The commercial aviation industry is navigating a serious supply chain crisis, leading airlines and aircraft lessors to adopt innovative strategies to maintain operational readiness. Recently, aircraft lessor Azorra partnered with Delta Material Services (DMS) to dismantle an Airbus A220-300 for spare parts, marking the first such occurrence for this relatively new aircraft model. Although dismantling modern aircraft is uncommon, this situation underscores the severity of the ongoing component...
Airbus
Air France-KLM trims Airbus order for A350 freighter
Air France-KLM has downsized its order with Airbus for the all-new A350 freighter in favor of more passenger aircraft following another delay for the freighter program.
Air France-KLM Group reduced its order from eight to six A350 freighters and converted the reservation for production slots to two A350-900 passenger jets following last month’s announcement that Airbus has postponed the A350 freighter’s entry into service until the second half of 2027, AFKLM spokesman Gerard Roelfzema said in an...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-france-klm-trims-airbus-order-for-a350-freighter
Airbus pospone el despliegue del carguero A350 hasta finales de 2027
Airbus dijo el jueves que está retrocediendo el lanzamiento comercial del nuevo carguero A350 hasta la segunda mitad de 2027 debido a los desafíos de producción continuos en el proveedor Spirit Aerosystems. La noticia ejerce más presión sobre la capacidad de grandes aviones de carga a finales de...
Airbus postpones rollout of A350 freighter until late 2027
Airbus on Thursday said it is pushing back the commercial release of the all-new A350 freighter until the second half of 2027 because of ongoing production challenges at supplier Spirit AeroSystems.
The news puts further pressure on capacity for large freighter aircraft later this decade as a significant portion of the global fleet reaches retirement age.
Problems producing a fuselage section at Wichita, Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems have slowed the manufacturing ramp-up of the passenger...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airbus-postpones-rollout-of-a350-freighter-until-late-2027
BelugaST fleet goes belly-up as Airbus closes cargo airline
Airbus has shut down its new for-hire cargo airline focused on transporting oversize shipments using the odd-shaped Beluga superfreighter because of self-described operational challenges and what appears to be weak demand for the service.
The aerospace manufacturer last week terminated Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), the specialized airfreight business introduced last March for hauling outsize cargo, and suspended BelugaST flights, Airbus confirmed in a statement.
French business daily Les Echos...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/belugast-fleet-goes-belly-up-as-airbus-closes-cargo-airline
Taiwanese startup Starlux Airlines doubles down on Airbus A350 freighter
Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines, which has been in business for five years and operates 26 passenger aircraft, is doubling down on its strategy to become a freighter operator in a region hungry for widebody shipping capacity.
The company on Thursday announced it has placed a firm order with Airbus for five more A350 next-generation freighters, doubling its previous order from last February.
Starlux Airlines will become the first Taiwanese airline to operate Airbus’ newly designed freighter later...
Etihad Airways orders 3 additional A350 freighters from Airbus
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Etihad Airways has decided to exercise an option for three Airbus A350 next-generation freighters, bringing its total order to 10 aircraft, said Stanislas Brun, vice president of cargo, in an interview with FreightWaves.
The Middle East carrier in 2022 committed to buy seven A350 future model cargo jets but is motivated to take more aircraft amid the relentless growth of e-commerce shipments from Asia to global consumers.
More than 20% of general air cargo volumes worldwide...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/etihad-airways-orders-3-additional-a350-freighters-from-airbus
Vendor troubles slow delivery of Amazon freighter aircraft
Amazon has four fewer Airbus package freighters for peak season than planned because the company responsible for converting the planes from passenger to cargo configuration is behind schedule and temporarily shifting production out of the United States until it can build a qualified workforce and supplier base. That has prompted charges of mismanagement from the lessor providing the aircraft.
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a joint venture between aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Singapore...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/vendor-troubles-slow-delivery-of-amazon-freighter-aircraft
Emirates’ 777 order underscores Airbus’ outlook for large freighters
The cargo branch of Dubai-based Emirates, the world’s fourth-largest airline by freight traffic, committed Tuesday to purchase an additional five 777 freighters from Boeing for $1 billion, adding needed supply of widebody freighters as demand for air shipping grows.
The announcement comes a day after Airbus upgraded by 3.3% its demand forecast for widebody freighters through 2043 but trimmed its overall outlook for freighter aircraft.
The Emirates order builds on one in 2022 for five 777 cargo...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/emirates-777-order-underscores-airbus-outlook-for-large-freighters
LDA Airbus ships will feature Berg hybrid propulsion system
Berg Propulsion has won a contract covering the hybrid propulsion solution that will ensure that three wind-assisted Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) RO/RO vessels maximize efficiency regardless of their mode of operation.
The vessels are being built for charter to Airbus and will transport aircraft subassemblies between Saint-Nazaire, France, and its single-aisle aircraft final assembly line in Mobile, Ala. Set to enter service in 2026, each will be fitted with six Norsepower rotor sails and two...
https://www.marinelog.com/technology/lda-airbus-ships-will-feature-berg-hybrid-propulsion-system/