A lawsuit filed by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) escalates the union’s already critical public views of Boeing and the 737 MAX, accusing the manufacturer of deliberately misrepresenting and withholding “safety critical” details about the new model for years.
With backing from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a scale flying model of an unconventional fuel-efficient long-haul airliner concept has made its debut at the airline’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
Spanish LCC Volotea has been awarded a five-year contract by Airbus to operate twice-daily return flights between the airframer’s main production sites in Toulouse and Hamburg.
The European Commission (EC) will investigate whether the joint venture between Boeing and Embraer could reduce competition in the commercial aerospace business.
The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) is planning to develop a series of four successively larger pilotless cargo aircraft, an official of the state company said at a conference.
Are these seemingly mutually exclusive goals attainable in an increasingly environmentally concerned world? It was on the agenda at the International Society for Air Breathing Engines (ISABE) conference in Canberra, Australia, from where senior editor Guy Norris discusses everything from biofuels and more electric aviation to hypersonics and long range commercial operations with the Society’s Prof. Ric Parker and Prof. Andrew Neely.
Most US airlines would see minimal near-term fallout from tariffs on Airbus deliveries, although New York-based JetBlue Airways and Florida-based Spirit Airlines could face notable challenges offsetting added costs, a Bernstein analysis has concluded.
Boeing and Embraer on Oct. 3 formally acknowledged they do not expect their commercial aircraft joint venture deal to close until “early 2020” after the European Commission indicated its competition review will extend into a Phase II.
Dedicated Boeing customer XiamenAir, attracted by the capabilities of the Airbus A321neo, is assessing whether it should order Airbus aircraft, industry sources said.
A project to convert the nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander to hybrid-electric propulsion for short-haul flights has kicked off in the UK. Project Fresson is led by Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), which plans to obtain and market a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the conversion.
The European Commission and Airbus doubled down on calls for the US and Boeing to negotiate an end to the 15-year-old airliner subsidy dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) after a WTO arbitrator green-lighted the US to collect up to $7.5 billion in punitive tariffs on European imports.
UPS announced on Oct. 1 that its Flight Forward subsidiary has received the first FAA Part 135 Standard certification to use unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) for package deliveries nationwide, allowing it to operate a “drone airline.”
Thai Airways’ plans to place major aircraft orders has been put on hold by the board, although the airline will still proceed with plans to lease three more widebodies in the short term.
Rolls-Royce has completed the acquisition of the electric aircraft propulsion activities of German industrial giant Siemens. The UK engine manufacturer says the purchase of the former Siemens eAircraft unit will boost its strategy to champion the electrification of aircraft.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is expecting the Boeing 737 MAX to return to European service in early 2020, although the LCC’s current contingency plan will hold until the end of February.
Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary is looking to secure some of the Airbus A320s formerly operated by UK leisure carrier Thomas Cook to support growth at Austrian LCC Laudamotion.
US pilots who have tested the new Boeing 737 MAX flight-control software have given it positive reviews and some carriers are beginning to finalize step-by-step MAX return-to-service plans, suggesting that Boeing’s notional timeline of getting FAA approval by year-end may come to fruition.
The FAA is working with Boeing to finalize an inspection order on higher-time 737NGs after cracks were discovered in fuselage frames and related parts on three 737-800s being converted to freighters.
Boeing is implementing several recommendations made by its board of directors aimed at elevating the company’s safety focus, led by the creation of a new Product and Services Safety (PSS) unit, CEO Dennis Muilenburg announced Sept. 30.
The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) began assembling the first airframe in the MA700 turboprop airliner program Sept. 27, aiming for a first flight in 2020 and certification in 2022.
