Australia's Regional Express has launched an interline service agreement with US carrier Delta Air Lines. The deal will allow Delta passengers from the USA, Canada and Mexico to access 58 Rex destinations in Australia, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, the operator says. Meanwhile, Rex customers will be able to connect to 40 cities in the USA, it adds. Passengers will also be able to connect on Delta's daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles, a frequency which will increase to 10 flights a week beginning 18 December. The route will be operated using Airbus 350 aircraft. Separately, Rex revealed that its domestic jet operations swung into profitability in September, the first time since resuming operations in February. "True to form, our domestic jet network passenger numbers for the first three months of this FY grew by 60%, 34% and 77% respectively when compared to June 2022," Rex executive chairman Lim Kim Hai states. "Revenue growth has been even stronger at 84%, 47%, and 137% for the same three months, suggesting significant yield improvements." Rex says it is actively looking for another two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to expand its domestic jet services.

Icelandair's third-quarter operating profit rose to $92.7 million from $8.2 million in the same period last year, boosted by strong demand on transatlantic routes. The carrier says it reached 82% of its pre-pandemic capacity during the quarter, with transatlantic passengers accounting for 43% of total passenger numbers. Icelandair expects to hit 98% of 2019 levels by the end of the year, despite a "challenging" operating environment, but warns that capacity early next year will be "further below" pre-crisis levels amid continuing global economic uncertainty. "The booking status in the fourth quarter is strong, although we are expecting some headwinds this winter. The operating environment will remain challenging where we are seeing interest rates and various costs on the rise, which will most likely impact demand," says Icelandair chief executive Bogi Nils Bogason. "Our financial position is robust with strong liquidity, and our extensive route network as well as our flexibility allows us to move quickly and adjust our operations and services to the situation." Icelandair says its cash position at the end of the third quarter was the "strongest ever", with cash and marketable securities rising to $320.6 million from $57.7 million at the beginning of the year. Total revenue in the three months to 30 September increased to $486.7 million from $257.5 million in the same period last year. This included $13.5 million of revenue from aircraft and crew leasing activities – a 40% improvement over last year. Cargo revenue, however, dropped 16% to $18.3 million, which the carrier attributes to "decreased demand related to the economic turmoil in Europe". Operating expenses increased by $143.2 million to $360.3 million. Icelandair expects to operate a total of 20 737 Max aircraft by the end of 2023. It took delivery in September of the first of four used Max 8s, with the remaining three due to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year and early in 2023. Financing for these aircraft is set to be concluded by the end of the year, says Icelandair. The carrier will also take delivery of two Max 8s on long-term operating leases in the final quarter of next year. Icelandair expects its full-year EBIT margin to be 1-3%, "assuming current market conditions".

ITA Airways' board has transferred the powers of executive president Alfredo Altavilla to chief executive Fabio Maria Lazzerini. The state-owned Italian carrier, which is in the process of being privatised, has not disclosed the reasons behind the decision. In a brief statement, ITA says its board "fully confirmed the revocation of all the powers of the executive president Alfredo Altavilla, which was already ordered by a resolution on October 12, and the attribution of those powers to the chief executive officer, Fabio Maria Lazzerini". It adds that "the company's main task is to remain focused on the industrial plan, continuing along the road taken that is providing better results than expected, with the aim of consolidating the relaunch of ITA Airways and protecting the company's workers who have taken the challenge". ITA has been approached for further comment. Italy's new government said last month that it would proceed with the sale of the carrier. The previous Italian administration had in August opened exclusive talks with US-based investment fund Certares, Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, joint bidders to acquire a majority stake in ITA. The airline was launched in October 2021 as a successor to Alitalia.