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

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported (28-Aug-2025) UK airports handled a record 81 million passengers between Apr-2025 and Jun-2025, an increase of 3% year-on-year. CAA reported 75% of services operated on time during the period, an increase of 8%. UK airports recorded 141 million passengers in 1H2025. Additional findings for 2Q2025 include:

  • Cargo tonnage grew 6% to 700,000 tons;
  • Top destinations for international cargo included Dubai, New York, Doha and Leipzig, with "especially high year-on-year growth of cargo tonnage" to Asian markets. Delhi increased 61% and Mumbai increased 41%;
  • Airports across the north of England recorded "especially high growth in terminal passengers", with nearly 750,000 additional passengers passing through Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds Bradford airports. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia reaffirmed (29-Aug-2025) the outlook for FY2026 provided in the prospectus for its initial public offering. Highlights include:

  • Demand for air travel to grow broadly in line with GDP growth;
  • Fleet and ASK growth are expected to align with demand growth, including the addition of 12 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and four new Embraer E190-E2 aircraft scheduled for delivery by Jun-2026. The carrier noted that the majority of the new aircraft will be used to replace existing aircraft;
  • Ongoing impact of the transformation programme to support RASK growth, which is expected to reach 3% to 5% in H1FY2026 compared with H1FY2025;
  • Fuel costs managed through the hedging programme, which is in place against adverse movements in fuel prices until Dec-2025;
  • Growth in labour and staff related unit costs compared to FY2025 expected to be modestly above inflation;
  • Airport and maintenance costs expected to grow at above inflation.

Virgin Australia Group's underlying EBIT is expected to continue to improve, delivering a gross benefit of approximately AUD400 million (USD261.2 million) in FY2026. The company also projected domestic capacity increases of 5% year-on-year in Q1FY2026, 3% in Q2FY2026 and 4% for H1FY2026. [more - original PR]

Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes stated (28-Aug-2025) "My goal for the next six months - get all our aircraft back, grow Philippines and Indonesia, and return the share of AirAsia on MOVE to 60%, which will grow ancillary revenue". Mr Fernandes said: "We are currently working on a rated bond and securing local debt to restructure our COVID-era financing, which has dragged our profits". [more - original PR]

Ryanair announced (26-Aug-2025) a landmark partnership agreement with Booking Holdings, which includes global travel brands Booking.com, KAYAK, Priceline and Agoda. The partnership enables customers using Booking Holdings' brands to access Ryanair flights across its network of 235+ destinations with full price transparency. The partnership also provides customers with access to their myRyanair account without needing to complete customer verification. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Ryanair recently established similar approved partnerships with Expedia Group, Omio, Etraveli Group, Trip.com, Travelfusion, Atlas, and others, allowing these platforms to distribute Ryanair flights with full price transparency and streamlined access to myRyanair accounts without additional customer verification requirements1 2 3 4 5 6 7. These agreements reflect Ryanair's broader strategy to expand its presence across major travel platforms in recent months2.

Condor Flugdienst expanded (26-Aug-2025) its partnership with JetBlue Airways, enabling TrueBlue members to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Condor. Condor provides nonstop services from Frankfurt to New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Portland and Anchorage. As previously reported by CAPA, Condor selected Terminal 6 at New York John F Kennedy International Airport for its future operations from 2026. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Background ✨

Condor also expanded its partnerships with Copa Airlines and Emirates, giving its customers broader connectivity across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia, in conjunction with new long haul services from Frankfurt and Berlin introduced in late 2024 and 20251. It selected Terminal 6 at JFK for future operations from 2026, joining multiple international carriers at the terminal2.

Jet2.com expanded (26-Aug-2025) its family-friendly offer, allowing children under the age of two to travel for free. The policy applies to all new bookings made from 22-Aug-2025 and is applicable to children under the age of two at the time of travel. The policy already applies to families travelling with Jet2holidays. In addition, Jet2.com introduced a change to its child and infant equipment allowance, meaning that no excess baggage will be charged for child or infant equipment being checked into the hold. This policy is effective immediately. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

Jet2holidays previously added a free child place holiday on every flight for its summer 2025 schedule, available across all Jet2.com and Jet2holidays UK airports, including its Bournemouth base, and offered more than 18.2 million seats for summer 20251. Jet2.com also launched a new onboard children's menu following the release of its summer 2025 menu2.

Southwest Airlines, via its official website, announced (Aug-2025) a new policy requiring passengers who "encroach upon the neighbouring seat" to purchase two seats from 27-Jan-2026. Southwest noted: "The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats". As previously reported by CAPA, the LCC will introduce assigned seating from this date.

Background ✨

Southwest announced it would launch assigned and premium seating for all tickets purchased for travel from 27-Jan-2026, with the new seating feature available for purchase in advance1 2. The carrier planned to commence selling assigned and premium seating in 3Q2025, supported by a reconfigured fleet with extra legroom seating to be operated from 1Q20263 4.

Korean Air signed (25/26-Aug-2025) an agreement with Boeing to purchase 103 aircraft, comprising 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s, 50 737 MAX 10s and eight 777-8Fs. The purchase agreement is valued at USD36.2 billion and the aircraft "are scheduled to be introduced sequentially through the end of 2030". Korean Air also signed an agreement with GE Aerospace to purchase spare engines for 11 aircraft and for the provision of engine maintenance services for 28 aircraft over a 20 year period, and signed an agreement with CFM International to purchase spare engines for eight aircraft. Korean Air CEO and chairman Walter Cho stated: "This investment is... a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry". [more - original PR - Korean] [more - original PR - Boeing - II]

Background ✨

Korean Air previously ordered GEnx and GE9X engines from GE Aerospace to power 20 777-9s and 20 787-10s and signed a comprehensive maintenance agreement for the GE9X engines, making it the first GE9X customer in South Korea1. The airline had earlier finalised contracts with GE Aerospace for spare engines and maintenance for its new Boeing widebody fleet2.

Air Côte d'Ivoire, via its official website, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, confirmed (11/22-Aug-2025) its first of two A330-900s made its first flight in Aug-2025. The airline is expected to take delivery of the aircraft on 29-Aug-2025. The aircraft will be deployed on Abidjan-Paris CDG service by the end of 2025 and is also expected to serve other long haul destinations such as New York, London and Brussels. The 242 seat aircraft is configured with first, business, premium economy and economy classes.

Background ✨

The Côte d'Ivoire Government secured USD76.6 million in financing from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa for Air Côte d'Ivoire's two A330-900neos, which are intended to support the launch of long haul services to destinations such as New York and Paris1. The airline also received funding from the West African Development Bank for these aircraft, enabling expansion to cities including London, Geneva, and Washington2.

Air Caledonie confirmed (22-Aug-2025) its flight schedule for 23/24-Aug-2025 is "severely disrupted", following cancellations on 22-Aug-2025 due to technical issues on one of the carrier's aircraft. Air Caledonie added that further cancellations are expected, including disruptions to cargo services. [more - original PR - French]

Background ✨

Air Caledonie has faced ongoing operational and financial challenges, including recent cancellations of all flights until 07-Feb-2025 due to technical difficulties and adverse weather, affecting holiday period travel1. The airline previously announced a transformation plan to address financial difficulties, reduce its workforce, and seek support from shareholders and the state, while also exploring synergies with Aircalin and considering leasing out one of its four ATR aircraft2.

DHL Group announced (22-Aug-2025) temporary restrictions on postal goods shipping to the US for private and business customers, effective 22-Aug-2025, due to new US regulations. Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US. Details include:

  • The US Executive Order 'Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for all Countries' changes the basis for postal goods shipping to the US for all postal and parcel service providers, effective 29-Aug-2025;
  • Parcels and packages from individuals to individuals with a value of up to USD100, which are declared as 'gift,' are not affected by the executive order. There are also no changes to the shipping of documents in letters;
  • Goods shipping via DHL Express and the commercial import of goods into the US under the currently applicable customs rates will still be possible.

The changes affect all postal and parcel service providers worldwide, many of which have also announced a suspension of postal shipping to the US, according to DHL. DHL stated: "The reason for these anticipated temporary restrictions is new processes required by US authorities for postal shipping, which differ from the previously applicable regulations. Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the US Customs and Border Protection will be carried out". DHL aims to resume postal goods shipping to the US as quickly as possible. [more - original PR]

Background ✨

The US Government’s suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for low value shipments, effective 29-Aug-2025, required that imported goods sent via non-postal methods valued at or under USD800 be subject to duties, impacting global postal and parcel providers and prompting similar suspensions of US-bound goods shipments by other operators such as Hongkong Post earlier in 20251 2.

Air Europa unveiled (19-Aug-2025) its 'Flight 2030' sustainability programme, which includes plans to reduce emissions, optimise resources and improve operational processes. The carrier also plans to integrate transparency policies, risk management systems and regular audits to ensure its objectives align with international corporate social responsibility standards. Air Europa said the addition of Boeing 787 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft "significantly" reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on its medium and long haul services. The carrier's fleet includes 28 787s and two 737 MAX 8s, according to the CAPA Fleet Database. The airline also introduced measures to cut waste, including a pre-order meal system that reduces food waste and initiatives encouraging passengers to bring reusable bottles. [more - original PR]