Air Baltic has conducted a certification test flight of SpaceX's Starlink high-speed internet aboard an Airbus A220-300. The flight, departing from its home base in Riga, tested both the Starlink aero terminal and internet connection quality as it progresses towards obtaining certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Latvian carrier says. "This is a game-changer in the future of air travel, and the test flight brings us one step closer to revolutionising the travel experience for our passengers," says Air Baltic president and chief executive Martin Gauss. "We are thrilled to lead the way in Europe and be the first airline in this region to offer for free Starlink's reliable, high-speed internet. By integrating Starlink, we are set to elevate the travel experience for passengers across the airBaltic network throughout Europe and beyond." Air Baltic is working with Starlink to secure the necessary supplemental type certification (STC), which is further to be approved by EASA. The airline expects to begin installing Starlink on its single-type fleet of A220-300s in the first quarter of 2025.

Jeju Air has cancelled more than 2,000 flights in the first quarter ending March as it grapples with the aftermath of the Boeing 737-800 crash that killed 179 people on 29 December 2024. The South Korean carrier had previously said it would be cutting 10-15% of its flights during the winter season to "enhance operational stability and punctuality". Schedule snapshot data comparing Jeju Air's flight schedules for the first quarter shows the total number of flights reducing from about 19,500 to 17,200 between 30 December and 6 January, representing a decrease of 11.5%. For the quarter, the carrier will suspend all flights from Muan to Nagasaki, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Taipei and Zhangjiajie, according to a 3 January update on its website. Four-times-weekly flights from Busan to Clark will be cancelled from 22 January to 30 March, while daily flights to Kaohsiung will be suspended between 3 February and 29 March. Reduced domestic services include those from Jeju to Gimpo, Busan and Cheongju. Flights from Jeju to Muan are suspended for the entire quarter. As investigations into the crash continue, authorities have extended the closure of Muan International airport until 14 January, according to a 6 January update from South Korea's ministry of land, infrastructure and transport. The exact cause of the accident remains unclear, though authorities have converted audio files from the cockpit voice recorder into a transcript and the flight data recorder has been sent to the US for data extraction. Investigators are also conducting an in-depth analysis of key parts of the aircraft that have been retrieved, including its engines, cockpit panel and wings.

Mesa Air Group is selling 18 Embraer 175s to United Airlines, which the US major will lease back to the regional carrier, according to a regulatory disclosure. Phoenix, Arizona-based regional carrier Mesa expects gross proceeds of about $229 million from the sale of the aircraft, about $142 million of which will be used to pay off associated debt, it says in a 7 January US Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The sale of eight of the 18 E175s closed on 31 December, while the sale of the remaining 10 aircraft is expected to close on or before 31 January 2025. "Concurrently with closing date with respect to each aircraft acquired by United, Mesa Airlines and United have entered into, and will enter into with respect to the remaining 10 aircraft, lease agreements pursuant to which Mesa Airlines will lease each such aircraft from United on the terms set forth in the applicable lease agreements," Mesa says. United tells says that it does not "have anything to share past Mesa's announcement". Mesa operates 50 E175s on behalf of United's regional operation, United Express, fleet data shows. Chicago-based United in January 2023 gained a 10% shareholding in Mesa related to a capacity-purchase agreement enacted in December 2022. United got one seat on Mesa's board as part of the deal, which included a $10 million revolving loan. A year later, in January 2024, United and Mesa amended their capacity-purchase agreement, in a deal designed to provide the regional carrier with additional liquidity. Separately, Mesa on 24 December 2024 sold 15 used CRJ900 airframes, together with landing gear and certain related parts, to a third party, it disclosed in the 7 January SEC filing. It says: "Gross proceeds from the sale of the airframes are expected to be $19 million, all of which will be used to pay down our loan with the US Treasury."