Aviation Daily Roundup: March. 23, 2023

South American airline group JetSMART is no longer interested in acquiring Colombian ULCC Ultra Air—just as regulators have finally issued conditional approval of the acquisition of Viva by Colombia’s largest airline, Avianca. 

Strikes at oil refineries, part of broader industrial action over the French government’s planned retirement reforms, are threatening supplies of kerosene to Paris airports, which are already being hit by delayed flights and disruption. 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s nascent safety center will carry Boeing’s name thanks to a $5.1 million donation made by the manufacturer to help jump-start the new research and education venture, the organizations announced March 23.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is trying a new, more cooperative way to ensure the certification process is compatible with a sensible time-to-market for future aircraft using breakthrough technologies.

Heart Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of the Åland Islands to provide the Baltic island cluster with its hybrid-electric ES-30 aircraft for use in future regional and interisland passenger transport services.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the fire sale of Credit Suisse (CS) suddenly have reminded the world what it was like in 2008 as the Great Financial Crisis emerged. 

Brussels Airlines has signed a wet-lease agreement with CityJet for the summer season, with two Bombardier CRJ-900s set to join the carrier’s fleet from March 26 to Oct. 28.  

Still in discussion between legislative bodies, the European mandate for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) may be too modest especially compared to the U.S. mandate, Safran CEO Olivier Andries warns.

Sustainability continues to weave in and out of aircraft cabin discussions as industry players navigate the uncharted territory of aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Japan Airlines is addressing one of its fleet replacement priorities by placing a firm order for 21 Boeing 737-8s.