sábado, 15 de agosto de 2026
sexta-feira, 14 de agosto de 2026
Lufthansa touts Boeing compensation on early B777X units
Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) is in discussions with Boeing over which of the first-built B777-9s it would accept into service, with the German airline seeking financial compensation from the OEM if it takes early-production jets requiring later modifications.
This was the word from Group CEO Carsten Spohr during a recent second-quarter 2026 earnings call, when he likened Lufthansa's position to that of Emirates, which has publicly said it does not want the earliest B777-9s because of the extensive work needed to bring them to final production standard.
"Like our friends in Dubai, we are in talks with Boeing about which of these airplanes we will not be accepting for commercial service and which of these aircraft will be able to be modernised. And then, of course, with the financial contribution of Boeing, we would be willing to take," Spohr said.
He said Lufthansa was less public about the issue than Emirates, but described the issue as essentially the same.
Spohr's comments followed a question by an industry analyst whether Lufthansa, as a launch customer of the B777-9, was comfortable accepting the first-built aircraft after Emirates indicated it did not want the earliest examples.
Contingency plans
Spohr said Boeing continues to target summer 2027 as the entry into service date for the B777-9, with the first deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2027.
However, he said, Lufthansa has contingency plans should the already delayed widebody programme slip again.
Spohr said the airline group has prepared for two scenarios: one in which the B777-9 enters service as planned; and another where additional delays force it to continue operating older aircraft types.
"If there are further delays, we would reactivate A340-300s, which we have kept for this purpose to cover the network," he explained.
Spohr pointed out that Lufthansa's published schedules currently assume that the A340-300 will remain in service because that presents the more reliable planning assumption until Boeing's delivery timetable becomes more certain.
Lufthansa has twenty B777-9s, the first member of the B777X family, on order, according to ch-aviation data, while Emirates's order totals 235 B777-9s, plus thirty-five B777-8s, according to ch-aviation data.
In July, Boeing announced the B777‑9 programme had passed the halfway mark in certification testing and was focused on finalising the remaining regulatory steps ahead of the first deliveries in 2027. This included obtaining approval to begin extended operations (ETOPS) demonstrations. The OEM said the B777-9 programme so far has logged more than 4,800 flight test hours across the B777-9 test fleet. In total, more than 650 B777X aircraft have been ordered, the manufacturer said.
CH Aviation
AIRCRAFT - Noemi Aerospace Expands Into The Philippines With Agreement For Up To Five Electric Seaplanes
Horizon Sun Charters intends to acquire three NOEMI aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft, as NOEMI strengthens its position in Southeast Asia.
NOEMI Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters (HSC) for three NOEMI amphibious aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft.
The agreement marks NOEMI's entry into the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,641 islands and a natural environment for amphibious aviation. Many of the country's coastal resorts and island communities are separated by relatively short distances, yet require combinations of air, road and boat transport to reach.
Electric or hybrid seaplanes offer a new alternative: direct connections between cities, airports, coastal communities and resorts without requiring conventional airport infrastructure at both ends.
For NOEMI, the Philippines represents another step in building its position in Southeast Asia, which the company sees as one of the world's most promising regions for the development of seaplane operations.
"The geography of the Philippines makes a very strong case for seaplanes," said Eric Lithun, Founder and CEO of NOEMI Aerospace. "With more than 7,600 islands, short distances and a strong ambition to develop its tourism industry, The Philippines offers exactly the kind of environment NOEMI is being designed for. This agreement strengthens our position in Southeast Asia and provides further confirmation of the commercial potential for electric amphibious aviation in the region."
Horizon Sun Charters provides private seaplane services in Palawan, connecting destinations including El Nido, Coron and other coastal and island locations. Its development plans focus on improving direct access to resorts and remote destinations, reducing dependence on lengthy road and ferry transfers.
Under the MoU, NOEMI and HSC will explore the technical, financial and regulatory requirements for introducing the aircraft in the Philippines, as well as potential routes and operational integration. HSC intends to acquire three aircraft, with options for a further two.
“We believe NOEMI is very well suited to the future of seaplane operations in the Philippines,” said Raymond Schwab, Founder and Captain of Horizon Sun Charters. “With the hybrid version, we see the flexibility to operate a wide range of missions and serve the entire market. The ability to connect coastal resorts and island destinations directly and efficiently fits perfectly with our vision for a new generation of premium island access. NOEMI gives us an aircraft designed specifically for the kind of operations we want to build.”
The Philippines has significant potential for seaplane connectivity but today has limited operations compared with established seaplane markets. Palawan illustrates the opportunity particularly well: direct amphibious flights can bypass multiple transfers and provide access closer to remote resorts and island destinations.
The model has already been proven in other markets. In the Maldives, seaplanes have become an integral part of the tourism infrastructure, connecting international arrivals directly with island resorts and helping support a high-value tourism economy. Southeast Asia offers similar opportunities across archipelagic markets, where distances are relatively short and conventional airport infrastructure is limited or expensive to develop.
With the HSC agreement, NOEMI's commercial pipeline now grows across operators and markets worldwide.
NOEMI's first aircraft is being developed as a fully electric amphibious aircraft for regional passenger transport, with the ability to operate from both water and conventional runways. Designed to carry nine passengers and one or two pilots, the platform can also be adapted for hybrid-electric or conventional fuel-based propulsion. Entry into service is targeted for 2030.
AIRCRAFT - Heart Aerospace Completes First Flight of World’s Largest Electric Aircraft
The flight took place on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, at Heart’s X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport, a regional commercial airport serving a community of 20,000 people in upstate New York. The piloted mission lasted 27 minutes, during which X1 reached an altitude of 1,100 feet AGL and its all-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power.
The flight was conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC), with a test profile that included taxi, takeoff, climb, maneuvering, and landing. The mission was designed to demonstrate all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial airline operations.
Powered entirely by batteries, X1 used approximately $5 worth of electricity during its first flight. The flight came amid a sustained surge in global jet fuel prices, which averaged $3.50 per gallon for the week ending August 7, up 63% year over year, highlighting the potential for electric propulsion to deliver structurally lower aircraft operating costs while decoupling airlines from the volatility of global oil markets.
“With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner,” said Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and, ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers. This is at the heart of our vision for abundant air travel, with electrification enabling more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service to and from airports closer to home.”
X1 is a full-scale demonstrator representative of Heart’s ES-30 production aircraft, designed to validate key technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance, and Heart’s organizational capabilities. The ES-30 is a conventional fixed-wing, 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner being developed for FAA Part 25 certification. It has attracted customer commitments from major air carriers including United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX.
“The first flight of X1 is a major technical achievement for Heart Aerospace, a company United has been proud to support,” said Michael Leskinen, Chief Financial Officer of United Airlines. “Electric commercial aircraft have real potential to deliver a better travel experience for passengers while strengthening our business, and we look forward to Heart’s continued development of the ES-30 and its potential future role in United’s network.”
“The energy transition for aviation will require a range of solutions, from operational efficiencies to sustainable aviation fuels, and ultimately the development of new aircraft technologies,” said John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Canada. “Our investment in Heart Aerospace and the ES-30 reflects Air Canada’s commitment to supporting innovative technologies that have the potential to transform aviation. X1’s first flight is an important milestone in that journey, and we look forward to continuing to work with Heart Aerospace as the ES-30 program progresses and plays its part in the future of regional aviation.”
With entry into service targeted for 2031, Heart expects the ES-30 to reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40% compared with legacy regional aircraft. This reduction is driven by lower energy costs, reduced maintenance requirements from simplified electric propulsion and electrified flight systems, and greater aircraft uptime and reliability enabled by an integrated electronics and software architecture.
Heart foresees this cost advantage widening over time through advances in battery technology, technology-enabled gains in crew efficiency, and the ES-30’s low exposure to a growing range of emissions-related aviation taxes and fees worldwide.
“Through the X1 program, Heart has built the capability to design, build, test, operate, and continuously improve a clean-sheet electric commercial aircraft,” said Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer. “We are carrying that full-stack capability directly into the ES-30, our first production aircraft and the foundation of a broader technology platform for electric airliners.”
Heart is currently developing the first pre-production ES-30 at its pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing scheduled to begin in 2028.
The full X1 media kit, including high-resolution photos and video, is available at https://www.heartaerospace.com/x1.
FLEET - airBaltic (Latvia) has outlined a revised business plan focused on strengthening its balance sheet, reducing its A220-300 fleet to 36 by 2026 end, and improving profitability.
As part of the plan, the carrier is seeking US$260 million in interim financing, with $260 million of new debt and $115 million of new equity in the longer term. The restructuring also proposes converting a portion of its 2029 Senior Secured Notes into equity.
Aviator / Air Baltic
FLEET - Saudia, DAE ink purchase-leaseback for four B777-200F
Saudia (SV, Jeddah International) has signed a purchase-leaseback agreement with DAE Capital for four new B777-200F freighters following the initial order announced in July. Deliveries are scheduled between October 2026 and May 2027, with the aircraft to be operated under long-term leases. Saudia Cargo already operates four B777-200Fs, supplemented by five wet-leased freighters. The additional aircraft will support network growth and reinforce Saudi Arabia's ambitions as a global logistics hub.
CH Aviation
FLEET - Uganda Airlines expects its A330-800 to be back in service in January 2027, while a grounded CRJ900 is due to return by September 2026.
Three additional engines will also return soon, allowing the carrier to reduce its alliance on wet leasing. The first B737-8 will enter service in 2032, and the first B787-9 in 2033.Aviator
FLEET - WSA Delivers Boeing 737-400SF Aircraft to Aerosucr
This marks the first aircraft placement between World Star Aviation and Aerosucre, a Colombian cargo airline with more than five decades of experience serving domestic and international markets across Latin America.
The aircraft will support Aerosucre’s ongoing fleet renewal strategy and its commitment to providing reliable air freight solutions throughout the region.
2026 ROUTES
VietJet Air (Vietnam) will launch flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Western Sydney airport in January 2027 with A330-300. Bangkok will follow in November 2027.
Loganair (UK) announced the closure of Southampton base in October 2026, just months after launching. The airline will also cut flights between Southampton and Manchester on 20 August 2026.
9 Air now operates daily flights between Yinchuan and Singapore, with a stopover in Guangzhou, using B737-800 aircraft.
VietJet Air (Vietnam) plans to resume flights to Chiang Mai from Ho Chi Minh City on 25 October 2026, with A321. A new service to Clark will begin from HCMC a few weeks later with A321.
Hainan Airlines Extends A330-900Neo Manchester Service To Late-Oct 2026
Hainan Airlines in recent schedule update extended Airbus A330-900neo operations on Beijing Capital – Manchester route. Previously scheduled until 29SEP26, the A330-900neo will continue to serve this route on alternating days until 23OCT26, operating along with the -300.
Riyadh Air (Saudi Arabia) will begin flights from Riyadh to Islamabad on 14 August, Lahore on 18 August and Manila on 09 September 2026, all with B787-9
Riyadh Air (Saudi Arabia) begins flight from Riyadh to Dhaka on 08 August 2026, with B787-9.
Iraqi Airways will resume direct commercial flights between Basra and New Delhi starting 18 August 2026.
Hainan Airlines (China) schedules Haikou – Penang flight on 11 October 2026, with B737-800.
flynas (Saudi Arabia) plans to add Riyadh – Kochi route on 02 September 2026, with A320neo.
flynas (Saudi Arabia) plans Madinah – Brussels nonstop flight on 05 October 2026, with A320neo.
flyadeal (Saudi Arabia) plans non-stop flights between Riyadh and Mumbai beginning 03 October 2026, with A320neo.
Ethiopian Airlines plans Addis Ababa – Blantyre – Nacala – Addis Ababa service on 27 October 2026, with B737-800.
Centrum Air (Uzbekistan) plans to launch flights from Tashkent to Colombo and Denpasar by the end of 2026.
Arkia (Israel) wet leased one B787-9 from Neos (Italy) for New York, Paris and Amsterdam flights during August and September 2026.
Air Premia (South Korea) plans to resume Seoul Incheon – Ho Chi Minh City route from 05 November 2026, with B787-9.
9 Air (China) plans Guangzhou – Jakarta launch on 22 September 2026, with B737-800
Delta Air Lines will launch a new nonstop Seattle-Narita route on its Airbus A330-900neo starting March 27, 2027, adding a second direct option to Tokyo.
Air Sierra Leone now plans to resume its London–Freetown and London–Banjul flights in October 2026, pending approvals.
Air Serbia will operate direct flights between Nis and Vienna, as well as between Nis and Malta, starting from 25 October 2026.
quinta-feira, 13 de agosto de 2026
quarta-feira, 12 de agosto de 2026
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