United Airlines announced on Tuesday that it has ordered 25 Airbus A350XWB aircraft and 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and has future purchase rights for an additional 50 of both types of aircraft.

These orders follow a six-month request for proposal process, resulting in agreements with both Airbus and Boeing that allow United to meet its financial and operational objectives.
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Boeing Company, Thursday, announced it would test-fly its 787 Dreamliner later this year but disappointed customers by delaying delivery of the plane until the fourth quarter of 2010.

Wall Street cheered the announcement as Boeing’s stock soared more than 6% in New York trading after the company said it still expects the 787 to be profitable.
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Standard & Poor’s said Friday it remains concerned about the potential for more order cancellations and deferrals at Boeing Co. that could force the airplane maker to scale back production of models other than its new 787 next year.
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Boeing said on Thursday its 787 Dreamliner would finally make its first flight by the end of this year, with initial delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Shares of the Chicago-based company rose to a five-month high as the statement helped answer questions that have surrounded the lighter, more fuel-efficient 787 aircraft, said Alex Hamilton, an analyst with Jesup & Lamont Securities. (continue reading…)

Air Canada has announced plans to launch new flights from Montreal to Brussels next year.

The airline is planning to begin the non-stop services on 12 June, subject to approval from the Canadian and Belgian governments.

Operating daily, the new flights will continue to and from Toronto, meaning passengers from the city will be connected with Brussels via Montreal.
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Airbus has gained parity with Boeing in commercial aviation over the last decade – a situation that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, according to a new report by Air Insight. (continue reading…)

Boeing Co. has discovered another problem with its long-delayed 787 jetliner, prompting the aircraft maker to halt production of fuselage sections at a factory in Italy.

The Chicago-based company found microscopic wrinkles in the skin of the 787’s fuselage and ordered Italian supplier Alenia Aeronautica to stop making sections on June 23, spokeswoman Lori Gunter said Friday. Boeing has started patching the areas. (continue reading…)

A glitch with the composite fuselage of Boeing’s much-delayed 787 has prompted Boeing to order a halt to new work at Italian supplier Alenia, which makes the section, but the stoppage won’t affect the production schedule, Boeing said Friday.
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