strategic location and aviation structure" to connect Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes stated: "This is a defining step in the next phase of AAX's growth. Bahrain as our strategic aviation hub allows us to connect Asia with the Middle East and Europe more effectively while creating a scalable platform for future growth". The LCC will be the sole scheduled operator on the Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain sector of the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR - AirAsia X] [more - original PR - AirAsia X - II] [more - original PR - London Gatwick Airport III]

Background ✨

Capital A completed the disposal of its aviation businesses, including AirAsia and AirAsia Aviation Group, to AirAsia X, consolidating all AirAsia-branded airlines under one platform and enabling more integrated network planning and improved fleet utilisation. The transaction included the issuance of new AAX shares and assumption of significant debt, with the shares scheduled for listing on Bursa Malaysia on 19-Jan-20261.

Airforwarders Association (AfA) reported (10-Feb-2026) 83% of respondents to a member survey have experienced reduced shipping volumes from clients as a direct result of US import tariffs. AfA stated "more than half" of respondents said tariffs required changes to their clients' supply chains and shipping routes, and "nearly half" reported increased operational costs and administrative workload. Customs delays, airport congestion, reduced flight schedules, and inconsistent security and documentation processes were cited as factors that are compounding the impact of tariffs on operations. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Asia Pacific carriers reported that US tariffs led to higher supply costs and disrupted trade routes, with AAPA director general Subhas Menon warning that these measures threatened to undermine recent supply chain recovery and delay delivery of aircraft, parts, and components1. The end of the de minimis exemption further increased costs and compliance burdens for US airfreight forwarders, resulting in fewer but larger shipments and heightened operational complexity2.

Qantas Airways confirmed (11-Feb-2026) Cloncurry Airport is scheduled to remain closed until 15-Feb-2026. As previously reported by CAPA, the airport closed to facilitate runway repairs following rainfall damage in early Jan-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an AUD38 million recovery package for the Cloncurry region, with AUD11.5 million allocated specifically for urgent airport repairs following the "catastrophic" runway damage caused by monsoonal rainfall in early Jan-2026, and highlighted the need for rapid restoration to support local industry and connectivity1 2.

Gold Coast Airport reported (11-Feb-2026) it handled more than 1.2 million passengers during its peak summer holiday period, marking "one of its busiest summers on record". The airport handled approximately 600,000 passengers in Dec-2025, as well as an additional 637,000 passengers since the beginning of Jan-2026. Queensland Airports Limited chief of aviation Adam Rowe stated: "The Sydney and Melbourne routes continue to be our busiest, however we also saw strong demand for international travel over the summer. More than 126,000 passengers travelled on one of our six New Zealand routes - 18,000 more than the same period last year". Mr Rowe added: "Bali was also a popular pick, with two airlines now servicing the Denpasar route passenger numbers jumped by more than 75% when compared to last year - with more than 23,000 passengers over Dec-2025 and Jan-2026". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Gold Coast Airport set new monthly records for both domestic and New Zealand passenger volumes in Dec-2025, handling over 500,000 domestic and 60,500 New Zealand travellers respectively, and processed a total of 598,550 passengers for the month, up 5.8% year-on-year. For 2025, it saw 6.2 million passengers, a 0.9% decrease, with international traffic up 14% and growing capacity to New Zealand and Fiji1 2.

India's Ministry of Tourism reported (11-Feb-2026) nine million foreign tourist arrivals in the 12 months ended 31-Dec-2025, down 9.4% year-on-year. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

India recorded 9.7 million visitor arrivals in 2024, representing a 1.4% year-on-year increase and a recovery of 88.4% compared to 2019, before the subsequent decline observed in 20251. In the three months ended 30-Sep-2025, arrivals fell 10.7% year-on-year to 1.9 million, following a 17.9% year-on-year decrease in the previous quarter2 3.

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US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (03-Feb-2026) to vacate a US Department of Transportation rule requiring US airlines and ticket agents to disclose certain fees when purchasing an airfare. The US DoT rule, passed in 2024, required airlines and ticket agents to "tell consumers upfront what fees they charge for a first or second checked bag, a carry-on bag, and for cancelling or changing a reservation", as well as requiring airlines to disclose their baggage, change, and cancellation policies before ticket purchase. The en-banc panel ruled that the US DoT failed to comply with notice-and-comment provision of Administrative Procedures Act, leading it to vacate the entire ruling as "the procedural defect compromised the entire regulation". The case against the rule was brought by Airlines for America, with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, the National Air Carrier Association and IATA. [more - Aviation Week]

Background ✨

The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals previously blocked the Department of Transportation's fee disclosure rule, stating the DoT did not comply with procedural requirements and did not allow airlines to comment on a related study, leading to the rule's suspension in Jul-2024 for legal review1. Airlines for America, IATA, and major US carriers challenged the rule, arguing it exceeded DoT's authority and would harm airlines2 3.

Air New Zealand confirmed (05-Feb-2026) cabin crew unions E tū and the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand (FAANZ) plan to follow through on strike action planned for 12/13-Feb-2026. As previously reported by CAPA, the unions previously confirmed plans to undergo strike action impacting the carrier's widebody fleet on 11/12/13-Feb-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Cabin crew unions E tū and the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand had previously notified Air New Zealand of planned strike action affecting its widebody fleet on 11, 12 and 13-Feb-20261. Earlier proposed industrial actions by cabin crew in Dec-2025 were withdrawn, with the most recent concerning narrowbody fleet crew for 18-Dec-2025 also cancelled2 3.

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