CAPA News Briefs

Air Austral outlined (21-Oct-2021) the following plans to gradually resume and expand services for the period Oct-2021 to Dec-2021, in response to the reopening of borders and relaxation of travel restrictions:

• Comoros: Resume weekly Reunion-Moroni service on 22-Dec-2021;
• France: Increase Reunion-Paris frequency to up to 10 times weekly and Mayotte-Paris frequency to up to four times weekly for the school holiday period;
• India: Resume weekly Reunion-Chennai service from 19-Nov-2021 and increase frequency to twice weekly for the school holiday period;
• Madagascar: Gradually resume services from 26-Oct-2021 with twice weekly Reunion-Antananarivo service;
• Mauritius: Increase frequency to between 15 and 23 times weekly;
• Mayotte: Minimum frequency of seven times weekly, increasing to up to 15 times weekly;
• Seychelles: Resume weekly Reunion-Seychelles service on 19-Dec-2021;
• South Africa: Weekly Reunion-Johannesburg service from 07-Nov-2021, increasing to three times weekly from 07-Dec-2021.

The airline will operate regional services with A220-300 aircraft. [more - original PR - French]

British Airways and Kenya Airways (21-Oct-2021) entered a new codeshare agreement. The reciprocal agreement allows customers travelling with Kenya Airways to London, to connect onto 26 destinations across the UK and Europe. British Airways currently offers four weekly frequencies from London Heathrow to Nairobi, operated by a four class Boeing 777 aircraft. British Airways' Executive Club members will be able to earn Avios and tier points when flying on eligible codeshare routes operated by Kenya Airways. [more - original PR]

Jamaica Tourism Board reported (21-Oct-2021) the following tourism highlights for Jul-2021:

• Tourist arrivals: 183,676, -32.1% compared to Jul-2019;
  • US: 167,289, -17.1%;
  • UK: 7663, -67.1%;
  • Canada: 4127, -83.6%;
  • Caribbean: 2517, -70.7%;
  • Europe: 1182, -81.9%. [more - original PR]

Macau's Statistics and Census Service reported (21-Oct-2021) the following tourism highlights for Sep-2021:

• Tourist arrivals: 629,085, -77.2% compared to Sep-2019;
  • Mainland China: 583,056, -69.7%;
  • Hong Kong: 41,156, -92.7%;
  • Taiwan: 4813, -94.6%. [more - original PR]

Southwest Airlines announced (21-Oct-2021) a partnership with CHOOSE, enabling customers to earn 10 Rapid Rewards bonus points per dollar contributed to help offset carbon emissions for Southwest, up to a maximum of 500 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month. [more - original PR]

Assaeroporti reported (21-Oct-2021) the following traffic highlights across Italian airports for Sep-2021:

• Passengers: 11.4 million, -39.7% compared to Sep-2019;
• Cargo: 94,378 tonnes, +2.9%;
• Aircraft movements: 117,559, -24.9%. [more - original PR - Italian]

Singapore Changi Airport, via its official website, reported (21-Oct-2021) the following traffic highlights for Sep-2021:

• Passengers: 220,000, -96.0% compared to Sep-2019;
• Cargo: 171,000 tonnes, +0.6%;
• Aircraft movements: 9400, -69.9%.

Boeing released (21-Oct-2021) its 2021 Commercial Market Outlook for Africa, projecting airlines on the continent will require 1030 new aircraft by 2040 valued at USD160 billion, with aftermarket services valued at USD235 billion. Africa's commercial aircraft fleet is projected to grow to 1560 aircraft over the next 20 years. Key outlook highlights include:

• Airlines in Africa will grow their fleets by 3.6% p/a;
• Passenger growth in Africa of 5.4% p/a, the third-highest growth rate in the world;
• Narrowbodies expected to account for more than 70% of commercial deliveries, with 740 new aircraft. These will mainly support domestic and inter-regional demand;
• Widebody demand expected at 250 aircraft, including passenger and cargo aircraft;
• 80% of African jet deliveries are expected to serve fleet growth with more sustainable, fuel-efficient aircraft, with 20% of deliveries replacing older aircraft;
• Demand for 63,000 new aviation professionals, including 19,000 pilots, 20,000 technicians and 24,000 cabin crew members. [more - original PR]

Norwegian announced (21-Oct-2021) it will lift restrictions on the use of CashPoints effective 01-Nov-2021, in line with recovery of demand and positive future booking trends. As previously reported by CAPA, earning and spending of Norwegian's reward currency was suspended in early 2021 amid the carrier's restructuring proceedings. [more - original PR]

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced (21-Oct-2021) plans to resume three times weekly Singapore-Manchester-Houston service from 01-Dec-2021 with 253 seat A350-900 aircraft. With the resumption, the carrier will have restored approximately 77% of its pre COVID flight frequency from the US. [more - original PR]

Morocco's Office National des Aeroports (ONDA), via its official Twitter account, confirmed (20-Oct-2021) the suspension of flights to and from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. The measure is effective immediately and until further notice. 

Delta Air Lines announced (19-Oct-2021) plans to operate over 20 daily flights to 18 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, restoring capacity to approximately 85% of pre-pandemic levels. The carrier will resume service to Sao Paulo and San Jose Los Cabos from 19-Dec-2021 and increase Saint Thomas and Sint Maarten frequency to daily from 20-Dec-2021. [more - original PR]