Despite ongoing conflicts and missile threats in the Middle East, Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) continues to operate, maintaining its crucial link to the outside world. Pilots have reported seeing missiles during flights, but airlines persist due to limited route options and established safety protocols. MEA's operations are supported by reassurances from the Lebanese government and foreign embassies that Beirut's airport will remain a civilian zone. The situation highlights the calculated risks airlines take to navigate restricted airspaces safely.
L3Harris Technologies has announced the sale of its commercial aviation business to a private-equity firm affiliate for up to $800 million. The move is aimed at reducing debt and focusing more on national security and technology. The sale is expected to close in the first half of 2024, pending regulatory approval. The deal includes $700 million in cash and a $100 million earnout based on financial performance targets. Approximately 1,450 employees are currently working in L3Harris' commercial aviation business.
Startup JetZero has been awarded $235 million by the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit to develop a full-scale piloted blended wing demonstrator. The aircraft, a collaboration between JetZero, Northrop Grumman, and Scaled Composites, aims to validate a 50% step change in structural and fuel efficiency. If successful, it could establish a new entrant in the commercial aviation market.
NASA's winglet technology, inspired by bird feathers, has proven to be a highly effective innovation in commercial aviation. Since their introduction in the early 1990s, winglets have been installed on approximately 10,000 jets, resulting in a 6-7% increase in fuel efficiency and saving over 10 billion gallons of fuel. This has also led to a reduction of more than 130 million tons of CO2 emissions, making winglets a significant contribution to environmental sustainability in the aviation industry.
Boeing and Airbus have announced record-setting deals with Indian airlines, driven by surging demand from regional carriers. Boeing has finalized an order for up to 220 commercial jets for Air India, with options for another 70 planes, while the same airline firmed up an earlier deal for 250 jets from Airbus. Indian budget airline IndiGo also placed a firm order for 500 Airbus A320 passenger jets. The Indian government plans to open 100 new airports in the country by 2024, which could double its air fleet from 600 to 1,200 planes.
China's first homegrown large passenger aircraft, the C919, made its inaugural commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing. Manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 program has been progressing steadily since its launch in 2009. The aircraft has undergone extensive testing, achieving significant milestones such as receiving its Type Inspection Authorization and completing its first static strength test. With 1,200 orders as of January 2023, the C919 could reshape the global commercial aviation landscape and symbolize China's progress in the aerospace industry.
Holidaymakers could travel from London to Sydney in just two hours within a decade, but they will have to go through space via suborbital flights, which currently cost over £350,000 per seat. The UK Civil Aviation Authority is funding medical studies into the effects of suborbital space flights, which could become an accessible intercontinental travel option. A CAA-funded study found that most people handled the G-forces of suborbital space flights well, and older people may be better at dealing with space travel. Six more UK spaceports are in the works.
