Aviation Daily Roundup: March 8, 2022
March 09, 2022
ANA Brands Proposed Medium-Haul Carrier AirJapan
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Holdings has revealed more details of its planned new widebody operation, which will be branded AirJapan. An image released by ANA shows the proposed AirJapan livery on a Boeing 787. Flights on medium-haul routes using 787-8s are due to begin in the second half of ANA’s fiscal 2023, which extends through March 31, 2024.

Boeing 737 MAX Deliveries Remain Sluggish
Boeing delivered just 20 737 MAXs in February, continuing a trend that has the manufacturer struggling to shrink its inventory of narrowbody aircraft on hand—many of them accumulated during the model’s 21-month grounding that ended in December 2020. The monthly 737 MAX delivery total was lower than January’s 27, and below Boeing’s approximate production rate of 26 airframes per month.

Airbus Begins Green Hydrogen Partnership With Australian Group
Airbus and Australia-based Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) have signed an MOU to study the use of liquid hydrogen and power-to-liquid fuels for aviation. A joint taskforce will assess challenges around green hydrogen regulations, infrastructure and global supply chains. This will include the production of green hydrogen and the infrastructure needed to support delivery to airports and fuel aircraft.

Alaska Airlines Trims Capacity Outlook On Rising Fuel Costs
Alaska Airlines lowered its capacity outlook for the first half of 2022, a warning that rising jet fuel prices may complicate the airline industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a March 8 securities filing, Seattle-based Alaska raised its fuel price estimate for the first quarter (Q1) by 15 cents/gal.

Daily Memo: Russia Was A Bright Spot For Aviation—Now What?
As the world emerges slowly from the grips of a global pandemic, the challenges facing the aviation sector have shifted dramatically and quickly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia had been recovering quickly from the COVID-19 crisis as its operators had pivoted from international markets to a domestic focus.

Green Lobbying Group Calls For Curbing Business Travel
Transport & Environment (T&E), a lobbying association acting at EU level, is recommending curbing business travel as an effective way to slash aviation’s CO2 emissions this decade. The group’s “Roadmap to climate-neutral aviation in Europe,” a revised version of the 2018 edition, was issued March 8 and addresses a number of solutions commercial air transport is considering to become environmentally sustainable.

NAS Gets Extra Time To Formalize Menzies Takeover Proposal
The deadline for Kuwaiti ground handler National Aviation Services (NAS) to formalize its takeover plans for Scottish ground handler John Menzies has been extended to March 20, relieving the pressure of an original March 9 cut-off. NAS’ ambition to acquire Menzies was made public on Feb. 9.

Transportation Inspector General To Audit FAA’s UAM Certification
The U.S. Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General (IG) is to audit the FAA’s certification of urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft at the request of Congress. Several electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicle developers have applied for FAA certification, aiming for approval as early as the end of 2024.

Flydubai To Take Delivery Of 20 737 MAX Aircraft In 2022
UAE-based LCC flydubai is set to start taking delivery of 20 Boeing 737-8s scheduled to arrive this year to support the airline’s future growth. The airline says its strategy for the year ahead will contribute to the rebuilding of the local travel sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Southwest Airlines Planning Houston Hobby Expansion
Southwest Airlines wants to add more gates to Houston Hobby Airport (HOU), from which it launched international flights in 2015 after building a new terminal. Southwest turned the domestic-only airport into one with international flights to Latin America when the airline largely financed—providing two-thirds of funding—and led construction efforts on a $156 million five-gate international terminal.

Eurowings To Wet Lease 11 Avion Express A320s In Fleet Rebuild
Avion Express Partners has confirmed a long-term contract with Eurowings for the Lufthansa-owned LCC to wet-lease 11 Airbus A320s for utilization in the coming summer season. Vilnius, Lithuania-headquartered aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) provider Avion Express said the lease reflects the booming numbers of vacation bookings for the summer as pent-up travel demand is realized.

Spirit AeroSystems To Grow Business Jet Segment As It Diversifies
Spirit AeroSystems’ acquisition of the assets of Bombardier’s Short Brothers operation in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2020 has accelerated the company’s goal to diversify. The Wichita-based company, which builds portions of all Boeing and Airbus aircraft, plans to expand on the business jet work acquired in the Short Brothers purchase.
ANA brands proposed medium-haul carrier AirJapan, Boeing 737 MAX deliveries remain sluggish and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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