Commercial Aviation News

EgyptAir Airbus A220 has first flight. This is the first of 12 A220s that were originally ordered back when the program was with Bombardier and called the CS300. As expected the first aircraft wears PW 1500G engines and is the larger A220-300 variant. In fact all the planes in this order are for the -300 model. The first unit is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks.

Air France's first Airbus A350-900 has made its first flight.

American has pushed back the schedule once again for its 737 MAX aircraft. The last schedule was for a return on November 2nd but now they have pushed it back by a month to December 3, 2019. American has a lot riding on these aircraft as they have 24 aircraft delivered to them and in 'service' with 76 more on order. The uncertainty of when the aircraft type will be able to return to service is a major sticking point for operators.

Wizz Air's last standard Airbus A321 has been delivered to them. In a time where most airlines are opting for the newer and longer range A321 variants, such as a A321neo, LR, XLR, the standard A321 seems to be dwindling in its relevancy. Wizz Air has alot of A321neos on order, over 190 of the type and so far received 6. They also have around 70 A320neo aircraft on order. Though they have not received any of the smaller variant. The aircraft is registered HA-LTI after bearing the temporary reg of D-AVYZ. Wizz Air plans to keep its regular/standard A321 fleet until about 2025 when the airline plans to slowly remove them from service.

A look at HiFly's first Airbus A330neo in the making.The new A330neo is on lease from Air Lease Corporation. The aircraft is configured with 371 seats in a two-class layout, with 18 high-comfort lie-flat business class seats and 353 economy seats.

China Airlines has completed the order for six Boeing 777 freighters. This order was originally announced at the Paris Air Show this year and in July the carrier firmed on three of those units. Now the airline has firmed on the other three units making it six freighters they will get from Boeing. The carrier plans to use the freighters between Taipei and the United States.

MESA signs up as many as 100 SpaceJet M100s from Mitsubishi. The order covers 50 firm purchases with purchase rights to another 50 if exercised. This is a very large order for Mitsubishi and a significant one on many levels as it represents a commercial breakthrough for the M100. A breakthrough into the American market. To get into this market though requires extensively revamping the variant Mitsubishi used to call the MRJ70. If all goes well the M100 is carded for certification by 2023. It would be able to carry 76 passengers in three-class a range of 2,000 nautical miles.

Now the first EgyptAir A220 has been delivered to EgyptAir. The aircraft is configured in two-class layout with 125 economy seats and 15 premium-economy. It is the first of 12 A220-300 aircraft on order, becoming the first A220 operator based in the Middle East and North African region, and the sixth operator worldwide. The Cairo-based airline intends to fly the aircraft on routes to and from its main Egyptian Hub in Cairo in the coming days. Representatives from the airline, alongside executives from Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, celebrated the aircraft handover at the A220 Mirabel final assembly line. "We are proud to welcome our very first A220 aircraft and to be the first airline in the Middle East and North African region to take delivery and launch commercial operations of the A220 – the most innovative and technologically advanced aircraft in the world," said Capt. Ahmed Adel, Chairman and CEO, EGYPTAIR HOLDING Company. "Airbus' A220 airliners are integral to the execution of EGYPTAIR business development strategy Horizon 2025 and fleet optimization plan."

Have a look at the first example of the Airbus A350-900 for FIJI Airways. It recently was rolled out of the paintshop and it expected to commence service for FIJI in January, 2020 on a route from Fiji to Sydney and Los Angeles. Out of the 334 seats onboard for passengers the aircraft is split into a two-class configuration with 301 in economy and 33 in business class.

It isn't every day you fly on the Boeing 737-200 Classic Combi, Sam Chui does, have a look at his journey.

All Nippon Airways New Business Class, "The ROOM" experienced by Sam Chui.

A350-900 version delivered in September 2019 – as it takes to the skies. With 324 seats in a three-class layout. Air France will deploy the A350-900 fleet on its transatlantic and Asia routes. The Xtra WideBody aircraft features a comfortable three-class layout with 324 seats including 34 full-flat business, 24 premium economy and 266 economy class seats. Fully in line with Air France’s commitment to the environment, the all-new A350-900 will provide a 25% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the aircraft’s delivery flight from Toulouse to Paris will be powered with a blend of conventional and synthetic biofuel.

That is quite interesting.

Jetsmart has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo. The aircraft has been leased through SMBC Aviation Capital. "We are delighted to welcome the first GTF-powered A320neo aircraft to our growing fleet and continue to build our relationship with Pratt & Whitney," JetSmart chief executive, Estuardo Ortiz said. "The efficiency gained with this new technology engine will allow us to provide our customers with lower fares as we continue our expansion across South America, while benefitting from lower fuel consumption and a reduced environmental footprint."

Leasing giant GECAS (General Electric Capital Aviation Services) has made the opening order of 15 firm conversions and 15 options for conversion with the newly announced Boeing 777-300ERSF (Special Freighter) Conversion program. GECAS is a part-investor in the situation with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). They predict as many as 150 orders could come in for conversion up to the year 2030.

Air Canada has indicated that it is pushing its 737 MAX service re-entry back to middle of February 2020. More and more carriers do not expect this aircraft to obtain the necessary approvals to return to service before early 2020. As a result of this uncertain timeline on the part of Boeing and regulators, Air Canada has pushed back the service entry to February 14th, 2020. American Airlines also pushed back their date much further by over a month to January 16th, 2020.

As commercial flight becomes longer and longer in the quest to fly further non-stop there are limitations to this endeavour. One word, jetlag! This is one very bad word when it comes to traveling long distances by aircraft and changing time zones it takes a toll on the human body. With Qantas looking to fly 20 hours and more now they are currently testing New York to Sydney where they are using one of their 787s as a testing lab. Other than being able to fly the distance as the aircraft the airline wants to know how the passengers would feel inside. The pilots will be under testing, food onboard and a couple 'passengers' who are along for the ride.

Sam in Mauritius taking in the sights and sounds of that country and also flying on one of the National airline's (Air Mauritius) Airbus A350s.

South African (SAA) has received its first Airbus A350. The aircraft is a leased one and infact another couple of airframes will be leased as well in the near future. The first aircraft is expected to be pressed into service on the trans-atlantic run between JNB and JFK.