Korean Air has committed to building a new maintenance facility at Seoul Incheon International airport that will start operations in 2029. The SkyTeam carrier says that the facility, which will be built on a 69,300sqm site, will accommodate two widebody aircraft and one narrowbody simultaneously and will be capable of airframe inspections, component checks, and complex heavy maintenance and modification work. Korean Air will invest W176 billion ($120 million) to develop the new facility. "From the earliest design phase, we will ensure this new hangar becomes the safest, most advanced, and most exemplary maintenance base—a true stronghold of aviation safety," says the carrier's vice chairman Hak-jae Woo. The carrier adds that it is separately investing W578 billion to build Asia's largest engine maintenance facility on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, and a W1.2 trillion research and development centre for future air mobility in Bucheon.

The UK government has backed a London Heathrow expansion plan put forward by the airport's operator, rather than a rival scheme proposed by businessman Surinder Arora. In a written statement to parliament on 25 November, UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander says that following a comparative assessment of the remaining proposals for Heathrow expansion, the government's view is that the northwest-runway scheme brought forward by Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) offers the "most credible and deliverable option". She says this is principally based on the "relative maturity of its proposal, the comparative level of confidence in the feasibility and resilience of its surface access plans, and the stronger comfort it provides in relation to the efficient, resilient and sustainable operations of the airport over the long term". The government says the HAL scheme is considered "comparatively more mature in its approach to road infrastructure" and, while it requires "major works" to the M25 motorway, assessment indicates that the rival Arora Group/Heathrow West Ltd (HWL) scheme would also have had a "considerable impact" on that motorway. HAL's plan requires the purchase of more land but would involve the acquisition of fewer homes than HWL's proposal, adds the government. It also argues that HAL's 3.5km runway offers better resilience and futureproofing than HWL's 2.8km option and has the "greatest likelihood" of securing development consent within the current parliament. While the HAL plan will guide the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review, any revised scheme will still require detailed scrutiny under planning law. Any amendments to the ANPS will be subject to consultation next summer. Heathrow says it welcomes confirmation that its scheme for a third runway will now be taken forward and says it awaits clarity from the Civil Aviation Authority and government on how the "crucial next phase of the project will be regulated". It adds: "We need definitive decisions from the CAA and government by mid-December so that delay to the project can be avoided and we can get on with delivering this vital project for our customers and for the UK."

US regional operators Republic Airways and Mesa Air Group have completed the merger they agreed in April. The deal stipulates that Republic stockholders now own around 88% of the combined company’s common stock, while Mesa stockholders own at least 6% and up to 12%. Republic's fleet comprises 31 Embraer 170s and 186 E175s, fleets data shows. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based carrier operates on behalf of US majors American, Delta and United. Phoenix, Arizona-based Mesa Airlines operates 60 E175s for United. Republic and Mesa will operate separately until a single operating certificate is secured, after which the combined entity will use Republic's name. "Bringing Republic and Mesa together is the natural next step for Republic," states Republic president Matt Koscal. "It continues a growth trajectory that stretches back more than five decades, makes us a stronger and more capable partner for our customers, will create new job and career opportunities for our people, and offers a compelling investment opportunity in an essential industry."