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• Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

  The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has caused a surge in jet fuel costs, which has impacted the global aviation industry. Airlines have raised fares?and revised financial forecasts. In recent days, jet fuel prices have increased from $85 to $90 per barrel up to $150 to $200 per barrel for an industry where fuel can account for as much as a quarter or more of their operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that a rise in fuel prices and the suspension of Middle East flights will have a "notable" impact on its first quarter results. AIR FRANCE-KLM The airline group announced that it would 'increase long-haul tickets prices due to the rising fuel costs. Cabin fares will increase by 50 euros ($57.50) per round trip. AIR NEW ZEALAND On March 10, the airline was among the first to announce a large increase in ticket prices. The airline also suspended its earnings projections for the full year due to volatile fuel markets. Price increases for domestic flights are NZ$10 ($6), NZ$20 for short-haul international routes and NZ$90 for long-haul flights. Further price, schedule and network changes may be made if fuel prices continue to rise. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be introducing fuel surcharges ranging from 199-1300 Indian rupees (between $2 and $14) for domestic and international flights. AMERICAN AIRLINES Fuel prices are on the rise, and U.S. carriers expect to incur $400 million more in expenses for the first quarter. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for all routes starting March 18. The airline cited a doubled in jet fuel prices from the beginning of the month. Last month, the carrier, which reviews fuel charges monthly, maintained them at $72.90 per flight between Hong Kong and Europe, North America, or both. CEBU AIR The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies and try to minimize the impact. EASYJET EasyJet CEO Kentonjarvis says European consumers can expect to pay higher ticket prices at the end of summer when fuel hedges end. FRONTIER AÉRIENS Fuel prices have risen significantly since the airline's forecast was made, and it is now reviewing its outlook for the full year. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35.2% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, the Maldives and Bangladesh, and?Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (49 dollars). British Airways' owner IAG announced on March 10 that it does not intend to raise ticket prices immediately as it has hedged a large portion of its fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest airline announced that it will begin charging fuel fees on both domestic and international flights as of March 14. The charges include 900 rupees per flight to the Middle East, and 2,300 rupees per flight to Europe. Sources say that the company is lobbying for the Indian government's reduction of fuel taxes. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS The airline said that it would increase domestic and international flight prices by $20, and up to $100 depending on fuel surcharges. PHILIPPINE AERLINES The airline stated that it had enough fuel to support its scheduled operations but didn't have a clear picture beyond the months of May and June. The company president Richard Nuttall said that the Philippines may eventually look at measures like rationing fuel purchases, as some countries have already done. QANTAS AIRWAYS The airline announced that it would increase fares on international routes, and consider adding capacity to its existing Europe routes in the next few months. Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1000 flights in April due to high fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline said that it had "cancelled" a few hundred flights. SAS, which has already increased flight prices, stated that the surge in fuel costs would be a major blow to the aviation sector, even if they tried to absorb it. THAI AIRWAYS The Thailand-based airline said that it would increase fares between 10 and 15% to combat rising fuel prices. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline is preparing to cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters. He also predicted that oil prices would remain over $100 until 2027. He added that at those levels the fuel bill would be more than double the profit earned by the airline in its best-ever year. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in jet fuel and oil prices. VIETJET Vietnamese budget airline said it had reduced flight frequencies on certain routes due to possible fuel shortages. VIETNAM Airline Vietnam's Aviation Authority announced that the carrier plans to cancel 23 flights a week on domestic routes starting in April after it requested assistance from the government to remove a tax on jet fuel. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia announced that it would be adjusting its fares in order to reflect the rising costs across the aviation industry, which were being exacerbated significantly by the Middle East situation.

• China maps the ocean floor to prepare for a submarine war with the U.S.

  China has been conducting an extensive undersea mapping operation and monitoring across the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Oceans. This vast operation is aimed at gaining detailed knowledge about marine conditions, which naval experts believe will be vital for the conduct of submarine warfare against America and its allies. Ship-tracking data shows that, for example, in 2024 and 2025, the Dong Fang Hong 3?a research ship operated by Ocean University of China sailed back and forth between the seas around Taiwan, Guam and strategic stretches of Indian Ocean. Ocean University reports that in October 2024 it tested a series of powerful Chinese ocean sensors able to identify undersea items near Japan. It returned to the same area last May. In March 2025 it covered the approaches to the Malacca Strait - a crucial chokepoint for maritime trade - by crisscrossing the waters between Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Malacca Strait. According to the university the ship carried out climate research and mud surveys. A scientific paper written by Ocean University academics reveals that the ship has also carried out extensive deep-sea maps. According to U.S. Navy officials and naval-warfare specialists, the Dong Fang Hong 3's deep-sea mapping and sensor placement gives China an idea of what conditions are under the sea so it can better deploy its subs and track down its enemies. The Dong Fang Hong 3 doesn't operate alone. The Dong Fang Hong 3 is part of an ocean mapping and monitoring effort involving hundreds of sensors and dozens of research ships. This effort was traced by examining Chinese government records and university publications, as well as journal articles and scientific papers, and analyzing more than five years' worth of movement data from 42 research vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, or Arctic Ocean using a ship tracking platform developed by New Zealand-based Starboard Maritime Intelligence. Nine naval warfare experts who reviewed the findings said that while the research is primarily civilian - for example, some areas are being surveyed to determine fishing grounds and mineral deposits - there are also military purposes. In order to gather information on the underwater terrain, researchers map the seafloor by traveling in tight lines. This type of movement is shown in the tracking data of vessels that have been tracked over large areas of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean. According to an analysis of Chinese state-run media, descriptions of vessels published by Chinese universities and press releases from government organizations, at least eight of those tracked vessels have performed seabed mapping. Another 10 of them have carried mapping equipment. Peter Scott, former chief of Australia’s submarine force, stated that the survey data from the vessels "would potentially be invaluable in preparing for the battlespace" of Chinese submarines. "Any submariner who is worth his salt will spend a lot of time and effort to understand the environment in which he operates." Ship-tracking data shows that China's seabed surveying effort is concentrated in part around militarily-important waters near Guam, Hawaii, the Philippines and China. Wake atoll is a military base in the north Pacific. Jennifer Parker, adjunct professor of Defense and Security at the University of Western Australia (and former Australian antisubmarine warfare officers), said that "the scale of their actions is more than just about resources." If you take a look at its sheer size, it is clear that the Australians intend to build a blue-water navy that includes submarine operations. Parker and other experts also added that, even when data are gathered for scientific reasons, the integration between civilian scientific research, and military?technology has become a major focus of the Chinese Government under President Xi Jinping. Beijing calls this "civil-military" fusion. The Chinese ministries of foreign affairs, defense and natural resources did not respond to inquiries about ocean monitoring and seabed mapping. The U.S. Defense Department did not respond to any questions. Rear Admiral Mike Brookes of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence testified to a congressional committee this month that China has dramatically increased its surveying activities, providing data "that enable submarine navigation, concealment and positioning of seabed weapons or sensors." Brookes also said that the "potential collection of military intelligence" by Chinese research vessels "represents an important strategic concern." The United States has recently reorganized its efforts to map the ocean and monitor it, but they do so using military vessels which are permitted to disable the civilian tracking software. China's civilian survey vessels also disable tracking at times, so its campaign could go further than we can determine. It is the first report on the extent of China’s mapping and monitoring efforts across the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean. In previous reporting, a small portion of China's mapping and monitoring effort was revealed around Guam and Taiwan and in some parts of the Indian Ocean. Ryan Martinson, a U.S. associate professor who specializes in Chinese maritime strategies, said: "It's truly astonishing to see the immense scale of Chinese marine science research." Naval War College. Martinson added, "For decades the U.S. Navy was able to assume an asymmetrical advantage due to its knowledge of ocean battlespace." China's efforts "threaten that advantage." This is obviously very concerning. "PARANOID about being boxed in" According to naval experts, the data collected by Chinese research vessels about seabeds and water conditions are crucial for submarine operations and antisubmarine warfare. According to Australian defense scholar Parker: Commanders need information about the underwater terrain in order to avoid collisions, and conceal their vessels. This data is essential to detect submarines that operate within a few hundred metres of the surface. Submarines can be identified by the sound they make or echoes of signals from sonar systems. Tom Shugart is a former U.S. sub commander and adjunct senior fellow with the Center for a New American Security. He said that the sound waves move differently depending on the underwater terrain. Water temperature, salinity, and currents also affect sound waves and submerged movements. The vessels in question belong to Chinese state entities such as the Ministry of Natural Resources, or to state-affiliated institutions of higher learning like Ocean University. In 2021, its president publicly celebrated "close ties with China's Navy" and "commitment to building a maritime force and national defense." The university did not respond to a comment request. China's most extensive ocean surveying has been done east of the Philippines. The Philippines is located along the First Island Chain. This chain of territories, largely controlled and governed by America, runs from the Japanese Islands in the north, through Taiwan, to Borneo, in the south. The chain is a natural barrier that separates China's coast seas from the Pacific. Peter Leavy, former Australian naval attache in the U.S. who is now the president of the Australian Naval Institute, said that the First Island Chain was a source of paranoia for the Australians. China's mapping is "an indication of a desire to better understand the maritime domain in order to break out." China's tracking data also shows that it covers the waters around Guam, where American nuclear submarines have been stationed. Chinese vessels also mapped the waters surrounding Hawaii, another of America's regional military hubs. They examined an underwater ridge to the north of a base in Papua New Guinea, where the U.S. gained access recently. And they scouted Christmas Island, a territory of Australia on a route connecting the South China Sea with a crucial Australian submarine base. China's efforts go beyond the South China Sea. China has also mapped vast?swathes of the Indian Ocean. This is a crucial route for Chinese imports from the Middle East, Africa and the Middle East. Parker, a former anti-submarine war officer, said that China has "some key vulnerabilities" when it comes its dependence on maritime trade. Surveying indicates that "they will likely conduct more submarine operations in Indian Ocean". China's ships have also mapped seabeds west and north from Alaska, a vital sea route to the Arctic. Beijing has declared the Arctic a strategic frontier, and its ambition is to become a great polar power by 2030. Shugart said that the extensive surveying, and Beijing's increasing undersea capabilities are "symptomatic" of China's rising as a leading maritime power. A 'TRANSSPARENT OCEAN' Wu Lixin proposed an ambitious project to create a transparent ocean in 2014 by deploying sensors to give China a complete view of the water conditions and its movement. This was according to a report published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is affiliated with state. According to Shandong officials, the Shandong government quickly backed this proposal with at least $85 millions. Ocean University has announced that it began the project in the South China Sea where they have built an observation system covering the deep-sea area. Brookes Brookes, director of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence told the Congressional?commission China was building underwater surveillance networks to "gather hydrographic information - water temperatures, salinity and currents – in order to optimize sonar performances and enable persistent surveillance of subs transiting crucial waterways such as the South China Sea." Chinese scientists have expanded the project transparent ocean to include the Pacific and Indian Oceans after surveying the South China Sea. Records from the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources and Shandong Government show that China deployed hundreds of sensors and buoys in the Pacific to detect changes like temperature and salinity. Documents from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Chinese Academy of Sciences describe an array of sensors ringing India, Sri Lanka and the Ninety East Ridge, a mountain range under the Indian Ocean. Starboard data shows that Chinese vessels also explored the ridge, which is one of the longest underwater mountain ranges in the world. It sits on the approach to Malacca Strait - through which a large part of China's oil supplies passes. Ocean University and Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stated that the larger network of sensors provides China with data in real time about the water conditions and movements of subsea. Experts in naval warfare cautioned against this claim due to the technical difficulties of real-time data transmission from under water. Parker stated that even delayed data could be valuable as it can help China detect U.S. sub operations. Many sensors are located in sensitive areas. Recently, the media reported that the U.S. was fortifying a crucial strait connecting Taiwan and the Philippines in order to block Chinese access to Pacific. Ocean University reports that China has installed?advanced sensor systems in areas of the strait where U.S. subs could move through to reach the South China Sea. Chinese scientists claim that these sensors monitor changes in ocean and climate conditions. In 2017, Shandong officials said that the transparent ocean project aimed to "ensure maritime security and defense" and compared it with the U.S. military's effort?to create an American ocean sensor network. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Government and Institute of Oceanology did not respond to comments. According to the website of the Naval Submarine Academy in China, the founder of the Mapping-Program, Wu, now oversees the Network through the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology. Wu did not respond to any questions. 'NEW TYPES OF COMBAT CAPABILITIES' China's mapping system and monitoring tools give it the sophisticated tools needed to detect and destroy rival submarines in some of world's most volatile waters. Collin Koh is a senior fellow at Singapore's RSIS Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He said that this was a manifestation of China’s vast sea reach. "They have a fairly good idea of the maritime domain that they want to operate in either in peacetime, or during war." Chinese researchers also see the strategic value of their work. Zhou Chun is a researcher at Ocean University who supervises the Indian Ocean sensor arrays and Pacific Ocean sensor arrays. He was quoted in a press release from Ocean University last year as saying that he had seen "the rapid growth of my country's military and maritime capabilities." He did not respond to any questions. Zhou promised to "transform our military's most advanced technological and scientific achievements into new combat capabilities at sea."

• Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

  The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has caused a surge in jet-fuel prices that has impacted the global aviation industry. Airlines have raised fares and revised their financial forecasts. In recent days, jet fuel prices have risen from $85 to $90 per barrel up to $150 or $200 per barrel for an industry that accounts for as much as a quarter of its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline stated on March 12 that it expects the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as a rise in fuel prices, to have "notable impacts" on their first-quarter results. AIR FRANCE KLM, the French airline, announced on March 12, that it would be increasing ticket prices for long-haul flights to offset rising jet fuel costs. The airline said that cabin fares will increase by 50 euros (57 dollars) per round-trip. AIR NEW ZEALAND On March 10, the airline was among the first to announce a large increase in ticket prices. The airline also suspended its earnings forecast for fiscal 2026 due to the unprecedented volatility of global jet fuel markets. Price increases for domestic flights are NZ$10 ($6), NZ$20 for short-haul international routes and NZ$90 for long-haul flights. Further price, schedule and network changes may be made if fuel prices remain high. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, a domestic and international airline in India, announced on March 14, that it would be introducing a fuel charge ranging from 199-1300 Indian Rupees ($2-$14). AMERICAN AIRLINES On March 17, the U.S. airline said it was expecting a $400?million increase in expenses for the first quarter due to the surge in jet fuel prices. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for all routes starting March 18. The airline cited a doubled in jet fuel prices from the beginning of the month. In March, the airline said that it reviews fuel surcharges every month and kept them at $72.90 per flight between Hong Kong and Europe and North America. CEBU AIR On March 13, the Philippines-based airline stated that the sharp increase in fuel prices was a major concern. It would continue to evaluate its pricing and distribution strategies to minimize the negative impact. FRONTIER AÉRIENS According to a statement made on March 17, the airline has revised its full-year outlook as jet 'fuel prices have risen significantly since it released?the outlook. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35.2% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49). British Airways' owner IAG stated on March 10, that it does not intend to increase ticket prices immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest airline announced that it will begin charging fuel fees on both domestic and international flights as of March 14. The charges include 900 rupees per flight to the Middle East, and 2,300 rupees per flight to Europe. Sources say that the company is also lobbying for a reduction in fuel taxes by the Indian government. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES On March 12, the Pakistani airline announced that it would increase domestic and international flight prices by $20, and up to $100. It cited higher fuel surcharges. QANTAS AIRWAYS The Australian airline announced on March 10, that it will increase fares on international routes and consider adding capacity to its existing Europe routes. On March 17, the Scandinavian airline announced that it would cancel a thousand?flights? in April due to high prices for jet fuel and oil. The airline cancelled "couple hundred flights" in March. SAS, which has already raised flight prices, stated that the surge in fuel costs would be a blow to the aviation industry even if they tried to absorb it. THAI AIRWAYS On March 11, the Thai-based airline announced that it would increase fares between 10 and 15% to offset rising fuel prices. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the Chicago-based airline, said on March 20, that the company is preparing to cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters because oil prices are expected to stay above $100 until 2027. If oil prices remain at $100 until the end of 2027, then its annual fuel bills will increase by more than two times?the profits it earned in its most profitable year ever?, CEO Scott Kirby said on March 20. According to local officials, fuel prices have increased by 70%, causing operating costs to increase. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia announced that it would be adjusting its fares in order to reflect the rising costs across the aviation industry, which were exacerbated significantly by the Middle East situation.

• Panama minister hopes China's COSCO resumes operations at Balboa Port

  Jose Ramon Icaza said that the Panamanian government hopes China's COSCO Shipping will reconsider their decision to not 'use the Balboa port at the 'entrance' of the Panama Canal. La Prensa, a local newspaper in the area, published an announcement from COSCO to its clients that it had suspended operations at Balboa. COSCO didn't?respond to an earlier request for comments about the suspension of operations. Icaza, a reporter at an event, said that COSCO is responsible for a mere 4% of the cargo that passes through Balboa. "All cargo is valuable, but COSCO's is particularly important to us and Panama. We hope they reconsider their decision not use the port of Balboa." Balboa, one of two ports in the middle of a saga that has lasted for a year and involved Washington, Beijing, and the 'Panamanian Government. The?move comes after a ruling from Panama's Supreme Court late in January, which?annulled a contract for the?port operated by a Hong Kong-based unit. APM Terminals - a Maersk unit - has recently started temporarily operating the port for up to 18 months.

• Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

  The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and review financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have risen from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for as much as a quarter its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, and the spike in fuel costs will have a "notable" impact on its first quarter results. AIR FRANCE-KLM The airline group?said that it planned to raise long-haul ticket?prices to address rising fuel costs. Cabin?fares are set to?rise?by 50 euros ($57). AIR NEW ZEALAND On March 10, the airline was among the first to announce a large increase in ticket prices. The airline also suspended its earnings projections for the full year due to volatile fuel markets. Price increases are NZ$10 on domestic flights, NZ$20 for short-haul international flights and NZ$90 for long-haul flights. Further price, schedule and network changes may be made if fuel prices continue to rise. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be introducing fuel surcharges ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14) for domestic and international flights. AMERICAN AIRLINES Fuel prices are on the rise, and American Airlines expects to incur $400 million more in expenses for the first quarter. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for all routes starting April 1. This is the second hike in two weeks following a hike on March 18. They will also review these charges every two weeks. Last month, the carrier, which reviews fuel charges monthly, maintained them at $72.90 per flight between Hong Kong and Europe, North America, or both. CEBU AIR The Philippines-based carrier?said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies to minimize the impact. EASYJET EasyJet CEO Kentonjarvis said that European consumers can expect to pay higher prices for tickets towards the end summer when fuel hedges end. FRONTIER AÉRIENS Fuel prices have increased dramatically since the airline issued its forecast for the full year. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would increase fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12. The biggest increases would be on flights between Hong Kong, the Maldives and Bangladesh, and?Nepal where the charges would go from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49). British Airways' owner IAG stated on March 10, that it does not intend to increase ticket price immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest?airline announced that it will introduce fuel charges for domestic and international flights from March 14. The charge for flights into the Middle East is 900 rupees and for flights into Europe, 2,300 rupees. Sources say that the company is lobbying for the Indian government's reduction of fuel taxes. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Fuel surcharges are cited as the reason for raising domestic fares up to $20, and international fares up to $100. PHILIPPINE AERLINES The airline stated that it had enough fuel to support its scheduled operations but didn't have a forecast beyond June or May. The company president Richard Nuttall said CNBC that the Philippines may eventually look at measures like rationing fuel purchases, as some countries have already done. QANTAS AIRWAYS On March 26, the Australian airline announced that it would be adding flights to Rome Paris and Singapore. It had previously said it would increase international fares. The airline said that it would be monitoring fuel security and prices, as well as demand. It could also make changes. Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1000 flights in April due to high fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline said that it had cancelled "a couple hundred" flights. SAS, which has already raised flight prices, stated that the surge in fuel costs would be a major blow to the aviation sector, even if they tried to absorb them. SPRING AIRLINES Budget Chinese airline announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting April 5. Details to be announced. THAI AIRWAYS The Thai carrier announced that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% in order to "address the rising fuel costs". TURKISH AIRLINES LUFTHANSA SunExpress, the?joint-venture between Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Lufthansa', announced that it would begin imposing a temporary fuel charge of 10 euros per passenger on routes between Turkey, Europe and Africa, starting May 1. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1, for departures after May 1. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will?cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for oil prices remaining above $100 until 2027. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in oil prices and jet fuel costs. VIETJET A potential fuel shortage has led to the Vietnamese budget airline reducing flight frequencies on certain routes. VIETNAM Airline Vietnam's aviation authority announced that the carrier will cancel 23 flights per day on domestic routes from April after it requested government assistance to remove an environmental tax. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia announced that it would be adjusting its fares in order to reflect the rising cost pressures within the aviation industry, which were being exacerbated significantly by the Middle East situation. GREATER BAY Airlines Greater Bay Airlines, based in Hong Kong, said that it would increase fuel surcharges for most routes starting April 1, due to increased fuel prices related to the Iran War. However, charges on routes to mainland China and Japan will remain unchanged. The carrier has announced that the surcharge on flights between Hong Kong, Philippines and other destinations will be more than doubled.

• FMC: China is detaining Panama flagged ships in a battle over port control

  The United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced on Thursday that it is closely monitoring a'surge' in 'detentions in China of Panama-flagged ships, which appears to be tied to a Panama Court ruling against Hong Kong based CK Hutchison. The Panama Supreme Court invalidated in late January the legal framework that supported the 1997 concession granting CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company, the right to operate Balboa & Cristobal Terminals?on both the Pacific & Atlantic sides of Panama Canal. After the ruling, the Panamanian Government appointed U.S. subsidiaries Maersk APM Terminals (MSC) Terminal Investment Limited and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Terminal Investment Limited, as interim operators in 18-month agreements. The cancellation was a result of increasing pressure from the United States to limit Chinese influence in relation to the strategic canal that handles 5% of all maritime trade. Laura DiBella is the chairperson of FMC. She said that China's detention of Panama-registered ships far exceeded historic norms. According to a Lloyd's List Intelligence Report, the number of?ships detained by China since March 8 had reached almost 70. DiBella stated that the "intensified inspections" were conducted under informal instructions and appeared to be intended as a punishment for Panama following the transfer of Hutchison port assets. She said that the FMC was legally empowered to investigate whether foreign government regulations or practices could hurt U.S. commerce. DiBella stated that the Chinese Ministry of Transport summoned Maersk, MSC and other shipping companies to Beijing in a parallel move. CK Hutchison has been operating the?ports in Panama for almost 30 years. They have strongly rejected the court ruling, accused the Panamanian authorities of illegally seizing properties, and filed an international arbitration against Panama seeking damages of over $2 billion. The dispute also 'complicated' CK Hutchison’s planned $23 billion?sale of a majority stake?in its global ports business?to a consortium led?by BlackRock and MSC. The Chinese Ministry of Transport has not responded to an immediate request for comment. (Reporting and editing by Stephen Coates; Lisa Baertlein)

• Esentia energy approves expansion plan worth $205 million

  Esentia Energy, a Mexican 'pipeline operator', announced a board decision on Thursday to approve a $205 million expansion. This will add 295 millions cubic feet of daily gas transport capacity. The Phase II project is part of a five year expansion plan aimed at 660 million cubic ft / per day of capacity additions. It's expected to start commercial operations in the first half of 2028. Details of the project * "Phase 2 is a continuation to our expansion plan, focused on meeting the growing demand for industrial development and data center growth in Central Mexico," CEO Daniel Bustos said. * The project involves installing 'two' new turbocompressors at compression stations located in Chihuahua, and aguascalientes where construction has already begun. Esentia reported that Siemens Energy would make 'additional improvements' to the auxiliary services and other compression sites in the entire system. (Reporting and editing by Kyrry Madry)

• Algerian national airline orders 10 Boeing 737 MAX-8 planes to modernize its fleet

  Air Algerie, Algeria's national carrier, announced?on Thursday that it had placed an order for ten Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft as part of the country's strategy to develop civil aviation. The airline stated that the acquisition is part of its efforts to modernize their fleet, expand its route network and improve customer service. Five of the aircraft will be delivered this year in the second half, and the remaining five next year. No financial details have been disclosed. Air Algerie said the move was part of a broader strategy to meet the needs of the domestic and international markets and keep up with the aviation sector. They added that it would improve the airline's market position and competitiveness. (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton; Tarek amara)

• Mexico announces its support for the motor transport industry

  The?Mexican?government announced on Thursday measures to support the motor transport industry in Mexico, particularly heavy vehicle manufacturers and owners. At a recent press conference, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that the program includes tax incentives for local manufacturers and also aims to promote 'Mexico’s motor transport industry by protecting it against imports. He added that the initial budget for the project was 2 billion pesos ($112,41 million) in tax deductibles and 250 millions pesos of direct investment. The program will "support Mexico's heavy vehicles sector by providing incentives for the purchase of vehicles. The President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the "measures" will boost the production and use of commercial vehicles. She also said that the "modernization of heavy duty vehicles" would help to reduce pollution levels in the country, as well as improve the conditions of freight transport.

• Senior diplomat: US support Taiwan in defence and energy

  In a speech to senior Taiwanese officials on Thursday, the top U.S. diplomatic representative in Taiwan tried to send a "reassuring" message that the U.S. government supports the island in terms of?both strengthening its defences and assuring energy supplies during Iran's?war. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the 'United States' is Taiwan's largest arms supplier and international supporter. Raymond Greene, speaking at an American Chamber of Commerce dinner in Taiwan with President Lai Ching te and top officials in attendance, said that U.S. obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates, among other things arms sales, remained "rock-solid". "Our goal is to create an environment where the two sides can settle their differences peacefully and without coercion. He said that to achieve this goal, we view dialogue and deterrence both as sides of the same stable coin. Greene said, "In this context we continue to support Taiwan’s efforts to obtain critical?defence capability," pointing out Taiwan's focus to acquire cost-effective systems, such as integrated air and missile defenses, and drones. TRUMP TO MEET XI IN MAY Greene, the head of the American Institute in Taiwan which manages relations when formal diplomatic ties are not present, spoke just a few days after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that he will meet?Chinese leader Xi Jinping mid-May. This trip was postponed because of the Iran War. Beijing, which never renounced using force to subdue the island, demanded that U.S. arms sales be stopped to Taiwan, a democratically-governed country. Greene said that the United States would supply Taiwan with more natural gas and crude oil to "further reduce the effects of ongoing global commodities supply disruptions", though he didn't mention the Middle East war directly. He added that CPC, Taiwan's state owned refiner and U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy, had recently agreed to double CPC's gas imports from the U.S. As I said last summer, America is ready to help Taiwan meet its energy needs using all available technologies and sources. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier, Alex Richardson and Ben Blanchard)

• As the Middle East conflict escalates, airlines cancel more flights

  The global air travel industry is still severely affected by the Iran War. Many people are unable to travel to their destinations as planned after major Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi were closed. The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically: AEGEAN AIRLINES The largest Greek?carrier cancelled flights from Tel Aviv to Beirut, Amman and Erbil until April 22. Baghdad and Erbil were also canceled until May 24. Dubai flights have been canceled until April 19, and Riyadh flights until April 18. AIRBALTIC All flights to Tel Aviv have been cancelled by Latvia's AirBaltic until April 29. All flights to Dubai are cancelled until October 24. AIR CANADA All flights from Canada to Tel Aviv and Dubai have been cancelled until May 2. AIR EUROPA Spanish Airlines has cancelled all flights from Tel Aviv to April 10. AIR FRANCE KLM Air France has cancelled Tel Aviv, Beirut and Dubai flights until April 4, and Riyadh and Dubai flights until March 31. They have also cancelled an April 1 departure out of Dubai. KLM has suspended flights until May 17 to Tel Aviv and Riyadh. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines has cancelled all flights to Dubai and Riyadh up until May 31. In April, the airline will increase its passenger flights to London and Paris, as well as adding capacity in London. The U.S. airline cancelled all flights between New York and Tel Aviv, and put off the start of Atlanta-Tel Aviv until September 5. The airline said that the launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv flight, scheduled for late October, has been postponed until further notice. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES Customers who were planning to leave Israel by April 4 have had their flights, and return flights as well, cancelled. The airline is operating a small number of flights. EMIRATES The UAE airline announced that it would operate a reduced schedule after a partial opening of the regional airspace. ETIHAD AERWAYS The UAE carrier announced that it operated a limited schedule of commercial flights between Abu Dhabi, and approximately?80 destinations. FINNAIR The Finnish airline has cancelled all flights to Dubai until March 29, and Doha until July 2. It continues to avoid the airspace over Iraq, Iran and Syria. FLYNAS Saudi budget airline Flynas has suspended flights to Dubai and Abu?Dhabi until March 31. British Airways, owned by IAG, has extended the cancellation of flights to Amman and Bahrain until May 31, and Doha until April 30. Flights to Bangkok and Singapore have also been added. Flights to Abu Dhabi are suspended until the end of this year. INDIGO The Indian airline has temporarily suspended its operations in Doha, Kuwait and Bahrain, Dammam as well as Fujairah Ras Al Khaimah Sharjah and Fujairah. JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines has suspended its scheduled flights between Tokyo and Doha until April 10, and Doha to Tokyo until April 11. All flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai and back have been cancelled, according to the Polish airline. The airline has also cancelled all flights to Riyadh and Beirut until April 30, as well as to Riyadh from March 31 through April 30. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa and other airlines, including Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines as well as Edelweiss, have suspended flights from Dubai and Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi until May 31 and to Amman, Beirut Dammam, Riyadh Erbil Muscat and Tehran to October 24. Lufthansa Cargo will be the same except for Tel Aviv, which is suspended until April 30. Eurowings, a low-cost carrier, plans to suspend flights to Tel Aviv through April 30, and to Beirut, Erbil, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until October 24. MALAYSIA AIRLINES Malaysia Airlines has suspended flights to Doha until April 15 NORWEGIAN AIR It has delayed the launch of Tel Aviv services from April 1, to April 4 respectively. All Dubai flights have been cancelled through April 8. PEGASUS Pegasus Airlines, Turkey, has cancelled all flights to Iran, Iraq and other countries including Amman, Beirut Kuwait, Bahrain Doha Dammam Dubai Abu Dhabi Sharjah until April 13th. Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's national airline, has cancelled its flights to Iran, Iraq and other countries including Amman in Lebanon. Kuwait Airways is also cancelling their flights until April 13. QANTAS Australia's flag-carrier is adding flights to Rome, Paris and London to meet a surge in demand for European routes. Perth-Singapore will be increased from daily service to ten flights per week, and five return flights to Paris per week. QATAR AIRWAYS The airline said that it would only operate a limited number of flights up until the 28th March. SINGAPORE Airlines The carrier has extended its suspension of Singapore-Dubai flights to April 30 and added services on Singapore-London Gatwick, Singapore-Melbourne, from late March until the 24th of October in order to meet increased demand. TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish Airlines has canceled most Middle East flights up until the end March. SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and SunExpress has cancelled flights from Dubai to Bahrain to April 30. WIZZ AIR The low-cost carrier has suspended flights from Europe to Israel and other destinations in the Middle East until mid-September. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed; edited by Matt Scuffham and Mill Nissi Prussak.

• The CEO of the European Payments Initiative says Trump's fears have boosted its appeal

  The CEO of the European Payments Initiative, who is based in Brussels, said that fears of President Donald Trump's administration limiting Europe's?access to U.S. payment infrastructure has boosted regional adoption of a rival European payment platform. Wero, a payment platform developed by the Brussels-based firm, is an alternative to Mastercard Visa and Apple Pay, which dominate in-store payments across Europe. Founded by 16 major European banks including BNPParibas, Deutsche Bank and other payment providers in 2020, the group now has 45 members. Fintechs Mollie and Worldpay have recently joined, as well as N26 and?. EUROPEANS FEAR BEING CUT OFF from US PAYMENTS System EPI's CEO,?Martina Weimert, said that there is a sense urgency to reduce European dependence on U.S. companies. In an interview, when asked if merchants were preparing for the possible cut-off of Europe from the financial systems of the Trump administration, she replied "absolutely". She also said that two large merchants had cited Wero's international resilience as the reason they chose it. Weimert stated that this scenario was not a completely 'out of the blue' event. She said that these things can happen very quickly. Trump's "America First", which is upending the global order, and tearing apart long-standing transatlantic relations, has prompted European Union efforts in order to reduce their reliance on U.S. firms, especially those involved in strategic industries such as payments, technology, etc. Wero is facing a steep uphill battle when it launches in 2024. According to the European Central Bank, it is currently only used for peer-to -peer transfers. International card schemes such as Visa and Mastercard, however, account for two thirds of euro zone card transactions. The national payment schemes supported by the banks of Spain and Italy raises concerns about fragmentation despite their promises to work together on a pan European platform. DIGITAL EURO SCEPTICISM Wero is now available in Belgium, France, and Germany. Its number of users has risen from 43.5 million to 52.5 million, which is still only a small fraction of the payments industry in Europe. EPI has plans to expand into Luxembourg and the Netherlands within the next 12 months. Weimert stated that she did not see the digital euro which the ECB intends to issue in 2020 as competition, but rather something that could be incorporated into Wero's wallet. She was concerned if it arrived soon enough. "I have no problem with the digital euro. "I don't have a problem?with the digital euro."