NewsSIA 787-10 will make May debut to OsakaSingapore Airlines (SIA) has chosen Osaka as the first scheduled destination it will serve for its new Boeing 787-10 fleet.
As launch customer for the largest Dreamliner variant, the aircraft is scheduled for delivery in March. SIA says that the 787-10s will initially be used on crew-training flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur before beginning regular Osaka services in May.
LinkLufthansa CEO expects rise in growth, competition; unveils new liveryLufthansa Group chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr said the company will focus this year on further developing its premium carriers—Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Austrian Airlines—but he expects strong competition in Germany after airberlin’s insolvency last year. Spohr (left) spoke at a press conference Feb. 7 where Lufthansa’s new brand image was revealed to mark the airline's 100th anniversary.
LinkSpirit to settle labor issues after posting $421 million 2017 profitFort Lauderdale-based ultra-LCC Spirit Airlines reported a $420.6 million net profit for 2017, a 58.8% increase over a $264.9 million net income in 2016. Spirit cited a one-time, non-cash $199.3 million tax credit courtesy of the late 2017 US tax reform legislation, as part of the reason for the increase.
LinkC919 Delivery Target Slips To 2021Comac is now targeting 2021 for first delivery of its C919 airliner, while the Chinese state company’s consortium with United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) has requested proposals for engines for the CR929 widebody airliner. The C919 delivery objective represents a one-year slip from an unannounced target of 2020 Comac was aiming for in 2017.
LinkFAA Plans Rollout Of Drone Authorization SystemThe FAA intends to initiate a national rollout this spring of the Low-Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), an automated process drone operators can use to request and obtain authorization to fly in the vicinity of airports.
LinkLockheed Martin Locked in on F-35s After Strong 2017Lockheed Martin is feeling bullish about the F-35 Lightning II, according to CEO Marilyn Hewson and CFO Bruce Tanner. Sales are up, more countries are buying in and the company is even looking into ways to leverage the F-35’s avionics for use in its Aegis missile-defense platform.
LinkGulfstream nears certification for G500A supplier issue that was partly blamed for pushing back the certification schedule for the Gulfstream G500 has been resolved, the manufacturer says. The large cabin business jet has entered the final phase of flight tests for airworthiness approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Gulfstream says.
LinkPilatus hands over first PC-24 to PlaneSensePilatus Aircraft has delivered the first PC-24 business jet to its long-time customer PlaneSense. The superlight business jet, carrying the registration N124AF, was handed over to the US fractional ownership operator on 7 February at a dedicated ceremony at its Portsmouth, New Hampshire base.
LinkMC-21s With Russian Engines Gain Ordershe PD-14 turbofan engine secured its place under the wing of the Irkut MC-21 narrowbody airliner. Russia’s largest carrier, Aeroflot, plans to equip half of its future MC-21 fleet with the Russian powerplants.
The firm order for 50 MC-21s signed with Avia Capital Services leasing company in early February gives the airline the option to switch to the Russian engines starting with the 26th airframe. The initial batch will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1400G.
LinkLufthansa would only take over 'restructured' AlitaliaLufhansa Group would only be interested in taking over Alitalia if the Italian flag carrier is "restructured". Speaking at the launch of Lufthansa mainline's new livery today, group chief executive Carsten Spohr said: "Alitalia is operating in our second-most important market. So Italy remains very interesting to us."
LinkBangkok Airways orders four ATR 72-600sThai regional carrier Bangkok Airways ordered four ATR 72-600s Feb. 7, making the French-Italian turboprop manufacturer the only company to score a new commercial aircraft order at the 2018 Singapore Air Show to date. Bangkok Airways’ order will add to the carrier’s fleet of 15 ATR aircraft, which stands at nine 72-600s and six 72-500s.
LinkFocus on non-passenger variants for future 747 salesBoeing’s is now focusing on the non-airliner 747-8 variants as the decline in demand for very large airliners means an end for the passenger version.
LinkSikorsky partners with Rheinmetall for German CH-53K bidRheinmetall has partnered with Sikorsky to jointly offer the CH-53K King Stallion for a German air force requirement for around 60 new heavy lift helicopters against a rival bid from the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. The partnership combines Sikorsky parent Lockheed Martin’s resources with the German defence technology giant’s local presence.
LinkIsrael's UAV specialists target exportsFrom compact, battlefield-launched, eyes in the sky to large, tactical reconnaissance platforms and warhead-armed systems that can loiter for hours before hitting their targets with deadly effect, Israel has led the world in developing unmanned air systems...
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