Summary
- Alaska Air Group's plan to acquire Hawaiian Airlines sparked conversation and fears of potential competition reduction.
- Airbus made progress on the highly anticipated A321XLR, with several airlines placing firm orders.
- Paris Air Show saw more major aircraft orders than Dubai, including a record-breaking order by IndiGo.
Firmly in "post-pandemic" territory, 2023 was a big year in aviation. Simple Flying was there to cover it all - from merger proposals to two commercial air shows, there have been several top-talkers in the last 365 days. So which were our biggest stories?
Aircraft manufacturers have made plenty of advancements toward new planes that will shape the future of aviation. Additionally, sustainable fuel alternatives have improved throughout the year as the industry looks to achieve its 2050 goal - these were just some of the big developments over the past year.
The final delivery of the Boeing 747
We kicked off the year with a major landmark in the history of aviation. In January, the last production 747 was handed over to its final customer, Atlas Air. The 747-8 was the 1,574th 747 manufactured since 1969, marking the end of a five-decade-plus saga for the Queen of the Skies.
Alaska – Hawaiian merger plans
In the US, Alaska Air Group’s announcement of its plans to acquire Hawaiian Airlines earlier this month shook the industry. Alaska and Hawaiian have operated and expanded their reach in their respective markets for many years, but the two combining have sparked much conversation among the aviation community.
While both airlines would retain their brands should the acquisition follow through, some argue that competition would be reduced. Others believe that Alaska would ultimately erase the Hawaiian brand in the future. Regardless, the airlines must proceed through the legal steps to merge officially. They may face similar hurdles that JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have encountered since announcing their plans to combine last year.
Hawaiian has noted that it is not opposed to seeking other airlines if Alaska’s acquisition is not approved. The notion could indicate that the airline’s financial state is more dire than most may have thought.
New aircraft and SAF
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has made significant progress on its highly anticipated Airbus A321XLR, which is expected to transform the transatlantic market specifically. As the company is projecting the aircraft to enter service sometime in 2024, several airlines around the world have placed firm orders for the single-aisle jet.
The program faced a setback over the course of 2023, with safety concerns prompting a modification to the aircraft's all-important fuel storage system. These design modifications are set to cut into the A321XLR's gamechanging range, though Airbus says performance changes will be minimal.
With an industry effort to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, the A321XLR also completed a test flight powered by 30% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Boeing and UK carrier Virgin Atlantic also made a notable achievement in November, operating the first transatlantic flight on a 787-9 Dreamliner powered by 100% SAF.
The air shows
On the commercial air show front, the aviation world saw the Paris Air Show over the summer and the Dubai Airshow in November. While both events had major aircraft orders from airlines, Paris had much more than Dubai. Tipping the scales was Indian low-cost giant IndiGo, which placed a record-breaking order for 500 A320 family aircraft in June. This marked the most significant order in aviation history and brings the carrier’s order backlog to more than 1,330 aircraft.
Over in the Middle East, airBaltic was the first to place an order at the Dubai Airshow, signing a purchase agreement for 30 A220-300s. Combining its outstanding orders, the airline will become one of the largest operators of the aircraft type. Emirates, one of the United Arab Emirates’ flag carriers, ordered 15 additional A350-900 aircraft to an existing order and placed massive firm commitments for the 777X, at 90 planes. The deal with Boeing brings its order backlog to more than 200 for the new widebody jet.
On the YouTube front
Emirates was also part of another notable headline this year after an A380 operated by the airline was halted on a runway at London Gatwick Airport in July. Suffering a hydraulic failure after landing, the incident resulted in several diversions of other aircraft and dozens of delayed flights.
The incident was also the most-watched video of the year on Simple Flying’s YouTube Channel.
With a year full of firsts, progress, and innovations, the sky seems to be the limit for aviation in 2024. As the industry evolves, several more milestones and headlines will occur in the new year, and Simple Flying will cover it all and keep you informed!
What was your favorite story in 2023? Let us know by leaving a comment!
2023 In Review - Simple Flying
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