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United Airlines expands Denver route network, launches service to Rome

United Airlines announced on December 19, 2024, a significant expansion of its network out of its hub at Denver International Airport (DEN). The highlight of this batch of eight new routes is a new seasonal nonstop connection between Denver and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), which will operate daily from May 1, 2025, through to September 24, 2025. United Airlines plans to use a Boeing 787-9 on this service. In addition to this first ever link between Colorado and the Italian capital, United Airlines is adding another seven destinations from Denver, across the length and breadth of North America: Buffalo, New York (BUF), Pensacola, Florida (PNS), Peoria, Illinois (PIA), North Bend, Oregon (OTH), Redding, California (RDD) and Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM) as well as Regina (YQR), in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Taiwan’s China Airlines splits $12b jet deal between Boeing and Airbus

Taiwan's China Airlines will split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and European rival Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker in a closely watched deal worth almost $12b. Taiwan's largest carrier said on Thursday it would buy 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-1000s as well as four 777-8 freighter aircraft for $11.9b at list prices, with deliveries for the new aircraft starting from 2029. The news confirms a Reuters report last month that the airline would split an order for up to 20 large passenger jets between Boeing and Airbus, with the choice of freighters being weighed against the backdrop of the U.S. presidential election. The passenger jets will replace an existing fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs and provide capacity for future growth. "China Airlines has been actively planning its fleet size and is steadily expanding its presence in the global passenger and cargo markets," it said in a statement. The A350s are powered by Rolls-Royce engines and the delayed 777-9 jet is powered by GE Aerospace engines.
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American Airlines settles racial discrimination case

American Airlines said on Thursday that it had settled a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by three Black men who said they and several others had been wrongly and temporarily removed from a flight in January by the airline’s flight attendants. In a federal lawsuit filed in May, the men said that they did not know one another and were not seated together, but that they were removed from their plane after a white flight attendant complained about an unidentified passenger’s body odor. They said they were allowed back on the plane after waiting an hour at an airport gate in Phoenix, before departing for New York. Neither American nor the nonprofit group that represented the men would divulge details of the settlement. But the airline has since fired the flight attendants involved in the incident. “We are very pleased that American Airlines took our complaint seriously, and we hope that this never happens to Black passengers or any other people of color again,” the plaintiffs, Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal, said in a statement provided by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a nonprofit consumer organization that represented them alongside the law firm Outten & Golden. “Our goal in speaking out has always been to create change,” the men said. “We are proud that we used our voices to make a difference in the lives of Black Americans.” In a statement, American said the company strove to provide a “welcoming and inclusive environment” for its customers. “The agreement allows all parties to move forward and focus on what matters most — ensuring a safe and inclusive travel experience for every customer,” the airline said.
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Porter plane lands safely at Toronto Pearson airport after mayday call

A Porter Airlines flight from Ottawa landed safely at Toronto Pearson airport Wednesday evening after making a mayday call. “While there was no reported smoke in the cabin, the crew received an indication that led them to follow standard procedures by declaring a mayday,” a Porter Airlines spokesperson said in a statement to CTV News Toronto. The spokesperson added that passengers were deplaned and bussed to the terminal. “No injuries are reported, and preliminary inspections indicate no issues with the aircraft,” the airline spokesperson added. According to Porter, Flight 2704 departed Ottawa just before 5 p.m. and landed in Toronto an hour later. Images from the scene show emergency services surrounding the plane on the tarmac. A spokesperson for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority confirmed that emergency crews were called and that no one was injured in the incident.
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It's beginning to look like another record for holiday travel

Drivers and airline passengers without reindeer and sleighs better make a dash for it: it's beginning to look like another record for holiday travel in the U.S. The auto club AAA predicts that more than 119m people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, which would top the previous holiday-season high set in 2019. The two weekends on either side of Christmas look to be some of the most crowded times on the road and at airports. Trade group Airlines for America also foresees record travel, saying it expected U.S. airlines to carry 54m passengers during a 19-day period that started Thursday and ends Monday, Jan. 6. The number would represent a 6% increase over last year. A government shutdown that could start as soon as Saturday would likely be too close to the holidays to immediately affect flights and airport operations, but that might change if a shutdown dragged on. What will be the busiest travel days? Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. Flight traffic is expected to be light on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The slowest U.S. air-travel day this year — by a wide margin — was Thanksgiving Day.
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Turkish Airlines sets Guinness World Record for flying to most countries

Turkish Airlines has claimed the Guinness World Record for the airline flying to the most countries, further solidifying its position as a global leader in the aviation industry. Meanwhile, it holds title of flying to the most countries in the world since 2012. The prestigious record was officially certified at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport following the Turkish flag carrier’s inaugural flight to Chile. With the addition of this new route, Turkish Airlines now operates in 131 countries, including 120 active routes in the past year, as confirmed by Guinness World Records. CEO Bilal Eksi expressed pride in the accomplishment. “It’s an honor to receive this recognition here in Santiago, a testament to our mission of connecting people, cultures, and destinations worldwide,” he said. Guinness World Records official Talal Omar praised the airline for its vision, calling the milestone a testament to Turkish Airlines’ global impact on aviation. Founded in 1933 with a modest fleet, Turkish Airlines now operates 491 aircraft serving 352 destinations. As a member of Star Alliance, the airline continues to expand its network, reaffirming its commitment to uniting the world through Türkiye.
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British Airways makes additional schedule changes over engine issues

IAG-owned British Airways has had to make additional changes to its schedules over engine issues, it told Reuters on Thursday after several media outlets reported that it has cancelled summer flights from London's Heathrow to Abu Dhabi. The airline had already cut long-haul flights this year because of delays in the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce. Additional changes to schedules have been made over an issue involving 1,000 engines for its Boeing 787 aircraft, British Airways said on Thursday without confirming the reported cut to the Abu Dhabi-Heathrow route. "We've taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve for their travel plans," the airline said.
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Boeing wins $36b deal from Turkey, Trumping Airbus

Boeing won an order valued at $36b from Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi AS, in its biggest commitment so far this year that deals a blow to rival Airbus, previously the preferred choice for the Turkish low-cost airline. The carrier placed firm orders for 100 of the as-yet uncertified 737 Max 10 model that it will begin receiving in 2028, with options for another 100, it said in a stock exchange filing. The total value of the agreement assumes that all options are converted, and is based on list prices rather than the market values typically negotiated by customers. The largest order in Pegasus’s history is an important win for Boeing as it works to overcome the fallout from a prolonged strike and a near-catastrophic accident at the start of the year. It also marks a strategic reversal for Pegasus after the carrier said less than two years ago that it wanted to become an all-Airbus operator. More than four months into Kelly Ortberg’s term as Boeing’s CEO, “customers are also starting to feel more confident,” said Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu. The company is poised for a “a fresh start into 2025” with its factories now back to full production after a lengthy strike, she said in an interview.
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FAA banning drone flights over critical infrastructure locations in New Jersey

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday it is temporarily barring drone flights over 22 critical infrastructure locations in New Jersey. The FAA said the decision was made at the request of federal security partners after the agency barred drones over two locations in New Jersey in November. A frenzy of concern about drones in New Jersey and surrounding states has prompted a dramatic spike in the number of people in the area pointing lasers at airplanes flying overhead, which is illegal and can be dangerous, the FAA said Wednesday. U.S. agencies have repeatedly said the spike in drone sightings does not pose national security risks and that they appear to be mostly aircraft, stars or hobbyist drones.
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EgyptAir resumes flights between Cairo and Beirut after three-month break

Egypt’s national carrier, EgyptAir, resumed flights between Cairo and Beirut on Thursday, marking the end of a three-month suspension caused by instability in Lebanon. “In light of the stability of the situation in Lebanon, we are pleased to announce the resumption of direct flights between Cairo and Beirut after a three-month hiatus,” EgyptAir said in a statement. The first flight took off Thursday. The suspension, which began on Sept. 24, followed a period of heightened tensions and instability in Lebanon, prompting EgyptAir and several other Arab and international airlines to halt operations to the country. The decision coincided with Israeli airstrikes against Lebanon, part of an escalation of the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah. A fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah has been in place since Nov. 27, bringing a temporary halt to months of military operations. The conflict intensified after Hezbollah provided support to the Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
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Scoot apologises after KL-bound flight took off 1½ hours earlier than scheduled on Nov 1

Budget carrier Scoot has apologised after one of its flights took off from Changi Airport about 1½ hours earlier than scheduled on Nov 1. Scoot Flight TR456 was originally scheduled to depart from Singapore for Kuala Lumpur at 4.50am. But the flight was rescheduled and departed earlier at 3.21am due to “operational reasons”, Scoot said on Dec 19 in response to queries from The Straits Times. The budget airline did not say whether it had informed passengers about the retimed flight well ahead of departure time. It also did not state the number of passengers who did not make the 3.21am flight. It said that the passengers who did not take the earlier flight were placed on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ104, which left for Kuala Lumpur at 7.04am on the same day. “We sincerely apologise to all affected customers for the disruption and inconvenience caused,” Scoot said.
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Gatwick drone warning ahead of Christmas break

The boss of Gatwick Airport is urging those who receive drones for Christmas to read the rules before flying, on the sixth anniversary of when the airport was brought to a standstill following a drone sighting over the runway. It comes as 368 unauthorised drone sightings were reported within flight restriction zone (FRZ) in West Sussex between 1 January and 13 December 2024. The National Police Chiefs' Council has told the BBC that plans were being worked on for police officers to have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone misusing a drone. Mark Johnston, the airport's chief operating officer, says investigating reported drone sightings causes disruption and is a "drain on resources". He says there is "usually no malice" behind the incidents. "The impact is huge and safety is our number one priority. We can't take any chances," he said. The airport is advising drone pilots: "When you fly a drone, it's your responsibility to be aware of the rules that are in place. This will allow you to ensure that everyone stays safe. It's a criminal act to break what is classed as a no-fly zone, as lives can be put at risk and you could be prosecuted."
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Air India orders over 30 training aircraft for new flight school

Air India has ordered over 30 light training aircraft for a flight-training school being established in Maharashtra next year. The school is being set up in Amravati and is set to open by the second half of 2025. Air India has ordered 31 single-engined Piper aircraft as well as three twin-engined models from Diamond Aircraft. The aircraft will start arriving next year. Air India is expanding its fleet having placed an order for 470 Airbus and Boeing jets last year, and recently enhancing the agreement with a further 100 Airbus aircraft. It says it is looking to “cultivate a pipeline of pilots” to support the expansion. Air India’s flight school is being created at Amravati’s Belora airport, which lies midway between Delhi and Bengaluru. The airline expects it will produce 180 commercial pilots annually. The carrier’s aviation academy director, Sunil Bhaskaran, says the school is an effort to build a “self-reliant ecosystem” of crews – not just for Air India but the country’s broader aviation industry. Air India adds that the Amravati complex will include digitally-enabled classrooms, an operations centre, and maintenance facility.
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China is building the world’s largest artificial island airport

China is adding yet another superlative to its aviation roster: the world’s largest airport on a man-made island. Currently under construction off the country’s northeast coast, the Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport will eventually cover a 20-square-kilometer (7.7-square-mile) island with four runways and a 900,000-square-meter (969,000 sq ft) passenger terminal, according to an airport statement. Its operators aim to handle 80m passengers per year across 540,000 flights, with the first phase due to open in 2035. “The country’s largest offshore airport is rising slowly from the sea level like the sunrise in the east,” reads a post by Dalian Jinzhou Bay International on Chinese social media platform WeChat. Once completed, it will become the world’s largest airport on an artificial island, surpassing both Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Japan’s Kansai Airport (KIX). “There have been great challenges to the construction,” Li Xiang, chief engineer of Dalian Airport Construction and Development Co., Ltd., told state-run local media in October, “as the project has complex geological conditions, high drilling difficulty and high demand in quality with a tight construction schedule.”
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'Witch's brew': Air NZ boss Greg Foran signals more turbulent times ahead in 2025

The turbulent times Air New Zealand has experienced in 2024 are set to continue in 2025, with more delays to routes and the delivery of its retrofitted Dreamliners. CE Greg Foran spoke to Stuff senior travel reporter Emma Stanford about the year that was and the year ahead. 2025 could be off to a bad start for Air New Zealand. A fifth Boeing 787 Dreamliner is estimated to be grounded at the end of January. Air New Zealand grounded a fourth Dreamliner in November due to ongoing issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Two of them are in Alice Springs. CE Greg Foran said grounding a fifth plane will depend on when the engines come back from Rolls Royce in the UK. “We've made the decision to plan for that. We'd rather deal with any disruption and give customers time to plan rather than throw it on them last minute. This has been one of the challenges that we've had to deal with during the year. Rolls-Royce will give us a view as to what they think's going to happen, but that could change six times during the year, every two months.” Foran has recently returned to New Zealand after visiting Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney and Airbus and told RNZ last week that engine disruptions would carry on for at least another two or three years.
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For airports, background music no longer is an afterthought

Background music is no longer an afterthought at many airports, which are hiring local musicians and carefully curating playlists to help lighten travelers’ moods. London’s Heathrow Airport built a stage to showcase emerging British performers for the first time this summer. The program was so successful the airport hopes to bring it back in 2025. Nashville International Airport has five stages that host more than 800 performances per year, from country musicians to jazz combos. In the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana International Airport greets passengers with live merengue music. Airports are also carefully curating their recorded playlists. Detroit Metro Airport plays Motown hits in a tunnel connecting its terminals. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has a playlist of local artists compiled by an area radio station. Singapore’s Changi Airport commissioned a special piano accompaniment for its giant digital waterfall. Music isn’t a new phenomenon in airport terminals. Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports,” an album released in 1978, helped define the ambient music genre. It’s minimalist and designed to calm. But Barry McPhillips, the head of international creative for Mood Media, which provides music for airports and other public spaces, said technology is enabling background music to be less generic and more tailored to specific places or times of day. Mood Media – formerly known as Muzak – develops playlists to appeal to business travelers or families depending on who’s in the airport at any given time. It might program calmer music in the security line but something more energizing in the duty-free store.
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Aviation firm Vaeridion, founded by ex-Airbus execs, raises E14m

Vaeridion, a German aviation firm developing an electric microliner as the aviation industry makes a push to cut emissions, said it had raised E14m. The company, founded in 2021 by former Airbus managers Ivor van Dartel and Sebastian Seemann, said the money raised would be used in its plans to develop an electric microliner which will offer commercial flights by 2030. Its plane will carry up to nine passengers along with crew members, and is aimed at short-haul flights in Europe for distances of up to 500km. "With the Microliner, we are addressing both the need for zero-emission travel alternatives and the demand for enhanced regional connectivity," said Vaeridion CEO van Dartel. Earlier this month, airline trade body IATA's head Willie Walsh said the aviation industry was not moving fast enough to reach targets for producing and using sustainable aviation fuel, with the sector aiming for net zero emissions by 2050.
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