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Embraer recorded $4.5bn revenue in 2022, growing 8% from its 2021 revenue of $4.2bn. Despite this, the Brazilian firm ended the year with a net loss of $185.5m – over 400% more than its $44.7m losses in 2021.

The company delivered 159 jets In 2022, at a split of 57 commercial aircraft – a 19% increase from 2021, and 102 executive jets – up 10% from last year. Overall this is a 12.7% increase compared to 2021, a healthy growth considering significant what Embraer calls “significant supply chain constraints” over the last year.

Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto highlighted the importance of the Civil Aviation Administration of China granting certification to the E190-E2 in November of last year, which has “opened doors” for Embraer in the Chinese market.

“We strongly believe that the E190-E2 and E195-E2 combination in China is a very strong addition to the local portfolio," said Neto. "There’s a gap with no Chinese products [that Embraer can fill]. We’re very bullish about the Chinese market.”

CAV Ice Protection, a global supplier of airborne ice protection solutions, has filed for a patent for an anti-icing solution for small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) that it claims could revolutionise commercial drone use in cold climates.

Engineers at the County Durham-based manufacturer, which is part of the CAV Systems Group, have designed a concept ice protection system (IPS) that prevents ice from building up on the rotor blades of a drone or sUAS.

With the rise in popularity of small uncrewed aircraft and drones, ensuring that flight operations aren’t impacted by poor weather conditions is crucial – especially as the market is changing from being centred on hobbyists and the defence industry to wider sectors, such as medical, retail and logistics.

“This is an industry first, nobody has previously demonstrated an ice protection system that works for this size of aircraft, and we’re not aware that anybody else is working on one,” said Alex Baty, CAV Systems VP of Engineering.

Riyadh Air, the newly launched national airline of Saudi Arabia, has reached an agreement to purchase up to 72 787-9 Dreamliners from aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The carrier will initially buy 39 787-9s, with options for another 33 jets. This order aligns with the country’s larger strategy to transform into a global aviation hub.

The 787-9 offers the longest range in the 787 aircraft family, with the capacity to accommodate nearly 300 passengers over a distance of 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km).

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) ordered 39 787-9 and 787-10 planes from Boeing, with options for an additional ten jets, Xinhua reported.

Together, the orders for 121 787 Dreamliners from Saudi Arabian airlines mark the fifth largest commercial order by value in the history of Boeing.

Airport management platform AeroCloud has launched a new passenger tracking solution, called AeroCloud Optic.

AeroCloud Optic uses computer vision to track passengers as they move through an airport. The real-time monitoring of passenger flow triggers alerts in response to bottlenecks in operations, such as extended wait times at check-in or security.

UK-based AeroCloud’s artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms allow airport staff to identify trends, draw learnings, and predict future scenarios, informing more accurate decision-making and long-term planning.

The launch follows successful trials at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Florida.

Though technologies including Bluetooth and WiFi have previously been trialled, AeroCloud says that AeroCloud Optic is the first technology capable of anonymously tracking passengers through the entire airport journey.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed the final level of the price cap on what Heathrow Airport can charge its airline customers.

The new cap, which will be effective until the end of 2026, will see the average maximum price per passenger drop 20% to £25.43 in 2024 from £31.57 in 2023.

The regulator also said that the price per passenger will further drop and remain broadly flat until the end of 2026. The new rate will take the average charge over the five years to £27.49 compared to £28.39 for final proposals.

The authority decided to reduce charges from 2024 as it expects passenger volumes to return to pre-pandemic levels. The decision will benefit passengers while enabling Heathrow Airport to continue investing in the airport.

Last month, Heathrow Airport posted an adjusted pre-tax loss of £684m in 2022, a drop from the £1.27bn loss a year ago.