South African Airways (SAA) will reinstate its services between Johannesburg and Perth, effective 28 April. The carrier says it will operate thrice weekly flights between Tambo International airport and Perth International airport using Airbus A340-300s. The Perth route marks the second interoceanic route to be reopened within six months of the successful launch of the Sao Paulo, Brazil route on 31 October 2023. According to SAA chief executive John Lamola, the airline's operations to Perth are "in line with the airline's strategic plans" to scale its operations to a profitable level by leveraging its unique capabilities as a national carrier with widebody aircraft that can provide South Africa with long-haul intercontinental air connectivity. "The recommencement of the route provides an easier and direct passage for both leisure and business travellers, promoting trade and cultural exchange between South Africa and Australia," he adds.

Boeing is revising the instructions it had sent to the US Federal Aviation Administration on 8 January intended to provide carriers with a method to comply with the US regulator's 737 Max 9 emergency airworthiness directive. Upon reviewing Boeing's initial instructions, the FAA on 8 January approved and issued to affected carriers an inspection process and requirements for returning grounded Max 9 jets to service. On 9 January FAA disclosed that Boeing was revising those instructions, and suggested that those revisions and a subsequent review by the regulator might further delay the return to service of the grounded Max 9s. "Boeing offered an initial version of instructions yesterday which they are now revising because of feedback received in response," the FAA stated on 9 January, adding: "Upon receiving the revised version of instructions from Boeing the FAA will conduct a thorough review." It adds: "The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service." The FAA on 6 January ordered the temporary grounding of certain 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by US airlines or in US territory following a mid-cabin door blow-out event on a 5 January Alaska Airlines flight operated with a Max 9. "Every Boeing 737-9 Max with a plug door will remain grounded until the FAA finds each can safely return to operation," the regulator said on 9 January, adding: "To begin this process, Boeing must provide instructions to operators for inspections and maintenance." Boeing says that it continues to be "in close contact" with its customers and the FAA on the required inspections. "As part of the process, we are making updates based on their feedback and requirements," Boeing says.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has adopted the US Federal Aviation Administration's emergency airworthiness directive requiring inspections of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets with mid-cabin door plugs. EASA says it has taken this measure "despite the fact that, to the agency's knowledge and also on the basis of statements from the FAA and Boeing, no airline in an EASA member state currently operates an aircraft in the relevant configuration". The directive covers Max 9 jets on which a mid-cabin exit has been replaced by a plug-in panel, EASA adds, noting that the configuration is used by airlines operating the aircraft with lower passenger capacity "where this additional exit is not required to meet evacuation safety requirements". Depending on seat count, Max 9 jets can be configured with active or deactivated mid-cabin exits or door plugs. The FAA issued its directive after a mid-cabin door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines Max 9 shortly after take-off from Portland on 5 January, leading to rapid decompression of the cabin. The aircraft returned to Portland and landed safely. US-registered Max 9 jets with the door plugs have been grounded under the FAA directive until inspection and potential corrective action has been completed. Following the FAA directive, the UK Civil Aviation Authority set a requirement that affected Max 9 operators inspect aircraft before flying them into UK airspace. ''There are no UK-registered 737 Max 9, and therefore the impact on UK-operated aircraft and consumers is minimal," the regulator says. The CAA has identified 182 Max 9 jets with mid-cabin door plugs and lists as affected aircraft operators/owners AerCap, Aeromexico, Air Lease Corporation, Alaska Airlines, BOC Aviation, Boeing, Copa Airlines, Icelandair, Lion Air, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. Fleets data shows a total 215 Max 9s – across all door configurations – as having been in airline service prior the Alaska Airlines incident, with a passenger aircraft at Thai Lion Air plus a BBJ Max 9 corporate jet listed as being in storage. Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines has suspended operation of its Max 9 fleet following the FAA directive's issuance.