Air New Zealand has launched a training programme for 30 cadets that will commence its first cohort from September. Under the programme, Air New Zealand will initially use an ab initio flight training provider in Arizona for cadets to fly single and multi-engine aircraft. They will then travel to Dubai to complete simulator sessions, becoming type-rated to fly ATR 72-600 aircraft, it notes. Air NZ adds that it will undertake an expression of interest process to identify a New Zealand-based provider to deliver integrated training to future cadet cohorts. "We also know airlines around the world are already having to ground aircraft and cancel flights due to a lack of pilots. While these shortages have yet to impact Air New Zealand, we could see this change quickly if we aren't proactive now," chief operational integrity and safety officer David Morgan says.

Mesa Air Group has sold six MHIRJ CRJ900s and 10 GE Aerospace CF34-8C engines to two separate third parties. The aircraft and engines were associated with its Regional Aircraft Securitization Programme (RASPRO) finance lease, and part of previously announced agreements to sell 15 CRJ900s and 30 engines to the two parties. Based on the sale closings and resulting payments to RASPRO, Mesa's purchase obligation has been reduced to $27.3 million as of 31 May, the Phoenix-based parent company of Mesa Airlines says. The RASPRO finance lease carried a $50.4 million obligation for Mesa to purchase the assets at the end of the lease in March. As disclosed in its first quarter earnings release, it will fulfil the purchase obligation between May and September. The airline anticipates "fully eliminating this obligation in the coming months" as it purchases the remaining assets from RASPRO, and in turn executes their sales. "We look forward to enhancing our focus on returning to profitable performance and executing other strategic actions while closing the remaining transactions related to the RASPRO assets in the coming months," says Mesa chairman and chief executive Jonathan Ornstein.

WestJet has will expand its codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic to offer more connections through London Heathrow. WestJet says starting this northern winter, the expanded deal will allow passengers from its Calgary-London services to connect on Virgin Atlantic's flights to New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Dubai and the Maldives. By summer 2025, WestJet will also provide domestic connectivity to Virgin Atlantic's new route from Heathrowto Toronto-Pearson and introduce a reciprocal frequent flyer partnership. WestJet and Virgin Atlantic started the codeshare partnership in 2019.