JetBlue’s move to dump the Embraer E190 fleet in favor of the Bombardier CSeries newly branded Airbus A220 comes as a surprise only in terms of timing. And as JetBlue’s fleet evolves to include the CSeries A220 (and A321neo) a number of questions arise over the carrier’s growth plans.
Airbus
JetBlue takes the A220, refreshing its smaller aircraft fleet.
JetBlue signed on as the very first customer for the newly renamed Airbus A220-300, formerly known as the CSeries CS300. The firm order for 60 frames, plus options for another 60, was announced just hours after Airbus hosted an event in Toulouse formally unveiling the new branding.
Boeing and Embraer: More than just a CSeries play
Boeing and Embraer inched closer to a tie-up in their commercial aircraft efforts this morning. The pair announced a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow them to pursue a joint venture for the Brazilian manufacturer’s 70-100 seat single-aisle jets, assuming the deal is consummated and meets regulatory hurdles. The new partnership will be 80% owned […]
Come fly with Moxy!
JetBlue. WestJet. Azul. Serially successful airline entrepreneur David Neeleman sits poised to try again, reportedly raising $100 million to launch a new carrier in the United States. So, are you ready to fly with “Moxy”?
Emirates (finally) commits to Premium Economy
Passengers still must wait a couple years, but Emirates is finally set to introduce a premium economy cabin on its A380 fleet. Sir Tim Clark offers up a few details on the effort in a recent podcast episode.
JetBlue’s new A320 takes flight
New seats, new screens and more live television took flight one JetBlue this week. The first of the restyled A320 planes is now in service, delivering upgraded amenities. And 12 extra seats on board.
United Airlines’ new "Aspire" economy class seat takes flight
It was a busy week for United Airlines where the biggest news may have been lost in the shuffle. It isn’t as sexy as lie-flat seating but the new Aspire economy class seats now flying deliver some real improvements for passengers. And one significant drawback, too.
Alaska Airlines gets its Gogo 2Ku on
The newest delivery to Alaska Airlines entered service last week with a special addition on board. Ship N927VA, an A321neo, is now flying throughout the Alaska Airlines network with Gogo’s 2Ku inflight internet service installed. This is the first Alaska Airlines aircraft to operate with the kit.
S7 seeks smaller Sukhoi SuperJet
A new, smaller SuperJet is in the works from Russian manufacturer Sukhoi. The move helps Russian airline S7 expand its fleet of home-grown aircraft but could also contribute to an interesting competitive framework to the Airbus/Boeing duopoly.
Qantas to "flex" A380 cabin
Can Qantas squeeze a dozen(ish) more seats in its A380s without hurting the passenger experience? The Airbus A380 Cabin-Flex program aims to deliver precisely that, with retrofits starting in mid-2019. Here’s how it will work…