Having placed an order in 2019 for three of this particular model of aircraft, Air Austral, based in Réunion has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, becoming the first French carrier to do so. “We are excited to fly our first Airbus A220 with Pratt &
GECAS, the aviation lessor and financier, has announced that it intends to lease two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) to Kargo Xpress, the M Jets International start-up. The two jets will be delivered in October 2021 and January 2022, substantially increasing capacity for the newest freight carrier in Malaysia. Cargo Xpress commenced scheduled flights in
Delta Air Lines (Delta) has placed a firm order for 30 state-of-the-art Airbus A320neos, the European plane manufacturer’s cutting-edge, fuel-efficient, large-gauge, narrow-body aircraft. The order is part of Delta’s continued refreshing and upgrading of its existing fleet with the multiple objectives of supporting the American carrier’s commitment to carbon neutrality, while also boosting operational simplification,
Through its parent company Vieco U.S.A., Inc Virgin Orbit, the responsive launch and space solutions company, and NextGen Acquisition Corp. ll (NextGen), a special acquisition company, have announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement by which Virgin Orbit will become a publicly traded company. Expected to close in the fourth quarter of this
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated three-times as many enforcement cases on unruly air passengers in 2021 than in the whole of 2020. One recurring problem has been the refusal of passengers to comply with the mask mandate. As a consequence, the agency has set a benchmark of US$9,000 as a fine for
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Aviation Group has signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to establish a conversion site for Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft. The new passenger-to-freighter conversion center, which will operate from the company’s maintenance center in Addis Ababa, will provide solutions for the rising demand for cargo aircraft of these models. The conversion line
The Republic of Latvia, the majority stakeholder in its flag-carrying airline airBaltic, has agreed to invest €90 million equity into the struggling carrier. The investment has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia and will now be subject to the approval of the European Commission. Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer
Barfield, the Americas subsidiary of Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has signed a partnership agreement with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) manufacturer and French start-up DIODON Drone Technology (DIODON). The agreement is for AFI KLM E&M to sell and support DIODAN’s UAS systems, which are renowned for their robustness, water-proofness, and
Alaska Airlines is accelerating its fleet growth by exercising options early on for 12 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The option aircraft are now firm commitments for 2023 and 2024. This additional commitment brings Alaska’s total firm 737-9 order to 93 aircraft, five of which are currently in service. Alaska announced a restructured agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to
Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of military and business jets, has restored its guidance after returning to profit in the second quarter of 2021. Additionally, the company anticipates delivery of between 45 and 50 aircraft plus the handing over of between 90 and 95 business jets. Consolidated revenue is estimated to lie between US$4 billion and
