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Lufthansa Group adds short‑notice long‑haul flights to Asia and Africa in March 2026

Lufthansa Group carriers will operate several additional long‑haul rotations in March 2026 to meet short‑notice demand and plug gaps caused by Middle East airspace disruptions. Planned extra services include a Frankfurt–Cape Town rotation (A340 departing Frankfurt 12MAR26) and ad‑hoc Asia routings across the group’s brands.

2026-03-12T13:04:35.739198-07:00

FlightGlobal

Gulf airspace closures drive transit traffic through Kazakhstan as carriers cancel and reroute services

2026-03-13T03:28:37.426295-07:00

Wall Street Journal

Qantas to pay about $74–105M to settle COVID-era flight credits class action

2026-03-12T23:23:30.229091-07:00

Reuters

Pakistan bombs Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport, Taliban says

2026-03-12T21:33:27.356652-07:00

News Timeline

Associated Press

Myanmar commissions new combat aircraft and intensifies air campaign as junta retakes key town State media reports Myanmar's military has commissioned new combat aircraft and intensified its air campaign as junta forces recaptured a key town. The move accompanies an escalated offensive aimed at regaining territory from resistance forces in the ongoing civil war, signalling increased reliance on air power.

2026-03-13T21:11:55.583405-07:00

Myanmar commissions new combat aircraft and intensifies air campaign as junta retakes key town

FlightGlobal

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Gulf airspace closures drive transit traffic through Kazakhstan as carriers cancel and reroute services Gulf airspace suspensions linked to the Iran conflict have prompted widespread cancellations and longer routings, forcing rapid network adjustments. Air Astana reports a surge in point‑to‑point and transit passengers after reallocating Gulf flying to Asian routes, while Etihad and other carriers operate limited, safety‑assessed schedules.

2026-03-13T03:28:37.426295-07:00

Gulf airspace closures drive transit traffic through Kazakhstan as carriers cancel and reroute services

Wall Street Journal

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Qantas to pay about $74–105M to settle COVID-era flight credits class action Qantas has agreed to settle a class action over its decision to issue flight credits instead of immediate cash refunds for COVID-cancelled flights, agreeing to pay roughly $74–105 million without admitting liability. The suit, filed by Echo Law for “hundreds of thousands” of customers, covered bookings from 1 Jan 2020 to 1 Nov 2022.

2026-03-12T23:23:30.229091-07:00

Qantas to pay about $74–105M to settle COVID-era flight credits class action

Reuters

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Pakistan bombs Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport, Taliban says Pakistan bombed the fuel depot of private carrier Kam Air near Kandahar airport, Taliban officials said, striking a facility that also supplied UN aircraft. The attack represents a fresh escalation in the worst cross‑border conflict in years; Pakistan’s military had not commented.

2026-03-12T21:33:27.356652-07:00

Pakistan bombs Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport, Taliban says

ch-aviation

Cebu Pacific raises capacity as Pratt & Whitney GTF pressures abate Cebu Pacific has increased capacity after pressures tied to Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) eased, enabling the Philippine carrier to scale up operations. The move reflects a loosening of engine-related constraints that had recently limited short‑term seat availability for some operators.

2026-03-12T20:59:21.287286-07:00

Cebu Pacific raises capacity as Pratt & Whitney GTF pressures abate

ch-aviation

Royal Brunei launches nonstop Bandar Seri Begawan–London Heathrow with B787‑8 Royal Brunei Airlines began nonstop Boeing 787‑8 services between Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) and London Heathrow (LHR) on 10 March 2026. The scheduled long‑haul link uses the carrier's 787‑8 Dreamliner to provide direct connectivity between Brunei and the UK.

2026-03-12T18:04:18.036361-07:00

Royal Brunei launches nonstop Bandar Seri Begawan–London Heathrow with B787‑8

Vertical Mag

Fatal Kadena incident spotlights helicopter rotor-wash hazard A fatal incident at Kadena Air Base last year starkly illustrates the dangers of helicopter rotor wash, an underappreciated hazard now attracting greater scrutiny. The event highlights risks to personnel and ground operations near military flight zones and is prompting renewed focus on mitigation and procedures.

2026-03-12T17:54:01.563051-07:00

Fatal Kadena incident spotlights helicopter rotor-wash hazard

ch-aviation

Vanuatu to clear Air Vanuatu's remaining VUV871 million (~$7.3m) debt by end-2027 The Vanuatu government will clear Air Vanuatu's remaining VUV871 million (about $7.3 million) debt by the end of 2027, the government said. The planned settlement removes the carrier's last outstanding government-linked obligation and establishes a firm timetable for repayment.

2026-03-12T16:40:17.508235-07:00

Vanuatu to clear Air Vanuatu's remaining VUV871 million (~$7.3m) debt by end-2027

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Asia-Pacific (APAC) News

Lufthansa Group adds short‑notice long‑haul flights to Asia and Africa in March 2026

Gulf airspace closures drive transit traffic through Kazakhstan as carriers cancel and reroute services

Qantas to pay about $74–105M to settle COVID-era flight credits class action

Pakistan bombs Kam Air fuel depot near Kandahar airport, Taliban says

News Timeline