Aviation Daily Roundup: May 4, 2021

Credit: Universal Hydrogen

Zero-emission startup Universal Hydrogen has made a key hire away from Airbus, naming Mark Cousin, CEO of the European aerospace giant’s Silicon Valley innovation center—Acubed—as its vice president of engineering.

Read the full article

Credit: Rob Finlayson

South African Airways’ (SAA) low-cost carrier (LCC) subsidiary, Mango, has resumed operations, despite payment difficulties that forced the LCC to plan for a flight suspension beginning May 1.

Read the full article

Credit: Simon Wright

ULCC Norwegian has announced the terms under which it aims to recapitalize itself to the tune of NOK 6 billion ($723 million).

Read the full article

Credit: WMA / Connect Airlines

Aspiring startup Connect Airlines will use Flyht Aerospace’s real-time data and situational awareness service on its fleet of De Havilland Dash-8-400s. 

Read the full article

Credit: NASA

Scottish fuel-cell specialist Hy-Hybrid Energy is working with an undisclosed partner on a hybrid-electric propulsion system for aircraft that combines a gas turbine with a battery and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that operates on jet fuel.

Read the full article

Credit: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

FRANKFURT–IATA Director General Willie Walsh sharply criticized governments for the “incredible variation” and generally high cost of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. 

Read the full article

Credit: Rob Finlayson

The Seychelles government has bought out Etihad Airways’ 40% stake in Air Seychelles, returning it to 100% state ownership.

Read the full article

Credit: Patrick van Katwijk / BSR Agency / Getty Images

Recent weeks had seen European airlines sounding increasingly gloomy about the prospects for the summer season recovery, the thought of which likely kept many executives going over the lean COVID-hit winter months. 

Read the full article

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation Week

FRANKFURT–Lufthansa’s shareholders cleared the way for the airline to raise substantial funds through a capital increase, supporting the airline’s efforts to repay government aid before interest rates on loans and participations rise steeply.

Read the full article

Credit: Airbus

Air Austral has postponed the arrival of its first two Airbus A220s to its base on Réunion in the Indian Ocean while it finalizes financing requirements.

Read the full article

Credit: Suhaimi Abdullah / Getty Images

SINGAPORE—Singapore is implementing a 21-day quarantine for passengers with recent travel history to countries deemed “high-risk” from May 8 to counter the spread of new COVID-19 variants in the region. 

Read the full article

Credit: Rob Finlayson

Malaysia Airlines said it will phase out all its Airbus A380s in 2021 as part of its revised fleet plan, with medium-term plans to place new widebody orders to replace ageing aircraft.

Read the full article

Credit: Aura Aero

European engineering services company AKKA Technologies is to assist French startup Aura Aero with development of its planned 19-seat Electric Regional Aircraft and Integral E electric aerobatic aircraft.

Read the full article

Credit: Boeing

Aeromexico has garnered bankruptcy court approval to restructure its orderbook with Boeing and other entities to forge significant cost savings.

Read the full article

Credit: Thierry Monasse / Getty Images

The European Commission has said its member states should ease restrictions on non-essential travel into the European Union to take account of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, but advised adding an “emergency brake” mechanism to counter the threat of new variants.

Read the full article

Credit: Airbus

Chilean carrier JetSMART is flying more routes currently than before the COVID-19 pandemic started—a sign that the LCC’s business model is working in South America, CEO Estuardo Ortiz said. 

Read the full article