Senior official from Colombian airline Avianca informed this week they expect their aircraft to resume all London and Paris operations in the first quarter of 2007, a couple of routes the carrier had scrapped a year ago due to financial problems. The same sources said Avianca is expecting the arrival of 30 new jetliners, with Avianca taking up 23 planers and the remaining seven units going to Vipsa of Ecuador, Ocean Air of Brazil and Wayra of Peru, the company’s three affiliates.

Israel has signed a €350,000 marketing agreement with Spanish airline Air Madrid to boost up tourism from the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. The announcement follows a meeting between 21 Spanish mayors visiting Israel and Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog. The money, to be invested by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and Air Madrid, will be used for promotional literature and tourist trade events.

Five more destinations –two in Australia, one in the U.S., one in the UK and one in West Africa- will join the network served by the Oneworld alliance during the new flying season, which starts at the end of this month. The two new Australian points are both in Queensland-Hervey Bay, gateway to the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, and Biloela, which provides access to a number of mining projects in the center of the state.

Caribbean Airlines has been launched, signaling what experts believe could be a new era in Caribbean aviation. Sources say Caribbean Airlines will offer the Caribbean a world-class, financially strong carrier dedicated to bringing quality and efficiency to its customers as they travel to, from or within the Caribbean region.

Mexico’s Mexicana de Aviacion has announced a new seasonal service between Denver, Colorado and Zacatecas. The Denver-Zacatecas route has been created to accommodate the high demand of passengers traveling to and from the regions during the holiday season.

Manchester holidaymakers have a new Caribbean destination on their doorstep thanks to tour operator First Choice starting a direct charter service to Aruba from next year. Aruba Tourism Authority and First Choice announced an additional flight to Aruba from the UK starting on May 8 through October 23, 2007 from Manchester International Airport.