BUSINESS NEWS


Engine shortage set to hinder Airbus deliveries


Airbus delivered just over 790 commercial aircraft last year and has targeted delivering 870 this year despite a continuing shortage of engines and assuming “no additional disruptions to global trade or the world economy, air traffic [or] the supply chain”. The aircraft maker reported a 6%


rise in revenue year on year to €73 billion in 2025, of which €53 billion came from commercial aircraft sales, and a net profit of €268 million, more than double that in 2024. However, the profit rise was “mainly” due to a “revaluation of investments and financial instruments”.


An Airbus ACJ business jet Chief executive Guillaume


Faury hailed 2025 as “a landmark year” with “strong demand” despite “a complex operating environment” and “significant Pratt & Whitney engine shortages” given the supplier’s “failure to commit to the number of engines ordered”. Airbus reported the backlog of orders hit a record of 8,754 aircraft.


US government orders airlines to axe diversity hiring programmes


US airlines have been ordered by the government to “purge” diversity, equity and inclusion policies when hiring pilots. The Federal Aviation


Administration (FAA) issued a mandatory requirement that airlines commit to “merit-based hiring for pilots” and terminate any reference to sex or race when hiring or risk investigation. Transportation secretary Sean


Duffy said: “Families should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best.” A joint statement by the


Department of Transportation and


FAA referred to “absurd directives” by the previous administration and to “allegations of airlines hiring based on race and sex”. President Trump


claimed diversity schemes were to blame for a collision between an


Delta Air Lines


American Airlines jet and a helicopter in January 2025,


saying orders issued by Presidents Obama and Biden had allowed people with “severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities” to become air traffic controllers. A Delta Air Lines spokesperson said: “Delta has always made hiring decisions based on qualifications and merit.”


‘Suspend Qatar’s open-skies deal’ Ian Taylor


Major European airlines have demanded the EC scrap an open-skies agreement with Qatar after the official who oversaw the negotiations was fired. The chief executives of Lufthansa,


Air France-KLM and SAS wrote to EC president Ursula von der Leyen last week noting the dismissal of former director-general for transport Henrik Hololei on January 29 following an investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office. Hololei headed the EC’s transport


directorate from 2015 to 2023, when he was moved to another department


after Brussels-based media outlet Politico reported allegations Hololei had accepted multiple free flights and gifts for himself and his family from Qatar Airways. The EC signed a Comprehensive


travelweekly.co.uk


Air Transport Agreement with Qatar – an open-skies agreement – in 2021. A formal investigation into


Hololei began in March 2025. The airline chiefs, together with


the heads of the European Network Airlines’ Association, the European Cockpit Association representing pilots, the European Cabin Crew Association and European Transport Workers’ Federation, told Von der Leyen: “The agreement granting unrestricted access to the EU aviation market cannot stand.” They demanded she “immediately


suspend” the agreement. The EC is currently in negotiations with Qatar over a ‘strategic partnership’ and seeking to buy more natural gas from the Gulf state. The EC has not officially


confirmed Hololei’s dismissal but said it had “concluded a disciplinary procedure” with “a senior official” and


European carriers argue the EC should revoke Qatar Airways’ flying rights in EU airspace


“appropriate measures had been taken”. However, Hololei told Politico: “I’m disappointed. But I’m happy this long process has come to a conclusion.” Leading network carriers and


some member states have been sceptical of the deal which opened European airspace to Qatar Airways since it was announced and previously called for it to be suspended, arguing it was unfair on competition grounds since Gulf carriers are not subject to EU restrictions on state aid or environmental regulations.


An EC spokesperson insisted


“negotiations were conducted in a fully transparent manner” and claimed the final text of the agreement was “endorsed unanimously”. However, it has yet to be signed off by 12 member states. A Qatar government official


said: “Qatar operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations” and rejected “any suggestion that Qatar has acted outside these frameworks”. Qatar Airways has yet to comment.


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PICTURE: Shutterstock/Miguel Lagoa


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