A new framework agreement has been inked between Airbus Helicopters and PHI Group. It includes commitments for two types of helicopters – twenty super-medium H175s and eight H160s. The overall count of 28 units comprises firm orders and purchase options that PHI may execute before the agreement’s deadline.

PHI Group, which has been supporting the energy industry for 74 years, operates over 200 helicopters worldwide. The fleet helps the company serve various markets, including energy and air medical. PHI’s Airbus fleet comprises H125, H135, H145, H160 and the H175. The latest addition – the H175 – has been in service since 2015. There are 54 of them currently in use, and have accumulated nearly 195,000 flying hours. Of that, 170,000 hours were spent serving the energy sector.

Dublin-headquartered aircraft lessor SMBC Aviation Capital has ordered 25 Boeing 737-8 jets, bumping the backlog to 81 for 737 Max family aircraft. The 737-8 derivative can seat between 162 and 210 passengers, depending on the configuration. The single-aisle aeroplane, one of the most popular globally, can cover 3,500 nautical miles nonstop. That range makes it an excellent fit to operate short- and medium-haul routes.

Earlier this month, Boeing received an order from another aircraft lessor – Aviation Capital Group.

Earlier this year, Heart Aerospace announced its collaboration with a US-based aerospace and defence systems supplier. It was for the Electrical Power Distribution System for the ES-30, the Swedish firm’s first all-electric regional aircraft. Today, it has confirmed another such collaboration. Heart Aerospace has decided to partner with Honeywell to integrate the latter’s fly-by-wire Flight Control System (FCS) into the abovementioned aircraft.

The said FCS is in an advanced stage of development on multiple aircraft. That said, its functions are adaptable to the ES-30 plane. This strategy will help Heart Aerospace complete the development process cost-effectively and introduce the aeroplane to the market more quickly.

The aeroplane maker already has 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 aircraft.

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing and Vietnam Airlines will expand their business ties further as the latter is set to order fifty 737-8 aeroplanes. Part of Boeing’s famous 737 Max family, the said variant will help the carrier extend service and add new routes to its network. This development surfaced today during a signing ceremony among the Vietnamese government officials, US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin.

The Boeing 737 Max family jets will allow Vietnam Airlines to fly up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480km) non-stop. That means the new aircraft can cover popular international destinations and regional routes. Presently, the airline has a fleet of fifteen Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which help serve more than fifty destinations in seventeen countries.

Also Read: Aviation Capital Group Extends Business With Boeing

American company Gulfstream Aerospace was pleasantly surprised by its upcoming offering – the G700. In a recent certification flight, the aircraft demonstrated that it could fly faster and cover longer distances than the initial expectations. To be more precise, the claimed range for the G700 has increased to 7,750 nautical miles (14,353km) at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nautical miles (12,316km) at Mach 0.90. That’s a gain of 250 nautical miles (463km) at both speeds.

The maximum operating speed also saw a bump, up from Mach 0.925 to Mach 0.935. That makes the G700 the fastest model in Gulfstream’s fleet. Another area where the aircraft exceeded original projections was in cabin altitude. A further reduction to 2,840 feet (866 metres) while flying at 41,000 feet (12,497 metres) was observed. That equates to a comfier experience for the passengers.

Gulfstream confirms that with more than 4,100 test hours clocked, the G700’s flight test program is close to completion.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has announced that it has received an order for an additional ten A350-900 widebody jets from Turkish Airlines. With that, Türkiye’s national flag carrier’s order book for the said type of aeroplane bumps to forty.

In August this year, Turkish Airlines had placed an order for four A350-900s. The airline already operates a fleet of fourteen A350-900s. While there’s no delivery date mentioned yet, the expanded fleet of those Airbus aircraft will help the Istanbul-based carrier reach a broader global customer base.

Also Read: An MOU Signed Between Turkish Airlines And Thai Airways

The world’s largest international airline, Emirates, has confirmed the expansion of codeshare partnerships with two carriers – Aegean and United. With Aegean, Greece’s flagship carrier, the Dubai-based airline has added the Athens-New York (Newark) route. With that included, the codeshare partnership for Aegeon expands to 17 domestic destinations and 53 additional locations in Europe and the Middle East from its hub in Athens. On the other hand, Emirates customers have access to more than 140 destinations worldwide from its Dubai hub. The combined network for both carriers will reach 200 points globally.

With United, Emirates has extended its codeshare partnership to comprise nine destinations in Mexico. That means Emirates passengers will now have access to eight new locations in the Latin American nation. The list includes Mexico City, Cancun, Cozumel, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, San Jose Del Cabo, Leon/Guanajuato, and Queretaro. Passengers can fly to those points via either Houston or Chicago. Those planning to benefit from this codeshare expansion can do so with travels from September 14, 2023. Mexico is the first country outside the USA added to the duo’s growing partnership.

Lufthansa Group has given Eurowings Discover a new brand identity. From hereon, the European carrier will be known as Discover Airlines. The first Airbus A320, with registration D-AIUR, flaunting the new design, landed in Frankfurt yesterday and takes its maiden flight to Palma de Mallorca today.

The rebranded airline’s signage at Frankfurt Airport and other stations worldwide, along with several other items, will be replaced in days and weeks to come. The carrier also confirmed that its crews’ uniform accessories and cabin furnishings will reflect the new brand identity from December 2023.

Over the coming year, Discover Airlines will expand its fleet of aircraft to 28. That includes five Airbus A320s and one Airbus A330. Moreover, five short-haul aeroplanes will be based in Munich and take flight around 60 times per week to serve 23 destinations in the summer of 2024. Ten Airbus A320s and thirteen Airbus A330s will be flying from Frankfurt to 33 short- and medium-haul locations and 17 long-haul destinations. Discover Airlines also plans to offer long-haul flights from Munich.