The US government is tightening pre-departure Covid-19 testing timelines for inbound international travellers in response to the spread of the newly identified Omicron variant of Covid-19, which may be more contagious than prior variants. All inbound international travellers, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, will have to be tested within one day of departure. The White House says the new testing protocol will commence "early next week". The US government had on 8 November eased restrictions on international travellers who are non-US citizens, lifting quarantine requirements for those arriving in the nation who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In addition to showing proof of having received an accepted vaccine, incoming non-US citizens had to provide a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken no more than three days before travel. That timeframe will soon be reduced to 24h. US citizens returning on international flights who are fully vaccinated will also have to be tested no more than 24h before travel. Previously, a negative result from a test taken three days before travel was valid. For US citizens who are not fully vaccinated, there was already a requirement to provide a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 24h of travel. The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa on 24 November. The US government on 29 November began restricting travel for non-US citizens from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. International capacity for flights to the USA in December is down 37% versus pre-pandemic December 2019, a 12-percentage point improvement compared with the gap in October, when capacity was down 49%.

South African Airways has confirmed that the amended business rescue plan of its low-cost subsidiary Mango has been approved for implementation at a meeting of creditors. The plan also paves the way for Mango to find an equity partner, the airline says in a 2 December statement. According to the business rescue practitioners, the process to secure a successful bidder, inclusive of concluding the relevant acquisition agreements, is anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2022. Mango suspended flying over outstanding payments to South African air traffic services provider ATNS in July. SAA placed the unit in business rescue and was in discussions with stakeholders over the process.

New Italian flag carrier ITA has firmed up its order with Airbus for 28 aircraft, including seven A220's, 11 A320neos and 10 A330neos. ITA had placed the tentative order in October, along with an agreement to lease 31 new Airbus aircraft from Air Lease Corporation. ALC will deliver 15 A220's, two A320neos, nine A321neos and five A330-900neos to the carrier between the second half of 2022 and early 2025. Airbus says in a 1 December statement that ITA will also pursue its plans to lease A350s. The carrier has said it intends to lease 56 new-generation aircraft over the course of its business plan. These comprise 13 long-haul aircraft, including the A350-900, and 43 narrowbodies. ITA launched operations on 15 October, succeeding Italy's former flag carrier Alitalia.