Boeing delivered 157 commercial aircraft in the fourth quarter, up from 105 jets in the previous quarter and 152 aircraft delivered in the year-ago period. These include 110 737s, 23 787s, 15 767s and nine 777s, the US airframer says. For the full year, the airframer delivered 528 commercial aircraft, compared with 480 the year before. Boeing delivered 396 737 Maxes and 73 787 Dreamliners in 2023, hitting its delivery target for the year. Boeing revised its 737 delivery target to 375-400 in October from 400-450 at the start of 2023 after it discovered manufacturing flaws by supplier Spirit AeroSystems. It had also set a target of delivering 70-80 787s for the year. Besides the narrowbodies and Dreamliners, Boeing delivered 32 767s, 26 777s and one 747 in 2023. For the full year, Boeing received 1,314 new net orders for commercial aircraft after accounting for conversions and cancellations, compared with 774 the year before. According to the airframer, it logged 1,456 gross commercial aircraft orders – including 987 737 Maxes and 313 787s – compared with 935 gross orders in 2022.

Korean Air has signed a sustainable aviation fuel co-operation programme agreement with logistics company Yusen Logistics to further promote the use of SAF in the air cargo industry. The two companies will collaborate on promoting SAF usage within the Asian region in alignment with the aviation industry's climate change goals, the airline says. Yusen Logistics is the airline's first cargo SAF partner based in Japan. “We are delighted to welcome Yusen Logistics as our cargo SAF programme partner, to jointly promote and implement SAF usage”, says Jaedong Eum, head of cargo business division at Korean Air. “With this partnership with Korean Air, we are able to support our customers to decarbonize their supply chains and help stimulate larger supply for SAF,” adds Eisuke Fukagawa, global head of airfreight forwarding group at Yusen Logistics. In September 2023, Korean Air launched a programme to use SAF for air cargo operations with air cargo customers and forwarders. Under the programme, customers are able to purchase SAF for air cargo operations, and Korean Air will share the carbon emissions reductions with its customers.

South African Airways (SAA) will reinstate its services between Johannesburg and Perth, effective 28 April. The carrier says it will operate thrice weekly flights between Tambo International airport and Perth International airport using Airbus A340-300s. The Perth route marks the second interoceanic route to be reopened within six months of the successful launch of the Sao Paulo, Brazil route on 31 October 2023. According to SAA chief executive John Lamola, the airline's operations to Perth are "in line with the airline's strategic plans" to scale its operations to a profitable level by leveraging its unique capabilities as a national carrier with widebody aircraft that can provide South Africa with long-haul intercontinental air connectivity. "The recommencement of the route provides an easier and direct passage for both leisure and business travellers, promoting trade and cultural exchange between South Africa and Australia," he adds.