Aircraft lessor Azorra has finalized the placement of 12 Airbus A220-300 aircraft formerly operated by EGYPTAIR, concluding a transaction that redistributes the narrowbody jets to new operators and dismantles select airframes to ease industry-wide supply chain constraints.

In a press release issued on June 10, 2026, Azorra confirmed the delivery of the final aircraft from the portfolio to Breeze Airways. The lessor initially purchased the 12 aircraft in February 2024 to facilitate the Egyptian flag carrier’s fleet transformation program.

Fleet redistribution and strategic part-outs

According to reporting by Air Data News, the 12 aircraft have been divided among three primary destinations. Breeze Airways received seven of the airframes, while Cyprus Airways took delivery of one.

The remaining four aircraft were allocated for a more unconventional purpose. In April 2025, Azorra entered an agreement with Delta Material Services to part out the four young airframes. Cirium Profiles data indicates this move was designed to supply critical components and spare Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines to support Delta Air Lines and its active A220 fleet.

Azorra Chief Executive Officer John Evans stated the transaction demonstrates the company’s ability to create innovative solutions across the aviation ecosystem.

“Beyond expanding our A220 portfolio, these aircraft are helping address critical spare engine and parts availability challenges while supporting operators around the world,” Evans said.

Evans also noted the collaboration of Airbus and Pratt & Whitney throughout the complex transaction process, reaffirming the lessor’s confidence in the A220’s economics and performance.

EGYPTAIR’s operational shift

The sale of the A220-300 fleet resolves ongoing operational challenges for EGYPTAIR. Aviation Week previously reported that the carrier had grounded portions of its A220 fleet due to durability issues and maintenance delays associated with the PW1500G engines.

By divesting the relatively young aircraft, EGYPTAIR aims to improve maintenance commonality and focus on other aircraft types within its network.

Capt. Ahmed Adel, Chairman & CEO of EGYPTAIR Holding Company, noted the transaction formed an important part of the airline’s fleet transformation strategy. He expressed confidence that the aircraft would continue to deliver strong value for their new operators.

AirPro News analysis

The decision to part out four young Airbus A220-300 airframes underscores the severity of the supply chain constraints currently impacting the global aviation industry. We view this as a highly pragmatic asset management strategy. While parting out early-life airframes is typically a last resort, the chronic shortage of spare PW1500G engines has altered the economic calculus for lessors and operators alike.

By sacrificing a portion of the ex-EGYPTAIR fleet, Azorra is enabling Delta Air Lines to keep a larger portion of its own A220 fleet operational. This transaction also solidifies Azorra’s position as a dominant player in the A220 market. The lessor currently has 28 A220s in service globally and another 15 on order, representing a significant portion of its 338-asset portfolio.

Sources: Azorra

ITA Airways (AZ) will officially join the Europe-Japan Joint Venture operated by Lufthansa Group (LH) and All Nippon Airways (NH) in Autumn 2026, adding its daily Rome-to-Tokyo route and extensive Southern European network to the partnership.

The expansion agreement was signed on June 7, 2026, at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to a press release from Lufthansa Group, the inclusion of the Italian carrier will increase the joint venture’s capacity to 160 weekly long-haul flights between Europe and Japan, while providing passengers with streamlined connections across Italy, the Mediterranean, and North Africa.

Strategic expansion of the Europe-Japan network

The original joint venture between Lufthansa and ANA was established in 2012 to coordinate schedules and fares on routes connecting the two regions. The addition of ITA Airways brings the carrier’s daily nonstop service between Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) into the integrated network.

Japanese antitrust authorities granted the necessary immunity for the expanded partnership several weeks prior to the June signing. The integration will feature a sequential rollout of joint booking options beginning in Autumn 2026, allowing travelers to combine flights from all three carriers on a single itinerary.

Executive perspectives on the integration

ANA President and CEO Juichi Hirasawa highlighted the upcoming 15th anniversary of the joint venture, noting that the partnership has historically provided a seamless travel experience for passengers moving between the two markets.

“With ITA Airways joining us to open up the gateway to Rome, we look forward to offering travelers exceptional service and even more convenient access to Italy, Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond,” Hirasawa stated.

For ITA Airways, the agreement represents a critical step in its broader integration into the Lufthansa Group network. ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart described the move as a key milestone for the airline’s international development, particularly in the strategically important Asia-Pacific region. Eberhart noted the partnership will offer customers more efficient connections and an increasingly integrated travel experience.

AirPro News analysis

We view the rapid integration of ITA Airways into the ANA and Lufthansa Group joint venture as a clear indicator of Lufthansa’s strategy to leverage its new Italian asset immediately. By routing Asia-bound traffic through Rome Fiumicino, the Lufthansa Group can relieve congestion

Airbus SE has initiated a two-month flight testing and certification campaign for the A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) following the aircraft’s maiden flight on June 2, 2026. The testing phase marks a critical milestone for Qantas Airways Limited and its Project Sunrise initiative, which aims to operate the world’s longest commercial passenger flights.

According to press releases issued by Airbus, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification campaign will focus on the structural and systems modifications required to keep the aircraft airborne for up to 22 hours. Qantas ordered 12 of the ultra-long-range jets in May 2022 to connect Australia’s east coast directly with cities including London and New York.

Engineering the ultra-long-range architecture

To achieve an approximate range of 10,000 nautical miles, Airbus integrated a Rear Centre Tank into the A350-1000ULR. This modification provides an additional 20,000 litres of fuel capacity compared to the standard A350-1000 variant. The certification campaign will heavily evaluate the new fuel system architecture, specifically the sequencing and management of fuel transfers by the Fuel Quantity Management System.

The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Alongside the fuel system changes, Airbus introduced a new galley air cooling system. This system saves 300 kilograms of weight and will eventually become standard across the broader A350 Family.

Flight test instrumentation and campaign scope

The maiden test flight of the first A350-1000ULR, designated as manufacturer serial number 707 (MSN707), took place in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew for 3 hours and 43 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet.

For the two-month testing period, Airbus installed 5 tonnes of custom flight test instrumentation on MSN707, including 1,000 specially designed sensors distributed throughout the cabin.

“Flight testing a production aircraft adds a layer of extra pressure. You are sitting inside the actual product. The customer is trusting us with their future flagship. Every switch we flip, every check we carry out, every manoeuvre we perform has to be executed with the passenger experience and operational reliability in mind,” said Laurent Rossignol, an Airbus Test Flight Engineer.

Unlike dedicated prototype airframes, MSN707 will not remain a permanent testbed. Following the conclusion of the EASA certification campaign, Airbus will retrofit the aircraft to Qantas’ commercial specifications prior to delivery.

Delivery timeline adjustments

Qantas initially challenged manufacturers to increase the range of long-haul aircraft when it launched Project Sunrise in 2017. While the flight testing phase is now underway, the airline will wait slightly longer than initially anticipated to receive its first airframe.

According to reporting by FLYING Magazine, supply chain constraints have delayed the first delivery of the A350-1000ULR to Qantas. Originally targeted for late 2026, the handover is now expected in April 2027.

AirPro News analysis

We view the condensed two-month certification window as a strong indicator of Airbus’s confidence in the baseline A350-1000 platform. Because the ULR variant relies on targeted modifications rather than a clean-sheet redesign, the regulatory burden is significantly reduced. The integration of the Rear Centre Tank is the primary technical hurdle. While the delivery delay to April 2027 is a setback for Qantas, it aligns with the broader supply chain bottlenecks currently affecting both major commercial airframe manufacturers. The successful deployment of these 12 aircraft will likely serve as a definitive test case for the economic viability of ultra-long-haul point-to-point routing.

Sources: Airbus