US airports can expect to see a 3.2% growth in enplanements in 2019, a solid level but well short of the 5.4% year-to-date rate recorded in 2018, according to analysts from Moody’s, who predict the US economy will grow 2.3% next year.
Canadian LCC WestJet has expanded its codeshare relationship with Australia’s Qantas by adding Qantas-operated flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
As support for a domestic anti-flying campaign gathers pace across Sweden, a regional airport is partnering with Swedish-carrier BRA and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to partially fuel all flights to Stockholm with biofuel in 2019.
Irish lessor Avolon has confirmed an order for 75 Airbus A320neos and 25 A321neos in the single largest order for aircraft from the European manufacturer ever placed by the Dublin-headquartered company.
Air New Zealand engineers have scheduled a strike Dec. 21 that threatens to disrupt travel plans of nearly 42,000 customers on one of the airline’s busiest travel days, although further negotiations are planned in an effort to resolve the contract dispute.
The runway-excursion safety system installed following a 2000 overrun by a Southwest Airlines 737-300 at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is being credited for helping to keep another 737 from leaving airport property after the aircraft landed and went past the same runway end Dec. 6.
French all-business class transatlantic airline La Compagnie will begin operating seasonal flights between Nice and New York-Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) from May 5, 2019.
Air China will begin direct flights from Beijing to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, with 3X-weekly Airbus A320 service, from Jan. 7, 2019, marking the first time both capital cities are connected.
Fuel supplier Shell Aviation and biofuel distributor SkyNRG have begun providing sustainable aviation fuel to Finnair, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) under a long-term collaboration agreement announced in May.
Air France’s main pilots’ union elected a new leader to represent it in negotiations with the carrier, ushering in the possibility of a less hostile approach to relations with management.
AirAsia Group has moved forward with plans to establish an LCC in Vietnam by signing an MOU with a Vietnamese businessman, reaffirming an earlier joint venture (JV) agreement.
UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic has no immediate plans to join the SkyTeam alliance, despite being part-owned by US SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines and alliance partner Air France-KLM being in the process of buying a stake in the carrier.
The airline division of UK travel operator Thomas Cook Group weathered summer European aviation disruptions to post a 37% profit growth to £129 million ($150 million) for the financial year ended Sept. 30.
Hawaiian Airlines has adjusted its fourth-quarter (4Q) guidance, reflecting slightly weaker unit revenue and lower costs. The airline now expects 4Q unit revenue will be down 3%-5% year-over-year.
Bahrain-based Gulf Air and Etihad Airways have signed a simulator training deal allowing Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 pilots to travel to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Training facility for training.
The oneworld global alliance announced Dec. 5 that Royal Air Maroc (RAM) will become its 14th full member airline, likely being inaugurated in mid-2020.
A group of 11 senators have called on the US government to examine whether Qatar Airways’ financial support for Air Italy may violate a commitment by the state-owned airline not to conduct fifth freedom flights to the US.
