Before leaving at the end of 2021 Rupa led Aviation Week Network's digital content strategy, content marketing and audience engagement. She joined Aviation Week in 2010.
Previously, she led multi-stakeholder communications at London City Airport where she was responsible for a number of high profile campaigns. Prior to that, she worked in brand communications and public relations roles in the business and leisure travel industry.
Florida’s Spirit Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 75 narrowbodies at this week's Dubai air show. The deal, valued at $7 billion, is for 45 A320NEOs with winglets and 30 A320s. An engine decision is still open. Ben Baldanza, president and CEO of Spirit, says he expects the MOU to become a firm order before year-end. When the new aircraft join Spirit's existing fleet of 35 A320 family aircraft, they will be used on targeted routes in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, Baldanza adds.
Oman Air has transferred its existing leasing agreement for six Boeing 787-8s to a firm order placed directly with the aircraft maker. The new arrangement was announced at this week's Dubai air show. The airline previously had options for the six aircraft through Kuwaiti leasing firm Aviation Lease and Finance Co. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Oman Air is the first customer in the region to select the Trent 1000.
Hours after publicly upbraiding Airbus Tuesday, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker made an about-face and signed a multi-billion-dollar deal for up to eight Airbus A380s and 80 A320NEOs. The firm orders in the deal are worth $6.4 billion at list prices.
