Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Allan Kilavuka, speaking to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit World 2025, stated (12-Dec-2025) Africa is "the most fragmented market in the world". Mr Kilavuka said: "Africa has the largest number of commercial airlines", but added: "Most of them are not viable". He said: "The idea should be to consolidate this aviation market, particularly the airlines, a lot more". [more - CAPA TV]
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Below is a sample of the latest news headlines. 194 news briefs have been published for CAPA Members in the past 2 days.
US Department of State identified (06-Jan-2026) nationals from the following countries as needing visa bonds:
- Effective in 2025: Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Zambia;
- Effective in Jan-2026: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Any eligible citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries must post a visa bond for USD5000, USD10,000, or USD15,000, as determined at the time of the visa interview. All visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the US through Boston Logan International Airport, New York John F Kennedy International Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. [more - original PR]
Copenhagen Kastrup Airport reported (07-Jan-2026) it handled 2.5 million passengers in Dec-2025, an increase of 13% year-on-year and the "busiest month in the airport's history". The airport handled 32.4 million passengers in 2025, exceeding the previous annual record of 30.3 million set in 2018. The airport attributed the performance to a "record number of routes", including 47 new connections to destinations such as China, India and Vietnam, which brought the total number operated to 367. Airport CCO Peter Krogsgaard stated: "There have never been better connections to and from Denmark. This has a positive effect on our entire society when Danish companies have easy and direct access to the world from Copenhagen. The many routes also attract foreign businesses and talent to the country, while tourism in Denmark is reaching new heights, which benefits shops, hotels and restaurants and creates many jobs". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Copenhagen Kastrup Airport experienced consecutive record-breaking months in 2025, including its busiest November and October, driven by strong demand on routes to Spain, London, and the US, as well as significant growth in domestic and transfer traffic. The airport consistently forecasted and achieved record passenger numbers throughout 2025, supported by an expanding route network and increased frequencies to intercontinental destinations1 2 3 4 5.
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8-Jan-2026 1:10 PM
Qatar Airways equips more than 120 widebodies with Starlink inflight connectivity, adding 787s
Qatar Airways completed (07-Jan-2025) installation of Starlink inflight connectivity on more than 120 widebody aircraft, enabling passengers travelling on all its Boeing 777s and A350s to access free high-speed inflight WiFi. More than 58% of the airline's widebody aircraft are now "Starlink-connected", supporting "uninterrupted streaming, video calls, and real-time productivity that can surpass many home broadband networks". As previously reported by CAPA, the airline deployed its first Starlink-connected aircraft in Oct-2024. Following completion of Starlink installation on its 777s and A350s, Qatar Airways has commenced installation on its 787s, having equipped three 787-8s thus far and becoming the airline worldwide to deploy a Starlink-connected 787-8. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Qatar Airways initially installed Starlink on its Boeing 777s, completing the retrofit ahead of schedule in nine months, before moving on to equip its A350s and later commencing installations on its 787s1 2. The airline aimed to complete Starlink installation across its entire fleet by the end of 2025 or early 20263 1. Starlink deployment began with the first connected flights in Oct-20242.
IndiGo received (07-Jan-2026) its first A321XLR on 07-Jan-2026, becoming the first airline in India to receive the type. The LCC plans to commence deployment of the aircraft on three times weekly Mumbai-Athens and Delhi-Athens services from launch on 23/24-Jan-2026. IndiGo's A321XLR are configured with 12 IndiGoStretch business class seats and 183 economy class seats. The LCC's has 39 A321XLRs remaining on order, with a further eight expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
IndiGo previously outlined plans to introduce IndiGoStretch, its business class product with 12 seats, across its A321neo and A321XLR fleets, gradually expanding to key domestic and international routes through 20251. CEO Pieter Elbers described the A321XLR as providing the range to connect India with Europe and East Asia, noting its significance for network growth and direct services such as those to Athens2 3.
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7-Jan-2026 2:46 PM
MOLIT selects alternative airlines for routes impacted by Korean Air-Asiana Airlines merger
South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) selected (06-Jan-2026) the following airlines to operate select routes identified as at risk of negative impact on competition following the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, due to the two airlines representing more than 50% of the market share on those routes:
- Alaska Airlines: Seattle-Seoul Incheon;
- T'way Air: Seoul Incheon-Jakarta and Seoul Gimpo-Jeju;
- Air Premia: Seoul Incheon-Honolulu;
- Eastar Jet: Seoul Gimpo-Jeju;
- JEJU air: Seoul Gimpo-Jeju;
- Parata Air: Seoul Gimpo-Jeju.
As previously reported by CAPA, slots and traffic rights held by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines on six international routes, connecting Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, have already been transferred to alternative airlines. [more - original PR - Korean]
Background ✨
The Korea Fair Trade Commission identified 34 routes as being at risk of reduced competition after the Korean Air and Asiana Airlines merger, with a process underway to transfer slots and traffic rights on 10 of these routes—including Seattle, Honolulu, Jakarta, and Seoul Gimpo-Jeju—to alternative airlines. Transfers for the remaining 18 routes were scheduled to begin in 1H20261.
Manchester Airport MD Chris Woodroofe commenced (06-Jan-2026) on the airport's route development plans for 2026, stating: "We have a list... of what we refer to as our biggest unserved destinations - that's the destinations that we don't have direct flights to but have the greatest demand, demonstrated by people from the region travelling to them either on connecting flights or from other airports". Mr Woodroofe added: "Those destinations are always our priority. At the start of last year, the biggest names on that list were Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai and Islamabad - and we've now launched flights to all of those. This year we'll carry on through the list". Mr Woodroofe concluded: "I'm definitely looking to get to 40 million passengers per year over the next five years and there are several specific routes, like Riyadh and Tokyo[,] that I'd like to add to our departure board over that period too. Equally, North America, South America and Africa are all places where we could expand our footprint". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Manchester Airport achieved consecutive monthly passenger records throughout 2025, driven by recent route launches and investments in Terminal 2, which enabled it to attract new airlines and expand its network to key unserved destinations such as Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai and Islamabad1. The airport also planned further upgrades, including new retail outlets and baggage facilities in Terminal 2 and expansion of Terminal 3, targeting new routes in Europe, Japan and the US for 20262.
STARLUX Airlines received (06-Jan-2026) one A350-1000 (B-58551, MSN 761) on 05-Jan-2026. This is the airline's first A350-1000 and it has a further 17 of the aircraft type on order. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
STARLUX Airlines placed a firm order for 10 additional A350-1000s, supplementing its previous order of eight, as part of its strategy to strengthen long haul operations and enhance global connectivity, according to CEO Glenn Chai1.
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6-Jan-2026 4:50 PM
Portuguese Government suspends use of European EES at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport
Portugal's Government suspended (30-Dec-2025) the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport for three months and implemented a 30% increase in the capabilities of the external border electronic and physical equipment at the airport. The Government also expanded human resources working at the airport by "resorting to the National Republican Guard's certified capabilities in border control". The Government stated the decision is in response to "the worsening of the bottlenecks in the arrivals area at Lisbon airport with European passengers travelling from outside the Schengen area". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Ryanair repeatedly urged Portugal's Government to address chronic staff shortages at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport's border control, citing delays of up to 2.5 hours during summer and autumn 2025, which it said harmed the country's reputation as a tourist destination1 2 3 4. These calls followed significant disruptions, with over 120 passengers missing flights due to border control delays in Jul-20254.
KLM cancelled (05-Jan-2026) 300 Amsterdam Schiphol flights on 05-Jan-2026 and 300 Amsterdam Schiphol flights on 06-Jan-2026 due to adverse weather conditions. The winter conditions are expected to continue in the coming days. The carrier also cancelled 187 flights on 03-Jan-2026 and 295 flights on 04-Jan-2026. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
KLM also experienced significant flight cancellations at Amsterdam Schiphol due to bad weather and limited runway capacity in 4Q2024, which contributed to increased costs and an operating loss of EUR18 million for the period1. Strong winds previously led to over 200 preventive cancellations at Schiphol in Dec-20232.
STARLUX Airlines, via its official Facebook account, announced (05-Jan-2026) it took delivery of one A350-1000 (B-58551, MSN 761) on 05-Jan-2026. This is the airline's first A350-1000.
Background ✨
STARLUX Airlines recently placed a firm order for 10 more A350-1000s, in addition to the eight already on order, as part of its strategy to strengthen its long haul network and global connectivity. CEO Glenn Chai noted the A350-1000's efficiency, range and comfort as integral to optimising long haul operations and enhancing passenger experience1.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, via its official Twitter account, announced (01-Jan-2026) Qantas Airways upgraded its daily Sydney-Dallas Fort Worth service to be exclusively operated with A380 equipment.
Background ✨
Qantas previously operated a mix of A380 and Boeing 787-9 equipment on the Sydney-Dallas Fort Worth route from 11-Aug-2025, with the A380 flying up to four times weekly and the 787-9 on remaining days. The A380 offered 14 first class suites, over 50% more business class flatbeds, and double the premium economy seats compared to the 787-9 configuration1 2 3.