The US Department of Transportation has fined Air Canada $250,000 for operating flights carrying United Airlines' code in the Baghdad flight information region, contravening a Federal Aviation Administration flight prohibition for US operators. According to a 26 September regulatory filing, an investigation by the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection revealed that between October 2022 and January 2023, Air Canada operated "numerous flights" carrying the UA code between the United Arab Emirates and Canada that transited the FIR. "Several flights took place after OACP issued an investigation letter to Air Canada regarding this issue," the filing adds. In a response from Air Canada included in the filing, the carrier states that "it has always been aware of, and has always complied with, DOT's policy on flights over conflict zones". It says it took "immediate action" after receiving DOT notice that its codeshare flights "might have traversed" the prohibited airspace. It issued a crew alert and revised route briefing notes reminding its flight crews of the restrictions. Air Canada further states that the flights that entered the prohibited airspace were "unplanned, inadvertent, limited in number, and of brief duration" and occurred when it deployed 777-300ERs on the route, as "aircraft loads and variations from forecast weather conditions sometimes resulted in the aircraft being heavier than planned when it reached [the restricted airspace]". Air traffic control, it adds, may also have not given permission to climb to the height to avoid the restricted airspace until after the flight was already inside it. United's code was removed from Air Canda's Dubai-Toronto services on 13 January 2023. Air Canada must pay $125,000 within 60 days of 27 September and an additional $125,000 if, within one year, it violates the order's cease and desist or payment provisions. The DOT says the fine "establishes a strong deterrent against future similar unlawful practices by Air Canada and other carriers". In June, the DOT fined Emirates $1.5 million for similar airspace violations on flights that carried JetBlue Airways' code.

Qantas will commence a new codeshare partnership with South African carrier Airlink from late October as it increases capacity to Johannesburg. The codeshare agreement will see Qantas add nine destinations in South Africa to its network: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George, Hoedspruit, Nelspruit, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Skukuza. Qantas adds that pending regulatory approval, the codeshare will expand to other destinations in southern Africa served by Airlink over the coming months. The codeshare was announced on 30 September, the same day that the airline operated its first Airbus A380 flight on the Sydney-Johannesburg route. Schedules data shows that it will operate five to six times per week, replacing Boeing 787-9s. "This extra capacity, combined with our new codeshare with Airlink, will significantly expand the options for Qantas customers heading to Africa, strengthening the connections between family and friends, business and trade as well as supporting the tourism industry on both sides of the Indian Ocean," says Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace. The airline adds that pending border approvals, it intends to launch nonstop Perth-Johannesburg flights from mid-2025. South African Airways is the only other operator between Australia and South Africa, flying thrice-weekly Perth-Johannesburg services using A340-300s.

Avation made an operating profit of $83.2 million operating profit in its financial year ended 30 June, up 16% from the previous year. Revenue marginally declined to $92.4 million, while net profit was up 53%, to $19.7 million, the Singapore-based lessor says. During the year, Avation ordered 10 ATR 72-600 turboprops which are scheduled for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2028. The lessor says it exercised 10 purchase rights for the order and received six additional purchase rights as part of the deal, while the expiry date for all purchase rights was extended to 2034. Overall, Avation holds 24 purchase rights for new ATR 72s today. Aviation sold two previously ordered ATR 72-600s, which are scheduled for delivery in October 2024 and March 2025, to partially fund predelivery payments for the 10 aircraft, it says. It additionally also sold one ATR 72-500 and one ATR 72-600 aircraft during the year. In December 2023, it transitioned an Airbus A320 to a new lessee. A previously off-lease ATR 72-600 started a lease with PNG Air in Papua New Guinea in April. Two Airbus A320s, two ATR 72-600s and an ATR 72-500 were re-financed with fixed rate long-term loans. A lessee exercised purchase options and acquired two ATR 72-600s from Avation. During the period, the lessor reduced its net indebtedness by 10.9%, to $652 million. Avation repurchased $18 million unsecured notes, priced at 8.25%, maturing in October 2026, during the year. The company says "it may pursue additional repurchases or liability management exercises from time to time" to reduce the outstanding amount of unsecured debt in issue. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year stood at $23.6 million, down from $24.8 million at the end of the previous financial year. Avation's fleet comprised 34 aircraft, including five aircraft on finance lease, on 30 June.