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Turkish Airlines aims to carry 170m passengers and operate over 800 aircraft by 2033, under a newly unveiled strategic plan which will essentially double the size of the airline over the coming 10 years. The Star Alliance carrier has already enjoyed a strong return of activites since the pandemic, ending last year with revenues already 39% – and capacity 7% – above 2019 levels. It has now detailed ambitions for the next 10 years – which culminates in Turkish Airlines’ centenary – to increase revenues from $18.4b last year to over $50b IATA is disappointed with Canada’s 2023 Federal Budgetby 2033. It also aims for an EBITDAR margin of between 20% and 25% during the next 10 years. The airline reported an EBITDAR margin of 29% last year in posting record profits. On the passenger side, the growth plan involves doubling capacity at an average annual rate of 7%. This would see passenger numbers jump from an expected 85m this year to 170m by 2033. This will be supported by a doubling of its fleet. The airline ended 2022 with 394 aircraft. It expects the fleet to reach 435 by the end of this year and for it to climb to “over 800” by 2033. Cirium fleets data shows Turkish Airlines has 72 aircraft on order and CFO Murat Seker in March indicated the airline would be ”placing a large orderbook” once its 10-year strategy was finalised. The strategic plan includes increasing the fleet of its low-cost unit AnadoluJet to 200 aircraft. The airline closed last year with 64 jets. Turkish also reiterates its plan to establish the airline as a separate subsidiary, “repositioning its brand, restructuring its revenue and cost structures”. Turkish Airlines similarly aims to double the size of its cargo operation over the next 10 years. Cargo generated more than one-fifth of Turkish Airlines’ revenues in 2022. <br/>

EgyptAir, the national flag carrier of Egypt, announced the temporary suspension of flights to and from Khartoum Airport, starting Saturday, April 15, for a period of 72 hours, until it is informed on developments in the situation in Sudan. In an official statement issued by the company, it said that the suspension comes in light of the information regarding the current unstable situation in Sudan. EgyptAir called on travelers to review their reservations to and from Khartoum Airport by calling the EgyptAir Communications Service Center.<br/>

China’s three largest airlines added back capacity in their international networks in March, as system-wide traffic continued to recover following the easing of pandemic curbs. The ‘Big Three’ – comprising Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – reported their fourth consecutive month of recovery in March, led mostly by a surge in international travellers. Air China carried 9.4m passengers during the month, up 6% against February, and also three times the number reported in the year-ago period. International passengers, in particular, rose nearly 80% compared to February at over 196,000 passengers. Domestic passenger numbers were up 4.5% month on month to around 9m in March. The Beijing-based carrier saw system-wide traffic increase about 6% against February, led by a 64% jump in international traffic. As for capacity, Air China saw a 13% rise system-wide month on month, with international ASKs up 62%. China Eastern, meanwhile, carried 8.2m passengers in March, more than three times higher year on year, and 5% higher month on month. International passenger numbers expectedly saw the largest jump, up around 59% month on month to around 180,000. System-wide traffic rose 5% against February, with international traffic up 43% month on month. Capacity, meanwhile, grew 8.4% overall, led by a 46% jump in international capacity. As for China Southern, it carried 10.5m passengers in March, up 3.5% month on month. International passenger numbers were up 44% month on month to 369,000, while domestic passengers remained largely the same as February. The Guangzhou-based carrier reported a 35% increase in international RPKs against February, which helped offset a slight dip in domestic traffic. Traffic, meanwhile, grew 5% system-wide against February, with international ASKs up 30% month on month and domestic capacity inching up 2.9%.<br/>