aviation news Archives - Page 13 of 83

New Delhi, India: IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CFM International for more than 1,000 LEAP-1A engines to power 510 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, marking the largest single LEAP engine order in CFM International's history. The agreement, announced on July 20, 2026, at the Farnborough air show, also includes CFM's support for establishing IndiGo's upcoming engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in India. The partnership will further provide long-term material services, including spare-parts supply, as IndiGo expands its fleet and operations. According to CFM, the arrangements are intended to support high dispatch reliability, predictable costs and continued operational support as the airline scales up. The deal comes as IndiGo accelerates its long-term fleet expansion. The airline currently has more than 430 aircraft and operates approximately 2,200 daily flights to more than 95 domestic and 45 international destinations. It welcomed more than 123 million customers in FY2026. Its existing A320/321 Family fleet has already crossed 375 aircraft, while the airline's broader aircraft order book is close to 1,000 aircraft. IndiGo has also stated its ambition to double its fleet by 2030. Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer Designate of IndiGo, said the agreement extends the airline's long-standing partnership with CFM as it moves into its next phase of growth and seeks to become a truly global carrier. He said CFM has supported IndiGo's expansion since 2016 and described the LEAP engine's proven reliability as a key factor in supporting the airline's scale, operational resilience and sustainability objectives. IndiGo's relationship with CFM dates back a decade. In 2016, the airline operated Airbus A320ceo Family aircraft powered by CFM56-5B engines. In 2019, it expanded the partnership by selecting LEAP-1A engines for its Airbus A320/321neo Family fleet. The latest agreement also strengthens CFM's position in India's rapidly expanding aviation market. India is CFM's third-largest market, with five Indian airlines operating more than 400 LEAP-powered aircraft and another 2,000 engines on order. H. Lawrence Culp Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aerospace, said LEAP engines are now delivering up to twice the time on wing in hot and harsh operating environments compared with when the engine first entered service, while maintaining fuel efficiency and reliability. He added that GE Aerospace has more than 40 years of experience supporting India's aviation sector, with manufacturing operations in Pune, a local supplier network and advanced engineering capabilities in Bengaluru. For Safran, the agreement further underlines India's importance as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. Safran Chief Executive Officer Olivier Andriès said the company's investments in India, particularly in LEAP engine production and MRO capabilities, are aimed at supporting IndiGo's growth while contributing to the development of the country's aerospace industry. The planned IndiGo MRO capability comes amid a broader expansion of LEAP maintenance infrastructure. Safran last year inaugurated its largest LEAP engine MRO centre, a 45,000-square-metre facility that is expected to eventually handle up to 300 LEAP shop visits annually and feature a next-generation test bench. CFM said more than 10,000 LEAP engines have been delivered to date, making the programme the fastest ramp-up in commercial aviation history. The company continues to introduce upgrades, including a high-pressure turbine (HPT) durability kit designed to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS) aimed at reducing airline maintenance requirements. The Times of India reported that the list price of a LEAP-1A engine is around $14.5 million, which would put the theoretical list-price value of more than 1,000 engines at above $14.5 billion. However, actual transaction values are generally not disclosed because engine pricing varies between customers and agreements. CFM International is a 50:50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. The company produces the LEAP family of engines and supports LEAP and CFM56 fleets worldwide. The partnership is also developing the RISE programme, which is focused on next-generation propulsion technologies for future commercial aircraft. For IndiGo, the agreement represents more than a major engine procurement. The combination of a record LEAP-1A commitment, long-term material support and plans for expanded MRO capabilities in India gives the airline a broader support structure for its next phase of fleet growth. It also reflects the increasing scale of India's commercial aviation market and the growing role of local maintenance and aerospace infrastructure in supporting the country's expanding airline fleets.

IndiGo Signs Record Deal For 1,000+ CFM LEAP Engines To Power 510 Airbus Jets

Aviation Today News Desk / July 21, 2026

New Delhi, India: IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CFM International for more than 1,000 LEAP-1A engines

South Carolina, United States: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 operating Flight WN4761 from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) diverted to Charleston International Airport (CHS) on Monday, July 20, after the flight crew detected indications of a suspected fuel leak while cruising over South Carolina. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. Flight WN4761 departed Orlando International Airport at 8:54 a.m. ET from Terminal A, Gate 125, on a scheduled nonstop service to Manchester, New Hampshire. The aircraft climbed normally for approximately one hour before reaching a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet over South Carolina. The aircraft involved was an 11-year-old Boeing 737-8H4, registered as N8662F. While the aircraft was at cruise altitude, the crew identified indications of a possible fuel leak and declared an emergency by transmitting the 7700 transponder code. The code is the internationally recognized general emergency squawk used by flight crews to alert air traffic control that an aircraft requires immediate priority handling. Following the emergency declaration, air traffic control cleared the aircraft for an expedited descent and arranged for the flight to divert to Charleston International Airport. The Boeing 737-800 subsequently landed safely on Runway 15, with emergency response vehicles standing by as a precaution. No injuries were reported among those onboard. The precise nature of the fuel leak indication remains unclear. It has not been established whether the aircraft experienced an actual structural or mechanical fuel leak or whether the warning resulted from a sensor or valve-related anomaly. The aircraft remained at Charleston after the diversion, where maintenance personnel began a detailed inspection to determine the root cause of the suspected fuel leak indication. Southwest Airlines had not publicly disclosed the cause of the issue or confirmed when the Boeing 737-800, N8662F, would return to service at the time of the report. Southwest arranged a replacement aircraft to continue the disrupted service. A newer Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as N8881L, was dispatched to Charleston to transport the affected passengers to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Passengers reportedly waited approximately four hours on the ground before boarding the replacement aircraft. The flight eventually continued to Manchester, arriving about five hours later than its originally scheduled arrival time of 11:50 a.m. ET.

Incidents

Southwest Boeing 737-800 Diverts To Charleston After Suspected Fuel Leak Mid-Air

Aviation Today News Desk / July 21, 2026

South Carolina, United States: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 operating Flight WN4761 from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Manchester-Boston Regional

Boeing

FAA Allows Boeing To Resume Airworthiness Certification For 737 MAX And 787 Aircraft

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will allow Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for all newly built 737 MAX

Rome, Italy: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating a scheduled transatlantic service from Rome to Seattle returned safely to its departure airport on July 19 after the flight crew declared an emergency while cruising over Europe. Flight AS181 departed Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at approximately 15:25 local time for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered N780HA, operating one of Alaska Airlines' recently launched nonstop services between Italy and the United States. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft climbed normally after departure and proceeded northwest across Italy before crossing southern France and continuing over the English Channel and the United Kingdom. While cruising, the flight crew declared an emergency, prompting the aircraft to discontinue its Atlantic crossing and return to Rome. The airline has not disclosed the reason for the emergency at the time of publication. The Boeing 787 subsequently entered a holding pattern over the Mediterranean to reduce its landing weight by burning or dumping fuel before commencing its approach back to Rome Fiumicino Airport. The aircraft landed safely without further incident, where emergency services were positioned as a precaution. There were no immediate reports of injuries among passengers or crew. The cause has not been officially disclosed, and Alaska Airlines had not released a detailed technical explanation at the time of publication. The aircraft is expected to undergo engineering inspections before being returned to service. The Rome-Seattle route is Alaska Airlines' first scheduled non stop connection between Seattle and Rome and forms part of the carrier's expansion into Europe following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines' widebody fleet. The seasonal service, launched in April 2026, is operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. An emergency declaration does not necessarily indicate an imminent danger but enables air traffic control to provide priority handling and coordinate emergency response services. Returning to the departure airport is a standard precautionary procedure whenever flight crews detect abnormal engine indications on long-haul flights before committing to an oceanic crossing. Alaska Airlines has not announced when the affected aircraft will resume operations, and no investigation has been announced by aviation authorities as the event concluded with a safe landing.

Incidents

Alaska Airlines Boeing 787 Declares Emergency, Returns To Rome During Seattle Flight

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

Rome, Italy: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating a scheduled transatlantic service from Rome to Seattle returned safely to

Pilot Training

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has prohibited Redbird Flight Training Academy, regarded as South Asia’s

Airbus

Qantas’ First A350-1000 ULR Set For One Of Airbus’ Longest-Ever Test Flights

Aviation Today News Desk / July 19, 2026

Toulouse, France: Qantas and Airbus are preparing for another major milestone in the airline’s long-running Project Sunrise programme, with the

China

Chinese Airlines Place US$17.8 Billion Order For 95 Airbus Jets, Deliveries By 2032

Aviation Today News Desk / July 18, 2026

Beijing, China: Three Chinese airlines have announced plans to acquire a combined 95 Airbus aircraft with a total list price

Airlines

India’s CCPA Penalises SpiceJet US$1,140 For Dark Patterns In Flight Booking Process

Aviation Today News Desk / July 18, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh (US$1,160) on SpiceJet Limited

Airlines

China’s Big 3 Airlines Face $1.48 Bn Q2 Losses As Fuel Surge Erases First-Quarter Gains

Aviation Today News Desk / July 17, 2026

Beijing, China China’s three largest state-owned airlines Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines are expected to record

Kansas City, United States: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating a scheduled flight from Seattle to Kansas City landed safely at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) late on July 15 after the flight crew reported seeing flames from one of the aircraft's engines during the approach, prompting an Alert 3 emergency response from airport rescue and firefighting personnel. No injuries were immediately reported, and the situation was brought under control within minutes. According to FlightAware data, the aircraft departed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 8:31 p.m. CDT and arrived at Kansas City International Airport at 11:54 p.m., approximately five minutes ahead of schedule. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 MAX 9. Shortly before midnight, Kansas City Fire Department Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) units were dispatched after an Alert 3 was declared for the arriving Alaska Airlines flight. Emergency radio transmissions captured by Broadcastify indicated dispatchers instructed ARFF-1 and supporting units to respond immediately. Within two minutes of arriving at the gate, ARFF personnel reported that the aircraft was parked safely and that no visible fire or smoke was evident. Police officers were already at the scene as emergency crews began assessing the aircraft. A subsequent radio update on July 16 stated that the aircraft had experienced an engine fire involving the No. 2 engine, but responders found that the fire had already gone out upon arrival. According to the radio traffic, the pilot had reported seeing flames, after which the aircraft was evacuated as a precaution while firefighters investigated the situation. Responders advised that the engine fire was extinguished and that everything was under control. The emergency details were obtained from Kansas City Fire Department ARFF radio traffic recorded by Broadcastify. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to investigate the reported engine event, while Alaska Airlines is expected to inspect the aircraft before it returns to service.

Incidents

Alaska Airlines Lands Safely In Kansas City After Reported Mid-Air Engine Fire Scare

Aviation Today News Desk / July 17, 2026

Kansas City, United States: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating a scheduled flight from Seattle to Kansas City

aviation news

IndiGo Signs Record Deal For 1,000+ CFM LEAP Engines To Power 510 Airbus Jets

Southwest Boeing 737-800 Diverts To Charleston After Suspected Fuel Leak Mid-Air

FAA Allows Boeing To Resume Airworthiness Certification For 737 MAX And 787 Aircraft

Alaska Airlines Boeing 787 Declares Emergency, Returns To Rome During Seattle Flight

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Qantas’ First A350-1000 ULR Set For One Of Airbus’ Longest-Ever Test Flights

Chinese Airlines Place US$17.8 Billion Order For 95 Airbus Jets, Deliveries By 2032

China’s Big 3 Airlines Face $1.48 Bn Q2 Losses As Fuel Surge Erases First-Quarter Gains

Alaska Airlines Lands Safely In Kansas City After Reported Mid-Air Engine Fire Scare

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