Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Aircraft
Airbus A350-900 ULR Flies for First Time
9,700-nm-range widebody scheduled to enter service with Singapore Airlines by year-end
Airlines
European Commission Warns of Effects of UK’s Exit from EASA
Absent a deal, British aerospace, airlines and crew set to lose EU safety certificates
Engines
UTC Sees Supply Chain Struggling With Narrowbody Rate Hikes
Shortage of skilled manpower stands as a crucial issue for aerospace vendors
Accidents
FAA Issues Emergency AD on CFM56 Turbofans
Airworthiness directive to mandate ultrasound inspections of engine type involved in uncontained failure aboard Southwest Airlines 737
Accidents
Southwest Airlines 1380 Engine Failure 4/17/2018 ATC Audio
Southwest Airlines 1380 Engine Failure 4/17/2018 ATC Audio
Airlines
Cairo Aviation Summit Shines Spotlight on Africa’s Challenges
Political stability key to promoting airline growth
Accidents
Failed Southwest CFM56 Shows Signs of Metal Fatigue
Airline promises to quicken pace of inspections following fatal incident involving Boeing 737-700
Aircraft
Russia To Fund Commercial Aircraft Presence in Africa
Russian Export Center signs partnership deal with Afreximbank to support aircraft purchases with $20 billion
ATC
ATC Strike in Addis Ababa Disrupts Ethiopian Flights
Operations return to normal following emergency talks
Aircraft
Wideroe Keen on Exercising Rights for More Embraer E2s
Embraer jets will support growth and revenue diversification with charter and ACMI
Accidents
Engine Explosion Aboard Southwest Airlines 737 Kills Passenger
Flight from New York to Dallas diverted to Philadelphia
Engines
FAA To Lower ETOPS Limits on Some Rolls-powered 787s
Ruling follows EASA AD calling for more frequent inspections of Package C Trent 1000s
Maintenance and Modifications
New Airbus Drone in Works for Mx Inspections
The drone-based aircraft inspection system has been demonstrated to a number of airlines and will be offered to MROs as well.
Engines
Rolls-Royce Grapples with More Trent 1000 Disruptions
Company reports need for more frequent inspections of intermediate pressure compressor blades in Package C engine
Airlines
Three Parties Bid for Alitalia but Sale Deadline Pushed Back
New wave of layoffs to start in May
Airlines
Indian Budget Carriers Hold Long-haul Aspirations
SpiceJet, IndiGo considering widebody orders
Aircraft
SAS Commits to 50 More Airbus A320neos
Scheduled to arrive from 2019 to 2023, new narrowobodies to form backbone of single-type fleet within five years
Aircraft
Lion Air To Take 50 More Boeing 737 Max 10s
$6.24 billion order marks the largest ever for the big narrowbody
Aircraft
American 787 Order Strikes another Blow to Airbus in U.S.
Deal for 47 Dreamliners accompanies cancellation of order for 22 A350s
Aircraft
China Tariffs Could Hurt More Than First Thought
Analysts’ belief that China’s proposed tariff won’t cover the 737 Max 8 might be incorrect, according to IBA Group
Aircraft
Embraer E190-E2s To Get Fully Compliant GTFs by October
Pratt & Whitney making steady progress to fix durability deficiencies in combustor liner
Aircraft
Embraer Delivers First E190-E2 to Wideroe
Norwegian airline scheduled to launch first service on April 24
Regulations and Government
Qatar–Curaçao Open Skies Deal Raises Concerns in Europe
New EU fair competition rules divide governments, aerospace industry, airlines, and airports
Airlines
Philippines AirAsia on a Roll
The low-cost carrier sees opportunity in what it characterizes as an underserved market.
Indian Government Looks To Divest Air India
The significant employee rolls are a deterrent for many buyers, analysts say.
Aircraft
Falklands Islanders Upgrading to Garmin Flight Decks
Figas awaits the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly’s decision on buying a sixth BN2B-26 Islander.
Airlines
SpiceJet Lobbies for International Route Subsidies
Sees major demand for air travel to bordering Asian countries
Airlines
Lufthansa Eyes Asia Growth, Relauches Munich-Singapore
Five weekly flights with an A350-900 increases capacity between the two countries by 40 percent
Aircraft
Boeing 737 Chief Engineer Predicts ‘Huge Future’ for Max
Calls Max 7 ideal for high-altitude airports in China
Airlines
SIA Unveils New Interior, Plans for Boeing 787-10s
Airline investing $350 million in cabins of first twenty 787-10s on order
