CAPA Insights

43 new routes launched in the region ... On 14 of the routes (33%), the carriers are the sole scheduled operators ... 19 different carriers feature in the list.

SAS accounted for the most new routes (6), followed by Condor Flugdienst (5) and Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines and Binter Canarias (4 each).

The recent 2025 edition of Routes Asia saw plenty of discussion centred around the host city of Perth, Western Australia (WA).

WA Minister of Tourism Reece Whitby introduced the "fast growing" western gateway to delegates by underlining Perth's strategic location between Australia and Asia Pacific. He went on to describe the aviation industry as "vital" for WA, with 95% of the state's visitors arriving by air.

Tourism spending in WA reached a record AUD17.7 billion for the year ended Sep-2024 and the state government aims to grow this figure to AUD25 billion p/a by 2033.

Minister Whitby said the WA government is "determined to expand and enhance our aviation connections" and added that there is "big potential for further expansion".

Click here for more insights from Routes Asia 2025

Colombia's National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) recently announced plans to expand Bogota El Dorado International Airport, a move that will hopefully alleviate the airport's long standing capacity concerns.

West African Development Bank recently announced plans to provide Air Côte d'Ivoire with XAF30 (USD49.38 million) billion in funding for the acquisition of two Airbus A330-900neos, increasing the carrier's long haul coverage ability.

But which destinations will these new aircraft serve?

Air France and Lufthansa have recently revealed new first class cabins, both emphasising luxury, privacy and advanced technology.

Air France's La Première cabin, set to debut in spring 2025, will offer spacious suites on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring modern amenities and a high level of personalisation.

Lufthansa's Allegris first class, already operating on select A350-900s, introduces exclusive suites with options for combined sleeping arrangements and enhanced comfort features.

Uganda Airlines' announcement that it plans to launch four times weekly Entebbe-London Gatwick service on 18-May-2025 is the latest installment in a trend of African carriers increasing capacity to the UK, home to a large diaspora from the continent.

According to Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), the worst performing country in Europe in 2024 for passenger traffic was Germany.

While the UK and France also fared badly, with -0.1% passengers compared to 2023 and -3.0% respectively - Germany slumped to -16.6%.

None of this is 'breaking news'. The German Aviation Association (BDL) has been warning for well over a year about how the burden on aviation is reaching a dangerous "tipping point" in Germany.

Ecuador's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) recently adopted mutual recognition of air operators certificates (AOCs) for airlines from Andean countries whose regulatory frameworks comply with ICAO standards, namely Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.

In the words of Ecuador's Minister of Tourism Mateo Estrella, the initiative "would allow any airline holding an AOC in one Andean country to operate domestically in another". With Ecuador having set a maximum period of one month for AOC recognition, the measure is clearly designed to expedite the entry of new players into the country's aviation market, and is likely to benefit consumers if regional LCCs take up the offer.

In Nov-2024, CAPA - Centre of Aviation recognised Sun Country Airlines as Low Cost Carrier of the Year, acknowledging the airline's strategic agility in the extremely competitive US domestic market, cost-focused approach and consistent financial performance.

Sun Country proceeded to achieve a net profit of USD13.4 million in 4Q2024, up 138% from 4Q2023 and continuing a winning streak of profitability which began in 3Q2022.

While the survivability of the ULCC model in the highly competitive US market faces scrutiny following the collapse of the JetBlue Airways/Spirit Airlines merger and Spirit's subsequent Chapter 11 filing, Sun Country's performance tells a different story.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation recaps the some of the new route launches and new route announcements made by airlines for Continental and Nordic Europe in Feb-2025.