France has dispatched a specialist naval vessel to the area where EgyptAir flight MS804 is believed to have crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. The survey vessel Laplace sailed from Porto Vecchio, Corsica, May 26 and is scheduled to arrive in the area 295 km (183 miles) from the Egyptian coastline where the Airbus A320 disappeared from radar on May 19 with 66 passengers and crew on board during a Paris-Cairo flight.
Beijing-based Air China has taken delivery of its first of 15 Boeing 787-9s, becoming the first airline in China to introduce the type into service.
Embraer E190-E2 makes first flight
Credit: Embraer
The Embraer E190-E2 has achieved first flight in São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Vietjet orders 100 Boeing 737 MAX 200s
Credit: Boeing
Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet finalized an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 200 narrowbodies, a deal worth some $11.3 billion at list prices.
TAP Express takes delivery of first E190
Credit: TAP
TAP Portugal has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190, which will be operated by regional subsidiary TAP Express. It was placed into service May 23 on the Lisbon-Nice route.
Boeing delivers first 787 to Air Austral
Credit: Boeing
Réunion Island leisure carrier Air Austral has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787, becoming the first French operator of the type.
EgyptAir MS804 crash
Credit: TASS\TASS via Getty Images
A screenshot from Flightradar24.com showing the flight track of EgyptAir MS804 from Paris, France, to Cairo, Egypt.
Eight Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers have formed a new standards-based collaborative marketing group, using the IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) digital interoperability standard. The group, called Value Alliance, comprises Philippines-based Cebu Pacific, South Korea-based Jeju Air, Thailand’s Nok Air and NokScoot, Singapore-based Scoot and Tigerair, Tigerair Australia, and Japan’s Vanilla Air.
Aircraft debris found in late March on beaches at Mossel Bay, South Africa, and Rodrigues Island in Mauritius have been classified as “almost certainly” from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Pictured: Interior panel from an aircraft main cabin
MH370 possible debris
Credit: ATSB
Aircraft debris found in late March on beaches at Mossel Bay, South Africa, and Rodrigues Island in Mauritius have been classified as “almost certainly” from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Pictured: A partial Rolls-Royce logo
Air Serbia takes delivery of A330
Credit: Air Serbia
Belgrade-based Air Serbia has taken delivery of its first widebody aircraft, an Airbus A330, which will be used to launch long-haul services between Belgrade and New York.
J-AIR introduces E190
Credit: Embraer
J-Air Corp. (J-AIR), the regional offshoot of Japan Airlines (JAL), has introduced its Embraer E190 jet in Japan. The inaugural revenue flight took place May 9 between Osaka-Itami Airport and Kagoshima.
Icelandair has signed a purchase agreement for two more Boeing 767-300s, which will undergo a complete refurbishment before entering service.
TAAG Angola Airlines adds new 777-300ER
Credit: Boeing
TAAG Angola Airlines, the national airline of Angola, has taken delivery another Boeing 777-300ER, which will be used on Angola-Portugal double daily services from June 2. The 293-seat 777-300ER, TAAG’s fourth of the type, has a three-class configuration.
KLM's new 787-9 makes inaugural SFO-AMS flight
Credit: KLM
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9 made its inaugural flight on May 4 between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). KLM offers twice-weekly Dreamliner service throughout the summer season in addition to its daily frequency, currently operated by a Boeing 747-400 from SFO to AMS.
Solar Impulse finishes first leg of US transcontinental journey
LATAM Airline's first A350 XWB to cross the Atlantic lands in Madrid
Credit: LATAM
The first A350 XWB to cross the Atlantic, operated by LATAM Airlines, touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on May 3. The flight had taken off hours earlier, on the evening of May 2, from São Paulo/Guarulhos, and was received on the runway with a traditional water salute.
A350-900 gains ETOPS approval for 180 minutes diversion time
Credit: Airbus
The Airbus A350-900 has gained extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) approval from FAA for routes that require beyond 180 minutes diversion time, which will give US A350 operators more range and flexibility with the aircraft.
Linda Blachly is Senior Associate Editor for Air Transport World and Aviation Week. She joined the company in July 2010 and is responsible for producing features for Air Transport World’s monthly magazine and engaging content for the aviationweek.com. She is based in the Washington DC office.