Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has called for the resumption of direct flights between China and India at a meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in a sign of warming ties between the two countries. “We should strive to make practical progress in resuming direct flights, sending journalists to each other, and facilitating visas as soon as possible,” says Wang on 18 November in Rio De Janeiro, where the two met on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Wang calls for both sides to “enhance mutual trust through dialogue and communication, and properly handle differences with sincerity and good faith, so as to push the bilateral relations back to the track of stable and healthy development as soon as possible”, states a readout from China’s foreign ministry. “The consensus between India and China far outweighs the differences. The two sides should view bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, properly handle relevant issues with a more positive attitude, and not let specific differences define the relationship between the two countries,” adds Jaishankar. There are currently no direct flights between the two most populous countries in the world after they were suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to that, there were 64 flights weekly flights between the two countries November 2019 schedules data shows.

Following shootings of three US-registered aircraft in Haiti last week, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 has been struck by gunfire – this time on US soil. The 737, MSN 61865, operating flight WS2494 bound for Indianapolis, was struck by gunfire "near the cockpit" around 20:30 local time on 15 November while taxiing for takeoff from Dallas Love Field, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. It adds that the aircraft returned to the gate and passengers were deplaned. "No injuries were reported and Southwest accommodated our customers on another flight," the airline advised. Southwest adds that the replacement flight "continued to Indianapolis only after the Dallas police had ascertained that there was no ongoing threat to public safety and the airport authority had reopened the runway for normal operations". The jet is nearly four years old and was originally delivered to Southwest in January 2021 with SMBC Aviation Capital listed as the manager, fleets data shows. It is one of 13 Max 8s that SMBC Aviation Capital manages for Southwest. Last week on 11 November, three US-registered aircraft operated by American Airlines, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines were hit by gunfire in Haiti. Two of those jets were managed by lessors.

US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has applied for "voluntary prearranged" Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York as it seeks to stabilise its debt position. Disclosing the application, Spirit says it has entered into a restructuring support agreement backed by bondholders and designed to help it to reduce its debt and "provide increased financial flexibility", enabling a return to financial health. Included in this agreement are backstopped commitments for a $350 million equity injection from existing bondholders. The airline will also turn $795 million of debt into equity, as part of its efforts to deleverage. Bondholders will also provide $300 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which, combined with existing liquidity, will support Spirit through the Chapter 11 process. The Miramar, Florida-based airline envisages flying as normal through the period, with all suppliers, including aircraft lessors and holders of secured aircraft indebtedness, being paid as normal. "I am pleased we have reached an agreement with a supermajority of both our loyalty and convertible bondholders on a comprehensive recapitalisation of the company, which is a strong vote of confidence in Spirit and our long-term plan," states Ted Christie, Spirit's chief executive. "This set of transactions will materially strengthen our balance sheet and position Spirit for the future while we continue executing on our strategic initiatives to transform our guest experience, providing new enhanced travel options, greater value and increased flexibility." As part of the Chapter 11 process, Spirit is filing a reorganisation plan that will incorporate the restructuring support agreement and be confirmed by the courts. Spirit expects that its shares will be cancelled with no value through the restructuring, with the airline removed from the New York Stock Exchange, although its common stock should continue to trade in the over-the-counter marketplace.