Airfreight Insider Daily Briefing – September 11, 2025
Good morning, logistics professionals! Here is your concise overview of today’s key aviation and airfreight industry developments.
Westjet Launches Major Training Hub as Air Canada Adds New Transatlantic Route to Mallorca
Westjet and aerospace training provider CAE have signed a 15-year agreement to build the Alberta Training Centre of Excellence in Calgary. This state-of-the-art training facility aims to upscale workforce skills in aviation and aerospace, supporting future operational needs in the growing Canadian market.
Meanwhile, Air Canada has launched a second transatlantic route to Mallorca using the Airbus A321 XLR, capitalizing on rising North American demand for the Balearic Islands. This move intensifies competition with Lufthansa on routes to the popular summer destination, highlighting the growing importance of leisure travel from the Americas to Europe.
Iberia and JetBlue Expand Networks – Iberia Adds New Winter Routes, JetBlue Boosts Caribbean Presence
Iberia has unveiled an expanded winter 2025/26 schedule, adding new long-haul destinations including Orlando and bolstering connections across North and Latin America and traditional European winter sport spots. This expansion reflects Iberia’s continued efforts to diversify and stimulate demand during the off-peak season.
JetBlue is increasing frequencies to Aruba and Sint Maarten from its Fort Lauderdale hub, enhancing connectivity to the Caribbean for the upcoming winter season. The U.S. carrier’s focus on leisure markets aligns with broader growth trends in regional air travel.
Edelweiss Takes Over Airbus A320 Neo Aircraft from Austrian Airlines for Growth and Fleet Renewal
Edelweiss will acquire five Airbus A320 Neo jets from Austrian Airlines by 2028. Three will replace older aircraft while two support capacity growth, expanding Edelweiss’s short-haul fleet to 18 modern aircraft. This intra-group fleet rationalization within Lufthansa Group optimizes resource deployment across sister airlines.
Ryanair Strengthens Leadership and Flags Ukraine War as Ongoing Industry Challenge
Ryanair appoints Capt. Ray Conway as new Chief Safety Director starting October 1. Conway’s extensive experience with Ryanair and the wider industry will steer the airline’s safety strategy forward.
At the same time, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary highlighted the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a persistent concern for European airlines, impacting operational and financial planning for years to come.
Technological and Service Innovations from KLM and “FlyVini” On-Demand Flights in Germany
KLM now offers passengers the option “Change & Fly” to modify previously non-changeable Basic and Light Economy tickets for a fee via its own booking channels, offering more flexibility amid volatile travel conditions.
In Germany, start-up FlyVini began its first week of AI-powered on-demand regional flights, resembling a “car-pooling” model for air travel between underserved regional airports. This novel concept may become a blueprint for flexible, passenger-centric regional air mobility.
Russian Aurora Airlines and Schiphol Airport Push Sustainability and Fleet Expansion
Russian regional airline Aurora has signed an agreement with leasing company GTLK to acquire three Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprops starting in 2027, at discounted lease rates, to modernize its regional fleet with domestically produced aircraft.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is piloting hydrogen-powered ground support vehicles this month to tow aircraft and maintain runways, marking a further step toward sustainable airport operations.
Airport Updates: Record Passenger Numbers in Vienna and Zurich, Slight Slowdown for German Hotels
Vienna Airport recorded a historic 3.4 million passengers in August, the busiest month ever in its history, a 2.3% increase year-on-year.
Similarly, Zurich Airport continues its strong recovery with record passenger volumes in August, on track to surpass the 2019 pre-pandemic benchmark.
In contrast, German hotels saw a 1.2% decline in overnight stays for July 2025 compared to last year, signaling a possible softening in outbound or domestic tourism demand.
Operational Disruptions and In-Flight Service Changes
A general strike in Cyprus seriously disrupted operations at Larnaca and Paphos airports, impacting roughly 50 flights and 15,000 passengers, as unions demand wage increases amid rising inflation.
Switzerland’s Swiss Airlines is replacing its well-known Lindor chocolates in Business and Premium Economy classes with pralines from local Lucerne confectioner Aeschbach as part of a product refresh.
That wraps up your briefing for today. Stay tuned for our YouTube video covering these trends in more depth!
— The Airfreight Insider Editorial Team