The Australian Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have released new modelling and drift pattern analysis which has corroborated theories from late 2016 regarding the final resting place of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The CSIRO conducted a series of simulated tests using replicas of the flaperon aircraft component that was found on the coast of Reunion Island in mid 2015. The CSIRO, together with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) who had been spear heading the search and investigation, announced that the new findings indicate that the aircraft may have come down outside of the initial 120,000 square kilometre search area. Despite this new evidence no plans to resume the search, which was suspended late 2016, have been announced.

Iran’s state carrier, Iran Air, has now placed firm orders for over 100 new aircraft. As part of the nation’s aviation modernisation initiative, a number of Iranian airlines received approval from the United States Department of Treasury to purchase both Boeing and Airbus aircraft in late 2016. Iran Air had initially placed orders for 20 new ATR turboprop aircraft. However reports in April 2017 indicate the order now exceeds 100 aircraft which includes 16 Airbus 350s, each carrying a list price over USD350 million.

Turkish regional operator, Borajet, announced in late April that it will be suspending operations due to the lack of serviceable aircraft. The airline stated it was experiencing a shortage of operational aircraft after spare parts could not be sourced for six of the Embraer aircraft. As a result, the current schedule could not be maintained with only four aircraft and therefore services were suspended on the 24th of April and will not resume until 2018. Fellow Turkish airline; AnadoluJet will perform flights for Borajet passengers until June 2017.