There is now a weekly direct flight between France and St. Lucia, according to the Caribbean Media Corporation and this is expected to significantly boost the island’s tourism industry. St. Lucian Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet has welcomed the introduction of the first direct flight.

Brazilian airline GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA issued its guidance for 2011 yesterday, saying that the company expects domestic air traffic demand to increase by 10 percent to 15 percent.

Germany's flagship airline Lufthansa aims to boost its workforce by 4,000 this year as it prepares for a surge in passengers, the group's new chief executive told German newspaper Bild. That would be an increase of around 3 percent, based on the latest available company figures.

Continental Airlines has begun flying a new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior, the first U.S.-based carrier to fly with the new interior. Continental's jet features the new United Airlines livery. Wednesday's flight marks completion of 13 deliveries to the first five launch customers for the innovative 737 Boeing Sky Interior. The airplane also marks a new record for 737 yearly deliveries of 376. The previous record was 372 deliveries in 2009.

South America’s LAN Airlines will suspend operations out of Toronto, effective April 1, 2011. According to officials, travelers will still be able to travel to South America through partner airlines that offer connecting service to LAN Airlines and its affiliate’s gateways in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has given the green light for Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) to spend $200 million on purchasing nine aircraft from the French manufacturer ATR, ending weeks of disagreement between the Transport and Works Minister Austin Jack Warner and the airline's board.