The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a one-year exemption to install and use additional barriers on new commercial airplanes to protect against unauthorised access to the flight deck. "This will allow time to facilitate FAA certification and install the barriers," the agency says in a statement. It explains that the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 mandated the additional barriers, and the agency worked with aviation stakeholders to develop standards. The FAA adopted the Secondary Barriers Final Rule in June 2023, requiring US airlines to install the barriers on all newly manufactured aircraft within two years of the rule's effective date, the FAA adds. It notes that Airlines for America had requested a two-year delay.

Heathrow Airport aims to issue its long-term proposals on expanding the London hub to the UK government by 31 July, kickstarting a process that could lead to the construction of a third runway. The airport is hoping to secure planning permission during the current parliamentary term, which runs to 2029, allowing the new infrastructure to be online by 2035. "New capacity would boost competition and choice for consumers, drive economic growth for the UK and improve operational resilience at the UK's hub airport," it argued as part of its half-year results presentation. Plans for a third runway are separate from the airport's five-year expansion plan – announced earlier this month, and focused on service levels and reliability – and includes measures to allow more customers to be handled within existing infrastructure. Heathrow has asked regulators to increase the charges that airline pay by nearly a fifth to fund the £10 billion ($13.5 billion) investment plan, a move likely to be sharply resisted by carriers. "Our new five-year investment plan will mean faster, more reliable journeys, more on-time flights and unlock room to grow – all while delivering better value for customers," states chief executive Thomas Woldbye. "We will soon submit our long-term expansion plans to the government, providing the UK with the opportunity to stay competitive, boost jobs and drive nationwide growth. Heathrow has an exciting future ahead and we are ready to get going." The airport handled record passenger numbers in the first half: 39.9 million. It attributes this to the use of larger aircraft by airlines and strong demand for Asian and Middle Eastern destinations. Meanwhile, transatlantic travel remains "healthy", says Heathrow, adding: "These links contributed to a 2.4% growth in trade through Heathrow." Across the full year, it estimates, over 84 million passengers will use the airport. First-half revenue grew 1.9% to £1.7 billion and adjusted EBITDA rose 0.8% to £959 million.

Brazilian carrier Azul is seeking to reject lease agreements covering one Embraer 195-E1 and another for a General Electric CF34-10E engine as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring. One of the leases, dated 16 May 2013, is with Sky High XXIII Leasing for the E195AR (MSN 19000620) with two CF34 engines attached which are identified as ESNs 424540 and 424543, a 19 July court filing shows. Cirium fleets data shoes MSN 19000620 was delivered new to Azul in May 2013 and sold upon delivery to ICBC Leasing-controlled entity Sky High XXIII Leasing. The lease is scheduled to expire on 15 August 2025 and the aircraft is still being operated by the carrier. The other lease being rejected is dated 23 April 2021 and is with BeauTech Power Systems for one CF34-10E engine (ESN 994190). Counsel for Azul, Timothy Graulich of Davis Polk & Wardwell, states in the filing that the airline aims to rationalise its fleet in accordance with a "comprehensive review of their anticipated, long-term fleet and equipment needs" that was undertaken in the months leading up to Azul's filing for Chapter 11 on 28 May. He adds: "In consultation with their advisors, the debtors have determined that the rejected leases are not necessary for the debtors' continued operation or successful reorganisation and burdens the debtors with the associated purchase obligations and other costs that the debtors hereby seek to eliminate. "The rejected aircraft largely consists of unserviceable and/or dated aircraft that do not benefit the debtors or their estates and would require a material cash expenditure before being operational." A hearing for the rejection motion has been set for 13 August, and objections are due by the afternoon of 30 July.