Simple Flying - Airbus News

On The Up: Airbus Posts Strong Full-Year Financial Results For 2022

Jake Hardiman — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:14 GMT

Multinational European planemaker Airbus disclosed its full-year financial results for 2022 this morning, with the figures showing that last year was a strong one. Despite not quite hitting its planned delivery target, the manufacturer still had lots to be cheerful about, with increases seen across most of its financial metrics.

Airbus Announces Thomas Toepfer As Future Chief Financial Officer

Aaron Bailey — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 02:00:12 GMT

Dr. Thomas Toepfer will move from Convestro, a DAX40 company and a leading supplier of premium polymers, to join the team at Airbus on September 1 as Chief Financial Officer. From March 3, current Chief Financial Officer Dominik Asam will step down, and Xavier Tardy, CFO for the defense and space division, will hold the reigns in the interim until Toepfer can join the team.

Air India’s Airbus A320neo Fleet Could Be Much Bigger Than Expected

Joanna Bailey — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 07:15:16 GMT

Airbus secured a big win in the Indian market yesterday with Air India’s commitment for a total of 250 airplanes. Within that order was a sizeable demand for the popular A320neo narrowbody family, accounting for 210 airplanes in total. But how will that order be broken down, will the LR and XLR feature, and could the Air India A320neo fleet end up being even bigger than this?

Why The Airbus A350 Will Be The Flagship Of Air India’s Fleet

Joanna Bailey — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:38:15 GMT

For many years, Airbus has led the Indian market on the narrowbody side, with approximately a 70% market share. The pendulum has begun to swing more recently, with new entrant Akasa picking Boeing’s 737 MAX family for its fleet.

Breaking: Air India Becomes A 777X Customer With Huge 470 Boeing & Airbus Order

Joanna Bailey — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 14:30:16 GMT

After months of speculation, Air India has finally confirmed its massive airplane order and revealed details of its planned future fleet. Totaling 470 aircraft and split between both Boeing and Airbus models, the order includes a placement for 10 Boeing 777X widebodies. This makes Air India the 11th named customer for the brand-new, yet-to-be-certified Boeing aircraft.

Airbus Reveals Latest A321XLR Livery

Aaron Bailey — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 23:04:00 GMT

Airbus has just released its latest livery on its Airbus A321XLR. The latest design includes a QR code, which links scanners to special access to the latest news, events, and career opportunities available by the A320 family with the manufacturer.

Airbus Selects French-Japanese Electric Motor Developer For Hydrogen Engine Prototype

Linnea Ahlgren — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 14:00:16 GMT

Airbus may have stated it could potentially go it alone when it comes to producing its hydrogen-electric engine. However, it has at least settled on an engine-maker for the prototype of the fuel-cell powertrain. And it is not one of the aerospace engine household names. Instead, the European planemaker has decided to go with Japanese-owned French electric motor specialist Nidec Leroy-Somer.

Xiamen Airlines' 1st Airbus A321neo Takes Commercial Flight

Channing Reid — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 05:00:18 GMT

Xiamen Airlines flew the maiden voyage of its Airbus A321neo on Saturday. The flight, which departed at 09:00, flew from Xiamen to Beijing and reportedly was full.

Air India Order For 500 Airbus & Boeing Aircraft Reportedly Sealed

Aaron Bailey — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 02:00:17 GMT

Air India has finalized one of the most significant aircraft orders in history. The airline has now agreed to purchase almost 500 new aircraft, including 250 Airbus, divided between 210 single-aisle A320neos and 40 widebody A350s. Boeing's order included 220 aircraft, including 190 narrowbody 737 MAX jets and widebodies, 20 of the 787, and 10 777Xs.

Airbus & Air New Zealand Partner To Deploy New Hydrogen Hub

Luke Bodell — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 15:17:30 GMT

Airbus and Air New Zealand’s hydrogen partnership is entering the next stage with the inclusion of New Zealand's key hydrogen ecosystem players. The 'Hydrogen Consortium' will seek to advance hydrogen-powered commercial flight and develop hubs at airports across the country, starting with Christchurch International Airport.

Airbus Got 37 Narrowbody Orders In January

Steven Walker — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 19:30:17 GMT

Airbus has released its figures for January, showing orders for a total of 37 passenger aircraft last month, all of which were narrowbodies. The manufacturer also received an order for four widebody freighter aircraft. Which airlines did the orders come from?

Airbus Remains The Top OEM In Latin America

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:00:17 GMT

The European manufacturer Airbus closed 2022 as the top OEM across Latin America. Airbus has 754 aircraft operating in this region and has over 500 undelivered orders from all types of customers. Among the company’s largest clients are Volaris, JetSMART, LATAM, and Avianca.

The Qatar Airbus A350 Paint Conflict: A Timeline Of Events

Tom Boon — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:30:16 GMT

After two years it seems as though the legal drama between Qatar Airways and Airbus has finally ended. On February 1st, 2023, both parties issued statements revealing,

Breaking: Airbus & Qatar Airways Settle Airbus A350 Legal Drama

Tom Boon — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:57:30 GMT

Qatar Airways and Airbus have come to an amicable settlement to their ongoing legal drama regarding Airbus A350 paint degradation. The dispute has been bubbling up for almost two years, ending up in the High Court in London.

Airbus Remains Confident Of Producing 14 A220s A Month Despite Challenges

Riley Pickett — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 18:00:16 GMT

The Canadian manufacturing plant of Airbus has been faced with significant supply chain issues in the past few months leading many to believe that the manufacturer will fall short of meeting its A220 production goals. Despite this speculation, the head of Airbus Canada has declared that it can meet and exceed all target production rates.

Nigeria's 1st New Airbus A220 Delivery Has Been Delayed

Tatenda Karuwa — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 12:34:29 GMT

Delivery of Nigerian carrier Ibom Air's first Airbus A220 has been delayed until the year's second half due to production issues.

Airbus Wants To Hire 13,000 New Employees This Year

Charlotte Seet — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 03:35:18 GMT

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is ramping up its quest for new talent as it prepares for the future of aerospace. And to support its commercial aircraft step-up and to meet challenges in the defense, space, and helicopter sectors, Airbus intends to recruit more than 13,000 people globally this year. Could the manufacturer be a beacon of hope for thousands of laid-off employees from other industries?

Airbus Is Using One Of Its Beluga Aircraft To Fly A Satellite To Kennedy Space Center

Nabeel Shaikh — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 07:22:54 GMT

Airbus has announced that it will be using one of its Beluga planes to fly a satellite from Toulouse, France to John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a tweet by the aircraft manufacturer on Tuesday. The satellite belongs to Inmarsat--a British telecommunications firm--and is part of a larger effort to provide coverage over the Atlantic Ocean.

Airbus Services To Retrofit Delta Air Lines' Airbus A350s

Channing Reid — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 03:00:15 GMT

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines selected Airbus Services to retrofit and upgrade nine of its flagship A350-900 aircraft that are new to its fleet. Acquired from another airline, the widebody planes started operating Delta flights without the interior on its other A350s.

UK Court Demands Qatar Airways Produce Evidence Of QCAA Grounding Airbus A350s

Joanna Bailey — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 21:12:51 GMT

Qatar Airways has been given a deadline of 13 weeks to produce correspondence between itself and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) relating to the grounding of the Airbus A350. Qatar Airways has always maintained that the QCAA has forced its hand on the A350 issue, revoking Airworthiness Review Certificates on 22 aircraft and effectively grounding them from operations.

Airbus Books 12 A320neo Family Orders From Uzbekistan Airways

Tom Boon — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:29:37 GMT

Uzbekistan Airways today revealed an order for 12 aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family. The Uzbek flag carrier already operates a fleet of 17 CEO A320 family aircraft. It has yet to decide which engines to equip its new order with.

Airbus Makes Design Changes To A350 In Middle Of Qatar Airways Dispute

Pranjal Pande — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 21:19:45 GMT

Airbus has changed the components used in its A350 fuselage amid the ongoing legal dispute with Qatar Airways. The European planemaker is now using a different copper foil as the layering in new deliveries since late last year. The decision to use a new design has been noted as significant, despite Airbus claiming the original design remains safe.

Airbus Patented Folding Wingtips Like The Boeing 777X

Jake Hardiman — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:30:15 GMT

Throughout the industry, stakeholders are highly anticipating the introduction of the Boeing 777X towards the middle of the decade. This next-generation family of Boeing's popular twin-engine widebody jetliner will feature several revolutionary features and the most prominent is undoubtedly its folding wingtips. However, did you know that Airbus has also patented a similar technology?

Airbus' 2023 Order Book

Tom Boon — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 17:47:58 GMT

Each year Airbus takes hundreds of new aircraft orders from airlines across the globe. With the industry almost fully recovered from COVID-19, 2023 should be no exception. To help readers to keep score of Airbus' order book, Simple Flying Will place all of 2023’s orders on this page, in addition to monthly roundups of the European aerospace giant.

Major Lessor Predicts Airbus & Boeing Delivery Delays Will Last Years

Aaron Bailey — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:17:31 GMT

Delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing are expected to linger for the new few years, according to the world's largest aircraft leasing company, AerCap.

Airbus Uses A350-1000 To Test Automatic Landing & Crew Incapacity Assistance

Riley Pickett — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 16:00:15 GMT

Airbus's subsidiary UpNext is heading a program that has recently begun testing pilot assistance technologies designed to help ensure flight safety. The technology focuses on assisting a single pilot in the event that the other should become incapacitated. The primary purpose of the technology is to reduce the single pilot's load factor, enabling them to avoid task saturation and focus on flying the aircraft. The new technology will assist pilots in the air and on the ground until the issue is resolved.

Airbus Experiences 8% Year-On-Year Deliveries Increase But Misses 700-Aircraft Target For 2022

Jonathan E. Hendry — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 18:58:48 GMT

The European plane manufacturer delivered 661 aircraft this past year, an eight percent increase over 2021. Airbus also registered 1,078 gross new commercial orders in 2022, bringing its order backlog to 7,239 aircraft. The deliveries went to 84 customers worldwide in 2022 as a range of carriers acquired Airbus aircraft, some for the first time.

First Airbus A321neo Arrives At All-Boeing Xiamen Airlines

Iain Coutts — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 16:16:27 GMT

Xiamen Airlines has begun 2023 by taking delivery of a new aircraft. The first A321neo joined the fleet after arriving in China's Fujian Province, making it the first Airbus in the Xiamen Airlines fleet. The delivery follows an announcement in 2022 of a large order for Airbus jets and is the first move to a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Stunning: Inside An Airbus A330neo Private Jet Concept

Joanna Bailey — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 09:30:15 GMT

What could be better than a VIP-configured Airbus A220 for private use? Why, an A330neo private jet, of course! With widebody comfort, a range that could take you around the world, and more floor space to adapt the interiors, if you’re in the market for a stunning VIP aircraft, the A330neo has it all.

You Can Now Book Etihad Airbus A380 Flights To London Heathrow

Tom Boon — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:30:16 GMT

Etihad has updated its flight schedules to show that the Airbus A380 will return to long-haul service on July 15th, 2023. The airline will operate a daily rotation in July, rising to double daily as August starts. Flights are currently scheduled to remain double daily until the end of November.

Airbus & Qatar Airways Paint Trial To Be Split

Luke Bodell — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 13:23:06 GMT

A UK court has split the Qatar Airways and Airbus paint case following a hearing on Friday. The trial is set to begin in June next year but will take longer than previously expected. Let's take a closer look at what this all means below.

Qatar Airways Questions Airbus Settlement Secrecy As A350 Trial Continues

Sumit Singh — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:38:51 GMT

As the A350 paint saga continues, Qatar Airways has urged Airbus to disclose its communications with other airlines regarding commercial support or settlements in relation to repairs over issues similar to the surface degradation of A350s that the airline is reporting. With the court case ongoing, the flag carrier of Qatar highlights that it is concerned that the manufacturer is avoiding the disclosure of such documents.

Stunning: A Look Inside A Concept Airbus A220 Private Jet

Joanna Bailey — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 05:05:15 GMT

Airbus revealed its concept for the A220 corporate jet back in October 2020. Dubbed the ACJ TwoTwenty, it has broken new ground in the extra-large bizjet market and is set to enter into service next year. Based on the A220-100, it offers generous floor space and state-of-the-art technologies, alongside all the usual things to love about the A220.

Airbus Puts The A321XLR To The Test With Planned 13 Hour Flight

Riley Pickett — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:00:15 GMT

On December 13th, Airbus' Toulouse facility workers waved goodbye to an Airbus A321XLR as it took to the skies for a 13-hour flight. The test flight marks a significant milestone for the aircraft as it proves its design for long-haul flying. This flight will demonstrate its capabilities and solidify its position as the next-generation fuel-efficient narrowbody long-haul airliner.

Collision: Condor's First Airbus A330neo Hits A Building In Toulouse

Lukas Souza — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:16:16 GMT

Earlier today, German carrier Condor's first Airbus A330neo suffered an incident. While being towed at Airbus' facilities in Toulouse, the brand-new Airbus jet hit a building.

Airbus & Air France Escape Prosecution In AF447 Crash Trial

Charlotte Seet — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 18:15:16 GMT

The eight-week trial of two aviation giants, aircraft manufacturer Airbus and French flag carrier Air France, for involuntary manslaughter in the crash of Air France flight 447 has concluded with an unexpected twist. French prosecutors have decided not to seek convictions against the two condemned companies.

Why Airbus' Blended Wing Hydrogen Plane Is The 'Least Likely' To Make It Into Production By 2035

Linnea Ahlgren — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 09:30:16 GMT

When Airbus launched its ZEROe project in September 2021, it included three different aircraft concepts. Two were classic cylindrical fuselage shapes, one powered by turbofan engines and the other by turboprops. However, the third, which has, unsurprisingly, been given the most attention by the media, was a blended wing body design - a picture of the future of flying itself. Unfortunately for those who may have felt a twinge of sci-fi enthusiasm when seeing the images, that particular concept will take a little longer to come to fruition.

Could Airbus Begin Making Its Own Engines?

Linnea Ahlgren — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:40:51 GMT

There are only a handful of engine makers that power regular commercial aircraft today. The main three are Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, and General Electric. They have their own efficiency and decarbonization strategies, such as Rolls-Royce's hydrogen jet engine test in collaboration with easyJet last week.

Airbus Boss: US Accelerating 'Faster Than Expected' On Decarbonization

Linnea Ahlgren — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:30:16 GMT

Speaking over a live video link at the Airbus Summit (this year's edition was given the subheading 'gathering pace towards sustainable aerospace'), the Chief Executive Officer of the aerospace giant, Guillaume Faury, outlined the company's strategy and current trajectory to take aviation through its undeniably most significant transition to date.

Airbus Ditches Its Commercial Aircraft Delivery Target For 2022

Steven Walker — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 19:30:17 GMT

Airbus has announced that it is unlikely to meet its 2022 commercial aircraft delivery target. The manufacturer had hoped to deliver 700 commercial aircraft this year, but it looks set to fall short of that figure by around 70 aircraft by year-end.

Airbus Shows Off An airBaltic A220-300 To TAAG Angola

Charlotte Seet — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:31:18 GMT

With more than 230 aircraft delivered to 16 airlines operating on four continents, the Airbus A220 aircraft family is slowly cementing its position in the aviation industry. TAAG Angola Airlines agrees as the airline and Airbus showcased the A220-300 during a symbolic ceremony held at Luanda International Airport on December 6th.

60% Of China Southern's Airbus A380 Fleet Has Now Been Flown To Be Scrapped

Tom Boon — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:31:16 GMT

A third China Southern Airbus A380 will likely never be flown again after the airline ferried it to the Mojave Desert last week. The aircraft is expected to be scrapped alongside its sisters after China Southern operated its final flight with the giant of the skies in early November.

Airbus And CERN Partner To Accelerate Future Of Clean Aviation

Linnea Ahlgren — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 12:00:16 GMT

During the Airbus Summit in Munich on Thursday, the aerospace giant signed a partnership agreement with CERN for the two to collaborate on using cryogenic superconductors in the electrical distribution systems for hydrogen-powered aircraft. Drawing upon and combining their separate areas of expertise, the partners will develop a demonstrator that will be known as SCALE (Super-Conductors for Aviation with Low Emissions).

Airbus Racing To Meet 2022 Delivery Target Amid Supply Crunch

Pranjal Pande — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 12:00:15 GMT

Airbus is struggling to meet its delivery target of nearly 700 aircraft in 2022 as November figures fell slightly short of hopes. As of November 30th, the group delivered 563 aircraft, including 66 last month, meaning December would have to see a massive delivery surge to reach targets. While customers might be excited for more planes, Airbus is still dealing with supply chain issues across the board, making meeting the 700-aircraft figure an uphill battle.

Lack Of Hydrogen Could Cause Airbus To Delay ZEROe Launch

Linnea Ahlgren — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 14:18:53 GMT

Airbus has committed to having zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft ready by 2035. Under the banner of its ZEROe project, the aerospace manufacturer introduced three different aircraft concepts last year - one turbofan, one turboprop, and one blended-wing body (the latter, as exciting of a design as it may be, is the least likely to make it into initial production).

Airbus To Stop Purchasing Russian Titanium Within Months

Linnea Ahlgren — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:30:11 GMT

While the dependence on Russian oil and gas is well-reported and experienced both in the cold feet and pinching wallets of households across Europe, our inability to source raw materials for industry from other places is discussed more rarely. However, buying metals or other materials (such as fertilizers) from Russia also feeds the war coffers of Putin and co. European aerospace manufacturer Airbus has thus far been heavily reliant on Russian titanium to build its aircraft.

Airbus Summit Reveals Hydrogen Power Advances

Michael Doran — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:45:16 GMT

The 2022 Airbus Summit has gathered a range of experts and industry leaders to focus on net-zero aviation. Airbus said the summit would showcase the tangible progress and achievements of the aerospace sector on its pathway to a more sustainable future for aviation.

Condor's First Airbus A330neo Flies For The First Time

Joe Kunzler — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 06:30:17 GMT

Condor Airlines, a German leisure carrier, has seen its first Airbus A330neo lift off for the very first time. The aircraft undertook a factory test flight November 28th, marking the next milestone towards the introduction of the type into the airline's fleet.

Croatia Airlines Ups Airbus A220 Plans With An Order For 6 Planes

Tom Boon — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:45:16 GMT

Croatia Airlines has signed on the dotted line for a new Airbus order, with a firm order for six A220s to join nine more A220s that the airline plans to lease.

Meet The Airbus Bird Of Prey Concept - To Inspire The Next Generation Of Aircraft Engineers

Chris Loh — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 20:00:16 GMT

Unveiled in 2019, Airbus put out a concept for an airliner that was bird-like in its design. However, the manufacturer had stated at the time that its work on the concept wasn't to seriously bring such an aircraft to market. Rather, its goal was to motivate the next generation of aeronautical engineers to think 'outside the box,' with the application of various advanced technologies. Let's revisit this concept and look closer at what Airbus was trying to do.

Airbus Creating Cryogenic Tanks Amid ZEROe Program

Molly Russell — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 16:51:19 GMT

Airbus’ ZEROe program is one step closer to making zero-emissions commercial aircraft a reality. After 15 months of development and collaboration, the aircraft manufacturer has announced it has completed a prototype for its cryogenic hydrogen fuel tanks ahead of flight testing in 2026.

A Christmas Delivery? Air Greenland's A330-800 Completes Customer Acceptance Flight

Riley Pickett — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 16:00:16 GMT

Air Greenland's long-awaited Airbus A330-800 may arrive just in time for Christmas, as the next-generation aircraft has just completed its customer acceptance flight. The airline plans to push the widebody aircraft into service as soon as possible to replace its aging A330ceo.

Airbus Is Reportedly Preparing To Delay A320 Family Deliveries In 2023

Pranjal Pande — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 12:20:21 GMT

Airbus is reportedly planning to delay the delivery of some 2023 A320neo deliveries as the company grapples with global shortages. In particular, a lack of new engines and labor availability has meant the European planemaker is looking to miss its 2023 targets. Let's find out more.

Air France Takes Delivery Of 20th Airbus A350

Aaron Bailey — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 20:30:27 GMT

Air France has welcomed its 20th Airbus A350-900 to the fleet, named 'Angers' (F-HTYT). The latest delivery is one of the 38 the airline has currently on order. Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, both part of Air France-KLM Group, are in the middle of a fleet simplification, with Air France's long-haul fleet planned to operate 116 aircraft across its Airbus A330s and A350s as well as some Boeing 787s and 777s. The 19th delivery of this type to the airline arrived only last month.

FAA: Inadvertent A220 Autopilot Engagement Almost Caused A Pair Of Catastrophic Incidents

Joanna Bailey — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 13:30:16 GMT

It has been revealed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that there have been two ‘nearly catastrophic’ incidents involving the Airbus A220 and inadvertent engagement of the autopilot function. As first reported by FlightGlobal, the regulator has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive to address the issue.

Stored Airbus A380 Evacuation Slides Are Splitting At The Seams

Joanna Bailey — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 15:18:30 GMT

As more airlines seek to return their stored Airbus A380s to useful service, some are noticing a problem. Superjumbos that have been parked up for extended periods of time are presenting with damage to the evacuation slides, of which the A380 has many.

The Magic Number: French Air Force Receives 3rd And Final A330-200

Jake Hardiman — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:00:15 GMT

The French Air Force, known in the county's native tongue as the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, took delivery of an Airbus A330-200 aircraft earlier this month. The widebody twinjet is the third of its kind from an order placed in the summer of 2020 to go to France's military, and it will eventually perform aerial refueling operations.

Qantas CEO Says It Takes 4,500 Hours To Get One Grounded A380 Flying

Michael Doran — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 08:00:15 GMT

With COVID a thing of the past, exorbitant airfares are the only deterrent to millions of Australians traveling again. While high fuel costs are impacting fares, the basic issue is supply and demand. There is not enough capacity in the market to satisfy everyone who wants to travel, so airlines keep international and domestic fares at near-record levels.

Air New Zealand's Black Star Alliance A321neo Begins 11,000 Mile Journey To New Home

Michael Doran — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 05:06:14 GMT

Planespotters in Auckland will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of a uniquely painted Airbus A321neo in the next few days. What makes this special is that the Air New Zealand aircraft, the ninth A321neo to join the fleet, is the world's first black-liveried Star Alliance aircraft.

Did The Thai Royal Air Force Just Operate The World's Longest Airbus A340 Flight?

Jonathan E. Hendry — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 17:00:14 GMT

An Airbus A340-500 belonging to the Royal Thai Air Force has completed what appears to be the longest flight ever operated by the type. The flight landed in North Carolina on Wednesday, November 16th, after an 18-hour flight from Bangkok.

Royal Air Force Completes First 100% Sustainable Fuel A330 MRTT Flight

Jonathan E. Hendry — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:15 GMT

The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF), alongside industry partners including Airbus and Rolls-Royce, have carried out the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight using an operational military aircraft. The flight took place using an RAF Voyager, the military variant of the Airbus A330 commercial jetliner, and marked the first 100% SAF flight of any aircraft type carried out in UK airspace.

Airbus Invests In Climate Solutions

Aaron Bailey — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 02:00:15 GMT

It was announced on Tuesday, November 17th, in Toulouse that Airbus has invested in Carbon Engineering Ltd, the developer of the world's largest Direct Air Carbon Capture (DACC) research and development facility. Based at its Innovation Centre in Squamish, British Colombia, the investment will fund part of the organization's carbon engineering direct air capture. CEO of Carbon Engineering, Daniel Friedmann, commented on the investment:

One Final Flight? Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 Ferried To French Aircraft Storage

Tom Boon — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 01:00:15 GMT

A Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 took off from Kuala Lumpur Airport on Monday, operating its first international flight since March 2020. However, the aircraft wasn't full of passengers and cargo. Instead, it was ferried to Tarmac Aerosave's Tarbes facility in southwest France.

Airbus Begins A321 Production In China

Charlotte Seet — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 03:00:15 GMT

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has started commissioning the production of the Airbus A321 aircraft at its Final Assembly Line Asia facility in Tianjin, northern China. The significant milestone expands and deepens Airbus' growing partnership with China's aviation industry and further demonstrates both parties' commitments to enhancing this strategic collaboration.

Airbus Delivers 60 Aircraft In October

Charlotte Seet — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 03:00:15 GMT

Despite the challenges presented by global supply chain disruptions, Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus has sped up its October deliveries to reach 495 aircraft delivered so far this year. The manufacturer delivered an impressive 60 aircraft in October, up from 55 the previous month, and remains optimistic about achieving the year-end goal of 700 deliveries.

Airbus Concerned About "Adverse Impact" Over Qatar Airways Suit

Gaurav Joshi — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 06:47:17 GMT

Airbus’ ongoing dispute with Qatar Airways has it worried about the impact on the company’s reputation as the court cases related to the A350s drag on. The plane maker has been at loggerheads with the Middle East carrier regarding the paint issues of the A350 aircraft. And in its latest financial statement, Airbus has warned its investors about the potential impact the dispute could have on its balance sheet.

Spanish Airbus Unions Set To Strike

Molly Russell — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:07:08 GMT

Worker’s Commission (CCOO), UGT-FICA, and ATP-SAe members at Airbus are set to walk out Monday in a row over wages, according to a joint union statement. The strike will impact eight Airbus sites across Spain, including the manufacturer’s third-largest facility in Getafe.

Airbus Warns "Supply Chain Remains Fragile" As Revenues Increase

Jake Hardiman — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 14:30:16 GMT

Multinational European manufacturer Airbus has become the latest giant of the commercial aviation industry to post its financial results for the third quarter of the year. While the company's revenues have seen year-on-year growth, it is still wary of the fragile situation when it comes to the supply chain, with multiple factors at play.

Airbus On Track To Deliver 700 Aircraft In 2022

Michael Doran — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:30:15 GMT

Fifty years ago today, the first Airbus aircraft, the A300B, the world's first twin-engined widebody commercial aircraft, took off on its maiden flight. Today Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury presented the company's results for the first nine months of 2022, revealing Airbus has a backlog of 7,294 commercial aircraft.

IAG Confirms Order For 37 More Airbus A320neo Family Jets

Luke Bodell — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:10:22 GMT

International Airlines Group (IAG) has confirmed an order for an additional 37 Airbus A320neo aircraft after receiving shareholder approval, adding to orders made earlier in the year. This takes the airline group to 59 A320neo-family aircraft ordered this year.

Air Canada Ups Its Airbus A220 Order To 60 Aircraft

Riley Pickett — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:31:14 GMT

Air Canada has ordered an additional 15 Airbus A220 aircraft. These additional jets will bring the airline's total number of A220s ordered to 60. It currently operates 30 of the narrowbody jet along routes across North America. Air Canada has thoroughly incorporated the aircraft into its operations. It primarily uses the aircraft on short to medium-haul routes as it is specifically designed to fly these routes in the most efficient way possible.

Airbus Delivers Its 100th Delta Aircraft Manufactured In The United States

Lukas Souza — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 23:08:50 GMT

Airbus' Mobile, Alabama factory recently delivered its 100th Delta Air Lines aircraft since its first delivery six years ago.

Tarmac Aerosave Scraps Its 1st Airbus A380 In Teruel

Tom Boon — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 11:30:15 GMT

Tarmac Aerosave's Teruel, Spain site has begun dismantling its 1st Airbus A380. The site became well known during the pandemic, with Air France, British Airways, Etihad, and Lufthansa all sending the giant of the skies to storage at the site.

Airbus' Third A321XLR Performs Rejected Takeoff Test

Aaron Bailey — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 06:41:31 GMT

The Third Airbus A321XLR Prototype F-WWAB, MSN 11080, performed its rejected Takeoff test in Hamburg-Finkenwerder yesterday. The airplane joins two other testbeds, WXLR and WWBZ, to complete all the necessary testing for certification.

Lufthansa Technik Will Supply Parts For Condor’s Airbus A330neos

Jonathan E. Hendry — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 15:27:12 GMT

Lufthansa Technik is set to supply components for Condor's new A330neo fleet. The two companies signed a 10-year Total Component Support (TCS) for the most modern type in the Condor long-haul fleet.

Airbus Uses The A300 Based BelugaST For Transatlantic Satellite Transport

Riley Pickett — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 16:00:15 GMT

Airbus has delivered a new satellite to Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite was transported over the Atlantic Ocean on the aircraft manufacturer's iconic Beluga freighter. The Airbus BelugaST (A300-600ST) carried the Airbus-built HOTBIRD 13G satellite for its customer Eutelsat. The satellite arrived shortly after its twin launched into orbit. This marks an important moment for both space travel and the Beluga program.

Boeing Watches On As Airbus & Qatar Airways Resume Court Case

Michael Doran — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 01:00:14 GMT

The long-running and acrimonious dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways took another twist on Friday. Boeing joined the two protagonists in the London court because of its commercial dealings with Qatar Airways (Qatar) over 737 MAX airliners.

Airbus' CEO Expects Aviation's Full Recovery In 2024

Michael Doran — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 01:21:15 GMT

On Wednesday night, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told an audience of aviation luminaries that aviation's full recovery was still some way off. At the UK Aviation Club, Faury told guests that returning to 2019 traffic levels was unlikely to happen before 2024.

Frontier Airlines Unveils New Ultra Fuel Efficient Airbus A321neo

Lukas Souza — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:15:04 GMT

This afternoon, Frontier Airlines held an event at Tampa International Airport to unveil a new aircraft and livery. The Airbus A321neo is the first ultra-fuel-efficient aircraft in the airline's fleet and the most fuel-efficient commercial aircraft operated by any United States airline.

Airbus Delivers 55 Aircraft in September But Has More Than 7000 In Backlog

Michael Doran — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:00:14 GMT

In September, Airbus delivered 55 aircraft to 31 customers and put 13 commitments into the order book. According to its September 30th report, Airbus has delivered 437 aircraft to 66 customers this year, an average of close to 49 per month.

Airbus A330P2F Conversion Partnership Forms Between EFW And Turkish Technic

Michael Doran — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 08:40:14 GMT

On Friday, passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft conversion specialist Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) announced a partnership with Turkish Technic for Airbus A330 conversions. Turkish Technic will do the P2F conversions at their facility in Istanbul, Turkey.

Croatia Airlines To Order 6 Airbus A220s For Its Fleet Renewal

Jakov Fabinger — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:06:06 GMT

It’s official: Croatia Airlines is purchasing six brand new Airbus A220 aircraft, confirming to Simple Flying that it will convert its A320neo order, which was previously an A319 order. The choice comes after a year of deliberations that saw Croatia Airlines choosing between the Embraer E2, the Airbus A220, and even the Boeing 737 MAX.

Airbus Wants You To Design The Livery For The A350F

Linnea Ahlgren — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:00:14 GMT

Calling all aviation enthusiast creatives out there. Tomorrow, at 16:00 GMT, European aerospace manufacturer Airbus is launching a competition for the livery design of its upcoming freighter version of its latest widebody - the A350F. The competition is open to everyone - professional designers, students, or amateur artists. The winning design will be revealed at the June 2023 International Paris Airshow Le Bourget.

FlyArystan Celebrates The Delivery Of Its 1st Brand New Airbus A320neo

Tom Boon — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 03:30:14 GMT

Air Astana’s low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, has taken delivery of its first brand new aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, named Leo after the star constellation, is the 12th to enter the FlyArystan fleet. However, it is the first brand new aircraft for the airline, with previous jets coming from the parent airline, Air Astana.

Gaining Pace: 2nd Airbus A321XLR Performs Maiden Flight

Jonathan E. Hendry — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 11:11:23 GMT

The second test prototype for Airbus' upcoming A321XLR has taken to the skies. The aircraft is the first to feature the new Pratt & Whitney engines and follows the successful first test flight of the type in June.

Airbus CEO: Larger A220 Will Make Sense At The Right Time

Lukas Souza — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:37:11 GMT

Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury shared with investors earlier today that Airbus plans to create a larger version of the A220 aircraft at the right time.

Airbus Works With Ecocopter To Bring Urban Air Mobility To Latin America

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 07:00:14 GMT

On Tuesday, Airbus and Ecocopter announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the launch of urban air mobility services across the Latin American region, particularly in Ecuador, Chile, and Peru. Ecocopter is a company with a fleet of Airbus helicopters performing several missions ranging from offshore transport to firefighting, and Airbus has developed the eVTOL prototype CityAirbus NextGen.

Is Azul's First Airbus A350 Currently Flying To Brazil?

Tom Boon — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 15:50:59 GMT

An Airbus A350-900 currently flying to Brazil could be bound for Azul. The 5-year-old aircraft has been sitting at the Tarbes Tarmac Aerosave facility since it left the Hong Kong Airlines fleet two and a half years ago. According to Airbus' August order book, Azul has four A350-900s in its fleet, though none are yet flying for the Brazilian carrier.

Airbus Will Auction Parts Of An Emirates A380 Next Month

Tom Boon — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:30:14 GMT

There's just one month to go until Airbus auctions around 500 Airbus A380 parts to raise money for the Airbus Foundation and the AIRitage association. Most of the parts included in the auction will come from the second Airbus A380 delivered to Emirates, A6-EDB.

Airbus Prepares For 2 More A321XLRs To Join Certification Efforts

Michael Doran — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 01:45:14 GMT

It's more than three years since the Airbus A321XLR burst onto the world stage at the Paris Airshow. When the next Paris Airshow comes around in 2023, Airbus expects to have the A321XLR close to certification and on track to enter service in 2024. There is much more to this program than an extra fuel tank, and with more than 500 orders to fill, Airbus is steadily moving through the process.

Virgin Atlantic Shows Off Its Airbus A330neo Fresh From The Paint Shop

Jonathan E. Hendry — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 15:18:21 GMT

The first Airbus A330neo bound for Virgin Atlantic has debuted its fresh new look. The aircraft rolled out of the paint shop in Toulouse this week sporting a vibrant new look and will enter service next month.

Lufthansa Technik Has Finished Fitting The 1st Full German Government A350 Cabin

Iain Coutts — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 20:30:14 GMT

Lufthansa Technik has completed the first Airbus ACJ350 flight following the installation of a new cabin. It has flown before, but this was the first flight with the finished interior. The aircraft belongs to the German Air Force and will be used for official government travel, replacing an older fleet of Airbus A340 aircraft.

AirAsia’s Airbus A321neo Deliveries Are Set To Continue From 2024

Jonathan E. Hendry — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 11:05:21 GMT

AirAsia plans to resume taking deliveries of the next-generation Airbus A321neos the Malaysian budget carrier has on order from 2024. The group received just four of its upcoming A321neos in November 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced AirAsia to pause deliveries and renegotiate its contract with Airbus.

Then There Were Two: 2nd Airbus A321XLR Spotted With Engines

Chris Loh — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 08:00:14 GMT

On August 25th, Airbus' 2nd A321XLR was spotted with its engines now installed. The aircraft was first noticed back in late May but at the time had yet to have its powerplants attached. Despite still lacking a proper paint job, the jet appears to be a major step closer to joining the first A321XLR in conducting test flights.

Landing Gear Issue Prompts Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 Return

Jonathan E. Hendry — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:45:34 GMT

A Cathay Pacific flight bound for Hong Kong was forced to return to Manchester Airport today after a landing gear malfunction following takeoff. The aircraft departed the UK’s third largest airport at 12:34 PM, due to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport at 07:25 AM on the following morning.

The Airbus Zephyr Comes Crashing Down In Arizona

Riley Pickett — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 21:00:14 GMT

On August 19th, the infamous solar-powered drone Zephyr was lost over Arizona, following an extended flight that had lasted for 64 days straight. It came within hours of breaking the record for the longest flight in history. Despite the aircraft being lost, the developers and the US Army gathered critical data from the aircraft during its flight, which will help the military further its high-altitude operational goals.

Did You Know: Airbus Has Its Own Football Team

Jake Hardiman — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 18:31:14 GMT

Multi-national European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is a large and diverse company, with over 130,000 employees on its books as of 2020. It is best known for its production of airliners, but also has other divisions such as Helicopters and Defence & Space. There is even a football team that bears the company's name, whose stadium is situated adjacent to its Broughton factory.

Redbird Academy Joins Forces With Airbus To Provide A320 Type Rating Training In India

Riley Pickett — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:30:15 GMT

Airbus has teamed up with Redbird Flight Academy in India as the demand for qualified pilots grows. Students looking to become airline pilots will be able to earn a type rating in the Airbus A320. This will make for a smoother transition to the airlines for the pilots. The 60-day course will help students with a Commercial Pilot's License earn the minimum qualifications to act as a first officer on an Airbus A320.

Iran Aviation Authority To Review Airbus Contract If Sanctions Lift

Jonathan E. Hendry — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:22:55 GMT

The head of Iran's civil aviation agency is looking to revisit a significant aircraft contract with Airbus, should sanctions be lifted following talks this week in Vienna. The original agreement between Iran Air and Airbus was signed in December 2016 to supply 100 jets to the Iranian flag carrier.

Wow: Airbus Clocked Over 400 New Aircraft Orders In July

Andrew Curran — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:02:57 GMT

Airbus quietly booked 401 new aircraft orders across July. Airbus signed deals with 11 airline customers over the month in addition to sales to undisclosed customers. The headline sales included a massive 292 aircraft order from four state-owned Chinese airlines, with 100 aircraft, or around 25% of July's aggregate order going to a single carrier - China Eastern Airlines.