Airports & Networks

The largest annual airport exhibition in the world, the Airport Show - being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center (DICEC), 29 April 29 to 1 May - will be introducing some of the advanced technologies that are set to underpin the digital transformation of the next generation of Smart Airports.

Fresh from opening a new terminal that has increased overall passenger capacity to 12.5 million, Mactan-Cebu International Airport is already targeting further expansion. Erwin Balane, head of route development for The Philippine Department of Tourism, tells Routesonline about its ambitions of growing capacity to 35 million passengers per year by 2025.

Vietnam’s Van Don Airport began operations with its first commercial flight Dec. 30, becoming the country’s first privately-operated airport.

The second part of our review of 2018 features World Routes taking place in Guangzhou; the failure of European leisure operator Primera Air; Singapore Airlines regaining the crown as the operator of the world’s longest flight; and Routesonline reveals the busiest passenger air routes in the world. Plus the return of Routes Africa and Brexit uncertainty rumbles on.

Lufthansa has called on Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport and German border police to urgently address system problems that led to some 3,000 passengers missing their flights in the days leading to Christmas.

US-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and its co-shareholders have passed control of London Gatwick Airport to French company Vinci Airports.

The facts and figures behind the world's leading route development events.

RwandAir will commence flights to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, in April 2019.

Turkish Airlines has added Lusaka to its network as its 55th destination in Africa.

We present the most-read Airlineroute announcements throughout last year.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will begin its Airbus A380 flights to Honolulu May 24 with a 3X weekly service, taking them to a daily service from July 1.

What were Routesonline readers most interested in this year? We reveal our list of the most-read stories in 2018.

Icelandic ultra-LCC WOW Air is to sell some of its aircraft to Air Canada.

London’s Gatwick Airport shut down flight operations again Dec. 21 after yet another drone sighting, then reopened 1 1/2 hr. later.

Singapore’s Changi International Airport handled 5.41 million passengers in November, a 4.5% increase year over year (YOY).

Chilean ultra-LCC JetSMART has begun flights to Argentina after obtaining an operating certificate from the Argentinian government.

EasyJet has converted 580 of 1,400 UK pilot licenses to Austrian ones as the UK-based LCC continues to prepare for a no-deal Brexit when the UK leaves the European Union on March 29, 2019.

Flight operations at London Gatwick Airport have been restarted after drone flights forced the closure of its runway for more than 30 hrs.

IndiGo has signed a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines to support its international expansion plans.

Saudia's low-cost subsidiary flyadeal, previously an all-Airbus operator, has committed to ordering up to 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as it seeks to grow its domestic presence.

A start-up carrier backed by a former chairman and chief executive of American Airlines has placed an order for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX8s, representing the largest aircraft deal ever for the African continent.

This week: British Airways resumes flights to Pakistan's capital, Air Italy adds more North America destinations, and China Southern connects the hosts of two Routes events.

Find out which airports and tourism authorities have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in route development marketing.

Flydubai will launch 5X-weekly Dubai-Naples (Italy) services from June 4, 2019, becoming the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights to Naples as the Dubai-based LCC expands its European network.

Time is running out to take advantage of early booking rates for the event held in Québec City, Canada next February.