Passenger numbers in the U.S. reached their highest levels since Spring 2020, but new concerns about the omicron coronavirus variant could threaten momentum during the winter travel season.

The recovery of air travel is under threat as countries look to insulate themselves from the new omicron coronavirus strain by re-imposing travel restrictions.

Despite near-term challenges such as the emerging Omicron coronavirus variant, the fundamentals for LCC success in the Asia-Pacific region remain strong.

The LCC is expecting to become an all-neo operator by 2027 once more new-generation aircraft are delivered by Airbus and its older A330s and A320ceos can be retired. 

Aegean said the easing of travel restrictions and introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate meant the three-month period ending Sept. 30 was better for the airline.

The European Commission and UK authorities are taking steps to restrict travel from southern Africa after the emergence of a significantly mutated variant of COVID-19.

As travel restrictions are still in flux across Asia-Pacific, the region’s carriers fared differently in the month of October, with China’s three main airlines recording falls in traffic.

Air Canada was fined $4.5 million by the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) for “extreme delays” in providing customer refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic.