Airlines

HNA buys 100 planes from Comac, giving China’s builder a leg up

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has received an order for 100 aircraft from HNA Aviation Group, which manages the fourth-largest fleet of aircraft in China. This deal gives the state-run manufacturer a competitive edge over Airbus and Boeing in the global aviation market.

At a ceremony attended by COMAC executives, members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as well as executives from Hainan Airlines, Suparna Airlines, and Urumqi Airlines, HNA Aviation Group signed firm orders for 60 COMAC C919 aircraft and a “intentional order” for 40 ARJ1s.

The contract gives Comac a boost as it works to realise President Xi Jinping’s goal of challenging Boeing and Airbus’ supremacy in the domestic and even international markets. By 2035, China wants to have a 10% share of the domestic aviation market.

The Leap-1C engines produced by CFM and other components, notably the Chinese jet’s avionics, provided by Collins Aerospace are only two examples of the Western manufacturers on which the C919 strongly depends.

When the HNA Group declared its plan to acquire 200 C919s and 100 ARJ21s in 2018, it had already inked a preliminary agreement with COMAC.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.