Korean Air has received final approval from the European Commission for its proposed takeover of Asiana Airlines as it races to close the long-delayed transaction by the end of this year. The carrier adds that it has submitted the EC’s approval to the US Department of Justice, which represents the final regulatory hurdle Korean Air has to clear to complete the deal which was first announced in November 2020. “The European Commission (EC) announced on November 28 that it has concluded its review after confirming Korean Air's fulfilment of all required conditions for the merger with Asiana Airlines,” says Korean Air. The EC granted Korean Air provisional approval in February on the conditions that it divests Asiana’s cargo business and increase competition on four European routes. On 28 November the Commission approved Air Incheon as a “suitable purchaser” of the cargo unit, while Korean Air has already ceded routes to Barcelona, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome to rival carrier T’way Air.

Malaysia Airlines has taken delivery the first of 20 Airbus A330neos from lessor Avolon in Toulouse. Fleets data shows the aircraft as bearing registration 9M-MNG (MSN 2080), with flight tracking sources showing that the jet is expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on 29 November. The aircraft is configured with a two-class layout with 297 seats, states Avolon. The carrier’s parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) agreed in 2022 to lease 20 Airbus A330-900s from Avolon with 10 from the lessor’s orderbook and another 10 acquired from MAG via sale-and-leaseback with deliveries scheduled through 2028. “We are proud to have partnered with MAG on a complex and unique transaction, says Avolon chief executive Andy Cronin, adding: “With global supply of widebody aircraft extremely limited these aircraft are a core element of MAG’s fleet renewal strategy, allowing them to capitalise on the continuing recovery in the Asian aviation market.” The aircraft was initially scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2024 but was delayed due to “findings identified by Airbus during the flight line stage”, according to an October statement by MAG. The airline now expects to receive five A330neos by the first quarter of 2025.

Thai Airways International plans to raise up to Bt44 billion ($1.27 billion) through its offering of 9.82 billion shares at Bt4.48 per share, as it looks to exit its rehabilitation plan and resume trading by the second quarter of 2025 The carrier says the period for subscribing to the newly issued ordinary shares is from 6-12 December, with a subscription ratio of 1 existing share to 4.5 new shares, according to a 26 November Thai stock exchange filing. In a separate press release, Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of its Business Rehabilitation Plan Executive Committee, says unsubscribed shares will be offered through a private placement at the same price. The carrier has allocated about 21 billion new shares to creditors through a mandatory debt-to-equity swap and voluntary conversion, representing a total debt of Bt53.5 billion. The shares were converted at Bt2.55 per share. The debt-to-equity swap "will result in the shareholders’ equity in Thai Airways’ financial statements becoming positive by the end of this year, achieving one of the conditions for terminating the business rehabilitation," states Amranand. As of 30 September, the carrier’s shareholders' equity stood at negative Bt27.8 billion. The capital restructuring is expected to be completed by the end of this year, after which Thai will apply to cancel its rehabilitation plan with the Central Bankruptcy Court.