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London Gatwick Airport announced (11-Mar-2026) plans to increase per hour scheduled aircraft movements from 55 in 2025 to 57 in 2026, following air traffic control and airfield innovations. The investments were undertaken in partnership with serving airlines and UK NATS and resulted in the airport's best on-time performance for departures in a decade - excluding the pandemic - in 2025, with an 11% year-on-year increase. As previously reported by CAPA, the airport also became the first single-runway airport globally to introduce time-based separation processes in 2025, facilitating an increase in the number of arrivals and departures per hour. [more - original PR]

Air Arabia, via its official website, announced (12-Mar-2026) plans to operate "limited flights" from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah to destinations in 20 countries, effective 06-Mar-2026 to 22-Mar-2026, "subject to operational and regulatory approvals".

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Russia FAVT) restricted (12-Mar-2026) Azur Air's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) until 08-Jun-2026, on the basis on an audit conducted from 19-Feb-2026 to 05-Mar-2026. The carrier was audited as a result of service cancellations and delays due to equipment issues. Azur Air was instructed to enhance safety, audit its airworthiness and aircraft maintenance departments and reduce the flight schedule. Failure to address the recommendations will result in the carrier's AOC being annulled. [more - original PR - Russian]

Airport Development Group announced (10-Mar-2026) Aero Dili plans to launch twice weekly Dili-Darwin service on 24-May-2026. Aero Dili president director Lourenço De Oliveira stated: "Launching our first direct service to Australia is a proud milestone for Aero Dili and an important step in deepening the partnership between Timor-Leste and the Northern Territory". [more - original PR]

Manchester Airport reported (11-Mar-2026) it handled nearly 2.1 million passengers in Feb-2026, an increase of 2.3% year-on-year and the airport's busiest February on record. The performance reflects the airport's official status as a two-terminal facility for the first time in more than 30 years, following a 10-year, GBP1.3 billion (EUR1.5 billion) transformation and full reopening of Terminal 2. The terminal has doubled in size and handles more than 75% of all passenger traffic at the airport. Terminal 1 - which first opened in 1962 and is joined in sections to Terminal 3 - will fully close. Terminal 3 is dedicated to Ryanair operations and is undergoing a revamp project, with work to expand into space vacated through the closure of Terminal 1. The project will also include the opening of a Sporting Chance bar in Terminal 3 later in Mar-2026, as well as a new Italian restaurant. Airport MD Chris Woodroofe stated: "While this is the end of an era for Terminal 1, it's really the start of a whole new chapter for Manchester Airport... As we move towards what will be another record-breaking year for us, I'm looking forward to welcoming passengers and hearing about their experiences of our new bigger, better and simpler operation". [more - original PR - Manchester Airport] [more - original PR - Manchester Airports Group]

Lufthansa announced (11-Mar-2026) it will maintain over 50% of its flight schedule and 60% of its long haul connections on 12-Mar-2026 and 13-Mar-2026, when the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union called for full-day strikes. Other Lufthansa Group airlines and partner airlines will take over "numerous" services to and from Frankfurt and Munich, and larger aircraft will also be used on strike days to accommodate more passengers. Lufthansa Cargo will operate over 80% of its cargo flight programme, Lufthansa City Airlines will offer its entire flight schedule and Lufthansa CityLine, which is also affected by the VC strike on 12-Mar-2026, will be able to offer almost its entire flight programme on 13-Mar-2026. [more - original PR]