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CAPA News Briefs

CAPA publishes more than 1,000 global News Briefs every week, covering all aspects of the aviation and travel industry. It’s the most comprehensive source of market intelligence in the world, with around 50 per cent of content translated from non-English sources. The breadth of our coverage means you won’t need any other news sources to monitor competitors and stay informed about the latest developments in the wider aviation sector.

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Below is a sample of the latest news headlines. 146 news briefs have been published for CAPA Members in the past 2 days.

Southwest Airlines global account manager Jason Behrens, via his personal LinkedIn account, announced (12-Mar-2026) the LCC entered an interline partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA). The partnership enables travellers to book interline itineraries through shared gateways in Honolulu, Seattle Tacoma, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles.

Background ✨

Southwest broadened its interline strategy in 2025, adding partners including EVA Air for trans-Pacific itineraries via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma and Chicago O’Hare.1 It also partnered with Philippine Airlines via Los Angeles, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco and Honolulu, and said it explored additional trans-Atlantic partnerships towards end-2025.2 Southwest also signed an interline agreement with Hahnair, giving ticketing access to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets outside the US.3

Air Canada, via its official Twitter account, announced (14-Mar-2026) it extended the suspension of Toronto Pearson-Dubai service until 01-May-2026.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, via its official website, announced (12-Mar-2026) it has extended the suspension of services to Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until 28-Mar-2026.

UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) stated (13-Mar-2026) "air traffic in the UAE is witnessing a gradual return to its normal operational levels, following the country's successful and professional management of the exceptional circumstances witnessed in the region during the recent period". UAE GCAA reported that UAE airports handled more than 1.4 million passengers between 01-Mar-2026 and 12-Mar-2026, while 7839 aircraft movements were recorded in UAE airspace during the same period. UAE GCAA director general Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi reported: "UAE national carriers have begun restoring a significant portion of their operations, with indicators showing that the total operational activity of UAE national carriers reached approximately 44.6% of the overall operational levels that existed before the current tensions, reflecting the ability of UAE airlines to gradually return to normal flight operations". [more - original PR]

SalamAir, via its official Twitter account, announced (11/15-Mar-2026) plans to resume services to/from Duqm International Airport from 12-Mar-2026. The LCC also reported: "Due to airspace closures in certain destinations as a result of ongoing regional developments... Flights to and from Kuwait, Sharjah, Doha & Dammam are suspended until [31-Mar-2026]" and "Flights to and from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran are suspended until [30-Apr-2026]".

Air Seychelles announced (13-Mar-2026) plans to operate three times weekly, nonstop Seychelles-Paris CDG service for one month from 20-Mar-2026. The airline stated it may increase frequency to four times weekly "depending on operational requirements and market demand". The service will be operated with Boeing 787-9 equipment under an agreement with Etihad Airways. The aircraft is configured with 28 business class and 262 economy class seats. Air Seychelles stated it "aims to provide passengers with a reliable and efficient travel alternative during this period of global travel disruption". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Etihad Airways scheduled a four times weekly Abu Dhabi-Seychelles service from 30-Mar-2026 with A320s, rising to daily from 17-Jun-2026 to 14-Oct-2026, alongside Air Seychelles on the route1. Air Seychelles previously planned to lift Seychelles-Abu Dhabi from six times weekly to daily from 16-Oct-2025 using 168-seat A320neos, with OAG showing it as the sole scheduled operator at that time2.

IATA Economics reported (13-Mar-2026) the rate of change in jet fuel prices tends to be more significant for airlines than the price level. IATA stated: "The most damaging episodes occur when fuel prices rise rapidly, and airlines do not have time to adapt their strategy". Details include:

  • Jet fuel prices averaged approximately USD124 per barrel between 2011 and 2014, one of the highest price periods in aviation history. IATA noted the global airline industry achieved "reasonable performance" and generated operating margins of approximately 3% over the period. The association stated: "The industry adapted to high fuel prices through fare adjustments, efficiency gains, capacity optimisation, and procurement management, allowing profitability to remain positive despite high jet fuel costs";
  • Jet fuel prices increased approximately 40% year-on-year to USD127 per barrel in 2008, and airline industry margins decreased from about 4% to zero. IATA stated: "Airlines were unable to pass through such a rapid cost increase quickly enough to protect margins".

IATA concluded: "airline profitability is highly sensitive to the speed of fuel price changes. When fuel prices remain elevated but stable, airlines can adjust pricing and operations gradually and continue to operate profitably, although typically with thinner margins. Fuel price shocks, however, push costs higher faster than revenues can adjust, and pose an elevated risk of eroding margins and industry profits". [more - original PR]

SriLankan Airlines, via its official Facebook account, announced (11-Mar-2026) plans to increase Colombo Bandaranaike-Melbourne Tullamarine frequency from seven to 10 times weekly, commencing 02-Aug-2026. The airline is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR - Melbourne Tullamarine Airport]

Background ✨

SriLankan Airlines previously increased Colombo Bandaranaike-Melbourne frequency from six times weekly to daily in May-2022, with the service operated by A330-300 aircraft and remaining the only scheduled operator on the route per OAG.1 2 SriLankan Airlines also previously increased Colombo Bandaranaike-Sydney frequency from three to four times weekly from 21-Jan-2024, with OAG indicating it was the sole scheduled operator.3

London Gatwick Airport announced (11-Mar-2026) plans to increase per hour scheduled aircraft movements from 55 in 2025 to 57 in 2026, following air traffic control and airfield innovations. The investments were undertaken in partnership with serving airlines and UK NATS and resulted in the airport's best on-time performance for departures in a decade - excluding the pandemic - in 2025, with an 11% year-on-year increase. As previously reported by CAPA, the airport also became the first single-runway airport globally to introduce time-based separation processes in 2025, facilitating an increase in the number of arrivals and departures per hour. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

London Gatwick handled 43.2 million passengers in 2024 and reported revenue of GBP1.1 billion, with CEO Stewart Wingate citing the UK government being minded to approve its privately financed Northern Runway plans1. In 1H2025 it handled 20 million passengers and said it had 58 serving airlines, including more than 50 weekly long haul frequencies to the Middle East2. The airport previously capped daily movements to mitigate staffing-related disruption, extending the limit to 15-Oct-20233.

Air Arabia, via its official website, announced (12-Mar-2026) plans to operate "limited flights" from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah to destinations in 20 countries, effective 06-Mar-2026 to 22-Mar-2026, "subject to operational and regulatory approvals".

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Russia FAVT) restricted (12-Mar-2026) Azur Air's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) until 08-Jun-2026, on the basis on an audit conducted from 19-Feb-2026 to 05-Mar-2026. The carrier was audited as a result of service cancellations and delays due to equipment issues. Azur Air was instructed to enhance safety, audit its airworthiness and aircraft maintenance departments and reduce the flight schedule. Failure to address the recommendations will result in the carrier's AOC being annulled. [more - original PR - Russian]

Airport Development Group announced (10-Mar-2026) Aero Dili plans to launch twice weekly Dili-Darwin service on 24-May-2026. Aero Dili president director Lourenço De Oliveira stated: "Launching our first direct service to Australia is a proud milestone for Aero Dili and an important step in deepening the partnership between Timor-Leste and the Northern Territory". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Aero Dili expanded its international network with Dili-Fuzhou flights from 24-Jan-2026, operating fortnightly.1 It previously launched Dili-Xiamen on 15-Feb-2025, initially twice monthly before increasing to weekly from May-2025.2 Separately, Qantas Airways launched Darwin-Dili on 30-Mar-2022, scheduled three times weekly and ramping up to five weekly from Jun-2022.3