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.
Airlines
EasyJet partners with GKN Aerospace on Hydrogen Power
European low-fare carrier EasyJet has agreed to support GKN’s H2JET and H2GEAR hydrogen power programs.
Aircraft
Airbus, ITA Airways To Partner on eVTOL Work in Italy
An agreement between Airbus and ITA calls for recruiting partners to participate in the launch of the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL operations in Italy.
Aircraft
Boeing Puts Positive Spin on 777X Delay
Delay of first delivery of the 777-9 until 2025 reflects a position of “strength, not weakness,” according to Boeing CEO David Calhoun.
Aircraft
Junkers JU-52 Returning to the Skies
The venerable and popular Junkers JU-52 is getting a new lease on life with an updated version planned for entry into service in 2026.
Aircraft
Russia Ditches MC-21-300 To Focus on Indigenous Version
Sanctions imposed by the West have forced Russian industry to scrap plans for the Pratt & Whitney-powered MC-21-300.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
SpaceX Signs First Aircraft Operator for Starlink Satcom
JSX's Embraer ERJs will be the first airborne application of SpaceX's Starlink satcom.
Aircraft
Russia Relaunches Series Production of Tupolev Tu-214
Russia’s Kazan Aviation Production Association plans to start shipping new Tu-214 narrow-bodies in 2024.
Environment
AIA Releases Technology-focused Sustainability Report
AIA and Accenture have issued a new, technology-focused aviation sustainability report and roadmap.
Aircraft
Cape Air, Eviation Sign LOI Covering 75 Alice Electric Aircraft
Massachusetts-based Cape Air sees a business case for electric aircraft service to “a panoply” of communities.
Accidents
China Eastern Returns Boeing 737-800s to Service
Almost a month after the crash of China Eastern Flight MU5735, Chinese authorities cleared the airline’s fleet for return to scheduled service.
Airlines
U.S. Airlines Continue Struggle to Cope with Increased Demand
First-quarter traffic statistics for U.S. carriers show a 31.6 percent increase in cancellations compared with the first quarter of 2019.
Aircraft
Airbus, Kawasaki To Partner on Hydrogen Development
An MOU signed in Tokyo between Airbus and Kawasaki lays the groundwork to study elements of hydrogen adoption by the aviation industry.
Aircraft
Airbus Wins 80-aircraft A320neo Order from BOC Aviation
Singapore-headquartered leasing group BOC Aviation places the largest order in its history with an 80-unit deal for A320neo narrowbody airliners.
Airlines
European Commission Blacklists 21 Russian Airlines
Aeroflot, S7, UTair are among 21 airlines added to the EU’s Air Safety List.
Aircraft
Safran Starts Work on Propulsion for Aura Electric Aircraft
Collaboration agreement between Safran and Aura Aero advances plans to fly the Integral E flight demonstrator for the first time this year.
Airlines
For Now, Covid Remains a Bigger Drag on Air Transport than War
IATA says the fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been relatively limited, with the exception of rising fuel prices and risks to leasing assets.
Airlines
JetBlue Offers to Buy Spirit Airlines for $3.6 billion
Offer from JetBlue would represent a 50 percent premium on Spirit’s stock price and bring between $600 and $700 million in synergies.
Airlines
Staff Shortages Prompt UK Flight Cancellations as Demand Rises
British Airways and EasyJet face short-term staffing shortages caused by high levels of Covid and lengthy security procedures for hiring new employees.
Accidents
Cockpit Voice Recorder from China Eastern 737 Sent to U.S.
U.S. accident investigator NTSB confirms it has received the CVR from China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 for downloading.
Avionics
Honeywell Anthem Moving Avionics into the Future
Extensive use of touchscreens and cloud connectivity are highlights of Honeywell's new Anthem avionics suite designed for small and large aircraft.
Aircraft
AerCap Works to Mitigate Losses Stemming from Ukraine War
Almost 5 percent of AerCap’s fleet remains in Russian hands.
Avionics
FreeFlight Readies 5G-interference-resistent Radar Altimeters
FreeFlight Systems expects to receive FAA TSO approval of its Terrain series 5G-resistant radar altimeters shortly.
Aircraft
Avolon Signs Up Turkey's Gozen For Scheduled eVTOL Services
The leasing group has now found prospective operators for 550 of Vertical Aerospace's four-passenger VX4 eVTOL aircraft, with deliveries to start in 2024.
Aircraft
Airbus Flies A380 on 100 percent SAF
One of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900s used in the first A380 test aircraft cruised on pure SAF for about three hours on March 25.
Airlines
EC Transport Head Calls Out Turkey on Increase in Russia Flights
Calls for aviation solidarity among European countries during the Ukraine crisis are going unheeded by Turkey, says EC’s transport director.
Aircraft
EFW’s A320 Passenger-to-freighter Conversion Earns EASA STC
Elbe Flugzeugwerke gains certification for its A320P2F less than four months after first flight.
Accidents
Recorder Recovered from Doomed China Eastern 737
Search crews have yet to determine whether the heavily damaged recorder recovered from the destroyed China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 is an FDR or CVR.
Aircraft
Air Greenland To Acquire Vertical Aerospace VX4s from Avolon
Avolon and Air Greenland partner to bring zero-emissions air travel to the region.
Accidents
China Eastern Grounds 737-800s Following Crash
A crash on Monday of a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 in southern China prompted the airline to ground the rest of the type in its fleet.
Airlines
EASA Reports GNSS Jamming/Spoofing amid Ukraine Conflict
A Safety Bulletin issued by EASA indicates that satellite navigation system degradation in four specific regions began on the day of the Ukraine invasion.
