Aviation Daily Roundup: March. 1, 2023

The European airline landscape has been set in motion. 

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating the “close call” between a Learjet the FAA said took off without clearance and JetBlue Embraer E190 in the process of landing at Boston Logan on Feb. 27. 

Sigma Additive Solutions, a publicly traded developer of quality assurance software to the aerospace, defense and commercial 3D printing markets, on March 1 announced a strategic review that could lead to a sale of part or all of the company.

Embraer received the first E190 that will undergo a passenger-to-freighter conversion. 

The Spanish government’s willingness to carry on with the privatization of air traffic control services at airports is facing opposition from a controllers’ union at the European level.

Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles believes hydrogen propulsion is likely to mature quicker than electric aviation, despite his airline operating short-sector lengths tipped most likely to benefit from electric-aircraft technologies.

AirAsia said its financial and network recovery plans for 2023 are on track after reporting a profit for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022.

Nigerian carrier Air Peace, which has 40 new aircraft pending delivery, is in talks with Boeing over a potential 787 order and is eyeing African regional expansion.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a new round of funding to help support the country’s airspace modernization projects. 

Spirit AeroSystems signed an agreement with Joramco on March 1 at MRO Middle East, making the Amman, Jordan-based MRO an authorized service center. 

Korean Air has gained approval from UK regulators for its proposed merger with Asiana, marking an important step in Korean’s efforts to secure acceptance for the deal from overseas authorities.

UAE-based hybrid carrier flydubai will launch what it describes as “a comprehensive retrofit program” across its fleet of Boeing 737-800s in 2023, together with a new cabin product on its 737 MAX fleet. 

Plans have been submitted to expand London Luton Airport (LTN) in England that would see its passenger cap increased to 32 million a year from 18 million.