Airline news briefs : Delta Air Lines, Tap Air Portugal, Wizz Air, South African Airways, Vueling, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, etc.

China has canceled all scheduled flights on 49 routes to and from Japan, while the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its travel warnings, urging citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, especially during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday. Data released by the Chinese travel platform FlightMaster showed that flight cancellation rates between mainland China and Japan reached 47.2% this January, a 7.8 percentage point increase compared to December 2025.

Passengers transiting through London Heathrow Airport will no longer have to remove liquids and laptops from security checkpoints. Heathrow announced it has completed the rollout of its new CT scanners across all terminals, meaning passengers can now leave liquids in containers with a maximum capacity of two liters in their carry-on luggage. The installation of new scanners ends the 100ml limit on liquids in carry-on baggage at Heathrow Airport, imposed since 2006 for security reasons. During this period, passengers were also required to place their liquid containers in small plastic bags when going through security.

Delta Air Lines will add 31 new-generation Airbus aircraft to its fleet, an investment that will fuel international growth and accelerate fleet renewal in the coming years. Delta’s fleet is undergoing significant renewal and expansion to support its international and premium growth strategy for the next decade and beyond. The new Airbus aircraft will add more premium capacity to international medium- and long-haul markets while improving fuel efficiency and margins.

From July 1, 2026, TAP Air Portugal will connect Lisbon and Athens with five weekly flights, providing a direct and comfortable connection between the two capital cities. During the summer season, flights will be operated with Airbus A320neo aircraft, and then with Embraer E190 aircraft during the IATA winter season, ensuring travel options suitable for all times of the year. Departing from Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, flights will take off at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos Airport at 3:40 a.m. the following day. In the opposite direction, departures from Athens will be at 4:40 a.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving in Lisbon at 7:15 a.m. (local time).

Wizz Air surprised many observers by requesting permission to operate charter flights to the East Coast of the United States. This permit, which is expected to be granted, would eventually allow Wizz Air to also operate scheduled flights, although Wizz Air maintains that this is not its current intention. Wizz Air has acquired 21 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, whose range allows it to easily serve the East Coast of the United States and even the central part of the country. The airline had previously indicated that it did not wish to establish itself in this market due to the strong competition on the Europe-US route. The application was submitted by Wizz Air UK, the British subsidiary of the low-cost carrier, whose base of operations is in Luton but which also has aircraft at Gatwick. The response from the US authorities is expected no later than February 13.

Vueling announces the opening of a new direct route between Nice and Seville as part of its summer schedule. From June 2 to October 24, 2026, the airline will offer three flights per week.

South African Airways (SAA) and CemAir have just announced a codeshare partnership that will revolutionize domestic air travel in South Africa. This collaboration strengthens connectivity between major cities and niche destinations not previously served by the South African Airways network. Unlike SAA’s other codeshare agreements, which focus on regional or international routes, this partnership is exclusively domestic and aims to improve accessibility and comfort for travelers across South Africa. The two airlines will place their respective codes on each other’s flights, allowing customers to book integrated itineraries through official websites, mobile apps, and authorized travel agencies.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) confirmed yesterday the formalization of their strategic partnership, having obtained approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in January 2026 and from the Commission of