EgyptAir has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, becoming the first African operator of the aircraft. The aircraft, powered by CFM engines, is on lease from AerCap, notes the European airframer. It was delivered from Airbus' delivery centre in Hamburg. The single-aisle aircraft will increase EgyptAir's capacity to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, Airbus adds. It joins the airline's Airbus fleet of 12 A220s, eight A320neos, two A320ceos, four A330-200s and four A330-300s.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is awarding about $1 billion to 99 domestic airports, which will variously invest the funds in baggage systems, security checkpoints, ground transportation, terminal sustainability, accessibility for people with disabilities and air traffic control towers. The awards follow the initial $1 billion for airport terminals granted to 85 airports, disclosed in July 2022. Both batches of grants fall under the US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by US president Joe Biden in November 2021. The law – also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – awards $550 billion during fiscal years 2022-2026 in new US investment in infrastructure, including in roads, bridges, mass transit, water infrastructure and broadband. As part of the new batch of grants, airports including Des Moines International in Iowa and Salt Lake City International will receive funds for new or expanded terminal facilities. Sarasota-Bradenton in Florida and Savannah/Hilton Head International airport in Georgia will get funds for improved security-screening areas, among other airports. Six grants were awarded to airports to refurbish their air traffic control towers, including Chennault International airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Rosecrans Memorial airport in St Joseph, Missouri. "Americans deserve the best airports in the world, and with demand for air travel surging back, this funding to improve the passenger experience comes at the right time," US Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg states. "These grants will make it faster and easier to check your bags, get through security, and find your gate, all while creating construction jobs and supporting local economies." Aging airport infrastructure and insufficient federal funding in equipment, technology and manpower have been cited by US airline executives as hurdles in meeting current demand for travel. Southwest Airlines' chief operating officer Andrew Watterson said on 9 February during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that "to be able to better handle the winter weather we need more infrastructure at airports for de-icing". Watterson noted that airport infrastructure was just one factor in the cancellation by the Dallas-based carrier of more than 16,700 flights in December. United Airlines' chief executive Scott Kirby on 19 October during an earnings call listed airport infrastructure among several long-term constraints on aviation: "Pilot shortages, aircraft delivery shortages from both Boeing and Airbus, air traffic control saturation and airport infrastructure constraints around the world are all real, and they are constraints that will take years to fully resolve."

Boeing has again halted deliveries of 787s after it discovered an “analysis error” by a supplier related to the aircraft’s forward pressure bulkhead. “In reviewing certification records, Boeing discovered an analysis error by our supplier related to the 787 forward pressure bulkhead,” states the manufacturer. “We notified the [US Federal Aviation Administration] and have paused 787 deliveries while we complete the required analysis and documentation.” The issue was discovered within the past week. Boeing adds that there is no immediate safety concern for the in-service fleet of 787s, and production of the type is continuing as normal. Spirit AeroSystems supplies the forward pressure bulkhead for the 787 and has been approached for comment. Boeing says that while near-term deliveries will be impacted, the latest issue “is not expected to increase airplane rework”, and it does not anticipate any change to previous guidance that it plans to deliver 70-80 787s this year. “We are communicating with our customers and will continue to follow the lead of the FAA,” the manufacturer adds. Boeing resumed deliveries of 787s in August 2022 following a 10-month hiatus after the FAA raised concerns about its proposed method of inspecting aircraft that had identified quality issues relating to gaps in the forward pressure bulkhead.
That saw the backlog of built but undelivered 787s swell to around 100 aircraft, most of which were planned to be delivered this year following re-work. Boeing has indicated that it plans to raise production of new 787s to five per month by the end of 2023, and then to 10 per month in 2025-26. Data shows that the airframer has 575 787s on order, including aircraft that have already been built and not yet delivered, and options for a further 249.