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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]

SriLankan Airlines, via its official Facebook account, announced (11-Mar-2026) plans to increase Colombo Bandaranaike-Melbourne Tullamarine frequency from seven to 10 times weekly, commencing 02-Aug-2026. The airline is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) "normal has a very different definition in the aviation dictionary. It means be prepared for constant uncertainties one after another". Mr Maslen said post-pandemic growth is "expected to be lower than that of the pre-pandemic era, with long term trends around demography and economics, shifting geopolitical and connectivity trends, higher costs and environmental considerations all combining to influence the future outlook".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) the short term impacts of the conflict in the Middle East of mass cancellations, airspace closures and cascading delays "are severe and quantifiable", but the deeper effect "is strategic". Mr Maslen said: "The episode exposes a fragile dependence on a single geographic crossroads, and could force a re-evaluation of network design, fleet strategy, insurance economics and hub resilience".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation head of analysis Richard Maslen, speaking at UATP Airline Distribution 2026, stated (11-Mar-2026) "payments are becoming a strategic revenue enabler, not just a transaction function, shaping how airlines sell and bundle products". Mr Maslen said: "Airlines can increase ancillary revenue by embedding seamless payment options for upgrades, baggage, seat selection and onboard purchases, while personalised payment options such as instalments, subscriptions and dynamic pricing can increase conversion rates and customer spend".