Ethiopian Airlines has inaugurated three additional maintenance facilities at its base in Addis Ababa. The expansion project comprises a two-bay widebody hangar – the eighth hangar at the site – plus a component workshop and warehouse, Ethiopian says. It adds the new facilities represent a $150 million investment and were jointly built with China's AVIC-ENG, China Communications Construction and international engineering firm Dar under a project launched in 2022. Ethiopian cites landing-gear repairs for Boeing 737s and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprops among the more than 170 components that are being added to the airline's in-house MRO capability list as a result of the new workshop. The new central warehouse, featuring an automated storage and retrieval system, is intended to enhance spare-parts management efficiency and facilitate smoother maintenance operations, says the Star Alliance carrier. "The completion of these advanced MRO facilities significantly enhances our technical capability and reinforces our position as a key player on the global stage," states chief executive Mesfin Tasew. "With expanded capabilities and cutting-edge systems, we are now better equipped to deliver efficient, high-quality maintenance services for both our growing fleet and third-party operators." Ground-events analytics indicate that Ethiopian's third-party MRO customers over the past two years have included Saudia, Royal Air Maroc, TAAG Angola Airlines, Togo-based ASKY Airlines, RwandAir, Kenyan carrier Jambojet, Mauritania Airlines, Malawi Airlines and Nigeria's Arik Air. In addition to aircraft maintenance, Ethiopian is completing 767 passenger-to-freighter conversions in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries.

Japan has agreed to buy 100 aircraft from Boeing as part of a wider trade agreement with the United States. The White House says in a 23 July statement that under the "landmark economic agreement" announced by US president Donald Trump, "Japan has committed to purchase US-made commercial aircraft, including an agreement to buy 100 Boeing aircraft". Fleets data shows that All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Skymark Airlines have 108 Boeing aircraft on order between them across the 737 Max, 777-X and 787 series of jets. That does not include a commitment from ANA to order eight additional 737 Max 8s and 18 787-9s announced in February that has yet to be finalised. Under the trade deal, Japanese goods entering the US will be subject to a baseline 15% tariff rate. Those tariffs could have a negative impact on Boeing's commercial business given that large parts of the 777 and 787 programs, including wings and center wing boxes, are manufactured in Japan by suppliers including Subaru, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Azul has received final approval from the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for motions in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection process, including approval of its $1.6 billion debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. The Brazilian carrier filed for Chapter 11 in the USA on 28 May. "With the final DIP approval in hand and the continued backing of our key financial stakeholders, Azul is well-positioned to execute on our transformation plan and emerge as a stronger, more competitive airline," states Azul chief executive John Rodgerson. Additionally, Azul notes that it has filed with the US court its previously announced agreement with AerCap representing a majority of its aircraft lease liabilities. The agreement – scheduled to be heard on 13 August – would generate contractual benefits to Azul of approximately $1 billion, it says. Azul adds that the court has authorised it to reject two engine leases, "which are tied to non-active engines and have no bearing on the company's overall fleet, routes, or ability to serve customers".