L’Odyssey, a regional airline based in France, has announced plans to launch seasonal flights from Nîmes starting in May 2025. The flights, which will operate through September 2025, will utilize a wet-leased ATR72-600, enhancing connectivity for the region during the busy summer period.
China Southern Airlines has announced strong passenger performance for November 2024, reporting a 9.6% increasein total passengers to 12.8 million compared to the same month in 2023. The airline’s Passenger Load Factor (PLF) also showed significant improvement, rising by 5.9 points to 84.8%, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and robust demand.
China Eastern Airlines has reported strong passenger growth for November 2024, with total passengers rising 13.9%year-over-year to 11.2 million. This marks a significant improvement in the airline’s performance, reflecting growing demand for air travel and continued recovery in the aviation sector.
Binter, the Spanish regional airline, has announced the launch of six new routes from Tenerife North Airport in 2025. The airline will connect Tenerife to Ponta Delgada, Valencia, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Granada, and Murcia, strengthening its network across Spain and the broader Atlantic region.
Bhutan Airlines is set to expand its international operations with the launch of direct flights between Paro International Airport and Hong Kong. The new route is scheduled to commence on 27 January 2025, marking a significant step in the airline’s strategy to enhance connectivity and cater to increasing demand for travel between Bhutanand East Asia.
Air Austral, the airline based in Reunion, has announced plans to operate a leased Hi-Fly Malta Airbus A330-200 on its Dzaoudzi – Nairobi – Paris Charles de Gaulle – Dzaoudzi route. The aircraft will be deployed during the peak travel period between 14 December 2024 and 23 January 2025 to accommodate increased passenger demand.
Utair, a Russian airline, has been added to the updated sanctions list of the European Union (EU), following accusations of its role as a “contractor for the Russian Ministry of Defense”. The decision reflects the EU’s ongoing measures to impose restrictions on entities linked to Russia’s defense activities.
Qantas Airways, Australia’s flagship carrier, has reached a settlement with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) to provide $76.2 million in compensation to former ground workers who were dismissed in 2020. The agreement concludes a long-running legal dispute over the controversial outsourcing of ground handling jobs.
Lufthansa, Germany’s flagship carrier, has urged the European Commission to suspend the EU-Qatar air transport agreement, citing concerns over its “radically unequal” terms and serious corruption allegations. The agreement, which liberalizes market access between the EU and Qatar, has come under increased scrutiny in recent months.
Korean Air has announced the promotion of its current president, Woo Kee-hong, to the position of Vice Chairman as part of the airline’s regular executive reshuffle scheduled for January 2025. This leadership change underscores Korean Air’s focus on strategic growth and operational excellence as it navigates the evolving global aviation landscape.
