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A350F timeline loosens with initial flight planned ‘before year-end’

Airframer previously intended flight-test programme to commence in third quarter. Airbus is still aiming to carry out the first flight of the A350 freighter this year, although the timeframe appears to have loosened. Speaking during a half-year briefing on 29 July, Airbus chief Guillaume Faury said the aircraft was on track to fly “before the…

Frontier shrinks fleet amid widening losses

Budget carrier says it returned 24 Airbus A320neos in the second quarter, earlier than originally planned. Frontier Airlines has shrunk its fleet by 18 aircraft as it works to rightsize capacity and overcome widening losses spurred by fuel costs across the industry. The low-cost carrier returned 24 leased Airbus A320neos in the second quarter, earlier…

LATAM selects SES satellite wi-fi for more than 60 aircraft

Satellite-based solution will be installed on LATAM’s A320neos, A321XLRs and E195-E2s. LATAM Airlines is to install SES’ multi-orbit satellite-based in-flight connectivity system on more than 60 of its Airbus A320neo, A321XLR and Embraer 195-E2 jets. The Luxembourg-based satellite provider’s electronically-steered array (ESA) antenna system switches between Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth orbit (LEO) and SES’ geostationary (GEO)…

JetBlue outlines Florida growth plan and first-class launch

Executives at the New York carrier detail how they plan to use significant capacity gains from Spirit Airlines’ collapse.  JetBlue Airways has big growth plans for its presence in Florida and New York in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy. During the carrier’s 28 July second-quarter earnings, executives revealed more detail about how they plan…

GE9X engine shipments paused as GE addresses durability problem

The durability issue involved a crack found in a GE9X mid-seal. Boeing confirms GE Aerospace has paused deliveries of the 777-9’s GE9X turbofans due to a previously disclosed durability problem, though the aircraft manufacturer expects deliveries will resume this quarter. In January Boeing revealed the issue, which GE later confirmed involved a cracked “mid-seal” –…

Safran lifts full-year forecast for CFM Leap engine deliveries

Venture hands over more than 1,000 Leap powerplants in first six months. French aerospace firm Safran has hiked its full-year forecast for CFM International Leap engine deliveries, expecting a “high teens” percentage rise on last year. This is an improvement on the previous outlook of 15%. Safran gave the revised figure in a half-year briefing…

Saudia inks expanded codeshare pact with SkyTeam partners ahead of Delta’s new Atlanta-Riyadh service

Agreement reached with Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. Saudia has expanded its codeshare agreement with SkyTeam partners Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic to broaden access to US and Canadian destinations via European hubs. The Saudi Arabian flag carrier says in a 28 July LinkedIn post that the deal will…

New airframer-engine business model needs to be ‘holistic’: Safran chief

Olivier Andries highlights long wait for profit as Airbus looks to revise partnership structures for next-generation single-aisle aircraft. Safran chief Olivier Andries insists that any discussion on a revised business model between airframers and engine suppliers must be all-encompassing, rather than focusing on individual parts. Speaking during Safran’s first-half briefing on 28 July, Andries said:…

American vows to return to profitability regardless of fuel prices

Chief executive Robert Isom says fuel-price spikes wiped out more than $1 billion in expected profit in less than a month.  American Airlines can return to profitability regardless of volatile fuel prices, chief executive Robert Isom says. In early July, the carrier had intended to forecast a nearly $1.5 billion pre-tax profit for the year, Isom…

Boeing expects next-aircraft development will accelerate as certification work winds down

Executive says completing outstanding certifications and ramping production will ready Boeing to focus on future aircraft. While Boeing does not appear close to launching a next-generation aircraft, the company intends to ramp up development work for such an aircraft after it completes certifications of the 737 Max 7, Max 10 and 777-9 widebody. That is…