Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) confirms that an affiliate has inked an agreement to acquire the rights, interests, and obligations to 64 Boeing 737 Max aircraft from a subsidiary of China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC). The count includes units of 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10 derivatives. The delivery of the aeroplanes will be completed by 2026.

With this acquisition of aeroplanes, the percentage of new-gen aircraft in DAE’s fleet will increase from 50 to 66 per cent. Also, DAE’s owned, managed, committed, and mandated-to-manage aircraft fleet will bump to 550, valued at nearly USD 20 billion. The UAE-based firm says the transaction with CALC will likely be completed in the third quarter of this year.

GE Aerospace confirms that its GEnx engines have surpassed the 50 million flight hours mark in less than 12 years – the fastest-ever rate for a commercial widebody engine. The engine family is also the fastest-selling in GE history, with nearly 3,000 units in service and on backlog, including spares.

The GEnx-1B, which propels the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family, has accumulated close to 32 million flight hours since entering service in 2012. On the other hand, the GEnx-2B has amassed 18 million hours since it began service in 2011 on the Boeing 747-8. Combined, the engine family serves over 70 operators worldwide with a monthly average of 450,000 flight hours. Over the years, the GEnx engines have played their part in some of the longest flights, including a record-breaking trip in 2020 between Papeete in French Polynesia and Paris. That flight covered 9,765 miles, which converts into 15,715km or 8,485 nautical miles.

To further grow flight connectivity operations at the Hong Kong international aviation hub and to modernise its fleet, the Cathay Group has announced its intention to purchase up to 32 Airbus A321neo and A320neo jets. Once placed, the order will shoot the Group’s new aircraft deliveries above 70. The newly purchased aeroplanes will likely be delivered by 2029 and will expand the fleets of Cathay Pacific and HK Express carriers. That will help the Group serve multiple destinations in mainland China and other parts of Asia.