Airbus Urges Chinese Airlines to Order Larger Planes, Lufthansa Revives A380 Services to New York, and More
Aviation news brief July 5
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Airbus Urges Chinese Airlines to Order Larger Planes
Airbus is encouraging Chinese airlines to order its larger planes due to high demand and supply-chain disruptions, which are extending wait times in the post-Covid travel surge.
Chinese airlines purchased 332 single-aisle Airbus jets last year but have decreased orders for widebody aircraft. Airbus China CEO George Xu emphasized the urgency, noting that Airbus has limited delivery slots available for its A320neo before 2030.
Xu also highlighted the significant future demand from China, which is expected to need 9,440 new planes from 2023 to 2042. source
Joby's eVTOL Air Taxi Cleared for Take-off: Shares Spike 62%
Joby Aviation shares surged 62% following FAA approval to test its all-electric vertical take-off and landing 'air taxi'. This clearance marks a significant step towards revolutionizing public transportation.
The first Joby aircraft is expected for delivery to Edwards Air Force Base in 2023. Additionally, Joby appointed Ted Ogawa, President and CEO of North America Toyota, to its Board.
South Korean wireless carrier SK Telecom also invested $100 million in Joby. The company aims to initiate a commercial passenger operation by 2025. source
Double Trouble: WestJet Experiences Two Incidents in One Week
Canadian airline WestJet recently suffered two in-flight incidents within days. Flight WS1789, from Las Vegas to Vancouver, reported smoke in the cabin during its approach to Vancouver.
The crew declared a PAN PAN to Air Traffic Control and successfully landed the aircraft without injuries. Flight WS131, operating from Calgary to Vancouver, encountered a bird strike in its left engine during takeoff. The takeoff was aborted, and the aircraft safely stopped on the runway.
Despite the emergency brake usage causing a seizure, no injuries were reported. Both aircraft continued regular operations soon after the incidents. source
Lufthansa Revives A380 Services to New York Amid Surging Demand
Lufthansa has recommenced its A380 services to New York's JFK airport from Munich. Previously, this route saw a daily Airbus A340-600. The airline's decision comes in response to the rebounding demand for long-haul travel, a resurgence that has brought the A380s out of long-term storage, contrary to the initial plan of permanent decommission.
The aircraft can accommodate 509 passengers across four service classes. With the resumption, aviation enthusiasts have renewed their interest in the A380.
Notably, other destinations like Boston have been enjoying the A380 service from Munich over the past month. source
Air India Overhauls Pay Structure Amidst Transformation Efforts
Air India is implementing significant changes as part of its five-year transformation plan, including a complete overhaul of its non-flying staff compensation structure.
The new structure introduces a performance-linked variable pay, reliant on both individual and company performance. The changes, effective from April 1, 2023, will align Air India's grades and compensation with market standards.
However, recent customer dissatisfaction due to flight cancellations, specifically flight AI 186 from Vancouver to Delhi, has cast a shadow over the airline's efforts. source
Global Spare Parts Shortage Continues to Plague Airlines
Airlines globally continue to grapple with a spare parts shortage. This ongoing issue has prompted contingency planning and action plan development by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Despite a 10-20% reduction in commercial flights, airport management encourages carriers to redistribute flights throughout the day and maintain spare aircraft.
Despite these challenges, on-time performance has seen significant improvement. Additionally, frequent red lightning alerts have further complicated airport operations, prompting increased communication efforts with passengers. source
American Airlines Bets on Hydrogen and SAF for Carbon Neutrality by 2050
American Airlines and its cargo division are investing in hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technologies to achieve zero-emission operations by 2050.
The airline has invested in two hydrogen development companies, ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen, and holds contracts to purchase SAF from Neste, Aemetis, and Gevo. While American is confident about SAF's potential, they are diversifying their approach to decarbonisation.
American Airlines Cargo is also adopting sustainable measures, including cutting paper use and using biodegradable polyethylene film for shipments. source
CAE Aims to Revolutionize the Aviation Industry Through AI and Machine Learning
CAE's Senior Vice President of Flight Services & Global Operations, Pascal Grenier, is steering the company's new Flight Operations Solutions division to use AI and machine learning techniques to solve complex aviation problems.
With a global team of 700, CAE has been developing industry-leading software solutions designed to enhance airline operations, profitability, and passenger experience. These comprehensive solutions, stemming from recent acquisitions, manage aspects from flight training and operations control to catering management.
In the future, Grenier hopes to integrate CAE’s solutions onto a unified platform to better utilize data for optimized operations. source
Boom Supersonic's Overture: Will Profit Follow the Sonic Boom?
Boom Supersonic's Overture, ordered by United Airlines and American Airlines, is marketed as a future leader in supersonic transport for business travel.
However, concerns arise regarding its profitability, due to travel durations disrupting passenger sleep patterns and reduced work productivity during flight. Though subsonic transport may be preferred by businesses for employee travel, high-net-worth individuals and elite travelers may be a potential market for Boom's Overture.
While the range of the aircraft currently limits its potential routes, many remain confident about its potential success by the late 2020s. source
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