Airline Embraces AI to Boost Ancillary Revenue, Noise-reducing Propellers for Electric Aircraft, and More
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Here are the exciting aviation industry updates for today. Let’s get started.
Researchers develop noise-reducing propellers for electric aircraft
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a propeller design optimization method that could lead to quieter and more efficient electric aircraft.
The study focused on tip vortices, a less explored source of noise, and how they impact propeller performance and noise emissions.
The team optimized the propeller design by adjusting parameters such as pitch angle, chord length, the number of blades, balancing efficiency, and noise.
The propeller achieved a 5-8 dBA noise reduction with only a 3.5% thrust penalty by utilizing six blades instead of the typical two to four.
This method may pave the way for the mainstream introduction of quieter electric aircraft in urban areas. Read more
GOL embraces AI for personalized offers and ancillary growth
GOL Linhas Aéreas, a major Brazilian domestic airline, has adopted Sabre Ancillary IQ, an AI-powered solution for creating personalized offers and boosting ancillary revenue.
The system supports dynamic pricing of individual ancillaries and the creation of ancillary bundles using machine learning to identify purchasing patterns and optimize pricing.
Initially, GOL will focus on seat-related ancillaries, with more options available later this year. Sabre Ancillary IQ is part of Retail Intelligence, a suite of products utilizing Sabre Travel AI technology.
GOL, which operates over 80 destinations, relies on various Sabre solutions to manage its operations and revenue. Read more
Emirates reinforces global presence with route enhancements and A380 deployments
Emirates has increased operations by 31% since the start of its financial year and is set to further expand seat capacity with its northern summer schedule beginning on 26 March 2023.
The airline has reintroduced services to five cities, launched flights to Tel Aviv, added 251 weekly flights to existing routes, and continued service enhancements.
With strong customer demand and robust forward bookings, Emirates aims to bring back operating capacity and upgrade its fleet.
The company plans to increase flights to Europe, Australia, Africa, and East Asia, and deploy A380s on more routes in the Northern Summer 2023 season. Read more
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air invest in advanced VR and simulators for pilot training
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are investing in pilot training technology to attract and retain top-notch pilots.
In collaboration with Danish company VRPilot, they have created a virtual reality 737 flight deck to help new pilots familiarize themselves with the cockpit.
This technology supplements traditional training methods, allowing for better preparation and more time for complex instruction.
Alaska has also ordered two fixed-base and three full-motion flight simulators, with all to be operational by 2024, increasing their simulator count to 18.
Horizon Air has ordered an additional Embraer E-175 simulator. Read more
Boeing celebrates Dreamliner sales victory, confronts supply chain and production bottlenecks
Boeing has secured major orders for almost 200 Dreamliners in the past four months, but now faces significant production and supply chain challenges.
The recent orders from Saudi Arabian Airlines, Riyadh Air, United Airlines, and Air India require the company to increase production to 10 aircraft per month by 2026.
However, due to the pandemic's impact, Boeing faces industry-wide supply chain pressures, including engine forgings, castings, and workforce shortages.
Unique to the Dreamliner line, Boeing has also dealt with a year-long delivery pause due to production quality problems resolved last August, and the need to replace a non-compliant component on certain 787s. Read more
PAL reactivates aircraft fleet for post-pandemic growth, aiming for 98 planes by 2027
Philippine Airlines (PAL) aims to have 75 operational aircraft by the end of the year as part of its fleet expansion plans, marking its 82nd anniversary.
To achieve this, PAL is reactivating seven aircraft, primarily A320s, and A321s. The airline's long-term goal is to restore its fleet to a pre-pandemic level of 98 or more by 2027, anticipating increased passenger movement.
However, due to supply chain challenges, fleet expansion depends on the availability of aircraft engines and other inputs.
PAL recently took delivery of an Airbus A330, servicing routes to Hawaii, Australia, and Asia, and plans to increase flight capacities to various destinations, including China and Macau. Read more
Riyadh Air and Saudia Airlines set to expand, boosting US aerospace industry
The US has praised Saudi Arabia's decision to purchase up to 121 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, equipped with General Electric's GEnex engines, for the newly-formed Riyadh Air and Saudia Airlines expansion.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that this deal and Boeing's recent Air India announcement would support over one million American jobs across 44 states in the aerospace supply chain.
Valued at nearly $37 billion, these agreements will enable Riyadh Air and Saudia Airlines to provide services to over 100 global destinations, supporting Saudi Arabia's strategic plan to become a global aviation hub and serve 330 million passengers by 2030. Read more
Airlines race against time to meet US 5G interference regulations
Global aviation is under pressure to meet US regulatory deadlines concerning 5G C-band interference.
Airlines have until July 1 to install or upgrade radar altimeters (RadAlts) for instrument landing systems at affected airports.
From February 1, 2024, non-compliant aircraft will be banned from US airspace. A temporary agreement with telecom providers AT&T and Verizon will expire in July, and 19 new providers plan to enter the market without restrictions.
Compliance costs are estimated at $26mn, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) calculates the industry's total cost could reach $640mn. IATA has called for a well-crafted implementation project plan to address the issue. Read more
American Airlines tackles slow international WiFi with trial upgrade on key routes
American Airlines is testing an improved WiFi service on select international flights, aiming to offer faster internet to passengers.
The carrier has faced criticism for its expensive yet slow WiFi on international flights, which relied on older Panasonic equipment with limited bandwidth. The trial upgrade aims to bring the service up to par with ViaSat and Intelsat products, used on American's domestic fleet.
The test will take place on flights between Dallas, New York JFK, and Los Angeles to London. American Airlines has been trialing the enhanced service since September 2022, but has not announced a specific end date or expansion plans. Read more
Airbus implements rigorous checks to fortify supply chain network
Airbus is taking steps to stabilize its supply chains amidst global pressures. The company is conducting increased financial health checks on small suppliers to mitigate potential issues.
The company produced 45 A320-family aircraft per month in 2022 and confirmed plans to launch the A321XLR in Q2 2024. Read more
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