The Estonian government has outlined a strategy to bolster the country’s air connectivity by prioritising the development of Tallinn airport, while opting against acquiring a stake in Latvia’s Air Baltic on the same terms as Lufthansa. Kuldar Leis, Estonia’s minister of infrastructure, told a cabinet meeting on 3 July that as Air Baltic is undergoing management changes, stabilising its financial results and developing a future strategy, the current offer is unsuitable. "When Air Baltic’s business plan is clearer, we can reconsider the purchase," he is quoted by the government as saying. Lufthansa is taking a 10% convertible share to hold minimum stake of 5% after the Riga-based airline’s IPO, which is expected to take place this year. Estonia’s focus will instead be on growing its own flight connections and passenger numbers from Tallinn, which Leis said would support the country’s economy. Air Baltic holds nearly 30% market share at Tallinn airport’s market share, the Estonian government notes. To enhance Tallinn airport’s role as a regional hub, the government has outlined three key initiatives: to develop a program to support the growth of critical air routes, to freeze fares at the airport for the next three years to provide stability, and expand its Tallinn’s passenger terminal. A more detailed plan to boost investment at the airport will be published in the fourth quarter of this year. According to Minister of Infrastructure Leis, ensuring the country's air connections is strategically important. "The acquisition of Air Baltic's shareholding is a weighty decision that will have a long-term impact on the country's air connections, transport infrastructure and the state's financial efficiency. In order to make such an investment, the state must have a very clear picture in front of it," Leis explained.

Ethiopian Airlines is seeking additional long-haul aircraft as it prepares to begin services to Australia, according to the African carrier's Asia-Pacific regional manager Telila Deressa Gutema. In a LinkedIn post, Gutema makes an appeal for "all aircraft lessors, leasing companies and owners" of available Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s to contact him. "Reach out to me directly, and I will facilitate the connection with our headquarters in Addis [Ababa]," he says. Fleet data shows that Ethiopian has 19 787-8s, 10 787-9s, 20 A350-900s and three A350-1000s. It has another 11 787-9s, 11 A350-900s and one A350-1000 on order. Ethiopian's passenger fleet additionally includes six 777-200LRs, five 777-300ERs, 20 Max 8s, eight 737NGs, and 29 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprops. Another 32 Max 8s, eight 777-9s and two Twin Otter Classic 300-G turboprops are on order by the airline. Gutema says that Ethiopian is gearing up to start direct services to Australia. In an earlier post, he describes meetings with representatives from Sydney and Melbourne airports and says that the carrier ultimately plans to serve both cities.

Air France-KLM has announced plans to increase its stake in SAS from 19.9% to 60.5% and is aiming to make the Scandinavian carrier a subsidiary by the second half of next year. The move involves acquiring the stakes held by US investment firm Castlelake (32%) and Danish family office Lind Invest (8.6%), with the state of Denmark retaining its 26.4% share and board seats. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, builds on the commercial cooperation between the two airlines that has taken place since 2024, including codeshare agreements and SAS’s integration into the SkyTeam alliance, Air France-KLM states. It is intended to unlock synergies in loyalty programmes and operations, and enhance Air France-KLM’s presence in the Scandinavian market. "We are excited to fully welcome SAS into the Air France-KLM family," says chief executive Ben Smith. "SAS’s impressive turnaround and our shared commitment to excellence and sustainability will drive enhanced connectivity for customers and growth for both airlines." Anko van der Werff, chief executive of SAS, says the deal would mark a "defining moment" for the airline and be a "strong signal of confidence in the direction we’re heading." The increased ownership stake "brings not just stability but will also allow for deeper industrial integration and the full backing of one of the world’s leading airline groups, once regulatory approval has been obtained," the SAS chief says, adding: "Together, we will be better positioned to deliver greater value to our customers, our colleagues, and the wider region." SAS will continue to invest in its fleet renewal and network expansion through the process. It believes the transaction will further its ambition to grow more sustainably, enhance customer experience, and reinforce its role in international aviation. "As global interest in Scandinavia continues to grow, we believe this consolidation strengthens SAS’ ability to connect Scandinavia with the world – and the world with Scandinavia – by positioning Copenhagen as our global hub for the region, while continuing to uphold strong and strategic operations in both Oslo and Stockholm," adds van der Werff. The deal’s value will be based on SAS’s financial performance, including EBITDA and net debt, aligning with Air France-KLM’s financial outlook. Full financial details have not been disclosed. The decision also reflects a broader industry trend toward consolidation, which SAS describes as "essential" for the long-term competitiveness for European airlines in a globalised market.