Emirates to introduce retrofitted Boeing 777s on two more cities: Emirates has announced plans to introduce its newly retrofitted Boeing 777s to two more cities – Zurich and Riyadh from 1 October 2024. The airline will also layer on refurbished B777s to Geneva and Brussels operations, making them the first two cities in the airline’s network to sport refreshed B777 cabins on all flights. The airline aims to offer customers more of its highly acclaimed Premium Economy product and newly configured Business Class cabin on the Boeing 777 in the coming weeks and months. The four-class Boeing 777 is configured with six or eight First Class suites, 38 Business class seats in a four-abreast arrangement, 24 seats in Premium Economy in a 2-4-2 layout, and 260 Economy class seats.
AirBaltic places order for 10 additional A220s: AirBaltic confirmed an incremental order for an additional 10 A220-300s. This new and fourth reorder will take the airline’s total firm order to 90 A220 aircraft. Already operating a strong fleet of close to 50 A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220 customer in Europe and the largest A220-300 operator in the world. The Latvian flag carrier has a long-standing history operating the Airbus A220-300, having been the launch customer in 2016. Since 2020, the airline has operated an A220-exclusive fleet. With a firm order for 90 A220-300, airBaltic further reinforces its position as the largest A220 customer in Europe. Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, said: “For the first time in the company’s history, airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of close to 100 A220-300 aircraft, and these exercised options are the next step in the right direction. Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.”
Lufthansa Technik welcomes new apprentices: Lufthansa Technik said 339 young people will begin their apprenticeship or dual study program at the German locations of Lufthansa Technik. The number of new apprentices is therefore slightly higher than last year. Despite the challenging training market, Lufthansa Technik filled 94 percent of the available places. Lufthansa Technik attracted a particularly large number of applicants for industrial professions this year. At the Hamburg site alone, a total of 12 percent more advertised positions were filled across all disciplines compared to the previous year. In addition to the various apprenticeships, the company offers different dual study programs. A dual study program in real estate management is being offered for the first time this year. “We are proud to welcome so many motivated and talented young professionals to our company again this year,” said Andrea Jacobsen, Head of Entry Programs at Lufthansa Technik. “The ability to fill 94% of the advertised positions reflects the great interest and trust young people have in our high-quality training and shows that our recruitment measures are successful.”
Florida Institute of Technology grows Pilot 100i fleet: Piper Aircraft announced the recent delivery of four additional Piper Pilot 100i aircraft to Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) in Melbourne, Florida. These aircraft mark the second instalment of Pilot 100i deliveries this year, bringing their fleet total to eight aircraft. With an estimated 80% growth in enrolment over the past three years, including a projected 36% increase in flight operations volume, Florida Tech Aviation looks forward to furthering their growth via the Pilot 100i’s well-known operational efficiency throughout the flight training community. Florida Tech currently utilizes a fleet of nearly fifty aircraft, including Archers, Seminoles, Warriors, and now the Pilot 100i. “At Florida Tech, our students learn by doing, and we are eager to get them into the flight deck of these cutting-edge Piper Pilot 100is to start learning with our amazing flight instructors,” said Dr. John Nicklow, President of Florida Tech. “What makes all of this even more meaningful is that many of our alumni working at Piper helped design, build and test these aircraft. It’s a high-flying example of the power of a Florida Tech education in action.”
Iraqi Airways renews SITA deal: Iraqi Airways has renewed its partnership agreement with SITA to maintain its track record of continuous innovation in passenger and baggage management systems, boosting the travel experience on board the Green Bird and its partner airlines. Key in upgrading the travel experience will be the implementation of SITA’s Flex Hybrid system. This will speed up passenger processing at Baghdad and Basra airports, providing staff quick and secure access to airline systems and applications through cloud infrastructure with high flexibility and scalability to meet fluctuating demand. Iraqi Airways will also boost its baggage management capabilities with SITA Bag Manager Online, which offers advanced visibility of each bag’s journey. The solution tracks every bag that is loaded onto a plane, a ULD, or a cart, matching each bag with departing passengers, tracking them in real time throughout the airport, and ensuring they are loaded onto the correct plane, offering passengers peace of mind and allowing staff to focus on more complex tasks. Finally, SITA’s Information Display System will revamp the airline’s flight display systems, with a sleek interface that keeps travelers fully informed with down-to-the-minute automatic updates on changing flight departure or arrival times.
Gulfstream G400 completes first flight: Gulfstream Aerospace announced the all-new Gulfstream G400 successfully completed its first flight, officially launching the flight test program and further expanding Gulfstream’s ultramodern, high-technology family of next-generation aircraft. The G400 defines a new standard with the highest performance and greatest comfort ever experienced in this segment. The G400 departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 9:04 a.m. and returned 2 hours, 55 minutes later, having reached a speed of Mach 0.85 and altitude of 41,000 feet/12,497 meters. The aircraft accomplished this mission using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel from Gulfstream’s Savannah campus. The G400 showcases class-leading performance and efficiency with its combination of Gulfstream’s aerodynamic clean-wing design, advanced Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines and next-generation avionics. The aircraft can fly 4,200 nautical miles/7,778 kilometres at Mach 0.85 and is equipped with Gulfstream’s award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck and Predictive Landing Performance System to help improve flight safety and pilot situational awareness. The G400 also features the advanced high-speed Gulfstream-designed wing and winglet, introduced on the Gulfstream G500 and G600, that greatly enhance efficiency.
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Interesting roundup! The developments in the aviation sector, particularly with the new sustainability initiatives, are encouraging. It’s great to see the industry pushing for greener skies.