Cessna Grand Caravan EX Amphibian extends reach in Southeast Asia with delivery in Malaysia

Textron Aviation has confirmed the delivery of a new Cessna Grand Caravan EX Amphibian turboprop to Malaysian property developer, Ikhasas Sdn Bhd, via its subsidiary company Oriental Sky Sdn Bhd. The aircraft, to be managed and operated by local charter operator Systematic Aviation Services (SAS), will be used for passenger transport between the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and a new waterfront resort on Perhentian islands, off the northern east coast of Malaysia. This will be the country’s first amphibious aeroplane operation in recent history after it gained the necessary approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia to launch domestic operations in 2024.

Ikhasas group managing director, Ir. Tan Chee Kian, said, “Seaplanes will be the most convenient way to reach the Perhentian Islands. Currently, it takes a time-consuming 6-hour road journey followed by a one-hour ferry ride from the port in Kuala Besut. With our 11-seater aircraft, travellers will benefit from time savings as it will transport passengers from Kuala Lumpur to land directly in the waters near the beachside resort. At the same time, we preserve the islands’ pristine environment and natural forests which would otherwise be felled for airport construction.”

“We are honoured for Grand Caravan EX Amphibian to be selected. The versatility and excellent operating economics make it the perfect partner for Ikhasas to develop sustainable tourism. The comfortable cabin, large windows for sightseeing, and floats allowing it to take off and land anywhere are ideal for their missions,” said Tony Jones, vice president, International Sales (Asia-Pacific). “Malaysia is also an important market to Textron Aviation. Our products lead the installed base and make up over 40% of the country’s general aviation aircraft. Our customers in Malaysia use our products for a variety of operations including VIP transport, tourism, as well as other special missions such as air ambulances, and skydiving.”

Cessna Grand Caravan EX 

BOC Aviation has entered into a finance lease transaction involving four Airbus A320NEO aircraft with IndiGo

BOC Aviation has entered into a finance lease transaction involving four Airbus A320NEO aircraft with IndiGo. The aircraft are all powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. All four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2024.

“We are pleased to be closing another four finance leases with IndiGo. We continue

to work closely with our long-time customer to support its expansion strategy as it builds a fleet of latest technology fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation. “This is our first transaction in the year of the dragon, and it sets the tone for the year as we continue growing our fleet by investing in latest generation aircraft and partnering with high quality customers.”

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RAF Typhoons are flying on a large scale Saudi Arabian multinational air exercise

The RAF Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron that are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia taking part in this year’s Spears of Victory exercise are flying daily sorties as part of a large coalition of nations.

During the exercise, the nations are flying together in mixed groups to conduct air operations against a simulated peer adversary. Each contingent during the missions is practicing conducting defensive counter-air and offensive counter-air operations, as well as air interdiction training against live and simulated threats. 

Colonel Alshehri Saeed, Royal Saudi Air Force Exercise Director said:  “The RSAF and the RAF have a strong alliance that has continued to develop here on Spears of Victory 24, we look forward to working together in the future."

Squadron Leader Hodgkinson, UK Detachment Commander commented:  “The missions that are flown on Spears of Victory 24 are the centrepiece of the exercise. Pilots and aircrew on a multinational exercise are able to build relationships through shared experiences."

In addition to the RAF Typhoons taking part, the Royal Saudi Air Force are flying their Typhoons, Tornados and F-15s. F-16s are taking part from, Greece, and the UAE. The Saudi F-15s have been joined by others from Qatar, with the French Air and Space Force detachment contributing Rafales. The Pakistan Air Force are flying their JF-17s. The Royal Air Force of Oman IS also flying Typhoons. The US contribution this year has been to allocate KC 135 sorties to add to the Air to Air Refuelling capability. In total, over 60 aircraft are taking part in the exercise this year.

Flight Lieutenant ‘Boz’,  RAF Typhoon pilot on the exercise told us: “Whilst on Spears of Victory, a number of us will take part as the Mission commander, Deputy Mission commander, or a Package Lead.

“During one sortie I was the Air to Air package lead.  What that means is whilst I am leading a formation of Typhoons, I'm also feeding into the bigger picture and in charge of other assets within the area of operations.  With this being a network-enabled exercise I not only have the situational awareness of my own formation, but also what other call signs are doing and that is a critical element of modern warfighting."

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British Airways invests in new predictive automated maintenance reporting system

A cutting-edge engineering system that uses real-time data to predict aircraft maintenance issues is helping British Airways reduce delays and save the use of more than 900,000 pieces of paper a year.

The E-Logs platform will provide live performance information about all of the airline’s 270 jets, allowing the airline to immediately spot potential problems and proactively fix them and reduce downtime.

It is replacing a costly and time-consuming paper-based system with an entirely automated process that makes it much easier for pilots and cabin crew to log issues.

Andy Best, Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, said:  “We’re using the latest technology to help ensure we continue delivering a consistently high standard of service for our customers – always with a focus on safety.

Our investment in innovative tools like this, means we can support our teams to identify and put solutions in place ahead of time. By replacing time-consuming manual processes with digital technology we are constantly improving the reliability of our aircraft fleet and as a result our customers’ experience.” 

Aircraft technical logs are a regulatory requirement that have historically been paper-based.

Flight and cabin crew would log any faults in writing and these are then transcribed and transferred to maintenance teams, which carry out any required work and again update the aircraft maintenance log in writing.

The E-Logs system, which will see a number of specialist iPads placed on every aircraft, will replace the paper-based system entirely and allows the immediate transfer of data from the aircraft to engineers within seconds - before the aircraft arrives at its destination.

This means engineers can pre-order any required parts and resolve issues more quickly on arrival, reducing the amount of time planes are out of action.

The technology also allows BA to predict faults and pre-emptively correct them before they become an issue that might take an aircraft offline.

The system forms part of BA’s £7bn transformation investment over the next two years. This is the biggest ever investment in the business to revolutionise how teams work, rolling-out the very latest technology to boost the customer experience. 

This includes cutting-edge machine learning, automation and AI across the operation, driving improvements from bookings to baggage handling and helping cut cancellations and delays. 

The tools being used are revolutionising how the airline works, replacing time-consuming manual processes with tech-based solutions to ensure that the right information is in the right place at the right time.  

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BOC Aviation signs lease deal with Indigo for four Airbus A320NEO jets

BOC Aviation Limited confirmed this week that it has entered into a finance lease transaction involving four Airbus A320NEO aircraft with IndiGo. The aircraft are all powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. All four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2024. 

“We are pleased to be closing another four finance leases with IndiGo. We continue to work closely with our long-time customer to support its expansion strategy as it builds a fleet of latest technology fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation. “This is our first transaction in the year of the dragon, and it sets the tone for the year as we continue growing our fleet by investing in latest generation aircraft and partnering with high quality customers.”  

“We are pleased to announce that we have extended our partnership with BOC Aviation through a lease agreement for four Airbus A320NEO aircraft. These aircraft will be instrumental in supporting our expansion plans and strengthening our position in both domestic and international markets. At IndiGo, we are dedicated to providing our customers with unparalleled travel experiences, and this partnership will allow us to continue delivering affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel across our extensive 6E network,” said Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer of IndiGo.

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United Airlines adds new corporate partners to sustainable flight fund which now exceeds $200 million.

Aircastle, Air New Zealand, Embraer, Google, HIS, Natixis CIB, Safran, and Technip Energies are now part of first-of-its-kind effort to reduce emissions and drive production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by providing startups with both financial and strategic capital

United customers play a role too, with more than 115,000 people contributing nearly $500,000 since February 2023

The U.S. mega-carrier United has announced that Aircastle (a Marubeni & Mizuho Leasing Company), Air New Zealand, Embraer, Google, HIS, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Safran Corporate Ventures, and Technip Energies are now among the 22 corporate partners that make up the airline's The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight FundSM, a first-of-its-kind effort to reduce emissions and drive production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through investments in startups.

These corporate partners make up all parts of the aviation supply chain – airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers, engineering and technology experts, financiers, travel management and more – and have now committed more than $200 million while collaborating to provide strategic expertise to help the Fund's portfolio companies reach commercialization.

Since its inception in February 2023, the Fund remains aviation's first and only venture fund backed by a broad limited partner base and created to identify and support startups advancing feedstock and technology development focused on increasing the supply of SAF.

The airline has included a way for everyday consumers to participate as well. Anyone using United.com or the United app has an option to contribute to supplement United's investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM before check-out. Users have the choice to contribute $1, $3.50 or $7.00.1 Continuing in the effort toward climate transparency for our customers, United also now shows an estimated carbon emission for flights booked through United.com or the United app. In less than 12 months, more than 115,000 people have contributed nearly $500,000 since February 2023.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. To date, United has invested in the future production of over five billion gallons of SAF - the most of any airline in the world.2

"SAF is the best tool we have to decarbonize aeroplanes, but we don't have enough of it. To create the fuel supply we need for our fleet, United recognized that we would have to help build a brand-new industry from scratch – like wind and solar in previous decades," said Andrew Chang, Managing Director of United Airlines Ventures. "As part of our effort to build a new sustainable aviation ecosystem, we recruited a group of partners with the industry expertise to support our startups with both financial and strategic capital, to help them navigate the entire process from conception to commercialization."

UAV Sustainable Flight Fund

Valentine's gift for airBaltic...................................... Latvian national airline gets 47th Airbus A220-300 Aircraft

Happy Valentine's Day.......

The Latvian national airline airBaltic welcomed its 47th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABU, in Riga, just ahead of Valentine's Day!

This is the first Airbus A220-300, formally known as Bombardier CSeries CS300, delivery for airBaltic in 2024. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. Furthermore, in November 2023, the company announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 more Airbus A220-300 aircraft with purchase rights for an additional 20 aircraft of the same type.

Thus far, airBaltic has carried more than 14 478,000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s of the airline have completed over 160,000 flights and flown 352,000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic has operated all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

In addition, the aircraft is also considerably quieter – with a twice-times smaller noise footprint when compared to the previous generation aircraft. Moreover, at the moment it is the most efficient commercial aircraft in the world with a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact, helping to reduce CO2 and NOX emissions by 25% and 50% respectively in comparison with the previous generation aircraft and industry standards.

airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. Its primary shareholder is the Latvian state, which holds 97.97% of the stock, while the rest of the shareholders hold 2.03%. airBaltic offers connections to more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus region. Over the last 28 years, airBaltic has developed as a strong and internationally respected airline, which employs more than 2 500 employees. The airBaltic fleet consists of 47 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, making it one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

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Operating from Saudi Arabia for large scale multinational air exercise brings challenges for UK's Royal Air Force

The RAF Coningsby-based Engineers currently taking part in this year’s Spears of Victory exercise that is being held at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been successfully ensuring the deployed Typhoons are ready to fly.

The Engineers are mainly from XI (Fighter) Squadron and have set up a forward deployed facility at the Saudi Air Warfare Centre. Key to the Engineers' work is the small Ground Support System support team. This system captures data from the jet during the flight, and once the sortie is over the GSS team download the data to transfer it to a closed computer network. 

This network allows the Engineers to access the data and informs them of any issues that have occurred during the flight.

Sergeant Shaw, Rectification Controller said:  “The GSS system is critical for our work here, it is a bit like when you take your car to a garage and the mechanic plugs a computer into your car to find the fault, but that is a simplification it does so much more. 

The data from the GSS system gives us a detailed understanding of the jet and how it is performing.  This is the big difference between a modern jet such as the Typhoon and a legacy jet such as the Tornado that I first worked on. We are still the hands on engineers who have to carry out the maintenance and fix the jets, but it is the system that points us towards the issue”.

Dutch carrier KLM reveals new A321neo livery

KLM will take delivery of its new Airbus A321neo in just a few more months, with Copenhagen, Berlin and Stockholm recently announced as initial destinations. The Royal Dutch airline also revealed further details about the new aircraft's livery and interior. The airline will commence operating the first of a total of around thirty A321neos in August.

The new livery – the aircraft's exterior paint scheme – is both eye-catching and practical: the dark line separating KLM’s trademark blue and white swoops farther down, rendering the nosedome completely blue. This will ensure that, in the event of an emergency replacement, a new nosedome can be fitted without disrupting the signature blue markings. Another new standout feature is the black outline around the cockpit windows, making them look like sunglasses.

More comfort

Passengers will experience a greater level of comfort thanks to the A321neo’s wider seats, larger tray tables and spacious luggage bins. Each seat is equipped with a tablet holder and a USB port, and there is multi-coloured "mood lighting" that adjusts at every stage of the flight. Crew members will also have more room for manoeuvre thanks to the wider aisle and easy-to-reach overhead bins. The A321neo interior was meticulously designed to enhance the KLM experience, with additional blue detailing and special lighting at the entrance to ensure a warm welcome.

Cleaner, quieter, more fuel-efficient

Preparations for the introduction of the new aircraft are in full swing. KLM will debut Airbus321neo operations in August.

Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM said:  "The arrival of the A321neo marks a major upgrade of our European fleet. It is 50% quieter and generates 15% fewer carbon emissions than the aircraft it is replacing, making this an important step towards cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient aviation."

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Joby gets FAA approval for propulsion certification plan

Joby Aviation has confirmed the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has accepted its certification plan for Joby’s propulsion system, marking a critical step towards receiving type certification for the Company’s aircraft.

The propulsion system, designed by Joby, is central to the sector-leading performance of the Joby aircraft. The accepted certification plan includes Joby’s electric propulsion unit, propeller system, variable pitch actuation, coolant pump, nacelles, and associated electrical wiring, clearly defining the route to certifying these systems for use in commercial passenger operations.

“We now have an approved path across our certification program for all of the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems of our aircraft. This sets the stage for our team to execute against that path with a well-defined approach to for-credit testing and analysis as we continue to lead the industry towards certifying an electric air taxi with the FAA,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

“I’m grateful to the incredible Joby team as well as the dedicated personnel at the FAA who continue to work hard to bring safety and innovation together, keeping the United States at the forefront of new aviation technology and capabilities.”

Net income of US$339 million and record $1.75bn operating cashflow for leasing giant Avolon

Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company connecting capital with customers to drive the transformation of aviation and the economic and social benefits of global travel has released details of its latest performance. 

The firm reported a net income of US$110 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 whilst full-year net income amounted to US$339 million, representing a US$330 million increase on 20222 levels.

Avolon delivered record operating cash flow of US$1.75 billion, up 45% on last year and a 6% increase in lease revenue to US$2.5 billion.  It firm raised US$4.9 billion of debt across both the public and private markets.  Total available liquidity at year end of US$7.2 billion, including US$690 million of unrestricted cash and US$6.2 billion of undrawn debt facilities.

Andy Cronin, Avolon CEO, commented:  “Robust demand for aircraft, combined with continued undersupply, provided a tailwind to placing our orderbook and used aircraft at attractive lease rates, which will drive future profitability. Record operating cashflow and a sharp increase in net income are testament to our success in 2023.

The orders made for 200 new technology aircraft during the year strengthen our delivery pipeline and provide embedded growth to support our customers into the next decade. Against an attractive market backdrop, Avolon has an industry-leading platform and robust balance sheet to drive future earnings growth.”

Archer making three piloted planes for FAA credit testing

Archer Aviation confirmed they are well underway in constructing the Company’s first three conforming Midnight aircraft, with the first aircraft set to begin final assembly in the coming weeks. Archer’s initial fleet of piloted aircraft will begin piloted flight testing later this year, and subsequently be used in “for credit” flight testing with the FAA as the company progresses towards commercialization.

This latest milestone is another demonstration of Archer's ongoing progress as the Company continues to execute against its commercialization plans. These aircraft will have components and systems that conform to the intended type design, enabling “for credit” flight testing with the FAA after the completion of the Company’s flight testing phase, which is planned to start later this year. Final assembly will be done at Archer’s manufacturing facility in San Jose, California.

“The key to achieving FAA certification is flying a conforming aircraft. I believe we are positioned to be the first in the sector to do so.” said Archer Founder & CEO Adam Goldstein. “From day one, Archer’s strategy has been to build an aircraft that is certifiable and manufacturable at scale. This focus is what has allowed us to move quicker and more efficiently than any other company in the industry over the last few years.”

Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-20 minute flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.

Textron Aviation expands relationship with Wallan Group

Textron Aviation has confirmed it plans to expand its relationship with longtime channel partner Wallan Group by adding approval as an authorized service facility for Beechcraft King Air turboprops.

“Wallan Group has a proven track record of providing quality maintenance and excellent service to our Cessna Citation customers,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, of Special Mission Sales, Textron Aviation. “With an established and growing base of King Air aircraft in the Kingdom, this latest authorization provides an even greater level of convenience and in-country support.”

Wallan Group has served as an authorized service facility for Cessna Citation jets since 2008. With Textron Aviation’s focused sales and support efforts in the Kingdom, the company looks forward to its continuing relationship with the Wallan Group and support of customers within the Kingdom.

Four bolts missing from door plug of Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9...

The U.S. FAA has confirmed that not one, not two, not three, but four bolts used to hold a door plug on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet belonging to Alaska Airlines were missing, allowing the door panel to fall off during a flight in January.

The U.S. Safety Board investigating the incident said that evidence released this week shows bolts were missing from the door plug, which had been removed to fix rivets that were damaged in the production process.

The NTSB had previously remained silent on the cause for the panel to rip off during a flight operated by Alaska Airlines, but now it has confirmed that "The investigation continues to determine what manufacturing documents were used to authorize the opening and closing" of the plug during the rivet rework,"  The troubled aircraft had recently experienced pressurisation warnings on previous flights had climbed to around 16,000 feet following departure from Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB said it had been focused on how this panel or door plug which is fitted into a number of Boeing 737 MAX 9 models as a replacement for an optional emergency exit - detached from the Alaska Air plane. The report indicates that the plug is held down by four bolts, and then secured by "stop fittings" at 12 different locations along the side of the plug and the door frame.

Another new Airbus jet for Spirit.

Spirit Airlines has taken delivery of one new Airbus A321neo aircraft on long-term lease basis from Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG), a premier global full-service aircraft asset manager.  The new jet is powered by ultra-efficient Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and is the fourth of four aircraft ordered from ACG and taken from their existing orderbook with planemaker Airbus.

ACG is one of the globe's leading aircraft leasing firms, with over 490 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of September 30, 2023, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries.

The budget carrier recently celebrated twenty years of flying between the U.S. and Mexico, with its routes to  Cancun International Airport.  "For 20 years, we've been pleased to offer our Guests affordable, nonstop service to Cancun, making the popular beach destination more accessible and affordable with the opportunity to save on airfare while enjoying more of Cancun's tourist attractions," said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines. "We're grateful to Cancun International Airport and our Guests in Southeast Mexico for embracing our business model and trusting us with their travels for the past two decades."

Spirit currently offers nonstop service from Cancun to nine cities in the United States: Baltimore (BWI), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Orlando (MCO), New Orleans (MSY) and Philadelphia (PHL). 

Heart Aerospace raises $107 million in Series B funding

Swedish hybrid-electric aeroplane maker Heart Aerospace today announced it raised a total of $107 million in Series B funding, representing another significant stepping stone toward sustainable regional air travel. The new round brings the total financing raised by Heart Aerospace since its inception to $145 million.

Among new investors is Sagitta Ventures, a Danish investor focused on early-stage companies. Other investors include Air Canada, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, European Innovation Council Fund, EQT Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Norrsken VC, United Airlines, and Y Combinator.

'We couldn't be more excited about this round," said Anders Forslund, co-founder, and CEO of Heart Aerospace. "This investment furthers our mission to decarbonize and democratize air travel. Air travel is globally its infancy. Billions of people around the world are looking to be connected to this amazing infrastructure over the next decade. Meanwhile, the industry has committed to net zero emissions by 2050. The only way forward is to decouple the tremendous growth in aviation from its emissions, and we believe ES-30 is the first stepping stone. Moreover, because of the superior economics of electric aircraft over their fossil-fuel counterparts, the ES-30 will bring back service to communities that have lost connectivity and open many new markets. This upcoming year is an exciting one for Heart Aerospace as we prepare to unveil our full-scale aircraft demonstrator."

In addition to announcing new funding, Heart Aerospace said EQT Ventures partner Ted Persson will be joining the company's Board of Directors.

"As someone said, the Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones and the fossil fuel age won't end because we run out of fossil fuels. Heart Aerospace is taking decarbonization to the skies and we're proud to be funding technology that will fundamentally change the aviation industry," said Ted Persson. "We believe that sustainable industrial and electrification solutions are not just the future; they are the present, and our investment strategy reflects our unwavering commitment to driving positive change in these critical sectors."

Pegasus Airlines receives two awards for youngest fleet

Pegasus Airlines has been awarded World’s 4th Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2024 in the ‘100+ aircraft in their fleet’ category and Europe’s 4th Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2024 by ch-aviation. The awards recognise Pegasus’ efforts in maintaining a modern fleet, contributing to fuel efficiency and sustainability.

 

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, commented: “Our continued investment in younger aircraft is a core part of our fleet strategy bringing increased fuel efficiency and supporting our sustainability objectives. Travelling on our new-generation aircraft with an average age of 4.6 years offers our guests a more comfortable experience with added sustainability benefits. We are very proud to be recognised for our collective efforts in supporting the sustainability goals of aviation.”

 

Thomas Jaeger, CEO of ch-aviation, said: “ch-aviation established the Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award to revere airlines worldwide who understand the value and necessity of investing in their fleets, introducing new-generation aircraft that considerably reduce CO2 emissions in the aviation industry and improve fuel economy. Sustainability represents a significant challenge and will continue to require giant leaps forward for the aviation industry. Hence, the ch-aviation has decided to honour them with this award that celebrates their effort.”

 

Pegasus continues to expand its fleet, particularly with Airbus A321neos, equipped with new-generation engines. Having surpassed the 100 aircraft mark in October 2023, Pegasus' fleet consists of 110 aircraft, including 16 Boeing B737-800s, 7 Airbus A320ceos, 46 Airbus A320neos, and 41 Airbus A321neos as of 31 December 2023.

Delta begins interior refresh on select Boeing 737-800s, expands Delta One cabin on A350-900 fleet

Delta customers will soon enjoy an improved premium travel experience as the airline’s newest First Class seat begins rolling out on select refreshed Boeing 737-800 aircraft this month.  Delta customers will soon enjoy an improved premium travel experience as the airline’s newest First Class seat begins rolling out on select refreshed Boeing 737-800 aircraft this month. 

These innovative new seats, which debuted in 2022 on Delta’s A321neo aircraft, give customers more privacy, additional stowage space for personal items and a sturdier tray table, in addition to enhanced comfort. 

“Delta is committed to creating a consistent and elevated customer experience across all touchpoints of the travel journey, which includes offering the best products for our customers while in-flight,” said Mauricio Parise, Vice President of Brand Experience. “Enhancing our aircraft interiors with select retrofits will give customers more premium options to choose from.” 

Delta will also refresh Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin on select Boeing 737-800 aircraft, where upgraded, 10-inch Panasonic seatback screens will enable added enjoyment of the more than 1,000 hours of free premium entertainment available on Delta Studio. Elsewhere on the aircraft, upgraded lavatories will deliver touchless features.

Delta will refresh Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin on select Boeing 737-800 aircraft, where upgraded, 10-inch Panasonic seatback screens will enable added enjoyment of the more than 1,000 hours of free premium entertainment available on Delta Studio.

Alaska Airlines putting 737 MAX 9s back in service

Alaska Airlines has confirmed it has completed final inspections on its first group of 737-MAX 9 aircraft and has returned the type to active service, with the first flight operating between Seattle to San Diego.

On January 24th, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the detailed inspection and maintenance process for the troubled 737-MAX 9 to return to flying following the door plug blowout that grounded the aircraft. 

Alaska says its technicians began the inspections that same night following the FAA directive and expects to have the whole fleet checked by the end of next week.

More Typhoon for Saudi Arabia moves closer.

BAE Systems is currently collaborating with officials in the UK government and MoD regarding a statement of requirements issued by Saudi Arabia over a possible order of nearly 50 Typhoon Eurofighter jets for its armed forces.

Saudi Arabia already has a fleet of 72 Eurofighters following a special deal back in 2007. This latest order for the latest generation of the fighter jet had been held up by Germany, which currently blocks deliveries of arms to Saudi Arabia over its actions in the war in Yemen. However, this month, German officials lifted their objections to further aircraft deals. At the time, a spokesperson for the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "The Saudi Arabian air force, also using Eurofighters, shot down Houthi missiles (from Yemen) that were on their way to Israel. And it is in the light of all these developments that the German government's position on the Eurofighter must be seen. And this is closely coordinated within the German government."

It is unclear at this stage how close the actualisation of the deal is and how feasible the statement or requirements are, but according to military analysts, an announcement will be made by summer this year.