Aircraft & Propulsion

International Airlines Group (IAG) has ordered up to 42 Boeing 777-9 aircraft for its British Airways (BA) subsidiary. If all options are exercised, the deal is valued at $18.6 billion at list prices.

Rolls-Royce is hopeful that the number of Boeing 787s grounded by Trent 1000 engine problems could drop to single figures by the end of the year.

In a shock move, Rolls-Royce is pulling out of the contest to power Boeing’s proposed New Midsized Airplane, citing challenges presented by the aircraft’s tight development schedule.

CFM International LEAP-1A engine deliveries for Airbus A320neos are now on time after being delayed, but production of LEAP-1Bs for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has fallen further behind.

Vietnam LCC Vietjet Air and startup Bamboo Airways have confirmed the purchase of a combined 110 Boeing aircraft worth $15.7 billion at list prices.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2019 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2019 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

As of Feb. 26, 2019, average list prices for Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft; with passenger seating capacity, cargo tonnage capacity and aircraft flight range.

Boeing and Embraer expect to close their deal-making over commercial and defense aircraft joint ventures (JVs) by year’s end, the two manufacturers said Feb. 26, after Embraer shareholders approved the proposals.

As the industry is assigning an increasing importance to manual piloting skills, regional turboprop manufacturer ATR has received a certification for the use of a full flight simulator in stall recovery training.

Air Vanuatu has become the first carrier in the Pacific region to order Airbus A220s, after announcing a deal for four aircraft.

Turboprop manufacturer ATR said Feb. 25 it had received certification from EASA to extend the intervals between Type A maintenance checks for all its aircraft from 500 to 750 hours.

Japan Airlines (JAL) is planning relatively little fleet growth through its next two fiscal years, although the Japanese flag carrier plans to expand capacity at a slightly faster rate.

Rolls’ composite fan and case evaluation marks the next step toward full-scale UltraFan flight-test demonstration.

Airbus officially opened its first innovation center in Shenzhen China on Feb. 21.

Aircraft Briefs-Feb. 21, 2019

United Technologies (UTC) continues to take a conservative approach with its commercial aftermarket-growth projection this year, despite signs of high demand across the board.

Safety improvements are also leading to benefits in daily operations.

French all-business class transatlantic airline La Compagnie said it will begin Airbus A321neo service between Paris and the New York area on June 6 after taking delivery of the first of its two new Airbus aircraft in May.

Latvian carrier airBaltic will end Boeing 737 operations in fall 2019, one year earlier than planned, accelerating its transition to an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet.

The A380 is the symbol of Europe’s ambition to become an equal competitor to Boeing. While Airbus reached its target anyway, the program failed.

Consider the two primary sources of NMA demand: upgauging from single-aisle routes and replacements for current single-aisle jets.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft delivered 20 CRJs and 15 Q400s in 2018, and deliveries are expected to remain at the 35-aircraft level for 2019.

Airbus has firmed up its plans to further increase narrowbody production over the next three years.

Etihad Airways is in talks to drop large parts of its orders for Airbus and Boeing widebodies, in an effort to reduce growth and stem losses.