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Emirates Airline announced (17-Oct-2024) plans to deploy retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft featuring premium economy cabins on the following routes:

• Dubai-Kuwait: Daily from 27-Oct-2024;
• Dubai-Dammam: Twice daily from 22-Nov-2024.

Dammam will become the second destination in Saudi Arabia to be served with retrofitted 777 equipment following Riyadh. [more - original PR]

VietJet Air operated (17-Oct-2024) two flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provided by Petrolimex Aviation. The flights departed from Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport to Melbourne and Incheon, marking the first time SAF was used for flights departing from Vietnam. [more - original PR - Vietnamese]

PLAY announced (16-Oct-2024) a change to its business model, further increasing its focus on leisure markets out of Iceland while reducing its business of connecting passengers between North America and Europe. The carrier's point-to-point services, mainly between Iceland and southern Europe, have been consistently profitable, however yields on its hub-and-spoke operations across the Atlantic has been disappointing, particularly in 2024, due to increased competition. In response, PLAY plans to reduce its destinations in North America and northern Europe by mid 2025, while expanding its leisure markets in southern Europe. PLAY has therefore applied for an air operating licence (AOC) in Malta to support operating part of its fleet outside of Iceland, with the process expected to be completed by spring 2025. The first aircraft under the Maltese AOC will be based in Tenerife, operating to Reykjavik Keflavík and Akureyri, as well other destinations. Following these changes, PLAY expects to operate six to seven aircraft on its Icelandic AOC and three to four on the Maltese. PLAY emphasised its financial position remains secure, with no current plans to raise capital. However, 2024 EBIT is expected to fall below 2023 levels, due to the increase in capacity across the Atlantic in spring and summer 2024 having a greater negative impact than initially anticipated. Further details will be provided during the carrier's 3Q2024 presentation on 24-Oct-2024. [more - original PR]

avianca announced (16-Oct-2024) plans to introduce business class service on 23 additional routes from Dec-2024, for a total of 34. Features of the service include greater recline, additional legroom, charging ports and complimentary meals. The expansion covers routes including San Salvador (El Salvador)-New York, Medellin-Buenos Aires, Medellin-Lima, Bogota-Montreal and Bogota-Panama City. [more - original PR]

Aerus, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (16-Oct-2024) the launch of daily Monterrey-Brownsville service. The launch marks the start of the airline's international operations.

Cathay Pacific welcomed (16-Oct-2024) the Hong Kong Government's initiatives to strengthen Hong Kong's international aviation hub status by capitalising on the commissioning of the three runway system and expanding the scale of the Airport City. Cathay Pacific Group CEO Ronald Lam stated: "We are a committed enabler of Hong Kong's future through the connectivity we provide and within 2025 the Cathay Group will be flying passengers to 100 destinations ​around the world as we continue to expand our network". Cathay Pacific also welcomed the government's initiatives to support collaboration between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Zhuhai Airport to improve the 'Fly-Via-Zhuhai-Hong Kong' passenger service and jointly develop an international air cargo business. Mr Lam added: "We are encouraged by the Government's initiatives to continue developing the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park, enhancing its processing capacity and facilitating more cargo transshipments via Hong Kong to the rest of the world". [more - original PR]