Boeing, Embraer, and other potential stakeholders are working to wrap up joint venture (JV) talks involving the two aircraft manufacturers "very soon," Embraer CEO Paulo Cesar Silva said. In response to an analyst’s question on a timeline, Silva said, "we don't know," about whether the talks will lead to a major announcement in the short-term. "I think what's important is that [the] parties are working very hard to have an outcome as soon as possible."

Air France will decide on its future narrowbody fleet this year and wants to take delivery of its first new aircraft from 2021.

Aeromexico’s fleet transformation hit two major milestones in late February with the delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX and the retirement of its last 777, leaving the carrier with three basic fleet types.

Embraer has the raised the technology and performance bars significantly with the E-Jet E2, but amid the improvements pilots will find much that is familiar. Photo: Embraer

Bruce Whitman of Flight Safety International was awarded the Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award at Aviation Week's 61st annual Laureate Awards at the National Building Museum in Washington on March 1, 2018.

Embraer is about to deliver the first Embraer 190-E2 to its launch operator Wideroe. Just prior to certification, reached at the end of February, Aviation Week was invited to fly the third prototype at Gaviao Peixoto and Sao Jose dos Campos. Evaluation pilot Tim Wuerfel tested the aircraft's maneuverability and the protections built into the new fly-by-wire system.

Lufthansa is considering a follow-up order for more Airbus A350s now that the airline has seen the initial results of flying Airbus’ latest widebody.

Hawaiian Airlines announced March 6 it intends to purchase 10 Boeing 787-9s with options for 10 additional aircraft, a deal valued at $5.4 billion at current list prices if all purchase rights are exercised.