TOULOUSE, FRANCE — Air Algérie aims to enhances its operational efficiency with new Airbus widebody aircraft. Air Algérie, Algeria's flagship airline, has inked a firm order for seven widebody aircraft, bolstering its commercial expansion efforts. The new order will empower Air Algérie to fully leverage the versatile Airbus product line, enhancing its regional services and laying the groundwork for ambitious transcontinental routes. Operating the A330neo alongside the A350-1000, Air Algérie stands to enjoy operational advantages including …
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — 737 MAX 7 certification takes longer than expected but Boeing still targets year-end approval. The certification process for Boeing's 737 MAX 7 has been considerably prolonged due to enhanced documentation requirements, according to a company executive. Nevertheless, the aerospace manufacturer remains optimistic about obtaining certification by the year's end. Both the MAX 7 and MAX 10 models are crucial for Boeing's competitiveness against Airbus in the large and small segments of the narrowbody marke…
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — Embraer anticipates production rebound and strong E2 sales in Chinese market. After shipping a mere 57 commercial aircraft in 2022, Embraer has projected an uptick in production, forecasting a return to pre-pandemic rates of approximately 100 jets annually by 2026. Embraer's Chief Financial Officer, Antonio Carlos Garcia, has estimated that commercial jet deliveries for the current year will number between 65 and 70 units, seven of which were dispatched during the first quarter. In a notable development, Garcia mentione…
BEIJING, CHINA — State-Backed CACC's 164-seat jetliner takes flight, set to reduce China's dependence o western aircraft manufacturers. The state-run Commercial Aviation Corp of China (CACC) took 15 years to bring its 164-seat jet to service, with China Eastern Airlines becoming the first customer. The jet is currently operating on routes between Beijing and Shanghai. China's need for an alternative to Boeing, the US manufacturer with strong ties to the US government, has been intensifying. In fact, no Chinese airline has acquired …
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — Embraer's turboprop aircraft project is on hold. The Brazilian planemaker is exploring "Hybrid Propulsion" and aiming for "Net-Zero" emissions by 2050. Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has decided not to hasten a decision concerning the launch of its proposed regional turboprop aircraft. The decision came after the company failed to secure satisfactory agreements from engine suppliers to bring the product to market later this decade, according to Arjan Meijer, Embraer's commercial av…
NEW DELHI, INDIA — Air India to acquire Airbus A350s initially ordered by Aeroflot amid expansive growth plans. Air India, under the ownership of Tata, is set to take delivery of its first Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft in the latter half of 2023, likely commencing in October. These A350 aircraft were initially ordered by Russian airline Aeroflot, but following the imposition of US sanctions against Russia due to its ongoing "special military operation" in Ukraine, European aircraft manufacturers have halted the delivery of planes to…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas anticipates soaring profit margins with upcoming launch of ultra-long-haul flights. Qantas, Australia's national carrier, is anticipating a doubling of profit margins from international flights in the upcoming years. The soon-to-be-launched Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights are projected to contribute significantly to this increased profitability. During its first investor day since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Qantas provided updates on its overarching strategy through 2030, signifying a shift "…
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Malaysian authorities impounds PIA Boeing 777 for second time over unpaid lease dues. A Boeing 777 aircraft, operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), was impounded by Malaysian authorities at Kuala Lumpur Airport due to unresolved payment obligations, according to multiple sources. This news came to light through Pakistani media reports, which stated that the action was directed by a Malaysian court due to outstanding lease payments amounting to roughly $4 million. Significantly, this is not the first instanc…
SINGAPORE — SIA Engineering Partners with Cambodia Airport Investment for Line Maintenance Joint Venture. SIA Engineering (SIAEC) has confirmed a joint venture agreement with Cambodian infrastructure investment entity, Cambodia Airport Investment (CAIC), to establish a line maintenance joint venture. The fresh joint venture will be stationed at Phnom Penh's new airport, the Techo Takhmao International Airport, which is located in the Cambodian capital. As per the agreement, SIAEC will possess a 51% equity stake, while CAIC will acquire th…
SINGAPORE / JAKARTA—Regulatory Approval Awaited for Joint Venture Between Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia are preparing to enter a joint venture that would significantly bolster their existing collaboration and potentially augment air traffic between Singapore and Indonesia. If given the green light by regulators, the proposed joint venture would allow both national airlines to synchronize their flight schedules between the two countries. The joint venture would encompass routes between Singapor…
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Envoy Air Bids Farewell to Ageing ERJ-145 Jets, Embraces Larger Regional Aircraft. American Airlines' regional subsidiary, Envoy Air, is retiring its remaining fleet of 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 jets, which have served the company for nearly two decades. The Texas-based carrier announced on May 26 that it would bid a fond farewell to the ERJ-145s, acknowledging their long-standing service to Envoy. Envoy currently operates nine ERJ-145s, a significant decrease from the previous count of 22 in mid-March. The older jets wi…
LONDON, UK — Innovative Startup Global Airlines Sets New Course with Airbus A380 Acquisition. Global Airlines, a lesser-known startup carrier, has made its inaugural aircraft purchase, acquiring the massive Airbus A380. The carrier announced the acquisition on Monday, disclosing that the jet was obtained from German investment firm Doric Aviation. Doric currently possesses a fleet of 14 A380s, with 13 being operated by Emirates and one being remarketed for a new operator. Contrary to popular belief, Global Airlines expressed that the A380 is w…
ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON — Battle for Cathay Pacific's $2 Billion Order: Boeing 777-8F vs. Airbus A350 Freighter. Cathay Pacific is nearing a deal to purchase Boeing 777-8F freighters valued at approximately $2 billion, as the Hong Kong-based airline initiates the partial replacement of its fleet of dedicated 747 cargo jets, industry sources revealed on Monday. This decision comes after a fiercely contested battle to secure the business of one of the world's top-five freight carriers. Cathay Pacific had been comparing Boeing's all-fre…
BEIJING, CHINA — A Milestone for Chinese Aviation: China's first B737 and A30 rival passenger jet embarks on maiden commercial flight. China's first domestically manufactured passenger airplane, the C919, embarked on its maiden commercial flight, marking a significant stride toward the country's technological self-reliance after years of project delays. The single-aisle C919 completed its inaugural flight from Shanghai to Beijing on Sunday, following over a decade of development and an estimated $72 billion in backing from Beijing.…
ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON — Boeing Eyes Second Major Deal in Saudi Arabia with Prospective Sale to Riyadh Air. Boeing is negotiating to secure its second major contract in Saudi Arabia this year, eyeing a potential sale of at least 150 737 Max jetliners to startup airline Riyadh Air, according to sources who spoke to the American news agency Bloomberg. Riyadh Air, which is owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is looking to purchase a total of 300 to 400 single-aisle aircraft, including options, as disclosed by the sources who request…
SEOUL, KOREA — Passenger's Mid-Flight Exit Attempt Spurs Change in Asiana Airlines Seat Sales Asiana Airlines of South Korea has ceased the sale of select emergency exit row seats in response to an incident where a passenger inadvertently opened an emergency exit door in mid-flight, leading to chaos among passengers. The event occurred on an A321-200 aircraft carrying nearly 200 passengers, as it was preparing to land at Daegu International Airport, situated approximately 150 miles southeast of Seoul. The plane completed a safe landing, b…
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Rising Demand vs. Retiring Engineers: The Dilemma Facing the Aviation Industry. The aviation industry is facing a critical engineer shortage, threatening affordable summer vacations as companies fear prolonged downtime of passenger jets. Boeing and Airbus project the need for over 600,000 engineers in the next 20 years to keep up with increasing demand. An insufficient number of engineers could potentially lead to a reduction in planes and passenger seats, in turn increasing the cost of flight tickets. Recruitment firm…
DALLAS, TEXAS — A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight documented an unusual sight: a pilot, locked out of the cockpit, attempting to regain access through the plane's window. Matt Rexroad took to Twitter to share an image of the pilot balancing on the airstair, partially inside the plane's window, striving to unlock the door. According to Rexroad, the last passenger from a previous flight had accidentally locked the cockpit door when disembarking. Southwest confirmed to Insider that a lavatory door had been inadvertently opened by…
PARIS, FRANCE — Air France Flight AF291 Returns to Departure Airport Following Suspected Bird Strike. On May 28, 2023, an Air France A350-900 operating flight AF291 from Osaka-Kansai (KIX), Japan to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France declared an emergency at 11:00 JST, returning to its departure airport due to a suspected bird strike damaging its nose cone. Roughly 30 minutes into the flight, after the aircraft had reached its cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, the decision to return was made. This came following the pilots' report of a …