A structural slowdown in business for the top three Middle East airlines could put their commercial aircraft order backlogs at risk for cancellations or deferrals, a new Morgan Stanley analysis concludes.
Ireland-based LCC Ryanair is bidding to buy around 90 aircraft from cash-strapped Italian carrier Alitalia. Speaking in London on Aug. 31, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said his company would be submitting a bid for Alitalia’s aircraft, their crews and engineering staff to the Italian flag carrier’s administrators.
French Polynesian carrier Air Tahiti Nui is preparing for a major upgrade of its long-haul international fleet in 2018, when it will begin the replacement of its Airbus A340s with Boeing 787-9s.
Southwest Airlines has become the first US airline to take delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, an aircraft in which the Dallas-based carrier played a key role in developing.
Alaska Airlines will keep the Airbus A320 fleet it got through its acquisition of Virgin America for at least 10 more years, an executive with the carrier told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily.
Las Vegas-based LCC Allegiant Air is in the process of retiring its 43 remaining MD-80s and should see the last ones exiting the fleet in 18 months, an airline executive told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily.
UTC Aerospace Systems is preparing to open a new nacelle assembly and manufacturing facility in Foley, Alabama, in the coming weeks, which will significantly expand its existing operations there.
The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. MRJ90 flight test program has been grounded following an unplanned engine shutdown during a test flight, the latest setback for the delayed Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) program.
Qantas has revealed more about its interest in adding new widebody aircraft types to serve ultra-long-range routes, and announced a major cabin upgrade for its Airbus A380 fleet.
Australian flag carrier Qantas has urged Airbus and Boeing to stretch the capabilities of their long-haul aircraft to enable them to fly from the east coast of Australia to London and New York nonstop.
Developing and demonstrating megawatt-class electric machines and power converters that are light enough and powerful enough for use in aircraft is a key step in enabling electric propulsion for commercial airliners.
Embraer believes the E175-E2 will be a “global” aircraft and is not dependent on the US market, where the aircraft’s noncompliance with pilot labor contract scope clauses continues to be an issue.
China’s Spring Airlines plans to collect CNY4 billion ($600 million) by circulating non-public A shares to purchase 10 A320 aircraft and one A320 simulator.
