Comac has confirmed its plan to fly the third C919 flight-test aircraft this year, as the program works toward a targeted first delivery in 2021, state media say, citing the company.
Dublin and Fort Lauderdale-based Zephyrus Aviation Capital has hired two ex-CIT Aerospace executives to its top management roles and is acquiring 21 aircraft, with plans for further expansion.
Florida-based ultra-LCC Spirit Airlines plans to take delivery of two more Airbus A320neos this year and to resume regular deliveries next year after problems with its Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered airliners caused the carrier to stop accepting them.
Indian Ocean-based Air Mauritius has delayed a decision on new narrowbody aircraft to replace two Airbus A319s and expand its fleet as competition and high fuel prices create pressure on the company, CEO Somaskaran Appavou told ATW on the sidelines of last week’s IATA Aviation Day in Mauritius.
La Réunion-based Air Austral and Air Madagascar are looking at updating their respective fleets, 10 months into a partnership aimed at making the two small airlines more resistant to competition that they say has been “positive overall” so far.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has taken delivery of the first of seven Airbus A350-900 ultra-long range (ULR) aircraft, which will be placed in service Oct. 11 on a nonstop service between Singapore and New York Newark Liberty International Airport—the world’s longest route with an average flying time of 18 hr. and 45 min.
Air pollution, especially in large Asian cities, is believed to be one cause of reliability issues that have affected a large portion of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered Boeing 787 fleet.
French Polynesian regional carrier Air Tahiti is considering procuring jets so it can expand international routes from its home base of Papeete, CEO Manate Vivish told ATW on the sidelines of this week’s IATA Aviation Day in Mauritius.
Airbus sent JetBlue Airways’ latest A321ceo off on its delivery flight Sept. 19 from Mobile, Alabama, with 15.5% renewable jet fuel onboard, continuing a trend the manufacturer started with its Toulouse delivery flights two years ago.
Air New Zealand is suspending two routes from its international network partly because of aircraft shortages caused by ongoing Boeing 787 engine issues.
The first A380 for Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) completed a maiden flight from the Airbus final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse, France to the manufacturer’s site in Hamburg, Germany.
Brussels Airlines is considering whether to move its wet-lease arrangement from Ireland’s CityJet, following longer-than-anticipated delays in solving technical problems with its Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s).
China Southern Airlines is looking at a fleet of 150 widebody, long-haul aircraft by 2020 as the Guangzhou-based carrier seeks expansion opportunities.
Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR has named Stefano Bortoli as its new CEO, following the departure of Christian Scherer, who was appointed Airbus CCO.
Mexican LCC Interjet Airlines, the only operator of Sukhoi Superjets in the Americas, is planning to phase out some of its 22 Superjet 100s as part of a fleet restructuring and overall strategic growth plan through 2021 announced Sept. 14.
