FlightGlobal
• Kerry Reals
Norse Atlantic says it has received strong interest in a possible takeover following a disappointing second quarter. The Scandinavian carrier expects a decision within a month on how to reallocate Boeing 787s returned by IndiGo after the termination of their leases.
Aircraft Demand: Airline Distress & Consolidation
Latest source-backed stories
Norse Atlantic says it has received strong interest in a possible takeover following a disappointing second quarter. The Scandinavian carrier expects a decision within a month on how to reallocate Boeing 787s returned by IndiGo after the termination of their leases.
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Norse Atlantic is seeking new placements for up to five Boeing 787-9s returning from IndiGo as Europe’s ACMI market contracts 25.8%. The Norwegian carrier reported record TRASK but negative $8.4 million EBITDAR in Q2, citing fuel costs and lower fleet utilization, while considering sale or merger options.
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A bankruptcy court has delayed approval of Google’s proposed $10 million purchase of Spirit Airlines’ deidentified corporate data, including emails, chats and internal documents, for AI training. Former flight attendants and their union argue the sale could expose employee records, while Google says identifying information will be removed; passenger and loyalty-program data are excluded.
Kenya’s National Treasury says it aims to finalize a strategic partnership for Kenya Airways by December 2026, seeking to recapitalize the flag carrier and reduce its reliance on government support. The timetable gives potential investors and policymakers a defined horizon for resolving the airline’s financial dependence on the state.
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An Indian court will rehear bankruptcy petitions filed by aircraft lessors against cash-strapped SpiceJet before a new bench, after the airline reached a last-minute settlement with one lessor. The ruling delays proceedings and resets a closely watched test of lessors’ remedies against distressed airlines in India.
Argentina’s Flybondi has reportedly gone 12 consecutive days without operating flights, while an investor dispute and frozen funds over tax debts paralyze operational decision-making. The low-cost carrier is also considering a potential insolvency proceeding, with its website reportedly returning a 504 error.
Peru’s competition watchdog has approved Abra Group’s acquisition of control of SKY Airline following a second-phase review, subject to limits on exclusivity. The transaction brings the Chilean low-cost carrier into the group that includes Avianca, expanding Abra’s position in Latin American aviation.
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Google will acquire deidentified Spirit Airlines data after winning a bankruptcy auction with a $10 million bid. The records include employee emails, Teams messages, code repositories, financial and pricing data, operating and maintenance records, calendars, and disruption history—offering a rare archive of real-world airline decisions and failures.
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