Star Alliance, airline alliance, has opened its first lounge in Asia at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in Guangzhou, China.

Starting today, the lounge will be available to First and Business class passengers, and Star Alliance Gold status customers on member airline flights departing from Terminal 1.

The new Star Alliance branded lounge is located in a dedicated space on the upper level of the existing GBIA lounge in the Terminal 1 international area, offering exclusive access to Star Alliance member airline guests.

The Star Alliance area provides a comfortable environment for travellers as they relax or work before their flight. Ideally situated close to the departure gates for Star Alliance member airlines, the lounge features an open layout and offers 750 square meters of space which can accommodate up to 100 guests. Open around the clock, it welcomes travellers with varying flight schedules.

Theo Panagiotoulias, Star Alliance CEO said: “Lounges are a critical component for the effortless travel experience we aim to provide to our member airline passengers.

“As a key strategic hub in Asia, Guangzhou serves as an important gateway for our guests.

“We are excited to inaugurate our first lounge in Asia, given the significance of the continent to aviation growth today and in the years to come.”

Ambar Franco, Star Alliance’s vice president for customer experience, added: “Our first Star Alliance branded lounge in Asia is an exciting milestone for us.

“Thoughtfully designed with the modern traveller in mind, it offers an effortless blend of comfort and functionality.

“Conveniently located close to departure gates, this lounge also provides travellers with the flexibility to relax, work, or refresh before their flight, all while enjoying a wide range of refreshment options and services tailored to their needs.”

The lounge features a glass facade offering tarmac views, filling the space with natural light. It also includes practical amenities, such as workstations and comfortable seating areas for both relaxation and productivity.

Tucked in a quiet space, the VIP room is a 100 square meters private area ideal for group or private business meetings, available upon request.

Guests are also welcome to use the state of the art shower suites to refresh themselves before their onward journey.

The Star Alliance branded lounge offers a sense of connection to Guangzhou and the Pearl Delta River region.

In addition to being adorned with art pieces by local artists, the lounge also has an exclusive Tea Appreciation Corner that will be available on special occasions, where guests can experience the region’s renowned tea culture.

Guests can also enjoy a range of food options, with light bites and regional delights featuring local cuisine served throughout the day.

There is also a dedicated bar counter where travellers can enjoy drinks that have been specially curated for the lounge.

Qi Yaoming, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, said: “The fact that Star Alliance has chosen to open its first branded lounge in Asia at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is not only a sign of trust and support for us, but also an acknowledgment of the status of Baiyun Airport as an important international hub.

“Baiyun Airport will continue to uphold the service concept of ‘Customer First’ and continuously build itself into an airline-friendly airport to provide even better service guarantees for Star Alliance and its member airlines.”

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Swedavia continue to develop Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden’s largest airport.

It is now announced that Strawberry with one of the leading hotel chains in the Nordics, Quality-hotel, will manage Swedavia’s new airport hotel at Arlanda.

The hotel will be the largest airport hotel in the Nordics with 656 hotel rooms and will be located in direct connection to the SkyCity terminal. Construction start is planned for 2027.

Jesper Sandahl, CEO at Swedavia Real Estate says: “The need and demand for hotels at Arlanda Airport is great.

“We are very happy, that we will be able to offer a full-service hotel of this size in the future, as part the airport’s continued development.

“We are very pleased that the new hotel will be managed by Strawberry. The hotel will be a strong addition to already existent hotels at the airport and an important meeting place at the largest airport in Sweden.”

After a rigorous evaluation process, Strawberry is the operator Swedavia Real Estate have chosen to work with.

Petter Stordalen, owner of Strawberry says: “This is a very good day. We are given the opportunity to manage what will become the largest airport hotel in the Nordics.

“But for us, this is not only about being able to offer another hotel.

“This is about contributing to the continued development of Arlanda as an airport and positioning as an attractive airport.

“Fundamentally, a great international airport as Arlanda is crucial for global competitive trade and industry- and a growing business market.

The hotel will include a large congress hall that allows different events and meetings, with room for 1 400 people and a conference centre with capacity for around 400 guests.

There will be a restaurant with several different concepts and social areas. As well as a specially designed green and lush outdoor area for relaxation in the hotel’s courtyard.

The new full-service hotel will be located in direct connection to Terminal 5, with five-minute walking distance to SkyCity.

The hotel will be managed by Strawberry and plan to open in the first quarter of 2029.

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Employees and guests at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can now catch a glimpse of the Automated People Mover (APM), as a new phase of testing will bring train cars through the Central Terminal Area (CTA).

This is a key milestone for the APM testing team, with the first train vehicles crossing over Sepulveda and Century boulevards, and entering the CTA for the first time ever.

In the coming weeks, design-builders LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) will conduct the first set of tests in these areas to confirm proper vehicle clearance across the elevated track and through the three APM stations inside the CTA.

The initial clearance tests will run at minimal speed with a single pair of APM vehicles and will gradually increase in speed through the end of 2025.

John Ackerman, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports said: “This testing milestone brings us one step closer to delivering a more efficient travel experience for our employees and guests at LAX,” .

“The train has been the airport’s missing link to our great city, and it will ensure that LAX welcomes Angelenos and visitors from across the globe in a truly world-class way.”

This new phase of testing builds upon LINXS’ progress on the APM’s elevated guideway.

Earlier this year, APM vehicles began test runs between the upcoming Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and an APM station located at the LAX Economy Parking garage.

Shawn West, board member, LAX Integrated Express Solutions said: “These clearance tests are the first of many, establishing the path forward in the testing and commissioning process.

“The team’s thorough testing in 2025 will help ensure safe and reliable service for the APM system upon completion.”

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Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today released the air traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for October 2024.

During the month, HKIA handled 4.55 million passengers and 31,625 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 21.3% and 20.3%, respectively.

Traffic growth remains steady in all passenger segments. Hong Kong residents, visitors, as well as transfer and transit passengers, experienced double-digit year-on-year increases in October.

Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China, and Japan recorded the most significant growth in the month.

For the first ten months of the year, passenger volume recorded an increase of 38.6% to around 44 million, while flight movements experienced a 36.7% growth to 298,655, compared with the same period in 2023. Cargo volume rose by 15.4% year-on-year to 4.03 million tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume rose significantly for 51.5% year-on-year to 51.6 million, while flight movements saw 43.8% growth to 356,355. Cargo throughput grew by 15.9% to 4.9 million tonnes.

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, and Greater Bay Airlines have respectively launched new routes in October, connecting Hong Kong to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; Chiang Mai in Thailand and Yonago in Japan, respectively, further expanding HKIA’s extensive air network.

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Menzies Aviation has secured a new ground handling license to deliver passenger, ramp and cargo services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), the main international airport serving Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

Menzies Aviation Malaysia – a joint venture (JV) with Malaysian supply chain management company, MMAG Holdings – will begin delivering ground handling services at the airport from January under the 12-month license.

Private aviation company MJets will be Menzies Aviation’s first customer at the airport, with services set to begin in January 2025, serving more than 30 flights per week.

In 2023, it managed 47.2 million passengers, 980,040 tonnes of cargo and 819,026 aircraft movements, ranking as the 35th-busiest airport by total passenger traffic.

This marks the first time that Menzies Aviation has operated in Malaysia, representing a significant increase in the company’s footprint across South East Asia.

Philipp Joeinig, group CEO, Menzies Aviation, said: “We’re very excited to begin operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a key hub serving Malaysia’s capital.

“Menzies Aviation Malaysia will quickly become a key part of operations at the airport, serving more than 30 flights a week by early 2025.

“This underscores Menzies’ determination to increase our presence across South East Asia while delivering aviation services that meet the very highest quality and safety standards.”

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Verny Capital, in partnership with the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, announces the opening of a new passenger terminal at Korkyt Ata Airport (KZO) in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan.

The new terminal will boost capacity, strengthening the region’s transport links while supporting economic development. Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, officially opened the new terminal at a ceremony on site.

The 7,500sq/m terminal serves domestic and international flights to cities including Antalya, with plans for additional international destinations.

Verny and the Foundation’s investment amounted to $35 million, with the terminal’s ownership and management now transferred to the Kyzylorda municipality.

This has increased the airport’s capacity by seven times to 2,000,000 passengers per year and created 40 new jobs, significantly improving the economic and social potential of the region by encouraging tourism and investment.

The terminal was built in collaboration with Turkish design company GMW Mimarlik.

Olzhas Bektenov, prime minister of Kazakhstan, commented: “The new terminal at Korkyt Ata Airport is an important infrastructure project, which will open new flight routes, enhance transit capacity, and increase passenger and cargo traffic.

“All these developments will have a positive impact on the growth of domestic tourism, trade, and the broader economy, and the government continues to give its full support to socially focused business initiatives.”

Almaz Sharman, chairman of the board of trustees of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, added: “I am delighted that this wonderful terminal is now open, which represents a major milestone for Kyzylorda.

“We are committed to implementing long-term philanthropic projects that foster social progress, both in individual regions and across Kazakhstan.

“Since its establishment in 2014, our Foundation has invested over $200 million in initiatives that support healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and the development of public infrastructure in Kazakhstan.”

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The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) announced today that Lion Air Indonesia has become a member of the Association with immediate effect.

Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Lion Air is Indonesia’s largest privately run airline and the largest budget airline in Southeast Asia.

Founded in 1999, Lion Air today operates both international and domestic air services connecting different Indonesian cities to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and more.

Mr. Subhas Menon, director general of AAPA said: “We are delighted to welcome Lion Air as a member of AAPA. With Lion Air’s strong presence in the budget air travel segment, this important milestone reflects the diversity of the Association’s membership and reinforces its role as the voice of international air carriers in the Asia Pacific region, regardless of business model.

“Sharing best practices and experiences as we do, will make the industry more resilient as well as ensure its safe, and sustainable growth.”

Mr. Rudy Lumingkewas, president director of Lion Air, said: “Lion Air is excited to be a member of AAPA.

“With its excellent connectivity across Indonesia and a growing network of international destinations, Lion Air is committed to expanding accessibility to various regions in Indonesia, and to playing a key role in supporting the country’s economic and social development.

“Lion Air is looking forward to working with other AAPA members and playing its part in the continued success of the Asia Pacific air transport sector”.

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SITA is partnering with Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to upgrade its passenger processing solutions.

TPE will install SITA’s game-changing check-in kiosk solutions, allowing passengers to fly through the airport and on to their destination faster than ever before.

The deal, which runs until 2033, shows SITA’s commitment to improving airport IT solutions and the passenger experience, through scalable, efficient systems that meet the needs of modern airports.

With the new check-in and baggage handling processes, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport will reduce wait times and improve overall airport efficiency.

TPE has chosen SITA to provide its Local Departure Control System (LDCS), Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) systems, including a full hardware refresh of 80 check-in kiosks to support all international flights in Terminals 1 and 2.

The purchase of SITA’s technology comes at a crucial time for the aviation industry in Taiwan.

Global passenger numbers are set to double to 10bn by 2040, and TPE needs to meet this growing demand, maintaining the highest level of security while improving overall airport efficiency.

Sumesh Patel, SITA APAC President, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating: “Our focus at SITA is to deliver technology solutions that help airport operators better manage their infrastructure in a way that is both optimal and makes the journey smoother for passengers.

“Airports around the world are facing challenges on many fronts, from staffing to efficiency, and improving the overall passenger experience.”

“Taipei can become a pioneer in the Asian market in terms of digitalization and innovation, becoming an example for others in an ever-evolving travel industry.

Nelson Wang, Taipei Airport operation committee chairman, expressed his confidence in SITA’s solutions. He said: “As part of our improvement program, the smart use of technology will maximize our existing infrastructure, and provide our passengers with a world-class experience, while supporting our airline customers in managing their operations more efficiently.

“SITA’s CUSS and CUTE systems are key to meeting our ambitions, from managing the flow of passengers through our terminals to making all of our passengers’ journeys smoother and more efficient.”

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Macquarie Asset Management (Macquarie), via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 4, and Ferrovial have reached an agreement to sell AGS Airports to AviAlliance.

The terms of the transaction represent an enterprise value for the business of approximately £1.53 billion.

AGS Airports owns and operates the primary airports serving Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.

These airports provide essential domestic and international connectivity to three important economic and population centres across the UK and serve more than 10.8 million passengers annually.

The airports contribute approximately £2 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK economy per year and support more than 30,000 jobs across a sophisticated supply chain.

AGS Airports was established as a 50:50 joint-venture between Macquarie and Ferrovial following their 2014 acquisition of the airport portfolio from Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited.

A partnership approach with Ferrovial has enabled AGS Airports to invest £250 million to deliver vital improvements, including:

The largest investment in Aberdeen International Airport’s capacity since its main terminal was opened in 1977.

The £20m investment increased terminal space by 50 per cent to accommodate enhanced security facilities, an increased retail offering, new areas for baggage reclaims, expanded business lounges, and new immigration and arrivals facilities.

A £9 million investment to revamp infrastructure at Glasgow Airport to accommodate all wide-body aircraft alongside improvements to a dedicated pick-up and drop-off facility, new car rental centre, expanded security facilities, and improved retail and lounge options.

A £17 million runway extension at Southampton Airport, which opened in 2024, securing the airport’s future contribution to local communities and businesses across the South East and importantly allowing for the airport to be able to operate larger aircraft and diversify its airline base.

Martin Bradley, head of infrastructure for Macquarie Asset Management in EMEA, said: “Since 2014, we have worked in partnership with Ferrovial to support around £250 million of investment by AGS Airports aimed at delivering a better experience for passengers travelling via Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports.

“Following this decade of investment, we are pleased to be passing the baton to AviAlliance to unlock the next phase of growth.”

Andy Cliffe, chief executive officer of AGS Airports, said: “Over the past 10 years, Macquarie and Ferrovial have played a central role in unlocking our full potential.

“Their close partnership with the teams across our three airports ensured we had the support to invest in our passenger offering while improving our operations.

“We are grateful for their close stewardship and look forward to continuing to develop our services and beneficial impact on passengers and communities across the regions of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.”

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UK holiday airline Jet2 will fly from Luton airport from summer 2025 to compete head-to-head with easyJet, TUI, Wizz Air and Ryanair.

The low-cost carrier will serve 17 destinations across Europe, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean in response to growing demand from customers and travel agents across the region.

Jet2 and its sister company Jet2holidays will operate up to 36 weekly flights on two brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft from Luton, with its first service set to depart for Majorca on 1 April 2025.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 and Jet2holidays, said: “We are very excited to announce London Luton Airport as our 13th UK base airport today, further expanding our footprint and bringing our award-winning holidays and flights to even more customers.

“Customers and independent travel agents have been asking us to open at London Luton Airport for many years now, so we know how enormously popular this announcement will be.

“We have seen time and time again how popular our product is when we bring it to new customers, and we look forward to bringing our VIP customer service to holidaymakers from London Luton Airport.”

He added: “This latest expansion reflects our strategy to be the UK’s leading and best leisure travel business and it underlines the confidence we have.”

The airline’s expansion to Luton is expected to create more than 125 jobs, Heapy said, including flight deck, cabin crew, engineering and ground operations positions.

As part of its summer 2025 service from Luton, Jet2 will fly to the Spanish destinations of Alicante, Girona and Reus, as well as the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Majorca.

It will offer service to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Jet2 will also fly to Faro and Madeira in Portugal, Crete, Rhodes and Zante in Greece, Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey and Verona in Italy.

Luton airport CEO Alberto Martin said: “We are delighted to welcome Jet2 to London Luton Airport. This is fantastic news for the millions of passengers who choose to fly from the airport each year and marks a major expansion of Jet2’s operations in the south of England.

“It will create exciting new jobs for local people and new opportunities for our local supply chain that we already work so closely with.

“Next year is already shaping up to be another bumper year for London Luton Airport and the addition of 17 exciting new routes on our departure boards, including three destinations that are exclusive to the airport, underlines our commitment to providing even greater choice as part of our simple and friendly passenger experience.”

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