JAL to take A350-1000s in 2023, concerned about B787 delays

South Korean carriers to revive PW4000-powered B777s in 2Q22

United Airlines cleared to reactivate PW4000-powered B777s

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has been cleared by the US Federal Aviation Administration to restart operations of its Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered B777s, more than a year after they were grounded over engine safety concerns.

Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said at a Bank of America industry conference that the regulator issued a safety bulletin to the airline on May 16, 2022. He predicted that the first aircraft would be back in service in "around a week" from that day.

United Airlines operates fifty-two B777s powered by PW4000 Family engines, comprising nineteen B777-200s and thirty-three B777-200(ER)s. All of them were grounded in February 2021, after an uncontained engine failure caused an emergency landing of a B777-200 shortly after take-off from Denver Int'l. The airline hoped to start reactivating the B777s this month, but the delayed FAA approval caused it to adjust its schedule to June.

United Airlines never wavered in its commitment to its PW4000-powered B777s, in contrast to JAL - Japan Airlines, ANA - All...

Jetstar Japan to launch A321neo(LR) ops in early 3Q22

Jetstar Japan (GK, Tokyo Narita) has announced it will begin revenue A321-200NX(LR) operations from July 1, 2022.

The Japanese low-cost carrier will deploy the first aircraft of the type from Tokyo Narita to Fukuoka (daily) and Sapporo Chitose (2x daily). The aircraft will be configured for up to 238 passengers in an all-economy class lay-out.

Jetstar Japan originally planned to add the first A321-200NX(LR) in 2020 but deferred that due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It plans to take three units of the type in total, with the second due for delivery by the end of 2022 and the third one in 2023. Although the carrier plans to deploy its A321neo(LR)s primarily on high-demand domestic routes, mainly due to continuing restrictions on international travel in Asia, it will also explore the possibility of using its extended range capabilities on international routes.

The carrier's current fleet comprises nineteen A320-200s. Besides the A321neo(LR)s, the carrier is also adding three A321-200(P2F)s to operate on behalf of Yamato Group.

Jetstar Japan...

United defers return of PW4000-powered B777s to mid-2Q22

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has deferred the reactivation of its Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered B777s to at least mid-May 2022 as it continues to work with the regulators on safety concerns related to these powerplants, CNBC has reported.

The carrier said in an internal memo that the aircraft would not return to commercial operations before May 12, with an additional two weeks (until May 25) before they could start flying to Hawaii and on international routes.

"Due to the delay in the return of our PW B777 aircraft to active service, the May flight schedule is being reconfigured to account for the lack of these aircraft," the carrier informed its pilots.

United Airlines operates 52 PW4000-powered B777s, including nineteen B777-200s and thirty-three B777-200(ER)s.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all PW4000-powered B777s immediately after a United aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure on February 20, 2021. While JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) subsequently retired all such aircraft in its fleet and ANA - All Nippon...