COPENHAGEN — China Eastern Airlines on Thursday launched a new direct route between China’s Shanghai and Denmark’s Copenhagen, strengthening air connectivity between the two countries.

An Airbus A330 aircraft landed at Copenhagen Airport at 7 pm local time, where it was greeted with a traditional water salute. After two hours, the return flight departed Copenhagen, carrying over 250 passengers back to Shanghai.

A ceremony was held at Copenhagen Airport’s terminal to celebrate the inaugural flight. China Eastern Airlines prepared special commemorative gifts for passengers on both the outbound and return journeys.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng said the new route creates another “air bridge” between China and Denmark, helping to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and promote business exchanges and collaboration.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The new route will initially operate three flights per week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Starting Sept 24, the service will expand to four weekly flights, adding a flight on Wednesdays.

Aegean Airlines has announced the addition of two new Airbus A321neo XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft, enabling the airline to significantly expand its international reach, including its much-anticipated entry into the Indian market. The state-of-the-art aircraft, with a flight range of up to 10.5 hours, will support the launch of direct flights from Greece to India, starting in March 2026.

The airline has confirmed it will commence five weekly flights to New Delhi from March 2026, followed by three weekly flights to Mumbai from May 2026, establishing its first two destinations in India. The full flight schedule and ticket availability will be announced by the end of September 2025. Aegean is also evaluating further expansion in the Indian market with future connections to Bangalore, as well as other long-haul destinations including the Seychelles, Maldives, Nairobi, Almaty, and Lagos, aligned with the delivery of additional A321neo LR aircraft in 2027 and 2028.

With this latest addition, AEGEAN’s total Airbus A320/A321neo order now stands at 60 aircraft, 36 of which have already been delivered. The new A321neo XLR aircraft are configured with just 138 seats, featuring 24 fully lie-flat Business Class Suites with aisle access and premium privacy, and a spacious Economy Class equipped with 4K entertainment screens, satellite Wi-Fi, USB charging, and enhanced overhead bins, promising a superior long-haul experience.

The aircraft will be delivered in December 2025 and January 2026, bolstering Aegean’s specialized fleet for long-haul destinations beyond the EU, particularly those exceeding four hours in flight duration.

Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman, Aegean stated, “The addition of these two A321neo XLR aircraft with special configuration, which will be delivered in 2025, in addition to the four A321neo LRs that we plan to take delivery in 2027 and 2028, accelerates our access to the extremely important Indian market, but also allows for the immediate upgrade of our product and services to destinations outside the EU, longer than 4 hours in which we already operate. The A321neo XLR and LR aircraft mark the beginning of a new chapter for Aegean, with new possibilities for growth but also new options for our passengers and the connectivity of our country. With new fleet capabilities, strong vertically integrated support infrastructure and most importantly drawing upon the creativity and strengths of our people, we plan to move forward with ambitious but also careful and consistent steps as always.”

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of aviation safety rules that prohibit illegal slaughterhouses, meat and fish shops, and non-vegetarian markets within a 10-km radius of the city’s airports.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne noted that similar issues are already pending before the court in two other petitions. “Needless to state that the issue raised by petitioner in this petition is already sub judice and another PIL of the same issue cannot be entertained,” the court said.

The PIL was filed by Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh, an animal rights organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi. It urged the court to form a committee to monitor illegal facilities near airports and report the findings.

The plea highlighted that bird hits are a major risk factor for aircraft safety, and that the presence of meat and fish markets close to airports increases the chances of such incidents.

It alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had violated safety regulations by issuing hundreds of permits for goat slaughtering during Bakrid in 2024 and 2025 — some as close as 2.5 km from the airports.

The petitioners argued that despite multiple FIRs against owners of such illegal units, operations continued unchecked. They claimed that the BMC and other authorities had failed to act even after repeated complaints and clear evidence of violations.

The PIL sought urgent directions to shut down all illegal meat-related establishments within the restricted zone and to bar the BMC from issuing any licenses—temporary or permanent—for such activities in the future.