Aviation Daily Roundup: June 08, 2022

Vietjet Plans More A330s For Larger Long-Haul Network

Vietjet Air is planning to induct as many as six more Airbus A330-300s into its fleet as it readjusts its long-haul network to meet newfound demand and markets. The LCC already operates a pair of the widebody aircraft on routes to South Korea and Japan. Vietjet commercial director Jay Lingeswara says the next phase is to add the major cities in Australia, followed by the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Credit: Vietjet Air

Berlin To Be Norse’s Third European Transatlantic Point

Berlin is the latest European destination to be added to Norse Atlantic Airways’ network as the Norwegian startup prepares to begin commercial operations. The long-haul LCC, which will operate its first flight next week between Oslo (OSL) and New York John F Kennedy (JFK), intends to launch its initial services from the German capital in August. Credit: Norse Atlantic Airways

Quebec, Private-Equity Group Team For $100 Million Aero Supplier Fund

Canada’s first private-equity fund dedicated to the aerospace supply chain is targeting $100 million and has already garnered commitments for $77 million, officials said. Suzanne Benoit, president of Aero Montreal, said June 7 the new fund will propel the growth of small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) after the historic collapse of aviation demand shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020. Credit: Airbus

Daily Memo: What’s Next For Airline Consolidation In The U.S.?

The ongoing bidding war over Spirit Airlines has the potential to shape the competitive environment in the U.S. air travel market for years to come. But regardless of whether Frontier Airlines or JetBlue Airways emerges victorious in that contest, the unfolding drama has prompted some in the industry to consider alternative merger combinations that could be commercially viable. Credit: Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

Nigeria Air Receives Its Air Transport License

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has granted an air transport license (ATL) to start-up carrier Nigeria Air, four years after the project was first unveiled at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow. Nigerian transport minister Hadi Sirika shared a photo of the ATL via his Twitter social media account on June 6. Sirika said Nigeria Air’s domestic flight launch date will be announced “in due course.” Credit: Rob Finlayson

Spirit Airlines Postpones Frontier Merger Vote To June 30

Spirit Airlines postponed a shareholder vote on whether to merge with Frontier Airlines until June 30, from June 10 previously, allowing additional time for the company’s board to negotiate with Frontier, JetBlue Airways and its own shareholders about the best path forward. The decision to postpone the meeting follows a last-minute revision to JetBlue’s takeover bid on June 6 that upped its reverse breakup fee to $350 million, roughly half of which would be delivered to shareholders as an upfront cash payment. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

American Airlines Vows To Negotiate Pilot Salaries Near Industry Highs

American Airlines has committed to pay its pilots “at the top of the industry,” says CEO Robert Isom. He made that pledge during Fort Worth-based carrier’s annual shareholder meeting on June 8, and stated contract talks with the Allied Pilots Association (APA) representing the airline’s mainline pilots were going well. Isom said the union and American were “all aligned in making sure that we get the best for our pilots.” Credit: American Airlines

EU Approves State Interventions For Portugal's SATA, AirBaltic

The European Commission (EC) has approved €453.25 million ($484 million) in restructuring aid for Portuguese leisure carrier SATA Air Açores, as well as a €33.4 million recapitalization for Latvian carrier airBaltic, to avoid possible default and insolvency. Speaking about the SATA aid, the EC said the money will help finance the airline’s restructuring plan and restore its long-term viability. Credit: Joe Pries

Connect Orders Hydrogen Propulsion For ATR72 Regional Fleet

With ambitions to be North America’s first zero-emission airline, startup Connect Airlines has placed a firm order with Universal Hydrogen to convert 75 ATR72-600 regional turboprops to hydrogen-electric propulsion. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2025. The deal, which includes purchase rights for another 25 conversions, in backed by financial commitments and essentially doubles Universal Hydrogen’s (UH2) order book. Credit: Universal Hydrogen

Wizz Air Aims To Double Fleet By 2027

Central and Eastern European LCC Wizz Air is planning to more than double its all-Airbus fleet over the next five years, growing from 153 to 383 aircraft. At the release of Wizz Air’s fiscal 2022 results, the carrier gave details of its capacity ramp up over the next five years, which will see the year-end fleet grow from 177 aircraft in 2022 to 212 in 2023, 234 in 2024, 273 in 2025, 325 in 2026 and 383 in 2027. Credit: Wizz Air

Airlines Give Mixed Response To European Parliament’s Fit For 55 Vote

European airlines have given a mixed reaction to a vote by the European Parliament on key legislation packages governing the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce its emissions. Industry group Airlines For Europe (A4E) said it welcomed the introduction of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) allowances but said it was “extremely concerned” about the earlier than planned phasing out of free emissions trading allowances for airlines. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images

Brazil Joins Latin American Maintenance Harmonization Effort

Brazil has joined Latin America’s Multinational Agreement for Aircraft Maintenance Organizations (AMOs), clearing the country’s approved repair stations to be certified by the other 11 member states with minimal additional regulatory red tape. The move means Brazilian AMOs can serve operators from the 11 member states without certifications from individual regulators based on a single audit carried out by the Regional Safety Oversight Cooperation System (SRVSOP). Credit: Airbus / Alexandre Doumenjou - Master Films

Airlink CEO Calls For Consolidation Of African Airlines

Africa’s airlines must and will consolidate in order to become economically viable, the CEO of one of the continent’s largest regional carriers is saying. Speaking June 6 to mark the 30th anniversary of South African airline Airlink, CEO and MD Rodger Foster said Africa was heavily over-subscribed in terms of the number of airlines competing for passengers. Credit: Airlink

ATR Targets Japanese Market As Major Growth Center

Turboprop manufacturer ATR believes that Japan will be home to a 100-strong fleet of the type “in a few years,” CEO Stefano Bortoli said June 8. There are currently just 15 examples of the Franco-Italian aircraft flying in Japan. ATR says it is stepping up its presence in Japan as the country sees an increase in demand for regional aviation in the wake of the pandemic. Credit: ATR

Regional Lessor Monte Orders ZeroAvia Hydrogen Conversions

Regional turboprop lessor Monte Aircraft Leasing has agreed to purchase up to 100 hydrogen-electric powertrains from zero-emission propulsion startup ZeroAvia for installation on new and existing Cessna Caravans and De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters as well as Dornier 228s and HAL-228s. The companies plan to retrofit aircraft beginning in 2024 and provide financing options for the aircraft, maintenance and hydrogen supply services to support their operation. The deal will make ZeroAvia’s Monte the exclusive hydrogen-electric powertrain provider for these aircraft, the company said. Credit: ZeroAvia

Russian Government Throws Lifeline To Largest Private Carriers

The Russian government continues to support the country’s air transport industry, which has been seriously affected by the war in Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions. For the first time the authorities have extended a helping hand specifically to Russia’s two largest private carriers, S7 Airlines and Ural Airlines. Credit: Aleksandr Papichev / Alamy Stock Photo

Singapore Airlines Looks To Sell Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credits

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and two Singapore government-related organizations are launching a program to sell sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits that can be purchased by travelers and other airline customers. SIA is partnering with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and state-backed investment group Temasek to offer 1,000 SAF credits for sale starting in July. The credits are linked to 1,000 tons of SAF that will be blended and uplifted at Singapore Changi Airport. Credit: Singapore Airlines

Deloitte Opens Wichita Smart Factory To Help Manufacturers Innovate

Deloitte Consulting has launched a Wichita “Smart Factory” officials call the “art of the possible,” using advanced technology to focus on the future of manufacturing. The goal is to help other manufacturers digitally transform their shop floors using a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud and edge applications, robotics, vision solutions and other technologies. Credit: Deloitte Consulting

Brisbane Lands ‘Gamechanger’ San Francisco Route

United Airlines is launching a new route to Australia this fall, with the Queensland capital Brisbane set to become the Chicago-based carrier’s third destination in the country. Flights to Brisbane (BNE) will be three times per week from San Francisco (SFO), starting on Oct. 28 and using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Credit: Rob Finlayson

Vietjet plans more A330s for larger long-haul network, Berlin to be Norse’s third European Transatlantic point and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.

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Comments

1 Comment
Viscount724
Fri, 06/10/2022 - 02:57
The ancient photo used to illustrate this item has absolutely nothing to do with the subject. Nigeria Airways was a government-owned carrier plagued by mismanagement, corruption and safety issues that was shut down almost 20 years ago (2003). I doubt the startup carrier mentioned would appreciate being linked to the former Nigeria Airways.
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