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

LATAM Airlines Brasil announced (29-Mar-2026) by 2025, 90% of the company's customers will have used automatic check-in, up from 45% in 2020. The carrier said more than 31.3 million passengers had their boarding pass issued automatically in 2025. [more - original PR - Portuguese]

Background ✨

LATAM Airlines Brasil previously began a digital transformation to simplify the passenger journey, including automatic check-in, passenger profiles, personalised notifications and LATAM Wallet, with automatic check-in initially available on domestic services and issuing a virtual boarding pass at booking1. It also deployed AI at Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) to analyse check-in flows in real time to improve efficiency and reduce waiting times2.

Iberia announced (29-Mar-2026) the launch of daily Madrid-New York Newark service with A321XLR aircraft. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier also operates twice daily to New York JFK, with the total capacity between Madrid and New York to reach 352,055 seats in 2026, up 43% year-on-year. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Iberia planned a record 1.3 million seats between Europe and the US/Canada in summer 2026, including 166 weekly frequencies (+15% year-on-year) and a five times weekly Madrid-Toronto launch from 13-Jun-2026.1 2 Iberia scheduled A321XLR deployment across trans-Atlantic growth, including Madrid-Washington Dulles from 12-Apr-2025 and a winter 2025/26 Madrid-Orlando operation.3 4 As A321XLR launch customer, Iberia took delivery of its first aircraft on 30-Oct-2024 and introduced it to trans-Atlantic service on Madrid-Boston from 14-Nov-2024.5 6

flynas, via its official Twitter account, announced (29-Mar-2026) "Due to the continued closure of airspace to certain international destinations as a result of the current regional situation, it has been decided to extend the suspension of flights to and from" Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria until 15-Apr-2026.

Jazeera Airways, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (29-Mar-2026) plans to commence three times weekly service connecting Kuwait to Jeddah via Al Qaisumah-Hafar Al Batin Airport on 07-Apr-2026. As previously reported by CAPA, the LCC temporarily shifted operations to Al Qaisumah-Hafar Al Batin Airport in Saudi Arabia, effective from 11-Mar-2026, following the temporary suspension of operations at Kuwait International Airport for safety reasons. It operates services via the airport to more than 20 destinations in Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Sri Lanka, India and the UAE.

Background ✨

Jazeera Airways planned to shift select operations to Dammam King Fahd International Airport from 26-Mar-2026, with passengers travelling between Kuwait and Dammam by bus.1 CEO Barathan Pasupathi said the Saudi footprint (Dammam plus Al Qaisumah) supported a network through 30-Apr-2026 of more than 20 destinations, 1000 flights, 200,000 seats and two million tons of cargo capacity.1

Air Lingus commenced (29-Mar-2026) deployment of its first aircraft equipped with Starlink inflight WiFi, an A330 (EI-EIN), on Dublin-New York JFK service, available to passengers in all cabins for free. The airline plans to expand Starlink across its entire fleet, commencing with aircraft deployed to destinations in North America, followed by aircraft deployed to destinations in Europe. Starlink is expected to be available across the airline's entire long haul fleet by 1Q2027. Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton stated: "Introducing Starlink... means our customers can browse, download and stream at speeds as fast as, or quicker than, they'd get at home", adding: "This level of connectivity is a real gamechanger. It gives our customers more freedom in how they spend their time on board and it helps our crews and teams work more efficiently". [more - original PR]

Background ✨

IAG announced a Nov-2025 partnership to roll out Starlink-enabled high speed WiFi across Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling, targeting more than 500 aircraft and “as good or better” speeds than home connectivity, with first aircraft due in 1Q20261. IAG CEO Luis Gallego later said British Airways’ first Starlink-equipped flight was expected within weeks2.

Philippines AirAsia and AirAsia confirmed (28-Mar-2026) all international operations will relocate from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 from 29-Mar-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s terminal rationalisation continued, with the airport listing Philippines AirAsia’s international services and AirAsia moving from Terminal three to Terminal one, while several foreign carriers shifted from Terminal one to Terminal three; Japan Airlines was also scheduled to move to Terminal one from 01-Apr-20261. Authorities previously indicated Terminal one would house LCC international services, while Terminal three would be for full service international carriers, alongside plans for a new Terminal four by mid 20262.

Royal Air Maroc, via its official Facebook account, announced (28-Mar-2026) "Due to the current situation in the Middle East, Royal Air Maroc flights to and from Dubai and Doha are cancelled until and including" 15-Apr-2026.

ICAO Council adopted (27-Mar-2026) new technical standards that will require new aircraft "to meet much more demanding environmental rules". ICAO stated the standards were developed "to ensure the latest technologies are used in aircraft design to reduce aviation CO2 emissions and aircraft noise". The new requirements will apply from 01-Jan-2027. Details include:

  • The ICAO CO2 emissions standard was made "10% more stringent" and will be applicable to new aircraft type designs from 2031;
  • A "complex more stringent" CO2 emissions standard will apply to new deliveries of in-production aircraft from 2035;
  • The aircraft noise limit was expanded by six decibels for large aircraft and two decibels for smaller aircraft, and will apply to new aircraft type designs from 2029;
  • Future supersonic aircraft will need to comply with current noise limits for subsonic aircraft, as of 2029. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

ICAO said its 13th Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection meeting in Feb-2025 made 31 recommendations, including proposals to tighten aircraft noise and CO2 emissions standards simultaneously, and established a methodology to monitor and report CO2 reductions against ICAO’s long term net zero aspirational goal, with ICAO Council president Salvatore Sciacchitano noting it now had tools to measure progress and adjust course1. ICCT reported fuel-efficiency gains had plateaued after CO2 standards took effect in 2020, citing fewer new type certifications and arguing a 15% tighter standard was needed to spur new designs2.

ICAO announced (27-Mar-2026) the following new restrictions for lithium battery power banks, effective 27-Mar-2026:

  • Limit of two devices per passenger;
  • Charging during flights is prohibited;
  • Crew will be able to continue to carry and use power banks, in line with the operational requirements of aircraft. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Airlines and regulators had already tightened passenger power-bank rules ahead of the ICAO change, typically banning in-flight use and charging and requiring carriage in cabin baggage only, often with limits of two units per passenger and discouraging overhead-bin stowage1 2 3. EASA also issued a Safety Information Bulletin urging airlines to reinforce passenger communications and staff training due to increased lithium-battery safety events onboard4.

IATA Economics reported (27-Mar-2026) the following impacts of the conflict in the Middle East since 28-Feb-2026:

  • 73% of ASKs to and from the Middle East were cancelled within 10 days after 28-Feb-2026;
  • Corridors to and from Asia Pacific were the most affected. Nearly 80% of Asia-Europe services via the Middle East cancelled, followed by 75% of Asia-North America services and 74% for Asia-Latin America. IATA commented: "This level of disruption was only seen during the COVID pandemic, when 95% of the supply to and from the region was removed at short notice".

IATA stated: "The concentration of cancellations along these routes reflects the degree to which global connectivity, in particular for Asia Pacific, depends on the Middle East's hub function, with implications if disruptions persist over an extended period". [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand announced (27-Mar-2026) plans to install new internally developed check in kiosks from week commencing 30-Mar-2026. The kiosks will be installed in Air New Zealand check in zones at Auckland International Airport's domestic terminal, followed by all New Zealand ports by the end of Jul-2026. The kiosks run on technology including iPads that enable touchscreen interaction and passport scanning using built-in cameras. The carrier noted the average check in time has decreased from more than two minutes to 37 seconds. The kiosks were trialled at Auckland's domestic terminal from Jun-2025 to Mar-2026, with four trial machines processing more than 30,000 customer journeys across the period. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Auckland International Airport prepared for major domestic terminal works, shifting some flights into a temporary Zone T pavilion from 26-Mar-2026 as construction moved indoors.1 The airport expected Zone C to be hoarded for around five months from end-Mar-2026 to replace 22 traditional desks with self-service kiosks and automatic bag drops, with Zone T operating for about two and a half years.1

Australia's International Air Services Commission received (27-Mar-2026) an application from Qantas Airways seeking the following allocations of capacity from 18-May-2026 with 236 seat Boeing 787 aircraft:

The carrier requested the allocations for a period of five years from the date of the determination. Each capacity allocation may be used by Qantas to provide joint services with any wholly-owned subsidiary and by any wholly owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group to provide joint services with Qantas. The carrier advised the commission it intends to fully utilise both capacity allocations by 30-May-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Qantas also sought IASC approvals covering other international markets, including an application for an allocation of unrestricted capacity on the Canada route for 99 years, with scope for codeshares with American Airlines and WestJet, and use by Jetstar or other wholly owned Qantas Group carriers.1 It additionally applied for unlimited freight capacity on the Singapore route to support a wet-leased A330F Sydney-Shanghai-Singapore operation from 02-Apr-2026.2