Air New Zealand to Weigh Passengers Before Boarding

Between May 29 and July 2, 2023, Air New Zealand will be administering a voluntary study in which passengers willing to participate will be weighed. The weight data taken from passengers will be used towards improving aircraft efficiency and range. The data taken from passengers will remain anonymous to respect and protect passengers' privacy. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

New wing technology - The end of turbulence?

The German news channel reported that annoying turbulence on airplanes could soon be a thing of the past: Airbus is developing flexible wings that adapt to the wind flow. This should also save weight - on the way to more climate-friendly aviation. German engineer Michael Augello from Airbus subsidiary UpNext has enthusiasm written all over his face. He has big plans for the 17-meter-long aircraft: He's using it to test entirely new wings that could revolutionize aviation. "The next… (www.tagesschau.de) More...

SAS to soon start online booking for 2028 flights aboard electric-powered aircraf

STOCKHOLM -- Scandinavian Airlines said Wednesday travelers will soon be able to book seats on the carrier’s first commercial flights due to start five years from now in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark aboard electric-powered aircraft. The Stockholm-based SAS airline group said there will be 30 seats available on each of the three flights and that the day and place of departure will be communicated to travelers by email once decided. Online reservations will open June 2. The airline added that the… (abcnews.go.com) More...

Fewer FedEx flights raises red flag for 4th-quarter earnings

FedEx is cutting back flights and new analysis shows that is a precursor for lower volumes and revenue. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

The introduction of France’s short-haul flight ban has renewed calls for Europe to cut down on journeys that could be made by train.

Last week France officially introduced its ban on short-haul flights. The final version of the law means that journeys which can be taken in under 2.5 hours by train can’t be taken by plane. There also needs to be enough trains throughout the day that travelers can spend at least eight hours at their destination. Clement Beaune, the country’s Transport Minister, called the measures an “essential step and a strong symbol in the policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions”. So, as Europe looks… (www.euronews.com) More...

British Airways brings belly cargo to Cincinnati/N. Kentucky airport

Cargo owners could be big winners from a new British Airways passenger service to Cincinnati. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

China Crosses a Flying Milestone but Remains in the Boeing-Airbus Grip

Niraj Chokshi reported from North Charleston, S.C., and Tiffany May from Hong Kong. June 1, 2023, 7:00 a.m. ET Millions of flights take off and land in China every year, almost all of them using planes made by Boeing and Airbus, the world’s two leading aircraft manufacturers. For years, China has been working to change that and, this week, it celebrated a milestone in that quest: the first commercial flight of a large passenger jet made in China. The C919 jet, made by Comac, a Chinese state-run… (www.nytimes.com) More...

FBI alleged to be conducting aeriel surveillance using plane registered to shell company

A plane has been regularly fling over West Baltimore that is said to be conducting surveillance at the behest of the FBI. A check of the tail registration shows the aircraft is registered to a Delaware address and person that has been connected to other FBI aircraft in an attempt to hide FBI aeriel surveillance. (www.thebaltimorebanner.com) More...

Is Boeing CEO’s Perspective on Chinese C919 Narrowbody Jet Competition Naïveté or Realism?

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun addressed the recent maiden commercial flight of China’s C919 narrowbody jet, downplaying speculation about its impact on the duopoly held by Boeing and Airbus. Calhoun acknowledged the C919 as a “good airplane” but emphasized that it will take time for manufacturer COMAC to scale up production capacity to meet Chinese airlines’ demand. He suggested that having three providers in the global market should not be seen as a significant concern. (www.airguide.info) More...

Spirit Airlines blames huge delays on technical issue

Some three-quarters of Spirit Airlines flights were delayed Thursday amid a technical issue affecting the carrier's website. In a tweet posted at 8:43 a.m., Spirit said the issue was affecting Spirit.com, the Spirit Airlines app and its airport kiosks, leading to delays. (www.msn.com) More...

Boeing Remains Optimistic About 737 MAX 7 Certification Despite Additional Requirements

The certification process for Boeing's 737 MAX 7 has been considerably prolonged due to enhanced documentation requirements, according to a company executive. Nevertheless, the aerospace manufacturer remains optimistic about obtaining certification by the year's end. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Sanctions Against Russia Redirect Aeroflot's Airbus Orders to Air India

Air India, under the ownership of Tata, is set to take delivery of its first Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft in the latter half of 2023, likely commencing in October. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Project Sunrise to Illuminate Qantas's Path to Renewal and Growth

Qantas, Australia's national carrier, is anticipating a doubling of profit margins from international flights in the upcoming years. The soon-to-be-launched Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights are projected to contribute significantly to this increased profitability. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Are airplane seats too small? Senators want the FAA to look again

CNN — Two Senate Democrats want the Biden administration to take another look at whether airplane seats are too cramped. The pressure – in the form of legislation from Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Tammy Baldwin – would require the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct new airplane cabin evacuation tests with more realistic conditions, and issue standards that include the size of and space between seats. They’re concerned about safe evacuation in an emergency. But the issue of seat size is near… (www.cnn.com) More...

Embraer to Reconsider Turboprop Plans, Awaits Advanced Engine Technology

Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has decided not to hasten a decision concerning the launch of its proposed regional turboprop aircraft. The decision came after the company failed to secure satisfactory agreements from engine suppliers to bring the product to market later this decade, according to Arjan Meijer, Embraer's commercial aviation head. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...