Category: Aviation news (Page 30 of 257)

JAL to Commence Operation of Dedicated Cargo Aircraft February 19, 2024

December 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Tokyo, Japan, December 4, 2023 – Japan Airlines Co Ltd (Tokyo: 9201) today announced the introduction of the Boeing 767-300ER freighter (dedicated cargo aircraft*1). The operation plan for the second half of fiscal year 2023 has been revealed, with operations scheduled to begin on February 19, 2024 (*2).
(*1) Please refer to press release issued on May 2, 2023, “JAL to introduce first Freighter in 13 years under new business model”
(*2) Flights and schedules are subject to government approval.

The operation of the freighters will enhance stable and flexible air transportation capabilities, ensuring a steady supply. Furthermore, the development of a network strategy based on growing demand will ensure the satisfaction of customer needs and contribute to the sustainable development of the logistics infrastructure.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Fiji Airways announces payload limitations on its ATR services

December 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

December 4, 2023 – Fiji Airways wishes to advise our valued guests that due to the prevailing seasonal weather conditions in the South Pacific region the National Airline is subject to payload limitations on its ATR services to Pacific Islands destinations. As a consequence flights will operate with reduced seating capacities, and some guests and checked bags may not be accepted on services for which they hold bookings.

This will affect our flights to Funafuti International Airport in Tuvalu, Port Vila in Vanuatu, and two ports in Tonga, namely Vava’u International Airport and Fua’amotu International Airport. In addition we have until further notice, suspended the acceptance of excess baggage and prepaid additional bags on these services and are restricting cargo acceptance to essential medical and humanitarian supplies.

Whilst unfortunate and undesirable, this decision is made in the interest of the safety of our customers. This situation is expected to persist into January 2024. Guests holding confirmed bookings who wish to change their flights to dates after 30^th January 2024 may do so free of charge by contacting Fiji Airways Reservations reservations@fijiairways.com.

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 carries ARJ21’s 10 millionth passenger

December 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 from Guangzhou to Jieyang on November 24th of 2023 rang in the 10 millionth passenger carried so far by China’s ARJ21 aircraft.

The ARJ21 aircraft is the first turbofan regional jet independently developed by China. Since the first ARJ21 aircraft was officially put into commercial operation in June 2016, a total of 117 aircraft have been delivered to customers Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Genghis Khan Airlines, Jiangxi Air, China Express Airlines and TransNusa. The aircraft has successfully served more than 400 routes in more than 140 cities at home and abroad. The airplane has also operated nearly 1,800 flights per week covering regions such as North China, Northeast China, East China, Southwest China, Northwest China and Central-South China, and launched overseas operations to Indonesia.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) has focused on the core competences of customer training, spare parts, engineering, maintenance, technical publications, flight operations, and market and commercial support. This has allowed it to establish an operation support system to ensure the large-scale development of ARJ21 aircraft.

Norse Atlantic Airways celebrates inaugural flights from London Gatwick Airport

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Friday, December 1, 2023 – Norse Atlantic ASA (Oslo: NORSE) is delighted to announce the successful commencement of its inaugural services from London Gatwick to the sun-soaked destinations of Montego Bay and Barbados.

Flights to Barbados from London operate up to five times a week with fares starting from £449 return. Flights to Montego Bay from London operate up to four times a week with fares starting from £540 return.

Norse Atlantic exclusively operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with two cabin choices, Economy and Norse Premium. The cabin offers passengers a relaxed and comfortable travel experience with each seat including a personal state of the art entertainment experience. Our Premium cabin offers an industry leading 43” seat pitch and 12” recline allowing passengers to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to explore their destination. Passengers can choose from a simple range of fares, Light, Classic and Flextra, that reflect the way that they want to travel, and which options are important to them. Light fares represent Norse’s value option while Flextra fares include the maximum baggage allowance, two meal services an enhanced airport and onboard experience and increased ticket flexibility.

For more information and to book visit www.flynorse.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Bell announces delivery of third 429 to Swiss helicopter rescue company Air Zermatt

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Madrid, Spain – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced at European Rotors 2023, the delivery of its third Bell 429 to Swiss-based helicopter rescue company, Air Zermatt.

With its 75-person medical personnel and flight crew, Air Zermatt provides transport, tourist flights, and rescue operations in the Swiss Alps and surrounding communities. Each year, Air Zermatt carries out around 2,000 rescue missions, the majority of which are with the Bell 429.

In addition to the delivery of their Bell 429, Air Zermatt has opted to add their entire Bell 429 fleet under Bell’s Customer Advantage Plan (CAP) that protects direct maintenance costs and aircraft value over time and helps to keep aircraft in service longer.

Forward-Looking Statements

United Airlines expands in Houston with $2.6B terminal project

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Houston, December 1, 2023, PRNewswire – United Airlines Holdings Inc (Nasdaq: UAL) today announced growth plans in Houston that include a $2.6 billion renovation and expansion of Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a new United Club^SM location and Early Bag Storage facility (EBS) as well as a new direct flight to Georgetown, Guyana*.

These investments are part of the airline’s United Next growth plan and include the expansion of 40 gates at IAH to accommodate larger aircraft, resulting in a 40% increase in the overall number of people who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 compared to 2023.

United’s Terminal B Transformation Program, pending final approval from Houston’s city council, will play an important part in the estimated 54 million future passengers that will annually travel throughout the Houston hub and aims to improve the travel experience from arrival to departure.

Project highlights include:

A three-level, 765,000 sq. ft. Terminal B North Concourse with 22 mainline, narrow-body gates
Converting 30 existing small regional jet gates to 18 gates to accommodate larger, two-class regional jets in the Terminal B South Concourse
Boarding via jet bridge for all flights
Two major concessions hubs with more than 115,000 sq. ft. of food and retail space
A new, state-of-the-art baggage handling system equipped with advanced tracking technology
The largest United Club in our system
Expanded curbside and roadway capacity with a ground-level check-in area, including the addition of a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A to allow Terminal B customers to exit the airport without having to drive past Terminal A as they do today
A new sensory room for passengers with disabilities

*flights subject to government approval.

Forward-Looking Statements

Rolls-Royce unveils micro reactor space model for moon exploration

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

The UK Space Conference was the ideal place for Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (London: RR) to reveal the Micro-Reactor model, which generated cross-industry interest that included a visit from European Space Agency Astronaut Major Tim Peake. The Rolls-Royce Novel Nuclear team were delighted to talk Tim through the model and the applications of our technology in Space.

In March 2023, Rolls-Royce secured funding of £2.9m from UK Space Agency, backing our research into how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base for astronauts. The technologies presented at the UK Space Conference are the culmination of this year’s research.

Scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce, alongside strategic partners, have been working on several work packages under the UK Space Agency funded programme, to further strengthen its knowledge of these complex systems. The work packages have specifically focused on three key features of the Micro-Reactor; the fuel used to generate heat, the method of heat transfer and technology to convert that heat into electricity.

All space missions depend on a power source and, as a self-contained and power-dense solution, a Micro-Reactor can provide power for the habitation and exploration of a planetary surface, or power and propulsion for spacecraft. Continuous power and efficient propulsion can also provide satellites with more flexible movement to protect and defend key orbits.

Forward-Looking Statements

Porter Airlines orders 25 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, 29th November 2023 – Porter Airlines has exercised purchase rights to place a firm order for 25 Embraer SA ADR (NYSE: ERJ) E195-E2 passenger jets, adding to their 50 existing firm orders. Porter will use the new aircraft to extend its award-winning service to destinations throughout North America. The deal, valued at US$2.1bn at list price, will be added to the Q4 backlog, and brings Porter’s orders with Embraer to 75 firm, with 25 purchase rights remaining.

Porter, the North American launch customer for Embraer’s E195-E2, has already taken delivery of 24 E195-E2’s, and recently announced new destinations including Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; with destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean also planned. The aircraft are currently deployed from Eastern Canada, with a focus on Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa. Halifax and Montreal are also seeing new services with the E195-E2. Porter has chosen to configure the 146-seat aircraft in a comfortable 132-seat all-economy configuration, with a variety of seat pitches on offer for their guests: 36, 34, and 30 inches.

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

Forward-Looking Statements

German Navy NH90 Sea Tiger performs maiden flight

November 30, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Donauworth, Bavaria, Germany – The first Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) NH90 Sea Tiger took off on-schedule for its maiden flight in Donauworth, Germany. The German Bundeswehr ordered 31 NH90 Sea Tiger multi-role frigate helicopters for the German Navy’s shipborne operations in 2020.

Airbus Helicopters is now entering a qualification phase that will focus on flight testing the helicopter and new systems to be installed on board the NH90 Sea Tiger. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2025.

The helicopters will replace the German Navy’s ageing Mk88A Sea Lynx fleet which entered into service in 1981. The Bundeswehr already operates 18 NH90 Sea Lion naval transport helicopters which were delivered on schedule between 2019 and 2023.

The Sea Tiger is the latest version of the proven NH90 NFH (Naval Version). It has been specifically designed to match the needs of the German Navy for a state of the art anti-submarine warfare helicopter. Novelties include a new Electro-Optical System and improved Electronic Support Measures (ESM). On top, the Sea Tiger is equipped with a dipping sonar, sonobuoys, and weapons (torpedoes and missiles). The shipborne Sea Tigers’ missions include, in addition to reconnaissance and transport, engaging targets above and below the surface.

Forward-Looking Statements

Canada selects Boeing P-8A Poseidon for its multi-mission aircraft role

November 30, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Arlington, Virginia, November 30, 2023, PRNewswire – The Government of Canada has signed a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance for up to 16 Boeing (NYSE: BA) P-8A Poseidon aircraft, as part of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project. Canada joins eight defense partners, including all of the FIVE EYES allies, the intelligence alliance that also includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and becomes the fifth NATO nation to have selected the P-8 as its multi-mission aircraft. First delivery is expected in 2026.

The P-8 is the only proven, in-service and in-production solution that meets all CMMA requirements, including range, speed, endurance and payload capacity. This decision will benefit hundreds of Canadian companies, and bring decades of prosperity to Canada through platform sustainment delivered by our Canadian industry partners.

The P-8 acquisition will generate benefits of nearly 3,000 jobs and $358 millionannually in economic output to Canada, according to a 2023 independent study by Ottawa-based Doyletech Corporation.

Team Poseidon forms the cornerstone of Boeing’s P-8 Canadian industry partnership, consisting of CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and StandardAero. The team builds on the existing 81 Canadian suppliers to the P-8 platform and to more than 550 Boeing suppliers across all provinces contributing to the company’s annual ~CAD $4 billion in economic benefit to Canada, supporting more than 14,000 Canadian jobs.

Forward-Looking Statements

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