To further strengthen its fleet, India-based Spirit Air has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman. It is for purchasing six brand-new BN2T-4S Islander planes powered by twin Rolls-Royce (Allison) Model 250 turboprop engines. With a total output of 400shp, the aircraft has a 22 per cent increase in disposable payload. The aeroplane in question also benefits from an extra row of seats over the standard piston Islander variant.

The BN2T-4S Islander is the largest derivative of the range and comes equipped with the latest Garmin avionics, including PFD (Primary Flight Display), MFD (Multi-function Display) and electronic engine instrumentation. While the new aircraft are being built, Spirit Air will initially take delivery of four refurbished units of the same plane to start its expansion in operations.

Air India, part of the Tata Group, and CFM International, a JV between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, have finalised the order for 800 LEAP engines that will power the Indian carrier’s new fleet of 210 Airbus A320/321neos and 190 Boeing 737 Max family aeroplanes. The duo have also inked a multi-year services contract covering the airline’s fleet of LEAP engines. Details about this deal were first announced in February 2023. Currently, Air India has 27 A320neo aircraft in its fleet powered by LEAP-1A engines.

Also Read: Paris Air Show 2023: Air India Confirms Order For 540 Jets

After announcing upcoming upgrades for four Cessna variants, Textron Aviation has unveiled what it will offer in Beechcraft King Air 260 and 360 aircraft from 2024. Both turboprops will pack a new feature called CoolView windows. Manufactured by Lee Aerospace, this upgrade minimises heat transfer into the cabin on the ramp. How? A thin metallic inner layer significantly reduces the amount of infrared light entering the cabin. And that’s not all the CoolView windows will offer. They also feature a frost pane and an integrated window tint. As you’d expect, the frost pane helps reduce or eradicate ice buildup during long flights, and the window tint improves visibility by limiting sunlight and glare.

Textron confirms the CoolView windows are also available as an upgrade for existing in-use Beechcraft King Air turboprops. They can be purchased at authorised service centres and via Textron Aviation’s parts website.

One of the world’s oldest carriers, Delta Air Lines, has disclosed an order for 12 additional A220 aircraft. To be specific, the order extension is for the Airbus A220-300 plane. This takes the US-based airline’s firm order for the A220s to 131 – 45 A220-100 and 86 A220-300. Airbus confirms that it has received orders from the firm mentioned above five times over the years, all for A220 aircraft. Today, Delta Air Lines is the largest A220 customer and operator globally. The carrier’s first Airbus A220 joined its fleet in October 2018, the first for any airline in the USA. Presently, it has a fleet of 433 Airbus aeroplanes, including 61 A220s, 280 A320 Family aircraft, 64 A330s and 28 A350-900.

Also Read: Toulouse, Home To Airbus’ New Assembly Line

AvMet International LLC (AvMet) has contracted Textron Aviation to supply five Beechcraft King Air turboprops. The order comprises one 360CHW (cargo door, heavy weight) variant and four 260 derivatives. Once delivered, these aircraft will be fitted with all the necessary equipment to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology program for cloud seeding. AvMet and its partners Weather Modification International and Fargo Jet Center will jointly work to equip the four King Air 260 aeroplanes with a Cloud Water Inertial Probe, Data Logger with aircraft tracking and cloud-seeding equipment. The King Air 360CHW will be modified with cloud-seeding equipment, a research lab and an instrument package for studying cloud physics and aerosols.

If you require privacy, flexibility and quick travel times, you could use Emirates’ latest offering. The Dubai-based airline has introduced an on-demand regional charter service, specifically for those seeking shorter trips in the GCC from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The flying workhorse is a Phenom 100 twin-engine aircraft capable of flying to various destinations inside and outside the Emirates network. The list includes KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE. The four-seater flight will also offer refreshments, while each passenger can carry up to 15kg of one medium-sized bag. And that’s in addition to a carry-on handbag. In Dubai, users can expect Emirates Chauffeur Drive Services, VIP clearance at customs and immigration and short pre-flight waiting periods.

A new A320 Family final assembly line (FAL), owned and operated by Airbus, has begun operations. Installed in the former A380 “Jean-Luc Lagardère” assembly building in Toulouse, France, the new FAL went live in 2022, delivering the first fuselage sections. However, it is expected to roll out its first fully assembled A321 by the end of 2023. The new facility will help Airbus ramp up the production rate of the A320 Family aircraft to 75 per month in 2026. And, of course, it will play a crucial role in meeting the demand for the A321. Presently, this aeroplane accounts for around 60 per cent of the total A320 Family backlog.

Iceland’s leading carrier, Icelandair, has become the latest Airbus customer. The Keflavik-based airline has placed a firm order for 13 A321XLR aeroplanes. In addition, the company is also mulling over to lease four Airbus A321LRs. The A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) will help Icelandair to strengthen and expand operations. The new aircraft should also deliver better economics and meet sustainability targets. The first of the A321XLRs should be with Icelandair in 2029. However, the carrier has secured the lease of new A321LR aircraft with its long-term partner SMBC Aviation Capital Limited.