NewsITA Airways firms up order for 28 Airbus aircraftItaly’s ITA Airways has firmed up an order for 28 Airbus aircraft, comprising narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The deal finalizes a memorandum of understanding for seven A220s, 11 A320neos and 10 A330neos first announced on September 30, 2021. ITA, the successor to bankrupt Alitalia, is also planning to lease A350s as part of fleet modernization plans, Airbus said in a statement on December 1, 2021.
LinkNorwegian Air Shuttle adds two 737 MAX 8 leases as it rebuilds operationNorwegian Air Shuttle is leasing two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft as it rebuilds its operations. The budget airline said in a statement on December 1, 2021, that deliveries will begin “shortly” and they will help the airline operate its summer 2022 program. Norwegian has previously said that it plans to increase its fleet to a peak of 50 short-haul aircraft within the last few months of 2021 and then to 70 aircraft in 2022.
LinkairBaltic sets its sights on Airbus A220-500 variantLatvia’s flag-carrier, airBaltic, has set its sights on a larger version of Airbus A220 aircraft family, the Airbus A220-500. The Latvian carrier also aims to equip its A220-300 aircraft with an additional fuel tank.
"Currently, airBaltic operates one of the longest scheduled routes of the A220-300 – Riga-Dubai and Riga-Tenerife. With the future development and further increase in the range we would support additional fuel tank capacity as well as a stretched version," airBaltic spokesperson told AeroTime in an emailed statement on December 1, 2021.
LinkAeromexico files updated reorganization planGrupo Aeromexico, the owner company of Mexican flag carrier Aeromexico filed a revised version of its reorganization plan. The amended document includes the final terms of a financing proposition, following which the company aims to designate its lenders “exceptional recoveries and retain substantial equity in the reorganized company”. On November 30, 2021, Invictus Global Management, the creditor in the bankruptcy, sent an official letter to Delta Air Lines and Apollo Global Management, the two largest stakeholders of Aeromexico, regarding the company’s ongoing restructuring process.
LinkAllegiant & Viva Aerobus plan big cooperation to shake up US-Mexico travelAllegiant and Viva Aerobus unveiled a major commercial alliance agreement that they say will “dramatically” expand leisure travel options between the United States and Mexico. The two carriers announced on December 1, 2021 that they are planning a wide-ranging cooperation across many areas of operation, including code-sharing, scheduling, marketing and loyalty programs. It would be the first such cooperation for two ultra low-cost carriers (ULCC), they said.
LinkAvianca exits bankruptcy protectionA revamped Avianca (AVHOQ) has emerged from bankruptcy protection, 18 months after filing for a Chapter 11 process in the United States. AeroTime takes a look at its plans. The Colombian carrier announced on December 1, 2021 that it had successfully completed its financial restructuring process with reduced debt and over $1 billion in liquidity. Avianca (AVHOQ) entered bankruptcy protection in May 2020, not long after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated global air traffic. It was joined in bankruptcy proceedings by two other Latin American carriers - Aeromexico and LATAM.
LinkBritish Airways Sues ORD Over Boeing 787 Engine DamageAlmost exactly one year ago, three British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliners sustained engine damage from foreign object debris while at Chicago O’Hare. The airline needed to perform heavy maintenance on all six engines, resulting in unforeseen costs and canceled flights. BA has now launched a suit against the city of Chicago, requesting over $3 million in damages.
LinkCan Rex Become A Key Domestic Airline For Australia?Springboarding off its long-established regional network, Regional Express (Rex) has the chance to become a key Australian domestic airline over the next few years. The airline is doubling its nascent Boeing 737-800 fleet in the next 12 months and expanding its footprint across highly competitive trunk routes.
LinkItaly’s Third Largest Airline: Wizz AirHungarian ultra-low-cost carrier Wizz Air is known for its constantly expanding network, with operating bases all over Europe. It has continued to implement this expansion strategy even amid the challenges of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and will open a seventh Italian base next year.
LinkRyanair Launches Its Third Network Expansion From ZagrebRyanair has begun the third wave of its network expansion from Croatia’s capital Zagreb today, 1st December 2021. Since opening a Lauda Europe base in Zagreb in July this year, Ryanair has announced a total of 24 route launches from this city.
LinkChina aviation authority issues airworthiness directive on Boeing 737 MAXChina's aviation authority on Thursday issued an airworthiness directive on the Boeing 737 MAX which will help pave the way for the model's return to service in China after more than two and a half years.
LinkFraport, TAV win Antalya Airport concession with $8.2B bidAirport operators Fraport and TAV Airports have won the bidding to operate Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey, a popular tourist hub. The joint venture between the two companies placed the highest total bid of €7.25 billion ($8.2 billion) for the 25-year concession, Germany-based Fraport announced in a statement on December 1, 2021.
LinkSpaceX could face bankruptcy, says Elon MuskIn an email to his employees, Elon Musk warned that his company, SpaceX faces a "genuine risk of bankruptcy" due to delays in the production of the Raptor engines for its Starship rocket. “The Raptor production crisis is much worse than it seemed a few weeks ago,” Musk wrote in the email seen by CNBC. “We face genuine risk of bankruptcy if we cannot achieve a Starship flight rate of at least once every two weeks next year.”
LinkJapan requests the USAF ground its F-16 fleetAn F-16 Fighting Falcon had to carry out an emergency landing at Aomori Airport (AOJ), north of Japan's main island of Honshu, after encountering an engine issue. The aircraft belonged to the 35th Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force, based at Misawa Air Base (MSJ). It was on a training flight with another F-16. The accompanying fighter returned to the base.
LinkMore Hercules for RAAF?Speaking at the Dubai Air Show in mid-November, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Executive Vice President Greg Ulmer said that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has requested details for the supply of 30 C-130J Hercules. “They are talking to us about potential for 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130Js,” Ulmer told overseas journalists.
LinkNGC to Increase Inventory of AARGM for US Navy and German AF Northrop Grumman has received a $153 million dollar contract award from the U.S. Navy for full-rate production of lots 10 and 11 of the AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), the company said Dec. 1. The contract includes production of missiles for the U.S. Navy and German air force.
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