CAPA News Briefs

Southwest Airlines announced (14-Jul-2025) plans to commence selling assigned and premium seating in 3Q2025. The LCC plans to operate with its new fare bundles and a reconfigured fleet, including extra legroom seating in 1Q2026. [more - original PR]

No1 Lounges announced (14-Jul-2025) plans to open a 5900sqft location at Jersey Airport on 18-Jul-2025. The lounge will be the brand's only outside the UK. [more - original PR]

Wizz Air Holding announced (14-Jul-2025) the suspension of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operations as part of a strategic realignment. Wizz Air will suspend all locally based flight operations effective 01-Sep-2025 and intends to exit from the joint venture and focus on core markets. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi faced increasing operational challenges over the past year, including:

• Engine reliability constraints, particularly in hot and harsh environments, which impacted aircraft availability and operational efficiency;
• Geopolitical volatility, which led to repeated airspace closures and operational disruptions across the region, as well as affecting consumer demand;
• Regulatory barriers, which limited the ability to access and scale in key markets.

Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said: "The operating environment has changed significantly. Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions". Wizz Air will intensify its focus on core Central and Eastern European markets, as well as select Western European countries such as Austria, Italy and UK. [more - original PR]

Jetstar Airways announced (15-Jul-2025) plans to launch the following services to the Philippines:

• Brisbane-Cebu: Three times weekly from 03-Dec-2025 with A321LR aircraft;
• Perth-Manila: Three times weekly from 27-Nov-2025 with A321LR aircraft.

The services will add over 108,000 seats p/a from Australia to the Philippines. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Brisbane Airport]

Finnair announced (13-Jul-2025) Service Sector Employers Palta and Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) approved a settlement proposal, forming the basis for a new collective agreement for aviation services. The new agreement will be in effect for approximately 1.5 years, ending on 15-Jan-2027. As a result of the agreement, the planned strikes announced by IAU for 16-Jul-2025, 18-Jul-2025, 21-Jul-2025, 23-Jul-2025 and 25-Jul-2025 were cancelled, and Finnair will operate its flights according to the normal schedule. [more - original PR]

China Airlines announced (09-Jul-2025) plans to offer free inflight WiFi connectivity to all passengers travelling on the airline's Boeing 777s, A350s and A321neos, commencing 01-Aug-2025. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways and Air France-KLM expanded (10-Jul-2025) an existing partnership to improve air connectivity between Australia and Europe. Details include:

• Air France will codeshare on the Qantas Perth-Paris CDG service;
• Air France will establish Tokyo Haneda Airport as a new connection point for Air France and Qantas services from 01-Jul-2026, complementing existing services at Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers transiting via these three connection points can transfer to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin and Perth on Qantas services;
• Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will codeshare on the Qantas Darwin-Singapore service;
• The carriers will introduce an enhanced loyalty cooperation, with Air France-KLM Flying Blue members able to redeem miles for Qantas first class. Flying Blue members with 'Ultimate' status will be able to access Qantas first class lounges. [more - original PR]

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced (08-Jul-2025) the following updates to its fleet and product offering:

• Following completion of a USD17 billion fleet transformation, the carrier will operate a mixed fleet of 45 next generation, fuel efficient aircraft: 19 A330-900s, 12 A350-100s and 14 Boeing 787-9s, with an average age of under seven years.
  • The 787-9s will undergo a full cabin re-design, offering 44 Upper Class and 56 Premium seats, including eight Retreat Suites in Upper Class. The economy cabin will reduce from 192 to 127 seats. The roll-out is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2030;
  • From 3Q2026, 10 A330neos will be delivered configured with increased premium cabins, with 48 Upper Class, 56 Premium and 128 economy seats, including four additional Retreat Suites in Upper Class for a total of six;
• Introduction of 'Fantastic Flying Club' recognition for guests with multi-year loyalty who may not travel enough for tier status progression;
• Deployment of free, streaming-quality unlimited WiFi throughout its fleet using Starlink technology, with roll-out scheduled to take place from 3Q2026 and be completed by the end of 2027;
• Introduction of a new 'World of Virgin Atlantic in your Pocket' mobile app from Dec-2025, integrating both airline and holiday journeys into one platform;
• Partnership with OpenAI and Tomoro.ai to create a digital concierge featuring an integrated advanced voice mode;
• Partnership with Joby Aviation announced in Mar-2025, supporting electric air taxi services across the UK by the end of 2030;
• Investing in Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses. Following the opening at Los Angeles International Airport in Mar-2025, the carrier plans to open refurbished clubhouses at London Heathrow Airport and New York John F Kennedy International Airport;
• The carrier recently launched 10 signature food and beverage creations;
• Partnership with Votary to provide skincare product on board from the beginning of 2026. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Boeing, via its official website, reported (08-Jul-2025) the following commercial aircraft orders and deliveries for Jun-2025:

• Gross orders: 116 aircraft;
  • Alaska Airlines: 12 737 MAXs;
  • British Airways: 32 787-10s;
  • Unidentified customer(s): 42 737 MAXs and 30 787-9s;
• Deliveries: 57 aircraft;
  • AerCap: Two 737 MAXs;
  • Air China: One 737 MAX;
  • Air China Cargo: One 777F;
  • Air France-KLM: One 787-10;
  • Air India: One 737 MAX;
  • Air Lease: One 737 MAX, one 787-9 and one 787-10;
  • Akasa Air: Two 737 MAXs;
  • Alaska Airlines: Three 737 MAXs;
  • Allegiant Air: One 737 MAX;
  • American Airlines: One 787-9;
  • Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings: One 777F;
  • Aviation Capital Group: One 737 MAX;
  • Avolon Aerospace Leasing: One 787-9;
  • British Airways: One 787-10;
  • CDB Leasing: One 737 MAX;
  • CES Leasing: One 777F;
  • China Southern Airlines: One 737 MAX;
  • Copa Airlines: One 737 MAX;
  • DHL Aviation Americas: One 777F;
  • Ethiopian Airlines Group: One 737 MAX;
  • Etihad Airways: One 787-9;
  • FedEx Express: One 767-300F;
  • flydubai: Two 737 MAXs;
  • GOL: Two 737 MAXs;
  • Hawaiian Airlines: One 787-9;
  • Jackson Square Aviation: One 737 MAX;
  • JEJU air: One 737 MAX;
  • Juneyao Airlines: One 787-9;
  • Minsheng Financial Leasing: One 737 MAX;
  • Singapore Airlines: Two 737 MAXs;
  • Southwest Airlines: 10 737 MAXs;
  • SunExpress: One 737 MAX;
  • United Airlines: Three 737 MAXs;
  • UPS: One 767-300F;
  • WestJet: One 737 MAX;
  • Xiamen Airlines: Two 737 MAXs. [more - Aviation Week]

Boeing reported (08-Jul-2025) the following commercial aircraft deliveries:

• 2Q2025: 150 aircraft;
  • 737: 104;
  • 767: Nine;
  • 777: 13;
  • 787: 24;
• 1H2025: 280 aircraft;
  • 737: 209;
  • 767: 14;
  • 777: 20;
  • 787: 37. [more - original PR]

Airbus reported (08-Jul-2025) the following commercial aircraft orders and deliveries for Jun-2025:

• Deliveries: 62 aircraft to 34 customers;
  • Accipiter: One A320neo (LATAM Airlines Group);
  • Air Canada: Three A220-300s;
  • Air France: One A220-300 and one A350-900;
  • Air Lease: Five A220-300s (two Croatia Airlines, and one each ITA Airways, Smartwings Czechia and TAAG Angola Airlines);
  • Avolon: One A320neo (Royal Jordanian);
  • BOCOM Leasing: One A320neo (Spring Airlines) and one A321neo (Turkish Airlines);
  • Breeze Airways: One A220-300;
  • British Airways: One A321neo;
  • CALC: One A320neo (LATAM Airlines Group) and one A321neo (United Airlines);
  • China Eastern Airlines: Two A320neos and one A321neo;
  • China Southern Airlines: One A321neo;
  • CIT Leasing: One A330-900 (Malaysia Airlines);
  • CMB Financial Leasing: One A321neo (Hainan Airlines);
  • Delta Air Lines: Two A321neos and one A350-900;
  • Emirates: One A350-900;
  • flynas: One A320neo;
  • Frontier Airlines: Two A321neos;
  • Iberia: One A321neo;
  • ICBC Leasing: One A320neo (Tigerair Taiwan) and one A321neo (Jet2.com);
  • IndiGo: One A321neo;
  • JetBlue Airways: Two A220-300s and one A321neo;
  • JetSMART (Chile): Three A320neos;
  • Kuwait Airways: One A330-900;
  • LATAM Airlines Group: One A320neo and one A321neo;
  • Lufthansa: One A320neo (Lufthansa City Airlines) and one A350-900;
  • Macquarie Airfinance Holdings: Two A320neos (flyadeal and SAS);
  • NAS Aviation Services: One A320neo (Transavia France);
  • Pegasus Airlines: One A321neo;
  • Qantas Airways: One A320neo (Jetstar Airways) and one A321neo;
  • Saudia: One A321neo;
  • Sichuan Airlines: One A350-900;
  • SMBC Aviation Capital: One A320neo (SKY Express) and one A321neo (Transavia);
  • Transavia France: One A320neo;
  • Volaris: One A320neo and one A321neo;
  • Wizz Air: Three A321neos;
• Gross orders: 203;
  • All Nippon Airways: 27 A321neos
  • AviLease: 10 A320neos, 20 A321neos and 10 A350Fs;
  • IAG: 21 A330-900s;
  • LOT Polish Airlines: 20 A220-100s and 20 A220-300s;
  • MAB Leasing: 20 A330-900s;
  • Riyadh Air: 25 A350-1000s;
  • STARLUX Airlines: 10 A350-1000s;
  • VietJet Air: 20 A330-900s. [more - original PR] [more - Aviation Week]

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced (08-Jul-2025) a new policy which will enable passengers travelling at domestic airports to keep their shoes on when passing through US TSA security checkpoints. Ms Noem stated: "Ending the 'Shoes-Off' policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernise and enhance traveller experience across our nation's airports. We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience". [more - original PR]