Aviation Daily Roundup: May 5, 2021
May 06, 2021
Atlas Air Boosts Charter Work Amid Belly Capacity Decline
Credit: Atlas Air
An absence of passenger-aircraft belly capacity and growing needs of shippers to move goods is translating into more long-term charter contracts for Atlas Air Worldwide—a trend the company sees continuing well into the future.

Dufour Secures More Funding For AEro3 Hybrid EVTOL
Credit: Dufour Aerospace
Swiss startup Dufour Aerospace has secured additional funding to take its aEro3 hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff and-landing aircraft into pre-production and certification. The funding round was led by Swiss early-stage investor Session.vc.

Former Airbus Chief Test Pilot And Chief Engineer Bernard Ziegler Dies
Credit: Airbus
FRANKFURT—Bernard Ziegler, the legendary former Airbus chief pilot and senior vice president-engineering, died May 5. He was 88.

Widerøe Sees Strong Summer As Norwegians Plan Domestic Vacations
Credit: Rob Finlayson
Norwegian regional operator Widerøe said it expects a repeat of demand patterns from seen last summer, when it recorded one of its best Julys ever, as Norwegians plan domestic vacations amid the ongoing COVID-19 uncertainty.

Wisk Agrees To Operate Autonomous EVTOLs For Blade
Credit: Wisk Aero
Wisk Aero has agreed to operate up to 30 autonomous air taxis on Blade Urban Air Mobility’s U.S. network.

Daily Memo: Are Alliances A Haven For Uncompetitive Airlines?
Credit: Getty Images
Conventional wisdom in the industry dictates that it is good for legacy airlines to be part of one of the three global alliances.

SIA Engineering Company Dips Into Loss, Eyes MRO Acquisition
Credit: SR Technics
Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC) is looking at a potential partial acquisition of SR Technics Malaysia to bolster its narrowbody MRO capabilities as it enters a recovery phase “fraught with risks.”

Regional Airports Looking For Airline Partnerships, Air Dolomiti CEO Says
Credit: Linz Airport
Italy-based Air Dolomiti is in negotiations with several European regional airports which are looking for airline partnerships to secure connectivity.

Humanitarian Flights To India Ramp Up To Deliver Oxygen
Credit: FedEx Express
FedEx Express and its partners have begun a series of humanitarian flights to India, delivering much needed medical supplies and oxygen concentrators.

MAG Expands Firefly, Puts Focus On End-Of-Lease MRO
Credit: Firefly
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is giving its smaller airline Firefly more flexibility to capture the domestic and regional market while aiming to avoid cannibalization of routes operated by Malaysia Airlines.

Allegiant Sees Solid Growth Opportunities Throughout 2021
Credit: Joe Pries
Although Allegiant Air could grow its capacity by 20% in the back half of this year, the airline is taking a measured approach to expansion as it evaluates a favorable used aircraft market, which it can continue to access in the future.
Atlas Air boosts charter work amid belly capacity decline, former Airbus chief test pilot and chief engineer Bernard Ziegler dies, Widerøe sees a strong summer and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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