Aviation

Etihad Reactivates Another A380 and Unveils New Route

Etihad Airways has announced the return of a seventh Airbus A380 aircraft to its fleet, marking a significant boost to its capacity on key global routes.

Grounded during the pandemic, the iconic superjumbos are making a comeback in response to rising demand for premium travel, as revealed by etihad Chief Revenue Officer, Arik De, at the Routes World 2024 event. As reported by Aerospace Global News.

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The reintroduced A380s are already flying on major routes like London and New York, with Paris set to join the list on November 1, 2024. A new route to Singapore will follow on February 1, 2025. Additionally, De hinted at a fifth, yet-to-be-announced destination—one that has never been served by the A380 before.

The airline has also deployed the airbus a380 seating capacity on select routes to India for a special four-month period starting in September 2024. This move reflects the growing global demand for international air travel, etihad guest particularly in premium cabins.

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Etihad’s strategy to reintroduce the A380 is aimed at strengthening its presence in highly competitive markets like London and New York, where the aircraft’s capacity and luxury onboard services are expected to appeal compared to a380 vs 747 both leisure and business travelers.

Aviation

COMAC Secures $1.5B Regional Jets Order Deal with Hainan Airlines

In a move to strengthen its fleet and boost regional service, Hainan Airlines Holding Co. announced plans to acquire 40 ARJ21-700 jets from China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC). As reported by Bloomberg.
The total deal, valued at up to $1.52 billion, highlights Hainan Airlines’ commitment to expanding its domestic reach with locally manufactured aircraft. The low-cost carrier Urumqi Air, part of Hainan’s group, will operate these jets under the deal, which outlines the delivery of aircraft in batches starting in 2025 and concluding by 2032.
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The ARJ21-700, China’s first independently developed regional jet, is designed for short- to medium-haul routes, making it a strategic fit for Urumqi Air’s service network. This regional jet features a seating configuration of 78 to 97 passengers, comac c919 price along with a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers—ideal for connecting smaller cities across China.
With this acquisition, Urumqi Air aims to further bolster regional connectivity, meeting the growing demand for efficient, economical travel options.In line with COMAC’s established naming conventions seen with the C919 narrowbody and the upcoming C929 widebody aircraft, the ARJ21-700’s designation emphasizes COMAC’s expanding product lineup.
Notably, in mid-October 2024, this updated jet model name was spotted on aircraft at Shanghai Pudong Airport, stirring anticipation about COMAC’s future plans.