Our top five stories on Routes Weekly this week - subscribe here:

1. Analysis: Chinese airlines to top 600 million passenger milestone
Chinese airlines are this year on course to collectively carry more than 600 million passengers for the first time, research by Routesonline has found, as growth in the country’s domestic and international market continues to accelerate. The figure is a huge increase from the 440 million carried just five years ago. Read more.

2. American makes cuts to Asia service but plots European expansion
American Airlines is reducing its services to Asia - including the removal of Chicago-Shanghai - but the carrier plans to expand its European network next summer with three new destinations. Read more.

3. Meet the route development heroes of 2018
The World Routes Marketing Awards will recognise the contribution of top-performing individuals in the route development community. Now in its second year, the Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Route Development category will shine a spotlight on the people who make the aviation industry tick, propelling growth in route networks and connecting cities across the globe. Read more.

4. Relaunch of Zambia's national carrier nears
Zambia’s new flag carrier will take to the skies in January after Ethiopian Airlines signed a shareholding agreement with the country’s main development agency. Read more.

5. Flair adds US routes as ULCC competition intensifies
Canada’s Flair Airlines is adding the first US destinations to its network this winter as competition between budget carriers on transborder routes begins to heat up. Read more.

PLUS:
Route rundown: HEL-LAX, HAN-NRT, VDA-BUD
Airline in focus: WestJet
Ryanair to increase London Luton presence
Bulletin board: aviation industry news round-up
Delta adds transatlantic flights from JFK, LAX and TPA
Copenhagen Airports spills the secrets to its stand success
Chinese etiquette: a guide for World Routes 2018 delegates