Offering Travellers More Direct Flight Options to Australia

HONG KONG, June 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hong Kong Airlines’ inaugural flight between Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia, departed yesterday, making it the second local airline to operate this route and providing greater travel options for business, leisure, and transit passengers.

To mark this new milestone in its network expansion, Hong Kong Airlines held celebratory events at both Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Sydney Airport (SYD).

Prior to departure, a launch ceremony was held at the boarding gate of the HKIA. The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Mr Jeff Sun, President of Hong Kong Airlines; Mr Ian McGraw from the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong; Ms Carmen Tam and Ms Vivien Yuen from Tourism Australia; Ms Jennifer Tung from Destination New South Wales; and Mr Ricky Chong from Airport Authority Hong Kong. The guests interacted with passengers and presented them with bespoke souvenirs to commemorate the historic occasion.

During the event, Hong Kong Airlines President Mr Jeff Sun stated: “As a full-service local carrier, the launch of our Sydney service marks a significant step in our transformation to an international airline. Sydney is not only a popular destination for leisure and business travel but also one of Australia’s most vital economic hubs. The expansion of the bilateral traffic rights agreement allows us to offer more choice to travellers in both cities, strengthening the connection between them.”

He added, “While Hong Kong Airlines may be a younger brand in the mature Australian market, we are endeavouring in our commitment to providing quality service. We operate this route with our Airbus A330 aircraft, featuring comfortable business and economy class cabins, and strive to deliver a passenger-centric in-flight experience through attentive service and fine dining for our long-haul customers.”

Sydney Airport CEO Mr Scott Charlton said: “We’re proud to welcome Hong Kong Airlines to Sydney as our 52nd airline partner with its strong reputation for service excellence, efficiency and value. This inaugural service comes on the back of the first expansion in bilateral air traffic rights between Australia and Hong Kong in 19 years and we thank the Albanese Federal Government for its role in enabling this important agreement, which reflects the strength of our longstanding cultural and economic ties.” 

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, said: “Hong Kong is a priority international market for NSW, with incoming travellers contributing substantially to the NSW visitor economy. The Minns Labor Government has made it very clear; we want to grow our visitor economy and the best way to do this is by increasing airline capacity and unlocking new international markets for NSW. We’ve set our sights on increasing the state’s aviation capacity by 8.5 million seats, and this new Hong Kong route will complement other new routes we’re securing as we work towards landing this goal.”

Mr Wang Yu, Consul General of People’s Republic of China (Sydney), said: “As the second Hong Kong-based airline to operate the Hong Kong–Sydney route, Hong Kong Airlines not only provides a convenient new option for traveling between China and Australia, but also contributes to enhanced exchanges among students, tourists, business professionals and friends from all walks of life. This new service will strengthen Hong Kong and Sydney’s role as vital gateways for the flow of people and goods, injecting fresh momentum into the economic and cultural ties between China and Australia. Its launch will also attract more international travelers to transit through Hong Kong or Sydney, further strengthening both cities’ positions as global aviation hubs and creating new opportunities for trade and investment.

Looking ahead, the Consulate-General of China in Sydney will continue to encourage and support airlines from both China and Australia in restoring or launching new routes based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. We believe that Hong Kong Airlines will continuously enhance its service quality and showcase a good corporate image.”

Also in attendance at the Sydney welcome ceremony were representatives from the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney, Destination NSW and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Sydney).

Exclusive Lounge Access for Connecting Passengers

To celebrate the launch of the new service, passengers travelling on this route and transit at Hong Kong for selected Hong Kong Airlines flights* to Vancouver, Bali, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Shanghai (Pudong), Haikou, or Sanya, between 20 June and 31 October 2025, will receive complimentary access to the airline’s flagship lounge “Club Autus” at Hong Kong International Airport.

*Please click here for the relevant terms and conditions.

Expanding Route Network

The launch of the Sydney service indicates Hong Kong Airlines’ overarching strategy for its network expansion. Coupled with the various significant destinations that have been inaugurated or reinstated since the start of the year, including Gold Coast in Australia, Vancouver in Canada, and Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia of mainland China, the airline has cultivated a more extensive and diversified route map. This further underscores Hong Kong Airlines’ commitment and contribution to the aviation industry’s recovery and long-term development. 

In addition to the new routes, the Company also increased the frequency of services on multiple routes to cater to the summer travel demand. This includes the resumption of seasonal flights to the Maldives and an increase in flights to Da Nang to two per day. Additionally, flights to Shanghai Pudong will be increased to four per day, while services to Hangzhou and Nanjing will become twice day. The variety of flight times available throughout the day provides business, leisure, and transit passengers with the flexibility to plan their itineraries.

The Company will launch another new service in July, providing passengers with more travel options. 

Hong Kong Airlines flight schedule* between Hong Kong and Sydney is as follows (All times local): 

* Flight number and schedule may change without prior notice

MONTRÉAL, June 23, 2025 /CNW/ – Air Canada (TSX: AC) today announced the preliminary results of the now expired substantial issuer bid (the “Offer“) to purchase for cancellation up to $500 million of its Class A Variable Voting Shares and Class B Voting Shares (collectively, the “Shares“) at a purchase price of not less than $18.50 and not more than $21.00 per Share.

Air Canada expects to take up and pay for 26,595,744 Shares at a price of $18.80 per Share under the Offer, representing an aggregate purchase price of about $500,000,000 and about 8.24% of the total number of Air Canada’s issued and outstanding Shares as of June 20, 2025 and before giving effect to the Offer.

In response to the Offer, 26,823,988 Shares were validly deposited and not withdrawn pursuant to auction tenders at or below the purchase price and purchase price tenders. Since the Offer was oversubscribed, shareholders who made auction tenders at or below the purchase price and purchase price tenders will have the number of Shares purchased prorated following the determination of the final results of the Offer (other than “odd lot” tenders, which are not subject to proration). Air Canada currently expects that shareholders who made auction tenders at or below the purchase price and purchase price tenders will have about 99.14% of their validly deposited Shares purchased by Air Canada.

After giving effect to the Offer and based on the number of issued and outstanding Shares on June 20, 2025, Air Canada expects to have 296,131,236 Shares issued and outstanding.

Further information

The number of Shares validly deposited and not withdrawn, the number of Shares to be purchased, the proration factor and the purchase price referred to above are preliminary and remain subject to verification by TSX Trust Company (the “Depositary“), as depositary for the Offer. Upon take up and payment of the Shares purchased, Air Canada will release the final results, including the estimated paid-up capital per Share and “specified amount” (each for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) and the final proration factor.

The full details of the Offer are described in the offer to purchase and issuer bid circular dated May 16, 2025, as well as the related letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery, copies of which were filed and are available under Air Canada’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Air Canada’s Shares. All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars.

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Paris Air Show, 18 June 2025 – ATR, the world’s leading manufacturer of regional aircraft is proud to announce that JSX intends to begin ATR operations in late 2025. The Texas-based, award-winning public charter air carrier will lease two ATR 42-600s to expand its hop-on service, reaching more private terminals, Fixed Base Operators, and underserved airports across the United States. The ATR operations will be supported by a comprehensive ATR Global Maintenance Agreement to maximise aircraft availability and reliability.

Committed to offering safe, seamless transportation for all, JSX will offer its customers a premium configuration that is part of the ATR HighLine cabin collection, featuring a spacious interior with plans to certify and install Starlink high-speed internet connectivity. The aircraft will be fit with 30 premium seats, offering business class legroom, complementary cocktails and gourmet snacks inflight.

This announcement charts future growth for both JSX and ATR, with a Letter of Intent for 15+10 new ATR HighLine-equipped aircraft – either ATR 42-600s with 30 premium seats or All-Business Class ATR 72-600s with 30 seats. This partnership marks ATR’s entry into the United States’ robust public charter market, opening pathways to new route opportunities with industry-leading airfield performance, quieter propulsion, and lower, more efficient operating costs.

“The ATR -600 series will bring over 1,000 new airports into reach for JSX, expanding access to reliable public charter flights across the great United States. Many of these airports were, until now, reserved only for those who had the means to fly private,” says Alex Wilcox, JSX Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident that our Customers will love the ATR product, not just for the variety of new routes it allows JSX to operate, but also for its quiet cabin and comfortable seating. When paired with our award-winning JSX hospitality, the addition of the ATR marks an innovative step forward in our company’s unyielding mission to increase the safety, speed, and convenience of air travel that moves our country forward.”

Nathalie Tarnaud-Laude, Chief Executive Officer at ATR, added: “We are delighted to welcome JSX as a new ATR operator and to see our aircraft entering a dynamic new market segment in the United States. JSX’s unique model, blending the exclusivity of private aircraft-style travel with the efficiency of regional aviation, is a perfect match for our ATR HighLine cabin collection. This partnership underscores the growing demand for low-emission, high-end air travel, powered by the unmatched performance of turboprop technology. We look forward to supporting JSX’s vision and further reinforcing ATR as the leading choice for regional aviation in the U.S.”

Tallinn. On June 18, 2025, the Latvian airline airBaltic launched direct flights between Tallinn (Estonia) and Reykjavik (Iceland). This new route marks airBaltic’s second connection to Iceland, complementing the long-standing flights to the airline’s home base in Riga (Latvia). During this summer season from late March to late October, airBaltic will operate 22 direct routes from the Estonian capital to various destinations across Europe and beyond.

Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic: “Tallinn is one of airBaltic’s home bases, and we are committed to expanding connectivity for Estonia, offering more convenient travel options for our passengers, and continuing to grow our market share in the country. This new service will support both leisure and business travel, while also contributing to inbound tourism of Estonia and the wider Baltic region.”

The new flights last approximately three and a half hours and are operated twice weekly. Departures from Tallinn to Reykjavik are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while return flights from Reykjavik to Tallinn take place on Thursdays and Sundays. This seasonal service will run until end of August.

airBaltic will operate flights on this route with Airbus A220-300 aircraft, offering both Economy and Business Class. The airline offers free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet, making it the first European airline to provide this service.

The airBaltic fleet, one of the youngest in Europe, consists of a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300. The airline currently operates 50 of such aircraft and aims to double in size. The aircraft offers an excellent flying experience, with benefits for passengers such as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin and improved lavatories, as well as better overall performance.

Recently, airBaltic announced plans to expand its network with three new destinations for the upcoming winter season from late October 2025 to late March 2026, adding new routes from Riga (Latvia) to Faro (Portugal), from Tallinn to Madeira (Portugal), and from Gran Canaria (Spain) to Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Additionally, the airline will expand its operations in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) by significantly increasing flight frequencies from Riga to daily service, and doubling capacity from Vilnius (Lithuania) with four weekly flights between the two cities. airBaltic also plans to enhance connectivity to Amsterdam (the Netherlands) from all three Baltic capitals – offering 19 weekly flights from Riga and 14 weekly flights from Tallinn and Vilnius each.

airBaltic operates nearly 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline’s route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company’s homepage at www.airbaltic.com.

Scandinavian Airlines has reached a new milestone in passenger numbers: on four separate days so far in 2025, more than 100,000 travelers flew with SAS — the highest daily volume since November 2019. 

That’s over 100,000 people choosing SAS. In one day. Four times. 

With the best on-time performance in the world*, SAS continues to welcome more travelers back on board — whether for business, reunions, or long-awaited holidays. 

“This milestone is more than numbers — it shows that passengers value reliability, service, and our commitment to leading the transformation of our industry to reduce its climate impact,” says Erik Westman, Chief Revenue Officer at SAS. “We’re proud to be part of our passengers’ journeys, and as we head into a busy summer season, we continue to invest in the future of aviation — with modern aircraft, smarter operations, and a clear focus on sustainability and efficiency.” 

The strong demand reflects a wider recovery in travel across Scandinavia and beyond, with SAS expanding its capacity to meet growing interest in both regional and international destinations. Popular routes include Barcelona and Athens, and SAS’ EuroBonus loyalty program continues to see increasing engagement.

Save up to 10% on Europe – Seoul Routes – Book by June 30

SEOUL, South Korea, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — T’way Air, Korea’s leading low-cost carrier, has launched its “This is KOREA moment” promotion on its official website. Valid through June 30, the offer applies to all five of the airline’s Europe – Incheon (Seoul) routes — Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt, and Zagreb— for travel through March 28, 2026.

Gateway to Seoul: Fly Direct from Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt, and Zagreb
Gateway to Seoul: Fly Direct from Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt, and Zagreb
During summer 2025, T’way Air operates daily Rome–Incheon and Frankfurt–Incheon flights; Paris–Incheon service runs five times weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun); Barcelona–Incheon flies four times weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat); and Zagreb–Incheon departs three times weekly (Tue, Thu, Sat). All flights include two complimentary meals in both Business and Economy classes. T’way Air operates its Europe routes using A330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

While in Seoul, witness the guard-changing ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace in traditional hanbok, browse skincare boutiques and street food stalls in bustling Myeongdong, and learn about Korean history on a DMZ tour. Explore Korea’s vibrant energy and charm beyond the capital, from Busan’s dynamic port to Jeju’s scenic island.

For full flight schedules, voucher terms, and booking details, visit twayair.com. T’way Air currently serves 50 destinations worldwide and continues to expand its network.