Cathay Pacific has introduced new business and premium economy seats for its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. The aircraft's standard coach sections will be refreshed as part of the cabin upgrade, the Oneworld carrier says. It adds that the first retrofitted aircraft was deployed on the Hong Kong-Beijing route on 18 October and that the new interior will be gradually rolled out to other aircraft. Fleets data shows that Cathay has 37 777-300ERs and 17 first-generation 777-300s. Its fleet additionally includes Airbus 48 A350s, 43 A330ceos, 15 A320-family jets and 20 747 freighters. The carrier's backlog comprises orders for 21 777-9s, 30 A330-900s, 33 A320neo-family jets and 6 A350Fs. Cathay notes that the 777-300ER cabin upgrade is part of a HK$100 billion ($12.9 billion) investment program until 2031. "First, we are launching our all-new business and premium economy cabins, and a refreshed economy cabin on our retrofitted 777-300ER," states commercial chief Lavinia Lau. "These will be followed by a new world-leading first-class experience onboard our 777-9s, and a brand-new flat-bed business class product on our Airbus A330s."

The US Federal Aviation Administration has disclosed that it is initiating a review of Boeing's Continued Operational Safety processes to determine if they are meeting the regulator's requirements. The FAA notes that the newly launched three-month review is part of its "aggressive oversight to ensure Boeing has the right tools to sustain lasting changes to its safety culture". It adds that the review will focus on Boeing's response time, risk-assessment quality, resource allocation and adherence to regulatory requirements and FAA policy. Boeing says that it will "continue to co-operate fully and transparently with the FAA", adding: "We support all actions that strengthen safety in aviation." The disclosure of the review follows a 9 October report from the US Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General which concludes that the FAA's audit processes are not comprehensive enough to adequately identify key discrepancies and non-compliances within the Boeing production line. The office says in the report that the compliance and enforcement action system used by the FAA "is not effective for tracking milestones or determining if identified issues are repetitive and thus require elevated FAA action".

A company linked to defunct lessor GTLK Europe is suing Qatar Airways in the UK for $93 million in rent and other costs relating to two leased Airbus A330s. STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing is taking legal action in connection with MSNs 792 and 813, which were leased to Qatar Airways in November 2019, court documents show. In the particulars-of-claim form, STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing accuses the Middle Eastern airline of having failed to pay rent on the widebodies since April 2022. The entity argues that – "contrary to suggestions" allegedly made by Qatar Airways in notices dated 2 November 2023 and in pre-action correspondence – there has been no loss of quiet enjoyment under the leases, and nor do sanctions applying to Russian state lessor GTLK or the entity's direct parent GTLK Europe (which is in liquidation) "relieve the defendant from performance". STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing adds that – following the expiry of MSN 792's lease term on 30 November 2023 and MSN 813's on 31 December 2023 – it is entitled to redelivery of the jets and the payment of end-of-lease compensation. Overall, the entity is claiming rent, end-of-lease compensation and indemnity payments totalling "at least" $93 million, which, it adds, continues to accrue in the amount of at least $1.19 million per month. Fleets data lists MSN 792 as a 2006-vintage A330 originally ordered by Qatar Airways. It was subsequently sold to Aergo Capital and leased back by the Doha-based carrier in 2018. STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing bought the jet in 2019. MSN 813 was likewise delivered to Qatar Airways, in 2007; sold to Aergo, in 2018; and purchased from the Irish lessor by STLC Europe Thirteen Leasing, in 2019.