US Senate confirms former Republic chief to lead FAA
July 10, 2025
Former Republic Airways chief executive Bryan Bedford has been confirmed by the US Senate as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Republic disclosed on 2 July that Bedford had retired as chief executive of the Indianapolis, Indiana-based carrier after serving more than 25 years in that role. Board chair David Grizzle succeeded Bedford as chief executive on 2 July. US president Donald Trump in March nominated Bedford to lead the FAA after the previous FAA administrator, Mike Whitaker, resigned from the agency on 20 January, the day of Trump's presidential inauguration. The Senate on 9 July voted 53-43 in favour of Bedford's confirmation as FAA administrator. Only one Democratic senator, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, voted to confirm Bedford.
EASA tells airlines to avoid Iranian airspace
July 09, 2025
The European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has posted an updated Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) that tells airlines travelling to or from Europe to avoid Iranian airspace until at least the end of the month. Published on 7 July, the latest bulletin notes that – following recent military action taken by Israel and the USA against Iran, and the retaliatory strikes – a rapid re-emergence of the conflict could occur with little warning. The Iranian authorities have taken measures to address airspace risks with temporary airspace closures and restrictions, but EASA warns that "a sudden resumption of hostilities, due to their unpredictable nature, could pose challenges to the timely and effective implementation of such measures". It says Iran is likely to maintain "elevated alert levels for its air force and air defense units nationwide, particularly in light of the potential for further ad-hoc military actions from their adversaries". EASA also highlights the risk of miscalculation and/or misidentification of civilian aircraft in Iranian airspace. On 13 June, the agency issued a CZIB telling airlines to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon amid the conflict with Iran. This wider CZIB was revised on 30 June and withdrawn on 7 July. The closure of Iran has added to the problems faced by airlines travelling between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as large chunks of airspace in each region are now off-limits. Ukrainian airspace has been closed to all civilian air operators since the war began there in 2022. Russian airspace closed to Western operators soon afterwards. Meanwhile, Pakistani airspace has been closed to Indian carriers since hostilities broke out between the two countries earlier this year. Flight-tracking data shows aircraft travelling up the Persian Gulf and over Iraq and Türkiye to reach Europe or flying across Saudi Arabia and north to the Mediterranean via Egypt.
Boeing first-half deliveries at highest level since 2018
July 09, 2025
Boeing delivered 60 commercial aircraft and booked 116 gross orders in June. Last month's deliveries comprised 42 737 Max jets, nine 787s, four 777 Freighters, two 767Fs and three 767-based KC-46 tankers, Boeing data shows. The US airframer highlights it delivered eight aircraft to customers in China. Deliveries to the nation had previously been suspended amid tensions over the US government's newly imposed trade tariffs. Fleet data shows that of the 42 Max jets delivered in June, three had first flown in 2019, one in 2021, and one in 2022. Year-to-date deliveries had reached 280 aircraft at 30 June, comprising 209 737s (including three P-8A maritime patrol aircraft), 37 787s,14 767s and 20 777s. Boeing notes that first-half figure of 280 and the second quarter's 150 represented the highest delivery volumes for the periods since 2018. During the first half of 2024, Boeing delivered 175 aircraft: 137 737s (including two P-8As), 22 787s, nine 767s and seven 777s. Boeing's 116 gross orders in June 2025 included 42 Max jets and 30 787s for unidentified customers. Alaska Airlines additionally placed a follow-on order of 12 Max jets, and Boeing booked 32 787s for British Airways, which the airline's parent IAG had disclosed in May. Singapore Airlines cancelled three Max orders. Boeing in June moved 43 orders from its backlog to the ASC 606 accounting category, an adjustment to recognise that not all orders lead to deliveries. Combined with the three cancellations, this meant that the 116 gross orders translated to 70 net orders. On 30 June, Boeing's year-to-date gross tally was 668. Factoring in 43 cancellations/conversions and, in the opposite direction, an ASC 606 adjustment of 51, net orders came in at 676.