The World of Aviation

Southwest Airlines has become the launch customer for Boeing’s 737 MAX after becoming the first airline to sign a contract for the re-engined 737 with a firm order for 150. The Dallas based carrier, which has also ordered 58 Next-Generations 737s, will be the first airline to place the MAX into service, in 2017. With

Airservices Australia has introduced an Enterprise Data Warehouse system (EDW) to bring together a range of aviation related information and improve data reporting and analysis. The EDW will combine information previously held in separate systems covering 85 sources, ranging from flight data, traffic patterns, aircraft and airport operations, airspace use, safety performance and internal information

Bombardier Aerospace has announced the appointment of Tobjorn (Toby) Karlsson as its vice president of sales for commercial aircraft in the Asia-Pacific. Karlsson, a native of Sweden, will lead sales efforts across the region with the exception of China, Japan and South Korea. Karlsson has 25 years of aviation experience including stints with Honeywell Aerospace

Airbus has started joining the first 21-metre long front fuselage section for its A350XWB. Once completed in the coming weeks, the fuselage will be transported by Beluga from Airbus’s facility in Sant-Nazaire, France, to the A350 final assembly line in Toulouse. The fuselage will be the first major section of the A350 to enter the

Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have launched the first phase of their recently approved alliance with a joint service connecting Singapore, Darwin and Sydney. The airlines have also announced reciprocal frequent flyer programs. SilkAir, Singapore Airlines’ regional subsidiary, will begin four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin from March 26 2012, while Virgin will complement those

Airbus has delivered its 7000th aircraft, an A321 that went to US Airways, according the European aerospace giant. US Airways operates the world’s largest fleet of Airbus aircraft, including more than 220 A320 Family jetliners. Airbus delivered its first aircraft, an A300B2, to Air France in May 1974. It delivered its 6000th aircraft, an A380,