Aircraft & Propulsion

Qatar Airways is considering switching at least some of its current order for Airbus A320neos to the larger A321neo model, the Gulf carrier has confirmed.

Dar-es-Salaam-based Air Tanzania has been revealed as the previously unidentified customer for a single Boeing 787-8, valued at $224.6 million at list prices.

Boeing has informed employees that the 777 production rate will be reduced from seven per month to five per month in August 2017, meaning the program’s production rate will be cut twice in 2017.

Order totals as of Nov. 30, 2016. Source: Boeing.

Aircraft Briefs-Dec. 12, 2016

Aerojet Rocketdyne rotating detonation-engine study takes a big step toward boosting gas turbine efficiency through pressure-gain combustion.

IATA’s first look into 2017 is sobering, given that the airline industry has only recently been able to reach margins common in many other sectors.

Qantas announced it will launch Perth-London Heathrow nonstop service in March 2018 using the Boeing 787-9 for the 9,000 mile, 17-hour flight.

Boeing announced Sunday it had firmed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed with Iran Air earlier this year for 50 narrowbody and 30 widebody aircraft in a deal valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

Boeing booked firm orders for 13 commercial aircraft from six customers in November, valued at approximately $1.7 billion at list prices.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Aircraft & Engine Briefs-Dec. 8, 2016

Turkish low-cost carrier (LCC) Pegasus Airlines has detailed delays and changes to its aircraft delivery schedule after a tough year in which Turkey’s vital tourism trade has been severely battered by geopolitical events.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

Boeing has started final assembly of the first 787-10, the third and largest variant of the 787, at its manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Manila-headquartered Philippine Airlines has finalized a firm order for five Bombardier Q400s and purchase rights for another seven, launching the two-class, 86-seat variant.

Following a two-year application process and a heated debate, NAI’s foreign air carrier permit is finally approved by the U.S. Transportation Department.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline is evaluating Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s for delivery around 2021-22.

Philippine low-cost carrier (LCC) Cebu Pacific has confirmed it is still considering an order for new widebody aircraft that it could use for its first transpacific flights.

[UPDATED] A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ATR 42-500, en route from Chitral to Islamabad, crashed on a hillside near Havelian after it lost radio contact Dec. 7, killing all 48 people aboard.

Ambitious efforts to boost Tokyo airports’ capacity will be spur for long-term airline expansion.

Airbus reported firm orders* for 14 commercial aircraft in November, valued at $1.6 billion at list prices, from two airlines and one undisclosed customer.

Seoul-based Korean Air expects to take delivery of seven Bombardier CSeries 300s next year, becoming the first operator of the type in Asia, Bombardier VP-CSeries aircraft program Robert Dewar told ATW at last week’s airBaltic CS300 unveiling.

RwandAir continues to add aircraft and expand long-haul routes even though it faces challenges in Africa’s economic climate and in the aviation industry.

Bombardier said it will increase the formal specifications for the CSeries CS300, as the aircraft’s per seat and trip costs have already proven 2% better than its original brochure values.