Dominating this week’s top air transport stories include aircraft orders from Dublin-based lessor Avolon’s order for 140 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific’s order for six Airbus A350 freighters.

Dublin-based lessor Avolon confirmed contracts for 40 Boeing 737-8s and 100 Airbus A321neos, subject to approval by Avolon’s largest shareholder Bohai Leasing. The commitments come on top of two additional orders placed in 2023—for 40 737-8/10s and 20 A330-900s.

In other lessor news, Florida-based aircraft lessor Azorra finalized a $300 million financing facility, which will contribute toward its acquisition of 16 aircraft from aviation investment firm Voyager Aviation Holdings (VAH). The portfolio comprises two Airbus A220-300s, two A330-200s, nine A330-300s, and three Boeing 777-300ERs. VAH’s customers have included Air France, Breeze Airways, Cebu Pacific, ITA, Philippine Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

The Aviation Working Group (AWG), which represents lessors and other industry stakeholders, has once again downgraded its risk assessment for India as the dispute over Go First’s leased aircraft drags on. AWG has warned it will decrease India’s score for compliance with the Cape Town Convention’s (CTC) protections for aircraft lessors.

In aircraft news, Cathay Pacific has taken another significant step in its fleet-renewal efforts with an order for six Airbus A350 freighters. The six firm-ordered freighters are scheduled for delivery beginning in 2027. The deal also includes purchase rights for another 20 A350Fs, so the aircraft is set to become the main type in the Cathay freighter fleet.

A COMAC C919 is participating in a five-day exhibition flight to Hong Kong, marking the airliner’s first time flying outside of mainland China.

In airline news, International Airlines Group (IAG) has formally notified the European Commission (EC) of its plans to acquire Spanish carrier Air Europa and pledged to propose remedies that it hopes will allow for quick approval of the deal in 2024.

American Airlines has formally appealed a decision rendered by a U.S. district court earlier this year that struck down its Northeast Alliance (NEA) with JetBlue Airways.

Southwest Airlines is making organizational investments to better support advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and is expanding trials of an artificial intelligence (AI) solution aimed at improving turnaround performance from 18 gates in Atlanta to an additional 14 gates in Denver. Dallas-based Southwest is using Assaia’s ApronAI—computer vision event detection technology leveraging footage captured by existing cameras at the gates.

Delta Air Lines has begun experimenting with using artificial intelligence (AI) for its pricing. The experiments, started in the last month, are part of Delta’s overall investments in digital technology—an area the airline sees as having “tremendous” potential both financially and operationally.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and American Airlines entered a new codeshare partnership that will enhance the transpacific networks of both carriers. Under the agreement, PAL will connect to seven of American Airlines' domestic routes via the Los Angeles gateway. These routes are from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando and Washington.

Daily Memo: The proposed joint venture between existing codeshare partners Air Transat and Porter Airlines could jumpstart each carrier’s ability to build network depth and breadth in a market dominated by Air Canada and WestJet.

In sustainability news, Maeve Aerospace has started research and development work on an 80-seat hybrid-electric turboprop that is targeted at the regional jet and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 replacement market. Maeve's aircraft, named the M80, is to make its first flight at the end of 2028 and enter service in 2030/31.

US-based aircraft manufacturer startup Ampaire is claiming a world record for hybrid-electric aircraft endurance after completing a nonstop 12-hr. flight with its Electric EEL propulsion testbed. The aircraft landed with 2 hr. of fuel and battery reserves remaining, the U.S. startup says.

Irish lessor CDB Aviation has secured a $625 million sustainability linked loan, which carries conditions connected with the lessor’s carbon footprint, new-technology aircraft, and diversity awareness. CDB Aviation CEO Jie Chen said this is the first major sustainability-linked loan syndicated facility among aircraft lessors.

LOT Polish Airlines and SkyNRG have signed a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) book-and-claim deal, which will see SAF delivered to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, allowing the Polish carrier to access carbon reduction benefits without directly using the fuel on its own flights.  

And finally, in regulatory news, Iran and Saudi Arabia are set to commence talks on resuming regular nonstop scheduled flights between the two countries. The nations severed diplomatic ties in early 2016 following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran, which was sparked by Riyadh's execution of senior Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Since then, direct air connectivity has been limited, with only occasional flights operated to carry Hajj pilgrims.