Aviation Daily Roundup: Apr. 7, 2021
April 08, 2021
Lufthansa Converts A350 To Climate Laboratory
Credit: Airbus
Lufthansa has begun conversion of an Airbus A350-900 into a climate research aircraft. The A350 will replace an A340-600 previously used to measure trace elements and greenhouse gases in the tropopause.

United Airlines To Reopen Flight School, Train 5,000 Pilots By 2030
Credit: Tim Boyle/newsmakers/Getty Images
United Airlines is planning to reopen its flight academy this year, part of a new goal to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030.

France To Aid Air Austral With $35M State-Backed Loan
Credit: Rob Finlayson
PARIS—France plans to help Réunion-based Air Austral survive the COVID-19 crisis by providing a €30 million ($35 million) state-guaranteed loan.

Daily Memo: Parts Demand Points To Aftermarket Recovery Momentum
Credit: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images
A recent Oliver Wyman projection that U.S. domestic air traffic could be back up to 2019 levels by early 2022 seems to align with data points coming out of the aftermarket side, suggesting aircraft operators believe they will need lift sooner rather than later.

Swiss Look For Path To Synthetic Jet Fuel
Credit: unsplash
A Swiss research project has been launched with the goal of developing a synthetic kerosene produced from carbon dioxide (CO2) and renewable hydrogen that can directly replace fossil jet fuel without requiring changes to aircraft and engines.

Alitalia Successor’s Future In Doubt After Talks With Brussels Stall
Credit: Rob Finlayson
Talks between Italy and the European Commission (EC) over bankrupt airline Alitalia have reached a sticking point.

Air Cargo Returns To Growth But Passenger Demand Dips Again
Credit: Thierry Monasse / Getty Images
The latest global airline industry numbers show a diverging business, with air cargo demand growing while passenger traffic declines.

Brazil’s Second Coronavirus Wave Continues To Weaken GOL’s Traffic
Credit: Rob Finlayson
As a second wave of coronavirus infections rages in Brazil, its largest domestic airline GOL continues to brace for weakened demand.

Ryanair Warns Of Traffic Hit From Slow Vaccine Roll-Out
Credit: Ryanair
Ryanair warned that its current fiscal year’s traffic levels will be toward the lower end of its previous guidance because of travel restrictions and slow vaccine rollouts in Europe.

Wizz Air To Launch UAE-Israel Route As Etihad Begins Service
Credit: Wizz Air
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has confirmed plans to launch scheduled service between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Tel Aviv (TLV) later this month—less than 24 hours after Etihad Airways began flying between the destinations.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800F Lands At Wrong Airport
Credit: GECAS
Two Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737s reportedly approached an under-construction airport near Ndola, Zambia on April 4 and one proceeded to land.

Flydubai Not Considering Deliveries As MAX Fleet Returns To Service
Credit: flydubai
Flydubai said deliveries of further Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2021 are not currently on the table as the LCC focuses on bringing the type back into service.
United Airlines to reopen flight school, parts demand points to aftermarket recovery momentum, air cargo returns to growth and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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