France's aviation regulator has instructed airlines to halve services to and from the country on 15 September, as a strike by air traffic controllers threatens widespread disruption. Industrial action by the SNCTA union is expected to lead to "cancellations and significant delays" throughout France, according to the country’s civil aviation authority DGAC. As a knock-on impact, the walk out could cause significant disruption to air traffic across Europe. Air France says it plans to operate around 90% of its long-haul flights but just 45% of short and medium-haul services. "Delays and last minute cancellations cannot be ruled out," the carrier warns.

Austrian Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo from the airframer's Toulouse assembly line. The Pratt & Whitney PW1124G-powered twinjet, registered OE-LZN, arrived at Vienna airport on 13 September and was handed over to Austrian Technik for cabin interior work and painting over coming weeks, the Lufthansa group carrier says. Its first commercial flight is planned for mid-October. Delivery of Austrian's second A320neo is scheduled for October and of two additional units by spring 2023. The aircraft are part of a Lufthansa order, Austrian notes. It will operate the aircraft primarily on continental routes. Chief operating officer Francesco Sciortino describes the delivery as "an important step towards more climate-friendly air traffic". Data show that Austrian has 29 CFM International CFM56-powered A320s, six A321s, and one A319 listed as being in storage. Its fleet additionally includes 17 Embraer 195s, six Boeing 777-200ERs and three 767-300ERs.

LATAM Airlines Group carried 5.72 million passengers across its network in August, a figure up 50% year on year but down 10% versus the same month in 2019. Capacity, as measured in available seat-kilometers, was boosted by 65% year on year but was down 18% versus 2019 level, the Chile-based group says. Revenue passenger-kilometers grew 81% year on year but fell 19% compared with August 2019. Passenger load factor, at 83%, increased by eight percentage points year on year but decreased by one percentage point compared with 2019. Cargo capacity, as measured in available freight tonne-kilometres, was up by 41% year on year and 5% compared to 2019 level, while revenue freight tonne-kilometres grew by 27% year on year and 8% compared with August 2019. Cargo load factor reached 56%, a decrease of six percentage points year on year but up one percentage point from August 2019. LATAM expects September capacity to reach 81% of its capacity in pre-pandemic September 2019. It plans to operate approximately 1,290 daily domestic and international flights during September to 142 destinations in 22 countries and more than 1,270 cargo freighter flights.