Commercial Aviation News

SAS first Airbus A321LR has completed its first long-haul flight. On Wednesday 22nd of December from Copenhagen to Washington was the first major overseas route. It will enter official service on 27th of March, 2022. "This is an entirely new aircraft type for SAS, which is incredibly well suited to the Scandinavian market and emerging travel patterns to and from the region. It gives SAS an opportunity to offer travelers more intercontinental routes, fewer stopovers, and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia. The new aircraft is equipped with a service concept at par with the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet, offering passengers all the benefits, level of comfort and choices of our traveling classes," says Karl Sandlund, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer.

Is PIA still the same? Sam Chui flies with them again to see.

VIETJET* Vistajet is a business aviation charter company. But yes....it looks pretty confusing and afterall it is their first A330 ...maybe want to create more attention.

They now have their Air Operators certificate. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority today issued an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to Norse Atlantic Airways. The new airline is on track to start transatlantic flights in spring 2022. "I would also like to commend my colleagues at Norse for their outstanding efforts getting the important AOC in place," Bjørn Tore Larsen added.

Airbus has delivered its final A321ceo aircraft.

Big Airbus order?

Philippine Airlines returns from Chapter 11.

"Philippine Airlines stands ready to help grow back the Philippines’ local and international air travel markets in ways that renew the tourism industry, serve the needs of global citizens including overseas Filipinos, and contribute actively to the recovery of the Philippine economy," said PAL Director Lucio C. Tan III, quoting PAL Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio C. Tan. "Our mission as the flag carrier matters more than ever, and we are thankful for the chance to rebound from the pandemic and continue to fulfill this mission as best as we can."

Pragusa One?

Boeing's shocking New Order.

United has taken delivery of all the aircraft in their last order for 15 Boeing aircraft which comprised of two 787-9 dreamliners and 13 737-8 jets. The aircraft were delivered by CDB Aviation between 2020 and 2021.

Airbus is thinking about a physical stretch of the A220 (former CSeries of Bombardier). They suggest not yet though but it is an option they have in the back of their minds.

Airbus has signed a purchase agreement with Azorra for twenty-two A220 Family aircraft including twenty A220-300s and two ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft. Azorra is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, based aircraft lessor focused on executive, regional and mid-size (“crossover”) aircraft. As of the end of December 2021, the A220 had accumulated 668 orders from 25 customers. To date, 13 airlines are operating around 190 aircraft on four continents.

More Airbus A220 news with the first A220-300 being delivered to Iraqi Airways. They have ordered five of the type and the first is in their possession. Iraqi Airways’ A220-300 features a modern dual-class cabin that seats 132 passengers. The break down is 12 in business class and 120 in economy class. The registration is YI-ARE.

Big news coming out of the Airbus/Qatar Airways spat. Airbus has cancelled the 6 bn order with Qatar Airways for 50 of its new A321neo passenger jets. This comes as the airframer and airline are in a spat over defective paint issues with their A350s.

Icelandair reveals new livery on new Boeing 737-8 aircraft. Icelandair now joins the plethora of airlines around the world which have chosen to simplify their liveries with a modern, clean and simplified approach. As for the different colour banding on the tail, The five colours (boreal blue, magenta, sky blue, yellow, and green) represent "different phenomena in Icelandic nature", Icelandair says. The other aircraft types will be repainted in accordance to their maintenance schedules.

Boeing has finally announced the new aircraft that some have been speculating about and no this is not the NMA project. A new freighter has been announced and will be based on the 777X. Qatar Airways has placed an order for the aircraft which is interesting in someway. yes Qatar Airways Cargo has been an operator of the 777 freighter variant but with strained relationship between the Gulf carrier and Airbus (remember airbus announced a freighter version of the A350 relatively recently) This is Boeing's chance to start off the new 777X freighter variant with a strong customer. Qatar Airways will be the 777-8 Freighter launch customer with a firm order for 34 jets and options for 16 more, a total purchase that would be worth more than $20 billion.

More positive news for Boeing. Seems Qatar Airways replaced the 6 billion dollar Airbus A321neo order with a Boeing 737 Max line order for the same number of aircraft.

Departures and arrivals at YUL.