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.
EgyptAir reportedly has sent aircraft leasing proposals to Aviation Capital Group, GECAS and fellow members of the Star Alliance as it attempts to cope with severe drops in inbound passenger demand following the recent civil protests that led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
United Continental Holdings ended speculation regarding whether United Airlines would retain its Economy Plus section following its merger with Continental Airlines last year, announcing Thursday that it intends to introduce the product into Continental aircraft beginning next year.
Qantas said it will acquire 28 aircraft and extend leases on others as it looks to boost its domestic, resources, charter and international fleets. It will also consider the Boeing 777 as a long-term option.
Airbus announced that A&F Aviation, the ANA-First Eastern Investment Group low fare airline, selected the A320 to launch services from Osaka Kansai International beginning in the second half of FY2011 ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 2). According to Airbus, A&F will lease 10 CFM56-powered A320s from GECAS. Aircraft will be configured for 180 passengers in a single-class layout, Airbus said.
South African Airways took delivery of its first of six Airbus A330-200s this week. The aircraft will replace its current A340-200 fleet. Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of its third new Boeing 777–200LR on Jan 28. ET will take delivery of two more 777-200LRs before the end of 2011. It operates a fleet of 45 aircraft. Germania signed a long-term contract with the Austrian LCC Niki to lease two Airbus A319s from 2011 onwards.
Boeing said it welcomes reports that El Al has selected the 737-900ER and looks forward to finalizing a contract. El Al said it ordered four 737-900ERs with an option for two more, in a deal valued at up to $320 million, Reuters reported. The 737-900s are intended to replace its 757s. EL AL took delivery of its first 757 in 1987.
Boeing on Sunday rolled out the 747-8 Intercontinental in Everett in front of 10,000, employees, government officials, customers, partners and suppliers.
Air Castle Ltd.delivered one new Airbus A330-200 to South African Airways. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines and is the first of six scheduled for delivery this year.
A Manx2.com Metroliner III crashed while attempting to land at Cork Airport Thursday morning, killing six of the 12 persons on board and injuring the remaining six, two of them seriously according to press reports.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh conceded that the 787 program's global outsourcing backfired. Addressing students and faculty at Seattle University, he offered candid commentary on the Dreamliner's production problems, according to The Seattle Times.
AAR Distribution was named exclusive distributor in North America and Asia for ADS/Transicoil, an aftermarket manufacturer of custom avionics, LCD displays and motion control products for the commercial aerospace market.
Cobham Aviation Services of Australia exercised its options to buy two BAe 146s it had been leasing from BAE Systems; Aerolineas Star Peru acquired one BAe 146-200 from BAE; and Titan Airways acquired one Avro RJ100. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft sold one J41 to Easy Fly of Columbia, and subleased one J41 from Eastern Airways to Sky Express of Heraklion, Crete.
Delta Air Lines will introduce an “Economy Comfort” section on all its long-haul international flights this summer as part of its previously announced plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2013.
BAE Systems said it placed 52 aircraft in 2010 (up from 44 in 2009) and won "significant" remarketing mandates from third parties. Out of the 52 placed aircraft, 45 were BAe 146/Avro RJs, which "significantly outperformed the market, with an estimated market share in excess of 75% despite only managing around 40% of the global fleet," it said.
Boeing said the fifth 747-8 Freighter participating in the flight test program made its air debut on Feb. 3, from Paine Field in Everett. The flight lasted 3 hr. and 30 min. "The airplane performed well," said Andy Hammer, test program manager for 747-8. The aircraft, coded RC523, will focus on functionality and reliability testing, Boeing said.
BAE Systems announced its Regional Aircraft segment is “refocusing its customer support operation” and will also expand its offering into different aircraft types this year. “In addressing our customer needs and the continuing consolidation in the repair and overhaul market, Regional Aircraft has now developed, and is offering to the market new Total Support solutions to meet the needs of our large European fleet operators,” BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Business-Director Sean McGovern said.
Boeing on Wednesday rolled out its 1,000 th 767—a -300ER passenger model for All Nippon Airways. It is the final 767 to complete assembly on the current production line; henceforth, 767s will be assembled in a new, smaller bay geared toward leaner, more efficient operations. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said, "As we salute the 1,000th 767, the next 767 is already being built in a new bay where we can produce airplanes much more efficiently for years to come."
