Qantas and Malaysia Airlines enter mutual codeshare pact
September 17, 2025
Qantas and Malaysia Airlines have announced a new two-way codeshare deal that will increase passenger connectivity between Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Under the deal Qantas will apply its code on Malaysia Airlines services from Australia to Kuala Lumpur, between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and on selected domestic flights within Malaysia. The Australian carrier adds that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore codeshare restored "connectivity between the cities for Qantas customers following the closure of Jetstar Asia". In turn, Malaysia Airlines will add its code on some Qantas domestic services to destinations including Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and Launceston. The codeshare is expected to commence from 26 October, subject to regulatory approvals. Malaysia Aviation Group managing director Izham Ismail says that the partnership is an important step forward in the development of its Australian market. “Australia has long been a core part of our network, and our recent investments – including the deployment of the A330neo, increase in flight frequencies, and the resumption of services to Brisbane – reflect our commitment to meeting growing demand while enhancing our premium offering in this market," he says. Both Qantas and Malaysia Airlines are Oneworld alliance members.
KLM expanding capacity 6% this winter
September 16, 2025
KLM will serve161 destinations this winter season and increase overall seat capacity 6% through increases on routes to India (+28%) and the Caribbean (+17%). The expanded network comprises 92 European and 69 intercontinental destinations, offering travellers around 25,000 different connection options via Amsterdam Schiphol. Two new destinations are being added: Kittila in Finnish Lapland, which will be served weekly; and Barbados, which rejoins the network and, combined with Georgetown in Guyana, will be served with three weekly flights. Several destinations introduced during the summer will now be available for the first time in winter. In Europe, this includes Exeter in the UK and Slovenian capital Ljubljana, both served daily from Amsterdam. Intercontinental additions include Hyderabad and the Barbados-Georgetown route. From late February, KLM will also begin direct flights to San Diego, operating three times per week. KLM is boosting frequencies to several high-demand destinations, including Delhi, Panama City, Bangkok, Curacao, Cape Town, Boston, Miami, Portland, San Francisco, Bengaluru, Aruba/Bonaire, Sao Paulo, Lima and San Jose. In Europe, KLM will extend its Ibiza service into November-December, with a brief pause before resuming in February and March. Additional flights will also be offered to southern European cities such as Naples and Athens, and to Bordeaux, Gothenburg, Poznan, Cork, Leeds and Vienna. KLM expects to take delivery of its 15th and final Boeing 787-10 this winter, alongside three new Airbus A321neos.
Delta and Aeromexico ordered to unwind joint venture by 1 January
September 16, 2025
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has directed Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to end their joint venture by January 1, 2026, due to actions taken by the Mexican government that affect competition on routes between the United States and Mexico. The department issued a final order on September 15 requiring the two airlines to discontinue their price and capacity setting collaboration by withdrawing antitrust immunity as of 1 January. According to the DOT: "This action is necessary because of ongoing anticompetitive effects in US-Mexico City markets that provide an advantage to Delta and Aeromexico as major competitors and create actual and potential impacts for stakeholders, including consumers." The agency further states that these effects influence competition beyond Mexico City, affecting passenger and cargo operations in additional markets between both countries. The DOT says that the Mexican government "continues along a path of market intervention and distortion that affects competition" in the market, citing measures such as prohibiting all cargo operations at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International airport, slot confiscation, and persisting with a "slot allocation regime that does not align with international standards and benefits Aeromexico," which it asserts violates the bilateral open skies agreement. Although the order requires the airlines to cease joint price and capacity setting, Delta will retain its 20% stake in Aeromexico. The DOT also mentioned that both carriers have "considerable flexibility to compete in the market and work together to maintain and enhance their joint offerings" without antitrust immunity. Cirium schedules data for September indicates that Delta and Aeromexico account for 8% and 12% of seats, respectively, across all services between the USA and Mexico, while jointly holding 46.5% of seat capacity on Mexico City routes. The DOT indicated that the decision may be revisited "if conditions improve," acknowledging ongoing discussions between the two governments but noting that time is needed to evaluate the Mexican government’s compliance with the US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement and for competitive conditions to improve. Following the order, Delta Air Lines stated that it is reviewing the order and considering its next steps. It confirmed that flights will continue to operate as usual.