ATW Photo Gallery - In the News - March 2014

US Airways and Brazil’s TAM have both officially joined the oneworld alliance, greatly expanding the global airline grouping’s network in the Americas. ATW By Kurt Hofmann

Thailand’s low-cost carrier Nok Air has converted two Bombardier Q400 NextGen options into firm orders. ATW Courtesy, Bombardier

Chongqing-based China Express Airlines has converted three Bombardier CRJ900 options into firm orders. ATW Courtesy, Bombardier

Slovenia-based Adria Airways signed a firm purchase agreement for two Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, in an order valued at approximately $92 million based on current list prices. ATW Courtesy, Bombardier

Boeing and Ryanair showcased their strong partnership with a new, co-branded livery on the airline's most recently delivered Next-Generation 737-800. The aircraft is one of nearly 300 737-800s currently in Ryanair's all-Boeing fleet. Courtesy, Boeing

Korean Air began Airbus A380 5X-weekly service from Incheon to Paris Charles de Gaulle March 30. The service replaces previous Boeing 777-300 service, increasing capacity by up to 40%. The aircraft uses a relatively low-density 407-seating arrangement compared to an average of around 480 on most other carriers flying the A380. It also runs with the entire upper deck dedicated to business class lie-flat seats. The airline has an existing fleet of eight A380s to date, with two more due for delivery later this year. Photo: Courtesy, Airbus

SkyWest Inc., the Utah-based parent of regionals SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet, has taken delivery of the first of 40 new Embraer E-175s for operation under a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with United Airlines. ATW Courtesy, Embraer

Asiana Airlines' first A380 is towed out of Airbus’ paint shop in Hamburg. Courtesy, Airbus

Okinawa-based Japan Transocean Air (JTA), a member of JAL Group, selected 12 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, in an order valued at $1.1 billion at list prices. The aircraft, which are scheduled to enter into service from 2016. ATW Courtesy, Boeing

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will place firm orders for 70 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth $16.4 billion at current list prices. The Airbus order is for 30 aircraft, comprising seven A320neos and 23 A321neos, which will replace ANA’s existing Boeing 737-500 and A320ceo aircraft. The carrier will also purchase 40 Boeing aircraft—comprising 20 777-9Xs to replace its existing fleet of 777-300ERs, a further six 777-300ERs to support the expansion of its international services until delivery of Boeing 777-9X, and 14 787-9s. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in FY2016-2027. ATW Courtesy, Airbus

Vietnamese low-cost carrier (LCC) VietJet Air will open new 7X-weekly Airbus A320 Ho Chi Minh-Changi service from May 23. ATW Courtesy, Airbus

Southwest Airlines has announced it will double flights from Washington National Airport (DCA), including seven nonstop routes. ATW By Rob Finlayson

Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines will launch Airbus A320 flights from Tripoli International Airport to Düsseldorf, London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports at the end of March. ATW Courtesy, Small Planet Airlines

AirAsia India has received its first aircraft, an Airbus A320, in the southern Indian city of Chennai. The 180-seat A320, drawn from the AirAsia Group’s order for 475-aircraft, is configured in an all-economy layout. ATW Courtesy, Airbus

Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings, parent company of the Tigerair group of low-cost carriers, placed an order for 37 Airbus A320neos—but canceled nine Airbus A320ceos currently on order. ATW Courtesy, Airbus

SpiceJet, a low-cost carrier based in India, announced an order for 42 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. ATW Photo: Rendering of Boeing 737 MAX 8 in SpiceJet livery. Courtesy, Boeing

Embraer has rolled out the first modified E-175 with a 6.4% improvement in fuel efficiency. ATW Courtesy, Embraer

Airbus has created a fully own subsidiary, called Airbus India, and has appointed Srinivasan Dwarakanath (Dwaraka) as CEO. The new Airbus India organization will have customer-facing centers in Delhi and Mumbai. Airbus said the India subsidiary builds on success of the Airbus Engineering Centre India (AECI) in Bangalore. ATW Courtesy, Airbus

Iceland-based low-cost carrier WOW Air is taking another approach to launch flights to the US in 2015 after it was denied slots at Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport this year. ATW Courtesy, WOW Air

Russia’s UTair has taken delivery of first Airbus A321 equipped with sharklets. ATW Courtesy, UTair

Kenya Airways' first of six Boeing 787s is scheduled for delivery April 4, followed by a second Boeing 777-300ER in May. The remaining five 787s will be delivered throughout the year. ATW Courtesy, Kenya Airways

Rolls-Royce is researching the potential of permanently installing extremely small cameras in its engines and, separately, using a laser probe to perform minor repairs. ATW Courtesy, Rolls-Royce