ILFC signed an MOU with Airbus covering orders for 100 A320neo family aircraft including 25 A321neos and became the first of four companies committing to the narrowbody to make an engine selection, choosing Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1100G. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2016.
AWAS delivered one Boeing 737-300 to Monterrey, Mexico-based carrier VivaAerobus, a new customer for the lessor. The carrier said it will use the aircraft in its fleet expansion plans and as part of its domestic network.
Bombardier said it recently upgraded more than 9,000 sq.m. of its Saint-Laurent facility to enable it to produce major components including the carbon-fiber aft fuselage and cockpit for its CSeries aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2013. The cockpit will be mated at the facility with the forward fuselage section made by Shenyang Aircraft Corp. in China. The assembly process will include “a fully automated moving line using the latest lean manufacturing principles, and the upgrades include new machinery, equipment and tooling,” it said.
Airbus projected Monday that Asia/Pacific airlines will take delivery of around 8,560 new aircraft valued at $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years, representing 33% of new aircraft deliveries worldwide over the forecast period.
Bombardier Aerospace said it signed an MOU with ICBC Financial Leasing Co. covering up to $8 billion in capital that the wholly owned subsidiary of Industrial Commercial Bank of China will make available to support "advance payment financing, delivery financing and leasing solutions"for Bombardier business and commercial aircraft including Q-Series, CRJ Series and CSeries transports. Financial support will be available for aircraft transactions inside and outside China.
Airbus revealed last week that Dubai Aerospace Enterprise's DAE Capital aircraft leasing unit has canceled another 30 firm orders comprising 18 A320s and 12 A350s.
Boeing is moving "far more aggressively" toward a 180-250 seat twin-aisle replacement for the 737, according to company insiders. It would continue production of the 737-800/900ER for airlines that still want the standard offering.
Boeing is moving "far more aggressively" toward a 180-250 seat twin-aisle replacement for the 737, according to company insiders. It would continue production of the 737-800/900ER for airlines that still want the standard offering.
Goodrich announced its electric brake system has completed all required dedicated flight test conditions, incorporating the latest iteration of its Duracarb carbon heat sink material. The braking system has to date been selected by the majority of Boeing's 787 customers, including launch customer ANA.
Ryanair on Thursday confirmed to ATW it may consider ordering United Aircraft Corp.’s single-aisle MS-21 or COMAC’s C919 aircraft to support fleet expansion. Negotiations with Boeing for additional 737s broke down in late 2009 ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 9, 2009).
Brussels Airlines took delivery of the first of two ex-Mexicana Airbus A319s it is slated to receive as part of the renewal of its short- and medium-haul fleet.
Delta Air Lines told employees it has reached an agreement to buy nine Japan Airlines MD-90s for delivery beginning in January 2012 to replace retiring DC-9s and 50-seat regional jets.
Edelweiss Air COO Peter Spring told ATW in Zurich that the airline took delivery of a 332-seat Airbus A330-300 last week and is endeavoring to grow international flying.
Airbus and a group of Chinese industrial partners on Monday opened a joint venture composite manufacturing facility in Harbin first announced in 2009 ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 2, 2009). It spans 33,800 sq.m. and will eventually be an "80,000 sq.m. manufacturing compound, comprising production, technical support, office areas and other services," Airbus said.
Embraer said Tuesday that TRIP Linhas Aereas ordered four additional E-190s valued at $172 million at list prices. The Brazilian carrier already was slated to take delivery of nine E-190s this year, and said it intends to use the new aircraft to expand its destinations domestically. It expects the Brazilian market to double in size over the next five years. It currently operates nine E-175s.
Boeing is nearing completion of its agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines to modernize the interiors of 22 of the carrier's 23 777-200ER aircraft. Eight of the airplanes feature SV’s new business market configuration with 24 first class, 38 business class and 170 economy class seats, while the remaining aircraft are in the new high-density configuration accommodating 14 business class and 327 economy class seats.
Safran group companies Labinal and Aircelle signed agreements with Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing and Airbus respectively. Labinal’s framework agreement with COMAC subsidiary SAMC will establish an aircraft wiring joint venture company, while Aircelle was selected by Airbus to supply the complete integrated nacelle package for the A320neo family.
Wings Air, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Lion Air, firmed up options for 15 ATR 72-500s. Wings signed a contract with ATR at the 2009 Dubai Air Show for 15 72-500s plus 15 options; it now has 30 of the type on firm order with 10 already in operation.
Airbus on Thursday announced it has rolled out the first Korean Air Airbus A380 bearing the airline's livery. The paint work was done in Hamburg. The aircraft is one of 10 ordered by the carrier, which will become the sixth A380 operator when it takes delivery of its first in the second quarter ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 19).
EgyptAir on Thursday told ATW it is preparing for the release of a “limited modification” to its summer schedule and that the revised schedule “will feature a gradual growth in volume of operations over the summer season reaching normal volume towards the end of the season.”
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 en route from Ft. Lauderdale to Minneapolis made an emergency landing Sunday following the contained failure of one its CFM56-7B engines during initial climb. There were no injuries among the 125 passengers and crew and no damage to the aircraft reported, though Broward County (Fla.) police said they found "small pieces" from the engine near FLL. DL said the damaged engine would be examined to determine the cause of the failure.
