The European Commission has approved €1.9 million ($2 million) in state aid to Romanian carrier Tarom to compensate for losses on 14 routes from July to December 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tarom experienced a steep decline in traffic and profitability during the reported period. Approved under regulations relating to compensation for companies in exceptional occurrences, the aid will take the form of a capital injection. It follows the approval in October of compensation for damage suffered between 16 March and 30 June 2020.

Airbus is nearing the beginning of A321XLR flight tests as the first aircraft emerges from the company's paint shop in Hamburg. The European airframer released a video via Twitter on 2 May that shows the twinjet (MSN 11,000) being painted at Airbus' facility in the German city. The aircraft bears the registration F-WXLR. Flight tests will begin in 2022 for entry-into-service scheduled next year, Airbus said in December 2021. Two additional A321XLRs (MSNs 11058 and 11080) are being assembled in Hamburg that will be involved in the flight test programme. The first aircraft is powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines and will be partially furnished with a passenger cabin in addition to flight test equipment. Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G is an alternative engine option on the A320neo family. Airbus previously said that the main difference in the A321XLR's production process versus other A321 variants is at section assembly level, in the pre-final assembly line, where a rear centre fuel tank is being installed in the aircraft aft fuselage, below the main deck. Capable of holding 12,900 litres of fuel, the rear centre tank increases the twinjet's range – in combination with an additional, optional forward centre tank – to 4,700nm (8,700km), from 4,000nm on the A321LR. Other changes on the A321XLR include a modified fuel-management system and a larger wastewater tank to accommodate longer flights. Data shows that Airbus has received 205 A321XLR orders. The airframer's A321neo backlog comprises 3,459 orders. Some 741 A321neos have been delivered, including 69 A321LRs. Of the A321neo fleet, 49 aircraft are listed as being in storage. Airbus's A320neo and A319neo backlog stand at 2,345 and 64 orders, respectively.

South African Airways interim chief executive Thomas Kgokolo will leave the carrier at the end of April after a year at the helm. The airline says it has appointed John Lamola as new executive chairman and chief executive, effective 1 May. Lamola has been non-executive chairman of SAA's interim board since July last year. SAA has made "significant strides in improving revenue and reopening services both locally and regionally" since exiting a business rescue process in April 2021, it says. The airline adds it is fully focused on its transition to control by envisaged majority shareholder, Takatso Consortium, which is set to take a 51% shareholding in SAA later this year.