IATA is urging Thailand to strengthen investment in infrastructure, increase digitalisation and focus on sustainability as it predicts the country will experience annual passenger growth at a compound growth rate of nearly 4% out to 2043. The prediction of 3.88% annual growth over the next two decades was released as IATA opened its World Passenger Symposium in Bangkok. "Already demand has reached 88% of 2019 levels and we can expect the start of real growth from 2025. With world-class tourism assets and a growing regional business sector, Thailand is well positioned to become a top 15 global market for aviation in the next two decades," says IATAs regional vice-president for North Asia and Asia-Pacific, Xie Xingquan. To realise that growth, however, IATA states that upgrading and expanding Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport will be critical, as well as other airport upgrades around the country. "A revised masterplan for Thailand's airport capacity is critical to delivering the economic benefits of aviation. This effort can be maximised with customer input. Consultation with airlines will ensure alignment with market developments for the timely delivery of functional and cost-effective infrastructure," adds Xie. He further notes that while the government explores policies to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, it needs to keep in mind that airlines can only purchase SAF if it is available on the market. "There needs to be sufficient SAF supply before any mandate is introduced, with flexibility across the entire mandate period. Airlines must not be penalised if national targets for production are not met." Thailand's energy ministry is working on a draft national oil plan which is expected to cement an aim for 8% of jet fuel needs to be replaced by SAF by 2036. The country's first SAF plant which will rely on used cooking oil as a feedstock, is set to open in the first quarter of 2025.

TAAG Angola Airlines announced it will begin transferring flights from Quatro de Fevereiro International airport to the new Dr Antonio Agostinho Neto International airport (AIAAN) starting 10 November. The carrier says the transition will begin with the Luanda-Cabinda route, operating four daily flights using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. Additional domestic routes to Dundo, Saurimo, Luena, and Soyo will transfer in December 2024, with remaining domestic and international flights moving by the first quarter of 2025.

The Canadian Transportation Agency has lifted restrictions on flights operated by Chinese airlines to the country. On 24 October, the transport agency rescinded a February 2022 order under which Chinese airlines could only operate six round trips between the two countries. The order also prohibited carriers from operating nonstop flights between Canada and Beijing. As of October, Sichuan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and China Eastern Airlines operate one flight per week, respectively, to Vancouver, while Air Canada operates four flights per week between Shanghai and Vancouver. Separately, Air Canada plans to increase flights from Vancouver to Shanghai to seven flights per week starting 7 December and resume daily flights from Vancouver to Beijing from 15 January, reports CAAC News, adding that Chinese airlines are also accelerating the application of additional flights. In October 2019, Air Canada and Chinese carriers operated more than 100 flights a week between the countries. Meanwhile, flight restrictions between the US and China remain capped at 50 roundtrips per week.