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
Airbus's New Long-Range A321XLR Makes First Flight
The A321XLR single-aisle airliner is intended to serve commercial airline routes as long as 4,700 nm when it enters service in 2024.
Aircraft
Spanish Airline Plans Airship Services From 2026
Air Nostrum says it plans to be the launch operator for Hybrid Air Vehicles' 100-seat Airlander 10 airship on domestic routes of up to around 265 miles.
Aircraft
Aeroflot To Order 300 Russian-made Airliners
MC-21 and SSJ100 programs will get a major boost from an impending order from Russia’s flag carrier.
Airlines
Pilots Call on Wizz Air to Put Safety over Profits
Following recorded comments from Wizz Air CEO József Váradi complaining of flight disruptions caused by staff shortages, pilots' unions strike back.
Collins Brings 3D Printing Capability to its NC MRO
The new additive manufacturing center opened in Monroe, North Carolina with two 3D printers and plans to add more in the future.
Maintenance and Modifications
Bogus Parts Could Indefinitely Ostracize Russian Air Transport
Russia's aviation regulator is facilitating the use of unapproved parts, compromising asset values and longer-term relations with the global industry.
Aircraft
Universal Hydrogen, Connect Airlines Plan ATR 72 Conversions
Universal Hydrogen said it has collected a firm order from prospective regional carrier Connect Airlines to covert 75 ATR 72-600s to hydrogen power.
Airlines
JetBlue Again Sweetens Merger Offer for Spirit Airlines
In its latest offer to merge with Spirit Airlines, JetBlue increases its promised reverse break-up fee to $350 million.
Airlines
Eurocontrol Pushes Back Covid Recovery as Delays Worsen
The air traffic management agency published a revised short-term forecast for European air traffic, as airlines and airports face serious staff shortages.
Aircraft
Airbus To Open Hydrogen Tech Development Center in UK
A new Airbus Zero Emission Development Center in Filton, UK, will concentrate on the development of a cryogenic fuel system for hydrogen-powered airliners.
Aircraft
Short-haul Travel, Tecnam Style
Italian manufacturer Tecnam is exhibiting its P2012 Traveller low-cost, short-haul commuterliner at EBACE.
Aircraft
VoltAero’s Cassio 1 To Perform Demo Flights in the Netherlands
France’s VoltAero plans to perform demonstration flights with its first Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft starting June 13.
Training and Workforce
FlightSafety To Train Cargo Drone Pilots
Bulgarian unmanned cargo airline Dronamics has engaged FlightSafety to ensure its pilots have the right training to maximize operational safety.
Aircraft
Harbour Air’s eBeaver Program Slowed by Supply Chain Kinks
Circumstances out of Harbour Air’s control—namely, the Covid pandemic and resulting supply chain constraints—have slowed progress of its eBeaver program.
Aircraft
Pratt Canada Picks Battery Supplier for Hybrid-Electric Project
Pratt & Whitney Canada has chosen Switzerland’s H55 to supply battery systems for its hybrid-electric Dash 8 demonstrator program.
Aircraft
ATR Eyes Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for New ‘Evo’ Turboprop
The Franco-Italian OEM is also exploring a new eco-design that includes new propellers as part of its drive to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions.
Aircraft
'New' Superjet’s Russian Engine Readies for Flight
Saturn Design Bureau’s PD-8 has completed ground testing in time for flight trials to start “later this year.”
Aircraft
Ukraine War Weighs on Otherwise Strong Q1 for AerCap
AerCap registers a $2 billion loss during the first quarter due to write-offs of aircraft and engines in Russia.
Airlines
JetBlue Launches Hostile Takeover Bid for Spirit Airlines
New York-based JetBlue has filed a “Vote No” proxy statement for Spirit's upcoming special meeting.
Airlines
Eurocontrol Sees CO2 Measures Costing €29 billion by 2030
In its 16th in a series of “think papers,” Eurocontrol examines cost of emissions reduction measures.
Accidents
Tibet Airlines A319 Bursts into Flames after Runway Excursion
No deaths reported among the 122 passengers and crew aboard a Tibet Airlines A319 that crashed and caught fire in southwestern China Thursday.
Aircraft
ATR 42-600S Flies for First Time in Partial Configuration
Following its May 11 first flight, the new 30- to 50-seat STOL aircraft will now enter a phase of ground and flight testing.
Aircraft
Lufthansa Orders Seven Boeing 777-8 Freighters
Boeing welcomes Lufthansa as the European launch customer for the 777-8F.
Aircraft
Embraer Gets Launch Customer for E-Jet P2F Conversions
Nordic Aviation Capital has signed an agreement in principle to order freighter conversions for 10 of its existing E190s and E195s.
Aircraft
Airbus Chooses Thales To Supply FMSs for Future Airliners
Based on the PureFlyt product, the new Thales FMS system will appear in all A320s, A330s, and A350s starting in 2026.
Aircraft
Russian Transport Ministry Sees Sharp Drop in Air Traffic by 2025
A draft report prepared by Russia’s Ministry of Transport projects a drop in traffic of between 24 and 48 percent over the next three years.
Aircraft
Hydrogen Infrastructure Challenges Rival Aircraft Tech Hurdles
Experts believe “clean” production and distribution rank as the biggest challenges to the adoption of hydrogen power by the aviation industry.
Aircraft
Russian Airlines Maneuver to Keep International Services Alive
New hubs in the south of Russia allow the country’s airlines to serve international destinations with SSJ100s.
Airlines
Spirit Rejects JetBlue Acquisition Overtures
Spirit Airlines chooses Frontier Airlines merger proposal over that of JetBlue, citing concerns over antitrust risk.
Aircraft
Qantas Confirms Orders for Projects Sunrise, Winton
Schedules call for the first Qantas A350-1000 will arrive in 2025 and the first A320XLR/A220-300 in late 2023.
