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Lufthansa and EasyJet are looking keenly to the fall and winter as the European travel recovery seems to have found firm footing. This is a turning of the tables compared with their US peers, which almost universally have lowered expectations for the fall after the Delta variant took a big bite out of their previously rosy outlooks. “Current bookings indicate a sustained demand recovery,” the Lufthansa Group said on a new E2.1b capital increase on September 19. As such, the group — including its namesake carrier as well as Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Swiss — expects positive cash flow and an operating profit in Q3. EasyJet said on September 18 that there was a “surge” in UK bookings for travel this fall and winter after the UK government removed pre-departure testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers returning to the country, beginning October 4. The airline did not provide a base off of which bookings jumped. The UK represents half of EasyJet’s scheduled capacity in September, according to Cirium data. Story features more about Lufthansa, noting that corporate travelers are returning — whereas their numbers have plateaued in the US — supporting Lufthansa’s plans to resume more flights. <br/>

Air Canada, has resumed operations in India after a four-month-long suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to a passenger's query on resumption of flights to India, Air Canada on Twitter said it is resuming flight to Delhi. "Yes, the route is resuming," Air Canada replied to a Twitter user. The airline said that the passengers who plan to travel to Canada (Toronto) must carry an RT-PCR test or Rapid PCR test taken not more than 18 hours before departure. "The only accepted COVID-19 tests are an RT-PCR test or a rapid PCR test that must be taken no more than 18 hours before your departing Air Canada flight to Canada from the COVID-19 Testing Centre & Lounge across from Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi," the airline said. The airline suspended India operation since April this year due to the sudden surge in COVID cases. According to flight radar, Air Canada AC-42 is currently en route to Delhi from Toronto and it is expected to land tonight.<br/>

Air China has ordered 10 shipsets of Recaro Aircraft Seating’s new CL6720 business class seat, becoming the launch customer of the new seat. Disclosing the deal, Recaro says the new seats, which will be fitted on Air China’s new Airbus A350 aircraft, will be delivered from Q2 2022. The order is also the Beijing-based carrier’s first commitment to a Recaro full-flat business seat for its long-haul aircraft, says the German seatmaker. According to Recaro, the CL6720 seat, which was launched in 2020, allows for “maximum passenger space in high-density layouts”, and is one of the lightest full-flat business seats in the industry. Air China also committed to Recaro’s PL3530 premium economy seat, as well as CL3710 economy class seats for the its A350s. <br/>