Airbnb Airline?, United Technologies to Break-up? China’s COMAC Orders and More

Airbnb to Launch an Airline?

Airbnb founder Brian Chesky has revealed that he plans to launch an airline to establish Airbnb as a ‘one-stop shop for travel’. He told that the company has been seriously exploring different concepts that could suit their aviation plans and ambitions.

Chesky says that he wants to follow Amazon’s path. The way Amazon has developed itself as one-stop shop for shopping, Airbnb wants to provide the similar solutions for travel industry.

UTC Conglomerate: To Break-up into Three Businesses?

United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is a large conglomerate with businesses as diverse as aerospace systems, elevators & escalators, and air conditioners among others.

Now, the company might be considering breaking-up the conglomerate into three separate businesses, as hinted by its CEO Greg Hayes.

UTC’s aerospace division has been faring well amid strong aerospace industry growth as well. On September, 2017, UTC had even entered a deal to acquire Rockwell Collins (another large aerospace and defense company) for $30 billion.

Thus, in this scenario, the consideration to break-up the conglomerate depends on whether it’s in better interest of the company to separate its aerospace division, a major revenue segment, from elevator and air conditioner businesses: comparatively smaller business segment for UTC.

China’s COMAC Receives a Large Order for C919 and ARJ21 jets

China Huarong Financial Leasing Co. Ltd, a domestic leasing firm from China has placed an order for 30 Comac C919 passenger aircraft and 20 ARJ21 regional jets.

The total orders for C919 and ARJ21 aircraft now stand at 815 and 453 respectively.

‘Seamless Air Alliance’ Formed to Provide In-flight Mobile Services

Airbus, Delta Airlines, OneWeb, Sprint, and Bharti Airtel have announced the formation of “Seamless Air Alliance”.

This alliance aims to expand mobile services including high-speed in-flight data connectivity into the airline cabins via satellite technology.

Romania to Modernize Its Helicopter Fleet

Romania operates 68 military helicopters, most of which are more than 30 years old and need to be replaced soon. Airbus, Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky Aircraft are reported to have been in contact with the Romanian government regarding the government’s plan to modernize its helicopter fleet.

Other Major Updates

• Bell Helicopter drops ‘helicopter’ from its name to rebrand itself as “a tech company that’s redefining flight”. the company now has a new logo featuring dragonfly on a shield symbolizing versatility in flight.
• Boeing to begin 777X assembly.
• Hong Kong Airlines chooses Sabre Corporation’s ‘Sabre Airline Solutions’. Sabre’s AirCentre Crew technology will offer crew management (crew planning, operations, services and training) as part of this solution package.
• Israel’s electric aircraft startup ‘Eviation’ partners with South Korea’s battery provider ‘Kokam’ to develop its nine-passenger, all-electric regional aircraft. The company plans to launch a full-scale prototype by early 2019.

Originally published at aviationoutlook.com on February 26, 2018.