Emirates Group has posted a net profit of $2.7 billion for its six months ended 30 September, more than doubling it from 2022's half-year profit of $1.2 billion. This was driven by strong demand for air transport across the world, which has been on an upward trajectory since the last pandemic travel restrictions were lifted, the Dubai-based group says. Revenue across the group, which includes Emirates Airline and ground-based services company Dnata, increased 20% year on year to $18.3 billion. Emirates' revenue was up 19% to $16.2 billion and profit increased 134% year on year to $2.6 billion. Dnata's revenue was up 27% to $2.5 billion as operations ramped up, and its profit increased 200% to $193 million. Emirates carried 26.1 million passengers during the period, up 31% year on year. Capacity, as measured in available seat-kilometres, was boosted 30%. "We are seeing the fruition of our plans to return stronger and better from the dark days of the pandemic," states chief executive Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, adding, "The group has surpassed previous records to report our best-ever half-year performance." The group ended the period with $11.6 billion in cash.

Airbus delivered 71 aircraft to 42 customers in October, bringing the total number of deliveries for the first 10 months in 2023 to 559 units to 81 customers. The European airframer says a total of ten widebody aircraft were delivered, including eight A350s and two A330s. Air India received two A350-900s, while Iberia, Starlux, China Eastern Airlines, Air France, Asiana Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines all received one each. One of the A330-900s was sent to Air Lease Corporation, which is scheduled to be delivered to ITA Airways, with the other being delivered to Delta Air Lines. Airbus delivered a total of 61 narrowbody aircraft in October 2023 including nine A220s to Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Comlux, ITA Airways, Bulgaria Air and Air France. Out of the 23 A320neos that were delivered, four were delivered to Saudi Arabia's Flynas, and two were delivered to Spirit Airlines. Korean Air took delivery of two A321neos, with other airlines such as Vietjet Air, Air New Zealand, and Gulf Air. Airbus says that the orders so far this year have reached 1,399 aircraft with a net total of 1,334 units after cancellations. In October 2023, Airbus took orders for a total of 119 units and the largest of those orders came from United Airlines, which placed an order for 60 A321neos. Cathay Pacific also made a purchase of eight A320neos and 24 A321neos. Air Niugini, the flag carrier of Papua New Guinea, ordered six A220s. Three undisclosed customers also placed orders for eight A220s, three A321neos, and ten A350-900s.

Madagascar Airlines has disclosed that its financial situation is "critical", and plans to address this with a temporary suspension of long-haul services and refocusing on its domestic network. The creation of Madagascar Airlines as a merger of Tsaradia and Air Madagascar was announced in 2021 amid the launch of a restructuring plan. In the last nine months of 2022, the carrier accumulated losses of about $25 million, and it expects to report "approximately the same" for the same period this year, it says. It adds that debts have "significantly worsened" over an 18-month period, to reach $36 million. The losses are attributed by the airline to its attempts to maintain a long-haul operation through wet-lease arrangements and the high price of fuel. The combination of the wet-lease expenditure and the cost of fuel has resulted in monthly losses of $2.8 million. "Heavy operating losses on the long haul... quickly dried up the company's cash flow, leading to the impossibility of paying our suppliers, including for the purchase of parts and maintenance equipment," says the airline, noting that this "had the effect of triggering a vicious circle". Delays in maintenance have rendered a large portion of the ATR turboprop fleet unavailable, leading to numerous delays and cancellations. Madagascar Airlines has appointed Mamy Rakotondraibe as board chair and it is looking to implement a new business plan called Phoenix 2030. The carrier asserts that profitability, development and renewal are within its reach provided that ambitious but reasonable fleet and investment choices are made. While a "temporary" suspension of European long-haul flights has been decided upon, the airline will continue to maintain its international codeshare with French operator Corsair. Madagascar Airlines plans to "restore the fundamentals" by shifting its focus to the domestic network, restructuring the ATR fleet, and replenishing its maintenance capabilities. Fleets data lists Tsaradia as having four ATR 72-500s in service or storage: two leased from Abelo and two from Falko. The domestic operator has two ATR 72-600s in service – both leased from Abelo – and three more on order. Madagascar Airlines' chief executive Thierry de Bailleul describes the suspension of long-haul services as a "necessary evil" that will enable it to "straighten out" its accounts without the need for public funds. "By refocusing on the domestic network for a few months, Madagascar Airlines will be able to redress its accounts and regain profitability," he adds. The carrier will resume long-haul services "within a few months" once it is in position to operate dry-lease flights, de Bailleul predicts.