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CAPA Insights

Our Insight articles provide context and expert views on breaking news from across the industry. Drawing on CAPA's deep industry knowledge, our extensive databases and other resources, we go beyond the headlines to examine the background of key trending topics and consider the changing outlook. Our global team of analysts builds on the trending news with information critical for decision makers. Insight articles are available to all CAPA Members online or via our fully customisable Alerts.

    29-Jul-2025

    ‘Bay-Watch’: San Francisco status the name of the game as Oakland Airport modifies moniker (again)

    The Port of Oakland has launched its second attempt in just over a year to rename Oakland International Airport, after the first was defeated by a legal challenge.

    The Port is seeking to capture and retain inbound travel by highlighting the airport's proximity to San Francisco, but if history and the early murmurs from San Francisco International Airport are anything to go by - a similar result appears likely this time around.

    24-Jul-2025

    Edelweiss Air accelerates fleet modernisation while expanding global network

    Edelweiss Air plans to phase out its aging fleet of five A340-300s by mid-2027 and rebuild its long haul fleet to match pre-COVID levels of six aircraft, while improving fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

    The airline provides services to 102 destinations in 37 countries in summer 2025, with new services to Lulea, São Vicente and Praia announced for winter 2025/26.

    22-Jul-2025

    PLAY's new tune - new business strategy starts to take shape, but airline suffers difficult 2Q

    PLAY has been in the process of implementing strategic changes to its business model.

    A snapshot of recent news provides some insight into how the process is going:

    • Strong offering of sun destinations and popular cities for Icelandic travellers;
    • Four aircraft operating flights from Iceland. The aircraft will be operated by crew from Iceland under Icelandic collective agreements;
    • Six additional aircraft will be leased out for profitable projects with other airlines;
    • North American flights will cease as of Oct-2025, and the number of city destinations in Northern Europe will be reduced;
    • Operations will be conducted under a Maltese air operator certificate (AOC), and the Icelandic AOC will be returned.

    18-Jul-2025

    Vietnam Airlines banks on freight with dedicated cargo airline

    Vietnam Airlines confirmed its intention to launch a dedicated cargo airline in 2026, converting A321 aircraft into freighters.

    The first cargo aircraft is expected to enter service on regional routes in 4Q2025.

    16-Jul-2025

    Eight countries propose more levies on air travel as industry celebrates removal of Swedish tax

    At the end of Jun-2025, the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (GSLTF) launched a campaign to expand levies on air transport, particularly targeting premium travellers and private jets.

    The coalition launch partners comprised France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua & Barbuda, with backing from the European Commission under the Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet.

    The GSLTF's stated aim is to "improve domestic revenue mobilisation of developing countries and support international solidarity (in particular with regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation, pandemics and other development challenges)".

    The announcement was met with strong criticism from aviation industry bodies, including IATA and Airports Council International, which strongly objected to further levies or taxes on air travel.

    The GSLTF's announcement came just as Sweden's Government abolished its aviation tax, in a move broadly welcomed by airlines.

    Other European countries, notably Germany and Austria, continue to face industry backlash for their taxes on aviation.

    14-Jul-2025

    Continental & Nordic Europe Jun-2025 route launches

    82 new routes launched in the region ... 34 different carriers feature in the list.

    Aegean Airlines accounted for the most new routes (10), followed by Norwegian (9) and SAS (6).

    11-Jul-2025

    Aeroflot Group to focus on MC-21 in fleet renewal programme

    Aeroflot CEO Sergei Alexandrovsky announced Aeroflot Group will rely on Irkut MC-21 for fleet renewal, with the aircraft to be operated by both Aeroflot and Rossiya - Russian Airlines.

    Aeroflot Group now expects to add 108 MC-21 aircraft by 2030 and a further 92 MC-21s by the end of 2032.

    Rossiya plans to transition to an all MC-21 medium haul fleet, with the aircraft to feature a two class comfort and economy class seat configuration.

    The first serial MC-21 deliveries to customers including Aeroflot are expected from autumn 2026.

    09-Jul-2025

    Sun PhuQuoc Airways - a new resort airline competing for market share in Vietnam

    Vietnam is preparing to welcome a sixth airline after the Ministry of Construction granted an air transport license to Sun PhuQuoc Airways.

    The proposed airline intends to adopt a hub-and-spoke route model.

    Sun PhuQuoc Airways will position Phu Quoc International Airport as its hub, operating charter services to major cities in Vietnam and Asia Pacific, including Japan, South Korea and China.

    07-Jul-2025

    Airbus looks to go larger and longer on A220, A330 and A350

    Speaking to Aviation Week Network at the Paris Air Show in Jun-2025, Airbus executives and engineers revealed progress on some of the manufacturer's efforts to grow the capabilities of its A220, A330 and A350 aircraft families.

    Airbus' projects include a larger variant of the A220, increased take off weight for the A330-900 and progress on the upcoming A350-1000ULR.

    03-Jul-2025

    IIAC project to build new Guayaquil airport a vital test case for foreign investment in region

    Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) recently signed an MoU with Guayaquil Airport Authority to support the development of a new airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

    The USD360 million project will aim to develop an airport capable of handling over seven million passengers p/a, in a bid to address capacity concerns at Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport (GYE).