Emirates Plans Massive Expansion, Boeing to End F/A-18 Production, and More
Aviation news brief for 28th Feb, 2023
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Emirates plans massive expansion in India with 50,000 new seats per week
Emirates plans to increase its operations in India by adding 50,000 seats to and from the country every week, subject to a new bilateral air services agreement being reached between the UAE and India.
Currently, Emirates and flydubai offer 66,000 seats per week between several Indian cities and Dubai but are prevented from adding more flights under the existing agreement.
Talks are underway to expand Emirates and flydubai's reach in India, while Delhi hopes to secure more flights for Indian-based airlines to connect Dubai. Emirates is also looking to expand into the next tier of Indian cities.
Meanwhile, Air India, recently acquired by Tata, plans to add 540 new aircraft to take on rivals such as Emirates and Qatar Airways in the coming years. Read more
Another summer travel chaos in Europe?
AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss has warned that airports across Europe could face congestion again this summer, similar to last year.
Despite hiring additional staff and improved preparation by airlines for post-pandemic travel, potential challenges like airspace closures resulting from Russia's conflict in Ukraine and the possibility of labor strikes may strain operations again.
Eurocontrol has forecasted that the number of flights in the region will reach 95% of 2019 levels in July and August but expects the recovery to be bumpy. Read more
Sabre and Royal Jordanian Airlines renew distribution agreement for global reach
Royal Jordanian Airlines has announced the renewal and expansion of its technology agreement with Sabre Corporation.
Under the agreement, Sabre will continue distributing Royal Jordanian's content to travel agents and corporations worldwide through its global distribution system (GDS).
The airline will also adopt Sabre's leading technology solutions, including Dynamic Availability, Fares Manager, and Fares Optimizer, to increase efficiency and profitability while supporting the company's growth plans.
The expansion is part of Royal Jordanian's efforts to double its fleet and operations within the next three to five years and position itself as the carrier of choice connecting Jordan and Levant with the world. Read more
Boeing to shift focus to advanced aircraft programs, end F/A-18 production
Boeing has announced that it will likely end production of the new F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft in late 2025 after delivering the last planes to the US Navy.
However, production could be extended to 2027 if an international customer selects the Super Hornet.
The company has delivered over 2,000 Hornets, Super Hornets, and EA-18G Growlers to countries such as Australia, Canada, and Spain since the F/A-18 debuted in 1983.
Boeing plans to redirect resources to future military aircraft programs. It includes developing advanced crewed and uncrewed aircraft, building three new facilities in St. Louis, increasing production of existing programs, and modernizing and upgrading the existing Super Hornet and Growler fleet. Read more
Tape on, worries gone: The ingenious solution to paint problems on 787 Dreamliners
A Jetstar passenger was concerned when he saw tape strips on the plane's wing during a flight to Phuket.
The strips of tape were not duct tape but rather "speed tape," which is the specialized aluminum-backed, pressure-resistant tape used by airlines to fix paint issues on nonstructural components of aircraft quickly.
The US FAA has approved using such tape for temporary, minor repairs to nonstructural aircraft components.
The tape has been used as a temporary fix on Boeing 787s, which have experienced flaking paint issues. Read more
Viability of 100% SAF in aircraft engine test
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, engine manufacturer CFM International, and fuel producer Neste have successfully tested an aircraft engine powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The test, which used a CFM56-7B engine and HEFA-SPK SAF made from used cooking oil, was conducted to verify the safety of the fuel and generate new data that can be used to set further specifications for SAF.
SAF emits less CO2 over its entire lifecycle than regular fuel. While it is currently only approved for use in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel, this test represents a significant step towards flying on 100% SAF. Read more
Is net zero a pipe dream for UK? UK may need to devote half its farmland for aviation fuel
The Royal Society has warned that the UK’s aviation industry’s ambition of achieving “net zero” by 2050 would require dedicating half of its farmland or more than doubling its renewable electricity supply to produce enough aviation fuel.
According to the report, no single, sustainable alternative to jet fuel could support the current level of flying.
While the government and aviation industry have set 2050 as the target for balancing emissions, significant challenges exist to overcome.
These include the availability, costs, and impacts of alternative fuels and the need for new types of planes and airport infrastructure worldwide. Read more
U.S. airports see fewer close calls in 20 years, despite recent headlines
According to the FAA, serious close calls, or runway incursions, at U.S. airports have declined over the last 20 years, despite recent headlines highlighting aviation mishaps.
The number of serious runway incursions in the U.S. increased to 18 in 2022 from a low of five recorded in 2010; it is still lower than the number of incidents recorded in 2007, which was 32.
However, overall incidents are up, with at least 1,633 runway incursions reported last year, compared to 1,372 a decade prior.
Despite these statistics, aviation in the U.S. is currently at one of its safest points in history. The FAA plans to hold a safety summit with industry stakeholders next month to mitigate issues and prioritize actions. Read more
US-China travel restart delayed by stringent pandemic flight rules
The reopening of travel between the US and China is delayed by pandemic-era flight restrictions, despite China's reopening for inbound and outbound travel in January.
United has removed almost 1,400 China flights from its preliminary schedule from March through August, and the number of scheduled seats in the US-China market has fallen 93% compared to March 2019.
Airlines for America (A4A) is pushing for a full return to the relatively liberal US-China air service rules to ensure fair competition.
The flight restrictions result from a diplomatic dispute between the countries over air travel early in the pandemic. Read more
From export controls to grounded planes: Impact of Russia sanctions on aviation sector
The United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom collectively imposed a range of sanctions on Russia throughout 2022, with many measures relating to the aviation sector.
These include export controls on aviation-related items, service bans, airspace bans, and restrictions on insurance and reinsurance relating to aircraft or other aviation and space items to Russia or Russian parties.
Russia has imposed countermeasures, such as grounding over 400 aircraft on lease from international lessors. This triggered a wave of litigation against Russian airlines and reinsurers.
These sanctions have significantly impacted the Russian aviation sector, but the impact can also be felt by the EU's aircraft leasing industry. Read more
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