Airbus Q1 Aircraft Deliveries Declined, Embraer Aims to Lead Urban Air Mobility Market, and More
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Airbus Confirms Q1 Aircraft Deliveries Declined by 11%
Airbus has confirmed a decline in Q1 deliveries of up to 11% compared to the same period last year, with a total of 127 aircraft delivered. The decline includes a two-thirds reduction in deliveries of the A350 to just five in the quarter.
However, Airbus has sold 156 airplanes so far this year, with 20 sold in March alone. This includes an order for 15 A350s from Lufthansa and four A350 freighters for an undisclosed buyer. Boeing is set to release its Q1 data later today. source
AFRL Selects Boeing, Raytheon, and Others for Aerospace Research Program
The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has awarded several contracts to major defense contractors, including Boeing and Raytheon, under its "Advanced Aerospace Systems Technology Research" program.
The program, which has a $400 million ceiling, aims to conduct research toward the development of new aerospace vehicle technologies and integrated systems that will provide advanced capabilities to the Department of the Air Force.
Other companies receiving awards include Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Aurora Flight Sciences, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. Work is expected to be completed by April 5, 2030. source
IATA: Gulf's Economic Reforms to Drive Air Traffic Growth in the Region
Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA's Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, stated that the Gulf's economic reforms would help stimulate air traffic in the region.
The Middle East is expected to be one of the fastest-growing airline markets over the next decade, with sweeping economic transformation plans adopted by many Gulf countries expected to further stimulate air traffic. Kamil Al-Awadhi cited the growth in the economies of the Middle East region as the main factor behind this growth.
Additionally, the region's multidimensional economic and social transformation programs, investing in industries away from hydrocarbons, liberalizing visas and facilitation, and focusing on greater connectivity and tourism numbers, will also help to drive growth. source
United Airlines Nears Completion of Polaris and Premium Plus Retrofit Project
United Airlines is nearing the completion of its Polaris and Premium Plus retrofit project. Starting in August, every international wide-body jet in United Airlines’ fleet will feature the Polaris and Premium Plus cabins.
United has been updating all future seat maps and booking timetables to reflect the completion of the project. Furthermore, United is set to wrap up the reconfiguration of its Boeing 767 fleet, with the 767-300ERs and 767-400ERs due to be finished before August, making United’s Polaris and Premium Plus rollout complete. source
TUI Adds Airbus Aircraft to All-Boeing Fleet with GlobalX ACMI Contract
TUI fly Netherlands will lease two Airbus A320 aircraft from GlobalX for the summer travel season, as its all-Boeing fleet is insufficient for the peak period. The planes will operate with an ACMI contract from GlobalX and will serve flights throughout Europe.
The Dutch unit of TUI Group will base the two aircraft out of Amsterdam Schiphol for July and August of 2023, 2024, and 2025. TUI will increase its capacity by 17% in the summer and can carry out approximately 96 additional flights in two months with the two additional planes.
The leasing agreement was postponed from 2022 due to lacking EU Third Country Operator authorization. source
Embraer Aims to Lead Crowded Electric Urban Air Mobility Market with Eve
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is hoping to take a leading role in the crowded electric Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market with its electric vehicle dubbed Eve.
The company has spun off a subsidiary called EVE Air Mobility, which was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2022.
EVE has an advantage in the market as it can rely on all the assets Embraer has as an established aircraft builder. The company expects to double today’s entire group revenue by 2030, but raising the necessary capital for development is one of the major obstacles. source
Universal Hydrogen Aims to Retrofit Regional Aircraft for Green Hydrogen by 2025
Universal Hydrogen, a California-based startup, recently celebrated a successful test flight of the largest regional plane powered by pure hydrogen. The company replaced the jet’s right turbine engine with a 1-megawatt powertrain fueled entirely by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The company hopes to retrofit regional airliners to run on green hydrogen by 2025 and to power jumbo jets of the future, perhaps in the mid-2040s. The company is banking on hydrogen fuel cells as the “endpoint” for carbon-free air travel. source
Boeing Makes Progress in Regaining Confidence in 737 Max with New Simulator in Shanghai
Boeing has installed a 737 Max flight simulator at its Shanghai training center to improve pilot training for the aircraft in China.
The move comes after the grounding of the 737 Max worldwide following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. Forty-three of the aircraft had resumed operations in China as of April 10, making up 45% of the total.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China temporarily grounded the 737 Max in March 2019, and better pilot training was one of the conditions set for the plane's return. Chinese airlines have a number of 737 Max on order, with China Southern awaiting 43. source
Canadian Air Passengers in Smaller Cities Face Higher Prices and Fewer Options
Airline passengers in Canada's smaller cities face higher prices and fewer trip options as many regional markets have only one or two carriers to choose from.
Since last autumn, Air Canada and WestJet have scaled back in each other's turf while keeping their respective strongholds. Smaller airlines, such as Flair Airlines, Lynx Air and WestJet subsidiary Swoop, have offered some competition but have limited route coverage due to capacity constraints.
Meanwhile, international routes have seen rising fares, with flights to Asia averaging $1,475, up 97% from four years ago, and round-trip airfares to Europe up 32%. source
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