Boeing expects to finalise contracts with India’s SpiceJet and Indonesia’s Lion Air to launch its 737-900X higher-capacity version of the Next Generation 737 later this summer. It will review the business case for the 747 Advanced, a stretched version of the aircraft with 787-type engines, soon, with a launch decision coming towards year-end. If launched it would enter service in late 2008 or early 2009.
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury has made clear he expects the European airframer’s next narrowbody jet will be 25% more efficient than today’s models – and he is banking on CFM International’s in-development open-rotor engine to get there.
US air taxi developer Joby Aviation continues pursuing early operations of its yet-to-be-certificated electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the desert metropolises of the Middle East.