Skywest Airlines has announced plans to add five ATR 72-600 turboprops to the regional fleet it operates on behalf of Virgin Australia. Skywest already operates four 68-seat ATR 72-500s for Virgin on routes out of Brisbane and Sydney. It expects to take delivery of four 68-seat 72-600s, early next year. The latest five ATR 72-600s
Southwest Airlines has become the launch customer for Boeing’s 737 MAX after becoming the first airline to sign a contract for the re-engined 737 with a firm order for 150. The Dallas based carrier, which has also ordered 58 Next-Generations 737s, will be the first airline to place the MAX into service, in 2017. With
Bombardier Aerospace has announced the appointment of Tobjorn (Toby) Karlsson as its vice president of sales for commercial aircraft in the Asia-Pacific. Karlsson, a native of Sweden, will lead sales efforts across the region with the exception of China, Japan and South Korea. Karlsson has 25 years of aviation experience including stints with Honeywell Aerospace
Airbus has started joining the first 21-metre long front fuselage section for its A350XWB. Once completed in the coming weeks, the fuselage will be transported by Beluga from Airbus’s facility in Sant-Nazaire, France, to the A350 final assembly line in Toulouse. The fuselage will be the first major section of the A350 to enter the
Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have launched the first phase of their recently approved alliance with a joint service connecting Singapore, Darwin and Sydney. The airlines have also announced reciprocal frequent flyer programs. SilkAir, Singapore Airlines’ regional subsidiary, will begin four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin from March 26 2012, while Virgin will complement those
Airbus has delivered its 7000th aircraft, an A321 that went to US Airways, according the European aerospace giant. US Airways operates the world’s largest fleet of Airbus aircraft, including more than 220 A320 Family jetliners. Airbus delivered its first aircraft, an A300B2, to Air France in May 1974. It delivered its 6000th aircraft, an A380,
