Americas’ summer season bookings are 26.8% behind

Analysis by ForwardKeys, the travel analytics company, reveals that, as at March 24th, international summer season bookings for air travel to all American destinations (North, Central and South America plus the Caribbean) are currently 26.8% behind where they were at the equivalent moment last year. The setback in bookings started with the COVID-19 outbreak in the second half of January and has continued to March when cancellations are now exceeding new bookings. Bookings for June are 31.4% behind and for July and August are 24.6% and 23.3% behind respectively.

However, ForwardKeys’ study also reveals that 17% of summer season bookings are typically made in the period September-January, 29% in the period February-April, which looks likely to be the peak of the COVID-19 crisis and the associated travel restrictions, and 53% between May and August. Therefore, if the world starts to recover from the worst of the outbreak around the end of April, there is still time for a rapid booking recovery to rescue the summer season.

Olivier Ponti, VP Insights, ForwardKeys, said: “What this analysis reveals is how late people actually book. With the temporary freeze on bookings induced by the COVID-19 crisis and associated travel restrictions, it is likely that summer booking will be even more last-minute in nature, owing to pent up demand. However, when the recovery comes, it will not affect source markets and destinations equally; so to understand how strong it is, it will be crucial to keep careful tabs on what flights are and are not in service and how well bookings for each market are progressing.”

AvTourNet Group

Boeing to use 3D printing capabilities to manufacture face shields

Boeing is taking additional steps to support COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts. The company released that it will begin using its 3D printing capabilities at several facilities across the United States to manufacture face shields to help protect those who are on the front lines of fighting the virus. Boeing's initial production goal is to produce thousands of face shields per week followed by subsequent production increases. Boeing has additive manufacturing machines in St. Louis, Missouri; El Segundo, California; Mesa, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that will be used for this initial response, as long as those facilities remain in operation, consistent with federal, state and local health orders and the health and safety of Boeing employees.

The company said it has also offered the use of its Dreamlifter, one of the largest cargo carriers in the world, to help transport critical and urgently needed supplies to healthcare professionals.

To date, Boeing has donated tens of thousands of masks, gloves and other equipment to hospitals in need. The company is also analyzing several other ways to use its engineering, manufacturing and logistics expertise to help the cause.

AvTourNet Group

IATA Estimates This Gravest Crisis Could Cost Aviation $252 Billion  2020-03-26

On 5 March, 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projected that the crisis caused by the coronavirus will cost the industry a $113 billion revenue loss. On 24 March, 2020, the updated analysis revealed new numbers: $252 billion hit or 44% below 2019’s figure.

The initial forecast was made in light of some travel restriction that did not largely affect the international travel market.

The revised estimations, therefore, have been made considering only three-month travel bans, followed by a gradual economic recovery later this year.

If the spread of the coronavirus is not contained in three months, the figures will be even more grave and a large number of airlines will simply not recover.

“Within a matter of a few weeks, our previous worst case scenario is looking better than our latest estimates. But without immediate government relief measures, there will not be an industry left standing. Airlines need $200 billion in liquidity support simply to make it through”, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Source: Aviation Voice

IATA Estimates This Gravest Crisis Could Cost Aviation $252 Billion  2020-03-26

On 5 March, 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projected that the crisis caused by the coronavirus will cost the industry a $113 billion revenue loss. On 24 March, 2020, the updated analysis revealed new numbers: $252 billion hit or 44% below 2019’s figure.

The initial forecast was made in light of some travel restriction that did not largely affect the international travel market.
The revised estimations, therefore, have been made considering only three-month travel bans , followed by a gradual economic recovery later this year.

If the spread of the coronavirus is not contained in three months, the figures will be even more grave and a large number of airlines will simply not recover.

“Within a matter of a few weeks, our previous worst case scenario is looking better than our latest estimates. But without immediate government relief measures, there will not be an industry left standing. Airlines need $200 billion in liquidity support simply to make it through”, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Embraer to collaborate on technologies and solutions to combat COVID-19

Embraer has released that it is working in partnership with companies and research centers on technologies that can increase the availability of equipment and solutions to combat COVID-19 in Brazil.

The actions, developed jointly with Embraer's supply chain, include the manufacturing of parts for the ventilator and respirator industry, the replacement of imported components for ventilators, the development of high-efficiency filtration systems for transforming regular hospital beds into intensive care beds and studies for the development of simple, robust and portable respirators aimed at rapid implementation and availability.

A group of professionals has already been leading initiatives in support of a respirator factory in Brazil, with a plan to start the production of parts next week, in response to the emergency demand for this equipment. Embraer, in cooperation with partner organizations, has already completed the
technical and production capacity analysis required to meet the identified needs.

In partnership with the Albert Einstein Hospital, located in São Paulo, Brazil, Embraer is also working to provide technical support for the development of biological air filter systems for air-quality control, which can convert regular hospital beds into intensive care beds. Using highly
efficient filters for absorbing air particles, already utilized in air conditioning systems on aircraft, the objective is to provide this solution to hospitals with immediate needs.

Another work front is dedicated to analyzing the manufacturing of control valves and flow sensors for another respirator industry in the country, in addition to adapting an existing respirator model for use in combating COVID-19.

AvTourNet Group

Source: AviTrader

Etihad Cargo deploys cargo-only Boeing 787s to complement freighter fleet

Following the directive issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates to temporarily suspend all passenger services to and from the UAE, Etihad Cargo continues to play a vital role in connecting key cargo markets and ensuring the UAE’s import and export needs are adequately covered in line with current demand.

To complement its fleet of Boeing 777 Freighters, Etihad Cargo is introducing a fleet of Boeing 787-10 aircraft as passenger freighters to operate 34-weekly flights, serving 10 markets initially. Each aircraft will provide capacity for 12 lower-deck pallets and four containers, carrying up to 45 tons of payload.

The passenger freighter network will introduce capacity, subject to permits, into India, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and other places where borders remain open for cargo. On top of that, the current freighter schedule will be enhanced by additional flights into Riyadh, London, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

By utilizing the Boeing 787 in addition to its freighter fleet, Etihad Cargo will ensure the continuity of vital imports into the UAE including fruits, vegetables, meat, medical supplies, mail and ecommerce.

Source: AviTrader

IATA estimates industry passenger revenues could plummet US$252 billion below 2019’s figure

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) updated its analysis of the revenue impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global air transport industry. Owing to the severity of travel restrictions and the expected global recession, IATA now estimates that industry passenger revenues could plummet US$252 billion or 44% below 2019’s figure. This is in a scenario in which severe travel restrictions last for up to three months, followed by a gradual economic recovery later this year.

IATA’s previous analysis of up to a US$113 billion revenue loss was made on March 5, 2020, before the countries around the world introduced sweeping travel restrictions that largely eliminated the international air travel market.

“The airline industry faces its gravest crisis. Within a matter of a few weeks, our previous worst case scenario is looking better than our latest estimates. But without immediate government relief measures, there will not be an industry left standing. Airlines need US$200 billion in liquidity support simply to make it through. Some governments have already stepped forward, but many more need to follow suit,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

The latest analysis envisions that under this scenario, severe restrictions on travel are lifted after 3 months. The recovery in travel demand later this year is weakened by the impact of global recession on jobs and confidence. Full year passenger demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) declines 38% compared to 2019. Industry capacity (available seat kilometer or ASKs) in domestic and international markets declines 65% during the second quarter ended June 30, compared to a year-ago period, but in this scenario recovers to a 10% decline in the fourth quarter.

Source: AviTrader

Bombardier suspends work at Canadian operations

Bombardier has released that in support of the recent mandates from the Governments of Quebec and Ontario to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it will suspend all non-essential work at most of its Canadian based operations starting March 24 at 11:59 pm, until April 26, 2020, inclusively. This suspension includes Bombardier’s aircraft and rail production activities in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

Employees impacted by these temporary shutdowns will be placed on furlough, as will corporate office employees whose support functions are less critical in the short-term. During this furlough period, Bombardier’s CEO and senior leadership team will forgo their pay, and the Chairman and members of Bombardier’s Board of Directors have agreed to forgo board compensation for the remainder of 2020.

Bombardier is also suspending its 2020 financial outlook as it evaluates the impact of temporarily closing its Canadian operations, as well as other actions being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AvTourNet Group

Boeing backs US Government’s offer of US$60 billion in aid for aerospace sector

With the devastating impact the coronavirus outbreak is having on the aerospace industry, Boeing, the world’s second-largest planemaker, has thrown its weight behind the governments financial support for the aerospace sector to the tune of US$60 billion. 

The financial lifeline may prove especially beneficial to Boeing which has been struggling, financially, since the grounding of the 737 MAX jet after two fatal crashes. “We appreciate the support of the president and the administration for the 2.5 million jobs and 17,000 suppliers that Boeing relies on to remain the number one U.S. exporter, and we look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they consider legislation and the appropriate policies,” the company said in a statement. 

Boeing confirmed that it expects funding to be in the form of loan guarantees and will be used to prop up other hard-hit companies such as General Electric and Spirit Aerosystems who build engines and sections of jets, respectively, for Boeing. The company also acknowledged that the funding “will be used for payments to suppliers to maintain the health of the supply chain.” 

On the other side of the coin, U.S. Airlines are seeking US$50 billion in aid to help see them through the crisis. The plight of airlines has severely impacted the likes of Boeing as, with the dramatic drop in demand and numerous ongoing international travel restrictions, many carriers are looking to postpone/defer the acquisition of previously ordered planes. The likes of Delta, United and American Airlines are parking up hundreds of planes as they look to dramatically reduce operating costs and limit capital expenditure. 

While Boeing has made it clear it has no intention of changing its dividend or adjusting executives’ salaries, the CEOs of Southwest, JetBlue, Delta and United Airlines are all either taking pay cuts or forgoing their full salaries.

Source: AviTrader

EASA issues safety directive to combat spread of COVID-19 via airline travel

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a safety directive to reduce the risk of spread of the novel coronavirus through flights to and from high risk areas. This is the first EU-wide operational measure to control the spread of COVID-19 in Europe.

The safety directive specifies measures to be taken for flights serving high-risk destinations. It mandates thorough disinfecting and cleaning of aircraft which operate from high-risk destinations after each flight. Exceptions can be made only when disinfectants with a longer-lasting effect are used – but even in those cases a thorough disinfection is mandated no later than 24 hours after departure from a high-risk airport.

“We need to reassure the passengers, the airline crews and the airport staff that their health and safety is our top priority,” European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said. “EU is taking
concrete measures to limit and to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. That’s why EASA issued a new safety directive concerning the full disinfection for all the aircrafts after each flight from the
high risk areas both in Europe and beyond.”

The definition of high risk geographical areas will be based on all available information, taking into account World Health Organisation (WHO) situation report assessments, guidance issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and regional public health assessments.

EASA further recommended that airlines operating on all routes step up the frequency of cleaning, disinfect as a preventative measure and ensure full disinfection of any aircraft which has carried a passenger who was suspected or confirmed as being infected with COVID-19. Airport operators should similarly disinfect terminals regularly.

Source: AviTrader

Air France to ground A380 fleet, KLM Boeing 747 fleet

Faced with growing restrictions on the possibility of travelling and a strong downward trend in demand which has resulted in a drop in traffic and sales over the last few weeks, the Air France-KLM Group released that it is obliged to gradually reduce its flight activity very significantly over the next few days, with the number of available seat kilometers potentially decreasing between -70% and -90%. 

This reduction in capacity is currently scheduled to last two months, and the Group will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation on a daily basis andadjust it if necessary. As a result of this reduction in capacity, Air France will ground its entire Airbus 380 fleet and KLM its entire Boeing 747 fleet. 

The Group has already taken a number of strong measures to secure its cash flow. Last week, the Air France-KLM Group drew a revolving credit facility for a total amount of €1.1 billion and KLM drew a revolving credit facility for a total amount of €665 million. As of March 12, the Group and its subsidiaries had more than €6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. 

Source: AviTrader

ET 302 Flight Remembered

Today marks a year ET 302 flight crashed.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya . On 10 March 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft which operated the flight crashed near the town of Bishoftu six minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people aboard.

Flight 302 is the deadliest accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft to date, surpassing  the fatal hijacking of Flight 961 resulting in a crash near  the Comoros in 1996. It is also the deadliest aircraft accident to occur in Ethiopia, surpassing the crash of an Ethiopian Air Force Antonov An-26 in 1982, which killed 73.

The airline stated that the flight's 149 passengers had 35 different nationalities. Crash victim positive identification was announced on September 13, 2019. Nearly a hundred disaster victim identification (DVI) experts from 14 countries supported the Interpol Incident Response Team (IRT) mission.

Passengers by nationality
Nationality
Deaths
Kenya 32
Canada 18
Ethiopia 9
China 8
Italy 8
United States 8
France 7
United Kingdom 7
Egypt 6
Germany 5
India 4
Slovakia 4
Austria 3
Russia 3
Sweden 3
Israel 2
Morocco 2
Poland 2
Spain 2
Belgium 1
Djibouti 1
Indonesia 1
Ireland 1
Mozambique 1
Nepal 1
Nigeria 1
Norway 1
Rwanda 1
Saudi Arabia 1
Serbia 1
Somalia 1
Sudan 1
Togo 1
Uganda 1
Yemen 1
Total 149

All passengers and crew on board, 157 in total, were killed in the accident. Many of the passengers were travelling to Nairobi to attend the fourth session  of the United Nations Environment Assembly. A total of 22 people affiliated with the United Nations (UN) were killed, including seven World Food Programme staff, along with staff of the United Nations office in Nairobi, the International Telecommunications Union, and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 model first flew on 29 January 2016 and entered service in 2017, making it one of the newest aircraft in Boeing 's commercial airliner offerings, and the newest generation of Boeing 737.

As of February 2019, 376 aircraft of this model have been produced and one other had crashed, Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia in October 2018.

Following the accident, the 737 MAX series of aircraft was grounded worldwide by various airlines and government regulators around the world.

U.S. House investigation find fault with both FAA and Boeing for 737 MAX crashes

An investigative report produced by the U.S. House Transportation Committee into the fatal Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX has found fault both with the way the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the plane’s design, and design failures on the Boeing side. 

The preliminary investigation classed the FAA’s certification of the aircraft “grossly insufficient” and that the agency had failed in its duty to identify critical safety problems. The 13-page report made it clear that: “The combination of these problems doomed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights,” while also stating that: Boeing’s 737 MAX design “was marred by technical design failures, lack of transparency with both regulators and customers, and efforts to obfuscate information about the operation of the aircraft.” 

The FAA said in a statement it welcomed the report’s observations and that lessons learned from the two fatal crashes “will be a springboard to an even greater level of safety. While the FAA’s certification processes are well-established and have consistently produced safe aircraft designs, we are a learning agency and welcome the scrutiny.” 

The report also showed that both the FAA and Boeing missed “multiple red flags and clear data points” in recommending that the 737 MAX should continue to fly after the Lion Air crash. The U.S. House panel also faulted Boeing for what it described as a “culture of concealment” in its failure to disclose information to airline pilots about the 737 MAX’s MCAS stall-prevention system which has been linked to both crashes, and that a key angle-of-attack cockpit alert was “inoperable on the majority of the 737 MAX fleet.” 

Separately, according to Reuters news agency, last Friday the FAA proposed fining Boeing US$19.7 million for allegedly installing equipment on hundreds of 737 aircraft containing sensors in heads-up displays that regulators had not approved for use.

Source: AviTrader

Emirates Disinfect all Aircraft Cabins

Emirates has introduced complete disinfection of all aircraft cabins for flights departing Dubai in response to the Coronavirus.

The extra steps go above and beyond industry and regulatory requirements to ensure its passengers’ health and comfort, and provide them with confidence and peace of mind when planning their travel.

On all aircraft departing from its hub in Dubai, Emirates says it has implemented enhanced cleaning and complete disinfection of all cabins as a precaution.

In line with the latest expert medical finding that the COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted by touch, Emirates has placed its greatest focus on surface cleaning.

The airline says it is using an approved chemical that is proven to kill viruses and germs, leaves a long-lasting protective coating against new contamination of viruses, bacteria and fungi on surfaces, and is eco-friendly.

The cleaning process includes a comprehensive wipe down of all surfaces – from windows, tray tables, seatback screens, armrests, seats, in-seat controls, panels, air vents and overhead lockers in the cabin, to lavatories, galleys and crew rest areas. All of this is done in addition to other normal procedures such as changing headrest covers on all seats, replacement of reading materials, vacuuming, and more.

To complete this thorough cleaning process within an hour while the aircraft is preparing for its next mission, requires a team of 18 trained cleaners on a Boeing 777, and a team of 36 for an A380. In a 24-hour period on an average day, some 248 aircraft go through this process.

On any aircraft that were found to have transported a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case, Emirates would go even further and implement deep cleaning and disinfection in a process that takes between six to eight hours to complete.

This includes the defogging of cabin interiors and misting with disinfectant across all soft furnishings, and replacement of seat covers and cushions in the affected area. The aircraft’s HEPA cabin air filters will also be replaced.

All of Emirates’ aircraft are fitted with HEPA cabin air filters which are proven to filter out 99.97% of viruses. They also remove dust, allergens and microbes from the air recirculated into the cabin and cockpit, which helps to provide a safer, healthier and more comfortable environment for the passengers and crew.

The airline has also added flexibility, choice, and value for passengers with the ability to change their travel dates without change and re-issuance fees. This waiver policy applies to all booked tickets issued on or from 7 March until 31 March 2020.

WILL THE AIRBUS A380 BE THE NEXT CORONAVIRUS VICTIM?

The world’s biggest aircraft, the Airbus A380 superjumbo, may be the latest victim of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Lufthansa Group is looking at temporarily grounding its entire Airbus A380 fleet of 14 aircraft as it reduces capacity by up to 50 percent in the coming weeks and there is speculation Qantas is looking at taking out up to half of its fleet of 12 superjumbos.

The problem for the big four-engine planes is that they are not as efficient as the smaller twins and their size makes filling them in the current circumstances much harder.

Qantas has already accelerated heavy maintenance schedules for its aircraft and this should account for some of the superjumbos but it warned more changes were on the way even as it announced additional cuts on Friday.

Lufthansa’s surprise announcement that capacity would be cut by as much as half comes as airlines worldwide are continuing to see significant falls in passenger demand.

The German airline group said the exceptional circumstances had resulted in “a drastic decline in bookings as well as numerous flight cancelations”.

“Depending on the further development of demand, capacity is to be reduced by up to 50 percent in the coming weeks,’’ the airline said in a statement.

“These capacity adjustments apply to all passenger airlines in the Lufthansa Group.
“In addition, the extent to which the entire Airbus A380 fleet (14 aircraft) can be temporarily taken out of service in Frankfurt and Munich is currently being examined.

“This measure is designed to reduce the financial consequences of the slump in demand.”

The company said the latest reduction complemented planned savings in areas such as personnel, material costs and project budgets.

It has introduced a hiring freeze and offered employees what it termed “individual personnel measures”.
These included unpaid leave and bringing forward annual leave.

“The company is in talks with its operating partners and trade unions in order to avoid dismissals – among other measures – by means various part-time models, including probationary periods,’’ it said.

The group’s airlines — Lufthansa, SWISS, Australian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti — are also joining other carriers by introducing more flexible rebooking options.

Several US carriers, British Airways and Air New Zealand have adopted a similar strategy to allow customers some peace of mind in a situation where most travel insurance does not cover the coronavirus.

Until March 31, the airlines will waive the rebooking fees for all newly booked flights worldwide and offer a one-time rebooking – regardless of the original fare purchased.

This will allow passengers to rebook to a new travel date until 31 December 2020 without rebooking fees.

The waiver also applies for tickets bought before March 5 with a travel date up to April 30.

The departure and destination airports in both cases must be identical and if the original fare is no longer available, the corresponding difference must be paid.
The rebooking must also be made before the original travel date.

“With this new waiver policy, the Lufthansa Group Airlines are responding to the wish of many customers to help make their travel plans more flexible under the exceptional circumstances caused by the spread of the coronavirus,’’ the company said.

Source: AirlineRatings

Boeing released new series of Boeing 777X pictures

Boeing has released a new series of pictures of the Boeing 777X from one of its test flights last month.

Boeing says the aircraft is performing well, with more than 25 takeoffs and landings in just over five weeks since first flight.

“We’re now in a planned maintenance period, where we’re also installing and calibrating test instrumentation to support upcoming testing,” a spokesman said.

The longest flight was on February 9th that lasted just over six hours. Total flight time thus far is 61 hours 19 minutes.

All flights, except for the first flight, have been conducted from either Boeing Field just south of Seattle or Spokane, WA.

Highlights to come will be the first flight of the second 777X, N779XX and the roll out from the paint hangar of the first Emirates and Lufthansa 777X aircraft.

The 777-9X seats more than 400 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices. With a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km), the aircraft will have the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial aircraft says, Boeing.

The second member of the family, the 777-8X, will be the most flexible jet in the world claims Boeing. The aircraft will seat 350 passengers and offer a range capability of more than 9,300 nautical miles (17,220 km).

The driving force behind the aircraft is
Former Emirates President Sir Tim Clark and calls the 777X an “absolute peach.”

“There will not be a city on the planet — aside from the mid-Pacific — we can’t reach,” Sir Tim said. “This (777X) will be poetry in motion . . . it will have enormous versatility.”

Key to the enthusiasm is the aircraft’s incredible economics, being 20 per cent more efficient per seat than the 777-300ER.

The 777X combines the best features of the current 777, with a longer fuselage, new engine and the composite wing design from the Boeing 787.

It also features 20 per cent larger windows, lower pressurization altitude to reduce jet lag and a wider cabin.

Since the launch with Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar and Etihad Boeing has sold the 777X to Singapore Airlines, British Airways , Cathay Pacific Airways and All Nippon Airways.

U.K.’s Flybe goes into liquidation six months after Thomas Cook collapses

Only six months after the collapse of Thomas Cook which left over 150,000 passengers stranded across the globe, the U.K.s Flybe has now gone into liquidation, despite promises six weeks ago from the government to bail out the ailing domestic carrier. 

Flybe, which employed over 2,000 staff, announced that all further flights had been grounded as of today (Wednesday March 5). Flybe had been operating at an annual loss of £20 million (US$26 million) per annum when the domestic carrier, which was responsible for approximately 40% of all domestic U.K. flights, was taken over by Connect Airways, a consortium comprising Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Aviation and Cyrus Capital Partners some nine months ago. 

At the beginning of January, the government was approached to aid the loss-making carrier in the form of deferring an overdue tax payment, providing a potential loan and a review of air connectivity along with air passenger duty (APD) charges. The principal bone of contention was that APD charges were levied on all passengers departing a U.K. airport but, as Flybe’s flights were domestic, the APD charge was doubled for them on either leg of a return flight. 

The carrier was also struggling with increased fuel costs and disruption to flight demand caused by uncertainty through Brexit. However, the ‘final straw’ came with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the consequent reduction in passenger numbers. Unite’s national officer for aviation, Oliver Richardson, said: “The UK economy is highly dependent on a viable and supported regional airline and airport network. For central government not to support and nurture this, especially as we deal with the twin uncertainties of the Covid-19 virus and the changes that will come with Brexit, is unhelpful and irresponsible.” 

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the loss of Flybe would create “real anxiety” across the U.K. The British Airline Pilots’ Association, BALPA, hit out at the government and Connect for the collapse. The trade union’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, commented: “Six weeks ago, when the ownership consortium lost confidence, the government promised a rescue package, apparently at that time recognizing the value of Flybe to the regional economy of the U.K. Throughout, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff have done their jobs brilliantly, while behind the scenes the owners and, sadly, government connived to walk away. Flybe staff will feel disgusted at this betrayal and these broken promises.” 

Source: AviTrader

Flydubai back in profit with help from Boeing compensation

Having operated at a loss of US$43.5 million in 2018, the United Arab Emirates’ carrier flydubai has posted a profit of 198.2 million dirhams (US$54 million) for 2019, the reversal in fortune partially helped by a compensation agreement with Boeing over the grounding of the 737 MAX jet in which an interim settlement has been agreed and talks are ongoing over the continued grounding. 

Chief Executive Ghaith al-Ghaith said in a statement on Wednesday that: “This agreement has contributed towards this year’s results, but in no way can it compensate for the loss of business opportunity or market share experienced by the airline.” 

The Gulf carrier currently has 14 MAX jets which have been grounded since last March and has seen its operational fleet size shrink by 25% with the addition of a number of older aircraft that have been retired. To overcome many of the problems caused by the MAX grounding flydubai has been leasing other 737 variants on an interim basis. Revenue in 2019 fell by 2.6% - 6 billion dirhams (US$1.63 billion) compared to 2018, operating costs fell 17.8% and the carrier flew 9.6 million passengers compared to 11 million in 2018. 

“The preparation for this year’s outlook statement is challenging given the uncertainty around the timetable for the return to service of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and the subsequent aircraft delivery schedule,” Ghaith al-Ghaith added.

Source: AviTrader

Ryanair February traffic grows 9%

Ryanair Group (Ryanair and Lauda) has reported its traffic statistics for February 2020, reporting traffic increase of 9% compared to the previous year and a load factor of 96%, the same as in February 2019.

Since Ryanair has cancelled up to 25% of its Italian short haul program (mainly to/from and within Italy) for the 3-week period from 17th March to April 8, traffic and load factor in the months of March and April is likely to be lower than normal due to the fall in bookings during that period in response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak in a number of European countries. 

Source: AviTrader

Air Cargo demand down 3.3% in January 2020

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in cargo tonne kilometers (CTKs), decreased by 3.3% in January 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

”January marked the tenth consecutive month of year-on-year declines in cargo volumes. The air cargo industry started the year on a weak footing. There was optimism that an easing of US-China trade tensions would give the sector a boost in 2020. But that has been overtaken by the COVID-19 outbreak, which has severely disrupted global supply chains, although it did not have a major impact on January’s cargo performance. Tough times are ahead. The course of future events is unclear, but this is a sector that has proven its resilience time and again,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometers (ACTKs), rose by 0.9% year-on-year in January 2020. Capacity growth has now outstripped demand growth for 21 consecutive months.

It is unlikely that the COVID-19 outbreak had very much to do with January’s weak performance. Lunar New Year in 2020 was earlier than in 2019. This skewed 2020 numbers towards weakness as many Chinese manufacturers would be closed for the holiday period. February performance will give a better picture of how COVID-19 is impacting global air cargo.

Airlines in Asia-Pacific and Europe suffered sharp declines in year-on-year growth in total air cargo volumes in January 2020, while North American and Middle East carriers experienced a more moderate decline. Latin America and Africa were the only regions to record growth in air freight demand compared to January 2019. 

Source: AviTrader

Vistara and India Welcome the First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Vistara, Indian full-service airline, has received the brand new Boeing 787-9, the first one for both the carrier and India. The GEnx-1B powered widebody is the first one out of six on order.

The aircraft featuring a three-class cabin layout initially will be deployed on domestic routes. Later the plane will be put into medium- and long-haul operations.

Impact of Coronavirus to worsen according to European aviation bosses

While predicting greater stability in the number of bookings over the next few weeks, those at the helm of major European Airlines, including Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, head of IAG – Willie Walsh and easyJet’s CEO Johan Lundgren, have seen a considerable tail-off in demand for flights to certain locations owing to the worldwide spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Flights to Italy, home to Europe’s largest outbreak of the disease, have been hardest hit, though if demand follows a similar pattern to that of Asia, that too should stabilize. O’Leary was confident that if the current crisis stabilizes, bookings will soon recover, hinting at the fact that Ryanair would not be afraid to discount summer prices to kick-start the season. While chiefs from Airbus and Boeing, the world’s two largest plane manufacturers, have said that it was too early to say how or if the outbreak of COVID-19 was affecting aircraft sales, both Walsh and O’Leary agreed that if the price was cheap enough, there would always be demand for aircraft. 

Lufthansa has been particularly hard hit by the disease outbreak with over a quarter of its short-haul fleet being grounded. Additionally, carriers have turned to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to relax rules if carriers cancel aircraft routes for a prolonged period of time, rules which can see the loss of the landing and take-off slot. Meantime, IAG’s Willie Walsh has been quick to suggest that any airlines left struggling, financially, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak should not be allowed to receive any governmental aid, though easyJet’s Johan Lundgren was of the opposite opinion.  

Credit: AviTrader

First Airbus A350-900 for Aeroflot.

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, has taken delivery of its first A350-900, becoming the launch operator of the latest-generation widebody aircraft in Eastern Europe and CIS. Aeroflot’s A350-900 features a distinctive new livery embracing its almost 100-year heritage. Aeroflot has a total of 22 A350-900 aircraft on order and operates an Airbus fleet of 126 aircraft (107 A320 Family and 19 A330 Family aircraft).

Aeroflot’s A350-900 features a brand new elegant cabin design, offering unrivalled passenger comfort. The aircraft has a spacious three-class cabin layout with 316 seats: 28 private Business Class suites with full-flat seats, 24 Comfort Class with extra legroom and 264 Economy Class. In addition, the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, HD screens and Wi-Fi connectivity will ensure enhanced experience for all passengers on long-haul flights.

Aeroflot will operate its A350-900 from Moscow to a number of destinations including London, Dubai, New York, Miami, Osaka and Beijing.

Source: AviTrader

Wizz Air to establish new low-cost airline in Abu Dhabi

European airline Wizz Air, has concluded the definitive agreement with its partner Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADDH), to jointly establish Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. The low-cost airline is set to launch its operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport in Fall 2020.

The agreement is a major milestone in the launch of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a new Emirati low-cost airline based in the UAE's capital. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi plans to start operations in the second half of the year, bringing low fares paired with a high-quality on-board experience to a range of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. 

With Wizz Air Abu Dhabi's recruitment activities set to commence in the coming months, the agreement will create new job opportunities, boost the economy and attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi. The announcement is also in line with Abu Dhabi's AED 50bn accelerator programme Ghadan 21, which is driving the emirate's development through investing in business, innovation and people.

Following the agreement, the airline development team has already initiated the process with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to obtain the carrier's Air Operator Certificate and Operating License.

Airbus’ increased maximum take-off weight A330neo variant to be certified by mid-2020

More range and even better economics: these are the key attributes of Airbus’ increased maximum take-off weight A330neo variant, which flew for the first time on February 28.

Benefitting from a maximum take-off weight increase to 251 tonnes, the A330neo offers a significant 650-nautical mile boost in range – or six tonnes more payload – when compared to the A330neo’s current 242-tonne version. This increase in range responds to evolving market needs, enabling airlines to benefit from the unique economics of the A330neo on even longer routes.

Taking to the skies for the first time from Toulouse, France, was the 251-tonne A330-900 – which provides the perfect fit for longer trans-Pacific or Asia-Europe routes. The A330-900 is the longer-fuselage A330neo version, seating 260-300 passengers in a typical three-class cabin configuration.

The shorter-fuselage A330-800 – which accommodates 220-260 passengers in a three-class configuration, will open up very-long-range Pacific routes for the 251-tonne version, while delivering the lowest seat-mile cost in its category.

The increased take-off weight A330-900 is expected to be certified by airworthiness authorities mid-2020, followed in 2021 by the A330-800 variant.

IATA suspends slot rules due to Coronavirus

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is contacting aviation regulators worldwide to request that the rules governing use of airport slots be suspended immediately and for the 2020 season, due to the impact of COVID-19 (the Coronavirus).

Around 43% of all passengers depart from over 200 slot coordinated airports worldwide. At present, the rules for slot allocation mean that airlines must operate at least 80% of their allocated slots under normal circumstances. Failure to comply with this means the airline loses its right to the slot the next equivalent season. In exceptional circumstances, regulators can relax this requirement.

The COVID-19 crisis has had a severe impact on air traffic. Airlines are experiencing serious declines in demand, including experiencing a 26% reduction across their entire operation in comparison to last year. Carriers are reporting bookings to Italy are down 108% as bookings collapse to zero and refunds grow. Many carriers are reporting 50% no-shows across several markets and future bookings are softening. The airlines are reacting with measures such as crew being given unpaid leave, freezing of pay increases, and plans for aircraft to be grounded.

Given these extraordinary circumstances as a result of the public health emergency, the collective view of the airline industry is that the application of the 80% rule during the upcoming season is inappropriate. Flexibility is needed for airlines to adjust their schedules according to extraordinary demand developments. 

Regulators have already been waiving the slot rules on a rolling basis during the COVID-19 crisis primarily for operations to China and Hong Kong SAR. However, given the recent further outbreaks this is no longer contained to the Asia markets. Without certainty that these waivers will continue for the summer season (or winter season in the Southern hemisphere), airlines are unable to plan ahead sufficiently to ensure efficient rostering of crew or deployment of aircraft.

Suspending the requirement for the entire season (to October 2020) will mean that airlines can respond to market conditions with appropriate capacity levels, avoiding any need to run empty services in order to maintain slots. Aircraft can be reallocated to other routes or parked, crew can have certainty on their schedules.

Source: AviTrader

SWISS to serve new Daxing International Airport with start of 2020 summer schedule

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to switch its Zurich-Beijing services from the present Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). The change will be made with the start of the 2020 summer schedule at the end of March. 

The move will offer travellers more attractive timetables on the route. The eastbound service will leave Zurich late in the afternoon and arrive in Beijing just after 09:00 on the following day. The westbound flight will depart from Beijing at 11:00 and arrive in Zurich at 15:35 on the same day. SWISS serves Beijing daily in summer and five times weekly in winter. The route is operated using Airbus A330 equipment.

Source: AviTrader

Airbus shares hit record high as Boeing now suggests June return to service of 737 MAX

As Airbus shares hit a record high on Wednesday, January 22, the planemaker’s North American rival, Boeing, has just announced that certification of the beleaguered 737 MAX may not be obtained until June. As a result, while Airbus shares were heading in one direction, those of Boeing and also of many of its customers and suppliers fell on disclosure of this latest news. 

Airbus shares peaked at €139.32 at 1215 GMT on Wednesday, while those of TUI Group and Norwegian fell by 5% and 1.7% respectively. A spokesman for Norwegian said: “We are continually taking steps to minimize any disruption to the journeys of our passengers during our summer 2020 program.” Back in December TUI had warned that if the 737 MAX was not flying and fully operational by May 2020, anything up to €400 million could be wiped off its annual earnings. 

As far as Boeing’s suppliers were concerned, the share price of Safran and the U.K.’s Senior which make the engines for the 737 MAX with General Electric, also fell. British Airways parent firm IAG which confirmed a non-binding order for 200 MAX jets last June is “still progressing with Boeing”, Chief Financial Officer Steve Gunning told Reuters in Dublin. “I think we’re still confident Boeing will get this back in the sky,” Gunning said, adding that the 2024 delivery timeframe left IAG with some room for maneuver. 

Another top 737 MAX buyer, Ryanair, declined to comment, though its chief marketing officer had said earlier this month that the Irish budget carrier had thought it was possible it might take delivery of up to ten 737 MAXs by April

Source: AviTrader

Airbus expands European A321 production capacity to now include Toulouse facility

With production of the wide-body A380 jet coming to a close in the near future and just fiveremaining aircraft due for delivery, Airbus has turned its attention to expanding production facilities for the increasingly popular A321 Family narrow-body jet.

The European planemaker has revealed plans to convert its Toulouse A380 line into a ‘digitally-enabled’ production line for the more popular A321 range of aircraft. At the present moment Airbus produces A321s at both Hamburg, Germany and Mobile, Alabama, USA. The A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle with over 7100 aircraft sold to over 110 customers.

Within this Family, the A321XLR is the latest evolutionary step which has been developed to meet market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm and a 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous-generation competitor aircraft.

By mid-2022 the current A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse will accommodate a digitally-enabled A321 line as a step to modernize the A320 production system in Toulouse. The new facilities will provide more flexibility for A321 production, while keeping the overall single aisle industrial capacity in Toulouse flat.

“We are enjoying an unprecedented high demand for our winning A320neo Family and especially its A321 Long Range (LR) and Xtra Long Range (XLR) derivatives,” said Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Chief Operating Officer. “In order to optimize the industrial flow, we have decided to increase our global A321 production capacity and flexibility as well as to establish a next-generation Final Assembly Line in Toulouse.”

Source: AviTrader

Boeing 737 MAX Production halt

The assembly line in Renton, Washington, has stopped building Boeing's bestselling plane, the company confirmed late Monday.

Boeing announced plans to temporarily halt production for an undetermined period in December, but it had not previously announced a precise day for the shutdown.

Boeing will not furlough or lay off workers because of the shutdown, but pain will ripple through its supply chain and could hurt America's economic growth. The shutdown will make restarting production and recovering from the crisis more difficult for Boeing once it finally gets permission for the plane to fly again.

The 737 Max has been grounded since March following two fatal crashes that killed all 346 people on board.

Although Boeing couldn't deliver the 737 Max planes to customers, the company continued to build the jets, albeit at a slightly reduced pace of 42 a month.

It now has about 400 completed jets parked in Washington and Texas, waiting to be delivered to airlines around the world.

The shutdown could also hurt the US economy

Source: fliegerfaust.com

Airlines and Airports React to Virus Outbreak in China

The recent outbreak of a flu-like virus in China is creating a ripple effect across global markets, sending shares tumbling as airlines and airports heighten passenger screening measures ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Hong Kong-listed shares of state-owned airlines China Eastern and China Southern plummeted 6.7 percent and 6.51 percent, respectively, on Tuesday while Cathay Pacific dropped 4.07 percent. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) slipped to 2.97 percent and 2.16 percent, respectively, while Australian carrier Qantas fell 1.7 percent.

U.S. and European airline shares also saw declines on Tuesday as investors recalled the economic fallout from China's Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002/2003, which killed nearly 800 people globally and led to a recession in Hong Kong. Delta Air Lines slid 5.2 percent, United Airlines lost 5.1 percent, and American Airlines dropped 3.8 percent. Meanwhile, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa each saw shares slip around 2 percent.

Chinese authorities on Tuesday confirmed the new coronavirus outbreak had killed six people in China’s central city of Wuhan, bringing the total number infected to nearly 300. By mid-afternoon Tuesday, the U.S. reported its first case of the virus, after a Washington state resident traveling back from Wuhan came down with the pneumonia-like illness. Authorities have also confirmed cases in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

Considered one of the largest human migration events in the world, scores of Chinese travelers will take to the skies this Saturday for Lunar New Year, igniting concerns over a global pandemic.

While public health officials have yet to advise on travel and trade restrictions, the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene on Wednesday to determine whether to declare a global health emergency. The international agency applied an emergency designation last year, following an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.

Fearing worldwide disruption, airlines and airports have increased screening of passengers traveling from high-risk areas. Scores of airports in Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand, have enacted a string of measures ranging from thermal screening to imposing a health declaration form system. Countries sharing borders with China, including Vietnam, have also tightened security checks given the high volume of cross-border flows.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific is allowing cabin crew to wear face masks on routes to mainland China but has yet to extend that permission to international flights.

Farther afield, Australia, Italy, Canada, and the U.S. have all introduced screening measures for passengers arriving from Wuhan.

Australian health authorities confirmed on Tuesday that a Brisbane man had been tested for the virus but was later released.

Source: ainonline.com

Airbus is one step closer to pilotless commercial flights

Airbus seems to be one step closer to launching the pilotless commercial flights. The manufacturer revealed the pictures of one of its passenger jets testing computer-controlled autonomous takeoffs.

The tests were conducted at the Toulouse Blagnac airport on December 18 with an A350-1000.

Two pilots monitored the takeoffs and were ready to take over if needed. Airbus said eight takeoffs were carried out for testing purposes.

We moved the throttle levers to the take-off setting and we monitored the aircraft. It started to move and accelerate automatically maintaining the runway centerline, at the exact rotation speed as entered in the system. The nose of the aircraft began to lift up automatically to take the expected take-off pitch value and a few seconds later we were airborne, said Airbus Test Pilot Captain Yann Beaufils.

The technology behind the automatic takeoff is different from the Instrument Landing System (ILS) currently performed by modern jets.

The system is using image recognition technology installed directly on the aircraft. Airbus says the next step is to test automatic vision-based landing and taxi sequences by mid-2020.

Autopilot takeoff is an important milestone for Airbus' Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off & Landing (ATTOL) project intended as the first stage of AI (Artificial Intelligence) controlled pilotless commercial flights.

However, two crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX in late 2018 and early last year, have raised questions about the future of automation in commercial flights.

MCAS, the stall prevention system of the 737 MAX series jets, repeatedly pushed down the nose of the aircraft due to the faulty AOA (Angle of Attack) data and caused two 737 MAX 8 jets to crash within five months.

But the industry is keen to materialize pilotless flights in the near future to lower their operating costs.

In a research paper published by Swiss bank UBS, the institution has claimed that a pilot is typically in full control of a passenger plane for an average of just 7 minutes on each flight.

UBS also predicted that single-pilot commercial and cargo flights could take place in five years.

The report says the shift to one operating pilot in the cockpit would lead up to a $15 billion saving in annual pilot, training, fuel and insurance costs.

But one survey conducted by UBS in 2017 uncovered that 63% of air travelers are not eager to fly with a pilotless aircraft

Credit: Airlinerwatch

New video footage reveals UIA Flight 752 was hit by two missiles

A new video footage revealed that Ukrainian Flight 752 was hit by a missile before it crashed.

The video was reportedly recorded by a security surveillance camera. It shows the missiles were fired from a mobile air defense near Tehran eight miles away from the aircraft.

The new video explains why the aircraft’s transponder stopped squawking while it was still flying. The transponder stopped working when the first missile hit the aircraft.

Transponder failure is no longer an excuse for Iranian authorities. The
Previous videos and statements by the Iranian authorities made global public to assume that the Ukrainian Boeing 737 was hit only by one missile.

How Flight 752 was hit?
In the early hours of Jan. 8, Iran targeted the US bases in Iraq with ballistic missiles as a response to an American drone strike, which killed the Iranian Revolution Guards commander General Qassim Suleimani.

Iranian defense units were most likely on high alert during that time against a possible U.S. counter-attack. Four hours later from the missile attacks, Flight 752 operated by Ukraine International Airlines took off from Imam Khomeini International Airport at 6:12 a.m.

The aircraft climbed at 8,000 feet in three minutes before it was shot down by two Russian-made Iranian anti-craft missiles. The aircraft kept flying and circling over Tehran after it was shot by the first missile and its transponder stopped squawking.

A second missile hit the aircraft within 30 seconds and it crashed narrowly missing the village of Khalaj Abad near Tehran.

Here is the link to the video

Iranian officials said the air defense unit mistook the passenger jet for a cruise missile. Iran first declared the aircraft crashed due to a technical problem. Iranian authorities later had to take responsibility for the mistake, after video footage have begun circulating on social media, showing the moment plane was being hit by a missile.

Iran blamed the US for the tension and pointed out human error for missile launch

Source: airlinewatch

Etihad aims for zero carbon emissions by 2050

Abu Dhabi’s state carrier will also bring down emission levels to 50% by 2035, its chief executive says

Abu Dhabi’s state carrier Etihad Airways plans to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and to 50 per cent by 2035 as part of its expanded commitment to environmental sustainability, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
The airline will start new internal initiatives as well as collaborate with industry partners to reach the new targets.

“The global focus on the environment and the urgency of reducing carbon emissions has never been greater,” Tony Douglas, group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group said.

“Etihad Aviation Group, together with its partners, is taking an active role in reducing the impact of aviation on the environment through initiatives ranging from optimised fuel management to sustainable financing practices.”

Recent sustainability initiatives taken by Etihad Aviation Group include continued induction of the latest-generation, most fuel-efficient aircraft, including additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Etihad also became the first airline to secure commercial funding conditional upon compliance with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. In partnership with First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Global Markets, Etihad recently secured 150 million Euros (Dh614m) to help finance the development of a multi-storey ‘eco residence’ for cabin crew living in Abu Dhabi.

The airline is also partnering in the development of sustainable aviation fuels as well as commitment to reduce single use plastics by 80 per cent by 2022.

The airline also started greenliner programme, in which the airline’s entire fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft will be used during normal scheduled flights as ‘test beds’ for sustainable products and practices, Etihad said on Wednesday.

The entire air transport industry, from airlines and suppliers to airspace providers, was responsible for helping to reduce aviation’s emissions, and solutions needed to be holistic and coordinated, not isolated and sporadic, Mr Douglas said.

He also said the new midfield terminal, which is expected to open “very shortly” will be one of the finest, designed based on environment friendly principles.

Etihad Airways which is in the midst of turnaround plan, is aiming to become profitable by 2023. The carrier teamed up with Air Arabia to jointly set up Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost airline to capitalise on growing demand for budget travel and back the capital’s tourism ambitions.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will operate out of Abu Dhabi International Airport and is expected to bolster Etihad’s turnaround plans. UAE cabinet earlier this month approved it as a national airline.

Source: thenational.ae

Boeing loses crown of world's biggest plane maker as 737 Max crisis bites

The Chicago-plane maker delivered only 380 jets in 2019, much lower than the total 863 aircraft delivered by its competitor Airbus

Boeing lost the title of the world’s biggest plane manufacturer to its rival Airbus after its aircraft deliveries slumped to a record 11-year-low.

The grounding of its best-selling 737 Max jet continues to haunt the Chicago-based company that delivered only 380 jets in 2019, which is less than half of the total 863 aircraft delivered by its rival, based in Toulouse, Boeing said.

The aircraft manufacturer, which factors in cancellations and conversion to earlier orders in its calculation, said it received only 54 new orders in the 2019 financial year – its lowest in decades.

Last year, Boeing received 893 new orders, data posted on its website showed. The airplane manufacturer said customers cancelled an order for three 787-9 aircraft in December 2019 and another for a 787-8 jet.
Airbus this month, said it received a net of 768 orders in 2019 after cancellations.

Airbus’s ascent to the top spot was anticipated after Boeing endured a tough year, following the grounding of its best-selling narrow-body 737 Max jet, which was involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.
The incidents – which occurred just months apart – led to multiple regulatory and criminal investigations that eventually pulled the 737 Max from operation. The crashes dented passengers’ confidence while resulting in heavy monetary loss for Boeing’s customers.

Boeing recently removed its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg, replacing him with chairman David Calhoun, in the hope of regaining trust.

However, there is no visibility on when the Max jets will take to the skies again after new safety and regulatory concerns surfaced.

The 10-month grounding of the 737 Max hurt Boeing’s deliveries as it had to shut down production of the jet at the beginning of this month. The order backlog for its long and short-distance commercial jets at the end of December stood at 5,400.

Aircraft manufacturers receive most of their revenue when jets are delivered – minus accumulated progress payments – making final delivery crucial for their finances.

Reuters citing analysts estimates that Boeing has been losing around $1 billion (Dh3.67bn) a month on the back of the grounding. It reported an almost $3bn negative free cash flow in the third quarter. Its fourth-quarter figures are due on January 29.

Source: thenational.ae

Ryanair is now largest airline in Europe

The airline also reached an occupancy rate of 96%. This output marks the budget carrier as the largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers transported in a year.

The year 2020, however, seems to be more complicated for Ryanair. The Irish operator already said that it wouldn't be able to reach its growth target in 2020 due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the 737 MAX jet.

Ryanair might not take delivery of its first 737 MAX aircraft before October, the chief executive Michael O’Leary said in Berlin on January 3rd during an interview.

The Irish budget carrier has 135 737 MAX on order with Boeing waiting to be delivered. The Irish CEO had previously said that his company would not take delivery of the aircraft in July or August because it is the busiest time of the year for Ryanair.

We were meant to have 58 planes by the summer. That went down to 30, then 20, and then 10 and the latest is maybe only five. We may only get the first jets in October 2020, O’Leary said.

In contrast to other airlines that have already agreed on compensation with Boeing, including Turkish Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and TUI Fly, O’Leary said he would only discuss the compensation with the US aircraft manufacturer after the expected 737 MAX jets were delivered to the Irish airline.

United Airlines last month delayed its 737 MAX flights until June, the longest period that any U.S. carrier has scheduled for keeping the aircraft on the ground.

The 737 MAX, Boeing’s fastest-selling aircraft in the company history. But the aircraft has been since March 2019 following two fatal crashes which killed 349 people.

Boeing 737 MAX Wiring Is Now Under Scrutiny

Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on Sunday they are reviewing a wiring issue that could potentially cause a short circuit on the grounded 737 Max.

Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Sunday the U.S. planemaker "identified this issue as part of that rigorous process, and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis. It would be premature to speculate as to whether this analysis will lead to any design changes."

The New York Times reported Boeing is reviewing whether two bundles of wiring are too close together, which could lead to a short circuit and potentially result in a crash if pilots did not respond appropriately.

The FAA said in a statement Sunday the agency and company "are analyzing certain findings from a recent review of the proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX." The agency added it will "ensure that all safety related issues identified during this process are addressed."

Boeing is currently working to design separating the wiring bundles if necessary and conducting extensive analysis to establish if the electrical fault could occur in a real-world scenario, a company official said.

Officials said the FAA had directed Boeing to complete an audit in December. The wiring issue could push back the return of the Max, the officials added. Reuters has reported previously the FAA is not likely to approve the plane until at least February and might not until March or later.

The FAA flagged the wiring issue as potentially "catastrophic." It is possible other protections like shielding, insulation and circuit breakers could prevent the short circuit, a company official said.

Boeing will halt production of the 737 Max this month following the grounding in March of its best-selling plane after two fatal crashes in five months killed 346 people.

Last month, Boeing's board fired Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg after repeatedly failing to contain the fallout from the crashes that tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators.

The crisis has cost Boeing $9 billion, and has hurt suppliers and airlines.

Boeing is struggling to mend relations with the U.S. and international regulators it needs to win over to get the jet back in the air.

Separately, U.S. and European regulators are expected to return to Iowa this week to review a software documentation audit of the 737 Max that was not completed last year, officials said Sunday. FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency are scheduled to meet in Seattle this week and then return to Rockwell Collins facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa next weekend to review the audit.

Key Points

The New York Times reported Boeing is reviewing whether two bundles of wiring are too close together, which could lead to a short circuit and potentially result in a crash if pilots did not respond appropriately.

The FAA said in a statement Sunday the agency and company "are analyzing certain findings from a recent review of the proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX."

Boeing is currently working to design separating the wiring bundles if necessary and conducting extensive analysis to establish if the electrical fault could occur in a real-world scenario, a company official said.

Source: cnbc

Air Canada and WestJet won't fly their 737 MAXs before March

Montreal, Canada - Air Canada and WestJet, two biggest airlines of Canada have announced that they would keep their grounded Boeing 737 MAX jets off their flight schedules until March.

The decision of Canada's two major airlines is expected to affect passengers already booked for flights in spring and reduce options for travelers looking to book flights in the coming months.

Air Canada said it recently opted to push back the return of the Boeing jet through March 31. WestJet said it has pulled its 13 Max planes from the schedule until March 4.

The federal government banned the 737 Max from the skies last March following two fatal crashes in five months that saw the plane grounded worldwide.

The airlines’ decision marks the latest in a series of delays that have reduced revenue and capacity and bumped up costs for the carriers, which have had to spend more on leases for aircraft that are less fuel-efficient.

The 36 Max aircraft was slated to make up one-quarter of Air Canada’s narrow-body fleet by the end of this 2019, with 14 more initially scheduled to arrive this year. WestJet was on track to receive two last year and two in 2020.

Delivery has now been put off pending a green light from regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Both carriers would have expected by now to have started to harvest and reap the rewards of a transition to that fleet type, said Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based consulting firm AirTrav Inc.

If it is the case that every individual aircraft has got to be inspected as well, then that’s a long process because the FAA is lacking in those resources. The grounding has not just scrambled schedules and piled on costs, but hampered growth plans.

WestJet and Air Canada, like a lot of other carriers around the world, have been eyeing the Max…to open up a whole new series of routes that hitherto were not economical for a larger wide-body or were not within the range of a regular narrow-body,
Kokonis said.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have scrubbed the once heavily coveted plane from their schedules until early-to-mid April, while United Airlines has put off its return until early June.

I would be very surprised if either of those March dates are possible,
Kokonis added, referring to Air Canada and WestJet.

Air Canada’s 12 undelivered Max aircraft now sit on Boeing lots, delaying the company’s hiring of pilots — it currently has about 400 Max pilots, relegated to training for the time being.

We have been continuously monitoring the situation and adjusting our schedule accordingly, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

Neither Canadian airline would disclose if it was willing to join American Airlines in sharing part of potential compensation from Boeing with employees.

Last month Boeing suspended production of the 737 Max as hopes of getting one of its flagship jets back in the air continued to fade.

The Max 8 crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia killed a total of 346 people on board, including 18 Canadians.

Source: Airline Watch

Russian Government Bank Funds SSJ100 Shipments to Aeroflot

Aeroflot operates a fleet of 49 SSJ100 airliners and is expecting to add another 100.

An initial batch of five Sukhoi SSJ100 airliners has been shipped to Russia's state-backed Vnesheconombank (VEB) for subsequent delivery to flagcarrier Aeroflot. The deliveries were made during the last week of December and form part of a 100-aircraft order placed by Aeroflot with the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Corp (SCAC) back in September 2018.

According to SCAC and Russia's ministry of trade and industry, the remaining 95 aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2026.

Aeroflot, which already has 49 SSJ100s in its fleet, will operate the new aircraft in a two-class configuration for 12 business and 75 economy passengers.

The Russian government has effectively underwritten the deal through its continued financial support for VEB, which now acts as a so-called state development corporation.

Implementation of the the Aeroflot order, “will provide loading for the manufacturing facilities of the Russian aircraft manufacturers and give momentum to development of regional airports… leading to higher mobility of the population," said Denis Manturov, Russia's minister for industry and trade.

Although Aeroflot signed the core deal almost 16 months ago, it appeared unable or unwilling to come up with the necessary funds. But at the airline’s supervisory board meeting on October 24, 2019, directors approved the purchase of the first five aircraft.

The Aeroflot board also decided to launch a competition among financiers for the right to structure or fund the deal. At the time, Aeroflot signaled a preference for taking the majority of the additional Superjets on operational lease terms stretching over 12 years.

Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev commented that his company remains the largest operator of Russian-made airliners and that it continues to see its role as supporting local aircraft manufacturers

However, after independent financial groups showed no interest in backing the transaction, the Kremlin instructed the Russia’s largest financial institutions to raise the money under the leadership of VEB.

When presiding over the VEB supervisory board on October 30, 2019, Russian Prime minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed the company to acquire the 100 SSJs for the purpose of leasing them to Aeroflot.

“This project is, without a doubt, of national importance, as it is intended for further development of the [local] aircraft manufacturing and the network of regional routes," Medvedev explained at the time.

Responding to this call, VEB chairman Igor Shuvalov said his institution is unlikely to fund the entire deal alone. Instead, it may create a pool of investors and also use funds from the Russian state budget. Shuvalov further explained: “Raising funds for the 100 Sukhoi Superjet acquisition for subsequent lease to our flagcarrier, Aeroflot, has been the most important and yet the most difficult [transaction]. The respective project is going to be of a comprehensive nature, requiring both [additional] capital and liquidity for VEB. The funding required is $3.8 billion.”

Reportedly, VEB asked for certain guarantees to be issued by the Russian government or for other forms of state support to be provided, and these now have been secured. In particular, Rostec, the state-backed group that controls Russia's United Aircraft Corp and its SCAC subsidiary, has promised the required funding guarantees for the deal, including residual costs, at the minimal depreciation rate of 40 percent over 12 years in operation.

On December 13, VEB announced that it reached an agreement with Sberbank (the savings bank of the Russian Federation) on joint funding for 10 more SSJ100s. This agreement will serve as a template for further similar transactions.

Source: ainonline.com

Safest low-cost airlines 2020 revealed

AirlineRatings.com has released its latest rankings.

When booking a flight with a low-cost airline you find yourself looking at what is missing from a comparable flight with one of the big carriers.

Leg room, baggage allowance and free meals are the obvious areas of concern when paying a much cheaper fare, but what about the safety record?

Of course, on routes in remote areas, there may not be an alternative, but for travellers who do have the choice it can put the mind at ease if they know they are flying with a reputable airline with an excellent safety record.

After all, not all can afford to take a seat in business class on an Airbus A380 as they buckle up for an hours-long trip across continents.

The safety and product rating website AirlineRatings.com has released its top 10 safest low-cost airlines for 2020 list from the total of 405 airlines it monitors.

Sharjah-based Air Arabia made this year's list, having not been included last year.

The low-cost sector in the UAE is set for expansion this year after Etihad Airways and Air Arabia agreed in October to set up Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost airline to capitalise on growing demand for budget travel.

The new airline, dubbed “Air Arabia Abu Dhabi”, will operate out of Abu Dhabi International Airport and is set to start operations by the second quarter.

And it was then confirmed last month that Wizz Air, Eastern Europe's biggest low cost airline which also made the top 10 list, had signed a preliminary agreement with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company to form a local carrier.

The venture, known as Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, will operate a fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft and plan to start operating in the second half of 2020.

Was 2019 a safe year for flying?
It was one of the safest, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
The independent organisation, which compiles annual statistics, recorded a total of 20 fatal airliner accidents, resulting in 283 (occupant) fatalities.

This made it the seventh safest year by number of fatal accidents and third safest in terms of fatalities.
Thirteen of the accidents involved passenger flights while six were cargo.

The most deadly accident was the
Ethiopian Airlines crash involving a Boeing 737 Max in March in which 157 lost their lives. The 737 Max fleet has since been grounded, having also been involved in a fatal crash in Indonesia in October 2018.

How are the safest low-cost airlines chosen?
AirlineRatings.com said all of the 10 airlines have all passed the stringent International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and have excellent safety records.

"IOSA is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. It looks at more than 1000 audit parameters and airlines are re-evaluated every two years," it wrote.

It added that many low cost airlines are not part of Iata and have not undertaken the audit.

“Those LCC’s that have decided to use IOSA show an additional commitment to safety,’’ said AirlineRatings editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas.
Other factors for the decision making include:
• results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation, The International Civil Aviation Organisation
• whether they are on banned lists
• a fatality-free record for the past 10 years.

Source: thenational.ae

Air Peace receives 3rd IOSA certification

Air Peace has received its third International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.

Mr Stanley Olisa, the Corporate Communications Executive of Air Peace, stated this in a statement he released to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the new certification had reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to safety and set the tone for the aviation sector in 2020.

Olisa said that this development came on the heels of the airline’s announcement of flight operations from Lagos to Ibadan, Kano and Owerri.

The airline had set a record when it obtained its first IOSA barely two years into its operations and was, subsequently, inducted as a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the airline, Mrs Toyin Olajide, said that the certification was another feather added to Air Peace’s cap.

According to her, it confirms the airline’s uncompromising adherence to safety standards in line with global best practices.

“The exercise this time around was tougher than what obtained in previous years.

“But, we scaled through the hurdles of every phase of the certification process due to our unwavering drive to keep raising the bar in our operations,” she said.

She also reassured the flying public of the airline’s resolve to continue to comply with best safety standards and promised more seamless connectivity and an expanded route network in 2020.

Olajide applauded the IATA for its efforts at ensuring that stakeholders in the aviation sector globally comply with stipulated safety standards.

She said that the airline would continue to blaze the trail in Africa’s aviation landscape.

“Air Peace has attained an enviable position as West Africa’s leading airline.

“It will continue to raise the bar in flight services by ensuring 100 percent compliance with all safety codes as required by the industry’s regulatory bodies,” she said.

Also, the Director of Audit Programmes at IATA, Catalin Cotrut, congratulated Air Peace on the successful completion of the audit.

He implored the airline to always comply with the standard reporting responsibilities in accordance with the IOSA Programme Manual (IPM) Section 7.7.1.

IATA Operational Safety Audit Programme is an internationally recognised and accepted system designed to evaluate the operational management and control systems of airlines.

Source: pmnewsnigeria

Airbus Overtake Rival Boeing for first time since 2011 as 737 Max crisis drags on

Airbus grabbed the title of world's biggest plane maker from its embattled US rival Boeing in 2019 after it delivered a forecast-beating 863 aircraft in the last year.

The Toulouse-based plane manufacturer won the top spot for the first time since 2011, as the crisis surrounding Boeing's grounded 737 Max drags on into 2020, Reuters reported, citing airport and tracking sources.

Airbus did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by The National on Thursday.

The victory for Airbus, which reverses the ranking in the duopoly between the giant aerospace rivals, was anticipated after a tough year for the Chicago-based plane maker. The grounding of Boeing's best-selling narrowbody jet after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people had a profound impact on the company and the aviation industry. The disasters and their aftermath led to multiple regulatory and criminal investigations, hurt airline operations, disrupted suppliers and dented traveller confidence in the plane. Boeing ousted its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg, replacing him with chairman David Calhoun, in the hope of regaining trust.

The Airbus aircraft delivery figures highlight how far Boeing has to climb to recover its market position.

Airbus, which is grappling with its own industrial problems, beat its forecast of 860 jet deliveries by deploying extra resources until hours before midnight on New Year's Eve in France to reach 863 aircraft for the year, according to Reuters.

Airbus's plane deliveries in 2019 rose 7.9 per cent from 800 aircraft in 2018.

Airbus’s tally, which included around 640 narrowbody aircraft, broke industry records after it deployed thousands of workers and cancelled holidays to complete a buffer stock of semi-finished aircraft waiting to have their cabins adjusted, Reuters said.

Airbus's industrial delays, related to cabin fittings on its A321 Neo jets, have curtailed its ability to take advantage of the market turmoil surrounding Boeing’s 737 Max, grounded globally since March following the two fatal incidents.

Boeing delivered 345 mainly long-haul jets between January and November, less than half the number of 704 achieved in the same period of 2018, when the Max was being delivered normally. For the whole of 2018, Boeing delivered 806 aircraft.

Boeing's ongoing 737 Max woes marked a tumultuous year that forced the aviation industry to grapple with big questions such as whether the plane maker will overcome the Max debacle and if travellers will be too scared to fly on the jet.

Airbus shares rose about 3 per cent to €134 (Dh551) by 4pm UAE time after news of the plane delivery total that toppled Boeing as the world’s biggest jetmaker for the first time in eight years.

The duopoly has been locked in a fierce rivalry to win orders for new jets and claim the top spot in the aviation industry. The two are also in the midst of a World Trade Organisation dispute, accusing each other of being unfairly subsidised by their governments.

Boeing launched its 737 Max re-engined model in response to Airbus’s A320 Neo fuel-efficient single-aisle planes that became an instant hit with airlines.

Source: thenational.ae

Turkish Airlines pockets $225m from Boeing over grounded 737 Max

Turkish Airlines has received $225million in compensation from Boeing to cover losses incurred over the U.S. manufacturer’s grounded 737 MAX aircraft.

The airline’s public disclosure statement to the Istanbul stock exchange did not mention the value of the deal, but Hurriyet newspaper put it at $225 million and said it was received early on Tuesday.

“Turkish Airlines and Boeing came to an agreement concerning compensation for certain losses caused by the grounded and undelivered Boeing 737 Max aircraft,” the disclosure said.

The flagship 737 MAX has been grounded since March after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.

Turkish Airlines halted the use of 12 737 MAX aircraft. It was expecting delivery of an additional 12 jets in 2019.

In December, Boeing said it would temporarily suspend production of the 737 MAX starting next year.

Boeing Fired Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg last week amidst the continuing fallout from the crashes which triggered the biggest crisis in the company’s history.

Hurriyet reported that the compensation, including 75 million dollars for spare parts and training, covers losses for 2019.

It also said that Turkish Airlines would receive additional compensation for further losses that it suffers until the planes are operational again.

Earlier in December, Turkish media reported that Turkish Airlines was readying to sue Boeing over the grounded and undelivered aircraft, which forced it to increase fares and cut domestic flights

Source: pmnewsnigeria

Hong Kong aviation authority orders investigation into air traffic control system after New Year’s Day hitch

Hong Kong’s aviation authority has told a contractor to investigate a brief hitch to the air traffic management system on the first day of the new year. Individual workstations of its air traffic management system were “not responsive to commands” in the morning, Civil Aviation Department said in a statement released on Wednesday. The problem prompted technical staff to switch to a fallback system identical to the original one – at 9.10am, it said.A department spokesman said there were some temporary restrictions on departing flights, but “arrivals and [flights over the region] were not affected”.

There was no risk to safety, he added.

He said the air traffic control officers were able to maintain direct voice communication with pilots at all times, as well as monitor and obtain full information of all flights within Hong Kong airspace.

The main system was rebooted, checked by the department’s technical staff then used as a backup. The ultimate fallback system was not activated during the process.

The department did not reveal how long the hitch lasted, only describing it as “brief”.

It said it had tasked the system’s contractor to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report as soon as possible.

Warren Chim Wing-nin, a spokesman for the aircraft division at the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, said the incident did not appear to be high-risk, based on the available information.

“In reality, it is impossible for a system to be completely free from problems,” Chim said. “You can’t say something is abnormal because there are incidents.”
He said factors to be looked into should include why such a problem had happened and whether the problem was similar to those that had happened in the past or a new problem.

Other problems have been reported in the current air traffic management system. In August 2018, radar screens did not show full information for three flights. The department later explained the glitch stemmed from “unexpected data corruption” when the details of a flight route were being processed by the main air traffic management system.

Source: South China Morning Post

Aviation 2019: Major Happenings

The year of 2019 has brought the aviation industry a number of tough challenges, indeed. Issues related to aviation safety, decreasing trust in the most reliable aircraft manufacturers and regulatory authorities, a large number of aviation companies going bankrupt, etc.

2019 was rich in various events. Although it is natural for a human being to, first of all, remember the negative matters which closely correlate with such names as Thomas Cook, Jet Airways, Joon, Germania, WOW air, Boeing 737 MAX, Ethiopian Airlines, etc. Time to change stereotypes.

2019 has also brought a number of new “first times”, new technologies, new airports, new aircraft programs and maiden take-offs.

With the year of 2019 nearing to an end, let’s review the most impressive achievements and major positive events that happened during this year across the industry.

Tests for World’s Longest Commercial Flight

The first ever flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft took only 12 seconds. In 2019, therefore, Qantas set the goal to launch the longest commercial flight connecting the farthest points of the globe . If this is made reality, the flight will take 20+ hours.

With this ambition in mind, the carrier has completed three tests of the flight to study pilots’, cabin crews’ and passengers’ experience flying such long distances. Also, in the last month of the year Qantas announced the preferred choice of the aircraft: Airbus A350-1000.

Long-Awaited Openings of New Airports in China and Singapore

It was a year of huge openings in the airport’s sphere. In April, 2019, it was Singapore’s long-awaited Jewel Changi Airport which officially opened its gates for travellers. It is a multi-use complex designed to connect three of Changi Airport’s four terminals. Not to be omitted the fact that in 2019 Singapore’s Changi Airport was voted the best in the world.

Meanwhile, in September, 2019, after 45 months of construction, Beijing Daxing International Airport has finally opened its doors to the flying public. The new hub, already nicknamed ‘starfish’ (because of its design), is expected to lessen the pressure put on the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Electrification – Entirely New Page in Aviation History

Aviation is a relatively young industry, counting just a bit over a one hundred years. Nevertheless, the pace of its development is rather astonishing. From a service only for the wealthiest in the beginning of the 20th century, up to inevitably important part of every day life for masses.

In 2019, therefore, the new chapter of the aviation book has been opened with the first flight of a fully-electric commercial aircraft

. It was the DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver, the first all-electric seaplane operated by Harbour Air, that carried six passengers in Vancouver, Canada, in December, 2019.

Worth highlighting the fact that aviation training could be soon also turning electric. In 2019 Norway’s Pilot Flight Academy announced that it is aiming to provide fully-electric aviation education for pilots beginning 2021.

The age of electric planes has just began, however, in the attempts to make the industry more sustainable , it will not take centuries to release more and more all-electric aircraft.

Aviation Makers Turning Green. Target – Zero Emissions

Environmental pollution is one of the central topics globally. Especially in aviation, which represents around two percent of emissions of global carbon dioxide (CO2) , that is roughly equivalent to the overall emissions of Germany.

Thus, the year 2019 was critically important due to environmental reasons. A number of airlines started reporting its emissions, modernising fleets to become more sustainable, changing ordinary aviation fuel into biofuel.

For example, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines together with SkyNRG, global market leader for sustainable aviation fuel, announced it will develop Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of
sustainable aviation fuel.

Furthermore, in 2019 Norway has set an ambitious goal for its aviation industry: emission-free domestic aviation by 2040.

Turbulent Year on Aircraft Market
For the aircraft market, 2019 has been quite the year. From halt of production to groundings to new programs and first take-offs.

The beginning of the year was marked with the announcement about the end of production of world’s biggest commercial airliner – Airbus A380

In 2021 Airbus will built the last A380 completing its backlog for the type and that would be the finish line for this plane.

Of course, grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has greatly shaken the clear sky within the industry. Multiple troubles, struggling airlines, suffering passengers, however, some new planes have also got into the air.

Among these are Airbus A319neo, the last of the A320neo variants, which completed its maiden flight powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines in April, 2019, and Embraer E175-E2 , which made its inaugural flight in December, 2019.

Apart from the fact that Boeing had one of the most terrible years in its history, there were two secret debuts of brand new planes . Right after the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 Boeing held an internal event aimed at the presentation of its long-awaited Boeing 777X for the company’s employees. Meanwhile in November, the planemaker debuted another aircraft of the 737 MAX family–737 MAX 10.

Also this year, two new commercial aircraft programs have been launched. On the first day of Paris Air Show 2019, Airbus officially unveiled its long-awaited new long-range A321XLR. It was one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Along with a new plane for longer passenger flights, innovation has been also introduced in the regional aircraft market, as well. In October, 2019, ATR announced about that it was approved to develop a brand new STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft: ATR 42-600S.
2020 Next

These are only several major happenings from across the industry for the last 12 months of the decade. At this point, what is the most anticipated event in aviation in 2020?

Airbus A319neo
Airbus A321XLR
ATR 42-600S
Beijing Daxing Airport
Boeing 737 MAX 10
Boeing 777X
Changi Airport
Embraer A175-E2
environment
Harbour Air
sustainable aviation

Source: aviationvoice.com