HAECO announces 290,000sq ft facility in Dallas
December 24, 2024
HAECO is establishing a new 290,000sq ft engine repair and maintenance facility in Dallas, scheduled to open in January 2025. The Hong Kong-based MRO group says the project, developed in partnership with the City of Dallas, will create over 100 new jobs and expand the company's aircraft engine repair capabilities. The facility will focus on next-generation aircraft engine industrialisation and repair, incorporating advanced manufacturing technologies. HAECO, which operates facilities in Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, and Dallas, plans to implement workforce development programs as part of its local community investment. The expansion aims to address growing demand for aircraft engine services while maintaining EASA and FAA compliance.
DOT approves Delta's Washington National-Seattle application
December 23, 2024
Delta Air Lines will launch flights between Ronald Reagan Washington National airport and Seattle-Tacoma International airport on 9 March 2025, following the US Department of Transportation's approval of the US major's application for a Washington National slot. The new route will be operated using Airbus A321neos, Delta says. With this final order, Delta will offer a nonstop flight to all three of its western hubs from the nation's capital. Delta also operates flights from Seattle to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei and plans to transition to A350s on these routes in spring 2025. "Seattle is a key market for our customers, a crucial hub for Delta, and a premier West Coast gateway," states Delta president Glen Hauenstein. "Delta commends the Department of Transportation for recognising that additional service from DCA to Seattle will give consumers the much-needed competition and choice they deserve." In addition to reauthorising and funding both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board through 30 September 2028, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 signed into law on 16 May by US president Joe Biden authorised 10 new slot exemptions at Washington National. US carriers American, United, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska and Spirit submitted applications for the new slots. Alaska has received approval from the DOT to launch flights between San Diego and Washington National.
Lufthansa Group orders five more A350-1000s
December 23, 2024
Lufthansa Group has agreed a firm purchase agreement covering five additional Airbus A350-1000s, bringing its total orders of the variant to 15. The German airline group notes that it has also ordered a total of 60 A350-900s. Fleets data indicates that 32 of these have already been delivered. Deliveries under the latest deal are scheduled for 2028-30. "With the state-of-the-art A350 long-haul jets, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernisation in our history," states Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr. "We are investing more than ever before in our history to make air transport more sustainable, to achieve our CO2 reduction targets and at the same time offer our customers the highest level of comfort with a first-class travel experience." The group first ordered the A350-1000 in March 2023, signing a firm agreement for 10 jets scheduled to arrive from April 2026. In total, Lufthansa Group has outstanding orders for around 250 aircraft, including 100 long-haul jets which will replace the carrier’s four-engined aircraft as they are phased out, namely the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-600 and A340-300. "Including today's order, Lufthansa Group has ordered 770 aircraft from Airbus throughout its history and is proud to be the Airbus's largest customer worldwide," adds Spohr. "With the upcoming integration of ITA Airways in January, the Airbus fleet of Lufthansa Group airlines will grow by another 100 short- and long-haul aircraft." The A350-900 can carry up to 350 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, says Airbus. The figure for the A350-1000 is 410.