Delta Air Lines is still holding out hope that Boeing will move ahead with a new midrange jetliner whose fate remains in limbo while the planemaker focuses on the crisis engulfing its grounded 737 Max. The carrier’s CE dangled a possible reward to Boeing for proceeding with an aircraft that would be tailored for flights of about 5,000 nautical miles: potentially hundreds of jet sales. The proposed two-model family is known within Boeing as the NMA, for new midmarket airplane, while some analysts have dubbed it the 797. “I do anticipate they will do it. I hope they will do it,” Ed Bastian said Wednesday. “We have a significant need between the retirements of the 757 and 767 fleets. That’s almost 200 aircraft over the next decade.” <br/>
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Air France-KLM and EasyJet withdrew competing offers for Aigle Azur Thursday after missing an overnight court deadline to improve their bids to acquire part of the collapsed budget airline's operations and staff. An Air France spokeswoman confirmed it had decided against submitting an expected joint offer with long-haul niche carrier Air Caraibes because "our conditions for doing so weren't met". EasyJet said it had also pulled out but remains committed to France and its operations at Paris Orly. The withdrawal of 3 major bidders delivers a blow to govt-backed efforts to sell off parts of Aigle Azur's business and save a large proportion of its 1,150 jobs. The airline's unfolding bankruptcy is the latest among smaller European airlines struggling to contend with higher fuel costs and stiff low-cost competition. <br/>
Investigators are probe an incident in which a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 executed a missed approach after being informed by air traffic control that the undercarriage was not deployed. The aircraft had been operating to Melbourne Sept 19, having departed from Ho Chi Minh City. “During approach to land, Melbourne air traffic control advised the crew that the aircraft’s landing-gear was observed not to be extended,” says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The aircraft had been conducting its approach to runway 34, and executed a go-around. Investigators have not disclosed the altitude of the 787 or its distance from touchdown at the point when the undercarriage advisory was transmitted. The flight, after carrying out the missed approach, landed around 15min later. <br/>