Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) on Wednesday signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the purchase of 100 A320 family narrowbodies and 40 A350 XWBs. Airbus CEO Tom Enders and CAS executive vice president Sun Bo signed the GTA in Berlin in the presence of visiting Chinese president Xi Jinping and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

 


“This is a great endorsement for our leading products in both single-aisle and widebody segments,” said Enders. “China is today one of the world’s most important markets for aviation, and we are honored to support the development and rapid growth of China’s civil aviation with our competitive product portfolio.”

 


The widebody order comes as a particular boost for Airbus, which, along with Boeing, has experienced a sales lull in that sector for the past few years. The parties didn’t specify which A350 variant the GTA covers, but Airbus’s latest, the A350-1000, has drawn orders for just 211 copies; following a decision last year by American Airlines to delay delivery of 22 A350-900s by an average of 26 months, United Airlines early this year said it had begun considering alternatives to the 35 A350-1000s on which it holds a firm order and, most recently, Delta Air Lines deferred deliveries of 10 of 25 A350-900s on order for two to three years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 


Nevertheless, China appears to represent a fertile source of both single-aisle and twin-aisle demand, accounting for an estimated 40,000 airplanes within 20 years and becoming the world’s largest market overall, according to Airbus’s latest market forecast.

 


By the end of May, Chinese operators flew a total of some 1,440 aircraft, of which A320s accounted for nearly 1,230. The A350, meanwhile, has received what Airbus calls valuable endorsements from several Chinese customers, including Air China, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Chinese Lessor CAS Commits to 140 Airbus Jets

General Terms Agreement calls for delivery of 100 A320s and 40 A350s

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft