Chen Feng, the former chairman of HNA Group, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $30.8 million for corruption offenses uncovered during the company’s extensive bankruptcy and restructuring process. The sentence comes following a sweeping investigation into mismanagement and financial misconduct at one of China’s most ambitious conglomerates.
Azores Airlines, the regional flag carrier of Portugal’s Azores archipelago, may be forced to declare insolvency if its ongoing privatization process does not succeed, according to Duarte Freitas, a senior official from the Regional Government of the Azores. The financial exposure in such a case could exceed US$350 million, placing substantial pressure on regional and national stakeholders.
Afriqiyah Airways, the state-owned Libyan carrier, is facing mounting pressure as unions issued a stark warning about the company’s viability, citing mismanagement and gross financial violations as key threats to its continued operations. The unions have appealed to government authorities for immediate intervention, fearing the airline may soon collapse without corrective action.
Flair Airlines, a Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier, is facing a $30.9 million countersuit in Ontario from four Irish lessors— Columbia Lights Aviation, Corvus Lights Aviation, Mam Aircraft Leasing, and Airborne Capital. The legal action stems from alleged financial damages tied to lease terminations and the repossession of four Boeing 737 MAXaircraft.
Air India Express, a low-cost subsidiary of Air India, was formally reprimanded in March 2025 by India’s aviation regulator for non-compliance with mandatory engine part replacements on an Airbus A320, as directed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The incident involved serious breaches of maintenance protocol, including falsified documentation to falsely indicate compliance.
GOL Linhas Aéreas, one of Brazil’s leading low-cost carriers, has reported a net loss of $260 million for the month of May 2025, underscoring continued financial strain amid ongoing macroeconomic pressures and operational challenges. The airline also posted a negative EBITDA of $119 million, further reflecting cost-revenue imbalances during the month.
VietJet Air, a prominent Vietnamese low-cost carrier, has lost a legal battle in a London court and is now liable to pay $181 million to FW Aviation (UK) for breaching aircraft lease agreements involving Airbus A321 aircraft. The court ruled that the termination notices served by FW Aviation were valid and enforceable, ending VietJet’s challenge.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a scathing report citing multiple systemic failuresthat led to the midair blowout involving a Boeing 737 MAX in 2024. The report faults both Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for inadequate oversight, flawed procedures, and lapses in safety compliance.
Air Senegal is facing legal and operational complications following the freezing of $3.1 million of its funds by IATA, enforced under a court order stemming from a leasing dispute with Carlyle Aviation Partners, an Ireland-based aircraft lessor. The issue revolves around the return of four aircraft—two Airbus A319s and two A321s—to the lessor.
Caribbean Airlines has encountered serious financial difficulties, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealing that the airline’s previous board had misrepresented its economic condition to the country. This revelation underscores the depth of the carrier’s financial challenges and the apparent lack of transparency in its management.
