Delta Air Lines president Glen Hauenstein will retire from his role on 28 February, after which he will serve the US major as a strategic adviser through the end of 2026. Upon Hauenstein's retirement, Joe Esposito, senior vice-president network planning, pricing and revenue management, will be promoted to executive vice-president and chief commercial officer. In his new role, Esposito – who has served Delta for 35 years – will oversee network planning, revenue management, sales and loyalty for the Atlanta-based carrier. Hauenstein joined Delta in 2005. Delta notes that he led the team that changed the carrier's primarily domestic operation into a network "that connects the world". It adds: "Thanks to his leadership, Delta today flies to six continents, with extended reach through an array of joint-venture partnerships with world-class international carriers including Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM, LATAM, Aeromexico, Korean Air and others." Delta chief executive Ed Bastian states in a memo sent to airline employees that Hauenstein's "vision and strategic mindset have been essential in transforming Delta into the leading global airline we are today". Bastian goes on to say that he "could not have asked for a better co-pilot to help lead Delta in becoming the best-performing airline in the world". Hauenstein adds that he is "incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people and customers of Delta over the past two decades".

Austrian Airlines has transferred the first of 13 Embraer 195s to Lufthansa Group sibling Air Dolomiti as part of a plan to consolidate short- and medium-haul operations on Airbus A320neo-family jets. Four additional E195s in Austrian's fleet will be sold externally from early next year. The 17 E195s – all configured with 120 seats – will be replaced by six additional, 180-seat A320neos, the first of which is scheduled to join Austrian's fleet in the summer 2026 season, says the Star Alliance carrier. "As things currently stand, the Embraer 195 will be phased out by the end of 2028," it adds. The next E195 is set to leave its fleet in February. In addition to its E-Jets, Austrian's fleet includes 29 A320ceos, six A321ceos, five Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered A320neos, three Boeing 767-300ERs, six 777-200ERs and two 787-9s, Cirium fleets data shows. Three ATR 72-600 turboprops are operated for Austrian under a wet-lease agreement with Sweden's Braathens Regional Airlines. Austrian's GTF-powered A320neos will be phased out and replaced with aircraft powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines. Austrian's 27 on-order aircraft comprise 13 A320neos, nine A321neos and five 787-9s. The airline foresees a single-type long-haul fleet of a dozen 787s by the end of 2028 "as things stand at present". Its first E195 to join the fleet of Air Dolomiti has been registered as I-ENJA. The 2012-vintage aircraft, previously registered as OE-LWM, had been part of Austrian's fleet since 2016. In 2016, Austrian introduced E-Jets that had previously been part of Lufthansa CityLine's fleet. Used by Austrian to replace ageing Fokker 70/100s, the E-Jets "served us well and provided important services for many years", states operating chief Stefan-Kenan Scheib. Air Dolomiti has 17 E195s and nine E190s in service. It operates feeder services from Italian cities to Frankfurt and Munich.

The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved the reorganisation plan submitted by Brazilian carrier Azul, which had filed for Chapter 11 on 28 May. Azul says that, with the plan's approval granted during a 12 December hearing, it will now "advance to the next phases of implementation in accordance with the terms previously disclosed". The plan "received overwhelming support from all voting creditors", adds the airline. It intends to conclude its restructuring by February 2026.