unaligned

Boeing’s 787 may be a better fit for some expanding Chinese airlines rather than the larger 777 that has been selling to the country’s carriers in recent years, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CE Ray Conner said July 13. Speaking at a signing ceremony for Ruili Airlines’ order for 6 Boeing 787-9s. No engine choice has yet been made for Ruili’s 787s, which will be delivered in 2021 and used to enable to airline to expand internationally. Ruili’s chairman Zhanwei Ma, when asked if his company, which is rapidly expanding and has major orders in place for Boeing 737NG and MAX models, faced problems in recruiting sufficient pilots, admitted it was a problem but the company was dealing with it. <br/>

Alaska Airlines president and COO Ben Minicucci will additionally take on the role of Virgin America CE when Alaska Air Group’s acquisition of Virgin America closes. Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, said it expects the US$4b acquisition of Virgin America to gain regulatory approval from the US Department of Justice and close “early in the Q4 of this year,” the company said. Virgin America SVP and CFO Peter Hunt will become president of Virgin America following the transaction’s close and be in charge of Virgin America’ day-to-day operations, Alaska Air Group said. He will report directly to Minicucci. Alaska Air Group said Minicucci and Hunt will run Virgin America until Alaska/Virgin America gain a single operating certificate from FAA, which the company expects will happen in early 2018. <br/>