Aviation Daily Roundup: May. 10, 2023

India has become one of the hottest markets for aircraft manufacturers, as airlines place hundreds of new orders to support growth plans based on its vast untapped demand for air travel.

On-time performance for U.S. carriers suffered a third major wave of disruptions at the end of 2022. Performance metrics from the most recent data shows the latest decline follows similar service interruptions in the summer of 2021 and the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Of all 10 carriers, only 75% of flights were on time while the top four U.S. carriers had marginally better performance at 77% of on time scheduled flights over the three-month period of December 2022-February 2023.

Mesa Air Group sees opportunity ahead for underserved rural markets, on an improving pilot pipeline it attributes in part to an expanded agreement with United Airlines.

Swiss electric seaplane startup Jekta has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Honeywell to identify a suite of systems to be integrated into the 19-passenger PHA-ZE 100 amphibious flying boat. 

An Indian court has accepted Go First’s voluntary bankruptcy application, which will likely protect its aircraft from reclamation from lessors.

Alder Fuels has reached a milestone in the development of its renewable crude oil production process as its founder and former CEO is charged with embezzling millions of dollars from the company.

Anticipating long-term demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide, Honeywell has introduced processing technology to produce the so-called eSAF more efficiently than other available methods.

China Airlines (CAL) has announced it will exercise its options to acquire eight more Boeing 787-9 widebodies, adding to its previous order of 16 787-9s in August 2022. 

A European court has annulled approval of state aid granted to Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines by the European Commission (EC) at the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, largely agreeing with the views of plaintiffs Ryanair and Condor.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will acquire nine Airbus A350-1000s as part of the flag-carrier’s ultra-long-haul fleet project.