Aviation Daily Roundup: June 16, 2022

JetBlue Announces Network Planning Team Changes

JetBlue Airways has reshuffled its network planning team, with Andrea Lusso moving to the role of VP of enterprise planning and Dave Jehn replacing Lusso as VP of network planning and partnerships. Lusso joined JetBlue in 2012 and was appointed to the position of VP of network planning in 2020, having previously served as director of route planning. Prior to that, he held various other roles in marketing and route planning. Credit: JetBlue

JetSMART Begins Domestic Operations In Peru

JetSMART Peru has commenced commercial operations with a launch network that features 13 domestic routes in the South American country. The carrier becomes the third in the JetSMART family after Chile, its home base, and Argentina. JetSMART Chile made its debut in July 2017 followed by JetSMART Argentina in 2019. Credit: JetSMART

H2Gear Hybrid-Electric Propulsion May Benefit Larger Aircraft, GKN Says

GKN Aerospace says confidence is growing around its hybrid, hydrogen-electric aerospace propulsion solution the company is pursuing as part of its UK government-backed H2Gear research and technology project. Early engineering work on the propulsion system has demonstrated that its storage, fuel cell and motor approach could be easily scaled up and used on 19-, 48-, and 96-seater aircraft. Credit: GKN Aerospace

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Vetoes Legislation Behind Free Baggage Allowances

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has vetoed a bill that would allow free baggage allowances for domestic and international air travelers. In May, the country’s Senate provisionally approved a measure to allow free bags for air passengers. Domestic passengers would receive a 23 kg (50 lb.) allowance while the allotment for international passengers would be 30 kg. Credit: Supakit Sawaengnil / Alamy Stock Photo

American Airlines Regional Flight Attendants Secure Raises, Bonuses

Flight attendants at three wholly-owned regional units of American Airlines secured agreements that provide higher pay and summertime bonuses, adding to rising industry costs amid a historically tight airline labor market. The new deals raise starting pay to $27/hr. for flight attendants at Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines. Employees at a pay step above the new starting rate will receive retention bonuses worth $3,000. All flight attendants will also be eligible for summer retention bonuses worth $4,500. Credit: Envoy Air

Daily Memo: Viva Remains Confident On Prospects For Its Medellin Hub

Colombia’s first ULCC Viva captured headlines recently with the announcement that it plans to form a mega Latin American airline group along with rival Avianca and Brazilian carrier GOL. But in the near term, Viva is squarely focused on its goal of building a hub in Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city. The airline remains bullish about its prospects as international demand continues to rebound. Credit: Airbus

United Airlines Invests In Another SAF Startup

United Airlines has made another investment in a startup developing a new pathway to producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The deal with Dimensional Energy includes a commercial agreement to purchase at least 300 million gal. of SAF over 20 years. Credit: Dimensional Energy

Air France Seeing Benefits From Early Recruitment, CEO Says

Air France is ready for a busy summer season, having taken the decision to recruit more staff earlier this year in the hope of strong demand, the airline’s CEO Anne Rigail told journalists June 16. Across Europe, many airlines have been forced to delay and cancel flights because of staff shortages as travel demand ramps back up quickly from the low levels seen during the Omicron COVID-19 surge. Credit: Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images

Japan’s Zipair Plots New U.S. Route, Changes Livery

Japan’s Zipair Tokyo is further expanding its U.S. network with the launch of a new route to San José, California, and plans to redesign its livery, removing the “Z’ on its aircraft’s tails following Russia’s appropriation of the letter as a tag in its war against Ukraine. Starting in December, the long-haul low-cost airline will connect Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Mineta San José International (SJC), subject to government approval. The start date and planned frequency will be announced at a later date, the Japan Airlines (JAL) subsidiary said. Credit: ZIPAIR Tokyo

Qatar Airways Posts Strong Full-Year Profit Despite A350 Issues

Qatar Airways rebounded from the COVID-19 crisis in its fiscal 2021/2022 period ended March 31, posting a new company record for full-year net profit following a multi-billion-dollar net loss in the prior fiscal year. The airline said that while it expanded its network and boosted passenger numbers following the COVID-19 pandemic, it could have grown faster if not for fleet capacity problems. The carrier is locked in a dispute with Airbus over fuselage surface degradation on its A350s. Credit: Qatar Airways

Boeing Encore Introduces Virtual Tool For Custom Galleys

Boeing Encore, the OEM’s interiors manufacturer, has replaced a legacy system for configuring Boeing 737 galleys with a new virtual design tool. Unveiled at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the Virtual Configuration Studio (VCS) allows airlines to customize the galley design for their single-aisle jets remotely. Credit: Alan Dron/Aviation Week Network

Heart Shifts To Large-Airplane Certification For ES-19 Electric Regional

Swedish startup Heart Aerospace is switching to European CS-25 large-airplane certification of its ES-19 electric regional aircraft, from the CS-23 commuter category, to reduce regulatory risk and expand the potential market. When Gothenburg-based Heart launched development of the 19-seat ES-19 in 2018, it was viewed as a niche product for the Nordic region, which was aiming for fossil-free aviation by 2040, says founder and CEO Anders Forslund. Credit: Heart Aerospace

JetBlue announces network planning team changes, JetSMART begins domestic operations in Peru and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.

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