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State of the airframers: Boeing delivers, Airbus delays and new models wait on fringe

It has been an exceptionally busy year for aircraft manufacturers. Boeing delivered its first B787 and B747-8F and launched the B737 MAX, setting its narrowbody strategy for the next decade at least. Airbus went ahead with the A320neo late in 2010 and has been amply rewarded with an avalanche of orders, but has been forced to delay the A350 XWB.

Of the smaller manufacturers, Bombardier is plugging away doggedly with CSeries, trying to break the Airbus/Boeing monopoly. Embraer has just announced that it will stick with the regional jet market, offering a re-engined version of its existing E-jets family instead of venturing into the intensely competitive narrowbody market. Coming soon are COMAC's C919 and Irkut's MS-21.

Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcano: Europe’s new airspace management approach put to the test

The eruption of Iceland’s Grímsvötn volcanco could be the acid test for EUROCONTROL and European air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and the new rules and measures put in place after the last Icelandic volcanic eruption in 2010. A little more than 13 months on from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Europe’s passengers and airlines will be hoping that the reaction from Europe’s airspace authorities is much more measured than it was in 2010.

Russia, Turkey and Sweden the hottest destinations for European travellers this Summer. Egypt down

Russia, Turkey and Sweden are among the fastest growing major destinations for European travellers this summer, latest analysis from CAPA shows. According to Innovata schedule data for Apr-2011 - the first month of the summer scheduling season - Russia and Turkey will enjoy near 20% increases in passenger capacity from other European countries next month.

World Airport Rankings 2010: Hong Kong eclipses Memphis as the world’s busiest cargo hub

It’s official: Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is the world’s busiest cargo hub – ending Memphis International Airport’s 18-year reign at the top of the world rankings. HKIA’s rise to the top reflects surging exports from China’s Pearl River Delta, while Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific became the world’s largest international air cargo carrier last year, overtaking Korean Air.

European airlines report single-digit traffic growth in 2010; profits remain weak

European airlines reported single-digit growth last year - a welcome improvement from 2009's depressed level - but 2010 was a lacklustre year overall. Full year data has been released by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) and EUROCONTROL. As noted by EUROCONTROL, growth across the continent last year was driven mainly by LCCs.