Airlines News Page 45
EVA Air Launches Nonstop Service Between Taipei and Washington, D.C. on June 26
EVA Air will start a new route from Taipei to Washington, D.C. on June 26 this year, offering four flights each week. With this new route, EVA Air’s North American network will grow to include 10 gateways, two of which will feature the new fourth-generation Premium Economy class and increase the total weekly flights to 98. This makes EVA Air the airline with the most destinations and the largest flight network from Taiwan to North America. Tickets are now available for booking at www.evaair.com.
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 tickets now on sale
Tickets for the 2026 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are now on sale, as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the F1 season finale — with Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson set to perform on the opening night. The final race of the Formula 1 season returns to Yas Marina Circuit from December 3–6, closing out the championship in front of a global audience. Organisers Ethara, recently named F1 Promoter of the Year following the success of the 2025 event, have confirmed the first artists for the 2026 entertainment line-up.
AirAsia X goes global with launch of Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route
AirAsiaX (AAX) Berhad celebrated a monumental milestone in the airline’s global expansion strategy with the announcement of two long-awaited international routes, connecting Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain and onwards to London Gatwick (KUL-BAH-LGW), at a press conference in Bahrain today.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES BRINGS STARLINK ULTRA-FAST WIFI ONBOARD
Southwest Airlines Co. is taking inflight connectivity to new heights with Starlink. Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink will deliver next-generation WiFi across Southwest’s network of 11 countries, allowing Customers to stream, share, and scroll in the sky at lightning-fast speeds.
Turkish Airlines carried 7.6 million passengers in January 2026
Turkish Airlines announced passenger and cargo traffic results for January, with 10% higher passenger capacity in terms of available seat kilometres compared to that of 2025. In January, the number of passengers was recorded as 7.6 million, and the total load factor was realised at 84%.
WIZZ AIR EXPANDS ITS NETWORK CAPABILITIES WITH THE LAUNCH OF WIZZ LINK, POWERED BY DOHOP
Wizz Air, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines1 has launched WIZZ Link, a new digital platform developed in partnership with travel technology company Dohop, enabling passengers to book multi-leg journeys in a single transaction. The new platform marks a milestone in Wizz Air’s effort to make multi-city, low-cost travel simpler and more accessible.
Family First: Emirates’ ethos for its best-in-class Economy experience
With a new year in full swing, Emirates wraps up its busiest month for family travel bookings across January - cementing its position as the international airline of choice for families. Throughout 2025, 84% of all Emirates’ bookings were made for travel in Economy Class, and group and family bookings accounted for 64% of all passengers who travelled in Economy Class.
84% of travelers “game” loyalty programs, highlighting a strategic approach to travel rewards
Loyalty programs remain deeply embedded in how travelers plan, book and experience travel, but a new 3-part research series from Phocuswright shows that heavy participation does not necessarily translate into consistent brand usage. Instead, travelers are navigating an increasingly complex rewards economy strategically, prioritizing value, convenience and fit over long-term brand devotion. According to Phocuswright’s latest consumer research, 84% of leisure travelers engaged in at least one loyalty “gaming” behavior in the past 12 months, underscoring how normalized optimization has become across points, miles and status programs.
Singapore Airlines To Launch Non-Stop Services To Riyadh In June 2026
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch four-times weekly non-stop flights between Singapore and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in June 2026. The Airline will operate the medium-haul variant of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which is configured with 303 seats in two cabin classes: 40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class.
Korean Air launches generative AI chatbot to enhance customer support
Korean Air has launched the “Korean Air AI Chatbot,” a new generative AI-based service integrated directly into its website and mobile app.
Riyadh Air and Mastercard take off together to redefine the global travel experience
Riyadh Air and Mastercard today unveiled a bold strategic alliance that brings together payments, travel and technology to reshape how people and businesses experience global travel. With no legacy programs in place, Riyadh Air is in a unique position to jointly create an extensive financial and payment ecosystem that is unprecedented from day one. The collaboration introduces a powerful suite of innovations spanning consumer payments, premium airport experiences and next-generation B2B travel payments – positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global travel evolution.
Enjoy a perfect port in Porto with American’s new flights
Get ready to pair world-famous port wine cellars with “Euro Summer” adventures thanks to new service from American Airlines to Porto, Portugal (OPO) in summer 2027. Operated with the airline’s new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, customers will have the opportunity to elevate their travel with the Flagship Suite® experience on this route.