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Turkish Airlines announced (16-May-2024) plans to launch the TKCONNECT New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform from 01-Oct-2024. TKCONNECT will offer travel agencies a range of exclusive features and privileges, including differentiated ticket pricing, NDC only promotional fares, rich content supported with visuals and descriptions, enhanced and promoted ancillary services such as excess baggage, seat selection and special equipment. Starting from 01-Oct-2024, Turkish Airlines bookings made via GDSs will incur a distribution cost charge and the carrier's differentiated rich content products will only be available for TKCONNECT users. [more - original PR]

Portugal's Council of Ministers announced (14-May-2024) New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport will be constructed at Campo de Tiro de Alcochete. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport will cease operations when the new airport is completed. The Portuguese Government decided to temporarily increase Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport's capacity to 45 movements per hour in response to growing demand, with the airport forecasting 39 million passengers in 2030 and over 100 million in 2050. The Council of Ministers also approved Luís de Camões Airport as the official name of New Lisbon Airport. The new airport will feature two runways with capacity for up to 95 movements per hour and the possibility of expanding to up to four runways. Construction of the first runway requires an investment of EUR3.2 billion, with completion scheduled in 2030. Construction of the second runway requires an investment of EUR2.9 billion and is scheduled for completion in 2031. [more - original PR]

easyJet announced (16-May-2024) plans to open a 10th UK base at London Southend Airport from Mar-2025. The carrier will base three A320neo aircraft at the airport and launch six new routes to Pisa, Gran Canaria, Dalaman, Antalya, Marrakech and Enfidha for summer 2025. Additional new routes will be announced in the coming weeks. The investment will create around 130 direct jobs for pilots and crew and additional indirect jobs. easyJet already serves Amsterdam, Geneva, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Paris CDG from Southend and has handled over seven million passengers from the airport since 2012. [more - original PR]

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) entered (15-May-2024) an agreement with KeyState Energy and CNX Resources to develop a USD1.5 billion plant for the production of hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The facility will be able to produce up to 68,000 metric tonnes of hydrogen or 70 million gallons of SAF p/a. CNX president and CEO Nick Deiuliis stated: "Our goal is to expand end use opportunities of our abundant, ultra low carbon intensity natural gas to drive further emission reductions, create good paying, local jobs, and enhance PIT's position as an innovative sustainable fuel hub". [more - original PR]

ECAir - Equatorial Congo Airlines, via its official Facebook account, announced (10-May-2024) plans to resume operations on 16-May-2024. The carrier's initial network will include Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Ollombo. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier's operations have been suspended since 2016.

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) announced (15-May-2024) its consortium Gateway Development Alliance submitted a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire all shares in Malaysia Airports (MAHB) at an offer price of MYR11 (USD2.34) per share. The consortium is led by Khazanah Nasional through its wholly owned subsidiary UEM Group and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). The consortium also includes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and funds managed by GIP. As of 14-May-2024, the consortium and its parent companies in aggregate own 41.1% of MAHB's issued share capital. Further details include:

• Upon completion of the offer, Khazanah would increase its ownership in MAHB from 33.2% to 40% and EPF would increase its ownership from 7.9% to 30%. Malaysian investors would therefore own 70% of MAHB. ADIA and GIP would hold the remaining 30%. Malaysia's Government would retain special share rights in MAHB;
• The consortium aims to support MAHB to deliver "high priority" capital projects. It will also aim to improve passenger flows and expand the retail and food and beverage offering at MAHB's airports;
• The consortium confirmed there are no plans for layoffs as a result of the offer and that existing employment rights will be safeguarded. There will also be no changes to the passenger service charge rates published by MAVCOM on 12-Mar-2024;
• A formal offer for MAHB is subject to certain pre-conditions and, when made, will be subject to the consortium owning at least 90% of MAHB's issued share capital. If such conditions are met, it is expected that MAHB's shares would de-list from Bursa Malaysia upon completion of the offer, which is estimated to occur in 4Q2024. [more - original PR]