Sky information: Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Airbaltic, Transavia France, ASL Airlines, Air China, Maldivian, etc.

Air China resumed direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday (March 30) after a six-year hiatus, another sign that isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of rail services between the two capitals. China has played a vital role in North Korea’s ailing economy, serving as its main trading partner and a significant source of diplomatic and political support.

Malaysia Airlines is celebrating the first anniversary of its direct service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). This first year illustrates the strength of ties between France and Malaysia, while also solidifying Kuala Lumpur’s role as a major hub to Asia and beyond. Since the flight resumed on March 25, 2025, Malaysia Airlines has carried more than 156,000 passengers, with an average load factor exceeding 86%. The route saw sustained demand from both leisure and business travelers between France and Malaysia, as well as connecting passengers to other flights across the airline’s network.

In the US, the House of Representatives rejected the Senate bill, passed Friday during a rare late-night session, that would have provided sufficient funding for the Department of Homeland Security to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. The Senate bill largely echoed a Democratic proposal that still excluded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). House Republicans remained steadfast and refused to support the bill, knowing that even if they drafted their own version to send back to the Senate, it would already be in recess. True to his promise Thursday evening, President Donald Trump ordered the new Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to release funds to pay TSA agents. If these payments begin arriving on Monday, as the administration announced, the TSA will have worked at least 44 days without being paid.

Maldivian Airlines, the national carrier of the Maldives, celebrated 18 years of service to India with a special commemorative event, marking its long-standing commitment to one of its most strategic markets. For nearly two decades, flights to India have been a vital pillar of Maldivian’s regional connectivity and growth. The airline currently offers five weekly flights to Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, launched scheduled flights to North Carolina. Its inaugural flight, operated by the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) earlier this month. This new service connects the Charlotte region and communities in North Carolina and the Southeastern United States to Etihad’s global network, facilitating passenger and cargo transport and providing access to key destinations in India and Asia.

Qatar Airways has released its updated flight schedule, reflecting the gradual increase in flights to and from Doha. This update, valid until April 15, 2026, offers additional frequencies to more than 90 destinations across Qatar Airways’ global network. All flights to and from Doha continue to use dedicated air corridors established in close collaboration with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.

Latvian airline airBaltic has partnered with InterLnkd to integrate AirMall into its Skynet in-flight Wi-Fi portal, becoming the first Starlink-connected airline to offer its passengers a dynamic, global in-flight shopping experience. InterLnkd’s AirMall transforms the airline’s Wi-Fi portal into a personalized online shopping platform, accessible directly on passengers’ devices. Travelers can thus access more than 20,000 brands on board, without any inventory or crew intervention.

Transavia France inaugurated its three new domestic routes connecting Paris-Orly to Nice, Marseille, and Toulouse on Sunday, March 29. Events were held at the boarding gates of Paris-Orly, Nice Côte d’Azur, Toulouse-Blagnac, and Marseille-Provence airports to celebrate the launch of these new routes with the first passengers. On its first day of operation, the airline operated 28 flights between these destinations, marking the full launch of its service.

ASL Airlines France renewed its humanitarian commitment to Mauritania this year. The airline has taken action.