US commercial aircraft sales in 2013 are expected to reach $67 billion, an almost $5 billion improvement over 2012, and are forecast to hit $72 billion in 2014.
AirAsia X has placed a firm order for 25 more A330-300s. According to Airbus, the contract is the largest A330 order in a single purchase agreement and increases the carrier’s total firm orders for the type to 51.
Air Cote d’Ivoire, the West African state’s national carrier, has firmed a conditional purchase agreement with Bombardier for two Q400 NextGen aircraft.
Low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian Air Shuttle will acquire two Boeing 787-9s—its first of the type—and is seeking to further expand its fleet with the -9 version to bolster new long-haul operations.
Airbus has signed a memorandum of understanding with EGTS International, a joint venture between Safran and Honeywell Aerospace, to develop an electric pushback and taxiing solution for the A320 family without using their main engines.
Finnair has signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) on the sale and leaseback of two Airbus 330s and two 350s, valued at €320 million ($440 million).
Air Calédonie (Aircalin), New Caledonia’s international airline, has inked an agreement with International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) for used Airbus A320-200s.
French Caribbean carrier Air Caraibes has firmed plans to take six Airbus A350s, comprising three directly from Airbus and three from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC), for its long-haul fleet renewal.
Russia’s Saratov-based Saravia Airlines has taken delivery of its first of two leased Embraer E-195s from GE Capital Aviation Services, becoming the first E-Jet operator in Russia.
American Airlines Group has signed a firm purchase agreement for 60 Embraer E-175 jets with options for another 90 E-175s, as well as a firm order for 30 Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets with options for 40 more aircraft.
Air India’s regional subsidiary Alliance Air is looking to lease eight ATR 72-500s or -600s from February next year under a tender, which is due to close Dec. 30.
The pilot at the controls of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 when it crashed in July at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has admitted to investigators he was “very concerned” about his ability to perform a visual approach landing on SFO’s runway 28L.
British Airways (BA) plans to deploy its Airbus A380s on its London Heathrow-Washington service from next year, while its Boeing 787s will be rolled out on Calgary, Chengdu, Hyderabad and Philadelphia routes.
India’s minister for civil aviation Ajit Singh said Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet will receive a software update, which will ground each aircraft for 10 days.
Boeing said it has started low-speed wind tunnel tests for the Boeing 777X, the next-generation widebody program launched by the manufacturer last month with entry into service (EIS) set for 2020.
Emirates Airline—which placed a huge order for Boeing 777X and Airbus A380 aircraft at the Dubai Air Show—wants to be ready for a “quantum leap” in air travel over the next 15 years.
