Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Aircraft
Comac Readies C919 for Spring Service Launch
The Comac C919 program has started its second round of cabin crew training as the first production example participates in flight validation trials.
Regulations and Government
Lack of Fuel Supply Halts Air Traffic In Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s Air Niugini ceases domestic flights after sole fuel supplier Puma Energy loses access to U.S. currency.
Regulations and Government
Russian MRO Set to Make Parts for Western-built Aircraft
No international mechanism exists to prohibit the manufacture of Boeing and Airbus parts by Russia’s A-Technics.
Airlines
EU Countries Join Moves to Re-start Covid Measures for China
European countries agree to a coordinated response to the Covid crisis in China.
Aircraft
Air Cargo Faces Mixed 2023 in a ‘Cooling’ Market
An increase in freighter deliveries and a further return of belly capacity on passenger aircraft appears likely to cause a considerable capacity inflow.
Airlines
Eurocontrol Calls 2022 a ‘Bounceback’ Year, Sees 2025 Recovery
Europe saw air traffic increase to 83 percent of 2019 levels at the end of last year.
Accidents
French BEA Concurs with NTSB on Gaps in ET Max Crash Report
France’s BEA joins call for Ethiopian authorities to amend final report on the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max.
Aircraft
Hydrogen Demonstrator Flights Set To Start in the New Year
ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen plan to fly their respective hydrogen-powered regional airliners early next year.
Accidents
NTSB Cites Major Gaps in Ethiopian Final Report on Max Crash
Final report into the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 fails to sufficiently consider flight crew performance, according to U.S. authorities.
Aircraft
Textron Announces First Airline Order for SkyCourier
Mexico's startup regional airline Aerus has placed an order for two Cessna 408 SkyCourier and four Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop singles.
Airlines
Southwest Airlines Struggles To Normalize Stricken Ops
After a schedule meltdown triggered by winter storms over the Christmas holiday weekend, Southwest Airlines slashed two-thirds of its flights.
Maintenance and Modifications
Contracts To Grow Embraer's Macon Mx Facility
Two contracts with Envoy Air and JSX call for the addition of three heavy maintenance lines at Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services in Macon, Georgia.
Airlines
Ukraine Crisis and Engine Overhaul Delays Challenge AirBaltic
AirBaltic has shifted its business model in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also dealing with delays in maintaining engines for its A220s.
Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney Runs First Hybrid-Electric Engine Ground Test
Pratt & Whitney, along with sister company Collins, prepare for flight testing of the first hybrid-electric propulsion system on a Dash 8 aircraft in 2024.
Airlines
Aviation Climate Taskforce Will Fund Decarbonization Projects
Ten major airlines are backing a not-for-profit group deploying funds to accelerate research and development projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
Aircraft
Appropriations Deal Eases Boeing's Max Cert Burden
An amendment to the U.S. Congress's Appropriations Bill does away with a requirement for a crew alerting system upgrade for the Max 7 and Max 10 airliners.
Aircraft
Mesa Switches Regional Alliance From American to United
Mesa Airlines is ending its 30-year partnership with American Airlines and will redeploy its CRJ-900 fleet to fly regional routes for United Express.
Engines
Fadec Alliance Tapped for Sustainable Engine Program
The Fadec Alliance joint venture will develop engine controls for the CFM International RISE turbine engine demonstrator program.
Environment
SAF Production Proliferates But Aviation Has a Long Way To Go
New data released by IATA charts the projected rise in output of sustainable aviation fuel, but the group says more investment is needed to meet demand.
Aircraft
Air New Zealand Signals Next Steps To Decarbonize Fleet
The carrier plans to acquire up to 23 electric or hybrid-electric aircraft and is now working with four manufacturers to replace turboprop commuters.
EASA Publishes Cabin Crew Training Guidelines
EASA is hoping to harmonize the varied cabin crew training requirements in Europe through its latest guidance.
Aircraft
Boom Supersonic Outlines Its Own Engine Design
Taking on a huge risk to the Overture supersonic airliner program, Boom Supersonic has elected to design and build its own turbine engine.
Aircraft
United Turns to Boeing for Reboot of Long- and Short-haul Fleet
The U.S. airline will add up to 200 of Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet and 100 of the 737 Max single-aisle jets in a deal worth at least $65 billion.
Accidents
Anti-collision Equipment Needed To Cut Ground Support Damage
IATA says a transition to anti-collision ground support equipment will reduce damage repair costs for airlines and also improve safety and sustainability.
Aircraft
China Eastern Takes Delivery of First Comac C919
China’s Comac ships first of five C919 narrowbodies to launch customer China Eastern Airlines.
Aircraft
Etihad to Reactivate Airbus A380s Next Year
Four Airbus A380 superjumbos operated by Etihad will fly the Abu Dhabi-London Heathrow route beginning in summer 2023.
Aircraft
Neste, Airbus, and Air France Signal Need to ‘Decarbonize Now’
Sustainable aviation fuel production must increase exponentially to meet aviation’s carbon targets, say stakeholders.
Aircraft
Airbus Probes Superconductivity as Path to Lower Emissions
Airbus and the CERN laboratory expect studies into cryogenic superconducting powertrains to influence the design of the ZeroE hydrogen-powered narrowbody.
Maintenance and Modifications
C&L Expands Global Footprint with ACLAS Acquisition
C&L Aviation Group acquires commercial, regional, and defense MRO ACLAS Technics.
Airports
Airbus Tackles Ecosystem Practicalities For Hydrogen Airliners
A “green” hydrogen ecosystem ranks as a key element in the realization of Airbus’s ambitions to bring hydrogen-powered airliners to market by 2035.
