Airline news briefs : Corsair, Tap Air Portugal, Delta Air Lines, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, SAS, etc.

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Group have each submitted non-binding offers for a minority stake in the European airline TAP Air Portugal, the companies confirmed. International Airlines Group had expressed interest in acquiring a stake last November but ultimately decided to withdraw from the bidding process. The Portuguese government, which owns TAP, relaunched its plan to privatize part of the airline in 2025 and is offering up to 49.9% of the capital, with 44.9% for an investor and 5% reserved for employees. Air France-KLM submitted its bid on April 2, the deadline for submissions. “We appreciate what TAP has built over the past 81 years: a solid hub in Lisbon, a strong brand, and a unique value proposition that ensures connectivity and pride for millions of Portuguese people,” said Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group, in a statement.
If successful, Air France-KLM would make Lisbon its hub for Southern Europe, “offering extensive connectivity, particularly to the Americas – including Brazil, a key market for both TAP and Air France-KLM – as well as to Africa,” according to the company. Air France-KLM also mentioned its joint venture with Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.

Corsair is significantly strengthening its service to the Caribbean, with high frequencies to its two main destinations. For summer 2026, Corsair operates up to 13 flights per week to Pointe-à-Pitre and up to 11 to Fort-de-France. The airline also offers two direct routes from other French cities until April 26, 2026:
1 flight per week from Bordeaux to Fort-de-France
1 flight per week from Nantes to Pointe-à-Pitre
Thanks to its partnership with Air Inter Iles by St Barth Executive, Corsair also allows its customers to easily reach the islands of Saint Barthélemy and Marie-Galante from Pointe-à-Pitre via fast, personalized air transfers that can be booked end-to-end.

Virgin Atlantic launched a route between London Heathrow and Seoul on March 29. This new route was made possible by the reallocation of slots at Heathrow following the merger of Korean Air and Asiana. Virgin also confirmed the discontinuation of its service between Heathrow and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), initially scheduled for April 2025, due to « the evolving situation in the Middle East. »

Air France inaugurated twice-daily service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and London-Gatwick airports on March 29. The flights are operated with Airbus A220 aircraft. This is the first time Air France has served Gatwick since 1996.

SAS inaugurated daily flights between Copenhagen and Istanbul on March 27. These flights are operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft configured with 180 seats.

JetBlue will launch daily service between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Cleveland on July 8, the airline announced. JetBlue also announced increased frequencies starting July 9 for nine other routes from Fort Lauderdale, including flights to Atlanta, Newark, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia.

Air India has launched a new route between Delhi and Rome. This direct service will operate four times a week, and Rome is Air India’s eighth gateway to continental Europe and its second destination in Italy, after Milan.

Delta Air Lines has extended the suspension of its New York JFK-Tel Aviv and Atlanta-Tel Aviv flights until September 5, and the Boston-Tel Aviv route is postponed until further notice. Delta had originally planned to launch the Boston-Tel Aviv route this October.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson will step down as soon as his successor is appointed, the airline announced last Tuesday. He has led the company since June 2022. The airline stated that Wilson had informed Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran of his intention to retire in 2026 in 2024, and that the board has established a committee to find a successor in the coming months. During Wilson’s tenure, Air India agreed to purchase 250 aircraft from Boeing and 350 aircraft from Airbus.

Wilson’s departure comes amid recent financial losses for the airline—approximately $1 billion between 2024 and 2025.

Following the lead of JetBlue and United Airlines, which have decided to increase checked baggage fees, Delta Air Lines will do the same for tickets on domestic flights and some international flights.