Air India secures agreement for up to 290 Boeing single-aisle and widebody jets

 

Air India and Boeing have finalized an order for up to 290 new Boeing jets.

The finalization of the deal was announced during a ceremony at the Paris Air Show 2023 on June 20, 2023.

This sizeable order comprises a total of up to 290 new Boeing aircraft, including 190 737 MAXs, 20 787 Dreamliners, and 10 777X jets. Air India has also secured options for an additional 50 737 MAXs and 20 787 Dreamliners. This order represents Boeing’s largest in South Asia.

The deal had originally been announced in February 2023. During the Paris Air Show 2023, Air India also firmed up an order for 250 Airbus aircraft.

Riyadh Air is a planned second flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, based in Riyadh, its capital.

       Riyadh Air is a planned second flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, based in Riyadh, its capital. The airline's main operational base will be at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The airline is planning to be the largest in the Middle East in terms of revenue.

- Riyadh-based, PIF-owned airline to order 39 Dreamliners, with options for 33 more jets, enabling tourism and sustainable growth

- Passenger-pleasing, fuel-efficient 787s will support Saudi Arabia's goal of welcoming 100 million visitors per year by 2030

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Riyadh Air announced today that the new Saudi Arabian carrier has chosen the 787 Dreamliner to power its global launch and support its goal of operating one of the most efficient and sustainable fleets in the world.

Owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air said it will purchase 39 highly efficient 787-9s, with options for an additional 33 787-9s. Based in the capital city, Riyadh Air will play a key role in growing Saudi Arabia's air transport network.

This agreement is part of Saudi Arabia's wider strategic plan to transform the country into a global aviation hub. In total, Saudi Arabian carriers today announced their intent to purchase up to 121 787 Dreamliners in what will be the fifth largest commercial order by value in Boeing's history. This will support the country's goal of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030.   

"The new airline reflects the ambitious vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disrupter in terms of customer experience," said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

"Riyadh Air's commitment to its customers will see the integration of digital innovation and authentic Saudi hospitality to deliver a seamless travel experience. By positioning the airline as both a global connector and a vehicle to drive tourist and business travel to Saudi Arabia, our new 787-9 airplanes will serve as a foundation for our worldwide operations, as we build the wider network and connect our guests to Saudi Arabia and many destinations around the world," Douglas said.

"This is a significant order that will support Riyadh Air's commitment to deliver a world-class travel experience, while supporting American aerospace manufacturing jobs at Boeing and across our supply chain," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are incredibly proud of our nearly eight decades of partnership to drive innovation and sustainable growth in Saudi Arabia's aviation sector. Our agreement builds on that longstanding partnership and will further expand access to safe and sustainable commercial air travel for decades more."

The 787-9 provides the longest range of the 787 family of airplanes, flying approximately 300 passengers 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km), with additional cargo capacity. Passengers enjoy a better experience with the largest windows of any jet, air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude for greater comfort, large overhead bins with room for everyone's bag; soothing LED lighting, and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.

The 787 family is delivering unmatched fuel efficiency to airline operators around the world reducing fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to airplanes they replace.

This new order will be posted to Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website once it is finalized.

A body has been found in a Lufthansa A340’s landing gear at Frankfurt airport

 

A dead body has been found in the undercarriage of a Lufthansa aircraft that arrived at #Frankfurt airport from Tehran.

German newspaper Bild reported that the Airbus aircraft, belonging to the German company Lufthansa, had taken off from Tehran early on Thursday morning.

Police said the ground crew found the body while carrying out maintenance work.

German local broadcaster Hessenschau reported that the work had been going on for four hours before the body was found.

The Airbus A340-300 (reg. D-AIGW) was operating flight #LH601

Changes to Heathrow flights on Monday to respect the funeral arrangements of HM The Queen.

 

About 15% of flights into and out of London’s Heathrow Airport were disrupted on Monday due to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, the airport said.

As a mark of respect for the solemnity of this sad and unique occasion, operations at the airport were subject to alterations to avoid noise disturbance during the State Funeral:

• 1140-1210: no aircraft movements to support the two-minute silence at the conclusion of Her Majesty’s funeral
• 1345 – 1420: no arrivals to support the procession of Her Majesty’s hearse
• 1505 – 1645: no departures to support the ceremonial procession via the Long Walk to Windsor Castle
• 1645 – 2100: reduced departure rate to support the Committal service at St George’s Chapel

Flights abroad sell out following Putin’s partial mobilization.

 

Russian airlines have stopped selling tickets to Russian men aged 18 to 65 unless they can provide evidence of approval to travel from the Ministry of Defense.

All flights from Russia to available foreign destinations were sold out Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial” mobilization of the country’s 25 million reservists.

Flights from Moscow to the capitals of Georgia, Turkey and Armenia — which do not require visas for Russians — for Sept. 21 were unavailable within minutes of Putin’s announcement, according to Russia’s top travel planning website aviasales.ru.

By noon Moscow time, direct flights from Moscow to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan had also stopped showing up on the website.

INCIDENT Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Freighter struck with a lighting pole in Chicago

 

A Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777 Freighter struck a lighting pole while taxiing at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport.

The Boeing 777F, with registration A7-BFH, sustained a severe dent on its right-hand wing leading edge. The aircraft arrived as flight QR8141 from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

“Qatar Airways can confirm that a cargo aircraft, QR8141, operating from Atlanta to Chicago, came into touch with a light post while taxiing at Chicago O’Hare and received some wing damage,” Qatar Airways spokesperson said.

According to an airline representative, no crew members were injured in the incident and the incident is being investigated.

FAA proposes to add a second barrier between the passengers and flight crew

 

FAA pushes safety regulation to protect flight deck as unruly passenger rates remain high.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday said it is proposing a new requirement that would protect the flight deck by adding a second barrier as unruly passengers continue to make headlines.

The mandate would require planes used in commercial flights to install a second physical barrier between the passengers and flight crew.

“Each additional layer of safety matters. Protecting flight crews helps keep our system the safest in the world,” FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen said.

The White House in 2021 added the second barrier stipulation to its “priority rulemaking list” after the FAA consulted with aircraft manufacturers, labor partners and other officials on how to increase air safety, the FAA said in a Wednesday statement.

“Flight crews keep us safe when we travel to visit loved ones, explore new places and conduct business. They, too, deserve to be protected, and this rulemaking is an important step forward,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

While the public have 60 days to comment on the proposed regulation, the announcement comes as passengers have increasingly made headlines for acting out while onboard