International Aero Engines has completed a test run of a V2500 engine on pure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The ground test was conducted at an MTU Aero Engine MRO facility in Hannover and is the ninth engine that Pratt & Whitney has tested running on 100% SAF. The particular SAF used has reclaimed fats as its feedstock. “This test demonstrates to our customers who are invested in the lifecycle of the V2500 that this engine continues to play a part in IAE’s sustainability strategy,” says Brandon Naples, associate director of V2500 business strategy at P&W.
The engine manufacturer has previously tested its GTS Advantage engine on pure SAF, as well as three auxiliary power units. IAE is a consortium between P&W, Japan Aero Engines and MTU Aero Engines. V2500s are one of the engine options for the Airbus A320ceo family, and power the Embraer C-390 Millenium military transport. Fleets data shows that there are over 2,600 aircraft powered by the engines in service globally.

The privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines is progressing with six parties undertaking due diligence of the national carrier. In its June meeting, the board of Pakistan's Privatisation Commission pre-qualified the bidders, which include Fly Jinnah, Air Blue, Arif Habib Corporation, plus three separate consortia led by Pak Ethanol, Blue World City and YB Holdings. Formal bidding is expected to take place in August, with the government previously indicating it will sell at least 51% of the airline, and potentially its full shareholding. In a short statement following a 3 July briefing by privatisation minister Adbul Aleem Khan with local media, the Commission said: " The Minister expressed that PIA offers a very good opportunity for its buyer to earn profit given that PIA has great potential that only requires fresh investment." Nonetheless, at that briefing, the minister noted that bidders have been concerned about the impact an ongoing ban on Pakistani carriers from operating in the European Union would have on PIA’s prospects. The ban has been in place since 2020 over concerns about deficiencies in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority's oversight of the country's airlines and was extended earlier this year following an audit by EASA in 2023. Fleets data shows that PIA has 22 aircraft in service, comprised of 12 Airbus A320s, four Boeing 777-200ERs, two -200LRs and two -300ERs, plus two ATR 42-500s. It also has a further 11 aircraft in storage, including two ATR 72-500s and five A320s.

ITA Airways plans to serve Bangkok from Rome, with flights starting from 16 November. The Italian carrier says it will operate the route at five-times weekly frequency using Airbus A330neo aircraft. It notes that this will be its first service between Italy and Thailand.