Air Canada is expecting Airbus to deliver the first of 30 A321XLRs it has on order in the fourth quarter, adding to an ongoing renewal of the Montreal-based carrier’s narrowbody fleet. The Star Alliance airline disclosed on 28 March an update of its fleet renewal plan, which foresees A321XLR deliveries continuing through 2029. Half of the latest-generation narrowbody jets will be leased, while Air Canada plans to acquire the other 15 aircraft under a purchase agreement with Airbus. Air Canada holds options to receive another 10 A321XLRs between 2030 and 2032, for a potential total of 40 of the extra-long-range jets – all powered by Pratt & Whitney (P&W) PW1100G geared turbofans. Upon placing the aircraft order in March 2022, Air Canada had initially anticipated that its first A321XLRs would arrive in the first quarter of 2024, based on Airbus’ prior expectation of clearing certification of the type in 2023. The A321XLR is the longest-range variant in Airbus’ popular A321neo family. It has been marketed as a game-changer for transatlantic flights to smaller markets that do not support widebody operations. <br/>
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People travelling between B.C. and the Philippines now have more flight options as Air Canada launches a direct route from Vancouver to Manila. The first flight is set to depart YVR Wednesday, according to a news release, which notes there are more than one million Filipinos living in Canada – with upwards of 170,000 based in British Columbia. There will be four departures out of YVR and four from Manila per week once the route is fully up and running in May. “We are proud to be the only Canadian carrier flying to the Philippines, building on the longstanding ties between our countries to make visiting family and friends, conducting business, or heading on vacation more convenient than ever,” Mark Galardo, an executive with Air Canada said in the news release.<br/>
German airline Lufthansa has not experienced a decline in bookings to and from the United States despite a stricter border policy under President Donald Trump, its finance chief said. "Our important transatlantic business continues to look very good," CFO Till Streichert told newspaper Boersen-Zeitung in an interview released late on Monday. Streichert described the market environment for 2025 as positive, especially in the North Atlantic, saying he expected a "significant improvement in earnings for the group". Last month, Germany updated its travel advisory for the U.S. to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for its citizens. It came after three citizens were detained at the border. On Monday, British airline Virgin Atlantic said it was starting to see some signals that demand was slowing in the United States after a strong start to 2025. It echoed a warning from its part-owner Delta Air Lines over the impact of U.S. economic uncertainty amid tariffs and rising prices.<br/>
Lufthansa is addressing delays in aircraft deliveries by shifting Airbus A350-900 capacity to its Frankfurt hub. The German carrier says four A350s have been transferred ahead of the summer season. Another pair will join them in May and July. The initial aircraft are serving long-haul routes to Seoul and Shanghai, while the others will operate to Denver and Seattle. CE Jens Ritter says the airline is “closing a gap” caused by late aircraft deliveries. Lufthansa has not specified the aircraft types held up. But the carrier is expecting to take 61 new aircraft by the end of 2027. It has 30 A350s operating at Munich and 14 more are due to arrive by 2029.<br/>
China’s three largest carriers expect a marked increase in deliveries of Comac’s C919 narrowbody jet this year, according to their latest fleet plans. The disclosures, made alongside their annual financial results, align with Comac’s previously disclosed plans to raise the production rate of its narrowbody programme this year. The ‘Big Three’ – Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – each expect to take delivery of between 10 and 12 C919s this year, doubling or tripling their existing fleets of the narrowbody. Launch customer China Eastern, which has 10 C919s in service, aims to receive another 10 examples in 2025, doubling its operating fleet by the end of the year. Similarly, Air China says it aims to receive 10 new C919s in 2025, bringing the total fleet to 13 examples by year-end. China Southern, meanwhile, targets deliveries of 12 C919s, taking its operating fleet to 15 aircraft. Air China and China Southern only received their first C919s in August 2024, while China Eastern took delivery its first example in 2023. In 2026 and 2027, the three operators expect to receive 10 C919s per year, an indication that production rates may have stabilised by then. Comac executives were cited in local media reports in January that the Shanghai-based airframer was looking to deliver at least 30 C919s this year, as it raises production capacity to 50 aircraft annually.<br/>
Singapore has designated 17 transport companies as critical firms subject to greater regulatory scrutiny under a new law effective on Tuesday, which authorities have said aims to guard against extreme scenarios involving "malicious actors".<br/>The Transport Sector (Critical Firms) Act would give the government tighter control over major Singaporean companies in the air, land and sea transport sectors, with approval required for key leadership changes and when an entity gains control of more than 5% of a firm. The companies include Singapore-listed Singapore Airlines, ground services handling firm SATS, aircraft maintenance firm SIA Engineering Company, and bus and rail operator SBS Transit. The companies must also inform authorities of events like lawsuits and insolvency that impair their ability to provide essential services, according to the law published in the government gazette. Unlisted companies also designated as critical include Changi Airport Group, public transport operator SMRT Corporation, Jurong Port and PSA Marine. A Singapore Airlines spokesperson said the company notes its inclusion and "will be in compliance with the act".<br/>