Members of the Dutch pilots’ union VNV have called off a strike at KLM scheduled for 25 September after an outline collective labour agreement was reached with the carrier. The deal, which was sealed late on 24 September, lays the ground for more detailed work to be completed in the coming days and approval by VNV's members. Key to the agreement was movement on additional pay. Pilots will receive an average wage increase of 5% per year over the two-year term from 1 September, plus a one-off 2% payment to reflect the late start date of the agreement, says the VNV. The deal covers the period from 2 March this year until end-February 2025. "We are happy that we were ultimately able to achieve this result through constructive consultation," says KLM. VNV notes that the agreement follows "months of consultations" and was struck "under threat of action". The union adds that is "pleased that KLM has taken the necessary steps to create a collective labour agreement that does justice to our reasonable wishes and proposals".

Air France KLM Group has announced firm orders for 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, along with purchase rights for 40 more of the widebody jets in a bid to upgrade the long-haul fleet of its airlines with deliveries expected to occur from 2026 through 2030. This complements an existing order for 41 A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have been delivered to date, the European airline group states, along with existing an order for eight A350 full freighters. These A350s are intended to replace the group's older A330 and Boeing 777s. Fleets data shows that Air France and KLM operate 14 A330-200s, 18 777-200ERs and 43 777-300ERs between them. Pending standard company approvals, Air France-KLM chief executive Benjamin Smith states on 25 September that these combined orders would position the group to be the world's largest operator of A350 family aircraft. The group would have "over 220 aircraft on order" with the addition of this new agreement, Smith adds, including 100 A320neo family aircraft that are expected to begin delivery before 2024. "It will be instrumental in helping the group reach our ambitious sustainability targets", Smith states of the A350 order and its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 30% per passenger kilometre by 2030. As of September 25, Air France-KLM states that it operated a fleet of 533 aircraft to over 300 destinations worldwide.

The US government has met its quota for 2023 to hire new air traffic controllers [ATCs], Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told a congressional committee on 20 September, urging lawmakers to avoid a federal shutdown that could halt training for those new hires and further damage air traffic congestion. In his opening statement to the US House Committee on Transportation nd Infrastructure, Buttigieg praised House of Representatives lawmakers for passing in July legislation to set funding and priorities for the US Federal Aviation Administration. "We hit our goal for air traffic controller hiring this year, with a total of 2,600 ATCs now in training." he says. "A government shutdown would stop that training. Even a shutdown lasting a few weeks could set us back by months or more because of how complex that training is." A Senate committee faces a deadline to advance its version of the FAA reauthorisation bill for approval by that chamber. The current version of that legislation required every five years, enacted in 2018, expires on 30 September. Both chambers of Congress are required to propose their own bills and reconcile their differences before advancing the same bill for the US president to sign into law, a process intended to balance power in the US legislative branch. The House and Senate also face a deadline of 30 September to agree upon other federal budget legislation that, if not passed, could result in a shutdown of government services that are not deemed essential. The House committee ranking Democratic member Rick Larsen said during the hearing that the annual federal budget review is "threatening to end in a self-inflicted government shutdown" and urged both chambers to pass legislation in time to keep the government running. Congress has in the past voted for temporary measures to keep the government operating and create more time to reconcile differences and pass annual federal budget legislation. "We are counting on FAA reauthorisation legislation that ultimately passes to provide additional, critical authorities and resources needed to keep our airports and communities safe," Buttigieg says. Certain federal services deemed essential including air traffic controllers currently in service at airports would remain on the job during a government shutdown but training of new controllers would halt without new federal spending. Shortages of air traffic controllers employed by the FAA have been among the factors contributing to more disruptions and delays for US carriers, making it harder for carriers to maintain schedules when responding to severe weather and other incidents. Outlining some achievements by the FAA, Buttigieg said "we helped airlines lower cancelation rates from their pandemic spikes down to 1.6% this year, which is also below 2019 rates. "And we have a wave of new rules underway to protect passengers when their flights are delayed or cancelled, and to get rid of junk fees for things like being seated next to your kid." Political debates in both the House and Senate over spending and priorities would need to be reconciled in time for the 30 September deadline to enact legislation. These issues include proposals that would mandate consumer protections from airlines including restrictions on fees charged for baggage or seating, along with a proposal to raise the legally required pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 as a means to help airlines retain flight crews while new hires can be trained.