The Dubai Airshow 2023 might be over, but Airbus isn’t done doing business for the year. The European aircraft manufacturer has bagged an order for sixty A320neo family jets from aircraft lessor SMBC Aviation Capital. The new deal extends the latter’s order for the said type of aeroplane to 340. That means the Dublin-headquartered firm will keep adding new Airbus aircraft to its fleet beyond the end of the current decade.

In September this year, SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 25 Boeing 737-8 jets. Airbus, on the other hand, has had a busy November 2023. At the Dubai Airshow 2023, the aircraft maker received orders from Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir and airBaltic. Before that, Airbus delivered the first A321Neo to ITA Airways and bagged an order for six jets from Air Niugini.

November 19, 2023, marked a special day for two North American firms – Gulfstream and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney. Why? A G600 business jet, made by the former, with two PW815GA turbofan engines manufactured by the latter, flew from Savannah, Georgia, USA, to Farnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom, using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). That made it the first transatlantic flight to be solely powered by SAF.

The Gulfstream G600 was fed with 100 per cent Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), which lowers lifecycle CO2 emissions by at least 70 per cent compared to fossil-based aviation fuel. The SAF used was produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services.

Also Read: Pratt & Whitney Signs A 10-Year Contract With Emirates

Last month, Maldives-based carrier Beond invited TCI to check out its first aircraft in Dubai – an Airbus A319 with 44 lay-flat seating, luxurious appointments and a starting fare of about EUR 1,500. Now, the airline has commenced commercial flights. The first one was from Munich to Male, wowing onlookers with its dark livery and copper highlights. Beond will fly this route twice weekly.

That’s not all, as the carrier also flew its inaugural flight to its hometown in Male from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Riyadh. The passengers boarded the flight from ALTANFEETHI – a private terminal for those uber-wealthy passengers.

Besides Munich and Riyadh, Beond has already announced services from Zurich, Milan and Dubai. Over the next five years, the airline intends to serve 60 destinations worldwide. It will expand its fleet to 32 aircraft, including new Airbus A321 jets due next year.