Delta Air Lines is in talks with Airbus for a significant wide-body aircraft order, according to people familiar with the matter, as rising demand for long-haul flying prompts airlines to restore post-Covid networks and replace older planes. The talks cover both A350 and A330neo twin-aisle jets, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential negotiations. An agreement isn’t assured, they cautioned. A potential order could total dozens of planes, as Delta works to replace a combined fleet of more than 100 older A330 and Boeing Co. 767 models, one of the people said. An Airbus spokesperson declined to comment, as did an official at Delta. Long-distance flying is catching up with an earlier rebound in shorter journeys following the deep travel slump caused by the pandemic. Airlines are locking in delivery slots now in a bet on a sustained recovery, and to ensure access to new jets as manufacturing issues, including shortages of parts and labor, drag on. Delta is increasing seats on aircraft flying international routes by more than 20% this quarter versus a year ago, and about 75% of global seats had already been booked, President Glen Hauenstein said on an April 13 conference all. It’s operating its largest transatlantic schedule ever. “We are excited with the momentum we’re seeing and expect record revenues and profitability for the summer travel season,” he said at the time. The talks for A330neo and A350 jets aren’t yet at an advanced stage, the people said. But Airbus and Boeing’s marquee wide-body jets are in high demand, giving both sides an incentive to reach an agreement ahead of next month’s Paris Air Show, the aviation industry’s largest trade expo. Atlanta-based Delta already operates both Airbus models and has hinted at buying more A330s. It’s the biggest operator of that Airbus type, with 63 planes as of March, including 21 of the re-engined A330neo, which has improved fuel economy. Delta’s older A330-200s average 18 years, and its A330-300s 14 years.<br/>
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Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has settled with several airlines, including KLM, over the damage they suffered after forced cancellations in 2022, Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reported on Monday, citing KLM. It said the size of the settlement was unclear and none of the parties involved wanted to make substantive statements about the deal. Both Schiphol and KLM, the Dutch arm of airline Air France-KLM, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Last year, Schiphol - one of Europe’s busiest airports - was forced to ask several airlines to cancel flights as it suffered from labour and logistics issues when passenger travel surged again after the end of COVID-19 lockdowns. <br/>
China Southern Airlines on Monday officially resumed its passenger air services between Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, and Busan in the Republic of Korea. The route was halted for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China Southern Airlines is currently the only operator of passenger flights between the two cities, according to a subsidiary of the airline in Shenyang. The route is operated three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Following the lifting of travel restrictions, China Southern Airlines' subsidiary in Shenyang is gradually restoring and increasing international flights to facilitate economic, trade and personnel exchanges between Liaoning and Northeast Asia. <br/>