As the idea of hydrogen-powered commercial air travel has gained traction in Europe, EASA believes it may have to look at certification beyond the aircraft.
Lufthansa Technik, working with the City of Hamburg and other German partners, plans to modify an Airbus A320 to test maintenance and ground-handling procedures for liquid-hydrogen-powered aircraft. Operation of the demonstrator is planned to begin in 2022.
As the gradual lifting of travel restrictions sets the stage for a swift traffic recovery this summer, Airbus and Boeing plan on sticking to strategies that can now be described as proven.
Boeing is teaming with Germany’s Lufthansa Technik and defense electronics company ESG to provide support for a potential German purchase of the P-8 Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraft.
Based on Airbus’ latest thinking that single-aisle demand will return sooner than expected, the OEM is resuming preparatory work for a new narrowbody final assembly line in Toulouse to be operational by the end of 2022.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warned April 29 that there is a “lack of predictability” as to the expected recovery of the industry as trends have diverged in different regions, even though the company posted relatively good results for the first quarter.
Airbus is moving ahead with the relaunch of its aerostructures business by proposing to reintegrate some of it into the core Airbus structure while carving out a detailed parts company that it could put up for sale later.
The German Parliament has approved spending for the Eurodrone medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system program, paving the way for a quad-national contract to be signed in the next few weeks.
Airbus is making several changes to its executive board following the departure of Airbus CEO of defense and space Dirk Hoke and chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini.
Airbus and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) are to develop a terminal for aircraft to receive laser-based communications.
Airbus is increasing the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of the A220-300 by around one additional ton and is now offering the aircraft with a 70.9-ton option.
Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Neste and German research center DLR have teamed for the world’s first inflight study of the effects on emissions and performance of using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a widebody passenger aircraft.
Airbus says it is working on solutions addressing concerns raised by EASA and Boeing about the fire safety of the Airbus A321XLR rear center tank (RCT), adding that the variant’s development and certification schedule remain on track.
Around a decade after preparing to divest its aerostructures businesses, Airbus is now reversing course and wants to keep component manufacturing inside the group for the long term.
Airbus has said it could be “useful” if the trinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) countries France, Germany, and Spain could build three new-generation fighter demonstrators to support developments in their respective state.
Contrasting Boeing’s strategic direction against that of Airbus, which in 2020 unveiled concepts for liquid hydrogen fueled zero emissions airliners for potential entry-into-service in 2035, company CEO Dave Calhoun said SAFs are “the only answer between now and 2050.”
Airbus plans to raise single-aisle production rates later in 2021, but the ramp-up will be slower than previously planned “in response to the market environment.”
Airbus subsidiary Skytra has secured UK finance regulator approval for a data tool which will allow airlines to hedge revenue for the first time, in the same way they do for fuel and currency.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said Jan. 8 that he expects the company to begin ramping up single-aisle production in the second half of 2021, with further steps following in 2022 and 2023.
Alaska Airlines reached an agreement in principle with Boeing to take as many as 120 new 737-9 jets in coming years, marking the first sale of a MAX aircraft to a U.S.-based customer since the type was grounded nearly two years ago.
