United Airlines' ongoing investigation into its potential use of suspected unapproved parts that came from UK supplier AOG Technics has so far resulted in two such discoveries. The US major has learned that two of its Boeing 737NG aircraft each has AOG Technics parts in one of the CFM56 engines installed on those aircraft. "As we investigated this matter, we learned that compressor stator vane seals from this supplier had been installed on a single engine on each of two aircraft, including one that was already undergoing routine maintenance," United says.
"We are replacing the affected engines on both aircraft before they are returned to service."
The Chicago-based carrier adds that it will continue to investigate as new information becomes available from its suppliers. Separately, US carrier Southwest Airlines, which operates an all-737 fleet, said that it became aware of the issue in early August."[We] took necessary steps to ensure we do not have AOG parts within our fleet," the Dallas-based carrier says. It adds: "Our suppliers conducted a review and identified one engine that contained two low-pressure turbine blades from the vendor and out of an abundance of caution, we made an immediate decision to promptly replace those parts on that single engine." Southwest has been unable to get confirmation that those two parts are among those that are under suspicion, adding: "We proactively removed [them] solely based on the vendor that supplied them". Virgin Australia has also disclosed that two of its 737-800s were supplied with suspected unapproved parts from AOG Technics. An investigation that was initiated after the carrier was notified of falsified certification documents identified a low-pressure turbine blade on one of the aircraft. As a result, the aircraft was removed from service and the part replaced.

Lufthansa will retrofit new overhead storage bins on some of its Airbus A320s manufactured by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW). Starting early 2025, Lufthansa will have 38 A320s retrofitted with the Airspace L Bins, which EFW says create 60% more cabin luggage space versus traditional cabin systems. Installation of the larger bins can be completed in three to five days with minimal cabin modifications required. EFW chief executive Jordi Boto says that securing Lufthansa as the launch customer for the new bins is a major achievement for the company. "Becoming supplier of this cabin retrofit solution is showing that we have full capabilities to support customers with cabin interior systems,” he adds. In May, Airbus appointed EFW as the manufacturer of the Airspace L Bins for the A320 family.

American Airlines has told the US Department of Transportation that it does not plan to use most of its China frequencies through the end of the winter 2023/24 season. The US major currently operates four weekly USA-China frequencies between its Dallas/Forth Worth (DFW) hub and Shanghai (PVG) and intends to resume three additional weekly DFW-PVG services starting in mid-January 2024. However, "American does not currently anticipate using its remaining 14 weekly US–China frequencies during the 2023/2024 winter season", it says in a 13 September motion and notice to the DOT. The airline requests that the department grant a motion to extend the "dormancy/start-up condition waiver" for up to 17 of its weekly USA-mainland China frequencies beyond 28 October through the end of the 2023/2024 winter season. It notes that in March 2020, the DOT granted all US carriers holding limited-entry international route authority, including to serve China, a waiver of the start-up and dormancy conditions applicable to their authorities. The waiver was extended "several times" with respect to China, the airline highlights. In the DOT's most recent waiver extension, it required US carriers to notify the department by 1 October of limited-entry markets in which they will not resume service beginning 29 October. It also invited US carriers to seek further extension of the waiver beyond 28 October for specific city-pair limited-entry service "where the carriers can demonstrate that circumstances warrant". "American submits that circumstances justify an extension of the waiver for the full winter 2023/2024 season for 17 of its weekly US–China frequencies, including the 14 that American will not use and, to the extent necessary, the three frequencies that American plans to resume operating in mid-January 2024," the carrier says. "The department has undertaken laudable efforts to reinstate frequencies for US and Chinese air carriers so as to ensure parity for airlines of each country. However, despite these efforts, the majority of pre-pandemic frequencies remain suspended and likely will remain so through at least the 2023/2024 winter season." American adds that "pending market conditions and governmental agreements", it may request a further dormancy waiver at a later date nearing the 2024 summer season.