Spirit AeroSystems has delivered its first composite center fuselage section for the Airbus A350 XWB. The upper and forward lower shell composite fuselage panels were joined in Spirit's Saint-Nazaire, France, facility before being delivered to Airbus. Spirit won a contract with Airbus in May 2008 to design and produce Section 15 of the A350 XWB's composite fuselage. The first center-fuselage panels were shipped from Spirit's North Carolina facility to Spirit's Saint-Nazaire facility in October.
Hainan Airlines’ subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines (HX) has placed a firm order for 10 A380s, according to widely published reports. According to Bloomberg, the order is valued at about $3.8 billion at list prices. The Hong Kong-based carrier will reportedly receive the first A380 in 2015. An Airbus spokesperson told ATW the manufacturer will not comment on the order before its annual press conference Jan. 17.
Taipei-based TransAsia Airways is considering an order for more than two Airbus A380s to facilitate its international expansion to the US over the next few years.
Boeing delivered 477 commercial aircraft in 2011 and ended the year with 805 net orders and a backlog of 3,771 unfilled commercial orders, the manufacturer said.
Air France (AF) has completed the installation of its premium economy cabin on six Airbus A380s, extending the new intermediate class on almost all of its long-haul fleet and network covering 67 destinations.
Boeing will close the Wichita, Kan., facility where it converts commercial airliner frames into military aircraft by the end of next year, the company announced Wednesday.
FLY Leasing Ltd. has acquired two Boeing 737-800s, one on lease to Air China and one on lease to Korean Air. It also sold one 777-200ER on lease to KLM and one 737-800 on lease to SpiceJet for a total of $139 million. Airbus has delivered its 7,000th aircraft, an A321, to US Airways. Airbus delivered its first aircraft in 1974—an A300B2 to Air France.
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has ordered two additional ATR 72-600s, plus two options, lifting the company’s -600 orders to 17, plus 17 options, as part of a deal previously announced at the Paris Air Show.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) and its subsidiary Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. (TAECO) have acquired a 49% shareholding in Shanghai Pudong (PVG)-based line maintenance.
Qantas (QF) has made individual payments of up to $400,000 (A$393,000) each in a settlement with 144 passengers who were onboard a flight that made two sharp descents.
Transaero Airlines (UN) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing for four Boeing 787s. The deal is valued at $774 million at list prices.
Evergreen International Airlines, the Oregon-based cargo carrier, has signed up for a Boeing 747-400 passenger-to-freighter conversion that will be delivered in 2012, Boeing said.
Cobham Aviation Services Australia has extended its lease with Falko on an Avro RJ100 and a BAe 146-300QT. Doric Asset Finance has taken delivery of one Airbus A380 (its 12 th aircraft), acquired by Doric Nimrod Air Two Ltd. (DNA2) from Airbus Dec. 2. The A380 is leased to Emirates for 12 years.
Boeing’s North Charleston, S.C. production facility has seen its first 787 “weight on wheels” maneuver, signifying that the aircraft was rolled on its landing gear. The airplane moved on its landing gear, via tug, to the next production position where electrical, hydraulic and mechanical systems installation and testing will continue over the next several weeks. Installation of the airplane's engines and interior will begin soon, Boeing said.
China’s Hebei Airlines (NS) took delivery of two Embraer E-190s Tuesday, Embraer said in a statement. Embraer said the sale of the two E-190s was confirmed this month, and the purchase of another eight jets is still subject to Chinese government approval ( ATW Daily News, April 13).
All Nippon Airways, the launch customer for the Boeing 787 with two in service, said its third Dreamliner won't be delivered this month as scheduled owing to a Boeing "productivity" issue.
The Boeing 787 has set new records for both speed and distance for the airplane's weight class, according to a Boeing statement. “The sixth 787, ZA006, powered by General Electric GEnx engines, departed from Boeing Field in Seattle at 11:02 a.m. Dec. 6 and set the distance record for its class (440,000-550,000 lbs.) with a 10,710 n. mi. (19,835 km.) flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh, with credit for 10,337 n. mi. (19,144 km.). This record had previously been held by the Airbus A330 based on a 9,127 n. mi. (16,903 km.) flight in 2002,” Boeing said.
Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has unveiled its new premium economy class and upgraded economy class seats on its long-haul flights from March 2012( ATW Daily News, Aug. 25). The first aircraft featuring the seats will be a Boeing 777-300ER, which will enter service in March on the Hong Kong-Toronto route.
Computer rendering of A320neo in JetBlue livery. Courtesy, Airbus JetBlue Airways has selected Pratt & Whitney engines to power its recently ordered fleet of Airbus A320neo aircraft, becoming the first US customer for PurePower engines ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 28).
FedEx revealed Thursday it has placed a firm order for 27 Boeing 767-300 freighters valued at $4.74 billion at list prices, but also has deferred delivery of 11 777Fs.
