European Commission proposals aimed at reducing airlines' carbon emissions may harm competition in the bloc while doing little for the environment, Austrian Airlines has warned. Responding to the "Fit for 55" proposals published by the European Commission on 14 July – designed to enable the sector to contribute a broader goal of a 55% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 – the Vienna-based carrier's chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech states that "the measures must not distort competition, otherwise the climate will not be helped but the domestic economy will be damaged to the greatest possible extent". "The European institutions should not put any additional hurdles in the way of domestic aviation, but rather build the launch pad for the use of climate-friendly sustainable fuels," he adds. "For the planned quota of sustainable fuels, however, a financing mechanism must be found that includes all providers equally and does not leave the burden on European wings alone." The Fit for 55 proposals seeks to tighten airlines' emissions trading, introduce a kerosene tax for flights within Europe, and enact a rapidly increasing mandatory blending quota for sustainable aviation fuels. Austrian Airlines, together with its parent Lufthansa Group, has set itself a goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Delta Air Lines is offering to buy back up to $1 billion of $7.25 billion in outstanding notes. In a regulatory filing, the US carrier says it is seeking to buy back up to $800,000 of its $3.5 billion outstanding 7% senior unsecured notes due in 2025. It is further open to buying back a portion of its $1.25 billion 7.375% notes due 2026 and some of its $2.5 billion 4.5% senior secured notes due in 2025 which were co-issued its SkyMiles IP subsidiary. Atlanta-based Delta issued the three tranches of debt in 2020 as it sought to shore up its liquidity position amid the pandemic. The early tender time for the buyback is 17:00 ET on 28 July. The tender offer is to expire at 23:59 on 11 August.

Vietnam Airlines is poised to resume operating to Australia and to the capitals of Japan and Thailand. The Vietnamese flag carrier says it will serve Sydney and Melbourne from Ho Chi Minh City, twice and once weekly starting from 15 and 20 July, respectively, until 30 October. Japanese capital Tokyo will be served twice weekly from Hanoi as of 17 July, likewise until 30 October. Between 1 August and 30 October, the carrier will add a weekly flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Thai capital Bangkok, and during the same span a weekly Tokyo service will be operated from the same Vietnamese city. Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft will be deployed on these routes. Vietnam Airlines has also disclosed plans for limited operations to European destinations from Hanoi. Departures to Frankfurt in Germany are scheduled on 25 July, 28 July and 21 August, with return flights the next day in each case. There will be flights to London on 13 August and 2 September, with returns again programmed for the following day.