Mexico's newest commercial airline, due to be run by the military, is set to launch later this month using military aircraft after a deal to lease planes fell through, local media reported on Wednesday. The airline, which revives the Mexicana name, will take flight using two Boeing 737-800s and a previous-generation 737-300, newspaper Reforma reported, citing sources. The planes have been sent to be inspected, the head of Mexico's aviation authority AFAC told newspaper El Financiero. AFAC declined a request for comment. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mexicana was initially set to receive 10 rented Boeing 737-800s in September and October. It is now also looking to strike a deal with regional carrier TAR to rent at least one Embraer 145, according to media reports. Transportation Minister Jorge Nuno said on Wednesday he was unsure which planes would be used, but that the airline was gearing up to start flying several "initial" routes on Dec. 26. Earlier this week he said Mexicana was still determining which routes to fly depending on the availability of planes. The airline, backed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, already pushed back its launch date from the beginning of this month due to lack of planes. Tickets were briefly available for sale online but the option was later taken down. Mexicana will be unable to resume ticket sales until it obtains an air operator license, which it cannot do until it obtains the planes, Nuno added.<br/>
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Unlike any other airline on the planet, Emirates made the Airbus SE A380 jumbo jet a cornerstone of its fleet. The Dubai carrier still operates more than 100 of the giant double-deckers, whereas rivals have either given up on the behemoth entirely or fly it only in small numbers. Airbus itself pulled production in 2019 after little more than a decade of slow sales. With no new planes available, Emirates is embarking on a massive US$2b refurbishment programme of the giant aircraft, seeking to extend their lifespan into the early 2040s. At a sprawling hangar near Dubai’s main airport recently, two A380s were being gutted and retrofitted with everything from new berths to fresh stairwells. Gone are the gold trimmings and wood panelling that dominated the first iteration, with Emirates opting for lighter tones, fresh carpeting and mood lighting, along with depictions of local nature motifs. The popular business class bar, where passengers can mingle during flight and enjoy a glass of whiskey, will stay. The cabin refresh alone accounts for half the investment, dubbed the Phoenix Project. For Emirates, the upgrade is more than just a routine touch-up common in airline fleets. For the world’s largest international carrier, the A380 represents its ambition to connect as many people as possible via its Dubai hub. Other aircraft in its stable are either too small to perform the same job, like the A350-900 coming next year, or – like the Boeing 777X – they’re years behind original delivery schedule, meaning Emirates must hold onto the A380s for longer than previously planned.<br/>
Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will expand operations beyond its main Taipei hub with the launch of flights from the central Taiwanese city of Taichung. In a LinkedIn post on 6 December, the carrier says destinations are likely to be in Northeast and Southeast Asia, with flights commencing in the second quarter of 2024. It did not elaborate further in the post, which also details the opening of its Taichung office – its second office in Taiwan. “Passengers from Northeast and Southeast Asia will now have an additional option to experience the enchanting attractions and culture of Central Taiwan and beyond,” the post reads. Elsewhere in the region, low-cost operators are expanding their networks in line with the year-end travel season. Indonesia AirAsia, for instance, is mounting additional flights across its network between 19 December and 3 January, in conjunction with the Christmas and New Year period. The airline states it will add more than 25,000 seats to cities such as Denpasar, Medan, Surabaya, and internationally to Kuala Lumpur. The Jakarta-based unit of AirAsia Aviation also hints at adding new international routes in the new year.<br/>