Aviation Daily Roundup: Feb. 22, 2023

AirAsia X (AAX) plans to significantly boost its widebody fleet this year after tapping into strong international demand to achieve solid profit growth.

Europe produces about 1.4 billion metric tons of manure annually from animal farming, some of which could be converted to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) if a new research project is successful. 

Viva’s controlling shareholder Castlesouth is warning the Colombian LCC could lose aircraft unless the country’s regulators move forward in approving Viva’s acquisition by its larger rival Avianca. 

Mexican ULCC Volaris is moderating its growth in an effort to combat possible delays in aircraft deliveries and engine availability. 

Maldivian Airlines’ parent company has issued a request-for-proposal (RfP) to provide two Airbus A330-200s on a dry-lease basis for a period of six years. 

Latvian carrier airBaltic is making preparations for its stock-exchange listing, with a view to an initial public offering (IPO) in autumn 2024.

Does a very long-awaited concrete step forward in the ITA Airways privatization saga at the start of 2023 herald a year of consolidation for Europe’s vulnerable secondary airlines? 

Northern European carriers SmartLynx Airlines and Braathens Regional Airlines are expanding their respective business portfolios.

Chinese MRO provider Haite Group will begin work on Airbus A321 Passenger to Freighter (A321P2F) conversions in China later this year after signing an agreement with Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW).

The Council of the European Union (EU) and Japan have reached an aviation agreement designed to further strengthen cooperation and enable airlines to expand their services more easily.

Safran Nacelles has licensed ST Engineering and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to repair and overhaul the CFM Leap 1A that powers the Airbus A320neo.

AirAsia X (AAX) plans to significantly boost its widebody fleet this year after tapping into strong international demand to achieve solid profit growth.