Air Transport

Bombardier is prepared to offer the full Atmosphère cabin for new-build aircraft of its recently announced CRJ550 regional jet, a senior executive said Apr. 3, but because initial examples of the new model are conversions from existing CRJ700s, most users are likely to shy away for cost reasons.

Honeywell is seeking to translate its experience of high-speed inflight Wi-Fi in the business aviation market into the airline sector, as carriers seek more uses for the greater connectivity now available from the new generation of satellites.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) could boost retention and morale for its 34,200 entry-level Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) by making key changes to its hiring and training efforts, according to an audit from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Market-research firm NSR is predicting that aviation will be the largest customer for flat-panel antenna (FPA) technologies, which minimize drag, creating a more compelling business case for inflight connectivity.

German aircraft seating company Recaro and German lighting startup jetlite have partnered on an innovation that allows long-haul business-class travelers to individually customize and schedule the warmth of their cabin light, with the intent to naturally encourage sleep and minimize jetlag.

Latvian carrier airBaltic reported a 2018 net income of €5.4 million ($6 million), a 46% increase from €3.7 million in 2017.

L3 Commercial Aviation has placed an order for up to 240 new aircraft options with Vero Beach, Florida manufacturer Piper Aircraft to expand and modernize the training fleet at its airline academies.

Royal Jordanian reported a 2018 net loss of JD5.9 million ($8.3 million), compared to a net profit of JD274,000 in the previous year, with the shutdown of its Royal Wings subsidiary and shifts in exchange rates contributing to the weak performance, the airline said Apr. 1.

Indian airline Jet Airways is still grounding more aircraft due to lease payment defaults, even though the first parts of a bailout plan have been put in place.

UK regional airline Flybe said it was ending jet operations at several UK airports as part of a previously announced fleet reduction plan, on the same day that it was forced to cancel dozens of flights in what it said was an unrelated issue.

Airline digital services provider Immfly is starting to expand, both beyond its European base and in the services it provides.

Airbus’ Silicon Valley outpost launches a project to develop an autonomy system that can scale across the manufacturer’s product line.

Embraer has signed a firm order for 10 E195-E2 jets with Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline.

The carrier’s collapse is the latest in a series of European airline failures. Mistakes by management are the key reason for its demise.

AirAsia X will leverage new aircraft programs for the next phase of its long-haul, low-cost model.

Federal lawmakers in the U.S. are examining training standards of FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) who may have participated in the development of Boeing’s 737 MAX 8, adding to the overlapping list of federal and congressional probes into the troubled jetliner’s development and certification.

Principals of the Aireon joint venture formally announced on Apr. 2 the launch of the company’s satellite-based air traffic control (ATC) surveillance system, a capability that for the first time provides a means of continuously tracking aircraft over oceans and remote regions of the world.

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines is considering trimming its operations as it looks to shore up the financial stability of the company and restore market confidence.

Australian cabin-technology supplier Burrana, which was rebranded from digEcor after acquiring Collins Aerospace’s commercial in-flight entertainment (IFE) business, is pushing ahead with the integration and is on the lookout for further acquisitions.

Airbus has yet to find a customer for its lower-deck cabin module but its promoters have clearer ideas on how to market and certify it.

Airbus has made a prominent change to its Day & Night first-class concept, the “night” area of which now looks like a two-person bedroom.

Low-cost airline Wizz Air anticipates its profit for the year will be at the high end of its estimate, thanks to robust demand; its operational performance in March was good as well, with a decrease in cancellations.

Four aircraft retrofit specialists—EAD Aerospace, Envoy Aerospace, Etihad Airways Engineering and Lufthansa Technik—have officially launched the Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance (IAMA), firming up an MOU that was first announced in January.

Aircraft interior design consultants, physicians and cabin-amenity providers are revivifying the airline industry’s efforts to improve passenger sleep now that data-gathering and analytics technologies are opening new possibilities.

Aircraft seat manufacturer Recaro has launched its lightest-weight economy seat at the 2019 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, shaving 1 kg (2.2 lb.) off its predecessor, along with an economy sleeper-seat option. Meanwhile, its smart-seat and flexible-configuration concepts from prior years are beginning to gain traction.