Indonesia-based Lion Group has signed a training services agreement with Airbus that will see the manufacturer develop training programs that help move the groups’ airlines towards EASA regulatory compliance.

Airbus has joined the forward and aft fuselage sections of its first A320neo, which is scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2015.

It is rare for Airbus and Boeing to speak in unison, but during a panel discussion at the ISTAT 2014 Americas conference in San Diego, Airbus SVP-leasing markets Andrew Shankland and Boeing VP-marketing Randy Tinseth both identified improvements in 2014 in world GDP, passenger traffic, cargo traffic and airline profitability as main drivers for a boom market for new aircraft deliveries.

Bombardier and Embraer continue to widen their sales focus from the traditional North American and European markets to emerging markets round the world. Speaking at the ISTAT 2014 Americas conference in San Diego, Embraer Commercial Aircraft CCO John Slattery said, “We’re adding customers every year. Our stated objective is to have 100 [E-Jet] operators in 50 countries by the fourth quarter of 2017. We would like to see more [E-Jet sales] activity in Southeast Asia. We would like to have a lot more sales in Russia. And there are also opportunities in Latin America and Africa.”

The ACARS reporting system on the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was taken off air prior to the pilots’ last radio contact with Malaysian ATC, Malaysian defense and transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

Saudi Arabian start-up SaudiGulf, which is planning to launch operations next year, has placed a firm order for four Airbus A320ceos.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has confirmed that the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777-200 operating flight MH370 had its tracking transponders turned off in "what looked like a deliberate action from somebody on board the aircraft."

Exclusive AerData information on aircraft deliveries by type and engines complete with registration and MSN number, with lessor information.