Jon Hemmerdinger
Jonathan Hemmerdinger is Americas managing editor for FlightGlobal, covering all aspects of aviation, with a particular focus on the companies that make commercial aircraft and their suppliers. He formerly covered business for Maine’s largest newspaper. Before that, he worked at Independence Air
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NewsBombardier CEO says ‘better opportunities’ behind decision to skip upcoming EBACE show
Bombardier’s decision not to exhibit at the EBACE business jet convention in Geneva next month reflects a belief that its marketing dollars can be put to better use elsewhere.
NewsBombardier starts year with $110m profit and new branding
Bombardier turned a $110 million profit in the first quarter of 2022 despite a dip in aircraft deliveries, and has rolled out a new logo it says reflects the company’s shift to become a manufacturer of business jets only.
NewsSouthwest cuts four cities from network and shuffles Max 7 orders after $231m first-quarter loss
Southwest Airlines is cutting several destinations from its network, pushing employee time-off programmes, and considering seating changes after surging costs and Boeing 737 Max delivery delays pushed it to a $231 million first-quarter loss.
NewsGulfstream begins G700 deliveries
Gulfstream has now started delivering of its newly certificated G700 ultra-long-range business jet, having handed two of the 19-passenger jets to customers.
NewsCollins Aerospace takes Q1 financial hit from switching titanium suppliers
Collins Aerospace took a $175 million hit in the first quarter of 2024 due to switching suppliers of titanium, though the aerospace giant still turned an $849 million operating profit in the period.
NewsGTF groundings peak but exact figures remain elusive
RTX estimates that the number of jets grounded by subsidiary Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W) recall of its geared turbofans (GTFs) has peaked, though executives on 23 April provided few details about the degree of disruption caused.
NewsHarbour Air plans to buy 50 Magnix propulsion systems for envisioned all-electric fleet
Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air has signalled its intention to purchase 50 electric propulsion systems from US developer Magnix, a move supporting the airline’s goal of creating a fleet of all-electric De Havilland Canada aircraft.
NewsRobin Hayes to succeed Jeffrey Knittel as Airbus Americas CEO
Former JetBlue Airways chief executive Robin Hayes will succeed Jeffrey Knittel as chairman and chief executive of Airbus Americas, effective 3 June.
NewsFAA administrator orders longer rest periods for air traffic controllers, union pushes back
The Federal Aviation Administration will soon require that air traffic controllers be given more time off between shifts, a response to concern about controller fatigue and to several recent close-calls involving commercial jets.
NewsAlaska lost $132 million in Q1 amid 737 Max 9 grounding
The financial impact of grounding its 65 Boeing 737 Max 9s in January pushed Alaska Air Group to a $132 million loss in the first quarter of 2024.
In depthWhistleblower warns Congress of 787 manufacturing concerns but Boeing pushes back
A current Boeing quality engineer told lawmakers on 17 April that the fuselages of more than 1,000 787s could be subject to early failure due to manufacturing “shortcuts” – an allegation Boeing firmly refutes.
NewsBoeing insists wealth of data shows long-term integrity of 787 fuselages
Boeing engineers insist they are confident in the long-term structural integrity of the 787’s composite fuselage, saying extensive testing and examination has shown that the fuselages retain durability far longer than most airlines will ever fly the jets.
NewsKLM 787 aborts take-off to avoid another 787 on same runway
Pilots of a KLM Boeing 787 aborted take-off at Toronto on 22 March after controllers realised the jet was accelerating toward a second 787 still on the runway.
NewsBreeze turns first full-month profit in March amid shift to all-A220 fleet
Fast-growing US start-up Breeze Airways turned its first full-month operating profit in March, reflecting rapid revenue gains amid quick expansion.
NewsBoeing slowed deliveries in first quarter but landed net new orders for 126 jets
Boeing’s delivery pace slowed in the first quarter of 2024 as it addressed quality and safety concerns, though the company logged a strong quarter for new orders, thanks largely to several deals reached in March.
In depthOne-third of jets with P&W GTF engines sitting idle as recall impact spreads
Analysis of Cirium data shows scale of PW1000G-series grounding, with 637 of almost 2,000 GTF-powered jets out of service as of 1 April.
NewsFAA grants Gulfstream cabin and production certificates for G700
Gulfstream has still not said when it expects to deliver the first of its recently certificated G700 long-range business jets, but the company has received additional certifications that bring the milestone closer.
NewsA220 technicians reject latest Airbus contract proposal and seek better pay as airframer works to stem losses
Workers at Airbus’s A220 manufacturing site near Montreal have rejected the company’s latest pay offer, marking continuation of a negotiation process that previously left the union warning of a go-slow by its members.
NewsSpirit defers acquisition of new Airbus jets and plans pilot furloughs
Financially troubled US discounter Spirit Airlines has hauled back its fleet-expansion plans by deferring delivery of new Airbus A320neo-family jets previously scheduled for delivery between the second quarter of 2025 and end-2026.
NewsRussian nationals plead guilty in US court to conspiring to ship 737 components to Russia
Two Russian nationals pleaded guilty in US federal court on 4 April to a conspiracy involving the export of commercial aircraft parts from the USA to Russia, a violation of US export laws imposed following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.