Air India, now under new ownership, has grand plans for growth. And now it has a line on aircraft to fulfill those goals. The carrier (finally) announced Letters of Intent for 470 planes, plus 70 options, from Airbus and Boeing in a blockbuster move.
Airplanes and Airports
Lufthansa Group pitches "Green" fares to boost passenger SAF offset purchases
Airlines have tried selling carbon offsets and alternative fuel options to passengers for a few years now, generally with minimal success. The Lufthansa Group of airlines now hopes to boost sales by making “Green” flights an option earlier in the booking flow, akin to picking between Economy Light or a flexible fare.
JetBlue teases new routes, international connections with Spirit merger
Beyond the typical beauracracy, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are using routine merger-related DOT filings to further justify their planned combination. The new routes teased make for a far more interesting read than prior mergers have offered.
So long, SpaceJet
The program had been more or less already dead for three years now. But this week Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) finally formally and fully killed off its SpaceJet regional jet program.
This time is different: Avelo sees a strong future as it launches Wilmington, DE base
Wilmington, Delaware is on the air world map. Again. Avelo launched operations on 1 February 2023, with Orlando the first of five initial destinations planned, and more on the horizon.
During the inaugural flight I sat down with CEO Andrew Levy to understand in more detail why he felt Wilmington was ready for long-term success with an airline – something that has eluded the airport and the state previously – and what other growth we can expect from Avelo in the years ahead.
JetBlue boosts Heathrow service with daytime flight from JFK
JetBlue will add a second daily flight between its JFK home base and Heathrow Airport this summer. The carrier secured slots to operate a daytime flight eastbound, leaving New York in the morning and landing the same day in London.
SAS to offer transatlantic flights from Aalborg, Gothenburg
Is there sufficient demand for transatlantic flights from smaller Scandinavian markets? Airlines have tried off and on over the years and failed to sustain the routes long term. But that won’t stop SAS from trying again. The carrier will fly from Aalborg, Denmark and Gothenburg, Sweden to Newark in Summer 2023.
Boom plans new Symphony supersonic engine design
Faced with the reality of no major commercial jet engine manufacturers willing to invest in a commercial supersonic engine, Boom Supersonic now has a new plan. The company will develop its own – dubbed Symphony – in partnership with Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) for engine design, GE Additive for additive technology design consulting, and StandardAero for maintenance.
United dreams big with massive 787 order
United Airlines is dreaming big for the next decade. The carrier announced an order today for 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, plus 100 more options, to fuel its widebody fleet replacement and growth strategy. By the end of the decade, assuming the options are exercised, more than 80% of United’s long-haul flying could be on 787s.
Emirates reboots the city ticket office concept, plans new network of shops
For decades airlines operated physical stores. The internet effectively destroyed City Ticket Offices. Now Emirates is bringing them back.