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AirAsia X unveils Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route, establishing Middle Eastern hub
AirAsia X, Malaysia's budget airline, announced a new route on Wednesday that connects Kuala Lumpur with?Bahrain before continuing to London's Gatwick 'airport'. This is the latest step of the airline's global expansion. In a press release, the company stated that the service would begin in June and will be Bahrain AirAsia X’s first hub outside Asia. It will use its location to link Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe. Last month, Asia's largest low cost carrier completed the acquisition of the short-haul business from parent Capital A. This unifies the group's 7 airlines under one banner. The return of non-stop flights to Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport in the British capital is also significant. It has been more than 10 years since these flights were discontinued and long-haul Airbus A340 aircraft retired. The Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route will be serviced by AirAsia X's A330 fleet, as part of ?its efforts to expand international operations. In November, the airline began flights between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. AirAsia X in Malaysia, which has a network of more than 150 destinations, and a fleet spanning 255 aircraft, is exploring options for refinancing about $600,000,000 in debt. Last month, according to industry sources, it was reported that Airbus is close to a major agreement to sell AirAsia around 100 of the A220, its smallest jet, with an additional option to buy 50 more. Last month, AirAsia X Deputy Group Chief Executive Farouk Kamal said that the company was looking at ordering 'another 150 jets. AirAsia is one of Europe's largest customers. It operates a fleet entirely made up of Airbus aircraft and has more than 350 narrow-body A320 jets on order. In July last year, the airline placed a preliminary order for 50 A321XLR long-range aircraft. AirAsia was founded in 2001, with only two aircraft. It pioneered the development of low cost carriers in Southeast Asia. Capital A was severely impacted by pandemic travel restrictions. It was classified as financially distressed in Malaysia's PN17 framework. Fernandes is also the 'CEO of Capital A. In a statement issued last month, he said that Capital A had 'completed its PN17 Regularisation Plan. AirAsia X, the new name for all AirAsia aviation businesses, will allow them to focus on growing their operations and reducing cost while Capital A focuses on reviving their finances. (Reporting from Julie Zhu, Hong Kong; editing by Jamie Freed).
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Chinese captain pleads guilty to damages charge in Baltic Sea Cable Case
The Chinese captain of an?Hong Kong registered cargo ship pleaded 'not guilty'?on a charge?of criminal damage on Wednesday, after allegations that his vessel had?damaged underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. According to a Hong Kong chargesheet reviewed by the. The charge sheet said that?Wan was "reckless", and had "damaged property belonging to others without lawful excuse". Investigators in Finland said that the container vessel had pulled its anchor so as to cut off the Balticconnector pipeline. The Finnish police retrieved an anchor that had broken from the seabed, near the Balticconnector gas pipeline. An attorney for Wan, Jerry Chung said earlier that 18 prosecution witnesses will be called to give testimony in the case. The charges include one of criminal damage as well as two of failing to ensure that the ship met the safety requirements of the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea. Wan also pleads not guilty to these two charges. Chung said that these?witnesses' include Hong Kong officials and maritime experts, as well as crew members. Since?Russia invaded Ukraine 2022, the Baltic Sea region has been on alert for sabotage. This is because of a series outages that have involved power cables and gas pipelines. NATO has increased its military presence with frigates, aircraft, and naval drones.
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Dubai's DXB Airport is expected to handle 100 million passengers in this year
Dubai International Airport (DXB), which is the world's busiest travel hub and is expected to?handle close to 100 millions passengers this year, according to its operator. This will build?upon a record-breaking performance in 2025. Dubai Airports said that it expects to have 99.5 million passengers by 2026 as the demand grows across major markets. DXB handled 95,2?million passengers in 2018, up 3.1% compared to 2024. India, Saudi Arabia, and Britain were its top three markets. Egypt, Italy, and China all experienced double-digit growth. Dubai is the Middle East’s largest tourism and trade hub. It's home to the tallest tower in the world, as well as palm-shaped islands. According to government statistics, it is also an important connecting point for flights from Europe to Asia. Dubai Airports said that in 2025 DXB had its busiest day, month, quarterly and annual records. It was operating at the limit of physical capacity, while consistently delivering operational excellence. The emirate announced that it would be investing $35 billion in its second airport (Al Maktoum, operated by Dubai Airports) to'meet the rising demand for air travel and the rapidly growing population. When completed, the expansion will be able to handle 260 million passengers annually. (Reporting by Federico Maccioni. Mark Potter (Editing by Federico Maccioni)
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FAA: Canada to announce certification for Gulfstream jets soon
The head of U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said that he was expecting Canada to announce on Tuesday it would certify a few Gulfstream business aircrafts which?had been stalled for years. This would resolving a problem highlighted by President Donald Trump. After a meeting on Capitol Hill with legislators, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said to reporters: "I believe we have resolved the issues with Canada." "My understanding is that Transport Canada will announce Gulfstream certifications which have been delayed since years." Bedford stated that he expects Canada to announce the certifications of the jets manufactured by the U.S. firm later this week. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Canada's Transport Minister said that Transport Canada continued to work with Gulfstream on the?certification? of business jets. Gulfstream, which is owned by General Dynamics, did not respond immediately to a comment request. Last month, Trump announced in a social media post the U.S. planned to decertify Canadian Bombardier Global Express business jets. He also threatened to impose a?50% tariff on all aircraft manufactured in Canada until Canada's regulator approved a number planes produced by U.S. competitor Gulfstream. The announcement came amid growing tensions among the neighbors after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, citing U.S. Trade Policy, called on nations to accept that the rules-based world order once championed by Washington was over. Trump said that he would "decertify their Bombardier Global Expresses and all Aircraft manufactured in Canada" until Gulfstream planes were certified. This threat would have had a?dramatic impact on the?U.S. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other carriers rely heavily on Canadian aircraft for their regional flights. Last month, Canadian officials said they were working with Trump to resolve the dispute over aircraft certification. Airlines officials stated that if the U.S. decertified airplanes due to economic reasons, this would give other countries an 'advantageous weapon' and put the entire aviation system in danger. Since then, Trump has brought up other issues with Canada. He threatened on Monday to block the opening of a $4.7billion bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Canada unless Canada agreed trade talks. (Reporting and editing by Allison Lampert, David Shepardson)
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Boeing, the US aircraft manufacturer, plans to open a fourth 737 production facility in midsummer
Boeing will open a fourth 737 MAX line in Everett in Washington in the middle of summer, a Boeing executive announced on Tuesday during an aerospace suppliers' conference. North Line is a new production line that will help the U.S. aircraft manufacturer increase its 737 MAX jet production to 63 per month in the next few decades. It currently increases production from 38 to 42 jets per month. Katie Ringgold, Vice President and General Manager of the 737 Program at Boeing, said that the company will continue to increase production by 15% over the next 18-months. She spoke at the Advance 2026 Conference organized by the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Association. This would mean that Boeing's next rate target of 47 aircraft per month will be reached in 2027 and not this year as many industry observers and investors anticipate. Boeing officials told two suppliers to expect a monthly production rate of 47 aircraft this year. Boeing shares have dropped by nearly 1%. The planemaker has recovered from crises that impacted its production and supply chain for several years. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who was tasked with turning around the company and restoring "production stability", has prioritised restoring "production stability" by increasing production five planes every six months. The North Line - in Everett - will be the first time a 737 - has been manufactured outside Boeing's Renton Plant south of Seattle. Boeing has begun training workers for the line. Boeing plans to increase 737 production to 63 planes per month "over the next few years", Ringgold informed suppliers. Boeing's best selling airplane, the 737 MAX, is in a close competition with Airbus A320neo on the lucrative single-aisle market. (Reporting and editing by Will Dunham and Rod Nickel; Reporting by Dan Catchpole)
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As anti-migration sentiment grows, EU lawmakers adopt tougher asylum laws
On Tuesday, EU lawmakers approved changes in the??European Union asylum system. This will allow for a faster rejection of asylum applications and possible transfers of asylum seekers into countries where they have no or little connection. The move highlights the increase in anti-immigration feelings across the European Union that has led to a broadening of popular support for extreme right parties. The text, which must be approved by the 27 member states of the EU, represents a "sharp" hardening of EU immigration policy, which has been taking shape ever since an influx in 2015-16 of more than a million migrants and refugees. Humanitarian groups criticized the move, saying it could lead human rights violations as well as a reduction of asylum rights. This is because of a 1951 convention that prohibits returning asylum seekers to dangerous countries. The European Parliament has approved a change to the Asylum Procedures Regulation that will introduce a list of countries deemed "safe", to which asylum seekers who fail to gain entry can be sent. List includes Egypt and Tunisia, whose human-rights records have been questioned. PROTECTION IN A "SAFE" COUNTRY According to the new rules EU countries can reject an asylum request if a person could have been protected in a safe country that the bloc considers. Amnesty International's EU Advocate for Migration and Asylum, Olivia Sundberg Diez said: "Today’s vote could mean that people who seek asylum in the EU will have their applications denied without review and sent to countries where they do not have any connection, or even have set foot." She said in a press release that "these measures represent an abdication of EU commitment to refugee-protection and pave the road for EU member countries to broker agreements?with third countries for offshore processing of asylum claims." The new rules are a step towards allowing EU countries to establish "return hubs" outside of the EU. These hubs, like those set up by Italy in Albania, would be similar to what Italy has done. However, specific rules regarding return regulations still need to be discussed in parliament. The Migration Pact is a set of EU rules and processes that govern migration. It was approved in 2023, but will not be fully implemented before June 2026. Since 2015, when more than one million migrants, mostly from Syria, arrived via the Mediterranean, anti-immigration rhetoric is gaining momentum in the EU. This sentiment has?boosted public support for nationalist right-wing parties and pushed?governments towards adopting increasingly restrictive migration policies focusing on returns. The text on safe origin countries will put hundreds of thousands in grave danger. Melissa Camara, a French Green legislator, said that third countries would be considered safe despite their extremely worrying human rights situations. (Reporting and editing by Amina iSmail)
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Figure skating-Naumov's emotional Olympic debut is fueled by the memory of his late parents
Maxim Naumov, the U.S. figure skating champion, said that he felt his parents' presence as he made an emotional debut at the Milano Cortina Games on Tuesday, just over a year since they died in a plane accident near Washington D.C. Naumov's parents were among the 67 who died when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter in mid-air on January 20, 2025. Naumov, a reporter, said: "I felt as if I was guided today by them." "I felt their support with every glide and step I took on the ice. They guided me from element to element. "I finished on my hands and knees. I didn't even know if I would laugh, cry or smile. All I could do at the end was to look up and say 'Look what just happened'." The crash killed 28 parents, coaches and young skaters returning from a training camp. While he waited to hear his score, the 24-year old?from Norwood Massachusetts held up a photo of him holding hands with his mother and father as spectators cheered at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. It's a picture of me when I was 3 years old, my first time on ice. "I carry them so that I never forget," said Naumov. He was also seen kissing the photo. They're literally right on my chest in my cross-body. He added, "I wanted to have them sit with me in the kiss-and cry and live the moment. Look up at the scoreboard and just be in this moment." They deserve to sit right next to me as they have always done." Heartfelt Performance Skating to Frederic Chopin’s "Nocturne No. Naumov, who is 20, began with a stunning quadruple Salchow. He then smiled and looked skyward before covering his eyes. He was initially unsure if he would continue competing after the tragedy. But on Tuesday, he said that skating was a comfort to him, and that he is satisfied with his 85.65 score. He said, "I wasn't concerned about doing anything perfectly." "I wanted to really put everything out there. I had no regrets after that program. "I could not be prouder of myself and my teammates. The job is not done. He added, "We've got one more to do." Naumov will be back in action on Friday when the top 24 skaters from the short program compete for the free skating. This was the most deadly?U.S. aviation disaster since November 2001. Last week, a group of bipartisan U.S. House members announced that they would introduce legislation addressing a number of safety recommendations following the crash. In a joint press release, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Armed Services Committee stated that they were "working expeditiously on legislation" to prevent a similar crash from happening again.
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Extra Space Storage sued for 'predatory practices' by New York City
New York City has sued Extra Space Storage, one of the biggest owners of self storage space in the U.S., for "predatory practices" and bait-and switch pricing. It also accused it of letting its units suffer from vermin, water damage, and mold. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection of the city accused Extra 'Space of violating false advertisement laws on Tuesday by misleading consumers with low prices for storage units, which it falsely claimed were "clean" and pest-free. According to the lawsuit?Extra Space "dramatically raised" prices shortly after many consumers moved in their belongings, often without prior notice. Some rents doubled in one year. Salt Lake City based company accused of threatening to auction off belongings and changing locks to "extort", or force, consumers to pay higher prices. In a recent statement, City Council Speaker Julie Menin stated that "Many New Yorkers depend on self-storage to solve their limited living space and sudden changes in living conditions." It's time that storage companies, like Extra Space, take responsibility for exploiting hardworking New Yorkers. Extra?Space stated in a press release that it was "actively conducting an extensive internal review in order to accurately assess the claims made in the complaint." The suit filed in Manhattan, New York State court seeks civil penalties of more than $5,000,000 and full restitution. Extra Space is responsible for 60 out of more than 300 self storage facilities in New York City. The city also said that Extra Space receives the most complaints. Extra Space's shares rose $1.76 to $142.12 in afternoon trading. Extra Space has a market cap of around $30 billion. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, New York Editing Rod Nickel and Chizu Nimiyama
Air New Zealand cancels its long-haul flights as a cabin crew strike is imminent
Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday that it had 'cancelled' 46 wide-body long haul services in advance of a two-day cabin crew strike over the stalled negotiation.
Air NZ announced that the cancellations affected 9,500 passengers. The company added, "the domestic and regional network will operate as usual, with some cargo-only flight schedules."
The local?union E tu issued a statement saying that the airline's cabin staff would be striking on February - 12 and 13 if talks fail to resolve their concerns. They urged Air New Zealand make a "fair and realistic" proposal.
Rachel Mackintosh, E tu's National Secretary, said that the work of wide-body cabin staff is difficult and misunderstood.
They are also shift workers, whose rosters vary every month. The work is very irregular... there are no guarantees in their patterns of work.
The union said that only cabin crew will be involved in the strike, and not wide-body aircraft workers.
Air New Zealand said that it had contacted affected customers with options for rebooking or refunds.
The airline said that it has rescheduled its flights and redeployed their fleet to prevent most Tasman Pacific services from being cancelled.
(source: Reuters)