However, AAPA shares concerns voiced by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which noted earlier that a unilateral expansion of the EU ETS for aviation would be inconsistent with the objective of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the only global market-based measure applying to CO2 emissions from international aviation, and risks duplicative measures.

CORSIA was approved by ICAO Member States in 2016. AAPA believes that a unilateral, regional extension of the EU ETS risks setting a precedent for fragmented, extraterritorial climate measures that could undermine this multilateral framework over time.

AAPA’s statement read: “We encourage the European Parliament, Council and Commission, as this proposal is negotiated in the months ahead, to reaffirm their support for CORSIA and the integrity of the global, consensus-based approach it represents.

“We will continue to monitor this proposal as it moves through the EU legislative process and engage constructively with European institutions and ICAO on behalf of our member airlines.”

(Source: AAPA)

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Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 2.5% to 23.2 billion during May 2026 from USD22.6 billion for the same period of 2025.

Cargo/Mail carried during May 2026 increased by 8.6% from May 2025, totalling 203.1 thousand tons.

January-May 2026 traffic results

Passengers increased by 7.3% to 36.4 million compared to the same period of 2025.

Total load factor recorded 83.6%. International load factor reached 83.5% and the domestic load factor 84.3%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 6.5% to 112.1 billion from 105.3 billion for the same period of 2025.

Cargo/Mail carried during this period increased by 13.5% to 954.6 thousand tons from 840.7 thousand tons in the same period of 2025.

By the end of May 2026, the number of aircraft in the fleet reached 542.

Traffic results are consolidated and include Turkish Airlines’ main brand and AJet data.

(Source: Turkish Airlines)

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ITB Berlin scheduled for 16 to 18 March 2027) is adapting its hall layout to allow for the construction of dock9, the new multi-purpose convention and event venue, on the site of the former Hall 9.

During the construction of dock9, the exhibition grounds will undergo forward-looking development, and the hall layout will be individually optimised. 

Exhibitors from Halls 7.1c, 8.1, 9 and 10.1 will find a new home in the CityCube Berlin. The new layout creates theme-oriented clusters and short distances between halls. 

The CityCube Berlin will be even more closely integrated into ITB Berlin, expanding the exhibition grounds with state-of-the-art, high-quality floor space. As an integral part of the new hall layout, it will play a pivotal and effective role in enhancing the trade show concept.

“The adapted hall layout is more than just a response to the construction of dock9. It allows us to align ITB Berlin even more closely with the requirements of our international exhibitors and trade visitors and make thematic focal points more visible“, said ITB Berlin Director Deborah Rothe. 

Dock9 is a new multi-purpose conference and event centre being built on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and replaces the existing Hall 9. From October 2026, Hall 9 will be demolished to make way for the new building. ITB Berlin is using this change to adapt its hall layout and organise the available space even more efficiently.

ITB Berlin 2027 is in contact with the exhibitors affected by the relocation plans. Through close coordination, individual and, wherever possible, suitable reallocation solutions are being developed. This process is purposely being carried out in stages, as exhibitor reallocation is still undergoing final coordination. 

The final assignment of stand space will be completed later this year. 

(Source: Messe Berlin).

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The agreement forms part of the airline’s original commitment for up to 50 A350-1000s announced in 2025. Riyadh Air will become the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000 and will use the aircraft to support its international growth ambitions and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

“The firm-up of these additional aircraft reflects Riyadh Air’s continued confidence in its growth trajectory and in the future of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector,” said  Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida. “Increasing our A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030 while delivering a premium guest experience.”

 “We are proud to deepen our partnership with Riyadh Air as it continues to build a pioneering carrier for the Kingdom,” said Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business Benoît de Saint-Exupéry. “This additional A350-1000 commitment reflects the airline’s confidence in the aircraft’s exceptional efficiency, range and passenger appeal. As Riyadh Air advances its ambitious growth plans, the A350-1000 will play an important role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives and helping position the Kingdom as a leading international aviation hub.”

The A350 is designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles /18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. 

The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering efficiency and comfort. Its latest-generation Rolls-Royce engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous-generation competitor aircraft.

At the end of June 2026, the A350 Family had won 1,595 firm orders from 68 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

(Source: Airbus)

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The route will operate with five weekly frequencies according to the following schedule:

AZ838 will depart from Rome Fiumicino at 1505 and arrive in Riyadh at 2120, local time, operating daily except Mondays and Saturdays.
AZ839 will depart from Riyadh at 0145  local time and arrive in Rome Fiumicino at 0615, operating daily except Tuesdays and Sundays.

The airline will deploy an A321 with 165 seats on the route with a flight time of five hours and 15 minutes.

The resumption of this service confirms ITA Airways’ commitment to developing traffic between Italy and Saudi Arabia, a strategic and rapidly growing market, particularly for business travel. Through its hub at Rome Fiumicino, passengers travelling from Riyadh will also benefit from convenient connections to the airline’s main domestic, European, and intercontinental destinations.

(Source: ITA Airways)

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The route is expected to restart by the end of July 2026, reconnecting Zimbabwe and the UK after more than 14 years. The service will be operated by Spanish carrier Plus Ultra using an Airbus A330 aircraft under a long-term ACMI agreement, with initial operations expected to include three weekly frequencies between Harare and London Gatwick.

Under the ACMI structure, Plus Ultra will provide the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while the flights will operate under Air Zimbabwe’s flight code. Chapman Freeborn provides the ACMI and contract management support needed to help shape the long-haul operating structure for the route.

The route represents more than the return of an air service. It re-establishes an important commercial, tourism and cultural link between the two countries, while improving travel options for the Zimbabwean diaspora, business travellers and tourists. 

It is also expected to support direct air freight capacity for time-sensitive exports, including horticultural and perishable products destined for the UK market.

“This is an important milestone for Air Zimbabwe and a significant step in restoring direct connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. We are proud to have played an important role in supporting this project, working closely with Air Zimbabwe and Plus Ultra to help deliver the right structure for the route.

“Across Africa, we continue to see growing demand for flexible capacity solutions as airlines look to rebuild networks, respond to passenger demand and manage fleet requirements more efficiently. ACMI can play an important role in supporting that growth, particularly on strategic routes where speed, flexibility and operational reliability are essential,” said Chapman Freeborn President – IMEA Linas Dovydenas. 

Chapman Freeborn’s ACMI team supports airlines worldwide with short-, medium- and long-term capacity requirements across narrowbody, widebody, regional and cargo aircraft. 

The company provides tailored aircraft leasing and ACMI solutions that help carriers manage capacity, restore routes and respond to complex operational requirements.

*ACMI: Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance.

(Source: Chapman Freeborn)

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The new feature automatically detects lower publicly available rates for Radisson Hotel Group properties on third-party booking platforms.

It instantly matches them on RadissonHotels.com — removing the need for guests to submit claims or screenshots, or to wait for manual approval. 

Unlike traditional best-rate guarantee programmes, which require customers to identify lower rates and complete a manual claims process, price matching automatically verifies and applies eligible lower rates in real time. 

Real-time pricing

When a guest discovers a lower rate for a Radisson Hotel Group property on an online travel agency (OTA) or a search engine such as Google Hotels, the AI-powered system automatically verifies the discrepancy and matches eligible lower publicly available rates, redirecting the user to the hotel’s website without the need for any further interaction.

The feature is live across all Radisson Hotel Group properties worldwide and currently covers rates from leading OTAs, including Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Agoda, Priceline, Trip.com and MakeMyTrip.

(Source: Radisson Hotel Group)

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The transaction brings together household names and award-winning brands such as Ving, Spies, Tjäreborg, Globetrotter, and Sunclass Airlines with Norwegian and Widerøe, creating a stronger end-to-end Nordic travel player. 

The acquisition combines NLTG’s expertise in packaged travel and hotels with Norwegian and Widerøe’s existing network with 27 million passengers. Together, the combined company will create a leading Nordic provider of leisure and business travel. For travellers, this means a wider selection of destinations, simpler bookings, and seamless travel.

The agreement will unite Norwegian, Widerøe, and NLTG under a single ownership structure, creating a vertically integrated travel group in the leisure and business segments. The addition of a new hotel and leisure experience business with its own brands will enable Norwegian, Widerøe and NLTG to develop distinct value drivers, while benefiting from strong group coordination to optimise performance and deliver enhanced customer value. 

The group will be able to offer everything from individual flights across Norwegian’s and Widerøe’s extensive route networks to complete holiday packages with Ving from Norway and Sweden, Spies from Denmark, Tjäreborg from Finland, and Globetrotter. This leading, integrated Nordic travel group will encompass close to 160 aircraft and extensive tour and hotel operations, serving approximately 30 million customers every year. Included in the acquisition are NLTG’s profitable own-concept hotels in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Thailand and Türkiye, which will now benefit from a steady stream of customers from an expanded network of groups. The transaction is expected to increase annual group operating revenue by close to 50%.

“This transaction will secure Nordic ownership of NLTG and deliver a more comprehensive product for all current and new customers of Norwegian, Widerøe and NLTG,” said Norwegian CEO Geir Karlsen.

Sunclass Airlines, NLTG’s subsidiary airline, operates a fleet of 12 medium- and long-haul Airbus aircraft. The Sunclass, Norwegian, and Widerøe networks have limited overlap. Norwegian’s close to 390 routes are concentrated on scheduled traffic to key destinations in the Nordics, Europe, and nearby countries. At the same time, Sunclass operates to approximately 25 destinations focused on leisure charter, enabling improved utilisation and increased coverage when routes are coordinated within the combined group. NLTG also operates its own travel retail platform, Airshoppen, whose growth and development strategy will be strengthened within the enlarged group.

The consideration for the acquisition is approximately SEK7.94 billion, comprising a cash component of SEK3.5 billion and 300 million consideration shares in Norwegian kroner, based on the latest 5-day average share price (VWAP) of NOK 14.95 and the SEK/NOK exchange rate of 1.01. In addition, up to 30 million additional shares payable to be determined during the fourth quarter of 2026

(Source: Norwegian)

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The two-year agreement brings together UNEP’s environmental leadership and global sustainability expertise with WTTC’s network of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies to drive meaningful action across circular economy solutions, nature conservation, sustainable food systems and the fight against plastic pollution.

A key outcome of the agreement is the creation of structured opportunities for WTTC Members to participate voluntarily in UNEP flagship sustainability programmes, particularly those addressing environmental action, plastics, and food waste. This will enable companies to move faster from commitment to measurable results.

Through the collaboration, WTTC and UNEP will also strengthen joint advocacy and global policy leadership, working together to influence international tourism policy and develop recommendations that create an enabling environment for industry-wide sustainability action.

The MoU establishes a structured joint work programme, with agreed priorities and regular high-level coordination. Governance will be supported through designated focal points, the identification of priority projects, the development of a joint work plan, and ongoing annual and technical working meetings to ensure effective implementation.

The partnership will further enhance global visibility for both organisations, enabling joint participation in international fora, collaboration on events, and expanded knowledge-sharing opportunities, while strengthening engagement between the UN system and the private sector.

Under the agreement, WTTC and UNEP will collaborate to:

• Promote nature-positive and regenerative tourism approaches that protect, restore and finance biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Advance circular economy solutions and help eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastics.
• Expand action on food waste reduction, supporting businesses to measure, report and reduce food waste.
• Strengthen industry engagement on water stewardship, resource efficiency, energy sustainability, ocean and coastal conservation, and sustainable food systems.
• Support capacity-building programmes, pilot projects and implementation initiatives.
• Align industry action with international best practice and UNEP guidance through technical collaboration, knowledge sharing and practical implementation support.

WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara said: “Travel & Tourism is one of the world’s most effective forces for sustainable development. Through this partnership with UNEP, we are bringing together global leadership, industry expertise and practical action to help businesses accelerate environmental action, reduce waste, protect biodiversity and create lasting positive impact for destinations and communities. Together, we can ensure that the growth of Travel & Tourism goes hand in hand with a planet that sustains great travel experiences.”

As global Travel & Tourism continues its growth trajectory, WTTC and UNEP recognise the urgent need to decouple growth from environmental degradation and ensure tourism becomes a force for environmental resilience and ecosystem restoration.

The partnership will run through June 2028 and be supported by regular strategic dialogue, technical exchanges, and collaborative initiatives designed to deliver practical impact for businesses, destinations, and communities worldwide.

(Source: WTTC)

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The agreement was signed during a recent ceremony in Copenhagen by Anko van der Werff, SAS CEO and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

The aircraft will support SAS’ ongoing international network expansion, enabling the airline to expand existing high-capacity routes globally and introduce new ones.

 “On behalf of SAS, I am delighted to announce this order for the Airbus A330-900. Combining outstanding economics with improved environmental performance, the aircraft will play a key role in our long-term fleet strategy. It will allow us to deliver an exceptional customer experience, expand our network, and offer greater flexibility and convenience for our passengers.

We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Airbus well into the future”, said SAS CEO Anko van der Werff.

 “We are immensely proud to see SAS reaffirm its trust in Airbus to drive its fleet modernisation. The A330-900 is the undisputed benchmark for efficiency and versatility in its category. By integrating these 18 A330neo, SAS will benefit from unbeatable seat-mile economics with its existing Airbus fleet,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry.

Powered by the latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo is designed to fly up to 8,100 nautical miles / 15,000 kilometres non-stop and reduce fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and operating costs by 25% compared to previous-generation competitor aircraft. The A330neo  Airspace cabin offers passengers and crews the latest modern in-flight products for a comfortable flying experience.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330 family can already operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target to reach 100% SAF capability by 2030. 

At the end of May 2026, the A330 family had won over 1,950 orders from 133 customers worldwide.

(Source: Airbus)

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