New Italian flag carrier ITA has firmed up its order with Airbus for 28 aircraft, including seven A220's, 11 A320neos and 10 A330neos. ITA had placed the tentative order in October, along with an agreement to lease 31 new Airbus aircraft from Air Lease Corporation. ALC will deliver 15 A220's, two A320neos, nine A321neos and five A330-900neos to the carrier between the second half of 2022 and early 2025. Airbus says in a 1 December statement that ITA will also pursue its plans to lease A350s. The carrier has said it intends to lease 56 new-generation aircraft over the course of its business plan. These comprise 13 long-haul aircraft, including the A350-900, and 43 narrowbodies. ITA launched operations on 15 October, succeeding Italy's former flag carrier Alitalia.

US major United Airlines is on 1 December operating a fully occupied flight from Chicago O'Hare to Washington National with one engine using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The flight, which United describes as "unprecedented", is being conducted with a new Boeing 737 Max 8. It will use 500 gallons of SAF in one engine and the same amount of conventional jet fuel in the other. Airlines are permitted to use a maximum of 50% SAF on board, United says. The Star Alliance carrier intends to demonstrate that there are no operational differences between the two kinds of fuel. Boeing, CFM International, Marathon subsidiary Virent and SAF producer World Energy are United's partners in the demonstration flight. The airline's chief executive Scott Kirby states: "Today's SAF flight is not only a significant milestone for efforts to decarbonise our industry, but when combined with the surge in commitments to produce and purchase alternative fuels, we're demonstrating the scalable and impactful way companies can join together and play a role in addressing the biggest challenge of our lifetimes." Ihssane Mounir, Boeing's senior vice-president of sales and marketing, adds: "As an industry, we are committed to addressing climate change, and sustainable aviation fuels are the most measurable solution to reduce aviation carbon emissions in the coming decades." United declares itself the "world leader" in the development of SAF, asserting that it has agreements to purchase "nearly twice as much SAF as the known agreements of all other global airlines combined". The carrier has meanwhile disclosed the recruitment of 12 additional companies to its Eco-Skies Alliance, launched in April to accelerate SAF development and use. More than 30 companies now participate in the alliance, which United says has so far contributed toward the purchase of more than 7 million gallons of SAF in 2021.

Ethiopian Airlines has finalised preparations for the December launch of the new Zambia Airways, in a joint venture with the Zambian Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The new airline, Ethiopian says, will launch its initial domestic flight from Lusaka to Ndola on 1 December and it will operate to Ndola and Livingstone at a frequency of six and five times a week, respectively. Other domestic routes to Mfuwe and Solwezi will follow, it says, with regional destinations, Johannesburg and Harare, to be added to its network within the first quarter of 2022. Ethiopian has a 45% stake in the joint venture while IDC retains 55%. The shareholders have contributed $30 million in capital towards the establishment of the airline. Ethiopian Airlines’ group chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam states: “The strategic equity partnership in the launching of Zambia’s national carrier is part of our vision 2025 multiple hub strategy in Africa. “Ethiopian is committed to its growth plan in collaboration with African carriers and the new Zambia Airways will serve as a strong hub in Central and Southern Africa availing domestic, regional and eventually international air connectivity for passengers and cargo to the major destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, which will enhance the socioeconomic integration and tourism industry in Zambia and the region.”