Hello and welcome to the Farnborough Air Show 2024 (FIA24) live news and coverage here at AviationSource!
Be sure to bookmark this page throughout the event.
We will be updating with order news, interviews and much more!
Without further ado, let’s get into it…
Live News & Coverage from the Farnborough Air Show 2024 (FIA24)!…
Abra Group Signs MoU for 5 Airbus A350-900s…
And quite literally, before trading ends in a few minutes time, Airbus unveils yet another order.
Abra Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European planemaker for five A350-900 aircraft.
Abra Group is the majority investor of Avianca and GOL.
Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra Group said,“We are delighted to announce this agreement with Airbus. We believe the arrival of these five A350s, which offer a best-in-class passenger experience, are more fuel efficient and have a lower cost per seat than competitor aircraft, will allow us to strengthen our commitment to make travel more accessible and responsible. This also means better prices for customers with better connectivity between our continent and Europe, and will further consolidate Abra as one of the largest and most competitive air transportation groups in Latin America. The aircraft selection is consistent with the strategic announcements we have done this year and further executes on our long term vision.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business said, “We are delighted to see the Abra Group endorsing the A350 to continue its mission of strengthening air connectivity between Latin America and the rest of the world. The selection of the A350 reaffirms the aircraft as the undisputed leader in long-haul air travel.”
flynas Signs MOU for 75 A320neo Family Aircraft and 15 A330neos
flynas, Saudi Arabia’s leading low-cost carrier, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 75 A320neo family aircraft and 15 widebody A330-900 aircraft.
The new aircraft will join the carrier’s all Airbus fleet serving international, domestic and regional routes. The new A330-900 aircraft will boast a two-class configuration, accommodating up to 400 passengers.
“We are excited to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Airbus,” said Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas.
“The A320neo Family provides exceptional operational performance and environmental benefits, allowing us to offer unique, low-cost travel experiences.”
“Additionally, the A330neo will enhance our long-haul capabilities with its advanced technology and efficiency while supporting our growth plans and Saudi Arabia’s pilgrim program.”
End of Day 3 at FIA!
Farnborough Air Show 2024 Day 3 came to an end a few hours ago. Things have been quiet on the orders front today, which explains the lack of announcements through. We expect this to continue into tomorrow.
However, this has enabled the AviationSource Team to get some interesting access around the airshow.
Be sure to stay tuned for updates on our YouTube channel, but also the website too over the course of this weekend and next week.
On behalf of the team, we would like to thank you for tuning into our coverage over the last few days! It’s been greatly appreciated.
To see the article recap for Day 3, then click here!
To view the video recap, then see the embed below:
Good night!
Air Tahiti Orders 4 New ATR 72-600s
ATR has signed an order for four ATR 72-600 aircraft with Air Tahiti. The aircraft are supported by an eight-year Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA). Deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
As a dedicated operator of ATR aircraft for nearly 40 years, Air Tahiti has been crucial in providing essential connectivity to the communities in Tahiti and its islands.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 11 aircraft, comprising nine ATR 72-600 and two ATR 42-600. The introduction of these new aircraft will enable Air Tahiti to address both flight frequency and capacity.
Edouard Wong Fat, Air Tahiti’s Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the importance of the acquisition.
“Air Tahiti has been a cornerstone in Tahiti and its islands for more than 65 years, facilitating not just travel but a better quality of life.”
“By ensuring our communities have easy access to essential goods, services, and cultural experiences, we’ve also helped boost the local economy and tourism.”
Embraer E190 Freighter
Embraer has achieved a significant milestone with its latest conversion, the 190F E-Freighter. This aircraft, a conversion from passenger to full cargo configuration, recently received certification from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
The E-Freighter, which will fill an important market sector, debuted at the Farnborough Air Show this week.
Click here to read more about this!
BOOM Supersonic Accelerates Overture Development…
Yesterday, Boom Supersonic, developers of the new supersonic passenger aircraft, unveiled major advancements in their Overture airliner and Symphony engine programs.
The company has revolutionized the cockpit design, prioritizing pilot needs and safety. Rapid progress on the Symphony engine includes ongoing hardware tests. Boom anticipates the first full-scale engine core set to be operational within 18 months.
Click here to read more about this!
A Quiet Airshow Ahead?
At the moment, no commercial orders are expected for Day 3, although this may be subject to change at any point.
This could very well be a quiet airshow in terms of such orders.
Continue to stay tuned in case any additional updates come through!
EVA Orders GEnx Engines to Power Boeing 787 Fleet Expansion
GE Aerospace announced that following EVA Air’s recent deal to purchase four Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline has placed an order for GEnx engines to power their new aircraft.
The GEnx-1B engine currently powers two-thirds of all 787 aircraft currently in operation. Engineered with cutting-edge materials and advanced design techniques, the GEnx represents a significant advancement in propulsion technology.
“EVA currently operates 15 GEnx powered Boeing 787s, and they have demonstrated outstanding fuel burn, performance and reliability,” said Clay Sun, President of EVA.
“The additional engines will help us further expand our fleet to manage our growing route schedule.”
Hello for Day 3!
Hello and welcome to our coverage once again, this time for Day 3 of the Farnborough Air Show.
Before the day actually gets started, be sure to check out our recap video of Day 2!:
Libya’s Berniq Airways Places Order for 6 A320neo Family Aircraft
Closing out the day for Airbus, Berniq Airways, Libya’s airline, placed a firm order for six A320neo Family aircraft.
The airline already operates six A320s and intends to further develop its regional and international routes with the additional A320neo Family aircraft.
Qatar Airways Confirms 777-9 Order
Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways has confirmed an order for 20 more 777-9 aircraft.
Qatar Airways finalized the order for 20 more 777-9 airplanes, bringing their total 777X order to 94. Boeing confirmed the order today at Farnborough. It was listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer gave comment.
“Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totalling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft.”
Macquarie Air Finance Orders 20 737 MAX 8 Aircraft
Macquarie Air Finance have placed an order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The financial company has said they have complete confidence in the MAX program.
Boeing is slated to deliver this order between 2029 and 2030.
Boom Supersonic Previews Overture Flight Deck
Boom Supersonic have provided a preview of the flight deck for its new Overture supersonic passenger airliner.
The flight deck will be equipped with side sticks developed by BAE Systems.
It will feature a Honeywell Anthem Integrated Flight Deck system. This new modular flight deck allows pilots to customize their displays based on mission and phase of flight.
The Symphony engine powerplant continues development, with the full engine core expected to running in the next 18 months.
The engines are to be built in San Antonio, Texas by partner company Standard Aero.
A Look Inside the Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330neo & Interesting Words from Shai Weiss…
As you have seen, Virgin Atlantic has placed a firm order for seven more Airbus A330-900neos, with options for a further nine, which CEO Shai Weiss confirms will most likely be exercised in the future.
Deliveries will commence in 2027, and will continue until Q1 2028.
Such a top-up order represents an overall $17bn investment transformation plan that has taken place over the last 10 years.
Japan Airlines Finalises Order with Airbus…
Japan Airlines has placed an order with Airbus for 20 Airbus A350-900 & 11 A321neo aircraft.
This is the second order made by the Japanese carrier this week, following their Boeing 787 order yesterday!
It is understand this particular order was a earlier commitment made this year.
The A350s will all be deployed onto international routes.
Deliveries are due to begin in 2028 for both aircraft types, with the A321neo expected to replace their aging Boeing 767s.
Furthermore, no decision has been made on engine supplier and cabin layouts.
No decision has been made on whether Japan Airlines will order the A321XLR, but they said they are interested.
As a side note, Airbus’ Christian Scherer was asked at the press conference about the presence of COMAC.
He said: “We do not see COMAC as a threat but as a heathy competitor going forward, it’s not impacted sales for us in this market”.
On the order generally…
Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines Yukio Nakagawa said, “We are delighted to have signed the firm order for the introduction of additional A350s and new A321s. We will accelerate the introduction of the state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient aircraft to provide our passengers with excellent service and to reduce CO₂ emissions. We believe that this additional introduction of Airbus aircraft will further deepen our partnership.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, Christian Scherer said, “We thank Japan Airlines for placing its confidence once again in the A350. In addition, we celebrate a new milestone in our partnership with the airline following its order for the A321neo. We are committed to providing our full support to Japan Airlines as its growing fleet is deployed on more routes across its network, both domestically and internationally.”
Virgin Atlantic Orders 7 Additional A330neo Aircraft
Virgin Atlantic has placed a firm order for seven A330neo aircraft as part of its wider fleet transformation. The agreement takes Virgin Atlantic’s commitment for the A330neo to 19 aircraft in total.
The order was announced onboard Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo, named ‘Ruby Rebel’.
This aircraft is registered as G-VSRB after founder Sir Richard Branson, to celebrate the airline’s 40th anniversary.
Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic said, “Today, we complete our multi-billion-dollar fleet transformation, with the purchase of seven additional A330-900s, which we know our customers and our people love to fly. Flying the youngest fleet is the most readily available and significant lever towards decarbonising long-haul aviation and we are proud to already operate one of the youngest and most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic.”
“Our special partnership with Airbus began with the arrival of ‘Lady in Red’ in 1993, with our most recent arrival, ‘Ruby Rebel’, arriving to mark our 40th birthday this year. Virgin Atlantic has flown more than 60 Airbus tails in the last three decades. While not first to the party, they’ve been our main dance partner, making our customers smile ever since.”
Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer said, “We are grateful for Virgin Atlantic’s decision to expand its A330neo fleet as part of its strategy to have the youngest fleet across the Atlantic. The A330neo not only delivers unbeatable operational seat mile cost and an exceptional passenger experience, it also greatly enhances Virgin Atlantic’s fleet efficiency and contributes to their sustainability journey. We look forward to continuing this smooth and successful collaboration for many years to come.”
Turkish Airlines Unveils New Crystal Business Class Suite
Turkish Airlines has today unveiled their brand new luxurious Crystal Suite Business Class cabin.
On the new Business class offerings of the company, Turkish Airlines Chairman of The Board and Executive Committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated:
“Our new Crystal Business Class suite will add a new chapter for our long-haul luxury travel and will carry the airline into the future with a new level of comfort and privacy across our extensive global network.”
“The specially created design will complement our award-winning in-flight dining options for us to keep providing an unparalleled experience above the clouds for our guests.”
On Scene for Day 2…
The AviationSource Team is now on scene for Day 2 for the Farnborough Air Show.
No commercial announcements expected via press conference for Boeing, with Airbus unveiling an order at 11:30am today.
After that, Embraer will be hosting their usual one-hour press conference where they go through their week’s worth of aircraft orders.
We will be attending a series of tours over the course of today as well, so be sure to stay tuned as usual!
Vietjet Confirms Order for 20 A330neos
Vietjet Air has confirmed an order for 20 Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft which it placed earlier this year under a Memorandum of Understanding with the manufacturer.
When finalised, this aircraft will replace Vietjet’s older A330 aircraft. The aircraft will be operated on the carrier’s growing long-haul network, as well as on high capacity regional services.
Before We Enter Day 2 in a Few Hours…
Before we enter Day 2, which is due to begin in a few hours, take a look at our detailed recap from Day 1 at the Farnborough International Air Show 2024!
End of Day 1…
Day 1 comes to an end at the Farnborough Air Show for news and live coverage. Thank you for tuning in so far.
To see our recap, please CLICK HERE!
We will see you tomorrow for Day 2!
Airbus Opens Scoresheet with Druk Air Order…
Airbus has opened up the scoresheet with an order from Druk Air.
The Paro-based airline has placed a MoU with the European planemaker for three Airbus A320neos and two A321XLR aircraft.
Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair CEO said:
“We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history”
“[This] dovetails perfectly with development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and work to expand the Gelephu airport.”
“Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”
Executive Vice President Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business Benoît de Saint-Exupéry said:
“We are grateful to Drukair for reaffirming their trust in Airbus to power their next phase of growth.”
“Airbus has been a long-standing partner of Bhutan and we are extremely proud that our latest generation aircraft will be a part of the Kingdom’s next chapter of development, connecting the Gelephu Mindfulness City to the rest of the world.”
Boeing Secures Yet Another Order at the Farnborough Air Show!: This Time from Japan Airlines…
Boeing has secured yet another order at the Farnborough Air Show, this time from Japan Airlines.
The Japanese carrier has placed an order for 20 787-9 aircraft. This consists of 10 firm and 10 option.
Furthermore, this is representing further progress for the planemaker in the Asian market.
Moreover, deliveries will take place between 2028-2031.
“We are delighted to announce the addition of 787 Dreamliners to our fleet.”
“This order underscores our commitment to accelerating the introduction of the modern and more fuel-efficient aircraft to deliver unparalleled service to our customers and further reduce CO₂ emissions.2
“We greatly appreciate the strong relationship and support from Boeing, which has been instrumental in our efforts to modernize our fleet and expand our international routes,” said Yukio Nakagawa, JAL Executive Officer of Procurement.
Adding to this was Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing:
“Japan Airlines continues to be a global ambassador for the 787 Dreamliner and this latest agreement is a testament to the versatility and efficiency of the 787-9 for the airline’s key long-haul routes”.
“We value our long-standing partnership with Japan Airlines and are pleased that they have re-selected the 787 Dreamliner as they continue to modernize their world-class fleet.”
Luxair Orders Four Boeing 737 MAX 10s…
Boeing has confirmed an order for four Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft with Luxembourg-based carrier Luxair.
“The purchase of the 737-10 is another step towards Luxair positioning for its future with the investment in the latest airplane technology that will support Luxair’s growth plans and the decarbonization of our fleet.”
“There is high commonality between the 737 MAX models, and this allows for significant operational savings for the airline,” said Gilles Feith, Luxair CEO.
“In addition to reducing overall fuel use and emissions, the 737 MAXs will help create a 50 percent smaller noise footprint by reducing noise generated by takeoffs and landings at Luxembourg Airport.”
Adding to this was Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing:
“With three members of the 737 MAX family in its fleet, Luxair will have the flexibility to use the right-size airplane according to the market demand”.
“We appreciate Luxair for choosing the 737-10 to support its growth and improve the passenger experience, while realizing the benefits of operating an increasingly fuel-efficient fleet.”
Korean Air Signs for 20 Boeing 777X & 20 787s…
Boeing have made another announcement. Korean Air placed an order for 20 777-9X aircraft and 20 firm 787-10s, with options for 10 more 787-10s.
Furthermore, this represents a major milestone for the aircraft program, with Korean Air becoming a new customer of the 777X.
Moreover, first slots for deliveries will be in 2028 and the airline will continue to receive aircraft from there!
Also, Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, said the following on this:
“The addition of the Boeing 777-9 and 787-10 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our strategic objective to expand and upgrade our fleet”.
“This investment underscores our commitment to providing a best-in-class flying experience.”
“These new airplanes will elevate passenger comfort and enhance operational efficiency, while significantly reducing carbon emissions, supporting our long-term commitment to sustainable aviation.”
Furthermore, adding to Cho’s words was Stephanie Pope, the CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network”.
“Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”
First Order of the Day from Boeing!
Boeing signed a deal with National Air Cargo for 4 777-200 Freighters, marking the first commercial order of the day for the aircraft manufacturer.
With this deal, Boeing opens the Farnborough Air Show, marking a strong start for the event.
Deliveries expected to begin in 4Q2025.
Moreover, Christopher Alf, the Chairman of National Air Cargo, confirmed that the replacement aircraft for it’s Boeing 747-400 Freighters would “naturally” be the 777X Freighter in the future.
“We appreciate National Airlines for its trust in Boeing and the 777 Freighter to grow the carrier’s global fleet and deliver greater value for its customers,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“With its cargo capacity, range and reliability, operators continue to rely on the 777 Freighter to build their future fleets, making it the best-selling freighter of all time.”
“We are elated by this remarkable order of four Boeing 777 Freighters. This demonstrates our commitment to offering efficient, resourceful, and modern air freight services. This supports our global customers’ increasing transportation demands,” said Christopher Alf, chairman of National Airlines.
“The order affirms our fleet growth plan as we enter into the next chapter of National. We sincerely appreciate the support by Boeing and all its associated teams in this journey ahead.”
Funding for Green Aerospace Initiatives
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has just announced over £100 million of government-industry funding. This news was revealed at the opening of the 2024 Farnborough Airshow.
Furthermore, the funding is for cutting-edge aerospace tech projects to support greener air travel. It will be delivered through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme,
Five UK aerospace R&D projects led by GKN Aerospace, Queens University, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers and ZeroAvia will receive the funding.
Welcome to our FIA24 Coverage!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of news from the Farnborough Air Show 2024 (FIA24)!
As mentioned, be sure to bookmark this page throughout the event. We will be updating with order news, interviews and much more!
Moreover, whilst you are waiting for the first few updates to come through, CLICK HERE to see our predictions on what we expect from the airshow this week!
Remember also, we are giving away $2,000 worth of flight vouchers to celebrate our presence at the Farnborough Air Show 2024!
Be sure to check out the video below to find out how you can win!:
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Without further ado, enjoy our coverage over the course of this week, and let’s see what news and coverage comes out of the major aerospace event of the year!
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