Boeing has closed an offering of $10 billion in aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate senior unsecured notes. The offering consists of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of its 6.259% senior notes due 2027, $1.5 billion of its 6.298% senior notes due 2029, $1 billion of its 6.388% senior notes due 2031, $2.5 billion of its 6.528% senior notes due 2034, $2.5 billion of its 6.858% senior notes due 2054 and $1.5 billion of its 7.008% senior notes due 2064. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, states the US airframer.

Southwest Airlines chief legal and regulatory officer and corporate secretary Mark Shaw is departing his role on 1 June, when he begins serving the US carrier as an executive adviser. He will be succeeded by chief corporate affairs officer Jason Van Eaton, whose new title will be chief regulatory and corporate affairs officer. Shaw joined Southwest nearly 24 years ago, notes the Dallas-based carrier. "As Jason and Jeff step into their new roles, the proven expertise and extensive experience they each possess, along with Mark's continued guidance, will result in a seamless and successful transition," states Southwest chief executive Bob Jordan.

The European Commission has warned 20 airlines over “potentially misleading” claims about their environmental credentials, in a bid to bring practices back into line with EU consumer law “within 30 days.” European authorities, working in tandem with national consumer protection authorities, has written to the unnamed carriers over concerns that claims about the adoption of environmental projects and the use of SAF implies that emissions are reduced or eliminated – without reliable science to back this up. Furthermore, consumers are often charged extra for such environmental add-ons. Authorities believe this could amount to misleading actions and omissions, contravening EU law. The Commission, which is the executive body of the EU, declined to detail which airlines have been approached, telling Cirium that it was at the preliminary stage of the investigation. The national bodies involved are from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. Authorities take particular issue with the term ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ [SAF], which, they say, lacks justification over its climate impact. They are also worried about statements from airlines about moving towards net-zero emissions, despite the lack of independent monitoring or verifiable carbon reduction commitments. Industry group A4E says it recognises the importance of transparent information about sustainability and the road to net-zero. “This clarity benefits consumers, regulators, fuel suppliers, NGOs and other key stakeholders involved in our transition,” it comments. But it notes that airlines have outlined an independently produced roadmap towards net zero in the form on Destination 2050, with many carriers publishing verified interim targets. “We are particularly concerned about the remarks on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the requirement for a clear justification of their environmental impact,” says A4E. “The EU has implemented an ambitious SAF mandate, supported and endorsed by the European Commission, and the science supports that this is a more sustainable alternative to regular jet fuel.” Regulators are also raising concerned about online carbon calculators, which they state are unreliable and without scientific merit. Likewise, carbon comparisons between flights are likely also unverified, the Commission says. The Commission and national authorities have asked carriers to respond within 30 days, outlining their action to address these concerns and bring them into line with consumer law. “If the airlines involved do not take the necessary steps to solve concerns raised in the letter, [consumer protection] authorities can decide to take further enforcement actions, including sanctions,” says the Commission. “This action aims to ensure alignment of the commercial practices across the air travel sector with EU consumer legislation, by establishing the necessary substantiation and of communication of voluntary environmental claims.”