Aircraft News

While Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot will use Boeing 787 deliveries to grow its fleet next year, the initial deliveries will be focused more on fleet replacement than expansion, CEO Campbell Wilson said.

Air Seychelles has confirmed plans to take its first Airbus A320, to be wet leased from 40% equity partner Etihad Airways, as reported by ATW in July.

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has offered to equip Red Wings Airlines with Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft to be used on flights to Crimea after Aeroflot’s new low-cost (LCC) subsidiary Dobrolet suspended flights Aug. 4 due to sanctions imposed by the European Union.

Etihad Airways’ introduction of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 will mean major changes for its Australian network when the aircraft are delivered at the end of the year.

Lion Air subsidiary Batik Air has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-800 as part of its plan to offer international services later this year.

Airbus A350-900 flight test aircraft, MSN005, has completed a series of route proving trials at 14 cities over the past three weeks and is on track toward type certification in the third quarter of 2014.

Boeing is escalating the war of words between it and Delta Air Lines over the role of the Export-Import Bank of the US (Ex-Im) with a letter to the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee that refutes, point-by-point, a letter the Atlanta-based carrier sent last week.