Star Alliance carrier Swiss International Air Lines ( SWISS ) has expanded its partnership with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to allow passengers to book flights and trains directly to even more destinations. The intermodal partnership has proved incredibly popular since its introduction in 2019 and provides a simple way to access destinations across the Alps. The link between the airline and national railroad began in 2019 as a strategic partnership to link Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Basel and has since grown to a network of more than 20 SWISS Air Rail destinations. The partnership was initially intended to last only five years, but given the fact that the demand for these services has already grown by 15% this year alone, the transport companies have now decided to extend the collaboration indefinitely.<br/>
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Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) has firmly refuted claims by Pakistan's minister of state for finance that it is looking to acquire a stake in PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International). The minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, told a local news outlet on September 24 that "a Turkish airline" had shown interest in buying the up-for-sale state-owned PIA. However, airline spokesman Yahya Üstün it was not Turkish Airlines. He said there were no ongoing negotiations or initiatives to acquire PIA. "The news published in various media outlets claiming that our Incorporation is negotiating to acquire Pakistan International Airlines does not reflect the truth," the spokesperson told ch-aviation. "Our Incorporation does not have any undertaking in this direction." The Pakistani government is in the final stages of selling a majority stake in PIA. While several major airlines had initially looked at the carrier, none were on the government's shortlist of pre-approved potential buyers.<br/>
ANA Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it will not offer a commercial flying taxi service at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, viewed as one of the highlights of the event. Japan Airlines Co. is also reconsidering its plan to provide air taxis at the expo, sources familiar with the matter said, meaning all four flying car operators that had planned commercial services at the event are unlikely to offer them. ANA has found it difficult to obtain safety certification from authorities in time, it said. All four operators will still conduct demonstration flights, according to the companies. Air taxis were expected to provide access to the event's venue on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. ANA has been working with Joby Aviation Inc. to operate electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developed by the U.S. startup, while JAL is preparing to use vehicles developed by Volocopter GmbH from Germany.<br/>