PARIS (Reuters) -Airbus deliveries fell by a third to 20 airplanes in January compared to 30 in the same month last year, the company said on Tuesday, confirming an earlier Reuters report. Detailed Airbus data showed that the cancellation came from Viva Air Colombia, a subsidiary of Irelandia Aviation. New orders included a previously announced decision by Delta Air Lines to exercise options for 12 more A220-300s.
Boeing (BA) secures a $24.5-million modification contract to provide engineering services to support MQ-25 low-rate initial production.
The regulator is weighing a pitch from European planemakers Airbus SE and Dassault Aviation SA for solo flying in the cruise phase, which is less demanding than take-off and landing, when at least two pilots would still have to be in the cockpit. The proposal included such limitations as barring pilots with medical conditions or too few hours of experience from being solo in the cockpit, Andrea Boiardi, a manager with the regulator, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), told Reuters, revealing previously undisclosed details. The aviation industry wants solo flying to help ease a challenging labor shortage, since the relaxation of regulations would allow pilots to rest during long-haul trips without replacements being aboard.