Final year-end figures show just 157 Boeing airliners were delivered in 2020, compared to 380 in 2019—revealing the full impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged grounding of the 737 MAX on the company’s commercial business. Released as part of Boeing’s fourth quarter production statement, the tally includes 43 737s—31 of which were
Between the COVID-19-related decline in air travel and increased scrutiny on airplane fuel consumption, it’s been a rough time for airlines. But in new research, scientists from the University of Oxford offer a novel way to turn waste CO2 into usable hydrocarbons—and even into jet fuel. You love badass science stuff. So do we. Let's nerd out together.
Despite expecting world passenger traffic to have a compound growth rate of just 2.6% a year over the next decade, Brazilian planemaker Embraer senses an opportunity. They expect a worldwide demand for 5,500 new aircraft with up to 150-seats over the next decade, representing a total market value of US$350 billion. Despite slowing demand for new
With its latest ultra-long-range models skirting the sound barrier in flight test, Gulfstream Aerospace has continued to research supersonic possibilities. However, company president Mark Burns cautions that it could be 10 years before such a supersonic business jet actually reaches the market. Gulfstream has reported that the G650 and G700 both reached Mach 0.99 in
The FAA has lifted its grounding order for the Boeing 737 Max and published an airworthiness directive (AD) specifying needed design changes and new training requirements for the airplane, the agency announced Wednesday. Although FAA Administrator Steve Dickson signed an order that provides a pathway for the Max to resume commercial service, the agency stressed that its actions
Most airlines are resigned to the next few months being flat at best in terms of international air travel demand amid widespread restrictions, quarantine requirements and rising coronavirus cases in many regions. Impatient carriers will continue to burn through cash and resize operations, in the hope that next year will bring some better news. It seems
The inside of the GE9X gets about as hot as lava. It can create 105,000 pounds of thrust. And it’s very large. Late last month, the Federal Aviation Administration signed off on the biggest commercial jet engine in the world. The huge thrusters that it certified are the GE9X engines, one of which hangs under each wing
Coronavirus has hit few sectors harder than air travel, wiping out tens of thousands of jobs and uncountable billions in revenue. While most fleets were grounded, the industry was forced to reimagine its future When an airline no longer wants a plane, it is sent away to a boneyard, a storage facility where it sits
Airbus announced it considers a possible way to keep its employees and limit job losses. The European manufacturer thinks about the idea to reduce working time in production areas in France for the next two years in order to help the struggling company confine the job cuts. Donald Fraty, the Head of Human Resources of
The U.S. Air Force announced it has already flown a new prototype fighter. We know virtually nothing about the new plane ... other than it exists. Most observers did not expect a new fighter for another decade. The U.S. Air Force revealed this week that it has secretly designed, built, and tested a new prototype fighter jet. The fighter, about