Aviation Daily Roundup: Nov. 02, 2022

Aviation Week Network’s 2023 forecast for the dedicated cargo aircraft market projects close to 2,000 deliveries in the next 10 years. Three quarter of these deliveries will be passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft. New-built freighter aircraft for the period come to just over 500 units and a retail value of almost $120 billion.

Boeing’s 2023 guidance assumes the 737 program could deliver as many as 450 aircraft, or 38 per month, but company executives caution that a rate increase needed to hit its top-end target cannot be counted on just yet. 

RwandAir’s CEO told an audience here that a regime of restrictive bilaterals, excessive taxation, fees and fuel costs, and under-investment in aviation infrastructure is curtailing the potential for African airlines to grow and to become more connected.

Delivering its first production forecast since 2019, Boeing expects the long running slump in its widebody business to recover significantly from 2023 onward, leading to a 10/month rate for its 787s and four per month for 777/777X family aircraft by 2025-2026.

The CEO of Sun Country Airlines said he expects another six months to return to a “normalized” average aircraft utilization of eight hours per day, a target that has been out of reach in 2022 due to continued staffing imbalances.

Boeing is holding out hope that the 737-7 could earn FAA certification by year-end but suggested for the first time that the last and largest MAX family variant, the 737-10, may not be approved until 2024. 

Portuguese flag-carrier TAP anticipates a strong full-year result, following its highest-ever third quarter (Q3) revenues. 

Etihad Airways has teamed up with Spanish sustainable mobility and energy company Cepsa to research and produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).  

ULCC Wizz Air expects to be operating capacity substantially greater than 2019 levels over the coming northern winter season, despite the increasing macroeconomic challenges. 

As airline passengers increasingly demand faster, more reliable inflight connectivity (IFC), global communications providers have been working to expand coverage and increase speed.

The recent earnings reports and analyst calls presented by the major U.S. airlines have all been extremely positive in tone. 

United Airlines is launching a new in-house apprentice program to grow and diversify its base of aircraft technicians. 

Icelandair is hoping that new aircraft technologies, such as re-engining and electric aircraft, will enable it to achieve zero-carbon domestic flights by the end of this decade.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines said it has now renegotiated the leases on 43 aircraft in its fleet as it works to cut costs under its SAS FORWARD restructuring plan.