Latest News
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Delta and Aeromexico win US Court battle to retain joint venture
The U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday overturned the Trump Administration's order from September 2025 that was intended to force Aeromexico and Delta?Airlines to dissolve a joint venture. Last year, the?airlines?sued to stop the U.S. Department of Transportation's order to repeal a nearly 10-year-old joint-venture that allowed the carriers to coordinate the scheduling, pricing, and capacity of U.S. - Mexico flights. The USDOT order is part of a series of U.S. measures aimed at Mexico’s aviation sector due to competition concerns. Last year, a court halted the order pending legal challenges. The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals stated that USDOT "didn't reasonably explain why they conducted a much more limited market study in this case than in the past, or if it imposed a requirement to approve the joint venture compared to what it required of'similar joint ventures approved in Japan. Delta, Aeromexico, and the U.S. The Justice and Transportation departments referred to the joint venture as "legalized collusion," which controls "almost 60 percent of operations at the 4th-largest gateway international to and from the United States," in reference to Mexico City flights. Delta, with a 20% stake, argued President Donald Trump held Aeromexico to a higher standard than other joint ventures such as United Airlines or Japan's ANA. The court said that USDOT's arbitrary and capricious action was because it did not apply the same standards to Delta and U.S.Japan joint-venture applicants. USDOT has taken separate action to revoke approval of 13 routes for Mexican carriers in the U.S., and cancel all combined passenger and cargo flights from Mexico City's Felipe Angeles International Airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated last year that Mexico "illegally cancelled and frozen U.S. carrier flight for three years without consequence."
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Panama Canal will cap daily transits in anticipation of severe El Nino
It announced on Thursday that the Panama Canal Authority will limit daily transits starting in early September, as it prepares for an El Nino season expected to reduce water levels. This is a reversal of a previous promise not to restrict vessel passage. The new measures will reduce the number of vessels that can pass through the canal each day to 32 by September 15, and to 34 as of Sept. 4. In June 2026 the canal'registered 35 average daily transits, which corresponded to vessel demand. Its capacity was to handle around 40 crossings per day. Canal authorities said in May that they did not plan to restrict vessel passage this year and have already taken water conservation measures starting 2025. According to a?advisory released Thursday, daily capacity at the Neopanamax locks of the canal will be capped as of September 4, while 'capacity in?the older Panamax?locks is limited to 25 slots. The capacity of the Panamax locks will be further reduced on Sept. 15 to 23 slots. As part of its water management strategy, the canal authority has tightened draft restrictions several times.
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At least 40 bodies found after a boat overloaded with passengers capsizes in Nigeria
Local officials and residents reported on Thursday that a?overloaded?boat capsized in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto State. Abdulkadir Yusuf is a manager at the National Inland Waterways Authority. He said that rescue efforts continue after the accident near Gorau, in Goronyo Local Government Area. Yusuf reported that around?40 bodies of children had been discovered. Nasiru Adamsu, a local lawmaker in the 'Sokoto State legislature, confirmed the death toll at 43. A local resident said that the boat was carrying farmers and workers hired to harvest rice. He estimated there were more than 70 people on board when it capsized. One resident reported that there were 57 passengers onboard. Mustapha Umar said that officials would be heading to the scene soon and will provide more information later. Overcrowding and poor maintenance, as well as a lack of enforcement of safety regulations, are all factors that contribute to deadly boat accidents in Nigeria. At least 25 people were killed in January when a leaking boat capsized on the coast of?Yobe State, north-east Nigeria.
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Exporters warn that delays could occur as Ivory Coast prepares for EU cocoa regulations
Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator claims the world’s largest cocoa producer, Ivory Coast, is ready for new EU anti-deforestation regulations. However exporters and buyers warn that a compliance system set to launch next month could disrupt bean sales and exports. Companies must prove that cocoa and other commodities are not associated with deforestation under the EU's anti-deforestation legislation, which comes into effect at the end December. Yves Brahima Kone, the head of the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), said that digital ID cards would be issued to farmers from September 1, 2026/27. The cards, which were introduced in 2019, are electronic wallets that track cocoa from the farms to the export ports. They also verify the origin of the cocoa and ensure farmers get the guaranteed price. "We are prepared to prove that our cacao is traceable and certified." Kone stated that the 'producer card' is now operational and meets the expectations of chocolate customers. He said that the cards would also allow more than 1 million small-scale farmers to access the banking system?for a first time. According to the'regulator,' Ivory Coast is home to between 1.2 and 1.3 million cocoa producers. INDUSTRY WARNS ABOUT DISRUPTIONS According to industry sources, the launch could cause bottlenecks when the new season starts. We spoke with nine buyers, seven suppliers and four cooperative managers. Sources said that farmers who do not have their cards or have lost them may be unable sell cocoa and this could slow down purchases. The sources also mentioned a shortage in?card terminals. Participants in the industry questioned whether the system could be effective in preventing illegally grown cocoa in protected areas to enter the supply chain, even if administrative problems are resolved. Ivory Coast estimates that cocoa produced in protected forest and national parks represents 15% of the national production. Exporters and European environmental groups estimate the figure at around 30%. Sources said that illegally produced cocoa could still be mixed with legal beans and shipped to Abidjan and San Pedro ports, in part because the output of each farmer can only be estimated and not precisely measured. "We know the benefits of this card, but there will be many problems and chaos during the season. The director of an European export company in Abidjan said that the new European regulation regarding deforestation is too complex to be implemented on the ground. There will be delays throughout the supply chain, including in the purchasing and exporting of goods. "That's unquestionable," said a senior executive of another European export company. Ange Aboa is the reporter. Anait Miridzhanian (Editing), Rob Corey-Boulet, Mark Potter and Anait Miridzhanian
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Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, says that fuel shortages in Namibia could affect flights to Europe
Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, said on Thursday that a temporary fuel shortage could affect its flights to Europe. The airline said that aircraft operating flights to Frankfurt and Munich out of Windhoek were being rerouted through Angola in order to refuel. A spokesperson for the Lufthansa Group said that there was a temporary and local shortage of?fuel at Windhoek International Airport. As reported in local Namibian media, Lufthansa has not responded to the question of whether its cargo freight is also affected by fuel shortages. Namibia Airports Company issued a statement stating that it was aware of fuel supply challenges for the Jet A-1 at the main aviation gateway in the country and that efforts were being made to minimize disruptions. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf, Additional Reporting by Sfundo parakozov, Writing by Nilutpal Timsina and Editing by Alexander Winning).
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Shein postpones IPO until September 1, according to sources
Shein plans to list its Hong Kong initial public offering on Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. Two other sources also said that Shein is aiming for a September 1 listing, which is slightly later than originally planned. One source said that while September 1 was the "target date", the listing might happen a few weeks later. Last week, it was reported that Shein had hoped to list her company on August 28. Investors' appetite for Shein has been dampened by the slowing growth and increasing costs, as first reported by South China Morning Post. Shein, the online fast fashion retailer, was once seen as a disruptor to established brands like H&M and Zara because of its ultra-low price and rapid supply chain. Shein's valuation is aiming for $26 billion to $27 billion according to a source who has a direct knowledge of the issue. This is a sharp drop from the $100 billion it was valued at in its private fundraising in 2022. Investor?meetings in advance of the IPO began with the company requesting an IPO valuation between $30 billion and $40 billion. Shein did not respond to an inquiry for comment. Reporting by Kane Wu, Helen Reid. Mark Potter and Mrigank Dhaniwala edited the report.
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Sources say India is considering low-cost loans to help renewable energy projects that have been affected by the power restrictions.
Four industry sources said that India may offer low-cost loans for'renewable energy producers' to compensate them for the losses they have suffered because of inadequate transmission infrastructure. According to official figures, the?transmission?network of this South Asian nation has been unable to keep up with the growth in renewable energy, especially solar. Solar represents 162 gigawatts or almost a third its total power generation capacity. Sources said that India's renewable power developers had lost around 45 billion rupees (470.21 million dollars) since February 2025 due to limited infrastructure. One source said that in some cases, up to 70% of power generated by renewable energy projects cannot be added to grid. Sources spoke under 'condition of anonymity' because they weren't authorised to speak publically?on this issue. A request for comment was not immediately responded to by the federal ministries of finance and?power. India, the third largest solar power producer in the world, has cut its output by 14% or 8,133 Gigawatt Hours between April and Juni. Sources said that the ministry of power was looking at low-interest loans with long terms of 7 to 8 years as compensation for producers. The government is reportedly discussing the plan with energy companies and determining which projects qualify for compensation. Sanjeev Aggarwal is the?founder and executive chairman of Hexa Climate which develops renewable project. He said that his company has experienced curbs, without providing details, and that it raises financial problems. He said that lenders need to have confidence in the future generation when they are calculating debt. If curbs are frequent, and not compensated for, this would result in higher costs of capital. The rating agency ICRA estimates that approximately a third of India's newly-commissioned 54.8 GW clean energy capacity is being evacuated via temporary transmission by May 2026.
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Minister: Indonesia denies involvement in the transshipment and trans-shipment of goods as claimed by a recent U.S. government report
Airlangga hartarto, Indonesia's senior economic minister, denied the recent U.S. claim that it was involved in a 'transshipment' of a goods. Here are some details: * Airlangga was referring to the report published by Washington which stated that the U.S. is losing between $19 and $26 billion annually in 'tariff revenue' due to 'goods, mostly originating from China, being transshipped via third countries including Indonesia to avoid U.S. Import duties. * "Indonesia, along with Brazil, Malaysia Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, has been accused of being a part of a global?transshipment -network. "We deny that these allegations are true," said the minister. * He added that it is "not true" if transshipment from another country?is used for processing here.
As the Middle East conflict escalates, airlines cancel more flights
The global air travel industry is still severely affected by the Iran war, which forced the closures of major Middle Eastern hubs such as?Dubai and Doha, leaving tens thousands of passengers stranded.
The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically.
AEGEAN AIRLINES
The largest airline in Greece has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Baghdad. Dubai flights are cancelled until the 28th of March and Riyadh flights until March 14th.
AIR BALTIC
AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, said that all flights from and to Tel Aviv have been cancelled until March 28. AirBaltic has cancelled all flights from and to Dubai until March 16.
AIR CANADA
The Canadian carrier has cancelled all flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai and all flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv, until May 2.
AIR EUROPA
All flights from Spain to Tel Aviv have been cancelled until March 20.
AIR FRANCE KLM
Air France has canceled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Dubai until March 15, and to Riyadh and Dubai until March 14.
KLM has suspended flights from Riyadh to Dammam until March 12 and Dubai flights until March 28. Flights to Tel Aviv have been suspended for the rest of winter.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Hong Kong Airlines has announced that it will cancel all flights from and to Dubai, and Riyadh up until the 31st of March.
The U.S. airline has cancelled flights between?New York and Tel Aviv from March 22 to March 23, as well as Tel Aviv-New York from March 22 to 23.
EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES
El?AL regular flights and Sundor scheduled flights have been cancelled until March 14th.
EMIRATES
The UAE airline announced that it would be operating a reduced flight schedule.
ETIHAD AERWAYS
The UAE carrier announced that it has resumed limited commercial flights between Abu Dhabi, and a few key destinations.
FINNAIR
The Finnish airline has cancelled Doha flights and Dubai flights up until March 29, and will avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran Syria and Israel. The airline will still send a flight to Muscat to take customers back home on March 10.
British Airways, owned by IAG, has cancelled all flights from Abu?Dhabi to Amman and Bahrain until the end of this year, and to Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Doha until the end of this month. BA will also fly BA customers out of Muscat between March 9-12.
Iberia Express, IAG's low cost airline, has cancelled all flights between Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv until March 10.
ITA AIRWAYS
ITA Airways has extended the cancellations of flights to Dubai until March 15 and suspended flights from Tel Aviv until 2 April.
JAPAN AIRLINES
Japan Airlines has suspended all flights between Tokyo and Doha scheduled to run from 28 February until 21 March, as well as Doha-Tokyo flights up to 22 March.
All flights between Tel Aviv, Dubai and Riyadh have been cancelled by the Polish airline until 28 March. LOT has also cancelled flights from Riyadh to March 16, and from?Beirut to April 30,
LUFTHANSA GROUP
Flights to Tel Aviv were suspended through April 2, and flights to Beirut until March 28. Flights from Tehran to Amman were suspended until April 30, and flights to Erbil, Dammam and Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Amman and Erbil to March 15.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES
Malaysian Airlines suspended all flights from Doha to March 13. The airline resumed its normal flights to and from Jeddah?and Madinah on March 8.
NORWEGIAN AIR
The airline plans to begin flying to Tel Aviv from June 15 instead of April 1, and to Beirut on April 4, as previously planned.
PEGASUS
Pegasus Airlines has cancelled all Iran flights and Riyadh flight until the end of March. Flights to Iraq, Amman Beirut Kuwait Bahrain Doha Dammam Dubai Abu Dhabi Sharjah and Amman are cancelled until 23 March.
QATAR AIRWAYS
The airline operates a limited flight schedule between Doha and other destinations. It plans to start operating some flights on March 9 following a temporary authorization from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.
SAUDIA AIRLINES
Saudia suspended Amman, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi flights until 10 March and?Moscow flights and Peshawar flights till 15 March. The airline has also started operating with a limited schedule in Dubai.
TURKISH AIRLINES
Turkish Transport Minister said that Turkish Airlines has removed Iran flights from its program until March 12. The Turkish transport minister said that Turkish Airlines had cancelled all flights to Iraq and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, until March 13.
WIZZ AIR
The low-cost carrier suspended flights from Europe to Israel and other destinations in the Middle East until September. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed; edited by Matt Scuffham, Milla Nissi, and Romolo tosiani)
(source: Reuters)