Bombardier has won an order for 75 CSeries passenger jets from Delta Air Lines, worth US$5.6b at list price. The order marks a turning point for Bombardier as it strives to break into the fleets of major airlines globally and serve a niche market for 100-seat aircraft that larger rivals Boeing and Airbus have neglected. Bombardier said the deal included an option for Delta to buy an additional 50 CS100s. Delta also has the option to convert a number of its orders into the larger CS300 variant at a later date. For Delta, the deal allows it to phase out 50-seat aircraft that it contracts regional airlines to fly under its Delta Connection brand. The larger CS100s burn less fuel per passenger and have room for 2 cabin classes rather than 1, giving Delta an opportunity to up-sell customers to business class. <br/>
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China Eastern Airlines has ordered 20 Airbus A350-900s and 15 Boeing 787-9s to further strengthen its expanding long-haul fleet. According to the carrier, the A350 order is valued at US$5.96b and the 787-9 deal is worth $3.9b at list prices. China Eastern plans to operate the new 787-9s on routes between China, North America and Europe, bolstering its competitiveness in the international long-haul market. China Eastern chairman Liu Shaoyong said, “The addition of these next-generation, fuel-efficient airplanes will play a key role in supporting China Eastern’s strategy for international expansion, and enable us to realise profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific Ocean, and between China and Europe.” The carrier is expected to introduce the 20 A350-900s between 2018 and 2022. <br/>
Kenya Airways pilots called off a strike Thursday after the carrier met some of their demands, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) said, adding they would fully resume work Friday. KALPA's members took the industrial action earlier Thursday to push for the removal of the airline's CE, prompting Kenya Airways to cancel all but 2 of its evening flights up to 2300 GMT. Kenya Airways had already cancelled 10 other flights. KALPA said the airline had made some management changes that met the pilots' minimum demands, without giving more details. The pilots had taken the action despite an agreement reached a day earlier to defer the strike until June 1. The strike lasted from midday until late Thursday, but for practical reasons full flights will resume Friday. <br/>