Aviation Daily Roundup: May 4, 2021
Airbus Acubed CEO To Lead Engineering At Propulsion Startup
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.
South African LCC Mango Battles On After Short Suspension
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.
Norwegian Airlines Details Recapitalization Process
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).
Connect Airlines To Use Flyht’s Real-Time Ops Tools
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.
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Eyed For Hybrid-Electric Propulsion
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.
IATA Pushes Back Against High PCR Test Costs
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.
Seychelles Government Buys Etihad Out Of National Carrier
Credit: Rob Finlayson
The Seychelles government has bought out Etihad Airways’ 40% stake in Air Seychelles, returning it to 100% state ownership.
Daily Memo: Europe’s Airlines Hope For A Summer Worth Waiting For
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.
Lufthansa Gets Shareholder Approval For Large Capital Increase
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.
Air Austral Delays A220 Delivery To Finalize Financing
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.
Singapore Introduces 21-Day Quarantine To Curb New Variants
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.
Malaysia Airlines Targets A380 Exit, New Aircraft Orders
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.
AKKA To Assist In Developing Electric Regional Aircraft
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.
Aeromexico Gains Needed Approvals To Adjust Its Boeing Orderbook
Credit: Boeing
Aeromexico has garnered bankruptcy court approval to restructure its orderbook with Boeing and other entities to forge significant cost savings.
EU Set To Allow Vaccinated Travelers In, Suggests ‘Emergency Brake’
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.
Chile’s JetSMART Looks To First-Time Flyers For Growth
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.
As Airbus Acubed CEO leads engineering at propulsion startup, Universal Hydrogen, Norwegian Airlines details recapitalization process and IATA pushes back against high PCR test costs. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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