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AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

Qantas to lift Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) frequency to 11 weekly for Dec–Mar peak, adding 45,000+ seats across Japan and New Zeala

Qantas will increase Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) services to 11 flights per week during the summer travel period from December to March, with additional capacity on Tasman routes. The airline’s schedule expansion is expected to add more than 45,000 seats to Japan and New Zealand itineraries at peak demand.

2026-06-29T06:55:35.219583-07:00

AeroTime

Vietjet seeks Australian regulatory approval to launch a domestic airline operation, challenging the Qantas–Virgin Australia duo

2026-06-29T05:41:57.880586-07:00

FlightGlobal

IATA: Global air cargo demand up 6% Y/Y in May 2026 as capacity lags

2026-06-29T02:40:18.050748-07:00

AeroTime

Philippine Airlines to restart nonstop Manila–Dubai service from Oct. 2, 2026 with four weekly flights

2026-06-29T03:27:51.135097-07:00

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AeroTime

Qantas to lift Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) frequency to 11 weekly for Dec–Mar peak, adding 45,000+ seats across Japan and New Zeala Qantas will increase Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) services to 11 flights per week during the summer travel period from December to March, with additional capacity on Tasman routes. The airline’s schedule expansion is expected to add more than 45,000 seats to Japan and New Zealand itineraries at peak demand.

2026-06-29T06:55:35.219583-07:00

Qantas to lift Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) frequency to 11 weekly for Dec–Mar peak, adding 45,000+ seats across Japan and New Zeala

AirInsight

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a China has not taken either the Airbus A220 or its E2 variant, despite a combined 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 order book. The cluster points to COMAC as the central driver—though with nuance—highlighting how China’s domestic OEM ecosystem shapes airline fleet decisions.

2026-06-29T05:55:31.763688-07:00

COMAC limits Airbus A220 and A320neo-family “crossover” momentum in China: 1,000 A220 and 500 A220 E2 orders—with zero Chinese a

AeroTime

Vietjet seeks Australian regulatory approval to launch a domestic airline operation, challenging the Qantas–Virgin Australia duo Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet is seeking regulatory approval to establish an Australian airline and operate domestic services. If approved, it would be the first international carrier to enter Australia’s domestic market in more than a decade, directly challenging the Qantas and Virgin Australia incumbents.

2026-06-29T05:41:57.880586-07:00

Vietjet seeks Australian regulatory approval to launch a domestic airline operation, challenging the Qantas–Virgin Australia duo

AeroTime

China and Russia conduct 11th joint strategic bomber patrol over the Pacific, prompting Japanese and South Korean intercepts China and Russia flew their 11th joint strategic air patrol featuring bombers, fighters, tankers and support aircraft across the Pacific, drawing Japanese and South Korean interceptors. The mission signals continued PLA–Russian operational cooperation and sustained activity over regional waters and lanes.

2026-06-29T04:26:09.923266-07:00

China and Russia conduct 11th joint strategic bomber patrol over the Pacific, prompting Japanese and South Korean intercepts

AeroTime

Philippine Airlines to restart nonstop Manila–Dubai service from Oct. 2, 2026 with four weekly flights Philippine Airlines will resume nonstop flights between Manila and Dubai starting Oct. 2, 2026, restoring direct service between the Philippines and one of the Middle East’s principal travel and commercial hubs. The route will launch with four weekly flights.

2026-06-29T03:27:51.135097-07:00

Philippine Airlines to restart nonstop Manila–Dubai service from Oct. 2, 2026 with four weekly flights

FlightGlobal

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IATA: Global air cargo demand up 6% Y/Y in May 2026 as capacity lags IATA reported May 2026 global air cargo demand rose 6.0% year-on-year, with international volumes up 6.5% and capacity growing 1.9%, lifting load factors. Growth was broad by region except the Middle East, while transpacific demand improvements supported stronger volumes.

2026-06-29T02:40:18.050748-07:00

IATA: Global air cargo demand up 6% Y/Y in May 2026 as capacity lags

FlightGlobal

Star Alliance chief Theo Panagiotoulias says Asia coverage remains strong despite Asiana Airlines’ impending exit Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias said the alliance is comfortable with its network footprint in Asia even as Korean carrier Asiana Airlines prepares to leave. He pointed to broad regional coverage and an ongoing focus on customer experience as core reasons the grouping expects to sustain value in-market.

2026-06-29T00:55:31.329192-07:00

Star Alliance chief Theo Panagiotoulias says Asia coverage remains strong despite Asiana Airlines’ impending exit

Leeham News

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury says the company sees demand for a stretched A220 (often discussed as an A220-500 offering up to 185 seats), but Airbus has not reached the point to launch the program. Separately, Airbus and Lufthansa Group signed a deal to support the airline group’s A220 fleet with spares, as Airbus also studies cabin changes to broaden appeal—particularly in markets where A220 sales lag, including China.

2026-06-29T00:19:04.462765-07:00

Airbus weighs A220-500 stretch while updating Lufthansa’s A220 support plan

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Asia-Pacific (APAC) News

Qantas to lift Melbourne–Tokyo (Narita) frequency to 11 weekly for Dec–Mar peak, adding 45,000+ seats across Japan and New Zeala

Vietjet seeks Australian regulatory approval to launch a domestic airline operation, challenging the Qantas–Virgin Australia duo

IATA: Global air cargo demand up 6% Y/Y in May 2026 as capacity lags

Philippine Airlines to restart nonstop Manila–Dubai service from Oct. 2, 2026 with four weekly flights

News Timeline