The European Union and Qatar have signed a comprehensive air transport agreement, upgrading rules and standards for flights between Qatar and the EU. The agreement sets a new global benchmark by committing both sides to fair competition, and by including social and environmental protection, the European Commission says in an 18 October release. Under the agreement, all EU airlines will be able to operate direct flights from any airport in the EU to Qatar and vice versa for Qatari airlines. EU airports in Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands will be subject to a gradual build-up of capacity until 2024. Moreover, the parties recognised the importance of social matters, agreed to cooperate on these and to improve their respective social and labour laws and policies as per their international commitments. The agreement will provide a single set of rules, high standards and a platform for future cooperation on a wide range of aviation issues, it says. Commissioner for mobility and transport, Adina Valean states: "This agreement, the first one between the EU and the Gulf region, is a global benchmark for forward-looking aviation agreements. It is testimony to our shared commitment to economically, socially and environmentally sustainable aviation, based on a modern framework covering fair competition and closer cooperation on social and environmental matters. “This agreement will bring new opportunities, more choice and higher standards for passengers, industry and aviation workers."

Flair Airlines plans to acquire four Boeing 737 Max aircraft by May 2022, growing its fleet to a total of 16, 737-family aircraft and enabling it to expand its network with 14 new routes in the USA and Canada by the second quarter. The ultra-low-cost carrier headquartered in Edmonton says deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled to start in April. Two of the Max jets will be added to Flair's Toronto base, with one to be added at its Edmonton base and another to its Vancouver base. This will bring its tally of aircraft to five at Toronto, two at Edmonton and three at Vancouver. The airline plans to use these new aircraft to add four destinations to its network, including Comox in Canada, and San Francisco, Nashville and Denver in the USA. Adding these new routes will grow Flair's network to a total of 28 destinations by May. Flair is scheduled to add Comox to its network starting 29 March, with flights thrice weekly to Edmonton and Calgary. Routes from Nashville to Toronto and Edmonton are scheduled to operate twice weekly starting on 14 April. Flights between Denver and Toronto are scheduled to begin thrice weekly on 15 April. The carrier has scheduled twice-weekly flights starting 14 April between San Francisco and Edmonton, and thrice-weekly between San Francisco and Vancouver starting on 17 May. Flair also plans to add new routes between its existing destinations in Canada. These include routes from its Edmonton hub to Regina, Montreal, Saskatoon and Winnipeg launching in April. During May, the airline will begin new routes from Toronto to Victoria; from Kelowna to Vancouver; and from Kelowna to Victoria. Flair during October will also begin service to six US destinations to complement the existing 18 destinations on its network in Canada.

Australia's Regional Express is planning to recommence domestic services between Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra from 15 November, as Australia eases pandemic-related restrictions and vaccination rates continue to climb. The airline also plans to resume domestic services to South Australia and Queensland once the vaccination rates in these states reach the 80% level, the operator says in a statement today. Regional intrastate services in New South Wales and Victoria will also be progressively ramped up from the same date, it says. Australia announced on 1 October it will gradually reopen the international border from November, starting with citizens and permanent residents. Melbourne, dubbed the world's most locked down city, is reaching Australia's 70% vaccination target and officials announced on 17 October there will be a significant easing of restrictions from 22 October.