Saudia Group has signed a binding order with Lilium for the purchase of 50 Lilium Jets, with options for 50 more. The German OEM says the move marks the largest reported firm order of eVTOL aircraft by an airline planning to operate them. The agreement includes deposit and pre-delivery payment schedules, delivery timelines, performance guarantees, and provisions for maintenance and support. The Lilium Jets, expected to be delivered starting in 2026, will be operated by Saudia Private, a subsidiary of Saudia Group. Lilium chief executive Klaus Roewe states: "We are proud of our partnership with a market leading airline such as Saudia. And we are thrilled to be pioneering progress in the eVTOL industry as the eVTOL manufacturer with the largest reported firm purchase order from an international airline that plans to operate the aircraft."

Embraer delivered 19 commercial jets in the second quarter, up from 17 aircraft in the corresponding quarter of 2023. The Brazilian airframer says its commercial aircraft backlog increased by 2% compared to the last quarter to $11.3 billion.
It highlights an order from state-owned airline Mexicana de Aviacion for 10 E190-E2 jets and another 10 E195-E2 jets, with deliveries scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2025. Azul Brazil had placed a firm order for 51 E195-E2 jets. Canada's Porter Airlines has also ordered 75 E195-E2 jets, out of which 36 jets are already delivered. Embraer delivered 47 jets in the quarter, an 88% increase compared to the previous quarter. The company's overall backlog ended at $21.1 billion, up over 20% year on year and a seven-year high. As of 30 June, Embraer had a firm order backlog of 382 commercial aircraft. It intends to deliver 72-80 commercial aircraft this year.

The UK government intends to introduce legislation to support sustainable aviation fuel production. Plans for the "revenue-support mechanism" were disclosed during the King's Speech to parliament on 17 July. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of lobby group Airlines UK, has welcomed the move as "a positive step forwards", adding: "Airlines are clear that a guaranteed strike-price mechanism – backed and funded by government and consistent with its approach to industrial strategy – would represent exactly the kind of strategic partnership with business that will unlock billions of pounds of private sector investment in a brand-new UK SAF industry." Domestic production of SAF will, he argues, make it easier for industry to meet the UK's SAF mandate while creating tens of thousands of new jobs across the nation’s industrial base and strengthening its energy security. "We look forward to working with government on the scheme design so that the mechanism, whilst offering protections to both investors and consumers, can be introduced as quickly as possible with plants under construction by the end of next year," states Alderslade.