The world inched closer to a “flying taxi” reality this month as the Lilium Jet, an all-electric five seat eVTOL aircraft. took flight for the first time.
Airplanes and Airports
Highlights from the FAA and NTSB’s Congressional testimony on the 737 MAX grounding
Leaders from the FAA and NTSB were called before Congress to testify today about the 737 MAX grounding and what it will take to get the plane back into the sky. The tone and content from the two witnesses was impressively different. Here are some highlights from the 2.5 hours of hearings.
Who will oversee the final days of Jet Airways??
With no money and a bleak outlook for the future who would want to stick around to manage Jet Airways? It seems that the answer is no one, despite the critical work necessary to wrap up the company’s accounts. In the past two day three key executives resigned, making the situation even more pressing.
WestJet takes a $5 billion buyout from Onex
Very little in the global commercial aviation world can be adjusted successfully in three month increments. Today’s buyout news from WestJet give the carrier the opportunity to take a longer-term view of the market.
Aer Lingus launches AerSpace, joining the EuroBiz club
Aer Lingus passengers now have the option to purchase a “business class” seat on many short-haul routes. The carrier officially launched AerSpace, a EuroBiz-ish offering with a blocked middle seat on board and other amenities on offer.
Bombardier to restructure aviation, sell off Belfast composite wing facility
First Bombardier sold off the CSeries (now A220) to Airbus. Then the Q400 turboprop business was sold to Viking Air. Today the company announced further restructuring, with plans to consolidate remaining operations in the Americas while divesting its composite aerostructures businesses in Belfast and Morocco.
Etihad increases Heathrow flights to protect Jet Airways slots
How do you say “slot squatting” in Arabic? Etihad Airways plans a pair of additional flights to Heathrow from its Abu Dhabi home starting in the next two months, squatting on openings it picked up from Jet Airways as that carrier collapsed.
Delta returns to Mumbai, launching from JFK in December
Delta Air Lines is bringing back its Mumbai service. The new service, launching in December, was announced with significant political overtones and brings the carrier into a busy market.
United unveils new livery, aiming to close out a cycle of change
It was always supposed to be an evolution, not a massive change. In that context the new United Airlines livery, officially unveiled on Wednesday in Chicago, hit its goal. The carrier tweaked several facets of the design. Will they add up to make a difference?
Seattle’s seemingly insatiable aviation appetite
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is bursting at the seams. Expansion is coming but that is not enough to keep pace with demand for growth in the region. A pair of new flights will help address the challenges.