The 30 A320neo order cancellations Airbus recorded in October comprised Alaska Airlines' commitment for the type.
Other changes disclosed by the European airframer included Asiana Airlines switching an A350-1000 order to the baseline -900 model, and AirAsia converting commitments for 13 A320neos to A321neos. Airbus's order and delivery data for October shows that Alaska holds no more orders with the European airframer. Seattle-based Alaska had inherited 30 A320neo orders along with a fleet of A321neos, A320ceos and A319ceos from Virgin America, which it acquired in 2018. In September, Alaska said it would operate its 10 A321neos for long-haul flights through 2023 but phase out all A320s and A319's by year-end to focus operations on its Boeing 737 fleet. Data show the airline has 166 737NGs – including three listed as being in storage – and eight Max 9s. Alaska has 85 737-9's on order and holds options for a further 18. Its active Airbus fleet comprises 24 A320ceos and the 10 A321neos. Another 18 A320ceos and all 10 A319ceos are listed as being in storage. Following Asiana's order change, the South Korean carrier has nine A350-900's and eight -1000's on order. Some 13 A350-900's have been delivered to the airline. AirAsia's order change covered its previously remaining commitment for the A320neo. The carrier has received 38 A320neos and four A321neos from Airbus and has another 362 on order, the airframer's data shows.

Virgin Australia has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 commitment and pathway will complement its existing sustainability measures, including having been the first airline in Australia to test sustainable aviation fuel in the supply chain, it says in an 8 November statement. Virgin Australia chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka announced this target at the IATA Sustainable Aviation Fuel Symposium on 4 November. Hrdlicka states: “We've all got an obligation to do the very best job we can at protecting the environment and protecting our futures." She says that while SAF "is an essential piece of the puzzle", there remains "a lot more to it than that". This will involve “working with all of our partners to ensure [this] end-to-end", she says, citing supply chain opportunities and offsetting carbon emissions where "practical and feasible to do". “We have to look at every single lever in the mix of emissions and offsets to try to get as close to net zero emissions well before 2050, wherever that's possible." She cites the need to eliminate completely single-use plastics in its operations and using recyclable items, ensuring all ground activity is done with zero emissions, and using sustainable fuels throughout its processes wherever that’s possible. The airline previously announced the addition of more fuel-efficient Boeing Max 10 aircraft to its fleet, substantial progress in reducing onboard waste, and Australian-based environmental partnerships to underpin its carbon offsets.

Qatar Airways is temporarily reactivating at least half of its 10 Airbus A380's, citing a capacity shortage which its links to the grounding of A350's as a result of premature surface degradation. The airline says it "reluctantly took the decision" to reintroduce the A380 because it faces "significant" capacity limitations following the grounding of 19 A350s earlier this year. Qatar Airways plans to deploy A380s on selected routes, including to London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle, from 15 December. One of the carrier's A380s was ferried from Doha International airport to Qatar Airways' nearby hub at Hamad International airport as part of the effort. The transfer represented the first A380 flight for Qatar Airways since the fleet was placed in storage in 2020, the airline notes. Chief executive Akbar Al Baker states that the A350 grounding "left us with no alternative but to temporarily bring some of our A380 fleet back on key winter routes. "This difficult decision reflects the gravity of the A350 issue and is intended to be a short-term measure to assist us in balancing our commercial needs. It does not signify a permanent reintroduction of our A380 fleet." He says the A350 surface degradation issue "remains an unresolved matter" between the airline and Airbus, and that "the root cause is yet to be understood". Al Baker has repeatedly raised the issue throughout this year. In August, Qatar Airways said it had been instructed by its national regulator to ground some of its A350s because of premature surface degradation. Finnair said that it noticed "some signs of paint deterioration" in its A350 fleet and worked with Airbus on resolving the issue. Airbus, for its part, says "some" A350s have been repainted because of the issue and returned to operation. "Each customer is unique and has its own livery requirements. We are working with our customers on a one-to-one basis," Airbus said last month. However, the airframer says root causes have been identified and that it provided operators with "additional guidelines" on aircraft stripping and painting. Qatar Airways has additionally reintroduced a number of A330's to create more capacity while travel restrictions are being eased, it says. Despite emphasising his airline's reluctance to reactivate A380s, Al Baker states: "One of Qatar Airways' greatest assets is our highly flexible fleet of diverse aircraft. This means we are not dependent on a specific aircraft type."