As 2023 is about to say goodbye, some remarkable developments in the aviation industry promise how flying will be in the future. From the close of an iconic era with the delivery of the last Boeing 747 to an ambitious sustainable aviation fuel venture, herein are some key highlights of the year:
- Goodbye to Boeing 747
The year started with the historic arrival of the last production Boeing 747 taken by Atlas Air, a variant of the 747-8. This symbolic delivery finally brought down the curtain on an aviation era lasting well over five decades. The Boeing 747 – as it is commonly referred to, the Queen of the Skies – has left its mark in the history of air travel.
- Aggressive Merger Plans of Alaska Airlines
Alaska Air Group’s move to buy Hawaiian Airlines had the industry buzzing. While both carriers also mentioned that they would keep separate brands, the deal has raised some red flags regarding reduced competition. The proposed merger is under regulatory review, amid similar scrutiny other airlines face with their merger plans, such as JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.
- Sustainable Aviation
Airbus indeed made some fantastic improvements with the A321XLR program, likely to change the face of transatlantic travel. After facing one-step-back regression for safety concerns and therefore requiring modifications, the aircraft completed a test flight using 30% SAF. All this aligns with the commitment of reaching zero carbon emissions from 2050 onwards. Boeing, together with Virgin Atlantic, even outdid this by flying the first transatlantic flight completely on SAF-operated by a 787-9 Dreamliner.
- Showing Industry Strength during Air Shows
The Paris Air Show and Dubai Airshow sat in the front row and received big aircraft orders. The star of the show in Paris was IndiGo, which recorded an order for 500 A320 family aircraft to make it the biggest order in aviation history. Meanwhile, AirBaltic stole the show at the Dubai Airshow with an agreement for the purchase of 30 A220-300s, which sealed the carrier’s position as one of the largest operators of the aircraft type. Emirates used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to Boeing with the purchase of 15 more A350-900 aircraft and firming commitments for 90 777X aircraft.
All in all, 2023 has been a year of pivotal moments that have shown the resilience of the industry, its innovative capability, and its commitment to sustainability. These act as yardsticks, so to say, for the dynamic nature of aviation and its relentless pursuit of excellence as we head into the next year with great anticipation.