Image from Boeing

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom, July 23, 2024, PRNewswire – Boeing and Qatar Airways announced today the Middle Eastern airline’s order for 20 more 777-9 airplanes, which will be the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet. The order, which expands the carrier’s 777X order book to nearly 100 airplanes, was finalized this year and listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

The award-winning airline helped launch the 777X program and now has on order 60 777-9 passenger airplanes. Qatar Airways is also the inaugural launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter and has 34 of the next generation cargo jet on order.

Earlier this month, Boeing began certification flight testing for the 777-9, which will offer a new level of passenger comfort with a spacious cabin, better humidity, a quiet environment and increased natural light.

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom, 23 July 2024 – Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed a firm order with Airbus for 20 A350-900 widebody aircraft and 11 single-aisle A321neo, finalising a commitment announced earlier this year.

The order was announced at the Farnborough Air Show 2024 during a signing ceremony with Yukio Nakagawa, Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines, and Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business.

The new A350-900s will join the carrier’s A350 fleet serving international routes, while the A321neo will operate on domestic services within Japan. To date, JAL has ordered a total of 52 A350s, with 18 in service. The A321neo contract represents JAL’s first order for the Airbus single-aisle product line.

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced EnB AIR Co., Ltd.’s has signed an agreement for the purchase of a Bell 505 helicopter in South Korea. This marks the first Bell 505 helicopter sale to a commercial entity in South Korea, following the Republic of Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration selecting the Bell 505 as the new military helicopter trainer in 2022.

Established in 2020, EnB AIR provides helicopter services focused on aerial patrol, pest control, material transport, and forest firefighting. Upon delivery, the Bell 505 will become the first Bell helicopter in EnB AIR’s fleet.

With over 500 delivered worldwide, the Bell 505 program has collectively achieved more than 100,000 flight hours. In February 2023, a Bell 505 became the world’s first single engine helicopter to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

Image from Embraer

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 – The Dutch Ministry of Defense signed the contract today for the acquisition of nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow. As part of the project ‘Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity’, the contract is a joint purchase, in cooperation with Austria – five aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and four aircraft for the Austrian Air Force.

With this joint order, both countries aim at increasing their ability to rapidly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel worldwide, even under difficult operational conditions. The enhanced tactical airlift capacity provided by the C-390 increases operational flexibility and responsiveness, provides logistical support in various missions and operations, and enables a wide range of humanitarian and medical tasks.

The joint purchase will also allow both nations – as well as current and future operators – to cooperate and benefit from synergies in areas like training, logistics and future growth of the platform, together with the other C-390 operators in NATO nations. The C-390 Millennium provides maximum operational readiness enabling interoperability and connectivity in networked environments and multiple domains.

Image from Airbus

Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 – Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, a fully owned subsidiary of the state holding company Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 3 A320neo and 2 A321XLR aircraft to expand its international network.

The new aircraft are anticipated to start delivery in 2030. The airline plans to fly these aircraft out of Paro International Airport and the new airport at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), envisioned to become Bhutan’s futuristic economic hub. From here, Drukair will expand its connectivity to Europe, South East Asia and Australia.

Drukair already operates four Airbus A320 Family aircraft consisting of three A319s and one A320.

Image from Etihad Airways

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Batik Air Malaysia have enhanced their cooperation with the launch of a codeshare partnership to boost connectivity for passengers of both airlines.

Etihad’s guests can now seamlessly access eight domestic and international locations via Batik’s hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), enjoying the combined services and networks of both carriers on a single ticket.

The agreement now allows Etihad guests to conveniently travel to five new domestic codeshare destinations in Malaysia: Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau; along with three international points, Da Nang and Hanoi in Vietnam, and Perth in Australia.