Etihad Airways announced (09-Jan-2026) plans to commence three times weekly Abu Dhabi-Luxembourg service with A321LR equipment on 29-Oct-2026. Etihad will be the first airline from the Middle East to serve Luxembourg. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]
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Latest News Headlines
Ethiopian Airlines Group announced (10-Jan-2026) construction of Bishoftu International Airport commenced on 10-Jan-2026. Phase one of the project is expected to be complete by 2030 and will have capacity for 60 million passengers p/a. The airport will have capacity for 110 million passengers p/a when fully complete. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the new airport is "a major step towards addressing the infrastructural gap in Africa and a key player in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Ethiopian Airlines Group stated that Addis Ababa Bole International Airport had become too small and overcrowded, with further upgrades no longer possible, prompting the need for Bishoftu International Airport1. The project attracted significant interest from financiers, including a USD500 million pledge from a Chinese bank, and is supported by the African Development Bank as initial mandated lead arranger2 3.
Emirates announced (08-Jan-2026) plans to expand its premium economy offering to 10 new destinations and increase frequency for multiple destinations where premium economy is already available in 2026, with deployment of premium economy class configured Boeing 777s and A350s on the following routes:
- Dubai-Kochi/Cochin: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 29-Jan-2026;
- Dubai-Basrah: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 29-Jan-2026;
- Dubai-Kuwait: Commence deployment of 777 on select frequencies, effective 01-Feb-2026 to 30-Apr-2026, deploy A350 from 01-May-2026;
- Dubai-Barcelona: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 01-Feb-2026;
- Barcelona-Mexico City: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on daily service from 15-Feb-2026;
- Dubai-Karachi: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 01-Mar-2026;
- Dubai-Addis Ababa: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies from 01-Mar-2026;
- Dubai-Taiwan Taoyuan: Commence deployment of 777-200LR on select frequencies, effective 15-Mar-2026 to 30-Apr-2026, deploy A350 from 01-May-2026;
- Dubai-Rome: Commence deployment of A350 on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
- Dubai-Brisbane: Commence deployment of 777-300ER on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
- Dubai-Tehran: Commence deployment of 777 on select frequencies from 29-Mar-2026;
- Dubai-Copenhagen: Deploy A350 on second daily frequency from 01-Jun-2026;
- Dubai-Phuket: Deploy A350 on third daily frequency from 01-Jul-2026;
- Dubai-Cape Town: Deploy A350 on third daily frequency from 01-Jul-2026.
Emirates will deploy premium economy class configured aircraft on more than 84 routes by 01-Jul-2026. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Emirates had expanded its premium economy network to over 70 cities by late 2025 and planned to offer nearly four million premium economy seats per annum by 2026, deploying retrofitted A380s, Boeing 777s, and new A350s across major destinations1 2. The airline had also begun deploying premium economy on additional services such as Dubai-Beirut and Dubai-Beijing with recently retrofitted 777s3.
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]
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.
Most Read News Headlines
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7-Jan-2026 2:42 PM
Manchester Airport MD comments on route development plans for 2026
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.
6-Jan-2026 12:07 PM
KLM cancels 300 flights on 06-Jan-2026 due to adverse weather
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.
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