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Lufthansa is likely to secure EU antitrust approval for its bid to buy a stake in state-owned Italian airline ITA, with regulators leaning towards clearing the deal, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday. The European Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, has however yet to make a final decision, they said. Lufthansa is seeking to buy 41% of Alitalia successor ITA, thereby boosting its market presence in the lucrative Italian and southern Mediterranean market. EU approval for the deal would be a big win for Italy which injected millions of euros into loss-making Alitalia over the years. The Commission, which has set a July 4 deadline for its decision, Lufthansa and the Italian treasury declined to comment. Lufthansa is still tweaking remedies to allay any remaining concerns the EU antitrust watchdog may have, said one of the sources. To address EU competition concerns, Lufthansa has said it will not integrate ITA into its joint venture with United Airlines and Air Canada for two years. Lufthansa has also offered to keep some competing ITA short-haul routes to Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria and cede 40 slots at Milan Linate airport to easyJet and Volotea.<br/>

Turkish Airlines has expanded its US network by adding a new route to Denver, putting the Star Alliance member on track to double pre-pandemic capacity to the country during the peak summer months. Denver International Airport (DEN) becomes the 14th destination in the U.S. served by the carrier and expands the Colorado airport’s international network to 31 nonstop destinations in 17 countries around the world—the most in its history. Flights from Istanbul Airport (IST) will initially operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with a fourth frequency on Sundays commencing on July 9. The inaugural service was operated with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft, but the airline intends to use Airbus A350-900s on the 5,310-nm route moving forward. “Thanks to this new flight, we are creating jobs and economic growth right here in Denver, while expanding opportunities for Denver businesses not just in Turkey, but in places around the globe that are served by Turkish Airlines,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says.<br/>

Austrian Airlines has premièred a four-minute 3D-animated briefing on its recently introduced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The video shows a miniature world hidden inside the aircraft cabin complete with typical Austrian settings like Viennese landmarks, mountains and coffee houses. David Kondo, senior director brand experience at Austrian Airlines, said the video “delivers important safety information in an entertaining and engaging way”. "The bar for innovative safety videos is high, but I couldn't be prouder of the team and our partner Spafax. They have created something fresh and unique that transports our customers to Austria from the start of their journey." The video will be rolled out on all of the airline's long-haul flights on August 1. The airline is also celebrating the first long-haul flight from Vienna to New York JFK on June 15.<br/>

Fulfilling the requests of Egyptian expats, EgyptAir will begin operating direct flights from Cairo to Abidjan starting July 9 on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and to Djibouti City and Mogadishu starting July 11. Earlier this week, Egyptian and Brazilian delegations of diplomats conferred over launching direct flights between the two countries among other aspects of cooperation. Recently, not only the transport of passengers is getting attention but also that of goods.<br/>

Africa is a diverse market, typically characterized by four distinct regions: North, East, West, and South. Each region has at least two large national markets with decent national carriers, domestic connectivity, and flights to several international destinations. While it is seen as a continent with immense potential, it faces unique challenges that hinder its growth. The lack of connectivity created by restrictive air service agreements, high costs and taxes, insufficient infrastructure, and political interference are among the challenges that have stopped African airlines from growing and becoming profitable. However, Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has seen an incredible success story. While it was not always Africa's largest carrier, it slowly outgrew other national airlines, including its East African rival, Kenya Airways. While there are many players in East Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia dominate the market. Starting from the early 2000s, the countries and their national carriers were regarded as ambitious, well-managed operations with potential for further growth. However, over the last two decades, Ethiopian Airlines has significantly outgrown Kenya Airways, and their competitive rivalry has become a thing of the past.<br/>

Air New Zealand has axed its corporate affairs chief as part of a cost-saving move amid “economic challenges”. Mat Bolland will leave the airline on 31 July after completing “some key initiatives”, says Air New Zealand. Bolland joined the Star Alliance carrier amid the Covid-19 pandemic in May 2021, and was tasked with helping the airline “navigate its recovery”, as well as with “establishing enduring relationships with government, regulatory and media stakeholders during one the most challenging periods in its history”. Bolland’s departure comes as Air New Zealand undertakes an “extensive review” on costs, as it faces “economic challenges”, says airline chief Greg Foran. While Foran did not specify what these challenges were, Air New Zealand in April cut its earnings forecast for the year ending 30 June, blaming increased competition on its North American network and softening domestic travel demand. Bolland’s role will be consolidated with the airline’s sustainability department, with current chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin double-hatting as chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer from 24 June.<br/>