November 20, 2023News

Beond Starts Flights From Munich And Riyadh

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.

Rachit Shad Trehan

Warning! Can talk cars for hours.

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December 8, 2023

Cathay Cargo To Buy Up To 26 Airbus A350F Freighters

To make Hong Kong the world’s top air cargo hub, Cathay Group has placed a firm order for Airbus A350F Freighters. The agreement also gives the option for the Hong Kong-based airline to purchase a further 20 such aircraft. Cathay confirms that the first units from this order will start arriving in 2027. These freighter aircraft will help the carrier link its hub and China Mainland with long-haul destinations across North America, South America and Europe.

Presently, Cathay Group’s Cargo services are handled by 20 Boeing 747 freighters, including 14 B747-8Fs and 6 B747-400ERFs. In addition to those purpose-built aircraft, the airline serves cargo needs with belly capacity on its fleet of passenger aeroplanes.

The order book for Cathay Group currently includes 21 Boeing 777-9s, with deliveries expected to start in 2025, and 49 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, all expected to join the fleet by 2029.

December 7, 2023

Pratt & Whitney Propels The Falcon 6X Into Service

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada joins Dassault Aviation in celebrating the latter’s Falcon 6X’s entry into service. The business jet, which had bagged its type certifications from EASA and FAA earlier this year, is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW812D turbofan engines. The Falcon 6X entered service on November 30, 2023.

In the testing phase, the engines proved so fuel-efficient that they could fly the largest Falcon jet for up to 5,500 nautical miles (10,200km). Plus, compared to direct competition, the PW812D also offers improvements over noise and emissions. Pratt & Whitney Canada claims that the PW800 series engines require 40 per cent less scheduled maintenance and 20 per cent fewer inspections when compared to rivals in the same class.

The engines in question are already compatible with a 50 per cent blend of kerosene-based jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Further tests are being conducted for up to 100 per cent use of SAF.