Boeing settled lawsuits with the families of two victims killed in the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX on the eve of trial, lawyers for the families said. The trial in the U.S. District Court in Chicago was set to be the first against the plane maker stemming from two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to the bestselling plane’s 20-month grounding and cost Boeing more than $20b. Boeing agreed in 2021 to acknowledge liability for compensatory damages in lawsuits filed by families of the 157 people killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash. The families of Antoine Lewis and Darcy Belanger are settling. Lewis, 39, was a U.S. Army captain on military leave taking a trip to Africa to investigate opportunities to begin a logistics business, while Belanger, 46, of Denver, Colorado, was flying to a United Nations Environmental Assembly where he was scheduled to speak. Boeing did not immediately comment. Terms of the settlements were not released. There are two other trials set for July and November. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said last week that the plane maker is in discussions with the U.S. Justice Department to reach a revised plea agreement in a criminal fraud case stemming from the plane maker’s alleged misrepresentations to regulators about a key safety system on the 737 MAX. Boeing agreed in July to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge after two fatal 737 MAX crashes and to pay a fine of up to $487.2m. A judge set a June 23 trial date if no final agreement is reached.<br/>
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AviLease, the aircraft lessor headquartered in Saudi Arabia, has signed a strategic agreement with Turkish Airlines for long-term leases of eight Airbus A320neo aircraft. Two of the aircraft have already been delivered, with the remaining six scheduled for delivery throughout 2025, reported SPA. AviLease CEO Edward O’Byrne expressed delight in strengthening the relationship with Turkish Airlines, stating, "These aircraft will support Turkish Airlines’ growth plans while contributing to their fleet modernization strategy and sustainability goals." AviLease’s portfolio consists of 200 owned and managed aircraft, including purchase commitments, on lease to 48 airlines.<br/>
Star Alliance member Air China will launch a twice-weekly service between its Beijing (Capital Airport) base and Toronto starting 20 May, complementing existing service on partner Air Canada. The flights will be operated by the Chinese flag carrier’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, including lie-flat business class seating in a 2-2-2 configuration and 3-3-3/3-4-3 economy class cabins. This will be the first time in over 30 years that Air China has had passenger service to Toronto. Air China has a group fleet of 930 aircraft, including 28 Boeing 777 aircraft, 14 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 747-8s. In 2024, Air China’s passenger revenue increased significantly, especially on international routes, but the flag carrier still recorded another net loss for the year.<br/>