The Asiana Airlines brand and operations will disappear from 17 December after its board reached agreement to consolidate with Korean Air on 13 May, bringing an end to a process that started in November 2020. The deal will see Korean Air mop up the remaining shares in Asiana after it took a 63.9% stake in its one-time rival on 12 December 2024 by issuing one KAL share for 0.3 Asiana shares held by the remaining shareholders. The flag carrier will then submit an application to South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in June to bring Asiana's aircraft and safety systems under its air operator certificate, with several other filings to follow. Fleets data shows that Asiana operates 65 aircraft with two more in storage and 27 on order. Korean Air, meanwhile, operates 168 aircraft with 128 on order and seven in storage. "The integration will elevate Korean Air's global market presence and establish Incheon International airport as a dominant global hub through optimised network connectivity and increased transit efficiency," the airline states. It adds that it is finalising the consolidation of the two airlines' loyalty programmes in coordination with the Korea Fair Trade Commission "to ensure a seamless transition for passengers." Once the merger of the parent airlines is complete, it is expected that Korean Air will turn its attention to integrating the low-cost carrier operations of Air Seoul and Air Busan with its Jin Air subsidiary. Jin operates 19 Boeing 737-800s, three -900s, seven Max 8s and four 777-200ERs, while Air Seoul operates six Airbus A321ceos and Air Busan eight A321ceos, eight A321neos and five A320ceos.

US president Donald Trump has flagged that China will order 200 Boeing aircraft following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. Speaking to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity in a clip that was posted online on 14 May, Trump commented that he had a "very good meeting" with Xi. "One thing he agreed to today: he's going to order 200 jets. That's a big thing. Boeings – 200 big ones," he adds. Trump went on to say: "That's a lot of jobs. It's a lot. Boeing wanted 150, he got 200... I think it was a commitment, sort of like statement, but I think it was a commitment." A 22 April Reuters report, which Cirium has not independently verified, had said that the order could include as many as 500 737 Max jets. Boeing referred queries from Cirium about Trump's comments to the White House, which had not responded at the time of publishing. Trump and Xi's 14 and 15 May meeting kick off what is expected to be a series of four meetings throughout 2026. Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg and GE Aeropsace chief Larry Culp are among a cohort of other business leaders that are on the state visit to China, according to an 11 May Reuters report. As of May 2026, Chinese commercial operators collectively hold firm orders for 180 Boeing aircraft, a backlog concentrated almost entirely in the 737 Max family, with a smaller but meaningful widebody component spanning the 787 and 777 programmes, Cirium fleets data shows. The orderbook spans 15 Chinese entities, a mix of mainline carriers, regional operators, and Chinese financial lessors acting as intermediaries.

Air Baltic has warned that it operates with "constrained liquidity" while it evaluates options with the Latvian government and external advisers to secure its "long-term financial sustainability". During an earnings call on 13 May, Air Baltic chief Erno Hilden said the state carrier "continues to operate with constrained liquidity while remaining in compliance with all financial covenants". It has secured a €30 million ($35 million) loan from the Latvian government to provide "temporary liquidity support" and engaged "external financial advisers to support the development of a new strategic business plan to evaluate the group's capital structure and assess strategic alternatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability", he says. Last month, Air Baltic disclosed its appointment of Seabury Securities as strategic and financial adviser. "We remain in active dialogue with key stakeholders, including the Republic of Latvia, regarding the most appropriate path forward," Hilden says, adding: "Several options are under consideration, and the management is committed to pursuing a solution that supports continuing operations and preserves value for all stakeholders." Air Baltic has reported negative equity of €249 million as of 31 March 2026, down from negative €183 million at the end of last year. The carrier says that its liabilities exceeded its assets by €415 million at the end of March. Its total cash reserves stood at €32.9 million at that point. During 2026's first quarter, Air Baltic's revenue grew 12.3% year on year to €149 million, and the airline swung to an EBITDAR profit of €7 million, from a €4.3 million loss last year. But its net loss more than doubled to €70 million, from €29 million. The increase in the net loss was largely a result of exchange-rate effects on US dollar-denominated leasing liabilities, Air Baltic finance chief Vitolds Jakovlevs said during the earnings call. The carrier's financial situation, uncertainty regarding capital structure measures and dependency on shareholder support indicate "material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern", Air Baltic states.