Aviation
How many aircraft Airbus built in last 50 years ?
The month in review: January 2020
Airbus logged net orders in January for 274 commercial aircraft from its A220, A320 and A350 XWB product lines in activity that included two new customers for the A220, additional market traction for the A320/A321 as reference products in the single-aisle segment, and further endorsements for the A350 XWB with repeat orders from two customers. During the month, 31 deliveries were made from the A220, A320, A330 and A350 XWB aircraft families.
The single-aisle new business was led by the purchase finalisation by Spirit Airlines of the U.S. for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, involving 47 A319neo, 33 A320neo and 20 A321neo versions and U.S.-based Air Lease Corporation’s 102-aircraft order for 50 A220-300s, 25 A321neo versions and 27 A321XLRs (becoming a new customer for this extra long-range version).
Also during the month, two lessors acquired additional A320 Family aircraft for their portfolios, with China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC) signing a purchase agreement for 40 A321neo versions, and Singapore-based BOC Aviation Limited placing a firm order for 20 A320neo aircraft.
Net Orders and Deliveries in last 50 years (Dec 1970-Dec 2019)
by aircraft Orders Deliveries In Fleet A220-100 95 37 37 A220-300 505 68 68 A318 80 80 65 A319ceo 1486 1479 1424 A319neo 37 2 2 A320ceo 4770 4749 4396 A320neo 3896 894 894 A321ceo 1791 1753 1725 A321neo 3255 290 290 A300 561 561 235 A310 255 255 68 A330-200 660 640 606 A330-200F 41 38 38 A330-300 785 770 755 A330-800 14 A330-900 323 44 44 A340-200/300 246 246 129 A340-500/600 131 131 110 A350-900 750 308 308 A350-1000 176 39 39 A380 251 242 240 TOTAL 20108 12626 11473
Jan 2020 updated details
A300/A310 | A220/A320 | A330/A340/A350 | A380 | Total | |
Total orders | 816 | 16180 | 3135 | 251 | 20382 |
Total deliveries | 816 | 9380 | 2219 | 242 | 12657 |
Aircraft in fleet | 303 | 8921 | 2027 | 240 | 11491 |
Summary to 31 January 2020
Rosen’s Touchless Aircraft cabins for the future – Jetline Marvel
Aviation
All passengers killed in plane crash, after pilot let his children to control the plane
When boarding a plane, passengers entrust their safety to the skilled hands of the pilot. However, tragedy struck when one of the flight ended in disaster as all passengers lost their lives in a horrific plane crash.
In 1994, during a flight from Moscow to Hong Kong, tragedy struck as an Aeroflot relief pilot made a fateful decision. In a move that would have devastating consequences, the pilot invited his own children into the cockpit to play with the controls. Little did anyone know, this seemingly innocent gesture would lead to the loss of all 75 lives aboard the aircraft.
It was a seemingly innocent act that led to catastrophic results. The relief pilot, Mr. Kudrinsky, invited his two children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 15, into the cockpit during the late hours of the night. Little did anyone know, this simple gesture would set off a chain of events that would end in tragedy.
Once in the cockpit, the children were allowed to sit in the captain’s chair and play with the controls, unaware that they should have been disabled as the plane was in autopilot mode.
Eldar, perhaps in a moment of curiosity or innocence, held the control column down for a mere 30 seconds. Yet, in those brief moments, the autopilot disengaged, thrusting the aircraft into manual control.
By the time the pilots regained their seats and attempted to regain control, it was too late. Despite their efforts to pull the plane out of a dive, they overcorrected, causing the flight to climb almost vertically, ultimately stalling it.
Final moment Flight 593 crash
In the final moments, as the pilots struggled to stabilize the aircraft, Flight 593 crashed into the Kuznetsk Alatau Mountain range in southern Russia, completely obliterating the plane and claiming the lives of everyone on board.
Investigations revealed a chilling truth: there was no evidence of technical failure. Instead, the crash was attributed to the unthinkable decision to allow inexperienced hands to manipulate the controls of a commercial aircraft.
The black box recording captured the harrowing sequence of events, providing a grim reminder of the human cost of a lapse in judgment. In just over two minutes, the lives of all on board were tragically short, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and unanswered questions.
Aviation
American Airlines Flight Attendant Orders First-Class Traveler to use Economy Restroom
On a recent American Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare to Phoenix, Pamela Hill-Veal, a retired circuit court judge, found herself at the center of a disturbing incident.
Despite traveling in First Class, she was directed by a flight attendant to use the Economy Class restroom, sparking allegations of racial discrimination. According to Hill-Veal, the ordeal began when she used the dedicated First Class lavatory during the flight. A flight attendant approached her, accusing her of slamming the door and issued a warning.
Despite remaining calm, Hill-Veal faced further confrontation when she attempted to use the First Class restroom again later in the flight. The situation escalated as the flight attendant persisted in berating Hill-Veal, who felt targeted due to her race. She highlighted the disparate treatment, noting that white passengers were not subjected to similar directives.
In a distressing turn, the flight attendant followed Hill-Veal to her seat and allegedly touched her while threatening arrest upon landing. This alarming encounter left Hill-Veal feeling humiliated and traumatized, impacting her ability to rest even after the flight.
American Airlines has responded, expressing a commitment to investigating the matter and addressing discrimination claims seriously. However, the incident underscores ongoing concerns about racial bias in air travel and the need for accountability in ensuring all passengers are treated with dignity and respect.
Aviation
Southwest CEO Signals Major Shift: Farewell to Open Seating
Southwest Airlines is contemplating a significant shift away from its traditional open seating policy, a move that could signal a departure from its long-standing business model.
The potential change, which would introduce assigned seating and premium seat options, is being considered to appeal to a younger demographic of travelers. This adjustment would mark one of the most substantial alterations for the carrier since its inception in 1971.
Unlike its competitors who have embraced premium seating offerings, Southwest has stuck to its open seating approach, albeit providing the option for early boarding at a fee. However, with rivals like United Airlines witnessing revenue growth from premium seating, Southwest is reevaluating its strategy. According to Forbes, the airline industry has seen a shift in customer preferences over time, prompting Southwest to reconsider its seating model designed during an era of lower load factors.
While Southwest CEO, Jordan,told to CNBC that he has neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of premium seating, he acknowledges that the company is exploring various options. He emphasized that while it’s still early in the decision-making process, the initial results are promising, hinting at potential changes in the future.
Southwest currently operates with a single economy class cabin across its all-Boeing 737 fleet, with no assigned seating. However, the airline does offer the option for early boarding for passengers to secure their preferred seats for an additional fee. Over the years, Southwest has maintained a focus on simplicity and user-friendliness in its offerings, striving to minimize costs and complexity.
In contrast, competitors like Delta and United have capitalized on revenue growth from premium seating options such as business class, demonstrating strong upsell rates. Analysts have repeatedly questioned Southwest about the potential for introducing premium seating or additional fees, although the airline has traditionally refrained from charging for the first two checked bags.
For now, the only way Southwest passengers can secure their preferred seats is by paying for an earlier boarding position, as the airline continues to operate without assigned seating, allowing passengers to choose their seats upon boarding in a predetermined order.