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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.

Emirates Airline announced (23-Jan-2025) plans to introduce premium economy on Dubai-Brisbane service by deploying retrofitted A380 aircraft on three of 14 weekly frequencies from 01-Feb-2025. Emirates added that the aircraft deployment "may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment". The airline will offer nearly 4000 premium economy seats per week across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane services by 01-Apr-2025. [more - original PR]

Emirates Airline announced (23-Jan-2025) plans to deploy A350 equipment on Dubai-Ahmedabad and Dubai-Mumbai services from 26-Jan-2025. The cities will expand Emirates' A350 network to five destinations, following Edinburgh, Kuwait and Bahrain. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Emirates Airline planned to deploy its first A350 aircraft for commercial service on Dubai-Edinburgh, following delivery from Toulouse, marking the first new aircraft type in its fleet since 20081. The A350 network expansion to Ahmedabad and Mumbai is part of broader plans to deploy the aircraft on eight additional destinations2. Emirates aims to have 10 A350s in service by 31-Mar-2025, with a total order of 653.

EUROCONTROL reported (24-Jan-2025) the following the following European airline rankings for 2024, based on the average number of daily flights:

Ryanair finished in top position for the 10th year running. The 2024 top 10 operators are the same as in 2023, with the only change being KLM overtaking Wizz Air. [more - original PR]

EUROCONTROL reported (24-Jan-2025) the following European state rankings for 2024, based on the average number of daily flights:

  • UK: 5488 flights, +4% year-on-year (-6% from 2019);
  • Spain: 4984, +8% (+8% from 2019);
  • Germany: 4711, +4% (-16% from 2019);
  • France: 4086, +2% (-5% from 2019);
  • Italy: 3789, +9% (+6% from 2019);
  • Türkiye: 3140, +4% (+12% from 2019);
  • Netherlands: 1596, +5% (-5% from 2019);
  • Greece: 1483, +8% (+18% from 2019);
  • Switzerland: 1287, +5% (-2% from 2019);
  • Norway: 1283, -1% (-9% from 2019).

The top 10 States in aggregate, recorded 4.8% more flights compared to 2023. Compared to 2023: the ranking remained unchanged except for Switzerland and Norway which have swapped places. With overflights included, France recorded the highest average number of daily flights in 2024 (9408, +6% year-on-year and +2% from 2019), followed by Germany (8339, +4% y-o-y and -10% from 2019) and the UK (6745, +3% y-o-y and -5% from 2019). [more - original PR]

Air Sierra Leone, via its official Facebook account, announced (22-Jan-2025) the commencement of operations with the launch of three times weekly Freetown-Lagos service. According to OAG, no other carriers operate the route.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated (23-Jan-2025) "Over the course of the next four years, we expect to grow our long haul international capable fleet from approximately 125 aircraft today to nearly 200 aircraft in 2029". [more - original PR]

Lufthansa announced (23-Jan-2025) plans to operate A380 aircraft to Denver for the first time during summer 2025, commencing 30-Apr-2025. The aircraft will be used on the carrier's daily Munich-Denver service, replacing the A350-900 currently on the route. The A380 offers 590 seats across first, business, premium economy and economy classes, offering a nearly 75% capacity increase. The operation will mark the first regularly scheduled commercial service of the A380 at Denver International Airport. In summer 2025, Lufthansa will base A380s in Munich, which will operate to New York JFK, Boston, Washington, Los Angeles, Delhi and Denver. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Background ✨

Lufthansa has been progressively expanding its A380 operations from Munich, with the aircraft being reintroduced on various routes due to increased demand and delayed aircraft deliveries1 2. In summer 2024, Lufthansa planned to operate A380s from Munich to destinations including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York JFK, with Delhi also added for the first time3 4. This expansion marked a significant increase in the airline's capacity offerings on these routes5.

Lufthansa announced (23-Jan-2025) a partnership with The Japanese artist Sho Shibuya, as part of which Mr Shibuya has designed loungewear for Lufthansa Allegris first class. The loungewear is made from organic cotton satin, and will be available on selected flights from Munich to New York in Feb-2025. [more - original PR]

Qatar Airways announced (22-Jan-2025) plans to launch twice weekly Doha-Bogota-Caracas-Doha service from early summer 2025, using Boeing 777-200LR equipment. The new service will make the Qatar Airways the first and only carrier to offer direct service from the Middle East to Colombia and the only Middle Eastern carrier operating in Venezuela. The additions of Bogota and Caracas will expand Qatar Airways' Americas network to 16 destinations. [more - original PR]

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport welcomed (23-Jan-2025) representatives from Fraport Group, who will provide specialist support "over the coming months" to help ready the airport for commercial operations. Airport COO Matt Duffy said the utilising the company's global services reflects the airport's development as the first greenfield international airport in Australia in more than 50 years, stating: "Fraport will lend their world-leading expertise to [us] as we commence our thorough programme of operational readiness to ensure we're ready and rearing to go next year". Mr Duffy added: "The programme encompasses an enormous amount of work, but essentially means taking all the assets and systems that thousands of workers have spent the last six years designing, building and installing and ensuring each is equipped with the right processes, training, integrations and contingencies so we can be as prepared as possible when we welcome our first customers". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Western Sydney International Airport's construction was over 90% complete, with plans to open in late 2026, featuring around 7000sqm of retail space and a tender for foreign exchange services released1. The airport signed an MoU with Western Sydney University to enhance educational and job opportunities, offering internships and research projects for students2. The airport was also testing its runway using a Piper PA-30 aircraft to ensure operational readiness3.

Qantas Group announced (22-Jan-2025) the following new benefits and changes to its frequent flyer programme:

  • From Aug-2025, the number of points required to book a Classic Reward seat will increase for the first time since 2019 and the second time since 2004;
  • From Jul-2025, frequent flyers will earn up to 25% more points on Qantas Airways' domestic flights;
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer will remove the existing Status Bonus cap for tiered members flying in premium cabins;
  • From Aug-2025, Classic Reward seats on nearly half of Jetstar Airways' flights will start from 5700 points plus taxes, fees and carrier charges. The points fare will be available on all Jetstar short haul routes;
  • From 2026, members will be able to use their Qantas Points to upgrade to business class on Jetstar flights;
  • From later in 2025, members will have access to up to one million additional international Classic Reward seats in expanded and new airline partnerships. Premium Economy reward seats will be available to book on Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia for the first time;
  • Members will also gain access to Classic Reward seats on Hawaiian Airlines;
  • From Aug-2025, the number of points required to book a Classic Reward seat or make a Classic Upgrade request will increase across the domestic and international network and with partner airlines. [more - original PR]

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced (21-Jan-2025) plans to convert seasonal Tokyo Narita-Perth service to year-round operations in 2025. According to OAG, the carrier currently operates the service three times weekly and is the sole scheduled operator on the route. [more - original PR]