Etihad Airways will increase its services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney to twice daily from 15 December, adding capacity ahead of the Australian summer holiday season.

The airline, which has operated flights to Sydney since 2007, will add four weekly services to its existing 10 flights, bringing the route to 14 flights per week, or two departures each day.

All flights will be operated with Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, offering more than 5,000 seats per week in each direction.

The A350-1000 features private Business Class suites equipped with sliding doors, 79-inch fully flat beds, wireless charging and 18.5-inch entertainment screens. Economy Class passengers will have 17.4-inch-wide seats, 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and Bluetooth audio, while high-speed Wi-Fi will be available across the aircraft.

The expanded schedule will give Australian travellers greater access to Abu Dhabi attractions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, Saadiyat Island and Qasr Al Hosn. It will also provide additional travel options for visitors attending the Formula 1 weekend at Yas Marina Circuit in December.

Passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi can also take advantage of Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which provides complimentary hotel accommodation for one or two nights. The programme has recently been expanded to include Al Ain.

The additional Sydney services will further strengthen connections through Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Gulf, wider Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Africa and Europe.

Travellers continuing beyond Sydney can also access destinations across Australia and New Zealand through Etihad’s interline partnerships with Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said the twice-daily schedule would give passengers greater flexibility when travelling between Australia and the airline’s expanding international network.

He said the additional flights would also enhance connections through Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Middle East and Europe, while giving travellers more opportunities to visit the emirate during their journey.

Etihad’s Australian network also includes daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, operated by Boeing 787 aircraft.

Source: WAM

Lufthansa expects its additional jet fuel costs this year to exceed the €1.5 billion burden it previously forecast, as the Iran war contributes to higher oil prices, Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said.

Speaking to journalists at an event in Frankfurt on Monday, Spohr said the final additional fuel expense expected to be reported at the end of the year would be higher than the €1.5 billion estimate announced in August. He did not provide a revised figure.

The warning makes Lufthansa the latest major airline to highlight the impact of elevated jet fuel prices. Fuel typically accounts for around 30% to 40% of airline operating costs, with carriers including Ryanair also reporting pressure from higher expenses.

Lufthansa said in August that it expected total fuel costs of €8.66 billion for 2026, including the additional €1.5 billion burden. That estimate was below its earlier forecast of €8.9 billion, although the airline warned that higher costs could weigh on profits.

The German airline has reduced some exposure to fuel-price fluctuations through extensive hedging. Lufthansa Chief Financial Officer Till Streichert said in August that the group had hedged 86% of its expected 2026 fuel requirements and slightly more than 50% for 2027.

Despite the expected increase in fuel expenses, Spohr maintained Lufthansa's forecast for an operating profit of between €1.7 billion and €2.2 billion, compared with €2.0 billion in the previous year.

He said the group's wider turnaround plan had also faced pressure from rising industry costs. The programme targets an operating margin of 8% to 10% between 2028 and 2030.

Spohr said Lufthansa's financial performance had not yet reached its targeted level this year amid the fuel-related challenges affecting airlines across the sector.

At the same time, he pointed to strong demand for the group's premium economy and business-class cabins. The trend is consistent with increased premium-cabin bookings recently reported by competitors Air France-KLM and British Airways parent IAG.

Source: Reuters

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged regulators to accelerate the certification of new aircraft from Boeing and other manufacturers, citing growing competition from China.

Speaking at an event in Washington on Wednesday, Duffy said lengthy certification procedures were slowing the introduction of new aviation technology. He stressed that safety must remain a priority while asking whether the approval process could be made more efficient.

Certification of a new aircraft can take five years or longer and typically involves extensive testing, data collection and documentation. In June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed changes aimed at modernizing and shortening the certification process for new commercial aircraft.

Duffy later told reporters that the United States risked falling behind China if certification could not be carried out more quickly. He also warned that lengthy approval timelines could discourage private investment in aviation innovation, as investors may be reluctant to commit capital when regulatory approval could take a decade.

Faster certification could benefit major aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier.

Boeing's 737 MAX 7 took more than eight years to receive certification before gaining approval in August. Meanwhile, certification of the company's 777X remains more than five years behind its original schedule.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has also advocated changes to the certification system. Earlier this year, he said the agency was working with industry on several projects aimed at streamlining the process.

Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told Reuters in 2024 that the agency was examining how improved technology could help make certification more efficient.

Reuters first reported in September on planned FAA changes that would reduce the number of exemptions, special conditions and equivalent-level-of-safety findings required during aircraft certification.

Duffy also called for greater competition in the commercial space sector, saying the industry needs more participants and a more dynamic market. He added that the US government is seeking to accelerate processes in the space sector to encourage faster innovation.

Source: Reuters

Air Algerie has started direct flights between Doha and Algiers, adding a new connection between Qatar and Algeria and expanding Hamad International Airport’s network.

Hamad International Airport (HIA) announced the arrival of Algeria’s national carrier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of its new nonstop service between the two capitals.

The route gives travelers another direct option between Qatar and Algeria while strengthening Doha’s connectivity with North Africa.

Following Air Algerie’s addition, HIA now serves 37 airline partners, including Qatar Airways, connecting Doha to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

Source: The Peninsula

Jazeera Airways has delayed the planned restart of transfer and transit passenger services through Terminal 5 (T5) at Kuwait International Airport until further notice.

The decision follows a request from the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to postpone the resumption of such operations.

The airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans could be affected by the delay. Eligible customers will be able to receive a full refund or change their travel date without paying an additional fee.

Jazeera Airways said airlines at major aviation hubs across the Gulf and wider region have gradually restored transfer and transit operations since March 2026.

The airline said restarting these services through Kuwait would give passengers more travel options, support the markets it serves and enhance Kuwait’s regional and international air connectivity.

Jazeera Airways acknowledged that restoring transfer and transit operations requires coordination with the KCAA and adequate operational readiness.

The carrier said it remains in close contact with the authority and will continue supporting preparations for the eventual resumption of services through T5.

Jazeera Airways also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kuwait’s aviation sector and expanding connectivity through the country.

Further information on when transfer and transit services will resume will be announced at a later date.

Source: TradeArabia

Thai Airways is reducing its scheduled services from Bangkok as heavy rain and flooding continue to disrupt operations, with the airline planning to cut about 30 flights on Tuesday, September 29.

Chief Executive Chai Eamsiri said the cancellations represent around 30% of the airline’s planned departures from Bangkok. He added that the reduction in services is expected to continue for at least three days.

Eamsiri said almost all Thai Airways flights had been delayed over the previous two days, with fewer than 3% operating on schedule as the airline struggled to maintain normal operational capacity.

Thai Airways also announced several cancellations involving flights to and from Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday. Among the affected services are TG407 from Bangkok to Singapore and TG408 from Singapore to Bangkok.

Flights involving New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt, Munich and Brussels are also affected by the disruptions.

The Thai government said floodwater in Bangkok could recede within three days if there is no additional rainfall. The capital received around 320 millimetres of rain over two to three days last week, nearly matching the amount of rainfall the low-lying city typically records throughout September.

Source: QCAA