WestJet has completed the integration of its former ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop into its mainline operations. Following the ratification of a new contract with pilots at Swoop, WestJet announced its plan to integrate the ultra-low-cost carrier into the mainline operations by 28 October. "By keeping costs low, Swoop was able to offer the most competitive fares and appeal to Canadian travellers of all demographics. As we conclude this integration, we will learn from Swoop's successes to best serve our guests with diversified product offerings that meet a variety of needs," says WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech. The airline has laid out plans to add more dense seating the rear section of its 737s and providing a spectrum of in-flight offerings from ultra-low-cost to premium across its fleet, all under a single brand. At its peak in 2022, Swoop operated 11 737-800s and six Max 8s, most of which have been absorbed into WestJet's mainline fleet. The Calgary-based carrier now operates 77 737NGs, 26 737 Max 8s and seven 787-9s, while it has 59 more Max jets on order. Swoop's withdrawal from the market comes as other Canadian ultra-low-cost carriers Flair Airlines and Lynx Air continue to expand their networks across Canada, to the USA and the Caribbean. WestJet is also planning to integrate Sunwing Airlines' operations onto its air operator's certificate by October 2024, having completed its acquisition of the Toronto based carrier in May.

Korean Air has placed a follow-order for 20 Airbus A321neos. The SkyTeam carrier says that delivery will start after a previous tranche of 30 A321neos it ordered is complete. Of the 30, Korean has taken delivery of eight. The first arrived in December 2022 and the remaining are set to be delivered by 2028. The dual-class 182-seater A321neos have been deployed on regional routes to Southeast Asia, China and Japan. A memorandum of understanding Korean signed in 2015 covered 50 A321neos, including options for 20. Fleets data lists 20 A321neos options as having been cancelled or lapsed in June 2020. The airline expects to take deliveries of 110 new aircraft "in the coming years", including the 20 A321neos, 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 787-10s and 30 737-8s, and is retiring its A330-300s and 777-200ERs.

Japan's All Nippon Airways will remove around 30 flights per day between 10 January and 30 March to accommodate inspections of the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines that power its A320neos and A321neos. The airline states that most of the reduced flight schedules are on high frequency routes where passengers can be reaccommodated, including Tokyo Haneda-Itami and Haneda-Seoul Gimpo, although it will suspend some of its Haneda-Qingdao services. It adds that affiliated carriers StarFlyer and Solaseed Air will operate 134 additional flights on affected domestic routes that will be available as ANA codeshare services. The airline will "continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate measures as necessary", with any further disruption to flights after March to be detailed in January. The airline has identified that all its 11 A320neos and 22 A321neos are subject to the inspections, in accordance with a service bulletin from P&W that is expected to be issued in November. That will require it to remove the engines and send them to an MRO facility for disassembly, an ultrasonic inspection of the high-pressure compressor and high pressure turbine disks, with replacement of any defective parts. Fleets data shows that ANA also has two more A321neos on order.