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

Emirates Airline invested (03-Nov-2025) AED85 million (USD23.14 million) to install more than 200 biometrics-enabled cameras across Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. The airline noted "the powerful cameras can recognise the biometric profile of a customer from one metre away, allowing customers to walk swiftly through areas where they used to have to pause and show documents". Passengers can register via the official Emirates Airline mobile application or at check-in desks at the airport to access the biometrics enabled paperless boarding service, which "allows customers to skip queues and speed through the airport every time they travel". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Over 21 million passengers used biometric recognition at Dubai airports in 2023, with 127 biometric gates operational across Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central1. Emirates previously confirmed the deployment of biometric machines and smart gates in Terminal 3, enabling expedited processing for UAE residents and eligible visitors2. The biometric systems are supported by a partnership with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai3.

Cathay Pacific entered (05-Nov-2025) into an agreement with Qatar Airways for Cathay Pacific to buy back all of Qatar Airways' shares in Cathay Pacific, subject to approval from Cathay's shareholders. Qatar Airways holds a 9.57% stake in Cathay Pacific and "the total consideration for the buy back is" HKD6.97 billion (USD896.52 million). Cathay Pacific Group chair Patrick Healy stated: "The buy back reflects our strong confidence in the future of the Cathay Group and underscores our commitment to the development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub". Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: "This agreement reflects Qatar Airways Group's disciplined approach to portfolio management", adding: "Following a period of record profitability and strong performance, this decision is part of a proactive strategy to optimise our investments and position the group for long-term growth". As previously reported by CAPA, Qatar Airways acquired the stake in Nov-2017. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Cathay Pacific recently completed the repurchase of all share warrants and preference shares issued to the Hong Kong Government as part of its 2020 recapitalisation, closing a significant chapter and signalling renewed focus on the future. The total amount repaid to the Government included HKD19.5 billion for preference shares and HKD1.53 billion for warrants, funded from existing financial resources1 2 3.

Batik Air (Malaysia), via its official Facebook account, announced (28-Oct-2025) plans to relocate services to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 from 11-Nov-2025.

Background ✨

Lion Air Group previously announced that Batik Air, along with other group carriers, would relocate its operations from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 at Singapore Changi Airport in November 20251. Additionally, Batik Air planned to commence new services from Ipoh, Penang and Kuala Lumpur Subang to Singapore in December 20252.

Qantas Airways announced (06-Nov-2025) plans to commence the second phase of construction on its Sydney International Business Lounge at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport from 08-Dec-2025. The construction phase follows exterior extension works, with the project to increase seating by more than 30%. Completion is scheduled for 2027 ahead of the carrier's Project Sunrise ultra long-haul flights to London and New York. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Qantas also commenced construction on a new international business lounge at Auckland International Airport in Apr-2025, with the facility due to open in early 2026 and support passengers travelling to New York and trans-Tasman routes1 2 3 4 5. The Sydney lounge project formed part of a wider AUD100 million lounge investment programme, which included recent expansions in Adelaide, Hobart, and Broome6 7 8.

UPS, Boeing, the US FAA and NTSB, via their official websites and social media accounts, confirmed (04/05-Nov-2025) the crash of a UPS MD-11F aircraft on departure from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on 04-Nov-2025. The aircraft was bound for Honolulu. Louisville Airport was temporarily closed and multiple taxiways remained closed as of 05-Nov-2025. UPS halted package sorting operations at its Worldport facility on the night of 04-Nov-2025 and cancelled 'Second Day Air' sort operations on 05-Nov-2025. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

UPS planned to retire six MD-11F aircraft in 2023, replacing them with Boeing 767-300Fs, and its director of media relations confirmed the first withdrawal occurred on 02-Jan-20231. The Worldport facility at Louisville has undergone significant investment, including a USD220 million line maintenance hangar and other infrastructure projects valued at up to USD750 million over 15 years2.

Citilink, via its official Facebook account, announced (05-Nov-2025) plans to relocate domestic services to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 1C from 12-Nov-2025.

Background ✨

Citilink had previously relocated specific services, including Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo, Solo, Semarang, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, to Terminal 1C at Soekarno-Hatta as of late August 20251. Scheduled service relocations from Jakarta Halim Perdanakusuma Airport to Soekarno-Hatta, involving Citilink, began from 01-Aug-20252. Indonesia AirAsia and Super Air Jet also announced recent terminal moves at Soekarno-Hatta3 4.

Southwest Airlines entered (04-Nov-2025) a partnership with Philippine Airlines to connect trans-oceanic travellers with Southwest operated flights. The partnership will enable the carriers to serve international travellers, connecting through Los Angeles International Airport, Seattle Tacoma International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Honolulu Daniel K Inouye International Airport. Southwest airlines is also exploring additional trans-Atlantic partnerships towards the end of 2025. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Southwest Airlines recently pursued several interline partnerships with Asia-Pacific carriers, including China Airlines and EVA Air, facilitating trans-Pacific connectivity via major US West Coast gateways1 2. Its agreement with Hahnair expanded Southwest’s ticketing access to travel agencies in 190 markets outside the US3. CEO Bob Jordan confirmed Southwest was close to announcing additional international airline partners and aimed to eventually serve these international destinations directly4.

Aurigny Air Services deployed (04-Nov-2025) De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter equipment on Channel Islands services on 01-Nov-2025. As previously reported by CAPA, Twin Otter services are operated on behalf of the carrier by Isles Of Scilly Skybus and will enable Aurigny to withdraw its Dornier 228NG fleet from service in Jan-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Aurigny Air Services planned to take delivery of one DHC-6 Twin Otter in Nov-2025, marking the first of two Twin Otters to be delivered to support its Alderney essential air services programme. The aircraft is owned by Isles Of Scilly Skybus and underwent several thousand man-hours of rebuilding work in Canada1.

Asiana Airlines announced (04-Nov-2025) plans to transfer all services at Seoul Incheon International Airport to Terminal 2, effective 14-Jan-2026. The measure will support the airline's integration with Korean Air. [more - original PR - Korean]

Background ✨

Korean Air's integration with Asiana Airlines aimed to deliver enhanced frequency, more routes and improved connectivity at Seoul Incheon International Airport, with the full integration expected to be completed by the end of 20261. Air Busan and Air Seoul also recently shifted operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, following broader terminal consolidation trends at the airport2 3.

Korean Air signed (04-Nov-2025) a Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) with Condor Flugdienst enabling Korean Air passengers travelling on Seoul Incheon-Frankfurt service to connect to Condor services from Frankfurt to Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, effective from 01-Nov-2025. The airline plans to expand the SPA to include "additional destinations in Condor's network during the upcoming summer schedule". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Korean Air planned to increase its Seoul Incheon-Frankfurt frequency from three to four times weekly from 12-Aug-2025, joining Asiana Airlines, T'way Air and Lufthansa on the route1. Condor launched twice daily Frankfurt-Berlin and Frankfurt-Hamburg services from 01-Mar-2025, routes operated year round by Lufthansa, with expanded summer 2025 frequencies to Berlin, Hamburg and Munich2 3.

Royal Jordanian, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (04-Nov-2025) it signed a codeshare agreement with Royal Air Maroc. Royal Jordanian CEO Samer Majali stated: "We are delighted to reinstate our codeshare with Royal Air Maroc, our oneworld alliance partner, as we resume our direct route between Amman and Casablanca".

Background ✨

Royal Jordanian scheduled the resumption of twice weekly Amman-Casablanca service from 16-Oct-2025, operating exclusively on the route with A320neo/A321neo aircraft1. The airline previously signed a codeshare agreement with Royal Air Maroc in August 2019, highlighting a longstanding strategic partnership between the two carriers2.

Etihad Airways commenced (04-Nov-2025) the following services:

The airline's network now comprises more than 85 destinations. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Etihad Airways also commenced Abu Dhabi-Medan and Abu Dhabi-Phnom Penh services in Oct-2025, both operated with A321neo aircraft as the sole scheduled operator on these routes1 2. The carrier planned further network expansion to destinations including Madinah, Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty, Bucharest, and Tashkent between Nov-2025 and Mar-2026, aiming for a total of 27 new routes in a single year3.