Italy's ITA Airways has taken delivery of its first three Airbus A320neos from lessor Avolon. The airline plans to use the aircraft to operate short- and medium-haul services during the summer, says Avolon. It adds that it will deliver two additional A320neos to ITA later in the year, supporting the carrier's target for its portfolio to be 80% composed of new-generation fuel-efficient aircraft by 2026.

The EU’s competition authorities have for a second time approved a merger between Ireland’s CityJet and Spain’s Air Nostrum. This will see the creation of a joint venture by CityJet owner Fortress Investment Group and Air Nostrum holder Air Investment Valencia, combining the two carrier's activities. The transaction was given unconditional approval by the EU Commission in 2019. It found at the time that although CityJet and Air Nostrum were both providers of wet-lease services, the transaction raised no competition concerns because the airlines held small shares of a competitive market. In January of this year, the two parties re-notified the Commission that the deal had not been executed, prompting the regulator to take a second look. It concluded that “the competitive landscape and market conditions remained broadly the same, and that the transaction would still not raise competition concerns”. Air Nostrum has a fleet of 33 aircraft, data shows, mostly Bombardier-made CRJs. CityJet states that it operates a fleet of 22 CRJs out of bases in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Brussels.

Qantas will open a new engineering academy by 2025 as part of a wider plan to add more than 8,500 new skilled positions over the next decade to support its growing fleet. The Qantas Group Engineering Academy is expected to train up to 300 engineers per year once it opens for its own operations, and for other sectors of the Australian aviation industry. “Aviation is so important to a country like Australia and you need a big skills pipeline to power it,” says Qantas group chief executive Alan Joyce. “That’s not just about the major airlines but also small regional operators, defence and general aviation. It’s a whole ecosystem that pilots and engineers, in particular, make their way through, and the long-term skills base require .Graduates from the academy are expected to help feed the airline’s need to hire 800 engineers by 2033. Qantas adds that it will also require 4,500 cabin crew, while it will also require 1,600 pilots and 1,600 other operational roles as it renews and grows its fleet. Data shows that the carrier and its low-cost unit Jetstar have 159 aircraft on order, comprised of 20 Airbus A220s, 124 A320neos and A321neos, and 12 A350-1000s. It has also committed to ordering nine additional A220-300s, while its Network Aviation unit will also take on additional used A320ceos to meet growing demand from resource charter clients.