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

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

Manchester Airport reported (11-Mar-2026) it handled nearly 2.1 million passengers in Feb-2026, an increase of 2.3% year-on-year and the airport's busiest February on record. The performance reflects the airport's official status as a two-terminal facility for the first time in more than 30 years, following a 10-year, GBP1.3 billion (EUR1.5 billion) transformation and full reopening of Terminal 2. The terminal has doubled in size and handles more than 75% of all passenger traffic at the airport. Terminal 1 - which first opened in 1962 and is joined in sections to Terminal 3 - will fully close. Terminal 3 is dedicated to Ryanair operations and is undergoing a revamp project, with work to expand into space vacated through the closure of Terminal 1. The project will also include the opening of a Sporting Chance bar in Terminal 3 later in Mar-2026, as well as a new Italian restaurant. Airport MD Chris Woodroofe stated: "While this is the end of an era for Terminal 1, it's really the start of a whole new chapter for Manchester Airport... As we move towards what will be another record-breaking year for us, I'm looking forward to welcoming passengers and hearing about their experiences of our new bigger, better and simpler operation". [more - original PR - Manchester Airport] [more - original PR - Manchester Airports Group]

Background ✨

Manchester Airport said all airlines scheduled for Terminal two completed their relocations, including Emirates and easyJet, and large sections of Terminal one closed, leaving around 75% of passengers using the revamped Terminal two; Ryanair was to use a Terminal one/three hybrid until Terminal one’s full closure in 1Q20261. Manchester Airport reported record Jan-2026 traffic of more than two million passengers, with most customers (except Ryanair) using an almost fully open Terminal two, while Terminal three works were set to accelerate2.

Lufthansa announced (11-Mar-2026) it will maintain over 50% of its flight schedule and 60% of its long haul connections on 12-Mar-2026 and 13-Mar-2026, when the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union called for full-day strikes. Other Lufthansa Group airlines and partner airlines will take over "numerous" services to and from Frankfurt and Munich, and larger aircraft will also be used on strike days to accommodate more passengers. Lufthansa Cargo will operate over 80% of its cargo flight programme, Lufthansa City Airlines will offer its entire flight schedule and Lufthansa CityLine, which is also affected by the VC strike on 12-Mar-2026, will be able to offer almost its entire flight programme on 13-Mar-2026. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Vereinigung Cockpit called a full strike for Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo pilots from 00:01 on 12-Mar-2026 to 23:59 on 13-Mar-2026, citing stalled pension-scheme talks.1 VC also called Lufthansa CityLine pilots to strike for the full day on 12-Mar-2026 after failed collective bargaining negotiations.1 Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine services to multiple destinations including Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were not affected by the action.1

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.

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

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) "normal has a very different definition in the aviation dictionary. It means be prepared for constant uncertainties one after another". Mr Maslen said post-pandemic growth is "expected to be lower than that of the pre-pandemic era, with long term trends around demography and economics, shifting geopolitical and connectivity trends, higher costs and environmental considerations all combining to influence the future outlook".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) the short term impacts of the conflict in the Middle East of mass cancellations, airspace closures and cascading delays "are severe and quantifiable", but the deeper effect "is strategic". Mr Maslen said: "The episode exposes a fragile dependence on a single geographic crossroads, and could force a re-evaluation of network design, fleet strategy, insurance economics and hub resilience".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) "payments are becoming a strategic revenue enabler, not just a transaction function, shaping how airlines sell and bundle products". Mr Maslen said: "Airlines can increase ancillary revenue by embedding seamless payment options for upgrades, baggage, seat selection and onboard purchases, while personalised payment options such as instalments, subscriptions and dynamic pricing can increase conversion rates and customer spend".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) "partnerships with fintech companies, payment networks and technology providers will become critical to accelerate airline innovation". Mr Maslen said: "The airlines that move fastest on frictionless, global and real time payments will be best positioned to capture future travel demand".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) IATA's forecast that the airline industry would generate USD1 trillion in revenue "is now in doubt, for 2026, at least". IATA had projected the airline industry would generate revenue of USD1053 billion in 2026, up 4.5% year-on-year, but cancellations and ongoing network changes to flight schedules will likely mean that milestone will not be achieved in 2026, according to Mr Maslen.