The US Department of Transportation has eliminated three steps from the Federal Aviation Administration's eight-step hiring process for air traffic controllers, a streamlining intended to accelerate the rate of new hires. Additionally, the DOT is boosting starting salaries by 30% for candidates who attend the FAA's Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. "The new supercharged air traffic controller hiring opportunity will bring more of America's best and brightest into the aviation safety community," the DOT says. The department adds that it will "raise the bar on safety by recruiting the best and brightest through a merit-based process". "This staffing shortage has been a known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it," US transportation secretary Sean Duffy states. "The new streamlined hiring process is just the first step to deliver on President Trump's agenda to prioritise the American people's safety and modernise the federal government." United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby responded to the DOT's announcement by thanking Trump and Duffy for "these decisive steps to ensure our air traffic control system's standard of excellence".

South African Airways (SAA) has appointed John Lamola as its permanent group chief executive officer, following his successful tenure as interim CEO since May 2022. The carrier says the appointment is approved by transport minister Barbara Creecy after SAA achieved its first profitable year since 2012. Under Professor Lamola's interim leadership, SAA has expanded its operations, increasing its destination network from six to 16 locations and growing its fleet from six to 20 aircraft, including two Airbus A330s. The airline's workforce has also grown from 800 to approximately 2,000 employees, including 140 pilots. SAA board interim chairperson Derek Hanekom states: "The SAA board is delighted to be able to appoint a solid and dedicated leader well versed in SAA's fortunes and eager to continue overseeing its take-off into better skies." Professor Lamola brings substantial aviation industry experience, having previously served as chief executive at Denel Aviation and as a board member of Airports Company South Africa.

Australia's government has cleared the way for Qatar Airways Group to buy a 25% stake in Virgin Australia from its major shareholder Bain Capital. Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced on 27 February that the Foreign Investment Review Board had approved the proposed sale, which will see Qatar become a minority shareholder in the carrier, alongside majority shareholder Bain, plus two other minority shareholders in the Virgin Group and Queensland Investment Corporation. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The alliance between the two airlines has already received draft approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with final approval expected by the end of April. Speaking during a press conference, Chalmers says that the approval comes with some "very strict, enforceable conditions", including that at least one of the two directors Qatar will appoint to Virgin's board must be an Australian citizen, as well as assurances to protect Australian jobs. Virgin says that the Qatar stake will provide it with "access to the scale and expertise of a world-leading global airline, strengthening its ability to compete domestically and internationally and driving increased competition in Australian aviation". Virgin chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka comments that the investment "sets us up for long-term success and adds fuel to our bold transformation agenda". As part of the deal between the two carriers, Virgin will start 28 flights per week from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha using aircraft wet-leased from Qatar in June, with Melbourne to be added from December. As part of the FIRB approval, Virgin has agreed to a three-year deadline to convert the wet-lease to a dry-lease arrangement. Virgin adds that under the wet-lease, its pilots and cabin crew will be given secondment opportunities with its partner airline, thus opening more opportunities for pilots in its core domestic and short haul operations. The deal has received broad support from airports, tourism organisations and other stakeholders. The Australian Airports Association welcomed the approval, with chief executive Simon Westaway commenting that it was "a major win for the aviation industry and the Australian flying public as it improves competition and connectivity".