The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned CFM International Leap operators of the possibility of smoke entering an aircraft's cockpit or cabin as a result severe inflight engine damage or high vibrations. In a safety information bulletin (SIB 2025-06) issued on 18 July, EASA cites two engine bird strike incidents on Boeing 737 Max jets leading to activation of load reduction devices (LRD) which are fitted to Leap engines. "The LRD is a mechanical device that fuses to reduce the loads transmitted to the engine structure and the aeroplane during high fan unbalance events," EASA says, noting that the LRD is "designed to activate at a given load [and] is not a system that is controlled by the flight crew". Triggering of the LRD creates an oil leakage which, EASA says, "releases oil into the core compressor upstream of the aircraft bleed ports contaminating the bleed air delivered to the environmental control system (ECS)". Fresh air for the ECS on most commercial aircraft types is extracted from engine compressors. During the first bird-strike incident in March 2023, the right engine of a Max 8 was struck after take-off and subsequently shut down. The aircraft returned to the airport and landed safely. But EASA says: "The flight attendants reported heavy smoke in the cabin". Another Max 8's left engine was affected in a bird-strike event after take-off and subsequent inflight shutdown (IFSD) in December 2023. This led to "heavy smoke in the flightdeck" and pilots donning oxygen masks, EASA says. Citing a US National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the second incident, the European regulator says that "the smoke began to dissipate rapidly after the first officer pulled the engine fire switch", as directed by instructions. The aircraft returned to the airport and landed safely. In nominal aircraft configuration, fresh air for the flight deck is "mainly taken from the left engine, while the bleed air delivered to the cabin is taken from both engines", EASA says, noting ECS architecture differences between 737 Max and Airbus A320neo-family aircraft. Max jets are powered by Leap-1B engines, while Leap-1As are optionally available on A320neo-family aircraft. No in-service LRD activation events have taken place on the European narrowbody, EASA says. It highlights that the duration of smoke events following LRD activation depends on the time taken for an affected engine to be shut down or its bleed system to be isolated. An engine's bleed system will automatically be isolated when core speed falls below a certain threshold, for instance, during a shutdown. But if an affected powerplant continues to operate above that threshold, isolation will depend on pilot action. In that case, EASA asserts, "it is crucial that the flight crew promptly applies the corresponding procedures that result in an engine shutdown, or a commanded isolation of the ECS bleed from the affected engine." The authority warns that smoke or fumes in the cockpit "can reduce vision and cause discomfort, which could lead to flight crew diminished operational performance [and] possible crew incapacitation". Boeing has issued a flight crew operations bulletin to direct pilots to checklists when engine problems and smoke appear simultaneously and updated its quick reference handbook "as a precautionary measure", EASA says, noting similar cockpit procedures for Airbus pilots. "The SIB is an interim measure, pending completion of safety assessments and availability of potential design changes which might be required for managing the oil leakage risks for engine damages leading to LRD activation," EASA adds. The regulator recommends that the possible smoke scenario is "properly emphasised during flight crew conversion and recurrent training so that pilots are made aware of the challenges of an LRD event".

Spanish carrier Air Europa has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max. The factory-new aircraft (registered EC-OGS) is the first four Max 8s scheduled for delivery to Air Europa under a leasing agreement with AerCap, says the airline. It adds that another 10 will join the fleet next year and six in the first half of 2027, bringing its Max 8 fleet to 20. Fleets data shows that Air Europa has ordered 29 of the aircraft, including the newly delivered one. The airline's current fleet also includes 26 737-800s, 17 787-9s and 11 787-8s. Madrid-based Air Europa will deploy its Max 8s, configured to accommodate 189 passengers, on European and transatlantic routes, it says, noting that it is the first Spanish Max operator. Air Europa chair Juan Jose Hidalgo describes the first Max delivery as a "new chapter" for the airline. "We are not only modernising our fleet but also advancing toward a more sustainable and efficient operation, delivering benefits for both our passengers and the environment," he states. Iberia parent IAG has a 20% shareholding in Air Europa and last year abandoned a plan to acquire it from its parent Globalia, citing competition authorities' requirements. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Group have since indicated interest in investing in Air Europa.

South African Airways has reported a loss for the 12 months to end-March 2024, after higher expenses for fuel and aircraft constrained its recovery. Revenue rose nearly a quarter, to R7 billion ($396 million), but this was more than offset by a series of "exogenous factors", says the carrier. These included a R415 million hit from currency volatility; fuel and leasing costs that rose by 46% and 30%, respectively; and late delivery of aircraft. As a result, the EBITDA result flipped from R436 million in 2022-23 (its first full year of flying since exiting business rescue, a form of bankruptcy protection, in April 2021) to negative R90 million in 2023-24. Through the period, SAA operated an average of 10 aircraft to 15 destinations, representing a rise of 42%. It highlights a "significant increase in flights" on international African routes as well as routes from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Sao Paulo starting in the second half of the financial year. Data shows that the airline currently operates 16 aircraft: 12 Airbus A320s, two A330s and two A340s. It also has six aircraft – four A340s and two A320s – in storage. It now serves 17 destinations, including a long-haul route to Perth as well as its Brazil link. "These results detail a past phase of intense uncertainty in the resuscitation of SAA, a period when the assumption of the company's control by the strategic equity partner was awaited," states group chief executive John Lamola. At the time, the carrier expected to be majority purchased by a consortium of two local investors, but the deal later collapsed. "Since then, we have entered a period of structured and strategic reconstruction of the business, focusing on institutionalising robust governance and management systems, whilst implementing plans on aircraft fleet modernisation and route network expansion aimed at the elevation of customer experience," adds Lamola. The airline has launched an "audit health plan" to standardise procedures and expand its internal audit capacity, as well as working with external auditors. "After six consecutive audits in three years, SAA is firmly back on track to meet all statutory reporting deadlines, and to devote its efforts towards improved audit outcomes," it says. Lamola asserts that the latest published results "reflect significant progress in SAA's financial health", and that the airline has "strengthened the channels of our revenue streams and cost-containment measures". He cites its "debt-free" status and an "asset-rich balance sheet that is supporting the steady growth of the airline and the recovery of SAA as a global aviation brand".