FlightGlobal
• Alfred Chua
AirAsia will suspend its A330 service between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, citing increased cost pressures, softer demand and the need to align its network with a reduced widebody fleet. Capacity will be redirected toward Melbourne and Perth as part of a broader network recalibration.
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Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines plans to establish a new operating base at Kaohsiung International Airport in the first quarter of 2027. The move would expand the carrier’s presence in southern Taiwan and potentially support future network growth from the region.
AirAsia will suspend its A330 service between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, citing increased cost pressures, softer demand and the need to align its network with a reduced widebody fleet. Capacity will be redirected toward Melbourne and Perth as part of a broader network recalibration.
Former bidders for Asiana Airlines are disputing the breakdown of an attempted takeover, underscoring continued uncertainty around the carrier’s ownership and restructuring prospects. The available reporting does not provide further detail on the parties’ claims or the consequences for Asiana’s operations.
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A U.S. appeals court overturned the Trump administration’s September 2025 order requiring Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to unwind their joint venture. The ruling allows the partnership to continue and reverses a major challenge to the carriers’ cross-border cooperation.
WestJet is preparing to begin South American operations in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a new regional expansion for the Canadian carrier. The announcement establishes a broad timing target, but the available information does not identify destinations, frequencies or aircraft deployment.
Icelandair Group has completed its purchase of a 49% shareholding in Fly Play Europe Holdco, Play’s Malta-based airline entity, for $686,000. The deal gives Icelandair flexibility to streamline operations through the former rival’s European operating certificate and corporate structure.
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United Airlines has completed the first phase of a more than $145 million expansion of its Denver Flight Training Center, adding 40 CAE flight simulators. The facility, which supports nearly 18,000 pilots, can now train up to 860 pilots daily and generates 1,600 direct jobs.
Air Canada is seeking to buy back as much as $580 million of its outstanding shares, a move that would return capital to investors and reduce the company’s share count if fully executed. The announcement adds a significant capital-allocation decision to the carrier’s financial strategy.
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