Rolls-Royce and easyJet to perform hydrogen testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Centre

easyJet and Rolls-Royce reach next major milestone in hydrogen-powered aviation journey

Rolls-Royce announced it has broken ground on a truly unique engine test site to perform outdoor, full-scale gas turbine hydrogen testing. The development of the site and engine testing is in partnership with easyJet and will be located at NASA’s Stennis Space Centre in Mississippi.

This will be the third Rolls-Royce test stand at NASA Stennis, expanding a relationship with NASA that goes back decades and includes joint research on a variety of aerospace technologies.

This program is part of Rolls-Royce’s goal to develop technologies that meet the world’s growing demand for power while enabling net zero by 2050. The testing will demonstrate the integration of technologies required for 100% hydrogen fuel operation on a modified Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is providing engineering expertise to Rolls-Royce to achieve this milestone.

In addition to hydrogen research, Rolls-Royce continues to focus on other key elements of its technology strategy – specifically the enhancement of gas turbine engines; promoting and enabling the incorporation of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF); and other forms of power including increased electrification.

Deborah Robinson, Director – Test & Experimental Engineering for Rolls-Royce, said: “Rolls-Royce is at the forefront of developing technologies that will be needed to reach net zero by 2050. We are excited to partner with other global leaders like easyJet and NASA to explore the viability of aviation decarbonization through the introduction of hydrogen as an alternative fuel."

WestJet announces record-level investments across Saskatchewan this winter

WestJet unveiled substantial investments across its Saskatchewan network, bolstering vital domestic connections, while enhancing leisure travel options through expanded service to transborder and sun destinations for the upcoming winter season. As the WestJet Group continues to grow its presence across Western Canada, the airline is expanding its capacity from Saskatchewan this winter with more than 27 per cent overall growth, cementing its position as the province's No. 1 carrier.

"We are proud to expand Saskatchewan's domestic service and forge new critical connections across the country, as we further solidify our position as the province's leading air carrier," said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. "As the only airline offering non-stop connectivity from Saskatchewan to transborder and international destinations this winter, while providing Regina and Saskatoon with the most domestic connectivity, our investments will further stimulate business and leisure travel opportunities as we continue to execute on our growth strategy."

Investing in Saskatchewan's domestic connectivity for greater business and leisure access

Drukair adds Airbus A320neo and A321XLR aircraft to its fleet

Drukair - Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, a fully owned subsidiary of the state holding company Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 3 A320neo and 2 A321XLR aircraft to expand its international network. 

The new aircraft are anticipated to start delivery in 2030. The airline plans to fly these aircraft out of Paro International Airport and the new airport at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), envisioned to become Bhutan’s futuristic economic hub. From here, Drukair will expand its connectivity to Europe, South East Asia and Australia. 

Drukair already operates four Airbus A320 Family aircraft consisting of three A319s and one A320. 

Based on His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s vision, GMC, located in the southern plains of Bhutan, is emerging as a new economic engine for the Kingdom. As the national carrier, Drukair plays a pivotal role in enabling the prosperity of GMC and Bhutan by efficiently and reliably meeting growing transportation and logistics needs. 

Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair CEO said, “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history, which dovetails perfectly with the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and work to expand the Gelephu airport. Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”

Luxair selects Boeing 737 MAX 10

Boeing and Luxair announced this week that the carrier is ordering two Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, with an option for two more.

Founded in 1961, Luxair is a large part of the economy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Passenger air transport is probably the most well-known activity of the carrier, which offers fast air service to many major cities, business centres and international hubs in Europe. The airline seeks to offer flexibility to its business customers and quality travel to its leisure customers.

Luxair is certified as a 4-Star Airline by Skytrax for the quality of its airport and onboard products and staff service. Product rating includes seats, amenities, food & beverages, IFE, cleanliness etc, and service rating is for both cabin staff and ground staff.

Luxair's tour operator offers a wide range of packages and themed holidays through its tourism division. Luxair is also the provider of airport services at Luxembourg Airport and its air cargo division handles all kinds of goods with ease and efficiency.

"The purchase of the 737- MAX 10 is another step towards Luxair's positioning for its future with the investment in the latest aeroplane technology that will support Luxair's growth plans and the decarbonization of our fleet. There is high commonality between the 737 MAX models, and this allows for significant operational savings for the airline," said Gilles Feith, Luxair CEO.

Lufthansa Technik, Boeing sign license agreement for 787 Dreamliner cabin modifications

Boeing and Lufthansa Technik announced an agreement to designate Lufthansa Technik as the first Boeing-licensed Service Center (BLSC) for cabin modifications on 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes, bringing additional choice and capacity to the market.

As a BLSC, Lufthansa Technik is licensed to perform interior modifications on the 787 as an external MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) service provider.

"We are pleased to bring additional interior modification capacity to 787 owners and operators by designating Lufthansa Technik as a Boeing Licensed Service Center. Through this novel collaboration, customers will benefit from Lufthansa Technik's decades of MRO experience, and familiarity with the 787 platform," said Doug Backhus, vice president of Boeing Cabins, Modifications and Maintenance.

Operators, lessors and other companies with 787 cabin modification needs will now have the choice to work with Lufthansa Technik. As a BLSC for 787 cabin modifications, Lufthansa Technik can design a new cabin interior, provide the associated engineering and perform the integration in accordance with the customer's wishes. Along with the license granted by Boeing, Lufthansa Technik will also cover certification of the modification projects. The cabin modifications on the popular long-haul widebody will be performed at one of the MRO provider's global network facilities.

WestJet's largest-ever Winnipeg winter schedule brings 36 per cent capacity growth to Richardson International Airport

WestJet has revealed highlights of its Winnipeg winter 2024/2025 flight schedule, outlining significant growth and commitment to the region, boosting its overall capacity by 36 per cent compared to winter 2023. 

Passengers departing from Winnipeg will have access to 21 nonstop WestJet destinations this winter, including new routes to Montreal, Fort Lauderdale and San Jose del Cabo, with 24 daily departures during peak season.

"Winnipeg will see the largest increase in WestJet capacity across any airport in Western Canada next winter, highlighting our commitment to meeting the community's growing demand for business and leisure travel," said John Weatherill, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. "This schedule was thoughtfully designed not only to provide Winnipeggers with unmatched access to transborder and sun destinations, but also to optimize schedules to stimulate critical business ties between the region and major Canadian and U.S. cities."

"We're proud to be a longtime cornerstone of WestJet's network and are thankful for their strong, continued commitment to our community," said Nick Hays, Winnipeg Airports Authority President & CEO. "This significant increase in flights will not only enhance our connectivity but also strengthen the local economy by providing more opportunities for everyone who lives and works here. We're excited about what the future holds as we continue to work with WestJet to further grow our partnership to support our community."

Saudi Arabia's roadmap to air mobility inked......

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) manufacturer Lilium have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Farnborough International Airshow to support GACA’s development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions in the Kingdom.

The agreement further strengthens GACA’s engagement with global companies to bring new aviation mobility solutions to Saudi Arabia. GACA is working across the industry to ensure Saudi Arabia has a set of regulations that encourages growth, ensures the highest levels of safety and puts the passenger first. 

His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA, said  “This agreement reflects GACA’s commitment to advancing innovative and sustainable air mobility solutions for Saudi Arabia, in support of Vision 2030.

By working with global advanced air mobility companies, we aim to establish a robust regulatory framework that ensures the safe and efficient operation of eVTOL aircraft."

GACA has developed a comprehensive national roadmap for AAM with contributions from stakeholders and companies across the world. This roadmap outlines the necessary enablers and governance required to ensure the safe and efficient deployment of AAM technologies. The roadmap's implementation phase will focus on integrating eVTOL operations with traditional aviation systems and other modes of transportation.

Korean Air may buy up to 50 Boeing widebody jets

Korea's flag carrier to become newest 777X customer with commitment for 20 777-9 passenger 

Boeing has announced this week that Korean Air intends to buy up to 50 of Boeing's widebody jets, comprising of 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20 Boeing 787-10s with options for 10 more planes. 

The promise to buy the 777-9s and 787-10s is said to support the planned growth and renewal of the carrier, following a troubled period of financial and fleet constraints. The carrier hopes the efficiency and versatility of these widebody jets will not only enhance its fleet but also add flexibility to its global network ahead of its anticipated merger with Asiana Airlines.

"The addition of the Boeing 777-9 and 787-10 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our strategic objective to expand and upgrade our fleet," said Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air. 

If the order changes from just an expression of intent to a signed contract, it will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website and Korean Air will be the latest customer to purchase one of the world's best-selling twin-engine jets.

The 777-9 can seat 426 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range of 13,500 km (7,285 nautical miles) and the 787-10 can carry up to 336 passengers with a range of 11,730 km (6,330 nautical miles).

Hawaiian Airlines expands west coast service

Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiʻi's hometown airline, is preparing for strong holiday travel demand between Hawaiʻi and the West Coast by increasing flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA).

"We’re already seeing compelling demand for end-of-year travel and our extra flights will make it even more convenient for our guests to experience our Hawaiian hospitality during the holiday season," said Brent Overbeek, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Hawaiian Airlines. "Additionally, we decided to once again offer a fourth Honolulu-Los Angeles, peak-day flight that was popular with our guests during our summer seasonal service.”

Hawaiian will operate the routes with a mix of Starlink-equipped Airbus A330 and Airbus A321neo aircraft. Guests will experience Hawaiian’s award-winning service including culinary delights through the airline’s Featured Chef Series, signature beverages by Kō Hana Rum and Maui Brewing Co., and island treats from the Pau Hana snack cart. Complimentary in-flight entertainment is offered on all transpacific flights and includes the airline’s specially curated video collection, Hana Hou! TV.

RTX completes preliminary design review of hybrid-electric Pratt & Whitney GTF engine demonstrator for Clean Aviation SWITCH project

Hybrid-electric propulsion technology has the potential to increase efficiency and reduce emissions for future aircraft applications

RTX announced the completion of the preliminary design review for the hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator engine being developed as part of the SWITCH project, supported by the European Union's Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation). By combining two Collins Aerospace megawatt-class electric motor generators within a Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine, the hybrid-electric propulsion system aims to enhance engine efficiency across all phases of flight, offering the potential to reduce fuel burn and emissions for future short- and medium-range aircraft.

"Completing the preliminary design review is a significant milestone toward demonstrating the potential of hybrid-electric technology to further enhance the performance and efficiency of next generation aircraft propulsion systems," said Juan de Bedout, chief technology officer, RTX. "We are leveraging our growing expertise in the field of hybrid-electric propulsion, including close collaboration between Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace and all members of the SWITCH consortium."

Tech hybrid-electric demonstrator continues to progress in lab tests

RTX has completed a significant milestone in the development of its hybrid-electric STEP-Tech (Scalable Turboelectric Powertrain Technology) demonstrator. The company has successfully validated sustained operation of the thermal engine, electrical generator, battery system and propulsors to demonstrate energy transfer between these components through the high-voltage electrical network.

As a modular demonstrator program, STEP-Tech is intended for prototyping future distributed propulsion concepts in the 100-500kW class, with capability to scale to 1MW and beyond. These concepts could have application for a range of next-generation platforms, including advanced air mobility vehicles, high-speed electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft and blended wing body aircraft.

"When combined with RTX's other hybrid-electric demonstrator programs, STEP-Tech positions us to offer advanced propulsion technologies that enable greater fuel efficiency across all future aircraft segments, from advanced air mobility to large commercial," said Juan de Bedout, chief technology officer for RTX. "These new hybrid-electric architectures are key to our strategy for supporting the aviation industry's goal of reduced carbon emissions and more sustainable flight."

RTX has validated the capability of STEP-Tech's battery system to start the thermal engine and use electrical power produced by the turbogenerator to charge the batteries used to drive the propulsor motors. This follows previous tests of each of STEP-Tech's system components, including the first engine run at partial power and the electrical system integration test. All tests were conducted at the RTX Technology Research Center in East Hartford, Connecticut, which features a class-leading 800-volt electrical architecture designed for aerospace applications.

In addition to STEP-Tech, RTX's other hybrid-electric propulsion programs address a range of future aircraft applications up to single-aisle, including the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator, supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec, and the SWITCH project, which is supported by the European Union's Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

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Cebu Pacific celebrates agreement for up to 152 Airbus A321neo order

Cebu Pacific, Airbus, and Pratt & Whitney, held an official ceremony to commemorate a memorandum of understanding signed for CEB's purchase of up to 152 A321neo aircraft for an estimated USD $24 billion (PHP 1.4 trillion) based on list prices, the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history. 

The binding MOU covers firm orders for up to 102 A321neo, plus 50 A320neo family purchase rights. CEB has selected Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines to power the future aircraft.

"The order is designed to give Cebu Pacific the flexibility to choose between the A321neo and A320neo aircraft as needed, helping us adapt to market changes," said Michael Szucs, chief executive officer of CEB. "This deal is a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to make air travel more accessible and affordable for everyone while supporting the Philippine growth story."

Airbus said the MOU is a testament to the airline's confidence in its products and a positive signal for the aviation industry's recovery.

The Netherlands to acquire nine Multi-Mission Airlift Embraer C-390 Millennium in joint order with Austria

The Dutch Ministry of Defense signed the contract today for the acquisition of nine Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft during a ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow. As part of the project 'Replacement of Tactical Airlift Capacity', the contract is a joint purchase, in cooperation with Austria – five aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and four aircraft for the Austrian Air Force.

With this joint order, both countries aim at increasing their ability to rapidly deploy or evacuate equipment and personnel worldwide, even under difficult operational conditions. The enhanced tactical airlift capacity provided by the C-390 increases operational flexibility and responsiveness, provides logistical support in various missions and operations, and enables a wide range of humanitarian and medical tasks.

The joint purchase will also allow both nations – as well as current and future operators – to cooperate and benefit from synergies in areas like training, logistics and future growth of the platform, together with the other C-390 operators in NATO nations. The C-390 Millennium provides maximum operational readiness enabling interoperability and connectivity in networked environments and multiple domains.

The C-390 will improve operational capacity by offering better performance, greater reliability, and higher transport capacity. Additionally, the choice for the C-390 ensures that the Royal Dutch and Austrian Air Forces are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to meet the mission demands of the future.

"It is great that we can sign this agreement for both Austria as the Netherlands. I'm happy to see that we can buy these planes with the same specifications. This is a good example of collaboration in Europe between countries.  The constructive support of Embraer has played a crucial role in the successful realization of this agreement. We appreciate the contribution of Embraer and look forward to a successful cooperation", said Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, National Armaments Director of the Netherlands.

United Airlines selects Honeywell to provide a wide range of avionics for new 737 MAX aircraft

Honeywell has been selected by United Airlines to provide a wide range of avionics for new 737 MAX aircraft that will enter service over the next decade, including technologies such as the industry's only 3D weather radar, new 25-hour flight data recorders and advanced traffic avoidance systems.

United Airlines first selected a similar suite of Honeywell avionics in 2018 to equip 161 737 MAX aircraft, and this latest agreement builds on Honeywell's reliability in delivering world-class aerospace technology.

"We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with United Airlines to provide advanced avionics for its growing 737 MAX fleet," said Heath Patrick, President, Americas Aftermarket, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. "Our technology reduces pilot workload, improves situational awareness and supports dispatch reliability."

United Airlines selected the following Honeywell cockpit technologies for its 737 MAX fleet:

IntuVue RDR-4000 3D Weather Radar System is the first automatic commercial radar to accurately depict weather in the flight path of an aeroplane. IntuVue automatically scans the sky at 17 tilt angles — the most in the industry — and delivers a 3D view of the weather through an intuitive display that pilots can quickly and easily reference.

Honeywell Connected Recorder – 25 is made for commercial air transport aircraft to accommodate mandatory flight data and cockpit voice recording. It may result in the potential for better maintenance predictability and operational insight through data analytics.

Honeywell's TPA100B Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System and TRA 100B Transponders identify the aircraft to other surrounding aircraft via an airborne collision avoidance system.

Integrated Multi-Mode Receiver is the industry's leader in radio navigation and combines satellite- and ground-based navigation systems into one receiver. It helps pinpoint precise aeroplane locations for efficient landings, especially during difficult and new runway approaches.

The ALA-52B radar altimeter assists instrument landings at hundreds of U.S. airports and filters out 5G broadband interference.

GA Telesis and Alitheon partner to bring next generation transparency, traceability, and trust to the global aviation and aerospace industries

GA Telesis, a global leader in aerospace ecosystem solutions, and Alitheon, a pioneer in optical AI for no-touch serialization, have joined forces to integrate Alitheon's cutting-edge optical AI technology, FeaturePrint®, into WILBUR, GA Telesis's industry leading Web3-enabled Parts Provenance and Records Platform. WILBUR will provide a revolution in securing aircraft and parts authenticity, as well as drive maximum levels of aviation data security within the sector. This collaboration will empower stakeholders to meet the highest standards for product documentation and verification set by all global regulatory bodies.

This collaboration also drives a new level of safety across the entire aviation and aerospace supply chain by ensuring the irrefutable verification of products. Starting with raw materials and continuing forward with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), heavy maintenance facilities, MRO's, logistics, airlines, and parts suppliers, WILBUR and FeaturePrint will enhance traceability and identification of aircraft parts throughout the entire aircraft lifecycle. The combined technology addresses aircraft parts previously manufactured and serves as a forward-looking provenance verification system ("PVS") and process for transfer of assets within the supply-chain.

FeaturePrint: Revolutionizing Transparency, Traceability and Trust