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.
Regulations and Government
FAA To Require 25-hour Cockpit Voice Recorders
Following a rebuke from NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy, the FAA moves to establish rulemaking committee for 25-hour CVR capacity.
Aircraft
ARJ21 Export Customer Starts Flight Training Campaign
The first ARJ21 operator outside of China, Indonesian low-cost carrier TransNusa Aviation, prepares for service launch.
Safety
Turbulence, Runway Incursions Headline Last Year’s Accidents
The Flight Safety Foundation Releases its 2022 Safety Report on the same day the FAA holds a special safety summit.
Airlines
RAA Head Black Breaks Ice during FAA Safety Summit Session
Industry leaders convened to explore reasons for a spate of runway incidents and consider other safety concerns.
Aircraft
Boeing Lands Major Order Agreements from Saudi Airlines
Saudia and newly minted carrier Riyadh Air have agreed to place firm orders for a total of 78 Boeing 787s.
Airlines
Trigana Air Boeing 737 Takes Gunfire from Papuan Rebels
Gunfire prompts local carriers to suspend operations to Nop Goliat Dekai Airport in Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua.
Aircraft
Saudi Arabia Launches New Flag Carrier, Riyadh Air
Principals expect Riyadh Air to fly to 100 destinations by 2030, create 200,000 jobs, and add $20 billion to Saudi Arabia's GDP.
JAL Undergoes 'Sharkskin' Riblet Flight Trials
Japan Airlines is testing the durability of a "sharkskin" exterior coating on two Boeing 737-800s that reduces friction and thus increases fuel efficiency
Engines
IAE Sees V2500 Engine Business Continuing for Decades
The IAE AG partnership, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, expects its V2500 engine family to remain in service beyond 2045.
ATC
Philippine Probe Rules Out Sabotage in New Year’s ATC Power Outage
An Philippine Senate investigation found no evidence of sabotage or a cybersecurity attack relating to Manila’s January 1 air traffic control power outage.
Aircraft
Indian Lessor Forms JV for Locally-built Aircraft
Aircraft leasing company Vman Aviation Services has formed a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics for leasing locally-built aircraft.
Human Rights Groups Call To Suspend Aviation Fuel to Myanmar
Amnesty International, Global Witness, and Burma Campaign UK reiterate calls to suspend aviation fuel supply to Myanmar amidst unlawful air strikes.
Maintenance and Modifications
Lufthansa Technik Sees Staffing, Supply-chain Bottlenecks through 2024
The aircraft and engine maintenance unit of Lufthansa has reported a record profit in the wake of air travel's recovery and an increase in flight hours.
Accidents
IATA Data Point to Turboprops as the Weak Link in 2022 Safety Performance
Turboprops accounted for four of five fatal accidents last year with loss of life to passengers and crew onboard, according to IATA's 2022 safety report.
Airlines
Airlines Fight New Flight Caps at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
A group of airlines and IATA are taking the Dutch government to court to prevent a limit on the number of flight movements at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Airlines
Lufthansa Eyes TAP Acquisition As Talks Continue Over ITA Deal
The German group achieved a financial turnaround in 2022 recording a €1.5 billion operating profit, even though most of its airlines remained loss-making.
Aircraft
Lufthansa Orders 22 More Widebodies from Boeing and Airbus
The supervisory board of Lufthansa Group on Tuesday approved $7.5 billion worth of deals covering Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s.
Aircraft
AerCap Sees Aircraft Delivery Delays Lasting ‘Several’ Years
The world’s largest commercial aircraft lessor says traffic growth and a curtailed supply environment will drive lease transactions and higher rates.
Aircraft
Thai Operator Plans Grand Caravan Seaplane Service
Following a long pause due to Covid, Siam Seaplanes eyes the launch of Grand Caravan charter operations by mid-year.
Engines
Safran Signals 'War for Talent' within Civil Engine Aftermarket
French engine OEM Safran adds to its global maintenance network for Leap-1A and Leap-1B engines with a site in Brussels.
Aircraft
Newly Certified HAL 228 Variant Attracts Indian Lessor
A new modification of the Dornier 228 eases market entry barriers and opens fresh revenue streams for Indian lessors.
Aircraft
Air India Targets Long Haul Markets, Aims to Challenge Emirates
Orders for 470 Boeing and Airbus aircraft form the basis for a long-haul reprieve by Air India.
Airlines
Cambodia Steps Up Training with CAE Full Flight Simulator
An A320 full-flight simulator from CAE is the first ever delivered to Cambodia.
Aircraft
UAC To Exit Superjet 100, Investors Eye UAE Production Plant
The sale of 49 percent of SuperJet International to a UAE investment group will see a production plant established in Al Ain.
Airlines
IAG Relaunches Plan to Acquire Spain's Air Europa
The European airline group's move appears to be part of a new wave of consolidation in the industry that will be subject to regulatory scrutiny.
Aircraft
Delivery Delays Pose Fleet Capacity Challenges for Qantas
The Australian flag carrier has had to source second-hand and leased aircraft while it awaits delayed new airliner deliveries from Airbus.
Airlines
SriLankan Airlines Chases Foreign Income with Route Reboot
The state-owned carrier may once again be partly privatized as the Sri Lankan government deals with fallout from a financial crisis.
Aircraft
China's Haite MRO Joins A321 Freighter Conversion Network
Under an agreement with Elbe Flugzeugwerke, the first A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion project will start at the Tianjin facility later this year.
Airlines
Indonesian Officials Seek Release of Captured Airline Pilot
Papuan independence rebels have threatened to kill Susi Air pilot Philip Merthens if Indonesia will not recognize the territory's independence.
Aircraft
Safran Tests 'More Electric' Turboprop
The Tech TP technology demonstrator is based on Safran Helicopter Engines' Ardiden-3 turboshaft engine family, incorporating electrical power.
