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Turkish Airlines is exploring a new partnership with Australian domestic carrier Rex after the Istanbul-based carrier received approvals to rapidly ramp up its flying into Australia. “We have already commercial cooperation with Australian airlines that allow our passengers to reach Australia,” Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat told Aviation Week Dec. 19. “Our team responsible is already negotiating with another partner in Australia—Rex is a respected airline and, as we see it, is expanding firmly in the domestic Australia market,” Bolat said. “The steady increase in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth operations of Rex attracted our attention.” Rex operates a fleet of nine Boeing 737-800s and 58 Saab 340s to 56 destinations across Australia. Bolat did not disclose exactly when Turkish Airlines would launch services to Australia. The chairman previously told Aviation Week that his carrier would start with an Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne route operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft that makes use of its fifth freedom traffic rights. A source close to Rex confirmed talks with Turkish Airlines had taken place. The source expects Turkish Airlines to begin Australian services in March 2024.<br/>

Egypt air has deepened its market access in the Nigerian market by engaging the services of a General Sales Agent (GSA) to drive its sales and marketing strategy. The airline partnered with Elite Tours, a renowned GSA firm with a track record in offering excellent airline sales and marketing in Nigeria; with its mother company, Master Travels, an Egypt-based Travel and Tourism Management Organisation. As part of its new marketing strategy, the airline also opened a new office in Kano to better reach out to its customers and offer excellent services. Speaking on the pedigree of the GSA, the Managing Director of Elite Tours, Mohamed Said declared that, “The company has a strong history in Egypt. We are one of the top tour operators in Cairo, with a mother company in Egypt known as Master Travels.” The General Manager of the GSA in Nigeria, Muharram Abdelrahman said, “This is a significant milestone in the history of EGYPTAIR in Nigeria since the airline started operations in Nigeria more than 45 years ago. During this time EGYPTAIR used to carry out its business in Nigeria by itself through its offices in Lagos, Kano and Abuja. In order to get more quality service, the airline took a decision to have a GSA in Kano and Lagos in order to satisfy the customer needs and to be closer to the customers."<br/>

Ethiopian Airlines has gained two extra weekly traffic rights to Canada, up from the present five. The reciprocal nature of air service agreements, which control market access, means that a Canadian airline could fly up to seven times weekly to Ethiopia if desired (not going to happen). Among other changes, Royal Jordanian can fly seven weekly from Amman, up from three weekly. The change follows the loosening of the strict Canada-UAE bilateral agreement earlier in 2023. This enabled Emirates to begin Dubai-Montreal, partner Air Canada Vancouver-Dubai, and Emirates and Etihad to increase Toronto flights. In November, Ethiopian's CCO, Lemma Yadecha Gudeta, said he is keen to increase Toronto flights to daily. The new bilateral agreement enables this. However, when writing Wednesday, this has not yet been implemented, per its booking engine. Toronto is presently served five times weekly (the maximum permitted under the old agreement) using the Airbus A350-900, but expect it to rise to daily soon. Like most of the airline's other North American services, Toronto flights leave Addis Ababa late at night and arrive back in the early morning. This is for one reason: to maximize two-way connectivity across Africa.<br/>Due to Addis Ababa's renowned very high elevation, which reduces aircraft performance with a decent payload, the Toronto service stops in Rome Fiumicino to refuel and change crew. It operated via Dublin until the end of October but switched back to Rome due to a better deal and more payload capability, improving commercial performance.<br/>

EVA Airways, one of Taiwan's leading international carriers, will spend more than US$600m upgrading 14 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and buying engines, in a bid to give it a competitive edge in the global market. In an announcement posted on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) on Tuesday, where EVA Air shares are traded, the carrier said it will spend up to US$354m on the upgrade, which will begin in 2026 and involve making improvements to 14 Boeing 777-300ER passenger planes that are less than 10 years old. The work will include improving cabin seats, in-flight entertainment systems, and the wider cabin environment, EVA Air said. EVA Air will also add seats to its 'Royal Laurel' business class product to meet increasing demand, the carrier said. The plan also includes purchasing five Trent XWB97 engines from Rolls-Royce PLC worth of US$282m for maintenance purposes, the carrier said.<br/>

ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines have cooperated in the launch of a scholarship program to address a shortage of aircraft mechanics, with demand for air transportation anticipated to grow. ANA and JAL Engineering Co., a JAL subsidiary in charge of aircraft maintenance, will offer up to 500,000 yen ($3,500) annually free of interest to those enrolled in nine designated training schools across Japan in fiscal 2024 or after, they said. Up to 100 students per grade entering the nine schools will be eligible for the scholarship. Screenings will be conducted if the number of applicants exceeds the limit, they said. Recipients of the scholarship must pay it back within eight years after they graduate from their schools, but they can recoup the fees if they become employed in either of the two companies and obtain necessary national certifications. The scholarship program is open for other airlines to join, the two companies said.<br/>