Turkish Airlines is to operate from JFK International airport’s New Terminal One when it opens in 2026, with a brand new lounge to complement its ongoing operations from its top US gateway. Developed as part of the Port Authority’s $19b transformation project, the 2.6m square foot, 23-gate facility is one of two new terminals under development. Set to be not only JKF’s largest terminal when complete but also the largest international terminal in the United States, “T1 will offer the highest levels of passenger experience,” explains its constructor and operator Ferrovial. Turkish Airlines currently runs 19 services a week from JFK to its hub at Istanbul. As part of its expansion at JFK, it will also open a new 11,000 square foot lounge – twice the size of its existing offering – featuring “premium amenities, expansive views of JFK Airport’s airfield and provide direct boarding access to aircraft,” explains New Terminal One. Turkish Airlines chairman of the board and executive committee Ahmet Bolat said the new state-of-the-art lounge “underlines [its] commitment to continue [the airline’s] growth in the US market”. The Turkish flag carrier will join several other airlines already pledging a presence at the new facility including and Philippine Airlines, the first south-east Asian airline to commit to operations from New Terminal One. Other global carriers signed up to date include Air France, KLM, Etihad, LOT Polish Airlines, Air China, Korean Air, EVA Air, Air Serbia SAS and Neos.<br/>
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Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is returning to Benghazi in Libya after a hiatus of more than a decade. The airline plans to introduce flights between Istanbul Airport and Benina International Airport from Jan. 14, 2025. The route will be served three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, using a mix of Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 aircraft. The carrier suspended operations to Libya in November 2014 amid political instability following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The unrest led to rival administrations in eastern and western Libya, halting international air service. However, Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Libya in April 2024 with five weekly roundtrips to Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport. Benghazi will now become its second destination in the country.<br/>
LOT Polish, Poland’s flag-carrier airline, is opening its first lounge outside its home country. The LOT Business Lounge at Chicago’s O’Hare airport promises to be a much-needed addition to Terminal 5 at the world’s second-busiest airport by aircraft movements. It will open this week and can be accessed by passengers on a variety of airlines, not just LOT. The 6,600-square-foot lounge will open to the public on December 19, 2024. It makes sense that LOT should choose Chicago O’Hare (ORD) for its first international lounge, since the Polish community in the Chicago metropolitan area numbers around 1.5m people — a huge source of demand for travel to Poland. That’s why LOT flies to both Warsaw (WAW) and Krakow (KRK) from O’Hare using Boeing 787s. LOT said in a statement on its website that the lounge will be located in Terminal 5, past security and next to the dining area. It was built by the same construction firm that built the United Club lounge at ORD.<br/>
Ethiopian Airlines is launching Air Congo in a joint venture with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Ethiopian airlines said Monday in a statement. The official launch event marks the start of Air Congo’s operations, aiming to transform the aviation landscape in the DRC, the region and beyond. Air Congo will operate with two Boeing 737-800s, both leased from Ethiopian Airlines, as it begins to serve the increasing demand for air travel across the vast Central African nation. The airline’s second Boeing 737-800 touched down at Kinshasa International Airport Sunday, signaling the final preparations for Air Congo’s official debut. Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49% stake in the venture, with the Congolese government owning the majority share, showcasing a partnership designed to strengthen the region’s air connectivity and economic growth. “This is not just an airline; it’s a bridge to opportunity,” Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement. “Air Congo is poised to connect communities, stimulate tourism, and provide vital infrastructure for the DRC’s development.”<br/>
China’s largest airline, Air China, has entered the Georgian aviation market, the United Airports of Georgia announced. Air China’s inaugural direct flight from Urumqi to Tbilisi International Airport landed late at night, operated by a Boeing 737-800. The flight carried 98 passengers, while 121 passengers departed from Tbilisi for China. A reception was held at Tbilisi International Airport for the first passengers and airline representatives, organized by TAV Georgia. The introduction of a visa-free regime between Georgia and China has sparked increased interest in Georgia from Chinese airlines. Within this context, the United Airports of Georgia has held active discussions with Air China at the Routes Asia-2024 aviation forum. Negotiations are underway to launch direct, regular flights between the capitals of Georgia and China.<br/>
Korean Air’s cash assets and low debt ratio will pave the way for its successful merger with Asiana Airlines despite lingering concerns about the latter’s weak financial structure, market watchers said Monday. The nation’s flag carrier completed its remaining legal procedures last week to take over the cash-strapped Asiana. However, concerns have surfaced that Korean Air would bear a massive financial burden in the process of the complete merger with Asiana. Industry officials and market experts cleared away such views, saying Korean Air’s financial health remains solid enough to endure the financial burden from Asiana. “While the acquisition between the two carriers may lead to a temporary drop in financial stability indicators due to the payment of the acquisition balance and the inclusion of Asiana’s weak financial structure, Korean Air is widely expected to manage the burden,” an official from the aviation industry said. Asiana’s debt-to-equity ratio was over 1,400% in 2022 and 2023, and the airline is projected to report net losses this year. The airline reported a net loss of 66.1b won ($46m) for the first three quarters combined this year. Its operating profit margin reaches merely 4.1%, which leaves the airline in the red. This is not the case for Korean Air, as the carrier reported its record operating profit of 2.88t won in 2022. The company went on to generate stable earnings reports the following year with an operating profit of 1.58t won.<br/>