CAPA News Briefs

Korean Air announced (25-Feb-2026) plans to commence deployment of Boeing 787-10 equipment on Seoul Incheon-Zurich service from 02-Jun-2026. The airline plans to resume three times weekly Seoul Incheon-Zurich service from 31-Mar-2026, operating until 24-Oct-2026. Korean Air's 787-10s are configured with 325 seats, comprising 36 Prestige Class seats and 289 economy class seats. [more - original PR]

New Zealand's Government approved (26-Feb-2026) NZD4.6 million (USD2.75 million) in funding for Airways New Zealand to provide round-the-clock air traffic control (ATC) services at Royal New Zealand Air Force's Base Ohakea, meaning Ohakea will now be available as an alternative runway for widebody aircraft unable to land at Auckland International Airport and Christchurch International Airport due to severe inclement weather or other issues 24/7, rather than only between 05:00 and 22:30. Round-the-clock ATC services at Ohakea are expected to commence within 18 months, following recruitment and training of new ATC personnel. New Zealand's Associate Transport Minister James Meager stated: "This simple solution increases the commercial viability of flying to New Zealand for major airlines", adding: "Aircraft can carry less fuel and fly these routes with full passenger and freight loads". [more - original PR]

Bangkok Airways reported (26-Feb-2026) the following highlights:

• 4Q2025:
  • Increased frequency on tourist routes such as Bangkok-Samui, Bangkok-Krabi and Bangkok-Trat;
  • Returned one Airbus due to the end of the agreement for the aircraft, resulting in the need to optimise seat capacity with demand, focusing on routes that aligned with the airline's network strategy and profitability. Discontinued Bangkok-Lampang service in Oct-2025, following the termination of Lampang-Mae Hong Son service in Jul-2025. As a result, seat capacity decreased 5.1% year-on-year;
  • Revenue decreased 0.6% to THB6077 million (USD195.21 million), primarily due to lower passenger revenue, which decreased 3.3%. The decrease in passenger revenue was mainly due to a 3.1% decline in passenger numbers to one million and a 0.5% decrease in the average fare to THB4048.9 (USD130.06). International passengers decreased 32%, primarily due to a reduction in Bangkok-Phnom Penh frequency and adjustments to the Bangkok-Maldives route to match demand;
  • Revenue from airport related businesses increased 12.7% to THB1563.7 million (USD50.23 million), mainly driven by improved performance of Bangkok Air Catering, which increased 20.4% in line with a 9.7% increase in the number of meals served;
  • Passenger service charges increased 6.6% to THB120.8 million (USD3.88 million), primarily driven by an increase in the number of departing passengers during the high season at Koh Samui Airport;
• 2025:
  • Passenger numbers decreased 2.5% to 4.2 million, in line with the decline of tourist travel demand to Thailand. Domestic routes accounted for 88.7% of passengers. International passengers declined due to tensions between Thailand and Cambodia;
  • Revenue increased 0.1% to THB26,067.2 million (USD837.37 million), mainly driven by airport related businesses (+11.6%) and airport operations (+10.9%). Passenger revenue decreased 3% to THB543 million (USD17.44 million), primarily due to an 18% decrease in international revenue following a reduction in services to Phnom Penh and capacity adjustments to align with demand. [more - original PR]

AirAsia X Group CEO Bo Lingam stated (26-Feb-2026) the company is "in discussions with OEMs to expand our orderbook by up to 150 additional aircraft, on top of the existing 374 aircraft orderbook, to ensure we have the capacity to lead for the next decade". The carrier aims to maintain its fleet at 253 aircraft in 2026, as four new A321LRs will replace retiring aircraft. [more - original PR]

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) signed (26-Feb-2026) a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Macquarie AirFinance for an approximate enterprise value of USD7 billion. The transaction is expected to close in 2H2026 and will be funded through a combination of debt and equity. The combined company will have a pro forma fleet of 1029 owned, managed and committed aircraft and will serve 191 airline customers in 79 countries. Narrowbody aircraft will make up approximately 70% of the combined fleet. DAE expects to add 37 new airline customers to its portfolio on completion. [more - original PR]

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways) announced (25-Feb-2026) the cancellation of approximately 50% of its flights scheduled for 26-Feb-2026 due to a 24 hour national air transport strike in Italy. Affected passengers will be able to change their flight free of charge or receive a refund. [more - original PR]

Aer Lingus reported (25-Feb-2026) new travel document requirements for travel between Ireland and the UK. All customers, including Irish and British nationals, will require a passport or an Irish passport card for travel. The UK Government also introduced new travel requirements from 25-Feb-2026, with most visitors travelling to the UK requiring an approved electronic travel authorisation or eVISA. [more - original PR]

Etihad Airways announced (25-Feb-2026) plans to deploy A380 aircraft on once daily on Abu Dhabi-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service from 25-Oct-2026. The aircraft will feature 'The Residence' cabin, nine First Apartments, 70 business class, 68 Economy Space and 337 economy class seats. Etihad Airways chief revenue and commercial officer Arik De said: "With the A380 flying to Bangkok, we're offering greater choice and significant additional capacity on one of our most popular leisure routes". [more - original PR]

Azul announced (25-Feb-2026) the completion of its voluntary financial restructuring process and emergence from Chapter 11 conducted before the US Bankruptcy Court with the following financial key achievements:

• USD850 million of new equity investments, including from existing bondholders and USD100 million from United Airlines;
• Execution of a commitment with American Airlines for an incremental USD100 million equity investment;
• USD1.375 billion of new exit notes;
• Reduction of loans and financing debt and lease liabilities by USD2.5 billion;
• Reduction of annual interest paid on loans and financing by over 50%;
• Reduction of fleet debt by 36% and aircraft leasing costs by 33.3%. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group reported (26-Feb-2026) the following fleet highlights for H1FY2026:

• Took delivery of 18 aircraft, including nine new aircraft, comprising:
  • Qantas Airways: Two A321XLRs;
  • Jetstar Airways: One A320neo and two A321LRs;
  • QantasLink: Four A220s.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson partly attributed the Group's strong financial performance in H1FY2026 to the delivery of next generation aircraft, stating: "These new aircraft are not only improving the experience for our customers and opening up new opportunities for our people, they're also helping drive our financial performance". Ms Hudson said: "Around 60% of Jetstar's increase in profitability in the half was driven by its new aircraft, through a combination of growth, new network opportunities and the redeployment of existing aircraft onto other routes". She continued: "We've already started to see an acceleration in deliveries for Qantas, with six new aircraft arriving in the half and a further 30 arriving over the next 18 months", adding: "Some of these new aircraft will replace older aircraft, while some will support growth by opening up new routes, like the ultra long range A350s, which will operate Project Sunrise flights". Qantas Airways reported the following fleet plans for the near and medium term:

• Commence planned retirement of older Boeing 737s in late 2026, enabled by continued delivery of new aircraft, including A321XLRs;
• Deploy 787 on Melbourne-Los Angeles service, replacing A380 equipment, due to "reduced demand in economy for flights from Australia to the US";
• Deploy A380 equipment on Sydney-Singapore service;
• Refurbish 10 A330s, including new economy seats and entertainment screens;
• Resume deployment of first refurbished Jetstar 787 from Mar-2026. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways announced (26-Feb-2026) plans to progressively implement the following changes to its frequent flyer programme in 2026, emphasising that these mark "the most significant changes to earning and retaining status since the programme's inception, giving members the ability to roll over unused Status Credits and earn them through everyday spending for the first time":

• Earning Status Credits on the ground: All members will be able to earn up to 140 additional Status Credits p/a from 10 everyday categories, following a trial in 2025 "where members embraced earning Status Credits via credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers";
• Status Credit roll over: Tiered members will be able to roll over up to 50% of their unused Status Credits into their next membership year. At present, Status Credits reset from one membership year to the next;
• More lifetime milestones: Greater recognition for Lifetime Gold members, including the ability to earn and 'bank' up to five complimentary years of Platinum Status. Launching in 2027;
• Enhanced tier benefits: Additional lounge invitation each membership year for Silver members, as well as new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for all tiered members Silver and above;
• Removing programme complexity: Retirement of overlapping sub-programmes, including Points Club and Green Tier, in favour of one core recognition pathway, with the benefits valued most integrated into the core frequent flyer programme;
• Single Status Credit targets: Removal of separate attain and retain requirements, in favour of a single target for each tier level;
• An improved digital experience: Launch a new search tool on official website in Mar-2026 "to help members find international Classic Reward seats on Qantas and 30 partner airlines in seconds".

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson stated: "Our most frequent flyers tell us that status retention is the single most important milestone as a member, with thousands achieving or retaining their tier every day", adding: "These changes are about creating more opportunities for members to unlock status, while ensuring the programme remains as relevant and rewarding in the future as it has been for the past four decades". [more - original PR]

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, via its official Facebook account, announced (24-Feb-2026) the following airline terminal changes, as part of ongoing efforts to optimise terminal capacity and improve passenger movement:

• From Terminal 1 to Terminal 3:
  
  • Air China;
  • China Eastern Airlines;
  • Vietnam Airlines;
  • Royal Brunei Airlines;
  • Shenzhen Airlines;
• From Terminal 3 to Terminal 1:
  
  • Philippines AirAsia international services only;
  • AirAsia;
  • Japan Airlines from 01-Apr-2026.