Aviation Daily Roundup: Nov. 17, 2022

A digital registry underpinning a global book-and-claim system for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use is to be built by nonprofits RMI and Energy Web Foundation to support the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), a coalition of airlines and customers seeking to decarbonize aviation.

Strong demand and a favorable non-fuel unit cost performance resulted in Copa Holdings posting an industry leading operating margin for the 2022 third quarter (Q3) and delivering a quarterly net income that surpassed its pre-pandemic performance. 

Pilots at Delta Air Lines are hopeful that recent progress in talks with management toward a multi-year contract could lead to a breakthrough in the coming weeks.

Start-up hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus has demonstrated mode transition of the company’s in-house-designed Chimera turbine-based combined-cycle engine (TBCC), which will power the Atlanta manufacturer’s Quarterhorse Mach 5 test vehicle.

U.S. regional aviation provider Surf Air Mobility has abandoned plans to list publicly through a merger with a blank-check company and has instead filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a direct listing. 

The FAA is extending the duration of aircraft registration certificates from three years to seven years to reduce costs and the burden to aircraft owners, who had to previously renew on a more frequent basis. 

Germany has launched a project to develop a process to convert sustainably produced methanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that can be integrated into existing fossil-fuel production plants.

Saudia Group, owner of flag-carrier Saudia and LCC flyadeal, has signed a sale and leaseback agreement with AviLease that will see the new Saudi lessor deliver 20 Airbus A320neo to flyadeal. 

Italy’s economy ministry has appointed Antonino Turicchi as the new chairman of ITA Airways in the latest change at the carrier, whose privatization process remains stalled.  

Air India’s owner Tata Group and the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group have almost finalized negotiations that would see their joint venture (JV) Vistara merged with Air India, according to a local press report.

Alaska Airlines passengers will be able to connect to flights operated by Hawaiian inter-island carrier Mokulele Airlines beginning early in 2023.