Hawaiian Airlines will resume services to Australia in time for the peak Christmas holiday period after a 21-month hiatus due to the global pandemic.

Qantas is fast-tracking the revival of a number of key global routes and launching a new Sydney-Delhi service, the national carrier has announced today. The Australian flag-carrier is also bringing two Airbus A380 superjumbos back into operation three months earlier than planned; reviving the jobs of thousands of staff who had been laid off due to COVID; and accelerating the delivery of three brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is set to deploy its flagship Airbus A380 on the Sydney route from 1 December, ramping up capacity ahead of the Christmas holiday period.

American Express this week debuted its first Centurion Lounge in Europe with the official opening of a new facility at London Heathrow Airport. Located in Terminal 3, the lounge is also American Express’ third Centurion Lounge to open in 2021.

Singapore Airlines has forged a new partnership with health and wellness retreat Golden Door to introduce a fresh line-up of health-focused meals, exercise and wellbeing options to customers on flights between Singapore and the US.

Qatar Airways was recently named Airline of the Year 2021 in the latest Skytrax awards, pipping Singapore Airlines and ANA All Nippon Airways which were second and third respectively.

Qatar Airways has named Jared Lee as its new Vice President of Sales for Southeast Asia, Southwest Pacific & Indian Subcontinent. He takes over Qatar Airways’ Australia and New Zealand portfolio from Thomas Scruby who is moving to Doha for the role of Vice President for Distribution.

The CEO of Turkish low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, Mehmet T. Nane, has been appointed Chair of the IATA Board of Governors at the International Air Transport Association’s 77th Annual General Assembly.

Qantas and Emirates will seek a further five-year extension of their joint aviation partnership with regulators, such as the ACCC, which will assist the airlines’ businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19. The arrangement provides benefits to the public, expanding the scope of each carriers’ networks across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK.

Air Canada has confirmed its intention to recommence its Australian operation from mid-December 2021, initially only on the Sydney-Vancouver route. Seats can now be booked through all booking channels including aircanada.com and via travel agencies.

Qantas and Japan Airlines have had their proposed alliance between Australia and Japan quashed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Their proposed arrangement would have allowed the airlines to stop competing on all aspects of price and service for three years.

Virgin Atlantic has unveiled a new social space for its Upper Class passengers which will be fitted to future Airbus A350 deliveries.