SITA said the strategic move aims to redefine how airports function by seamlessly blending technology and interior design to create future-ready spaces. 

CCM is synonymous with world famous high-quality Italian design in the airport space. It works with leading architects and designers to create efficient, functional, memorable, and stylish traveller experiences. 

“This isn’t just about expanding airports,” said David Lavorel, CEO at SITA. “It’s about reimagining them. With CCM’s deep design and execution expertise, we’re transforming airports to maximise their existing footprint, optimise passenger flow, and create smarter, more flexible and valuable airport terminal environments that evolve with the changing needs of the industry.”

As the leader in passenger processing technology, SITA is at the forefront of managing airport space more efficiently. The industry’s transformation demands a new approach to space management, where traditional check-in counters are replaced with innovative designs that reflect modern travel habits. 

“Building efficient, tech-enabled environments is crucial for the future of travel. Airports are not just transit points; they mark a moment in a journey, no matter the destination. By integrating our expertise, we bring to life the airports of the future - architecture that is built on tech solutions and driven by efficiency to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and the operations of airport staff,” said David Lavorel.

The acquisition of CCM adds valuable design and customer advisory elements to SITA’s existing technology, reinforcing its commitment to leading the future of air travel. 

Sergio Colella, President, Europe at SITA, added: “The market needs a fundamental shift— where technology and design work together to make airports smarter in using their space for more capacity and with flexibility to support the next generation of travel. That’s why we’re bringing CCM into the SITA family. By combining our technology and experience in airport operations with their deep understanding of design and space optimisation, we are bringing to the market a unique ‘technology by design’ capability and end-to-end integration from design to operations, all in harmony since the conception of the idea.”

The airline said the move is a key component of the airline’s ongoing transformation journey to optimise operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and drive lowest unit cost.

The airline currently contributes to 31% of passenger traffic in Kuwait, with more than 18,000 annual ground handling rotations.

Looking ahead, Jazeera Airways is set for significant growth as it prepares to welcome new aircraft from its multi-billion-dollar order book, valued at over $3.4 billion. A total of 26 aircraft—comprising 18 Airbus A320 and 8 Airbus A321—are scheduled for delivery starting in 2027. As part of this growth strategy, the airline recently acquired six Airbus A320ceo aircraft to enhance operational efficiency and support its transformation initiatives.

Marwan Boodai, chairman, Jazeera Airways said: “Following our successful execution of aircraft maintenance and aviation training at Jazeera, bringing ground handling operations in-house marks another key milestone in our long-term strategy to enhance efficiency and elevate the passenger experience. As we continue to expand and prepare for the arrival of new aircraft, this strategic move will allow us to improve turnaround times, deliver superior service quality, and achieve lower unit costs—ensuring that we keep our fares affordable for our customers.

As a Kuwaiti company, we also remain committed to investing in the growth of Kuwait’s aviation sector in alignment with the government’s Vision 2035. This year, we will be announcing new and exciting projects that will not only support our expansion but also create valuable job opportunities for the next generation of Kuwaiti graduates.”

Morocco will be host of the 2030 soccer World Cup and ONDA intends to build the new terminal by 2029.

It is expected to accommodate 20 million passengers annually, supporting the country’s growing aviation sector and Royal Air Maroc’s plans to quadruple its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037. The airport currently has the capacity to handle around 15 million passengers per year.

The three-level terminal will feature a spacious duty-free zone, VIP lounges and an on-site hotel, and ONDA also said the new terminal will be connected to a high-speed train network that will link Kenitra to Marrakech, airports.

The busiest day of the period is forecast for Saturday, 5 April, when 309,000 guests are expected.

Daily total traffic is set to average 276,000 guests, with the sharpest rise projected in the first week of April. Departures during the Eid week are anticipated to surge by 19% compared to average weekly volumes over the past month, reflecting a significant seasonal uplift.

With schools breaking for spring, demand remains strong for key VFR (visiting friends and relatives) markets such as India, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, alongside a notable rise in leisure travel, including an increase in traffic to Sri Lanka, Türkiye and Italy.

“We feel India is a good potential market and we would like to add another hub to improve our connectivity into Africa,” explained Karine Duclos, marketing & communications director at Reunion Roland Garros, speaking to African Aerospace at the Routes Asia airline-airport networking event in Perth in late March.

At present, the only route from La Réunion to Africa is a twice-weekly Air Austral service to Johannesburg.

Reunion Roland Garros was exhibiting at the event to boost airline awareness of the opportunities to serve the volcanic island of La Réunion which is located 700km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and is governed as a French department.

In 2024 the airport handled 2.7 million passengers with some 60% of the traffic coming from the four carriers operating up to eight daily flights to French cities while there are strong traffic flows to nearby Mauritius and other Indian Ocean countries.

“It is great that we have a strong backbone with the French market, and this recovered fast after Covid because La Réunion was seen as a safe destination, but we also want to diversify and promote the huge tourism potential of our island to attract more international airlines,” said Duclos.

One recent success is the growth of Air Austral’s route from La Réunion to Bangkok and the onward connections to south-east Asia that service offers. Air Austral carried 74,000 passengers on the route last year a hike of 45% compared to 2023.

The carrier added a third weekly frequency to Bangkok in December 2024 and upgraded the aircraft used from a 262-seat Boeing 787-8 to a 442-seat 777-300ER.

This year, over 371,000 customers are expected to fly with the airline during the Eid Al Fitr break from around the region, with additional flights planned for Jeddah, Kuwait, Dammam and Amman. The expanded flight schedule offers customers travelling home or interested in exploring new destinations more opportunities to reunite, celebrate with their family and loved ones, or enjoy leisure getaways.

Emirates will add six flights to/from Amman and another five flights between Dammam and Dubai. The airline will be layering on an extra four flights from Jeddah and the airline’s flight schedule from Kuwait will extend to another two services. The additional services provide more flexibility to venture to Dubai – a popular Eid destination - and beyond to popular destinations and leisure gateways in Thailand like Bangkok and Phuket, the UK, gateways across the US, South Africa and to visit family and friends in Mumbai, Karachi, and Cairo, among many other cities.

Emirates anticipates busy weekends ahead of and during the Eid Al Fitr holiday with heavy traveller volumes departing from and arriving to Dubai. The busiest time for departures in Terminal 3 will be on the 28 and 29 March, and on the 5 and 6 April, with more than 80,000 daily customers making their way abroad for their spring break holidays.

With expected traffic congestion around Terminal 3 entrances, the airline is urging customers departing from Dubai to build in extra time for their journeys to avoid potential delays.

This development elevates traveller comfort and further establishes Doha as a key global aviation hub. The expansion project, which began in 2018, has now been completed with the opening of Concourse D and E, marking the culmination of the airport's ambitious development plan. This milestone represents the final phase of a transformational journey initiated in 2022 with the unveiling of the ORCHARD, a 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden.

The new concourses integrate seamlessly into the existing terminal, introducing cutting-edge technology and enhanced facilities to meet growing passenger demand. The terminal now spans 842,000 square meters—a 14% increase—while the addition of 17 new aircraft contact gates increases the total to 62, nearly 40% more than before, ensuring greater connectivity, streamlined operations, and significantly reducing bus transfers.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Hamad International Airport is more than a gateway; it is a vital pillar of Qatar’s growth and global connectivity. I am pleased to see this expansion project, with conclusion of both concourses going live, which I have personally been involved with since 2018. While many global airport expansions have faced delays, we are proud to have delivered this major development ahead of schedule. This achievement reflects our commitment to operational excellence and strategic planning.  This is not just about increasing capacity—it is about strengthening the entire Qatar Airways network, enhancing operational resilience, and supporting Qatar’s economic growth in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. This development allows us to meet the evolving demands of global travel while reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading aviation hub.” 

Hamad International Airport chief operating officer, Hamad Ali Al Khater, said: “Our focus is to deliver operational excellence that supports both current demands and future growth. The opening of Concourses D and E marks a significant milestone in expanding our capacity and enhancing operational efficiency. This combined development streamlines passenger flow, optimises resource management, and strengthens airline connectivity, ensuring smoother and more efficient passenger services.”

The busiest time for departures in Terminal 3 will be on the 28 and 29 March, and on the 5 and 6 April, with more than 80,000 daily customers making their way abroad for their spring break holidays.

With expected traffic congestion around Terminal 3 entrances, Emirates is asking customers departing from Dubai to build in extra time for their journeys to avoid potential delays.

Emirates said: “Passengers should arrive at the airport up to three hours before their flight and take note of their boarding times to ensure they reach the departure gate on time without delay.”

Aviation is a key pillar of Morocco’s economy. In 2023, aviation (including aviation-related tourism) supported 856,000 jobs and contributed 7.9% ($11.2 billion) to the Moroccan economy. Additionally, 93% of passengers departing Morocco airports (11.7 million) were bound for international destinations. The country also handled some 77,900 tonnes of air cargo.

"Given the critical and growing importance of aviation to Morocco’s economy, the launch of the ‘Airports 2030 Strategy’ will have a far-reaching and positive impact on Morocco’s economic and social development. Aviation contributes 7.9% to Morocco’s economy and has grown by 68.1% over the past decade. A comprehensive strategy on airport infrastructure investment will help secure future growth. Airlines are partners in this growth, and it is critical that they are broadly engaged in realising the strategy with a sharp focus on cost-efficiency," said Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East.

Key Priorities for the Moroccan Government

To gain the maximum benefit from investments in airport infrastructure, IATA proposed three priorities for the Kingdom:

•           Cost-Efficiency: Fair and competitive charges, taxes and fees are essential to foster connectivity as Morocco upgrades its airport infrastructure. The government must ensure collaboration with users and compliance with global best practices to avoid unnecessary financial burden on airlines and passengers.

•           Capacity-Building: Investments in infrastructure must be coupled with investments in human resources. A skilled workforce is needed to support airport modernisation and to meet the expected growth in aviation.

•           Consumer Regulation: Smart regulation is essential for aviation to thrive. Ineffective consumer legislation from Europe and the United States should not be imported. The development of the Passenger Rights Law must focus on a framework that reflects global best practices and industry standards.

"It is no coincidence that the ‘Airports 2030 Strategy’ aligns with Morocco being a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Morocco will be on the world stage which is a great incentive to be ready to show off Morocco’s growing strength as an aviation hub linking Africa, Europe and North America," said Al-Awadhi.

The project, worth $7.8 billion, aims to dramatically scale up Ethiopia’s aviation capacity, to handle 60 million passengers annually by 2040, up from the current 17 million.

The landmark MoU was signed between Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, and Nnenna Nwabufo, vice president for regional development, integration, and strategy at AfDB.

The new airport will be constructed in Abusera, near Bishoftu, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region.