Airbus has in its sights a target of approximately 770 total commercial aircraft delivered during full year 2024, an improvement on the 735 aircraft delivered in 2023. The European airframer's commercial division has delivered through the first nine months of this year 497 aircraft – comprising 45 A220s, 396 A320-family jets, 20 A330s and 36 A350s – leaving a gap of 273 aircraft to be delivered in the year's final three months. "[It's] an ambitious year-end rally ahead of us," Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury admitted on 30 October during an earnings call. "We are struggling with more pragmatic issues as we speak now in 2024 for reaching the 770 [target]." He notes that "engines for narrowbody [aircraft], cabin and equipment and aerostructures continue to be what we call the pacing elements of our commercial ramp-up". Faury adds that Airbus is continuing to ramp up towards a production rate of 14 A220s per month by 2026, and 75 A320-family aircraft produced per month by 2027. He notes that the first A321XLR was delivered to Iberia on 29 October. "Iberia will soon be using this aircraft to connect Spain with the US East Coast," he says. "We are now looking forward also to see this new product entering into service and bringing its unique capabilities in terms of range, economics and environmental efficiency with a lot of other customers." He adds: "When it comes to widebodies, we delivered [during the first nine month of this year] 56, out of which 20 [were] A330neos and 36 [were] A350s. "We are now stabilising monthly production of the A330neo at around rate four. And on the A350 we continue to target rate 12 in 2028 as we are also actively managing specific supply-chain challenges that may have an impact on the ramp-up trajectory, in particular next year." Airbus's net commercial aircraft orders after cancellations through the first nine months of 2024 were down 48% year on year, to 648. The manufacturer's commercial division during the January-September period generated €32.8 billion ($35.6 billion) in revenue, up 4% year on year. It made a profit (EBIT) of €2.8 billion, up 25% Airbus in its entirety during the first nine months of 2024 made a profit (EBIT) of €2.7 billion, down 1% versus the previous year. It generated €44.5 billion in revenue, up 5%.

IATA is urging Thailand to strengthen investment in infrastructure, increase digitalisation and focus on sustainability as it predicts the country will experience annual passenger growth at a compound growth rate of nearly 4% out to 2043. The prediction of 3.88% annual growth over the next two decades was released as IATA opened its World Passenger Symposium in Bangkok. "Already demand has reached 88% of 2019 levels and we can expect the start of real growth from 2025. With world-class tourism assets and a growing regional business sector, Thailand is well positioned to become a top 15 global market for aviation in the next two decades," says IATAs regional vice-president for North Asia and Asia-Pacific, Xie Xingquan. To realise that growth, however, IATA states that upgrading and expanding Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport will be critical, as well as other airport upgrades around the country. "A revised masterplan for Thailand's airport capacity is critical to delivering the economic benefits of aviation. This effort can be maximised with customer input. Consultation with airlines will ensure alignment with market developments for the timely delivery of functional and cost-effective infrastructure," adds Xie. He further notes that while the government explores policies to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, it needs to keep in mind that airlines can only purchase SAF if it is available on the market. "There needs to be sufficient SAF supply before any mandate is introduced, with flexibility across the entire mandate period. Airlines must not be penalised if national targets for production are not met." Thailand's energy ministry is working on a draft national oil plan which is expected to cement an aim for 8% of jet fuel needs to be replaced by SAF by 2036. The country's first SAF plant which will rely on used cooking oil as a feedstock, is set to open in the first quarter of 2025.

TAAG Angola Airlines announced it will begin transferring flights from Quatro de Fevereiro International airport to the new Dr Antonio Agostinho Neto International airport (AIAAN) starting 10 November. The carrier says the transition will begin with the Luanda-Cabinda route, operating four daily flights using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. Additional domestic routes to Dundo, Saurimo, Luena, and Soyo will transfer in December 2024, with remaining domestic and international flights moving by the first quarter of 2025.