On the apposite date of July 8, 2007, Boeing will unveil the first assembled 787, its long-expected widebody jet. But with so much attention on the Boeing’s heated competition with Airbus, new developments in aerospace are slipping by unnoticed—especially in emerging-market countries like China, where some of this century’s big aviation action may well take place.

Later this year, the Chinese state-owned company ACAC will unveil China’s first “homegrown” commercial jetliner: the ARJ21, a regional jet seating 70-100 with a range of 1,800 miles. When the ARJ21 takes flight, it will be for China a prouder moment than the 787’s unveiling will for Boeing. China’s aerospace ambitions are bigger than the ARJ21, and they may have big global consequences.

The weeds of nationalism grow well in aviation’s garden. Continue reading “Boeing, Airbus: Prepare for Turbulence”

The last time I flew on Ryanair, Europe’s scrappy low-cost airline, I sensed some message confusion. Its garish blue-and-yellow planes and spartan terminals bear slogans such as “The Low Fares Airline,” “The On Time Airline,” “Fly Cheaper,” and even one that read “Europe’s Favourite Airline”—an obvious dig at its larger rival British Airways, whose longtime slogan was “The World’s Favourite Airline.”

Ryanair gets its share of bad press, and while I’ve never had an unpleasant flight on the airline, I’ve never had a particularly pleasant one either. It is a truly no-frills experience—no window shades, no reclining seats, charges for checked luggage, everything on the plane for sale. So can it really be Europe’s favorite airline? Can it be anybody’s favorite airline? Continue reading “A Valuable New Airline Service You May Not Have Noticed”