Engine upgrades are welcomed by aircraft manufacturers and operators alike, but few appear to have as much potential to bring a much-needed boost to an aircraft's orderbook so relatively early in its life cycle as the improved GEnx-2B on Boeing's 747-8.

Allen S. Novick, a former Rolls-Royce/ Allison executive who helped transform the fortunes of the Indianapolis-based aeroengine maker with a revolutionary development concept, died on Dec. 9. He was 70. Novick led Allison's efforts to design, develop and produce the world's first family of turboshaft, turboprop and turbofan engines for military and civil use based on a single common core.

Industry has long recognized the value of collaborating with government on applied research projects, especially in the pursuit of breakthrough technologies. Access to specialized skills and state-of-the-art facilities, not to mention risk sharing, are just a few of the direct benefits. Such cooperation has been instrumental in helping companies validate and commercialize advanced capabilities sooner than if they had been working alone.

With 1,579 firm orders since its launch, the Airbus A320NEO (new engine option) family has clearly scored well with both airlines and lessors. And with the aircraft designed for minimum change beyond the new engines, managing the transition may well be the biggest challenge.

The tie-up of Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic is very much about better access to the London Heathrow Airport market, connections and serving business travelers well. Delta's decision is only the latest factor that is likely to spur change and rearrangement at Europe's most important airport for long-haul services.

Backlogs of Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 are under siege.

In 2008, when slot values at London Heathrow Airport were at their peak, Continental Airlines paid more than $200 million to acquire four landing slot-pairs. Four years later, Delta Air Lines has struck a deal to acquire 49% of Virgin Atlantic—which controls 44 long-haul landing slot pairs at Heathrow—from Singapore Airlines for the bargain-basement price of $360 million.

A U.K. project to use air traffic radar data to improve the environmental performance of aircraft operating into airports has led to reduced CO2 and fuel-burn levels.