Air Lease Corp. (ALC) expects to lease the new Airbus A320NEO and A321NEO aircraft for 12-16% more than the equivalent current-model aircraft, and says the higher rate will improve the company’s margin on those types by least 10%.

A request by maintenance provider Standard Aero to immediately cease its engine support agreement for Pinnacle Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft would be “operationally devastating,” will ground several aircraft and could jeopardize the carrier’s Chapter 11 reorganization, the regional carrier says.

Qantas is once again opting to defer Airbus A380 orders, as the airline continues to cut back investment in its mainline long-haul fleet and focus on its domestic network. The carrier is delaying the two A380s scheduled for delivery next year until 2016-2017. The postponement is expected to reduce capital expenditure to A$1.9 billion (US$1.95 billion) in the fiscal year through June 30, 2013, a reduction of A$400 million.

American Airlines’ three unions are calling on the board of directors of parent company AMR Corp. to support US Airways’ proposed takeover, a process that started when the unions’ leaders jointly approved contract terms with the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline should a takeover be successfully completed.

As a former Darpa scientist and one of the world's foremost authorities on materials, Leo Christodoulou is accustomed to thinking out of the proverbial box when it comes to problem-solving. At the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, he applied his research expertise to developing revolutionary, new materials for the U.S. military.

Aerostar will double its MRO capacity to enable it to expand widebody and regional aircraft work.

A new labor agreement between AMR Corp. and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), expected to be released shortly, could mirror an accord recently agreed between the union and US Airways that would take effect should the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline acquire its rival.

Delta Air Lines and MDS Coating Technologies announced a teaming agreement that for engine compressor protective coatings. MDS Coating Technologies will give Delta exclusive partnership rights to its coating technologies via DER and STC certification. The agreement will include the Black Gold coating for erosion and corrosion protection.