Etihad Airways is to double its flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul from 15 July 2026, with the route’s rapid growth since launch prompting the airline to add a second daily service in each direction. Kabul joined the Etihad network in March 2026, initially operating four times weekly. Demand has significantly exceeded expectations, with strong take-up from both point-to-point travellers and those using Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport as a hub to connect onwards to Europe and beyond.

flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, announced the establishment of a new operations base at Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al-Qassim in cooperation with the leading airports operator, Cluster2 company, making flynas the first Saudi airline to operate flights from six different hubs across the Kingdom. As of next July, flynas will launch the first phase of this expansion, offering direct flights to five domestic and international destinations. The international network from Al-Qassim will include direct routes to Istanbul, Trabzon, and Cairo (Sphinx International Airport), as well as a direct domestic route to Abha and Dammam.

Ghana has launched a new national e-visa platform while simultaneously waiving visa fees for travellers holding African passports, a move that positions the West African nation among the continent’s most progressive advocates of travel liberalisation. The initiative introduces online visa processing, significantly reduces administrative friction and, perhaps most importantly, sends a clear signal that Ghana sees connectivity as an economic growth strategy rather than a border control exercise.

For one evening, a little bit of Hong Kong arrived in Los Angeles. Before customers boarded Delta’s inaugural flight to Hong Kong, they were treated to a preview of the destination itself. Chef-curated dishes inspired by Cantonese cuisine, destination-themed experiences and special commemorative gifts transformed the departure into more than just a flight launch. It was the beginning of Delta’s newest Pacific connection.

Air Canada yesterday marked the entry into scheduled service of its first Airbus A321XLR. The 182 passengers onboard AC413 from Montréal to Toronto experienced the start of a whole new chapter in how – and where – Air Canada customers can fly.

The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) Turbulence Aware coverage of Latin America has been significantly boosted as Aeromexico becomes the latest airline to join the program. The inclusion of Aeromexico brings coverage of turbulence incidents across Latin America to more than 3,200 flight per day—a 25% increase compared with 2024. Aeromexico’s reporting includes data from across its 90 Boeing aircraft fleet, supported by Boeing’s complementary capability that enables real‑time weather and turbulence observations.

Southwest Airlines Co. and Singapore Airlines have partnered to offer travelers around the globe single-ticket journeys to and from the United States, connecting to places where Southwest and Singapore Airlines fly. Southwest Executives shared the news of the interline partnership during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Brazil.