Explosion kills one, damages Pegasus aircraft at Sabiha Gökçen airport
Credit: Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Turkish security forces and firefighters take security measures after an explosion at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 23, 2015.
Malaysia's first sharia-compliant airline launches
Credit: Rayani Air/Twitter
Rayani Airlines has launched Malaysia’s first sharia-compliant airline using a Boeing 737-400 aircraft. The carrier—a joint venture between Malaysia-based resources companies Merdeka Jayabumi Enterprise and Terus Maju Metal—started operations with a Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA2)–Langkawi flight on Dec. 20, 2015.
Embraer to roll out E190-E2 Feb. 25
Credit: Embraer
Embraer plans to roll out its first next-generation E-Jet, an E190-E2, at its headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, Feb. 25. The E190-E2’s first flight is slated for the second half of 2016 with first deliveries expected to take place in 2018.
China Southern inks A330-300 deal
Credit: Airbus
China Southern Airlines ordered 10 Airbus A330-300 twin-aisle aircraft in a deal worth $2.3 billion at list prices. The aircraft will be delivered from 2017-19. Three are scheduled for delivery in 2017, five will be delivered in 2018 and two will be delivered in 2019.
China Southern orders 100 737s
Credit: Boeing
China Southern Airlines has committed to 30 Boeing 737NGs and 50 737 MAXs, valued at $8.4 billion at current list prices, and its Xiamen Airlines subsidiary is to take 30 Boeing 737 MAXs.
Jet2 parent Dart Group orders three 737-800s
Credit: Boeing
Dart Group, the parent of UK budget carrier Jet2, has placed a follow on order for three Boeing 737-800s, valued at $288 million at list prices.
Boeing South Carolina rolls out 100th Dreamliner
Credit: Boeing
Boeing South Carolina rolled out its 100th 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft now begins system checks, fueling and engine runs on the flight line. The 787-8 will be delivered to American Airlines next year.
China Postal Airlines places Boeing freighter order
Credit: Boeing
China Postal Airlines (CPA) has ordered 10 Boeing 737-800NG freighters to extend its fleet of express air cargo aircraft. Photo: Rendering of 737-800NG freighter in China Postal Airlines’ livery
FAA mandates UAV registration as of Dec. 21
Credit: FAA
A small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) registration website administered by FAA will go live Dec. 21 and all small UAV owners in the US will be required to register their devices.
FlyEgypt to offer scheduled services
Credit: FlyEgypt
Young Egyptian charter operator FlyEgypt plans to start offering scheduled services within the next year.
Norwegian retires final 737-300
Credit: Norwegian
Norwegian’s last Boeing 737-300, LN-KKW, sits on a rain-swept Bodø apron, before becoming a museum exhibit there.
Rolls-Royce's Seletar facility to build Trent engines for A330neos
Credit: Airbus
Rolls-Royce will build more than 300 Trent 7000 engines for all new Airbus A330neos in Singapore at its Seletar facility.
KLIA wants three abandoned 747 freighters removed
Credit: MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
Abandoned Boeing 747-200F aircraft with the registration numbers TF-ARM (L) and TF-ARN (R) are seen parked on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.
Avianca Brazil, inks codeshares with Turkish Ethiopian airlines
Credit: Aaron Karp
Avianca Brazil CEO Jose Efromovich (L) and Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil (R) shake hands after signing a codeshare agreement at the Star Alliance chief executive board meeting in Chicago.
Boeing unveils first 737 MAX 8
Credit: Boeing
Boeing has rolled its first 737 MAX 8 out of the Renton, Washington, final assembly facility.
ATR 72-600 high-density seating layout certified by EASA
Transport commissioner details Europe's new aviation strategy
Credit: European Commission
European transport commissioner Violeta Bulc has detailed Europe’s new aviation strategy, although some stakeholders have criticized its lack of deliverables.
Etihad Airways selected as 2016 ATW Airline of the Year
Credit: Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has been selected as the 2016 Air Transport World Airline of the Year, it was announced at a reception in New York Dec. 3. Pictured: Center, left, ATW Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker with Etihad president and CEO James Hogan (center-right) at the Etihad announcement reception.
Search narrowed for MH370
Credit: Australian Transport Safety Bureau/Google Earth
Australian investigators believe both of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370’s engines flamed out, suggesting the Boeing 777-200 was not intentionally ditched. Photo: Probability distribution of the location of MH370 from ATSB’s report. The colors represent the different location probabilities, with the lowest probability represented by dark blue and the highest probability represented by red.
Boeing finishes 787-10 detailed design
Credit: Boeing
Boeing has completed the 787-10’s detailed design, paving the way for assembly to begin on the largest aircraft in the Dreamliner family in 2016.
Turkish Airlines converts options on A321neos, 737-8 MAXs
Linda Blachly is Senior Associate Editor for Air Transport World and Aviation Week. She joined the company in July 2010 and is responsible for producing features for Air Transport World’s monthly magazine and engaging content for the aviationweek.com. She is based in the Washington DC office.