In an exciting development for Filipino travelers and global tourists alike, low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to launch a new flight route connecting Manila to Istanbul, Turkey, with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Starting November 14, the airline will operate this Manila–Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul service four times a week.

This expansion marks a significant step in AirAsia’s continued push to bridge ASEAN with global destinations. Suresh Bangah, president and CEO of AirAsia Philippines, emphasized the strategic importance of the new route, highlighting the carrier’s mission to open access to world-class cities like Istanbul while boosting the Philippines’ appeal as a vibrant tourism hub.

“The launch of this new route to Istanbul underscores our commitment to making world-class destinations more accessible for Filipinos,” Bangah said. He also noted AirAsia’s goal to attract more international visitors to the Philippines through its extensive flight network and seamless Fly-Thru service.

In response to growing demand for air travel, AirAsia is accelerating its fleet expansion, aiming to increase its current 15 aircraft to 19 by the end of 2025, positioning the airline to better serve passengers and explore new destinations.

With this new route, AirAsia continues to reinforce its role as a key player in connecting Southeast Asia to the rest of the world, opening doors to cultural experiences, business opportunities, and enhanced travel convenience for millions.

Philippine Airlines is ramping up its service on the Manila to Melbourne route for the upcoming 2025/26 holiday season to meet growing traveler demand. From December 17, 2025, through January 19, 2026, the airline will increase its weekly flights from five to seven, except during the peak period between December 26, 2025, and January 3, 2026, when the regular schedule applies.

The enhanced schedule features daily flights, offering passengers greater flexibility and convenience for their holiday travel plans. Operating on the reliable Airbus A330-300 aircraft, the route maintains high standards of comfort and service.

Flight details include:

• PR209 departing Manila at 5:00 PM, arriving Melbourne at 4:10 AM the next day (aircraft configuration 3-3-3 with 246 seats).
• A second PR209 flight leaves Manila at 9:25 PM, landing in Melbourne at 8:35 AM the following day (246 seats).

Return flights from Melbourne:

• PR210 departs at 5:55 AM, arriving Manila at 11:20 AM (3-3-3 layout with 357 seats).
• The second PR210 flight takes off at 10:20 AM, reaching Manila by 3:35 PM (357 seats).

This seasonal increase underscores Philippine Airlines’ commitment to enhancing connectivity between the Philippines and Australia, supporting both leisure and business travelers during the busy holiday period.

In a landmark achievement for sustainable aviation, Air France’s Airbus A220-300 has successfully completed its inaugural ferry flight from Mirabel Airport (YMX) in Canada to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) powered by a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This historic delivery not only marks a milestone for Air France but also represents the first time Airbus has issued official sustainability credentials for SAF directly to an airline customer, signaling a significant step forward in the industry’s decarbonization journey.

The newly delivered Air France A220-300, christened VAISON-LA-ROMAINE and the airline’s 46th in this fleet, demonstrated remarkable environmental benefits. Over the course of its ferry flight, the use of SAF reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 tonnes compared to traditional fossil fuels. This achievement reflects Airbus’ ability to provide Proof of Sustainability (PoS) through the CORSIA Sustainability Certification Scheme, ensuring verified emission reductions linked to SAF consumption.

For Air France-KLM, one of the world’s largest buyers of sustainable aviation fuel, the integration of SAF at the point of aircraft delivery represents a key transparency enhancement, accelerating SAF adoption across the aviation sector. The airline group stresses that combining new, more efficient aircraft with SAF is central to meeting its decarbonization targets for medium-haul operations.

Since introducing SAF deliveries at its Mirabel manufacturing facility, Airbus has progressively integrated sustainable fuels into A220 production, acceptance tests, and now delivery flights. In 2025 alone, the Mirabel site anticipates saving around 400 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions through the use of approximately 170,000 liters of pure SAF.

This local effort complements Airbus’ worldwide sustainability commitment, where 78% of all aircraft delivered in the first half of the year featured SAF blends. Airbus aims for full SAF compatibility across its entire fleet by 2030. Currently, A220 aircraft are certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends, showcasing both advanced technical readiness and adherence to evolving regulations.

The sustainable aviation fuel used on this flight is certified to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. This reduction is accounted for using a mass balance system that tracks certified SAF volumes alongside regular Jet A-1 fuel, ensuring a transparent and auditable chain of custody. Airbus emphasizes this approach as vital for maintaining operational feasibility while driving greater SAF transparency.

Since introducing its first A220 in 2021 as part of a 60-aircraft order, Air France has leveraged the model’s efficiency to reduce per-seat fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to older aircraft generations. The A220 family remains a cornerstone in both Airbus’ and Air France’s sustainability strategies, combining advancing aircraft efficiency with the accelerating adoption of sustainable fuels.

As the aviation industry charts its path to a low-carbon future, Air France and Airbus’ collaboration on SAF delivery flights underscores the tangible progress being made toward cleaner skies—one sustainably fueled journey at a time.

Emirates Airline (EK) has taken its First Class experience to new heights by introducing an enhanced caviar service, offering unlimited servings of premium Ossetra caviar on all routes. Reflecting a growing appetite among discerning travelers, Emirates has witnessed a more than 30% increase in caviar consumption year over year, with top routes including Dubai to London, Paris, Sydney, Moscow, and Bangkok emerging as the biggest consumers of the delicacy.

The airline’s commitment to sophistication is embodied in a meticulously crafted caviar ritual, which guarantees the freshest and most elegant presentation from start to finish. Each tin of caviar is chauffeur-delivered to the aircraft, handled with utmost care, and presented onboard by cabin crew dressed impeccably in white gloves.

Passengers are treated to a ceremonial service where a crisp linen tablecloth is laid out, and classic accompaniments such as melba toast, blinis, egg yolk, egg white, chives, white onions, sour cream, and lemon are thoughtfully arranged to enhance the tasting experience.

The caviar itself, served in a striking Emirates-engraved bowl, is a sensory highlight an offering that delights the palate with its delicate briny notes, buttery undertones, and smooth texture. To further elevate the indulgence, Emirates pairs the caviar with Dom Pérignon champagne, whose toasted brioche and almond flavors perfectly complement the caviar’s nutty saltiness while its crisp acidity refreshes the palate.

A thoughtful touch of luxury is the use of mother-of-pearl spoons a subtle but important detail that preserves the purity of flavor by preventing the oxidation that metal spoons can cause.

Sourced from the sustainable Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), the Ossetra caviar served onboard comes from fish native to Siberia’s pristine river systems. This species matures faster than other sturgeon varieties, making it a preferred choice for eco-conscious aquaculture without compromising the rich, clean flavor that caviar connoisseurs cherish.

With over 26,800 premium First Class seats available weekly, Emirates’ operational scale demands precision in every step of the caviar preparation process. From rinsing and lightly salting the roe to pasteurizing, sealing in ring-pull tins, and chilling in Dubai under strict conditions, the airline ensures consistent quality no matter the destination.

By blending tradition, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Emirates continues to redefine luxury air travel dining inviting First Class passengers to savor one of the world’s most exquisite culinary treasures high above the clouds.

In an exciting development for Filipino travelers and global tourists alike, low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to launch a new flight route connecting Manila to Istanbul, Turkey, with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Starting November 14, the airline will operate this Manila–Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul service four times a week.

This expansion marks a significant step in AirAsia’s continued push to bridge ASEAN with global destinations. Suresh Bangah, president and CEO of AirAsia Philippines, emphasized the strategic importance of the new route, highlighting the carrier’s mission to open access to world-class cities like Istanbul while boosting the Philippines’ appeal as a vibrant tourism hub.

“The launch of this new route to Istanbul underscores our commitment to making world-class destinations more accessible for Filipinos,” Bangah said. He also noted AirAsia’s goal to attract more international visitors to the Philippines through its extensive flight network and seamless Fly-Thru service.

In response to growing demand for air travel, AirAsia is accelerating its fleet expansion, aiming to increase its current 15 aircraft to 19 by the end of 2025, positioning the airline to better serve passengers and explore new destinations.

With this new route, AirAsia continues to reinforce its role as a key player in connecting Southeast Asia to the rest of the world, opening doors to cultural experiences, business opportunities, and enhanced travel convenience for millions.

In a strategic move aimed at streamlining its international operations, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a significant reduction in its Paris flight services, limiting operations exclusively to the Islamabad–Paris route. The Lahore–Paris flights will be discontinued, with the last departure from Paris to Lahore scheduled for September 12 and the final Lahore to Paris flight set for September 17.

This decision comes as PIA focuses on preparing its fleet for upcoming UK operations, which necessitates the refurbishment of several aircraft. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that while flights from Islamabad to Paris will continue without interruption, the Lahore route will be temporarily suspended to facilitate these upgrades.

PIA had recently expanded its Paris offerings by restarting two weekly flights from Lahore since June 18, 2025. However, operational challenges and the need to optimize resources have prompted this scale-back.

The airline’s current challenges are compounded by the fact that out of its fleet of twelve Boeing 777 aircraft, seven remain grounded. The Boeing 777s constitute the backbone of PIA’s long-haul network, servicing key international destinations including Saudi Arabia, Paris, and Toronto.

As PIA navigates these adjustments, passengers traveling to Paris from Lahore will need to seek alternative options or connect via Islamabad, signaling a temporary but significant reshuffle in Pakistan’s international air connectivity landscape.