STARLUX orders 10 more Airbus A350-1000s: STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has signed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of ten additional A350-1000 aircraft, taking its total order for the type to 18 aircraft. The agreement was signed at the Paris Airshow by STARLUX Airlines CEO Glenn Chai and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. STARLUX Airlines already operates an all-Airbus fleet of 28 aircraft including the A350-900, the A330neo and the A321neo. The Taiwanese airline has on order 30 aircraft including the A350F freighters and A350-1000. “Expanding our international fleet with additional A350-1000s is a significant step toward reinforcing our global presence and enhancing connectivity across key markets,” said Glenn Chai. “This aircraft offers efficiency, range and comfort, making it the perfect fit for our strategy to optimise long-haul operations while delivering an exceptional passenger experience. As we continue to strengthen our international network, the A350-1000 will play an important role in driving growth, sustainability and operational flexibility.” “STARLUX Airlines’ decision to add more A350-1000s to its growing fleet reaffirms the aircraft’s standing as the benchmark for long-haul operations. With its advanced design and fuel-efficient performance, the A350-1000 Long Range Leader enables airlines to optimise routes while reducing environmental impact,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry. “We are pleased to strengthen our long-standing partnership with STARLUX Airlines as they expand their global footprint and connect more destinations with efficiency and comfort.”
Norwegian Air Ambulance adds Airbus H145 to fleet: The Norwegian Air Ambulance and Airbus have signed a frame contract for up to eight H145 helicopters, including the firm acquisition of two helicopters. “We are honoured to open yet another chapter with the Norwegian Air Ambulance, providing up to eight H145 helicopters under this new frame contract,” said Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters. “The H145’s global reputation in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services, combined with its class-leading low acoustic footprint, CO2 emissions and operating costs, ensures it’s the ideal choice for continued life-saving missions with the Norwegian Air Ambulance.” Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all HEMS bases in Norway relying mainly on a fleet of 20 Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters. The organisation’s parent company, the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was the first operator in the world to take delivery of a five-bladed H145 in 2020. The latest version of Airbus’ best-selling helicopter, the light twin-engine H145, adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design also eases maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew.
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines advance on hydrogen fuel cell tech: Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress together on hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, a promising and critical technology to decarbonise aviation. This MoU was signed today during the 55th Paris Airshow by Bruno Fichefeux, Airbus’ Head of Future Programmes and Dr. Stefan Weber, MTU’s SVP Engineering and Technology. The partnership draws on the combined expertise of Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer and pioneer in hydrogen-powered aviation through its ZEROe project, and MTU Aero Engines, a globally recognised engine expert for commercial and military aircraft. It follows Airbus’ decision to focus its research effort on a fully electric, hydrogen-powered aircraft with a fuel cell engine, a field in which MTU has developed recognised expertise through its Flying Fuel Cell concept. The agreement sets out a three-step roadmap for the development of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine suitable for the commercial aviation market. The first step is to mature the technological building blocks essential for the engine through joint research projects, such as Clean Aviation. The second step will involve aligning the two partners’ R&T roadmaps on hydrogen technologies. The result of these joint explorations then would allow us to consider a third step towards the development of a fuel-cell engine for a hydrogen powered aircraft.
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