IATA’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) registry has gone live with more than 30 airlines, industry bodies, manufacturers and fuel producers having signed up to use the system, which aims to accelerate the sector’s transition away from fossil fuels. The SAF registry is being maintained and operated by the Civil Aviation Decarbonisation Organisation (CADO) – a Montreal-headquartered not-for-profit group created last month by IATA to run the system. IATA announced plans to establish the registry during its AGM in Dubai in June 2024, where it set out its objectives to enable airlines to accurately account for and report their emissions reductions from SAF. The global registry records SAF transactions transparently, the idea being that participating airlines’ emissions reductions can be tracked to show compliance with regulatory obligations and avoid double counting. IATA says the system will also help tackle the challenge of SAF supply scarcity by connecting airlines with SAF producers, regardless of where they are located. “In releasing the SAF registry to CADO for launch, we have put in place a critical platform for the benefit of all stakeholders,” states IATA senior vice-president sustainability and chief economist Marie Owens. “The registry will record the environmental attributes of SAF purchases in an immutable way, safeguarding against double counting.” While the registry is a “momentous” development, Owens cautions that it “cannot produce miracles on its own”. Government support is needed to ramp up the global production of renewable energy, including SAF. Participation in the registry will be free until April 2027, after which it will be operated “on a cost-recovery basis”, says IATA.

Vietnam Airlines reported a consolidated net profit of D7.96 trillion ($310 million) in 2024, which it says is the highest in its history, as it continues to restructure to improve its revenue and cash flow. The profit compares favourably to the net loss of D5.51 trillion it reported in 2023. Group revenue reached VND114 trillion, the airline says in a 2 April press release, but did not disclose a comparison for the year prior. The core airline delivered a net profit of D2.8 trillion on a revenue of D7.69 trillion, which it says was " mainly fuelled by the robust recovery of the international aviation market". Vietnam Airlines also reported that its load factor for the year was 80.6% while its fleet utilisation rose 25% to an average of 11 hours per day. The wider group benefited from clearing D4.7 trillion in debt owed by low-cost carrier Pacific Airlines as it returned several aircraft to lessors. For 2025, the airline will continue with its government-approved restructuring plan, with a focus on "restructuring its asset portfolio and financial investments to enhance revenue and improve cash flow". It plans to launch 15 new routes to destinations in Russia, Italy, Denmark, the Middle East and China this year.

Green Africa Airways has purchased an ATR 72-500 and plans to restart operations after an issue with its lessor prompted a suspension of flights. Chief executive Babawande Afolabi said late last month that Green Africa had had to pause operations because of a "sudden and unexpected" issue with the lessor. Cirium fleets data had listed the airline as the operator of three ATR 72-600s leased from ACIA Aero Leasing. In a 1 April post on the airline's Facebook page, Afolabi writes that Green Africa has since acquired its first owned aircraft, partially financed with a naira debt facility provided by Nigeria's Access Bank. He identifies the aircraft as bearing the registration 5N-GAB, which Cirium fleets data shows to be a 2009-built example that was originally owned and operated by Aurigny and then by Hi Air. Manufacturer ATR is listed as the aircraft's current owner. "“This is a significant milestone for all of us," writes Afolabi, adding: "The incoming aircraft will be pivotal for the next phase of our journey to bring safe, affordable and reliable air travel to a broader group of customers in the region. I would like to extend our deep appreciation to Access Bank for the faith reposed in us in providing the financing for this aircraft. Thank you for taking the lead in shaping what we hope to be the future of local aircraft financing in Nigeria and the broader continent." Green Africa launched operations in 2021 after taking delivery of three leased ATR 72-600s from ACIA. The privately owned low-cost carrier is based at Lagos Murtala Muhammed airport and its network comprises 10 domestic routes.