This week’s top air transport stories include leadership changes at Airbus and FAA, as well as the latest news on airline sales and mergers involving Lufthansa Group’s extended talks on the sale of ITA Airways and Colombia-based Avianca’s proposed merger with Viva Air.
Airbus is changing leadership of the A320neo family program, as the program continues to struggle to meet its internal output targets. Michael Menking, who has run the program since 2019, is being replaced by Christoph Zammert, EVP-Products and Services at Airbus Helicopters. The move comes after Airbus had missed its 2022 delivery targets for the A320neo program by a significant margin. At the time, Airbus largely attributed the shortfall to supplier issues that are affecting the entire industry.
FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen will step away from the agency this summer, setting the stage for a third temporary leader to take charge amid a significant safety-improvement push and critical reauthorization process. Nolen joined the FAA as head of Aviation Safety in January 2022. Just four months later, he was asked to serve as acting administrator, filling in for Steve Dickson, who resigned less than half-way through a five-year term.
Colombia’s Avianca rejected the terms laid out by the country’s civil aviation regulator Aerocivil for its proposed merger with Viva Air, saying that the conditions are “unfeasible.” Avianca warned that the rescue of Viva may no longer be possible. Aerocivil granted final approval for the integration of the airlines on April 25 on the basis that Avianca meets a series of requirements set out in a preliminary decision in March. However, Avianca has claimed that the measures are “impossible to comply with” and would “condemn” Viva to financial and operational failure.
The Italian government and Lufthansa Group have extended exclusive talks on the sale of ITA Airways until May 12 from the previous deadline of April 24, pending the resolution of several outstanding issues. The outline of a deal was to see Lufthansa take an initial 40% stake in the new Italian airline with the option for a full acquisition at a later date. Lufthansa Group was prepared to invest around €200 million ($220 million) for the initial stake, valuing ITA at just €500 million. But pricing is now turning out to be a sticking point.
Madagascar Airlines has secured a new air operator’s certificate (AOC) and has been given national carrier status, marking a key milestone in the turnaround plan for former flag carrier Air Madagascar.
UK-based Boeing 747 cargo startup One Air has secured its air operator’s certificate and expects to add its second Boeing 747F later this year. One Air, headquartered near London Heathrow Airport, completed its route-proving flight in July 2022. Flights are anticipated from the UK to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. One Air also will ultimately offer freighter services to China and the U.S.
DHL Express has ordered nine Boeing 777-200LR freighter conversions from Jetran. The first is scheduled to be delivered in 2024, with the rest following by early 2027. They will replace DHL Express’ older 747 freighters. The fleet renewal forms part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group’s wider sustainability plans.
Norwegian has teamed with Norsk e-Fuel to build a production plant, while Wizz Air says it is investing £5 million ($5.5 million) in biofuel company Firefly, which plans to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from sewage. The announcements come as European lawmakers try to iron out the final details of the ReFuelEU legislation that is set to map out SAF blending mandates for airlines. Norwegian says the world’s first full scale e-fuel plant, located in Mosjøen in northern Norway, will produce SAF and help the airline reach its target of a 45% emission reduction by 2030. The plant is expected to start producing e-fuels as early as 2026, and Norwegian should be able to to secure around 20% of its SAF needs through 2030.
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