Virgin Australia will take delivery of six more Boeing 737 Max 8s during the second half of 2024, bringing its total commitment for the type to 14 units. The airline announced the extra aircraft on the same day that it took delivery of its third 737 Max 8. Fleet data shows that the aircraft, MSN 66635, is being leased from DAE Capital. Its previous two Max 8s, MSNs 65047 and 65045, were leased from China Aircraft Leasing. Virgin Australia did not reveal the source of the additional aircraft , but it appears likely that they will come from DAE Capital. The airline also has an order for 25 of the larger Max 10 variants that will start delivering from 2025, subject to certification and other approvals. “Travel demand remains high and we continue to grow and renew our fleet, enabling us to deliver great value and choice in the market,” comments Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley. Virgin is also set to soon kick off an A$110 million ($72.2 million) cabin refresh of its 84 737NGs, which will make them consistent with the cabins of the Max jets. The airline says the first refurbished aircraft is scheduled to emerge from maintenance in early December, with the remainder of the fleet to undergo work over the next 24 months.

Finnair has repaid in full a €400 million ($437 million) capital loan from the Finnish state that was granted in March 2021.
Originally a hybrid loan issued to support the carrier through the pandemic, it was converted to a capital loan deemed an equity instrument in April 2022. Finnair drew down the entire amount through the course of that year. In a recent €570 million rights offering by the airline, Finland subscribed for pro-rata shares on the basis of its subscription rights. The state then paid the subscription price by offsetting it against the principal on the capital loan. Finnair has now repaid the remainder of the capital loan, €81.4 million, plus related interest and fees of €48.9 million. If the capital loan had not been repaid, it would have accrued around €52 million in interest and other fees in 2024. The Oneworld airline now has no loans that are deemed equity capital.

Icelandair Group has withdrawn its operating profit guidance it provided in September due to seismic activity in the southwest of the country slowing tourist bookings. The company states that while the seismic activity has not affected its operations from Keflavik International airport, it "booking flow for inbound tourists to Iceland has slowed significantly for the near term". "With this situation ongoing, the guidance provided to the market on 13 September no longer applies and because of the uncertainty it is not possible to provide an accurate guidance for the full year," the carrier adds. Icelandair Group previously expected to post a $50-60 million EBIT profit for the full year on revenues of $1.5 billion. Despite withdrawing the EBIT guidance, the company says it still expects to report a net profit for the year. "As a leading airline in Iceland for decades, we are used to dealing with the natural elements and are well prepared for various different scenarios. We are in close contact with the authorities and scientists that are closely monitoring the situation and in the event of any changes to our schedule, we will communicate via our normal channels, " says president and chief executive Bogi Nils Bogason.