US carrier Southwest Airlines in the second quarter exercised 30 Boeing 737 Max 7 options for delivery in 2024 and converted Max 7 orders delivering in 2024 to Max 8s, a 28 July filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission shows. Last year, the airline entered into supplemental agreements with Boeing to replace the majority of its 2023 Max 7 firm orders with Max 8 firm orders, among other adjustments to its near-term orderbook, the filing adds. Boeing said in an SEC filing on 26 July that it now expected first delivery of the Max 7 to be in 2024, following certification this year. "We continue to expect the 737-10 to begin FAA certification flight testing in 2023, with first delivery in 2024," it added. Bob Jordan, chief executive at Southwest, said on the carrier's second-quarter earnings call on 27 July: "We currently are planning to be flying the Max 7 at some point next year, but if not, we'll take Max 8 instead just as we are doing now."

El Al has signed an agreement to cover the financing of its 16th Boeing 787-8. The Israeli flag carrier says in a 27 July stock-market disclosure that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with a "foreign investment bank". The loan will be provided by two special-purpose vehicles incorporated in Japan and is guaranteed by UK Export Finance. The airline notes that the aircraft, scheduled for delivery in July, is powered by Rolls-Royce engines. Under the terms of the agreement, El Al is not able to repay the loan early, expect under specific circumstances. Fleets data shows the carrier has three 787-8s in operation and one on order.

A court in South Africa has dismissed an application from Airlink to recover R890 million ($51 million) from its former franchise and commercial partner South African Airways. The Johannesburg High Court ruled on 25 July that SAA did not owe funds derived from ticket sales for Airlink flights prior to the flag carrier's voluntarily placing itself in business rescue on 5 December 2019 but payable after that date. SAA says the ruling upheld two previous judgements on the same matter, by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court in 2020. Airlink had requested that payments owed for flown and unflown tickets before SAA went into business rescue in 2019 not be treated as "pre-commencement debts" under the restructuring process, as Airlink would otherwise not be deemed a concurrent creditor under the plan. SAA says this application was dismissed and that Airlink was ordered to pay costs. "We welcome the judgement and hope this finally lays this matter to rest," states SAA interim chief executive John Lamola. "SAA's journey through business rescue was both painful and necessary." Airlink's managing director Rodger Foster says he respects the court's decision. "It is, after all, the duty of the company's leadership to explore every available avenue to recover the funds," he adds. "Meanwhile, we will continue to focus on growing Airlink as an independent, financially robust, commercially vibrant, competitive and sustainable airline."