The International Air Transport Association has announced an outlook for improved industry profitability in its Economic Performance of the Air Transport Industry report. Airlines are expected to post a collective global net profit in 2014 of some $19.9 billion - up from the $18 billion projected in June.

The central Cuban province of Villa Clara and its northern keys expect an increasing number of visitors from over 20 Latin American cities, which begin to arrive here today on a first flight by Panama´s Copa Airlines. Panama´s Belrays travel agency will open an office in the province to back the tourist flow.

Later this month Air Canada will resume its seasonal non-stop flights into St Kitts, one of its leisure destinations around the world. The weekly flight, which previously operated on Monday, has returned to a Saturday schedule. The weekly flight will start on December 20.

United Airlines launches its new daily flights between Houston and Santiago, Chile, this Sunday, offering the only nonstop service between the airline's principal Latin American gateway and the Chilean capital. United will operate the flights using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.