Aircraft & Propulsion

China Southern Airlines is reinforcing a buildup in China’s far western Xinjiang province, lifting its 2020 fleet target from 95 to 110, and setting an annual passenger growth target of 17%.

The president of the ICAO Council, Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, has welcomed a declaration restating the air transport sector’s commitment and unity toward achieving resilience against cyber attacks.

Airbus logged firm orders* for 22 commercial aircraft from six customers in March, following a disappointing February in which the Toulouse-based manufacturer did not report a single new order.

The Airbus A350-1000 (MSN065), the larger variant of the A350 slated to seat 366 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, has completed a series of noise tests in Morón, south of Spain, between March 27 and April 5.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2017, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2017, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

Early signs are promising as Alaska Air Group plots course for Virgin America integration, although some key decisions are still pending.

Static tests showed that the MC-21, the first Russian airliner with a composite wing, will need that wing reinforced.

Aircraft Briefs-April, 5, 2017

Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE has obtained a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) Type 2 certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the airport mapping database element of its Airport+ product, the company said April 5.

Luxembourg-based freight carrier Cargolux said it has become the first operator to fly 1 million hours with GE Aviation’s GEnx engine, which powers its Boeing 747-8F aircraft.

Boeing has created an internal “innovation cell” called Boeing HorizonX, which will focus on transformative aerospace technologies, innovative manufacturing and new business models, the company said April 5.

Long-haul, low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia X has approached Airbus to see if it can bring forward its A350 deliveries, as it looks to reinstate flights to Europe and add services to the US.

Ukraine aircraft manufacturer Antonov's An-132D, a multipurpose transport aircraft, conducted its first flight from the company’s airfield in Kyiv, Ukraine March 31.

Startup Zunum Aero’s plans for a hybrid-electric 10-50-seat regional aircraft family attract venture-capital investment from Boeing’s new HorizonX innovation arm and JetBlue Technology Ventures.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) reported a 2016 net loss of RUB4.5 billion ($74 million), narrowed from a net loss of RUB109 billion in 2015.

Boeing has confirmed Iran Aseman Airlines signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for 30 737 MAX aircraft, with a list price value of $3 billion.

Russian air freight carrier AirBridgeCargo (ABC) Airlines has taken delivery of the first of two Boeing 747-8Fs under a long-term lease agreement with US-based lessor Intrepid Aviation.

A fourth Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. MRJ90 flight test aircraft has arrived in Moses Lake, Washington.

Scheduled and charter carrier Danish Air Transport (DAT) is evaluating future operations and shape of its fleet.

Boom Supersonic has received a new $33 million round of funding for its work to create supersonic passenger travel.

The first Airbus A319neo performed its maiden flight March 31, Airbus announced in a statement.

Boeing’s 787-10, the third and largest Dreamliner variant, took off on its first flight March 31 from North Charleston, South Carolina. ATW Americas editor Mark Nensel was onsite to bring you exclusive video footage.

The first Boeing 787-10, BOE1, completed its first flight from the Boeing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, on March 31.

The promise of China’s expanding market has international carriers, including American, Delta and Lufthansa, forging codeshares with key Chinese airlines.