Aircraft & Propulsion

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced plans to “reboot” its Blue1 subsidiary by replacing its nine Boeing 717s, most likely with 737-600s, and using it as a wet-lease provider.

American Airlines is evaluating two types of business-class seats for its long-range Boeing 757s, one similar to what American has installed on its Airbus A321 transcontinental aircraft and the other akin to what JetBlue Airways has put on its Mint subfleet, an executive said in an interview.

Hawaiian Airlines has finalized its order for six Airbus A330-800neo aircraft, firming up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier this year.

Singapore-based lessor BOC Aviation has finalized an order for two additional Boeing 737-800s, valued at $186 million at current list prices.

Air India is considering changing some of its nine remaining Boeing 787-8 orders to the larger 787-9, chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan told ATW.

Etihad Airways unveiled its first Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft at its Abu Dhabi base Thursday.

Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines is preparing for Airbus A350-900 operations as it is expects to begin taking delivery of its first of 14 of the type from 2016.

Colombia-based Avianca has taken delivery of its first of 15 Boeing 787-8s.

Irish Embraer lessor Aldus Aviation is planning to have 30 E-Jets in its portfolio by the end of 2014, a figure which it plans to double by 2016.

Oman Air has signed a deal with Standard Chartered Bank for the sale and operating leaseback of its three newest Boeing 737-800s.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has opened an investigation into a “serious incident” in which a Flybe Bombardier Q400 had an inflight engine fire late Tuesday.

Royal Air Maroc has introduced four new Embraer E-190s into its fleet following a successful trial in 2013, marking a new aircraft type for the North African carrier.

Airbus Group COO Günter Butschek has resigned and will leave at the end of 2014 to pursue other career opportunities.

Airbus said Finnair’s first A350-900 is taking shape in the Roger Béteille Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

Air India’s fully owned regional Alliance Air has introduced its first ATR 72-600 aircraft into its fleet.

Qatar Airways, which postponed the delivery ceremonies of the first Airbus A350 XWB aircraft last week, has set a new date of Jan. 7 for ceremonies at its home hub in Doha.

Low-cost carrier AirAsia X has placed a firm order for 55 Airbus A330neos, comprising five new aircraft and the firming of a previously announced commitment for 50 of the type at the Farnborough Airshow in July.

New Canadian ultra-low cost carrier Jetlines has ordered five Boeing 737 MAX 7s to build its future fleet.

Aircraft News-Dec. 15, 2014

Airbus has confirmed Qatar Airways will take delivery of its first A350-900 XWB on Dec. 22, which was postponed from this weekend. Qatar is the launch customer for the all-new widebody.

Singapore-based long-haul, low-cost carrier (LCC) Scoot will push back its first Boeing 787-9 services a second time from the original planned inauguration last month.

Republic Airways Holdings has reached an amendment to its capacity purchase agreement with Delta Air Lines to operate nine additional 69-seat Embraer E-170 aircraft.

Airbus CFO Harald Wilhelm surprised the aviation world the day before the Airbus Global Investor Forum by raising the possibility of either re-engining the A380 with more efficient engines or discontinuing A380 production in 2018.

China will require more than 5,300 new passenger aircraft and freighters worth some $820 billion from 2014 to 2033, Airbus predicted in its latest Global Market Forecast.

Qatar Airways announced Wednesday that delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 XWB, originally planned for this weekend, has been postponed. No new date for the delivery or reasons for the delay were given; Qatar is the launch customer for the all-new widebody.