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IATA and Airlines for Europe (A4E) criticised (19-Jun-2025) the European Parliament's efforts to make cabin baggage allowance compulsory for all passengers. A4E stated the proposed amendment to legislation "overrides the commercial freedom of airlines guaranteed under EU legislation and needlessly imposes a service on travellers who prefer to fly light", adding: "The result will be higher costs for millions of passengers who neither need nor use an extra trolley bag". IATA director general Willie Walsh stated: "When regulators meddle in commercial or operational issues they don't understand, they usually get it wrong. Our consumer research tells us that the majority of travellers want to pay the lowest price possible for their ticket and buy the additional services they need. That's the complete opposite of an amendment that will force airlines to re-bundle their offering". An IATA survey found that 72% of travellers agreed with the statement: 'I prefer to pay the lowest price possible for my air ticket, and pay extra for any additional services I need'. The survey also found that approximately 30% of travellers pay to bring a bag on board. Mr Walsh added: "If EU Parliamentarians insist on regulating where regulation is not needed, they should be prepared to take responsibility for its negative consequences". [more - original PR - IATA] [more - original PR - A4E]

London Gatwick Airport announced (19-Jun-2025) plans to offer 221 destinations served by 57 airlines during summer 2025. The destinations comprise 10 domestic, 159 short haul and 52 long haul routes. Details include:

• New short haul destinations launched between Apr-2025 and Jun-2025: Ålesund, Antalya, Billund, Brest, Rimini, Salerno and Wrocław;
• New carriers: Kenya Airways, Mavi Gök Airlines and Uganda Airlines. [more - original PR]

UK's Government stated (17-Jun-2025) British aerospace manufacturers will benefit from the UK-US trade deal agreed in May-2025. The US committed to reducing tariffs on UK aerospace goods, such as engines and similar aircraft parts, from the general 10% tariff being applied to all other countries. The UK Government stated tariffs will be "removed completely" for the UK aerospace sector. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç commented: "The tariff exemptions on aircraft, aero engines and parts that have been secured are truly significant... The US is a vitally important market for Rolls-Royce and we welcome the strengthening of trade ties between the two countries". [more - original PR]

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary commented (18-Jun-2025) on the Irish Government's response to the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, stating: "Six months into the new Government we still haven't seen any action to scrap the Dublin Airport cap. This was one of the key promises in the Programme for Government published in Jan-2025". Mr O'Leary added: "It's time for [Transport Minister] Darragh O'Brien to stop dithering, stop 'consulting', stop 'considering action' and instead do what he was elected to do - pass legislation to abolish the Dublin Airport cap, without any further dither, drift, or delay". [more - original PR]

Macquarie Asset Management announced (18-Jun-2025) it has agreed to acquire ownership stakes in the following airports from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan via the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 7:

• Bristol Airport: 55%;
• Birmingham Airport: 26.5%;
• London City Airport: 25%.

The London City Airport acquisition has reached financial close, with the remaining two acquisitions expected to reach financial close by 4Q2025. [more - original PR]

Auckland International Airport welcomed (18-Jun-2025) China Eastern Airlines' plans to launch twice weekly Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires Ezeiza service from Dec-2025 - in addition to the carrier's existing Shanghai Pudong-Auckland service. Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui stated: "It's fantastic news for New Zealand's tourism and trade ambitions. While we have rebuilt our aviation connections with China, visitation is still recovering. Additional flights from Shanghai Pudong, a major globally connected hub, supports more travellers not just direct from China but also those connecting via Shanghai from across Asia and Europe into Auckland". Ms Hurihanganui added: "It also helps address a big gap in our direct capacity between New Zealand and South America, which is down 53% compared to the pre-pandemic period. That reduction in capacity has contributed to NZD76.7 million (USD46.2 million) less visitor spend, 32% fewer Kiwi businesses connecting face-to-face in South America and a 16% decline in cargo volumes". [more - original PR]