Aviation2Day

Kigali, Rwanda — RwandAir has unveiled ambitious growth plans under the government’s Transport Sector Strategic Plan 2024–2029, aiming to expand its fleet from 14 to at least 21 aircraft and more than double its annual passenger traffic to 2.1 million by 2029. The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Fouad Caunhye, told The New Times that the strategy will see the national carrier acquire additional Airbus A330s for long-haul routes, Boeing B737-800s for regional and medium-haul services, and De Havilland DHC-8-Q400s for shorter domestic flights. Fleet Growth and Stabilisation RwandAir is set to reinforce its fleet in 2025/26 with three new aircraft — two B737-800s and one A330-200 — as part of efforts to restore capacity after technical issues sidelined several jets. “These additions will give us the flexibility we need to pursue the route expansions that were previously put on hold,” Caunhye said. It is not yet clear whether these units will be purchased or leased. Currently, the airl...

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.,  Pratt & Whitney, a business under RTX, has been awarded a $2.8 billion undefinitized contract action (UCA) to produce Lot 18 of F135 engines, the powerplant for all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet. The deal covers engines for the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL), carrier variant (CV), and short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft operated by the United States and allied customers. In addition to production engines, the contract also includes spares, spare modules, tooling, program management, and engineering support. Christopher K. Johnson, vice president of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 program, emphasized the engine’s role in ensuring operational success: “The combat-proven F135 engine delivers the power, safety, reliability, and low-observability to ensure operators can accomplish their most critical missions. This contract will enable our team to continue providing this critical capability to help t...

Korean Air has announced its largest-ever aircraft order, committing to purchase 103 Boeing jets in a landmark deal that will modernize its fleet and support the airline’s integration with Asiana Airlines. The agreement includes widebody and single-aisle aircraft designed to boost fuel efficiency and expand the carrier’s global network. The commitment, revealed during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable, comprises 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10s, and 8 Boeing 777-8 Freighters . Once finalized, it will be Boeing’s largest widebody order from an Asian carrier and is expected to support approximately 135,000 jobs across the United States. Modernization Strategy and Merger Plans Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air, described the order as a cornerstone of the airline’s modernization efforts: “Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger e...

Airbus is facing a significant industrial challenge in the United Kingdom, as more than 3,000 workers at its major sites in Broughton (Wales) and Filton (near Bristol) have voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action. The move, backed by 90% of Unite union members, comes amid an ongoing dispute over pay and inflation pressures. The strike is scheduled to take place over 10 days in September, beginning with two-day walkouts on September 2–3 and September 10–11. Additional days will follow from mid-September, with the potential for further escalation if no agreement is reached. The affected employees are primarily aircraft fitters and engineers, critical to Airbus’s wing production for its commercial and military aircraft, including the A320, A330, A350, and A400M. Unite has argued that Airbus’s latest pay proposal does not adequately reflect the rising cost of living, with UK inflation standing at 3.8% in July 2025. The union says workers deserve a fairer deal, highlighting their ski...

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with nearly 10,000 flight attendants , represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) , bringing an end to a strike that grounded the airline’s mainline operations, stranded more than 130,000 passengers daily , and sparked a national debate over labor rights in aviation. The strike began on August 16, 2025 , when flight attendants walked off the job demanding higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground duties such as boarding, assisting passengers before takeoff, and deplaning. Cabin crew argued these tasks were essential but excluded from paid hours, leading to significant wage losses. CUPE leaders repeatedly emphasized that flight attendants are more than service staff they are trained to handle emergencies, in-flight disruptions, and evacuations. They insisted that fair pay was essential to morale, recognition, and the long-term safety culture of Canadian aviation. Defiance and Fallout The Canada Industrial Relatio...

In a devastating turn of events, an AMREF Flying Doctors air ambulance , a Cessna Citation XLS with a registration 5Y-FDM , crashed into a residential neighborhood in Mwihoko, Kiambu County just outside Nairobi killing six people and injuring others. The twin-engine medical jet departed from Wilson Airport at approximately 2:14–2:17 PM local time on Thursday, bound for Hargeisa in Somaliland. Merely three minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control. Citation XLS 5Y-FDM. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene: “The plane started burning while in the air,” one resident recounted, while another said the aircraft “passed by our building shaking it,” before crashing into a house. The impact and ensuing blaze claimed the lives of all four people aboard and two individuals inside the home. Rescue teams, including those from the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police, and aviation authorities, rushed to the scene.  AMREF ...

Cathay Pacific  a major international airline based in Hong Kong is doubling down on its commitment to modern, fuel-efficient long-haul travel with a fresh order of 14 Boeing 777-9 passenger jets, boosting its total order book to 35 aircraft. This strategic move cements the Hong Kong-based airline as the largest 777-9 operator in the Asia-Pacific region. The Boeing 777-9, the latest member of the renowned 777 family, is designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 20% while reducing noise by 40% compared to the older aircraft it will replace. With a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km), the aircraft will allow Cathay Pacific to connect Hong Kong to key long-haul destinations worldwide with enhanced efficiency and comfort.   “We plan to expand and renew our fleet with the additional 777-9 aircraft, enabling us to continue our rich history of connecting the world with our Hong Kong hub,” said Ronald Lam, Cathay Group CEO . “This order strengthens our partnership with ...

Airbus SE has announced its financial results for the first half (H1) of 2025, posting solid growth in earnings despite continued supply chain pressures and delayed aircraft deliveries. The aerospace giant reported revenues of €29.6 billion , a 3% increase from the same period last year, while EBIT( Earnings Before Interest and Taxes)  Adjusted surged 58% to €2.2 billion, reflecting improved performance in the Defence and Space division and a favorable financial environment. Net income jumped to €1.53 billion, up 85% year-on-year, with earnings per share of €1.93. “The commercial performance in the first half of 2025 has been strong across the Company,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. “While we face persistent engine supply issues, our financials reflect the progress of our transformation, particularly in Defence and Space.”

In professional aviation, time management and efficiency are critical. Pilots are expected to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, from managing flight systems to ensuring accurate documentation. One common situation that arises in both airline and corporate operations is whether the first officer (FO) can safely complete flight logs, load sheets, or other documents before takeoff. At first glance, it may seem like a harmless, time-saving task. But in reality, performing administrative work during the wrong phase of flight can create significant safety risks. This article explores the operational, regulatory, and human factors involved - providing a detailed guide for first officers and flight crews to manage this task without compromising safety.

 On July 26, 2025, an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Flight 3023) caught fire during its takeoff roll at Denver International Airport, forcing the pilots to abort the departure and evacuate everyone on board. The aircraft was scheduled to fly from Denver to Miami. The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time when crew members heard a loud pop and saw smoke and flames from the left landing gear area. The pilots acted immediately, bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway and deploying the emergency slides. There were 173 passengers and 6 crew members onboard. All were evacuated successfully. Six passengers suffered minor injuries, mainly from the evacuation slides, and one person was taken to the hospital for further treatment. No fatalities were reported. Firefighters from the Denver Fire Department arrived quickly and managed to extinguish the fire. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are examin...

 Ethiopian Airlines Group has taken another giant leap forward in solidifying its leadership position in the global aviation market by commissioning a $150 million expansion of its Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Addis Ababa. The expansion, inaugurated between July 22 and 25, 2025, represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments in African aviation maintenance history. Transforming African MRO Capabilities The latest expansion introduces three advanced facilities designed to set new benchmarks for efficiency and technical capabilities: Two-Bay Maintenance Hangar – Equipped to handle both widebody and narrowbody aircraft, expanding Ethiopian’s in-house airframe maintenance capabilities. Component Maintenance Workshop – Adds over 170 FAA-approved component repair capabilities, including landing gear, avionics, and integrated drive generators, pushing the total approved list beyond 1,200 parts. Automated Central Warehouse – A 15,000 m² storag...

Boeing , one of the biggest airplane manufacturers in the world, has just released a report predicting something massive: the aviation industry will need to hire nearly 2.4 million new people over the next 20 years. That’s right millions of jobs are opening up for pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and cabin crew (flight attendants) all over the globe. But what’s causing this huge demand? Let’s break it down.

  Dhaka, Bangladesh – July 21, 2025 A devastating air disaster struck the heart of Dhaka this afternoon when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in the densely populated Uttara area. The crash has left at least 19 people dead and more than 100 injured, with dozens suffering from severe burns and trauma. The incident occurred around 13:06 PM local time, during what authorities described as a routine training flight. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a massive blaze as the jet plummeted into the school compound. Smoke billowed across the neighborhood, and emergency services scrambled to contain the inferno and evacuate survivors. Among the deceased are the pilot and multiple students. Many of the injured are in critical condition and have been rushed to nearby hospitals, where medical staff are overwhelmed by the scale of the casualties. Military officials confirmed the aircraft was an F-7 BGI — a Chinese...

Grounded in Dar es salaam? Here’s Who Can Get Your Aircraft Back in the Sky at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) Every hour your aircraft is grounded at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) costs money, disrupts schedules, and damages your brand. For airlines operating in Tanzania, waiting for technical support, spare parts, or foreign approvals can quickly turn a minor issue into a multi-day AOG crisis . y ou don’t need to look outside Tanzania for reliable aircraft maintenance . Right at JNIA, certified maintenance providers are offering fast, affordable, and OEM-aligned support — tailored to your fleet and flight frequency. Meet the maintenance providers keeping Tanzania´s aircraft flying These are TCAA-approved, fleet-specialized maintenance organizations (AMOs) currently operating within JNIA, ready to support local and foreign airlines without delay. 1. Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) Certification: TCAA AMO number TCAA/AI/CA/1.82 Location: Main hangars...

  How to Practically Implement Outsourcing in Aircraft Maintenance: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples Outsourcing aircraft maintenance is not about giving up control—it's about gaining operational flexibility and technical expertise . But it must be done strategically. Here's a practical, step-by-step framework airlines can follow to outsource effectively: 1. Identify what to source Start by assessing your internal capabilities and limitations. You don’t have to outsource everything at once. Commonly outsourced maintenance activities: Line maintenance at outstations (where you don’t have a base) Heavy checks (C or D checks) that require special hangars and tools Component repair and overhaul Non-routine tasks like NDT (Non-Destructive Testing), avionics upgrades, or composite repairs Example: An airline based in Nairobi (Kenya) operates flights to Dubai, Johannesburg,  and Lusaka- Since it doesn´t have hangar space or technicians at these destinations, it outsources line...