Aviation

Qatar Airways is awarded the best airline in the world in 2022.

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Qatar Airways has been named as the airline of the year by AirlineRatings.com, the only website in the world that rates products, safety, and COVID.

In the list of AirlineRatings.com’s Best Airlines for 2022, the Doha-based carrier edged out Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, and Korean Air for the top place. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Virgin Australia were the next three airlines included.

AirlineRatings.com “Excellence is the goal at Qatar Airways, headed by Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, at every touchpoint,” stated Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas of the airline ratings’ excellence awards, which highlight the world’s Best Airlines.

“Mr. Al Baker’s quest of quality has resulted in several enhancements to aircraft, and travellers around the world are better off as a result of Qatar Airways’ commitment to excellence.

“The airline has a tonne of firsts for the industry. First to successfully complete IATA’s crucial IOSA safety exam and the first to have both AirlineRatings and Skytrax fully audited and certified as COVID compliant.

Qatar Airways also took out Best Business Class. “The airline’s Qsuite is a first-class experience in business class and our judges rated it as the best overall business-class product they had seen,” said Mr Thomas.

Top Twenty Airlines 2022

AirlineRatings.com also named its Best of the Best: Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia, EVA Air, Turkish Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Air Lines, JetBlue, Finnair, Emirates, Hawaiian, Air France/KLM, Alaska Airlines and British Airways.

Source : Airline Ratings

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.