Commercial Aviation News

Sam Chui flies Turkish again...this times their A350-900 from Montreal to Istanbul.

Aeroflot Group, the parent company of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot, has signed an agreement with the local aerospace manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the purchase of 339 domestically made planes. In better detail, the order consists of 210 Irkut MC-21 single-aisle passenger aircraft, 89 Sukhoi Superjet New and 40 Tupolev Tu-214 medium-range narrow-body airliners and the signing happened a few days ago on the 7th of September.

Air New Zealand touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport today, marking the first of its non-stop flights connecting NZ and NY. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran, commented: "As one of the world's greatest cities, Air New Zealand is proud to add the Big Apple to its list of 29 international destinations. By adding greater access to the East Coast of the US, we're connecting our North American customers to the possibilities of 20 destinations within New Zealand as well as the Pacific and Australia, all within easy reach. This is terrific for our customers. As one of the world's greatest cities, Air New Zealand is proud to add the Big Apple to its list of 29 international destinations," Foran said. "By adding greater access to the East Coast of the US, we're connecting our North American customers to the possibilities of 20 destinations within New Zealand as well as the Pacific and Australia, all within easy reach." The return journey, departing from New York at 9.55pm (local time) was expected to take 17 hours and 35 minutes, due to the difference in jet streams.

De Haviland Canada announced that the site of its new aircraft manufacturing facility will be in Wheatland County, Alberta, approximately 30 minutes east of Calgary. This new facility will be called De Havilland Field and will consist of a new, state-of-the-art aircraft assembly facility, runway, parts manufacturing and distribution centers and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) center . In addition, educational space for training the workforce of the future is planned as well as general office buildings and a De Havilland Canada aircraft museum.

Potential Airbus A220-500?

Sam Chui flies the inaugural ANZ flight to NZ from NY.

Boeing & China Airlines have finalized an order for up to 24 787 Dreamliners, as the carrier invests in the fuel-efficient widebody to expand passenger and cargo operations. The deal includes a firm order for 16 of the longest range 787-9 with options for eight additional jets. China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Su-Chien, commented: "We are excited to introduce the 787-9 Dreamliner into our operations as we continue to upgrade our fleet with more modern, fuel-efficient airplanes. Adding the state-of-the-art 787 will help us reduce carbon emissions, while also providing our customers with unmatched levels of comfort. Our continuous investment in fleet modernization is the cornerstone of our sustainability efforts. The 787's best-in-class efficiency and low operating costs will allow us to expand our network for years to come."

First Airbus A320neo to FlyArystan.

Airbus has shipped the 500th Airbus A350 aircraft. The landmark plane went to Iberia at the end of September. Also due to a better and more efficient production process it has resulted in weight savings on the A350 which now allows for the MTOW up to 3 tonne extra. This Iberia A350 is the first to be shipped with the slight improvement.

Air Tahiti Nui has started a service for the first time linking Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Papeete, Tahiti (PPT). Following a strategic partnership with Alaska Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui becomes the first and only carrier offering direct flights connecting the South Pacific and the Pacific Northwest. Air Tahiti Nui will be operating the new service twice weekly using the 787-9 Dreamliner. "Our new route provides a chance for North American travelers to discover the beauty of the 118 Islands of Tahiti, including Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and Rangiroa, which serve as the background to the many wonders to discover, landscapes to explore, and memories to create," said Michel Monvoisin, CEO of Air Tahiti Nui. "In addition to our long-established route from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), this new gateway to The Islands of Tahiti brings the heart of the South Pacific to more travelers in North America and strengthens Air Tahiti Nui's position as the leading carrier of French Polynesia."

What is it like flying around between Tahiti to Bora Bora?

Embraer has been able to change-up its traditional order pattern by having some new orders come in from the Middle East. The carrier is from Oman and is called SalamAir which made an order for six E195-E2s. "The aircraft will grow to be a core part of our fleet portfolio," said SalamAir CEO Mohamed Ahmed. "These aircraft are perfect for the next frontier of our growth. They will allow the airline to open new local and regional cities and increase its frequency to these destinations due to its fuel efficiency and capacity, which suits the needs of these markets".

How do airlines spend their billions?

Virgin Atlantic took delivery of its first Airbus A330neo aircraft leased from Air Lease Corporation. The A330neo will play a crucial role in the company’s fleet transformation and also marks the 50th Airbus aircraft for the UK-based airline. Virgin Atlantic will become the first operator of the type in the UK and has 13 of the type on order for lease from ALC. The name of the first Virgin A339 is "Billie Holiday".

Making Virgin's first A339.

C919 finally certified.

Alaska Airlines is expanding its 737 MAX fleet with an order for 52 airplanes, exercising options for an additional 42 737-10 and 10 737-9 jets. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, commented: "This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage. We're proud of the strong financial foundation that uniquely positions Alaska to make this commitment to our future, and of the fantastic partnership we share with our hometown aircraft manufacturer at Boeing."

STARLUX takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. The aircraft departed from Airbus’ Delivery Center in Toulouse, France, and landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the home base of STARLUX Airlines. It will initially fly to major cities within the Asia-Pacific region to start and then spread its wings to include Los Angeles in 2023.