Dubai International Airport

UAE-based carrier Emirates has dropped plans to operate a fifth freedom flight between Dubai and Mexico City via Barcelona. But the move could prompt Aeromexico to revive proposals for a Barcelona service.

The busiest passenger air routes on earth have been revealed in a new study published by Routesonline, with the Asia-Pacific region dominating the top 100. The research has been released ahead of World Routes 2018, taking place from 15-18 September in Guangzhou, China.

This week: British Airways to resume Heathrow to Durban after almost two decades; Emirates adds Edinburgh; and Avianca to offer new Chicago route.

This week: Air New Zealand relaunches Taipei, Cebu Pacific adds its second destination in Australia and Emirates resumes services to Tunisia.

Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to resume its A380 service to Houston from June.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the world’s busiest airport, according to preliminary traffic figures, but Beijing Capital is closing the gap. The statistics - which reveal the top 20 airports by passenger numbers - also show there is no stopping China’s rapid growth, with 12 new airports beginning commercial air service during 2017.

This week: VLM Airlines, Icelandair and Emirates are each set to resume routes previously operated.

Emirates will begin daily flights to Dubai from Stansted next year, providing a huge boost for the London airport’s long-haul ambitions.