Air briefs : EgyptAir, French bee, JetBlue, BBN Airlines Indonesia, La Compagnie, TSA, Finnair, etc.

The geopolitical instability that has hit the Middle East since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran is derailing the economic model of international air transport, driven by an 84% explosion in jet fuel prices. Now set at around $1,286 per tonne – compared to $700 ahead of hostilities – this increase in fuel prices generates a surcharge of $3,200 per flight hour for long-haul fleets like the Airbus A330, A350 and Boeing 787, whose hourly consumption reaches 5.5 tonnes. Faced with this brutal oil shock, airline management staffs are faced with an almost insoluble pricing equation: if a mechanical repercussion would require an increase in tickets of around 30%, the fear of discouraging customers and collapsing the occupancy factor is forcing the flags to contain their price scales while cutting into their operational capacities through the pure and simple cancellation of frequencies.

Travelers could soon benefit from a direct connection between Singapore and Egypt. Last Thursday, September 10, EgyptAir, Changi Airport Group and Sydney Airport announced a project for a new air link linking Cairo, Singapore and Sydney from the beginning of 2027. This would be the first direct link to North Africa for Singapore and Australia.
EgyptAir said the proposed service, which is subject to regulatory approvals, would be operated using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft as part of its plans to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific market. Egypt was the largest African market without a direct air connection to Singapore and Australia in 2025, based on the number of people traveling between these destinations.
Apart from providing an additional travel option, this service is also expected to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Egypt, Singapore and Australia.
Currently, travelers flying from Singapore to Egypt generally have to make at least one stopover, for example in Bahrain with Gulf Air, in Dubai with Emirates or in Doha with Qatar Airways.

Affirming its ambitions for expansion in the low-cost long-haul market, the airline French bee is preparing a major offensive for the winter season running from October 24, 2026 to March 27, 2027 from its Paris-Orly base. The French carrier is strengthening its flagship lines by bringing the island of Reunion at a sustained pace of up to 14 weekly frequencies, while strengthening its offer to the Americas – with a marked increase towards New York-Newark reaching 7 flights per week (+5,000 seats), supplemented by regular connections to Montreal (up to 4 flights per week), Miami, San Francisco and Papeete (3 flights per week each). The great novelty of this program, however, lies in the opening of two new sunny stops in the heart of the Indian Ocean from December 19, 2026: the Maldives archipelago (Malé) will be served up to twice a week from €649, while Sri Lanka (Colombo) will benefit from 3 weekly rotations from €599 extended until May 1, 2027, thus reaching a new strategic milestone in the accessibility of exceptional destinations at competitive prices.

Korean Air will launch flights equipped with Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi service on September 15, the airline announced. This service will be provided by four recently modernized wide-body aircraft: three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER. Korean Air will deploy these aircraft on medium and long-haul routes across the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as on key short-haul flights, according to the company. Korean Air plans to gradually roll out Starlink connectivity across its entire in-service fleet by the end of 2027.

Following the success of BlueHouse™ JFK, JetBlue is opening its second BlueHouse™ lounge at Boston Logan International Airport, a premium space inspired by the spirit of Boston and New England. Space to relax: a 1,100 m² lounge dedicated to leisure, work, dining and relaxation, including a central bar and dining rooms, all highlighted by a design inspired by Boston and New England.

BBN Airlines Indonesia has joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), becoming a global association representing more than 370 airlines in more than 120 countries. Together, IATA members represent approximately 85% of global air traffic.

United airlines launches a new service allowing its passengers to save time: they can now order meals, drinks and