China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC), the leading independent aircraft operating lessor in China, firmed up its contract in December 2014 with Airbus for 100 A320 Family aircraft. The order comprises 74 A320neo, 16 A320ceo and 10 A321ceo. Including this new order, CALC’s total backlog with Airbus stands at 140 A320 Family aircraft. “Adding...

The newest evolution in Airbus’ market-leading widebody jetliner product line – the A330 with an increased 242-tonne maximum takeoff weight capability – is another step closer to entering service later this year after its successful maiden flight. Taking off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport today, the A330-300 variant carried out an...

VietJetAir’s first A320 on order from Airbus has reached a new production milestone, with the aircraft having successfully performed its first flight in Toulouse, France. Appearing in its colourful livery, the aircraft now enters the final acceptance phase prior to delivery to VietJetAir by the end of 2014. This A320 is the first of up to 100...

The application of complex, large-scale liveries on aircraft presents a considerable challenge – particularly as airlines develop increasingly artistic and complex ways to express their identities. However, the difficulties may become a thing of the past thanks to a new method currently being developed by Airbus – which employs direct...

VivaAerobus, the low cost carrier serving Mexico, has chosen “Training By Airbus” to provide simulator training and courses for pilots, maintenance personnel, flight operations engineers and cabin crews in Miami and Monterrey, Mexico. The 10-year agreement includes more than 25,000 flight training hours for approximately 750 pilots....

During the 2014 Farnborough Air Show, Airbus won US$75.3 billion worth of business for a total of 496 aircraft, making it by far the largest Farnborough show for Airbus – both in terms of dollar value and also in the number aircraft. The deals comprise Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) for 138 aircraft worth $36.9 billion and purchase orders...

Airbus has successfully performed the ‘Maximum Energy Rejected Take-Off’ test with the A350 MSN001 on the morning of Saturday 19th July at Istres Air Force Base in France. MERTO, which follows on from the previous ‘High Energy Rejected Take-Off’ (HERTO) preparation test conducted by MSN001 two months ago, is a part of the mandatory series...

The highly-anticipated launch of Airbus’ latest enhancement to its medium-range widebody A330 Family occurred today, with details provided during a standing-room only press conference at the Farnborough Airport. As the latest evolution in Airbus’ comprehensive market-leading widebody product line, the A330neo programme comprises two versions...

On Tuesday June 24 in Toulouse and on Thursday June 26 in Saint Nazaire, Airbus will welcome the third edition of “Carnet de Vol Alternance”, an initiative that aims to match Airbus apprentices with jobs in aviation on completion of their apprentiship. The job matching days make it possible for some 350 Airbus apprentices to meet nearly 70...

Airbus is challenging the next generation of students to stretch their imagination and to re-invent the norms associated with air travel today by launching the fourth edition of its Fly Your Ideas Challenge. Fly Your Ideas is a biennial, global competition granted UNESCO patronage in 2012. The challenge offers students a unique opportunity to...

A breakthrough technology that could protect pilots from potentially hazardous laser sources will be evaluated by Airbus through an agreement signed with Canadian-based Lamda Guard. Utilizing nano-structured metamaterials, Lamda Guard has designed innovative thin films that can be applied to any transparent surface – such as the interior of...

Volaris, the low-cost airline serving Mexico and the US, has chosen “Training By Airbus” to provide A320 Family flight simulator training and courses in Miami and Mexico as part of an agreement which includes more than 25,000 flight training hours for 500 pilots. Volaris, an all-Airbus operator, has ordered a total of 74 aircraft to date and...

Airbus has unveiled a new, lightweight thin-panel version of the “stealthy” panel technology that enables buildings to be constructed nearer to runways, opening development opportunities on land at airports that has remained vacant due to potential interference with signals from instrument landing systems. Developed by Airbus and the Airbus...

Airbus Corporate Jets Managing Director Benoit Defforge (at left) and Fly Comlux CEO Andrea Zanetto Comlux The Aviation Group has become the first Airbus ACJ319 customer for an in-service retrofit of Sharklets, upswept fins attached to the wingtips that save about 4 per cent in fuel consumption while also enhancing performance and...

Lhasa based Tibet Airlines from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China has taken delivery of its first A319 with Sharklets. The aircraft which was handed over at the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre (ATDC) joins Tibet Airlines’ existing fleet of eight existing A319s. The aircraft is the 165th assembled at Airbus’Tianjin Final Assembly Line...