Ethiopian Airlines signs MoU for 11 Airbus A350-900s jets

Ethiopian’s flagship carrier, Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 11 additional Airbus A350-900s to be added to its existing fleet. The latest agreement takes Ethiopian Airlines’ total order book and commitment for the A350 to 33, including four A350-1000s.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 20 A350-900s and with this commitment, it will confirm its position as Africa's biggest A350 customer.

The signing of the MoU took place at Dubai Airshow in the presence of Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Christian Scherer.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are excited to place this commitment for 11 Airbus A350-900s. As a customer focused airline, we are particularly excited for this fleet as it offers extra comfort to passengers with its features like the quietest cabin in its class and ambient lighting. We are keen to expand our fleet size, acquiring the latest technology aircraft to offer a convenient and memorable onboard experience to our esteemed passengers.”

 

Air Samarkand gets ready for launch with the delivery of second aircraft.

 Airbus A321 arrives for Air Samarkand

Air Samarkand continued its preparations for the launch of new services with the delivery on Saturday 11th November of a second aircraft, an Airbus A321.   

The Uzbekistan-based carrier welcomed the new arrival at Samarkand International Airport, a week after receiving its first A330-300 long-haul wide-body aircraft. By the end of 2023, the airline expects to receive and have up to five aircraft.   

The Airbus A321 is one of the most popular narrow-bodied airliners for short and medium-haul routes and is designed to carry 182 passengers in Economy Class and 12 in Business Class on routes with a range of up to 6,000 km. Air Samarkand will offer an Economy Class seat pitch of at least 31 inches (78.7 cm), providing comfort for even the tallest of passengers.   

The A321 aircraft, like others in the Air Samarkand fleet, is equipped with an in-flight entertainment system with built-in seat-back screens.   

A full-service carrier, Air Samarkand will provide hot meals on all flights, with pillows, blankets and other amenities provided to its customers.   

Air Samarkand will provide those living in one of the oldest cities in Asia and its neighbouring regions with the opportunity to travel direct to popular destinations – beginning with services to cities in Turkey, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. There will be further expansion into Europe over the next 12 months.   

Air Samarkand will support the further development of the Samarkand region, which is a rapidly emerging tourist and business destination for visitors from all over the world. It forms an essential part of new infrastructure and amenities being developed in the ‘New Uzbekistan’, including the multi-faceted Silk Road Samarkand tourist centre – the first international tourism resort in Central Asia including four and five-star hotels. Neutral 

 

 

EGYPTAIR signs deal for 10 Airbus A350-900s to meet growing demand for air travel.

EGYPTAIR customers will soon be flying to destinations around the globe aboard new Airbus A350-900s, after the airline disclosed an order for 10 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow.

Once added to the fleet, the A350-900s will provide EGYPTAIR with 25% less fuel burn and, in turn, reduced emissions, while passengers enjoy the comfort of the Airbus AirSpace cabin, including a feeling of true spaciousness, wide seats, high ceilings and alluring ambient lighting.

The signing took place at the 2023 Dubai Airshow, in the presence of EGYPTAIR’s Chairman and CEO, Engineer Yehia Zakaria and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Christian Scherer.

"EGYPTAIR is a key partner of Airbus in the Middle East and Africa. We take immense pride in this partnership aimed at furthering the aviation industry. Our focus lies in the enhancement of our fleet to embrace some of the most contemporary aircraft available,” says EGYPTAIR Chairman and CEO Yehia Zakaria.

Zakaria adds: "EGYPTAIR has firmed up an agreement with Airbus to procure 10 A350-900 aircraft, each boasting a capacity of 340 seats. These aircraft come equipped with cutting-edge technologies and Rolls-Royce XWB Trent engines, known for their modern design and reduced fuel emissions and consumption. As we tackle growing demand across our network, this aircraft is the optimal choice.

Airbus and Mubadala sign agreement to mentor a new generation of Emirati aerospace engineers

        Airbus and Mubadala Investment Company have signed an agreement to provide internship opportunities for Emirati senior university students in engineering. Fatima Al Marzooqi, Director of Portfolio Emiratisation from Mubadala and Mikail Houari, President, Airbus, Africa and Middle East, signed the agreement at Dubai Airshow 2023.

Over the next three years, 12 Emirati engineering students will be hosted at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, where they will perform their internship under the supervision of Airbus experts and specialists.

Fatima Al Marzooqi, Director of Portfolio Emiratisation at Mubadala said: “Mubadala is delighted to support this important initiative which will not only bolster our future-focused knowledge-based economy in the UAE but provide an exceptional opportunity for Emirati students.” 

“We know that our most valuable asset is people and through this innovative partnership with Airbus we can help grow world-class talent. This leading internship is a significant milestone in our Emiratisation programme as we continue to support the UAE’s continued acceleration and transformation by fostering talent that can thrive in sectors vital for Abu Dhabi’s future growth and success.”

Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa and Middle East, commented: "For many decades, Airbus has worked closely with local and regional organisations to nurture, develop and inspire young talent. Ensuring youth have the right skills and knowledge supports the future growth and progress of the aviation and aerospace sectors. The industry is vital for long-term economic diversification and sustainable development of the region. We are proud to have signed this new partnership with Mubadala and we look forward to many years of collaboration to drive localization of our global expertise and support Emiratisation efforts.” 

Airbus has been present in the Middle East for more than fifty years, working with a wide range of governments and airlines. During the last half a century, Airbus has regularly collaborated with educational institutions and universities in the Middle East and Africa region to develop and implement programs that enhance aerospace and aviation related education. This includes skills enrichment for students and young professionals, innovation led research projects and scholarships for students. 

Airbus is committed to supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in the Middle East and Africa by sponsoring and participating in programmes that promote these disciplines. 

Since 2015, more than 5,000 students of all levels and entrepreneurs have participated in Airbus programmes in the region, gaining industry awareness, practical experience and support on developing their capabilities.

ITA Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus A321neo

ITA Airways has taken delivery of its first A321neo on lease from Air Lease Corporation from Airbus’ Hamburg production facilities.  This latest addition further consolidates ITA Airways' all-Airbus fleet strategy, which currently stands at 81 aircraft, and includes the latest generation A220, A320neo, A330neo and A350 aircraft.

ITA Airways’ A321neo,  which will serve the airline’s medium-haul routes, is fitted with a three-class configuration including 12 Business Class full flat beds with direct aisle access, 12 Premium Economy seats in 4-abreast, and 141 Economy seats of which 12 are dedicated to Comfort Economy.

ITA Airways' A321neo aircraft features Airbus' Airspace cabin design, which includes new XL overhead bins and customised interior lighting based on the latest full-LED technologies to help reduce jet lag. In addition, to enhance the passenger experience, each seat is equipped with the latest generation in-flight entertainment system with individual screens and on-demand content.

The A321neo is the largest aircraft in Airbus’ A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft. Having the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the aircraft is the perfect contender for maximising comfort.

To date, more than 5,500 A321neos have been ordered by customers across the globe.

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Starlab Space Station to boost European Space Agency ambitions in low-Earth orbit

MoU between ESA, Airbus and Voyager Space outlines collaboration on post-International Space Station infrastructure and missions

The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus Defence and Space, and Voyager Space have signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the ESA Space Summit in Seville, outlining their collaboration for the Starlab space station in the post-International Space Station era.

The MoU outlines that the parties intend to commonly foster science and technology development and explore the potential for collaboration in conjunction with post-International Space Station low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations.

The collaboration will initially focus on, but is not limited to, exploring opportunities for sustained access to space for Europe through the Starlab space station. These could include:

Access to the Starlab space station for ESA and its Member States, for astronaut missions and sustained long-term research activities as well as commercial business development.

Contributions to research projects on upcoming missions, leveraging European technology across various fields, including (but not limited to) advanced robotics and automation/artificial intelligence, and advancing European science priorities, such as health and life sciences.

Establishment of a complete ‘end-to-end’ ecosystem comprising the Starlab space station as a low-Earth orbit destination and a potential ESA-developed European transportation system (cargo and crew), leveraging standardised interfaces in the interest of an open access policy.

This agreement reflects ESA’s ambition to enable a smooth transition from the International Space Station towards the sustained exploitation of human and robotic infrastructures in low-Earth orbit after 2030, including through commercial services.

“ESA appreciates the transatlantic industry initiative for the commercial Starlab space station, and the potential that its strong European footprint holds for significant European industrial and institutional contributions to, and use of, said station,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency. “Our teams are looking forward to working closely with the Starlab teams here in Europe and in the US.”

“This agreement with the European Space Agency is critical as we continue to foster international collaboration in the space domain and move towards succeeding the International Space Station with Starlab,” said Matt Kuta, President, Voyager Space. “We look forward to working with Airbus and ESA to extend Europe’s footprint in space and ensure they remain a leader in the new generation of commercial space exploration.”

“At Airbus, we are very pleased that ESA is continuing to look to the future and demonstrating such a keen interest in Starlab,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “Our collaboration on this next-generation space station builds on a long and successful partnership between ESA and Airbus in developing and operating a wide range of crewed and uncrewed spacecraft.”

In the past, Airbus has supplied ESA with iconic spacecraft such as the International Space Station Columbus Module, all five Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV) and – most recently – the European Service Module (ESM) for Orion, Europe’s contribution to NASA’s Artemis missions back to the Moon.

In August 2023, Voyager and Airbus first announced an agreement to form a transatlantic joint venture to support a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit and a seamless transition of microgravity science and research opportunities in the post-International Space Station era. Starlab is also expected to have a European affiliated joint venture to directly serve the European Space Agency and its member state space agencies.

airBaltic orders 30 more A220 jets......

airBaltic will become the largest A220 customer in Europe after confirming an incremental order for an additional 30 A220-300s. This new order will take the airline’s total firm orderbook to 80 aircraft.

Already operating a 44 strong fleet of A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220-300 operator in the world. 

The airline’s history with the Airbus A220-300 dates back to 2016 where it was the launch customer, and in 2020, it refreshed its fleet to solely operate this aircraft type.

"This day marks a significant milestone in the history of airBaltic – our plans for the first time ever to operate a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2030. For almost seven years already, the Airbus A220-300 has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic”, said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “Being the global launch customer of the Airbus A220-300, we continue to be a proud ambassador of it. We are grateful to our partners at Airbus for the incredible support, trust, and collaboration over these years.”

Airbus’ patented “Detumbler” to tackle in-orbit debris

Magnetic damping device will ensure satellites remain more stable to improve future active debris removal

Airbus’ patented Detumbler device designed to prevent satellites at the end of their lives from tumbling, was launched on Saturday 11 November and will be tested in space on the mission in association with Exotrail and EnduroSat early in 2024.

Developed in 2021 by Airbus, and supported by the French Space Agency CNES under their Tech4SpaceCare initiative, the Detumbler is a magnetic damping device that would be attached to a satellite. The Detumbler includes a central rotor wheel and magnets that interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When the satellite is flying normally the rotor acts like a compass following the magnetic field, but should the spacecraft begin to tumble the rotor movement induces eddy currents acting like a friction torque thus damping the motion.

Dead satellites, especially in low Earth orbit (LEO), often end up tumbling which is natural behaviour due to orbital flight dynamics. Future active debris removal missions will face a greater challenge if spacecraft are tumbling. The Airbus Detumbler - weighing in at around 100g - could therefore be a useful tool for future missions to prevent satellites tumbling after their end of life, making them easier to capture on debris clearing missions.

The in-orbit demonstration of the Detumbler is scheduled for early 2024 on a mission from Exotrail (SpaceVan) which will include the Exo-0 nanosatellite from EnduroSat. Dedicated detumbling tests will take place to verify the ability of the Detumbler to dampen movement.

Airbus reports Nine-Month (9m) 2023 results

488 commercial aircraft delivered in 9m 2023 Revenues € 42.6 billion; EBIT Adjusted € 3.6 billion EBIT (reported) € 2.7 billion; EPS (reported) € 2.96 Free cash flow before M&A and customer financing € 1.0 billion Charges on certain satellite development programmes Guidance maintained Airbus has reported consolidated financial results for the nine months ended 30 September 2023.  “We continue to make progress on our operational plan in a global environment that has become increasingly complex. The nine-month earnings reflect higher commercial aircraft deliveries, the good performance in helicopters as well as charges linked to the reassessment of certain satellite development programmes,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “Demand for our commercial aircraft is very strong with a continuing recovery in the widebody market. We expect the supply chain to remain challenging as we progress on the production ramp-up. In that context, we maintain our guidance for the full year.” Gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 1,280 (9m 2022: 856 aircraft) with net orders of 1,241 aircraft after cancellations (9m 2022: 647 aircraft). The order backlog amounted to 7,992 commercial aircraft at the end of September 2023. Airbus Helicopters registered 191 net orders (9m 2022: 246 units) which were well spread across programmes. Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake by value was € 8.5 billion (9m 2022: € 8.0 billion), including the renewal of the in-service support contract for Germany’s A400M fleet. Consolidated revenues increased 12 percent year-on-year to € 42.6 billion (9m 2022: € 38.1 billion). A total of 488 commercial aircraft were delivered (9m 2022: 437(1)(2) aircraft), comprising 41 A220s, 391 A320 Family, 20 A330s and 36 A350s. Revenues generated by Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities increased 18 percent, mainly reflecting the higher number of deliveries. Airbus Helicopters’ deliveries increased slightly to 197 units (9m 2022: 193 units) with revenues rising 3 percent, reflecting the overall performance across programmes and services. Revenues at Airbus Defence and Space decreased 6 percent, mainly driven by a backloaded A400M delivery profile and updated Estimates at Completion of certain satellite development programmes. A total of 4 A400M military airlifters were delivered (9m 2022: 7 aircraft). Consolidated EBIT Adjusted – an alternative performance measure and key indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses – was € 3,631 million (9m 2022: € 3,481 million). EBIT Adjusted related to Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities increased to € 3,216 million (9m 2022: € 2,875 million), reflecting the higher deliveries and a more favourable hedge rate, partially offset by investments for preparing the future. 9m 2022 included the non-recurring positive impact from retirement obligations partly offset by the impact resulting from international sanctions against Russia. In H1 2023 provisions were released to reflect further progress made on compliance-related topics. The ramp-up on the A220 programme is continuing towards a monthly production rate of 14 aircraft in 2026. Production on the A320 Family programme is progressing well towards the previously announced rate of 75 aircraft per month in 2026. The modernisation and digitalisation of the industrial system continues, as illustrated by the inauguration of the A321XLR equipment installation hangar in Hamburg. The A321XLR is progressing towards certification, with entry-into-service expected to take place in Q2 2024. On widebody aircraft, the Company has decided to increase the production rate for the A350 to 10 aircraft a month in 2026 and continues to target rate 4 for the A330 in 2024. Airbus Helicopters’ EBIT Adjusted increased to € 417 million (9m 2022: € 380 million), reflecting the overall performance across programmes and services. 9m 2022 also included net positive non-recurring elements. EBIT Adjusted at Airbus Defence and Space decreased to € -1 million (9m 2022: € 231 million). It included charges of € 0.4 billion related to updated Estimates at Completion of certain satellite development programmes, mostly recorded in the third quarter. 9m 2022 also included net positive non-recurring elements. On the A400M programme, development activities continue towards achieving the revised capability roadmap. Retrofit activities are progressing in close alignment with the customer. No further net material impact was recognised in the first nine months of 2023. Risks remain on the qualification of technical capabilities and associated costs, on aircraft operational reliability, on cost reductions and on securing overall volume as per the revised baseline. In order to cope with an evolving defence and security environment, the Company has launched a transformation of its Defence and Space division. This aims to adapt ways of working, focusing on rigorous programme execution and a rebalancing of risks and opportunities to reinforce end-to-end accountability and ownership in the business lines and improve competitiveness. Consolidated self-financed R&D expenses totalled € 2,167 million (9m 2022: € 1,965 million). Consolidated EBIT (reported) amounted to € 2,712 million (9m 2022: € 3,552 million), including net Adjustments of € -919 million. These Adjustments comprised:

BOC Aviation delivers the final of five new Airbus A320NEO aircraft to Turkish Airlines

Leasing giant, BOC Aviation has confirmed this week that it has delivered the final of five new Airbus A320NEO aircraft to Turkish Airlines. All five are part of BOC's existing order book and air on long-term lease to the Turkish flag carrier. 

“We are pleased to announce this transaction, which deepens our longstanding relationship with Turkish Airlines,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation. “The five A320NEO aircraft that we have delivered to the company reflect our commitment to providing our customers with the world’s most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft.” 

Turkish Airlines is based at its main hub in Istanbul, Turkey and operates a fleet of more than 380 aircraft to over 340 national and international destinations. Celebrating its 90th year since inception, its shares are listed on the Borsa Istanbul and it has been a member of the Star Alliance since 2008. 

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A320neo to FlyArystan

Aviation Capital Group announced the delivery of one new Airbus A320neo aircraft on long-term lease to FlyArystan. Powered by the ultra-efficient Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, this is the third of three aircraft to be delivered to the airline from ACG’s order book with Airbus.

“ACG is thrilled to deliver another A320neo to Air Astana and FlyArystan,” said Claudio Cheinquer, ACG Vice President Marketing for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Middle East. “This is the third new A320neo on lease from ACG to Central Asian low-cost carrier, FlyArystan, a sustainable and very cost-effective platform that will help the airline maintain its growth trajectory.”

Aviation Capital Group is one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers with over 480 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of June 30, 2023, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. It was founded in 1989 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation. 

Brussels Airlines takes delivery of its first A320neo

Brussels Airlines takes delivery of its first A320neo

Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s national airline and member of the Lufthansa Group, has taken delivery of its first out of five new A320neo aircraft.

The A320neo is part of the airline's fleet renewal strategy to operate the latest state of the art, efficient aircraft in order to meet Brussels Airlines’ ambitious sustainability targets.

The A320neo incorporates the latest technologies, including new-generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines for more efficiency and Sharklets for improved aerodynamics, which together reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by at least 20 per cent. The aircraft is also a good neighbour at airports with a 50 per cent lower noise footprint compared to  previous generation aircraft.

The Brussels Airlines A320neo features a single class layout with 180 seats.

Equipped with the Airbus Airspace cabin, the A320neo will take the passenger experience to new highs in comfort, ambience and service. Unique and customisable lighting sets the mood for all phases of the flight, maximising passenger relaxation in the widest and quietest cabin in its class.

The new A320neo will join Brussels Airlines' all Airbus fleet of 43 aircraft, including 34 A320 Family aircraft and nine A330-300s. Perfectly sized for the European market, the new aircraft will enter into service on the carrier’s short- to medium-haul network.

With over 9,700 orders from more than 130 customers worldwide, the A320 Family is the world’s most popular aircraft.

CDB Aviation Delivers First of Six A320neos to Air India

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited announced today the delivery of the first of a fleet of six Airbus A320neo aircraft to India’s leading global airline, Air India.

In 2022, CDB Aviation became one of the first aircraft leasing companies to secure the placement of Air India’s additional A320neo aircraft, which will support the carrier’s multi-stage transformation initiative that is being rolled out post its acquisition by the Tata group. By incorporating the A320neo aircraft into the fleet, Air India aims to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future for India’s aviation sector.

“India is a key market for CDB Aviation, being one of the fastest growing aviation regions in the world and the second largest Asian market for new aircraft deliveries, with nearly 1,000 jets on order with Boeing and Airbus,” underscored Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our commercial team is delighted to have worked closely with Air India to address their fleet requirements with these new Airbus narrowbody aircraft from our order book. We are confident that these aircraft will play a pivotal role in Air India’s multi-stage transformation.”

CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”) a 38-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody’s (A2), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the world’s largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating.

Air Niugini orders the A220 jets for fleet modernisation programme.

Air Niugini, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea, has signed a firm order with Airbus for six latest generation single aisle A220-100s under its fleet modernisation programme. In addition, the carrier will acquire three A220-300s and another two A220-100s from third-party lessors. 

The order was announced at a special event in Port Moresby by Gary Seddon, Acting Chief Executive Officer Air Niugini and Anand Stanley, President Airbus Asia-Pacific, in the presence of the Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Hon. William Duma, Minister for State Enterprises.

Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in the 100-150 seat category, the A220 will be operated by Air Niugini across its domestic and regional network. The new fleet will deliver more capacity and greater reliability across the domestic network and enable the carrier to fly from the capital Port Moresby to new destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Gary Seddon, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Air Niugini said: “This is a milestone in the history of our national airline that will support the growth of trade and tourism in Papua New Guinea. The new aircraft will offer the highest levels of comfort for our passengers, while also ensuring a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions when compared to the aircraft they will replace.”

AerCap Holdings delivers Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter converted jet to IndiGo.

AerCap Holdings has delivered its first Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter aircraft to IndiGo, the leasing giant confirmed this week.  The aircraft conversion was completed by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH ("EFW") before being delivered to IndiGo at ST Engineering Aerospace in Singapore.

"We are delighted to celebrate the delivery of AerCap's first A321 Passenger-to-Freighter aircraft with our longstanding customer, IndiGo. The A321P2F is a best-in-class narrowbody freighter solution, offering superior economics in terms of fuel efficiency and flexibility to meet the growing demand of cargo operators," said Rich Greener, the Head of AerCap Cargo. "We wish IndiGo every success as they expand their fleet to meet their customers' freighter needs, and we thank the EFW and ST Engineering Aerospace teams for their support with this conversion program."

"We are pleased that our customer, AerCap, the world's largest aviation lessor, has taken delivery of their very first Airbus freighter for its customer IndiGo," said Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW. "We look forward to supporting AerCap's commitment to expanding its A321P2F fleet over the next two years with numerous deliveries of our freighter conversions."

In 2022, AerCap announced it had placed a firm order for 15 Airbus A321-200 P2F aircraft conversions and an option for a further 15 A321P2F conversions with EFW.

Naval unmanned aerial system tested at sea from a French Navy frigate

Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, in collaboration with the French Armament General Directorate, DGA (Direction génerale de l’armement), and the French Navy, have tested the SDAM demonstrator (Système de Drone Aérien Marine/ Naval Aerial Drone System) from a multi-mission frigate (FREMM). The trials took place on board the French Navy frigate, Provence in the Mediterranean Sea between the 2nd and the 9th of October. The vessel had previously been adapted by Naval Group to operate the SDAM. These sea trials were arranged to demonstrate the system’s high performance from an operational warship and the SDAM’s capabilities for surveillance and intelligence missions.

“We are proud to see that the SDAM and the VSR700 are maturing,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The system that we will offer will be able to operate from a frigate and be adapted to the naval missions it was designed for," he added. “Working alongside Naval Group and other local partners we are building a robust and sovereign solution. I look forward to further demonstrating the potential of our system and to collaborating with the French Navy in order to  offer  an initial operational capability by 2026.”

“We are very happy with the success of these trials which mark a major step in the reinforcement of the French Navy's future capabilities. We have passed a significant milestone in terms of the complexity of the integration of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on board a heavily armed vessel, both physically and operationally,” said Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group. “These trials have also shown the relevance of the Naval Group I4Drones® mission system, and the fact that the SDAM demonstrator can seamlessly be integrated on a vessel and will work harmoniously with other existing systems. In synergy with the ship’s combat system and the embarked helicopter, the drone will be another means to access complementary airspaces and will truly be a remote sensor that will expand the crew’s perception and treatment of threats in real time.”

The derisking study for the SDAM programme was awarded to Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group by the DGA. The objective is to design, produce and test a rotary wing unmanned aerial system demonstrator for the French Navy. The system works with the Airbus Helicopters VSR700 unmanned aerial system and the I4Drones® mission system developed by Naval Group. Naval Group has also been tasked with the integration of the system onboard military vessels. The project also involves French SMEs like Hélicoptères Guimbal and Diades, contributing to the creation of a local naval UAS industry in France.

Airbus awarded MOD contract to provide design authority support for UK’s critical military satellite communications system

Airbus has been awarded the Skynet Design Support Contract (SDSC) to provide design authority services support for the UK’s SKYNET military satellite communications systems.

 

The contract will provide post-design services to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and its future service providers to support the transition from SKYNET 5, which was procured under a PFI arrangement that began in 2003, towards an MoD-owned, contractor-operated system under SKYNET 6. This includes SKYNET 6A, which Airbus is currently developing.

 

Steven Fisher, the MOD's Director Delivery (Intelligence and Expeditionary Services), said: “SDSC reflects our ongoing commitment to maintain the SKYNET 5 system that forms the backbone of UK military satellite communications.

"It also recognises Airbus as the design authority for SKYNET 5, alongside being a key strategic supplier of UK sovereign space capability in the form of SKYNET 6A, which is a vital first step in our programme to replace and replenish our space-based assets.”

 

Richard Budd, Head of Secure Communications UK, US and Australia, Airbus Defence and Space, said: “The scope of SDSC - which runs from March 2024 for five years - includes both the satellites and the infrastructure on the ground.

"The contract supports the retention of specialist space and ground-segment roles and confirms Airbus’ ongoing involvement in the SKYNET programme, including the production of the SKYNET 6A satellite in our world-leading Stevenage and Portsmouth facilities.”

Airbus isn't just about aircraft.....it renews its transatlantic fleet with lower-emission ships

By 2030, the new fleet will generate 50% fewer CO2 emissions compared to 2023.

Airbus will renew the entire fleet of chartered vessels that transport aircraft subassemblies between production facilities in Europe and the United States with three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels, supported by wind-assisted propulsion.

Airbus has commissioned shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to build, own and operate these new, highly efficient vessels that will enter into service from 2026.

The new fleet is expected to reduce average annual transatlantic CO2 emissions from 68,000 to 33,000 tonnes by 2030. This will contribute to Airbus' commitment to reduce its overall industrial emissions by up to 63% by the end of the decade - compared to 2015 as baseline year - in line with the 1.5°C pathway of the Paris Agreement.

“The renewal of our marine fleet is a major step forward in reducing our environmental impact,” said Nicolas Chrétien, Head of Sustainability & Environment at Airbus. “The latest generation of vessels proposed by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs are more fuel efficient than their predecessors, using cutting-edge technologies like wind-assisted propulsion. This demonstrates our determination to lead the way in decarbonising our sector by innovating not just in aviation, but across all our industrial operations.”

Air Canada shows off newly upgraded Airbus A321 with new interior and cabin technology

Customers on board Air Canada flight AC692 operated by C-GITU on Saturday shared a pilot's eye view of the take-off due to new exterior cameras connected to the aircraft's seatback entertainment system. The new camera feature, a first for a narrow-body aircraft, is one of several innovations unveiled with the airline's first upgraded Airbus A321, which has been redesigned from nose to tail.

Air Canada is continuing to invest in customer comfort across its fleet of Airbus A321s and A320s which will feature a new cabin interior, new technologies and services such as Bluetooth audio, and free high-speed internet sponsored by Bell.

"We're proud to welcome customers on board to experience the comfort, convenience, and connectivity of our latest cabins. These upgraded fleet interiors will align the A320s and A321s to the highly popular A220 experience, further strengthening our industry-leading product offering," said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President of loyalty and Products at Air Canada. "Additionally, new features such as our inflight entertainment system streaming exterior aircraft camera feeds, Bluetooth connectivity, and free, fast internet connectivity will be extremely popular with travellers. We will continue advancing our product leadership by trialling more new in-flight experiences with this A321 and expanding those learnings to additional aircraft in our fleet."  

Highlights of new cabin features:

Larger overhead bins – Latest Airbus Airspace XL design, the largest overhead bins in-class that will also be installed on the Airbus A321XLRs.

Upgraded seating – Presents a standardized product across the Air Canada narrowbody fleet in both Business Class and Economy. The new seats are designed to optimize passenger personal space, improve ergonomics, and provide more storage giving customers a more comfortable experience.

Bluetooth audio – Air Canada's newest IFE system will feature a Bluetooth-enabled seatback monitor. Customers will be able to connect their personal headsets while watching video on demand, live TV, or listening to podcasts or music. This initiative helps reduce usage of single-use headphones and supports Air Canada's sustainability objectives in reducing waste.

New exterior cameras – Customers can now watch their flight live thanks to a new first-in-class narrowbody tail and belly camera system providing high-resolution, real-time video of the aircraft exterior. 

Full colour LED mood lighting – New cabin lighting system will allow different ambiances to be set depending on time of day and phase of flight.

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi – Upgraded satellite-based connectivity.

Power options at all seats – All customers have access to power outlets, USB-A, and USB-C.

The new IFE system being installed on the Airbus A321 and A320 fleets will feature Air Canada's award-winning in-flight entertainment via screens at each seat, offering the most extensive content overall of any airline in the Americas. Customers will also enjoy live TV on their flights with this new cabin, featuring BNN, CTV, LCN, RDS, TSN1 and TSN2 available on all flights operated by this aircraft, including when flying over the US.

Air Canada's remaining 14 Airbus A321s and its eight A320s will be retrofitted starting this fall through to the end of 2025.  With these upgrades, customers will benefit from an elevated narrow-body cabin experience, in line with the cabins of the Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that comprise the majority of Air Canada's narrowbody fleet.  

The new cabin also reduces the overall weight of the A321 by approximately 240 kilograms, which will reduce fuel consumption for the entire fleet once the work is completed by more than 2.4 million litres and reduce GHG emissions by 6,256 tCO2 equivalent per year, or the equivalent of the electricity used annually by 4,185 Canadian homes.

Airbus signs € 1.2 billion in contracts for Capability Enhancement and In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTT fleet

Airbus Defence and Space has signed two contracts valued at € 1.2 billion in total with France’s Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) for the Capability Enhancement and the In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTTs (Multi Role Tanker Transport) fleet.

The first step for the Multi Role Tanker Transport of tomorrow

10 years of In-service support, plus 2 optional years

“We thank the French Ministry of Armed Forces for its continued trust in the Airbus A330 MRTT and we are honoured to contribute to one of France's most strategic capabilities through this programme,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. “With this new capability of the aircraft, we are preparing the future by transforming the MRTT into an in-flight communications node, as the first building block of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of tomorrow, embedded in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).”

Standard 2 contract: Stepping stone of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of the future

The Standard 2 contract provides for the capability extension of the French MRTTs, focused on connectivity as a key pillar and also self-protection capabilities. With the aim of being connected in all circumstances, including jammed environments and extreme weather conditions, the aircraft will be equipped with the MELISSA satcom station.

These new capabilities will convert the French A330 MRTT into a high bandwidth communication relay node, with command and control capabilities, and will build the stepping stone of the A330 MRTT’s integration into the future air combat cloud within the FCAS.

The first aircraft to have the Standard 2 will be A330 MRTT No. 15, whose conversion will be carried out at Airbus’ military facilities in Getafe. It is expected to be qualified for the French Air Force in 2028. Thereafter, the upgrade to Standard 2 of the remaining 14 French A330 MRTTs will take place at the Istres Air Base in France.

10 years of In-service support

The second contract covers the In-Service Support of the ‘Phénix’ fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres Air Base, southern France, home to the 31st Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing. Airbus, as the prime contractor, together with its preferred partners in France, will be responsible for fleet modernisation, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft's operational availability. The local Airbus team in France will be doubled to support these activities.

The support services introduced under these contracts guarantee a level of availability, reactivity and resilience compatible with the requirements of the French Air Force and the Strategic Air Forces. This includes support for aircraft deployed outside France.

Under the nickname of ‘Phénix’, the French Air and Space Force currently operates 12 A330 MRTTs, with more than 18,000 flight hours completed. France is the largest A330 MRTT customer with 15 A330 MRTT ordered.

With 79 orders from 15 countries, the A330 MRTT has a 90 percent market share outside the USA. and more than 270,000 flight hours.