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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. 290 news briefs have been published for CAPA Members in the past 2 days.

Etihad Airways announced (24-Nov-2025) plans to deploy A380 aircraft on daily Abu Dhabi-Tokyo Narita service from 16-Jun-2026. The carrier currently operates the service with A350-1000 and is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Etihad Airways has progressively increased A380 deployments across its network, adding the aircraft to routes such as Abu Dhabi-Toronto, Abu Dhabi-Singapore, and Abu Dhabi-Paris CDG, typically replacing A350-1000 or Boeing 777-300ER equipment and resulting in significant capacity growth on these services. It has remained the sole operator on several of these routes, aligning fleet changes with demand trends and network expansion plans1 2 3 4.

Qatar Airways announced (23-Nov-2025) plans to expand capacity on the following routes:

  • Doha-Lagos: Increase frequency from 10 to 14 times weekly, effective 15-Dec-2025 to 28-Mar-2026;
  • Doha-Kuala Lumpur: Increase frequency from 14 to 17 times weekly, commencing 17-Dec-2025;
  • Doha-Shanghai Pudong: Increase frequency from seven to 10 times weekly, effective 01-Jan-2026 to 28-Mar-2026;
  • Doha-Singapore: Deploy A380 equipment on select frequencies, commencing 12-Jan-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Qatar Airways was the sole scheduled operator on the Doha-Shanghai Pudong route and planned to operate the increased frequencies with A350-900 equipment during the specified period1.

Eurowings announced (22-Nov-2025) it introduced new premium business class seating on Berlin-Dubai service. As previously reported by CAPA, the Premium BIZ seat replaces the 2-3 seating arrangement with a 2-2 layout and features an adjustable leg rest, cocktail table, USB port and enhanced service with aperitif, hot meal, amenity kit, pillow and blanket. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Eurowings planned to introduce the Premium BIZ seat in its A320neo aircraft on the Berlin-Dubai route from 22-Nov-2025, with a 2-2 seating configuration and enhanced amenities. Lufthansa Group also announced that 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft would be allocated to Eurowings from 20271. The new seat concept was initially available exclusively on the Berlin-Dubai route before wider rollout on medium haul services2 3.

SWISS commenced (20-Nov-2025) the deployment of its first A350 on Zurich-Boston service, with Montreal to be the aircraft's second long haul destination. The aircraft will continue to be deployed on short haul services over the "next few weeks". As previously reported by CAPA, the aircraft is the first in the SWISS' long haul fleet to feature the new 'SWISS Senses' cabin interior, offering three suites with up to four seats in first class, 45 seats in business class, 38 in premium economy class and 156 in economy class. The carrier expects the delivery of an additional nine A350s by 2031, all equipped with the new 'SWISS Senses' cabin. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

SWISS received its first A350-900 aircraft at Zurich Airport in Oct-2025, initially deploying it on short haul routes, such as Zurich-Palma de Mallorca, before commencing long haul operations. The aircraft was officially named 'Lausanne' and features the new 'SWISS Senses' cabin. SWISS plans to invest around CHF1 billion per annum in new aircraft and expects delivery of nine further A350s by 2031, all with the new cabin1 2 3.

ATR announced (21-Nov-2025) Air Cambodia will be the launch customer for the company's new premium seat, with certification expected in 1Q2027. The seat will feature 'X-Space Table', a plug-and-play solution that converts a standard dual economy seat into a single premium seat "within minutes". Following the delivery of the carrier's ATR 72-600 in May-2025, Air Cambodia will retrofit the 'X-Space Table' in 2027 across its fleet of three ATRs. The business class section will feature four business seats arranged in two rows in a one-by-one layout. The 'X-Space Table' is part of ATR HighLine, the manufacturer's collection of high-end cabin interiors introduced in 2023. Air Cambodia operates ATR aircraft on regional routes including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Ho Chi Minh City. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Air Cambodia received a new ATR 72-600 aircraft in Phnom Penh on 26-May-2025, after rebranding from Cambodia Angkor Air and expanding its fleet in 2024. The airline planned further route growth to Japan, South Korea and intercontinental destinations, and aimed to launch Phnom Penh-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service with A320 equipment in 1Q20251 2 3.

Air New Zealand announced (20/23-Nov-2025) it has been notified by E tū and the Flight Attendants' Association of New Zealand, unions representing the carrier's cabin crew, of their intention to take 24 hour industrial action on 08-Dec-2025. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Background ✨

Air New Zealand previously received notification from two unions representing its cabin crew regarding potential industrial action, stating at that time no formal notice had been received and there was no impact to flights as it worked towards a resolution with union representatives1.

San Diego International Airport introduced (20-Nov-2025) SAN Pass, a programme enabling visitors to enter post security areas without a boarding pass or ticket. The airport said a limited number of passes are available daily and are issued on a first come, first served basis, subject to TSA approval. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Other US airports, including Philadelphia, San Antonio, Palm Springs and Seattle-Tacoma, previously implemented similar guest pass programmes enabling non-ticketed visitors to access post-security areas, typically with daily limits and advance application requirements1 2 3 4.

SkyTeam announced (20-Nov-2025) the following updates on lounges and air-rail travel:

Background ✨

SkyTeam previously opened a joint lounge with Global Lounge Network at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport and completed a major refurbishment of its Vancouver International Airport lounge, offering enhanced amenities for eligible passengers of its member airlines1 2. The alliance also updated its lounge access policy, extending domestic lounge access to Elite Plus customers at selected member lounges from 01-Apr-20253.

UATP chief marketing officer Wendy Ward, speaking to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia, stated (31-Oct-2025) all forms of payment are becoming prevalent, commenting: "Every kind of form of payment that exists... is becoming the norm". CFO Michael Marrone added: "We're seeing the rise of more usage of virtual card". Ms Ward said Southeast Asia is expected to "explode with forms of payment" and Latin America and Africa are also "real areas of growth opportunity". [more - CAPA TV]

Air Transat announced (20-Nov-2025) plans to launch twice weekly Toronto Pearson-Accra service from 17-Jun-2026 to 22-Oct-2026. No other carriers operate the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Air Transat recently announced several new long haul routes from Toronto and Montreal, including Toronto-Berlin and Montreal-Agadir, and planned to increase frequencies on services from Toronto to Berlin, Lima, and Istanbul to three times weekly for summer 2026, further diversifying its transatlantic network and targeting underserved markets1 2.

Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines launched (20-Nov-2025) an expanded codeshare and frequent flyer partnership. The codeshare will be implemented gradually, with Vietnam Airlines passengers to gain access to Athens, Addis Ababa, Bahrain, Muscat, Cairo and Istanbul. Etihad passengers will be able to access destinations in Vietnam and Asia through a single ticket for the entire journey. Etihad Guest and Lotusmiles members can earn and redeem miles across either carrier's network. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Etihad Airways previously signed a frequent flyer agreement with Vietnam Airlines, allowing loyalty members to earn and redeem miles across both networks, and scheduled to launch Abu Dhabi-Hanoi service from 03-Nov-20251. The two carriers also signed a bilateral MoU covering collaboration in areas such as passenger services, cargo, ground handling and maintenance2.

Qantas Group announced (20-Nov-2025) plans to implement the following restrictions on the use of portable power banks across all Qantas Airways, QantasLink and Jetstar Airways services from 15-Dec-2025:

  • The use of and charging of power banks on board will be prohibited;
  • Customers can carry up to two power banks in their cabin baggage;
  • All power banks must display battery specifications;
  • Lithium batteries that are part of a smart bag must be removed from the bag and taken as carry on, and stowed in the same way as power banks;
  • Power banks will continue to be prohibited from checked baggage. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Major airlines and regulators in the Asia-Pacific and beyond have recently introduced similar restrictions prohibiting the use or charging of power banks in the aircraft cabin, often citing safety concerns following incidents involving lithium battery fires. Airlines such as Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and China Airlines, as well as authorities in China and Hong Kong, implemented comparable measures throughout 2025, with some also limiting the number and capacity of power banks allowed onboard1 2 3 4 5 6 7.