Turkish carrier Pegasus has placed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft with options for up to 100 more, as it seeks to renew its fleet and bolster capacity. Representing the largest order in the low-cost airline’s history, the full value of the transaction at Boeing’s list prices is $36 billion. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2028. As the largest 737 variant designed to carry up to 230 passengers, the airline notes that it will enable it to raise the density on existing routes as well as launch new connections as its fleet expands. "Boeing aircraft have been an integral part of our operations since Pegasus entered the aviation industry in 1990," says Guliz Ozturk, Pegasus’s chief executive. "We are pleased to be expanding our fleet with the new Boeing 737 10 model aircraft. We continue to invest in our fleet in line with our growth targets in Turkiye and globally, and to expand our network by launching new routes." She notes that the airline will make a decision relating to the 100 options in the coming years, “based on market conditions and the needs of our fleet." Primarily an Airbus customer, the low-cost airline, which is based at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport, currently operates 102 A320neo-family aircraft, plus six A320ceos. It has 52 further A321neos on order and one A320neo in storage. It’s current Boeing fleet consists of just nine 737-800s with a median age of 12.6 years, having last placed an order with the American airframer in 2008. “We have been a proud partner of Pegasus Airlines since their inception and we are excited to welcome them as the newest 737 Max customer," says Stephanie Pope, chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We appreciate their trust in the Boeing team and we look forward to delivering on the 737-10 and its promise of greater efficiency, versatility and reliability." Ozturk has previously expressed frustration with supply chain issues that have caused delivery delays, commenting at the Farnborough air show on 22 July that hold ups through peak season can be "critical to an airline", prompting the Turkish operator to "create a headache" for Airbus.

The European Union plans to launch an emissions-labelling system intended to provide passengers with reliable information about the carbon impact of their flights. The scheme, which will be voluntary for airlines, will be based upon a “clear and trustworthy” methodology that will apply on services within or departing the bloc, and is scheduled to be operational in time for the winter 2025 season, says the European Commission. Passengers will be able to view and compare the estimated greenhouse-gases emissions of their flights during the booking process, allowing them to "make more informed purchasing decisions", adds the Commission, which on 18 December adopted regulations to launch the scheme. Airlines already often provide carbon-emissions data, but the Commission notes that they often use disparate methodologies that cannot easily be compared, and could amount to greenwashing. The new methodology will take into account aircraft type, average passenger numbers, freight volumes and fuel types, it adds. It intends that emissions data will be displayed alongside flights during the booking process. The emissions data will be calculated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. "The Flight Emissions Label will support aviation's transition to net zero by ensuring fair competition among airlines, promoting the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels, and supporting fleet renewal," says the Commission. "Since the estimations are based on actual consumption data, it will also encourage airlines to operate more efficiently and sustainably." Airlines will have the option to take part in the scheme by February, with labels being assigned from 1 July for application to flights in the winter 2025 season.

Alaska Airlines has received approval from the US Department of Transportation to launch flights between San Diego and Ronald Reagan Washington National. The carrier notes that the DOT on 17 December approved its application as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 to operate round-trip service between the airports. In addition to reauthorising and funding both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board through 30 September 2028, the Reauthorization Act signed into law on 16 May by US president Joe Biden authorised 10 new slot exemptions at Washington National. US carriers American, United, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit have also submitted applications for the new slots. Alaska's year-round service will be operated daily. "We are pleased the DOT sees the value of Alaska providing direct service between San Diego and DCA, and we thank the many leaders, local businesses and organisations who supported our bid," states Alaska chief executive Ben Minicucci. "This new route reflects our commitment to San Diego, home of the nation's largest military community, and offers our guests a seamless travel option to our nation's capital." Alaska will be the sole carrier operating a San Diego-Washington National route, Cirium schedules data shows. Alaska currently operates routes to Seattle, Portland in Oregon, San Francisco and Los Angeles from Washington National.