Aviation Daily

Chen Chuanren
Hanoi-based LCC Vietjet Air placed a firm order for 50 Airbus A321neos Nov. 2, valued at $6.5 billion at list prices.
Air Transport

By Michael Bruno
U.S. lessor Aircastle will continue a trend of emphasizing mid-aged narrowbody commercial airliners in its portfolio over other aircraft, especially widebodies, even as pressures rise on worldwide airlines, the company’s CEO said Nov. 1.
Air Transport

View the Global Jet Fuel Prices As of November 1, 2018 chart in PDF format.

View the Alaska Airlines Fuel Cost 2017/2018 chart in PDF format.

To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. For a complete list of Aviation Week Network’s upcoming events, and to register, visit www.aviationweek.com/events (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.)

View the SpeedNews Aircraft & Engines Marketplace chart in PDF format.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
View the Top 10 U.S. Airlines Employment – August 2018 chart in PDF format.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
View the U.S. Airlines Seasonally Adjusted Domestic Load Factor 2018 chart in PDF format.

By Victoria Moores
LCC Norwegian Air Shuttle has agreed to sell five Airbus A320neos in a transaction valued at $62 million.
Air Transport

By Graham Warwick
NASA will begin quiet supersonic research flights at Galveston, Texas, Nov. 5 as it prepares for the X-59 QueSST low-boom flight demonstrator now under development by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.
Air Transport

By Sean Broderick
Aircraft lessor Aircastle—citing program slippage but not soft customer demand—will not take three Embraer EJet E2s as scheduled in 2019, the company’s top executive confirmed.
Air Transport

By Guy Norris
NASA has rolled out its Grand Challenge plan to help guide, foster and enable the coming generation of urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles and is seeking feedback from industry to fine tune and guide the initiative.
Air Transport

By Jens Flottau
International Airlines Group (IAG) low-cost unit Level plans to operate 43 aircraft in 2023 and has “aspirational targets beyond that,” the company’s new CEO Vincent Hodder said.
Air Transport

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Aeroflot Group plans to double its passenger traffic within the next five years, according to a new strategy first outlined by Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev to Russian President Vladimir Putin Oct. 29.
Air Transport

By Alan Dron
The Swedish Energy Agency has approved an application by a consortium, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, to pursue a project for biofuel production in Småland province in southern Sweden.
Air Transport

By Jens Flottau
Emirates Airline is close to signing up for more Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines for its incoming fleet of Airbus A380s, according to Emirates President Tim Clark.
Air Transport

By Mark Nensel
The Joint Business Agreement (JBA) between Dallas/Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Santiago, Chile-based LATAM Airlines Group was approved by the Chilean Court of Free Competition (TDLC) Oct. 31, bringing the long-gestating link-up closer to completion, pending remaining approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Air Transport

By Adrian Schofield
More details are emerging about problems with the previous day’s flight of the Lion Air Boeing 737-8 that crashed into the sea on Oct. 29, according to wire reports. The aircraft – PK-LQP – flew from Bali to Jakarta the evening before the crash. The pilots on the aircraft during its Oct. 28 flight requested a return to the airport in Bali, Reuters reported, citing airport authorities. The pilots apparently gave the “pan-pan” radio alert that signifies urgency. However, the pilots canceled the request soon after and continued to Jakarta.
Air Transport

View the Airline Snapshot: Alaska Airlines chart in PDF format.

By Sean Broderick
Purchase, New York-based Atlas Air Worldwide (AAW) posted third-quarter 2018 net earnings of $71.1 million and raised its full-year outlook for the third straight quarter, citing continued demand for its freighter-focused leasing and charter businesses.
Air Transport

Norwegian began nonstop Boeing 787 service to Tampa from London Nov. 1, making the Florida Gulf coast city its 15th U.S. destination.
Air Transport

Cape Town International Airport will realign its primary runway and upgrade terminal facilities as international traffic continues to grow at South Africa’s second-largest airport.
Air Transport

By Graham Warwick
The UK’s University of Nottingham is to develop a facility for ground testing of high-speed, high-power electric propulsion systems for aircraft.
Air Transport

By Alan Dron
The UK signaled another rise in its Air Passenger Duty (APD)—a departure tax—on the same day the country’s transport minister made a speech stressing how important its airports were to its future prosperity.
Air Transport

By Bradley Perrett
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will increase its stake in Mitsubishi Aircraft to 86.7% from 64% with a capital injection that will pay for delays in development of the MRJ regional jet, the company announced Oct. 31.
Air Transport