Tag: 2023 (Page 8 of 19)

Southwest Airlines named Best Airline For Families in Money magazine’s list of 2023 travel awards

September 16, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Dallas, Texas, September 15, 2023 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) was named Best Airline for Families on MONEY magazine’s 2023 Travel Awards list. MONEY recognized Southwest Airlines for its Family Boarding process, two free checked bags,¹no change²or cancellation³ fees, and creating a flexible travel experience at a low cost. Southwest Customers also enjoy family-friendly content for free on the Inflight Entertainment Portal.⁴

“Families on the go turn to Southwest for more than our low fares and flexible policies,” said Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President of Marketing at Southwest Airlines. “We know families traveling together are looking for a comfortable and smooth travel experience, and our People take great pride in delivering their legendary Hospitality every step of the way.”

MONEY’s Best Airlines List assessed 10 major U.S. based carriers utilizing various criteria from multiple data resources to evaluate customer satisfaction with an airline’s network size, rewards programs, and policies.

For more information on Southwest’s flexible policies, visit Southwest.com.

1. First and second checked bags; weight and size limits apply.
2. If a Customer needs to change an upcoming flight itinerary, they’ll only pay the cost in fare difference.
3. Failure to cancel a reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure may result in forfeited flight credits.
4. Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer.

Air Peace orders 5 new Embraer E175 aircraft for fleet expansion

September 14, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Abuja, Nigeria, 14 September 2023 – Nigeria based Air Peace, West Africa’s largest airline, has placed a firm order for five Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) E175 aircraft. This strategic decision marks a significant step forward and is in alignment with Air Peace’s ongoing strategy of modernising its fleet. This acquisition is in line with Air Peace’s determination to become the operator of the largest and youngest fleet of aircraft in Africa. It reinforces Air Peace’s commitment to enhancing its domestic and regional network connectivity and paves the way for further regional expansion. Deliveries of the 88 seat aircraft start in 2024. The value of the order, at list price, is US$288.3m.

Already an operator of Embraer’s newest and largest jet, the E195-E2, these smaller aircraft will complement the airlines’ existing fleet, allowing Air Peace to dynamically match capacity to demand, protecting yields and route viability.

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.

Overland Airways of Nigeria receives its first E175

September 14, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Abuja, Nigeria, 14 September 2023 – Overland Airways of Nigeria has received the first of three new Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) E175 E-Jets. The aircraft was delivered to the airline last week. The twenty-year old West African carrier, an affiliate of the Landover Aviation Services Company, also holds options for three additional aircraft.

Concurrent with the arrival of its new E175s, Overland is aggressively ramping up its presence in Nigeria. It has built a new corporate office and hangar facilities in Lagos. The airline is an Approved Maintenance Organization under the certification of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Overland’s partner, Landover Aviation Services, runs one of IATA’s top ten aviation training institutions in Africa. The Landover Aviation Business School specializes in airline technical and operations, aviation management, and travel and tourism.

SMBC Aviation Capital orders 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets

September 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Seattle, Washington, September 13, 2023, PRNewswire – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and SMBC Aviation Capital announced today the airplane lessor is ordering 25 737-8s. The new order increases SMBC’s backlog to 81 737 MAX jets focused on the market-leading 737-8.

With travel demand surging around the globe, lessors are looking to increase their single-aisle portfolios to provide airlines with more fuel-efficient jets capable of operating across various route networks.

The 737-8 provides flexibility across airline’s networks while reducing fuel use and emissions by up to 20% and on average. Each airplane will save up to 8 million pounds of CO₂ emissions annually compared to those airplanes it replaces. Boeing has secured more than 400 737 MAX family orders in 2023.

The 737-8 seats 162 to 210 passengers depending on configuration with a range of 3,500 nautical miles and operates profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.

Airbus delivers first C295 to India

September 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Seville, Spain, September 13, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has officially handed over in fly-away condition the first of 56 C295 aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to begin replacing its ageing Avro 748 fleet.

The C295, in transport configuration and with an indigenous electronic warfare suite, will leave Airbus’ production site in Seville, Spain, for Delhi, India, in the next few days, piloted by a joint IAF and Airbus crew.

The first 16 C295’s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025.

First C295 ‘Make in India’ in 2026

To boost self-reliance in the defence-manufacturing sector in India, the remaining 40 C295s of the IAF order will be manufactured and assembled – in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) – at a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara in western India.

The production of components of these aircraft has already started in the Main Constituent Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad, southern India. These parts will be shipped to the Vadovara FAL, which is expected to be operational by November 2024.

The first ‘Make in India’ C295 will roll out of the Vadodara FAL in September 2026 in what will be a milestone for the Indian aerospace industry; the final aircraft expected to be delivered to the IAF by August 2031.

Airbus and PHI Group sign for 20 H175 & 8 H160 helicopters

September 12, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Marignane, France, September 12, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) and PHI Group Inc (PHI) have signed a framework agreement that includes commitments for 20 super-medium H175 helicopters and 8 H160s to serve the energy market worldwide, including in the US. These 28 state-of-the-art helicopters will better position PHI to respond to the energy market’s expected growing offshore transportation needs. These commitments are composed of firm orders as well as purchase options that PHI may exercise during the course of the framework agreement.

PHI has been supporting the energy industry for 74 years. Today, PHI operates over 200 helicopters across the globe serving a number of markets, including energy and air medical. PHI’s Airbus fleet consists of H125, H135, H145, H160 and H175 family helicopters – with the H175 being the latest addition.

In service since 2015, Airbus’ H175 belongs to the super-medium class of helicopters, combining long-range with smooth flight qualities, making it the perfect solution for several mission profiles, including offshore crew change, public services, and private and business aviation. 54 H175s currently in service have accumulated around 195,000 flight hours, of which 170,000 are flying for the energy sector.

Designed as a multi-role helicopter capable of performing a wide range of missions, the H160 integrates Airbus’ latest technological innovations. With its light maintenance plan, the H160 optimises operating costs and offers a new standard in availability. The helicopter is powered by two of the latest Arrano engines from SafranHelicopter Engines that offer a 15% reduction in fuel burn. Both the H175 and H160 are already certified to fly with as much as 50% sustainable aviation fuel.

Thaicom contracts Airbus for a OneSat flexible telecommunications satellite

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, September 11, 2023 – Thaicom PCL (THCOM), a leading Asian satellite operator and space technology company, has selected Airbus Group SE (AIR) for its new generation software-defined high throughput satellite.

Airbus will provide one of its latest designed satellites – a fully reconfigurable OneSat. This Thaicom satellite will provide extended connectivity in Ku-band over the Asia-Pacific region for millions of users. Thaicom has launched and operated eight geostationary satellites. This is Thaicom’s first flexible satellite, allowing for more adaptability on coverage, frequency and capacity which is crucial in such a dynamic region.

Positioned in orbit at 119.5° East, this state-of-the art satellite will enable Thaicom to propose to other partner operators a share of its satellite’s payload capacity, lowering their costs and still ensuring they have separate control of their individual payload capacity and flexibility.

Airbus will design and manufacture the satellite, and also provide ground control segment components. Airbus plans to deliver the satellite in 2027.

Airbus OneSat can be fully reconfigured in orbit, capable of adjusting the coverage area, capacity and frequency “on the fly” to meet evolving mission scenarios. It builds on the heritage of Airbus’ ultra-reliable Eurostar geostationary telecommunication satellites and the company’s constellation expertise with OneWeb. Development of the OneSat programme is supported by ESA, as well as the French Space Agency (CNES), and the UK Space Agency.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Vietnam Airlines announced the carrier has selected Boeing’s family of fuel-efficient airplanes to expand its future fleet with 50 737 MAX airplanes. (Boeing image)

Vietnam Airlines Selects 50 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes to Grow its Fleet

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Hanoi, Vietnam, September 11, 2023, PRNewswire – Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN) announced today the carrier has selected the 737 MAX family to expand its single-aisle fleet, with a commitment to order 50 737-8 airplanes. With enhanced fuel efficiency and environmental performance, the 737 MAX will provide best-in-class flexibility for Vietnam’s growing aviation market. The commitment was announced during a signing ceremony with Vietnamese government leaders on Monday, September 11.

U.S. and Vietnam officials said the commitment will bolster jobs in both countries and strengthen the bilateral economic partnership. Building on Boeing’s long history of collaboration with Vietnam’s civil aviation industry, the carrier’s 737 MAX fleet will support the country’s goal of becoming a leading aviation hub.

Since the launch, more than 100 customers around the world have placed firm orders for more than 5,600 737 MAX airplanes. The 737 MAX reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% and has a smaller noise footprint than airplanes it replaces. The jets offer increased comfort and relaxation for passengers, with modern sculpted sidewalls, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead storage bins.

The 737 MAX family will allow Vietnam Airlines to fly up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) to serve increasingly popular international and regional routes. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 15 787 Dreamliner jets and serves over 50 destinations in 17 countries. A member of the SkyTeam Alliance, passengers flying on Vietnam Airlines or any of its 18 partners can earn and redeem miles for travel to 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Boeing is committed to its strong relationships with Vietnamese suppliers and partnering to create a strong, efficient and resilient global supply chain to deliver the highest quality products and services for our customers. Today, Boeing has a corporate office in Hanoi and Field Service Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

(From left to right) Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Technical Executive Vice President, Vietnam Airlines; Mr. Le Hong Ha, President and CEO, Vietnam Airlines; Dr. Brendan Nelson, President, Boeing Global; Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman, Vietnam Airlines; Mr. Brad McMullen, Senior Vice President Boeing Commercial Sales; and Marketing; Mr. Michael Nguyen, Managing Director, Boeing Vietnam gather on Sept. 11 in Hanoi to celebrate Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to 50 737-8 MAX airplanes.

Gulfstream G700 and G800 engines earn FAA certification

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Savannah, Georgia, September 8, 2023 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the all-new Gulfstream G700 and Gulfstream G800 Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines have earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, bringing the aircraft program another step closer towards entry into service and customer deliveries.

The G700 and G800 feature high-speed, aerodynamic Gulfstream wing design as well as an all-new winglet designed for the two new aircraft. Along with the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, these innovations help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and can fly 6,650 nautical miles/12,316 kilometers at Mach 0.90 or 7,750 nm/14,353 km at Mach 0.85, and its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935 makes it the fastest aircraft in the Gulfstream fleet. The G800 can travel 7,000 nm/12,964 km at Mach 0.90 and 8,000 nm/14,816 km at Mach 0.85, the longest range in the business aviation industry.

The G700 and G800 both include the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with the industry’s only electronically linked active control sidesticks, the most extensive use of touch-screen technology in business aviation and Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System.

In the cabin, the G700 and G800 feature the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, the industry’s lowest cabin altitude, whisper-quiet noise levels and abundant natural light from iconic Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows.

LATAM Group receives new Boeing 787-9

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Santiago, Chile, September, 2023 – LATAM group (OTC: LTMAY) has received delivery of a new Boeing 787-9 directly from Charleston (United States) to Santiago (Chile), and is the only group of airlines in South America operating this model.

The Boeing 787-9 is equipped with advanced technology that allows it to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20-30% compared to the previous technology thanks to its lightweight materials, state-of-the-art engines, and modern aerodynamics.

Its arrival is part of LATAM group’s fleet renewal and modernization strategy, which will enable it to have 37 Dreamliners including the 787-8 variant by the end of this year, becoming one of the most modern and efficient fleets in South America. With this, the LATAM group aims to finish 2023 with a fleet of 332 aircraft, of which 78 are Wide Body and 254 are Narrow Body.

LATAM group’s new aircraft will feature 300 seats and has the capacity to cover an approximate distance of 14,010 km. Additionally, it boasts larger windows, spacious overhead compartments, technology that detects and counteracts turbulence for a smoother flight, and onboard diagnostic systems that allow the aircraft to self-monitor and automatically report maintenance requirements to ground systems.

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