U.S. Senate Report Underscores FAA Oversight Shortcomings

By Sean Broderick Dec 13, 2021
Input from whistleblowers underscore the need for reform of FAA product certification oversight, with emphasis on ensuring company-employed experts working on behalf of the agency remain free of undue pressure. 
Safety, Ops & Regulation

China Green-Lights Boeing 737 MAX Modifications

By Chen Chuanren Dec 02, 2021
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) outlining aircraft-specific parameters for returning the Boeing 737 MAX to service, essentially mandating the same series of measures required by its U.S. counterparts and, in one case, European and Canadian regulators.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Singapore Airlines Launches New MAX Cabin, Eyes Flights By Year-End

By Chen Chuanren Nov 16, 2021
Singapore Airlines is optimistic it can begin commercial operation of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by year-end, as it awaits regulatory approvals from destination countries.  
Airlines & Lessors

GOL Fleet Goals Challenged By Lower 737 MAX Production

By Lori Ranson Nov 10, 2021
Brazilian operator GOL is facing some challenges in its fleet simplification due to the slower ramp up of Boeing 737 MAX production.
Airlines & Lessors

Timing Of Regulatory Approvals Key To Boeing’s 737 MAX, 787 Plans

By Sean Broderick Oct 27, 2021
Boeing’s plans to increase production and unwind stored inventory on its two largest commercial programs, the 737 MAX and 787, hinge largely on regulatory approvals that the company is confident are coming, but the timing of needed sign-offs remains unclear.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Icelandair Seeking To Lease Two More Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

By Helen Massy-Beresford Oct 13, 2021
Icelandair is seeking to secure leasing contracts for two more Boeing 737-MAX aircraft, its COO said, as the airline looks forward to a recovery in demand driven by the relaxation of U.S. border restrictions.
Airlines & Lessors

Ryanair Group To Base Five 737-8200 In Vienna For Summer 2022

By Kurt Hofmann Sep 30, 2021
Ryanair Group has announced the addition of five aircraft to its Vienna base to operate nine more routes during its summer 2022 schedule.
Airlines & Lessors

Surprise Widebody Orders Lift Boeing’s August Activity

By Sean Broderick Sep 14, 2021
Boeing booked 17 widebody orders from unidentified customers among its 53 gross additions in August, including seven for 787-9s, providing a boost during a largely anemic time for long-haul passenger demand.
MRO

India Gives Green Light For 737 MAX Operations

By Adrian Schofield Aug 26, 2021
In an order dated Aug. 26, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rescinded its prohibition on Indian airlines operating MAX aircraft with immediate effect.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Boeing Continues 737 MAX Delivery Pace

By Sean Broderick Aug 10, 2021
Boeing booked 14 net orders in July and delivered 22 737 MAXs, keeping momentum going in two key areas—positive monthly transactions and clearing out its backlog of undelivered narrowbodies.
Aircraft & Propulsion

LATAM Seeks To Expand Orderbook With 28 Airbus Narrowbodies

By Lori Ranson Aug 06, 2021
LATAM Airlines Group is the latest operator in Latin America working to strike a fleet balance and has asked the bankruptcy court overseeing its restructuring to approve the purchase of 28 new Airbus narrowbodies.
Airlines & Lessors

Lessor DAE Reports Market Surging Ahead

By Alan Dron Aug 06, 2021
DAE CEO Firoz Tarapore said that since early May the company had seen “a very robust trading environment;” he also commented on the huge merger between rivals AerCap and GECAS.
Airlines & Lessors

Copa Retains Some 737-700s, Mulls Accelerating MAX Deliveries

By Lori Ranson Aug 05, 2021
Despite facing lingering headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic, Copa Airlines has opted to keep six Boeing 737-700s, and is in talks with Boeing about advancing some 737-9 deliveries.
Airlines & Lessors

FAA Restricts 737 MAX Cargo Capacity Under Specific Scenario

By Sean Broderick Aug 05, 2021
The FAA is ordering restrictions for Boeing 737 MAX and some 737 Next Generation models that would prohibit carrying freight in the aft cargo compartment if certain systems not critical for flight are malfunctioning.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

GOL Expands MAX Order Book With Plan To Add 28 737-8s

By Lori Ranson Aug 04, 2021
Fifteen of the MAX jets will financed through direct operating leases, nine with sale-leasebacks, and the remaining four through finance leases. 
Airlines & Lessors

Daily Memo: Asia’s LCC Orderbooks Remain Largely Intact, For Now

By Adrian Schofield Aug 04, 2021
The era of Asian LCCs outdoing each other with massive narrowbody orders is probably over for the foreseeable future, as digesting their current backlogs will be enough of a challenge.
Airlines & Lessors

Icelandair Reduces Q2 Losses, Praises 737 MAX Performance

By Kurt Hofmann Jul 23, 2021
Icelandair said that better-than-expected Boeing 737 MAX technical reliability is the catalyst behind a new initiative to review its long-term fleet strategy, which will begin at summer’s end.
Airlines & Lessors

Southwest Hints At Exercising More 737 MAX Options In 2022

By Lori Ranson Jul 22, 2021
Southwest Airlines could exercise up to 44 options for Boeing 737 MAX jets in 2022 to either fuel growth or accelerate retirements of older 737-700s. 
Airlines & Lessors

Flydubai Cuts MAX Orders But Resumes Deliveries

By Alan Dron Jul 13, 2021
News that UAE-based LCC flydubai has chopped 65 Boeing 737 MAXs from its orderbook demonstrates the severity of the pandemic’s effect on the carrier. 
Airlines & Lessors

MAX Cancellations, 787 Issues Dim Boeing’s June Orderbook Momentum

By Sean Broderick Jul 13, 2021
Boeing’s fifth straight month of positive net orders and several delivery-data bright spots were offset by flydubai’s cancellation of 65 737 MAXs and news of more 787 production-quality issues.
Aircraft & Propulsion

SpiceJet Looks To Raise Capital, Boost Balance Sheet

By Adrian Schofield Jul 01, 2021
SpiceJet will seek shareholder permission to raise up to INR25 billion ($335 million) through the issuance of eligible securities to qualified institutional investors.
Airlines & Lessors

Daily Memo: United Order Puts Spotlight Back On Gauge

By Ben Goldstein Jun 30, 2021
“It’s all about gauge, gauge, gauge”—that's how United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby described the company’s recently announced 270-aircraft narrowbody order on an investor call June 29.
Airlines & Lessors

United Airlines Bets On 737 MAX, A321neo Gauge, Orders 270 Jets

By Ben Goldstein Jun 29, 2021
The order from Chicago-based United—its biggest ever and the largest by any airline in over a decade—consists of 50 737-8s, 150 737-10s and 70 A321neos.
Airlines & Lessors

Southwest Airlines Adds 34 Aircraft To Existing 737-7 Order

By Ben Goldstein Jun 08, 2021
The move comes as the airline cites improving revenue trends and a strong domestic travel recovery in the U.S.
Airlines & Lessors

Daily Memo: The Implications Of Airbus’ Narrowbody Plans

By Jens Flottau Jun 07, 2021
The art of succeeding in the global aircraft duopoly is anticipating and taking advantage of the competitor’s weaknesses. 
Program Management