ALL THINGS BOEING

U.S. FAA Certifies New Boeing 737-7 Airplane

On Aug. 3, 2026, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration granted Boeing an amended type certificate for the new
Service. “This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane’s design and recognizes the determination and
Said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Throughout the process, the FAA performed or directly reviewed significant work involving flight controls, safety
and other novel, complex or safety-critical areas, while also requiring testing, design changes and additional analysis where necessary,” The FAA adds. The approval marks a major milestone for Boeing, which at one point had aimed to have the Max 7 in service in 2019.

The approval leaves the largest variant of the narrowbody family, the MAX 10, as the only variant not yet certified. Boeing has said it expects the FAA will approve the Max 10 before year-end, and the company anticipates beginning to deliver both Max 7s and 10s in 2027.

“Our team of dedicated engineers and test experts worked through challenges, an extended pandemic and transition to new certification processes,” says Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive Stephanie Pope. Through it all, our team stayed focused on completing all requirements and delivering a safe and more capable airplane to our customers.” Boeing started the Max7’s test program in 2018 and has since completed more than1,000h of flight and ground tests.

With the Max 7, Boeing introduced design changes, including to the pilot-alerting and engine anti-ice systems.
It reassigned the anti-ice system to address inlet bearings getting too hot in some circumstances. Boeing added “turbulators on the forward fan cases ahead of Max’s twin CFM International Leap-1 B engines. Those devices make air entering the engine swirl, drawing cooler air and reducing temperatures, the company has said. These changes provide pilots with clearer information and warnings and prevent the engine inlet from overheating and potentially leaking the grounding structure,” it says.

Boeing has orders for 295 737 Max 7s, with US discount carrier Southwest Airlines holding 254 of them, according to fleet data provider Cirium.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Tajikistan’s Somon Air Receives First 737 Max

Tajikistan’s Somon Air has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max, as part of a lease agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. The aircraft’s Max 8 variants the first of the Max family to be introduced to the Central Asian country. Somon Air agreed last year to take a pair of the CFM International Leap-1B-powered jets from DAE.
The carrier is currently an all-737 operator, with a mix of-800s and -900s.

“Considering the central geographic location of Tajikistan and the improved range capability of the Max 8, this fleet expansion allows Simon Air to open new routes with improved economics,” says chief executive Abdulkosim Valiev. Boeing says the airline has plans to serve London, Beijing & Guangzhou. Simon Air opted to step up to widebody operations last year with an order for up to four Boeing 787-9s.

Source: Boeing, picture Boeing

Alaska Airlines Receives 100th 737 MAX

Alaska Airlines recently took delivery of its 100th 737 MAX, a milestone that reflects the carrier’s confidence in Boeing airplanes. The delivery comes as Alaska continues to grow and renew its fleet with new 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner jets, supporting the airline’s plans to expand both domestic and international service. The milestone also reflects the strength of Alaska’s decades-long partnership with Boeing, rooted in a shared emphasis on safety and quality.
“We appreciate the fact that our values are the same as Boeing’s, leading with safety and quality”, said Shane Jones, Alaska Airlines senior vice president of fleet, products and guest experience. The Boeing people are the different makers”.

Today, Alaska Air Group, which includes Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air, operates nearly 250 737s and five 787s. For many Boeing teammates, that means building airplanes they and their families later fly on. In January, Alaska signed the largest airplane order in its history…105 737-10s, with options for 35 more, plus five 787s.

That announcement kicked off a series of milestones between Alaska and Boeing, including unveiling a new livery for the airline’s 787 fleet and CEO Ben Minicucci visiting Boeing’s Renton, Washington, Factory. “I have so much more confidence coming out of today in what you have done in the last three years,” Minicucci told 737 teammates during his visit.I’m so impressed with all the quality improvements that have been put in place. I could
See the hard work.

Sources: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, picture Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Shohin Airlines Ordered Four Airbus320neo Family Aircraft

The airline, established in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as a private airline company, disclosed the order at Farnborough on 21 July in the United Kingdom. The agreement includes two A320neo and two A321neo. The A320neo aircraft will feature 176 seats and the A321neo will feature 196 seats in a dual-class layout. These new aircraft will help launch services to regional and global markets.

“The signing of our first contract with Airbus marks a milestone not only for Shohin Airlines, but also for the entire civil aviation sector of Tajikistan. The A320 Family aircraft will form the backbone of our airline’s modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable fleet. We are committed to providing our passengers with the highest standards of safety, comfort, and service quality while expanding Tajikistan’s air.

Source: Airbus, Shohin Airlines, Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

LATAM to Debut First Embraer 195-E2 in November

LATAM Airlines Group will add four destinations and eight new routes in Brazil with the introduction of the first Embraer 195-E2 aircraft this fall. The Carrier expects deliveries of 12 E2s from October through December, with the first revenue flight scheduled for 3 November, said Ricardo Dourado, the chief financial officer of LATAM, during the second-quarter earnings call on 5 August. The first six aircraft are already complete at Embraer’s São José dos
factory and are waiting for cabin certification. Another two E195-E2s are expected in the first quarter of 2027 out of the airline’s firm order for 24 aircraft. LATAM has options for another 50 aircraft.

LATAM will initially add four new Brazilian destinations with the E2s: Cabo Frio, Ji-Parana, Macae and Rondonopolis from December through February 2027. All will be served nonstop from its hub at São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport. LATAM plans to grow capacity in Brazil by 8-9% this year compared to 2025, its latest outlook shows.

Source: LATAM Airlines Group, picture LATAM

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Air India Names Former Ethiopian Airlines Head Gebremariam as Chief Executive

Air India and Tata Sons chairman N.Chandrasekaran says: “Having completed the initial phase of stabilisation, integration, and fleet commitments under Campbell’s guidance, Air India is now entering a critical execution and expansion era. “Tewolde’s track record in building one of the world’s most efficient and profitable
Airline groups makes him uniquely suited to lead Air India. Gebremariam adds: “Air India carries an incredible legacy and the Opportunity to build a world-class global airline that reflects India’s extraordinary economic potential is uniquely exciting.”

He replaces Campbell Wilson, who announced his intention to step down in April. Wilson has served as chief executive since April 2022, shortly after Tata Group took control of the Indian flag carrier. Air India late last month disclosed a net loss of $2.3 billion for the year ending March 2026, the worst since it entered private hands

Source: Air India, picture Air India

EL Al Purchases Two 787-9s it Was Operating Under Lease

The airline says it purchased the twinjets during the second quarter, and added that it signed agreements to purchase two leased 737-800s—one of them a freighter. El Al’s transaction means it owns seven of its 13 787-9s. The airline says it examines “from time to time” the purchase of leased aircraft, taking into account fleet expansion, its financial position, and the “optimisation” of its debt structure. In its first-half financial results, disclosed on 5 August, ElAl says it has purchased nine leased aircraft, including two 787-9s, since the beginning of 2025.

It adds that, in connection with the 787 purchase, it took out a $187 million loan with a 10-year term. The airline expects to take a further 787 this year, bringing its total to 18, and another in 2027. Another nine 787s, comprising four -10s and five 9s, are due for delivery to the carrier over the course of 2029-32.

Source: El Al, picture El Al

Alaska Airlines to Replace Boeing 717s With 737-800s for Hawaiian island Service

Alaska Air Group plans to add Boeing 737-800 aircraft to intra-Hawaiian island Service as it begins phasing out aging Boeing 717s. Beginning in October, one Alaska-branded 737 will make three round trips daily between Honolulu and Kahului, with the entire fleet transitioned by 2028. “Neighbor Island flying is uniquely demanding, with short segments, frequent daily cycles and operations in a salt-air environment,” says Alaska. The 737-800 is a durable, reliable, and proven aircraft with airframes and engines that can withstand the high cycles of neighbour Island operations.

The higher-capacity 737s will also feature Starlink Wi-Fi by SpaceX, Alaska says, and should offer a more comfortable passenger experience compared to the 717s. Boeing ended production of the 717 in 2006. Only Hawaiian and Delta Air Lines currently operate the model.

Source: Alaska Airlines, picture of Alaska Airlines

IN BRIEF

• Luxair has converted the options it already holds on Max 10s into firm orders. The carrier has also taken two more options on the Max 10s

• BermudAir emerges as the customer behind previous undisclosed A220-300 Order placed earlier this year.

• Saudi Arabian operator Flynas has agreed to take another five Airbus A330neo as well as 20 more A321neo twinjets.

• Southwest Airlines lifts profits in second-quarter despite jump in fuel costs

• Aerolineas Argentinas is to source six Airbus A330neo twinsets from Irish lessor Avolon as well as a batch of Boeing 737 Max10s from US-based Aviation Capital Group

Sources: From Airlines Sources

AIR CARGO

MSC Air Cargo Identified As Customer for Five 777-8F

Switzerland-based MSC Air Cargo has emerged as the carrier behind a previously identified order with Boeing for five 777-8 freighters. It marks the operator’s first order for the variant. MSC, which launched air cargo flights in December 2022, operates a fleet of 777-200 Fs. “With this order, we are investing in the long-term future of MSC Air Cargo and in the customers we save,” says the carrier’s chief executive, Jannie Davel, adding that the 777-8F is “the right aircraft for the next stage in our Growth”.

MSC Air Cargo is the third European Operator to order the 777-8F, says Boeing. Lufthansa Cargo and Cargolux have also signed for the type. The US airframer has booked more than 80 orders for the 777-8F. The aircraft is exclusively powered by the GE Aerospace GE9X engine. Deliveries of MSC’s 777-8F are expected in the early 2030s, says a Boeing e

Source: Boeing, picture Boeing

Researched and Compiled by :
Ed Kaplanian, Commercial Aviation Advisor
Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com
Editor: Lee Kaplanian