Brian Davidson

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, commonly known as Azul, has officially phased out its Airbus A350-900 operations. The Brazilian airline's last A350-900 departed from São Paulo Viracopos for Fort Lauderdale International on April 9, under the ferry flight number AD9840, according to Flightradar24 ADS-B data. This marks the end of the aircraft's brief service period with Azul, which began in September 2022 and concluded in January 2024.

Kenya Airways is transitioning its leasing arrangement for an A330-300 aircraft from a wet lease with Hi Fly Malta to a damp lease, a move driven by the need to align customer service standards and overcome language barriers. The Nairobi-based carrier has initiated crew training to support this change, signaling a proactive approach to addressing customer feedback, particularly from premium class passengers.

IndiGo Airlines, based at Delhi International Airport, has confirmed an order for ten A320neo family jets, solidifying its commitment with Airbus. This move, officially documented in Airbus's March 2024 order and delivery update, comes as the latest in a series of expansions for the Indian low-cost carrier (LCC). The finalized agreement was made on March 15, following an initial approval by IndiGo's parent company, InterGlobe Aviation Limited, in early September 2023.

In a groundbreaking decision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued its first-ever special flight authorization for the testing of a civil supersonic aircraft, the Boom XB-1. This milestone paves the way for Boom Supersonic to commence flight tests, marking a significant advancement in the development of faster-than-sound travel.

Ryanair is set to receive 40 new Boeing aircraft by mid-July, according to Chief Executive Michael O'Leary. This updated delivery schedule was confirmed during a news conference in Rome, aligning with earlier revisions announced by the airline. Originally, Ryanair anticipated the arrival of 57 Boeing MAX 8200 planes by the end of April. However, due to ongoing challenges at Boeing, this number has been adjusted to 40 jets, with 35 expected by the end of June and an additional five by mid-July.

Ural Airlines has opted to abandon its plans to rescue a stranded Airbus A320 from a Siberian wheat field due to prohibitive costs and logistical challenges. The aircraft has been immobile since making an emergency landing due to a hydraulic failure that also resulted in a low-fuel situation in September last year. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the nearly 170 passengers, who were compensated with approximately $1,100 each.

Boeing is set to reveal its quarterly financial results this Wednesday before the market opens, with a specific focus on the production outlook for the 787 Dreamliner.

China is accelerating efforts to enhance its aviation industry's competitiveness with the development of the C929 widebody aircraft, a direct competitor to Western giants Airbus and Boeing. The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has initiated a major collaborative effort, rallying 280 experts from 21 universities and various civil aviation companies to propel the C929 project forward.

Airbus is reportedly in discussions with China regarding a potentially significant aircraft order ahead of an upcoming visit to France by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Xi Jinping is scheduled to make his first trip to Europe in five years next month, with trade expected to be a key topic of discussion amidst growing tensions between the EU and China.

Toulouse-based Airbus is set to boost production of its A350 aircraft to 12 units per month by 2028, a move driven solely by surging consumer demand and not by the challenges faced by its U.S. competitor Boeing, according to Airbus Chief Financial Officer Thomas Toepfer.