IndiGo and Amadeus enter NDC partnership: IndiGo has reached an agreement with Amadeus to provide travel sellers in India and around the world with access to the airline’s NDC content via the Amadeus Travel Platform. IndiGo has decided to rely on Amadeus for its unique and robust offering, which combines state-of-the-art airline and distribution technology with an unmatched market reach. The airline, which will carry more than 110 million passengers in 2024 and has growth ambitions backed by one of the largest aircraft order books in the industry, will strengthen its competitive edge through access to new markets and customer segments, thanks to Amadeus’ 96% global market coverage of NDC-ready travel sellers across the globe. NDC technology, with its standardized messaging, is a game changer in the distribution landscape. It opens up new opportunities for airlines to distribute their content to travel sellers even more efficiently and elevate their retailing to the next level. For corporate clients and travel agencies, NDC simplifies the booking process by providing direct access to IndiGo’s full range of products. This not only streamlines operations but also delivers the ability to offer exclusive deals and promotions tailored to individual traveller profiles.
Qatar Airways Cargo introduces AirPlus: Qatar Airways Cargo has launched AirPlus Solutions to offer enhanced services for various cargo products. Customers can now choose from three options: Q-Climate, Q-Plus, and Q-Prime to elevate their shipment’s journey. Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, stated, “As the world’s leading cargo carrier, we are committed to continuously innovating our product offerings. We recognize that our customers have unique requirements and often need greater flexibility. With the launch of AirPlus Solutions, we are providing tailored options that best meet our customers’ needs, while delivering our best -in s-class service.” Q-Climate: Provides temperature-control for additional product categories, ensuring a seamless cool chain and ramp protection against external weather elements and is applicable to general cargo and vulnerable cargo. Customers can select from three standard temperature ranges: COL (+2°C to +8°C), CRT (+15°C to +25°C), or ERT (+2°C to +25°C). Q-Plus: Offers prioritised capacity for time-sensitive shipments, ensuring high-priority handling on confirmed flights or the next available flight if the requested flight can no longer accept bookings. Available as an add-on for Qatar Airways Cargo’s General Cargo, SecureLift (Vulnerable Cargo), Fresh Care (perishable cargo), and Drive (automobiles) products. Q-Prime: Guarantees urgent shipments needing guaranteed uplift with prioritised processing, best or preferred connections, and a money-back guarantee if the shipment does not fly as confirmed. Q-Prime can also be used to gain capacity on full flights in urgent cases, where possible. The Control Tower monitors the shipment throughout its journey proactively solving possible disruptions. Available as an add-on for Qatar Airways Cargo’s General Cargo, SecureLift (Vulnerable and Valuable Cargo), Fresh (perishable cargo), and Drive products ( automobiles)
ASL Aviation to join Fokker Next Gen’s Airline Advisory Group: Fokker Next Gen, a leader in sustainable aviation technologies, announced that ASL Aviation Holdings DAC, a global aviation services company with five airlines based in Europe and Australia, and three associate and joint-venture airlines in South Africa and Asia, has joined Fokker Next Gen’s Airline Advisory Group. This strategic partnership brings ASL Aviation Holdings into a select group of forward-thinking airlines collaborating with Fokker Next Gen to provide feedback into the development phase of the Fokker Next Gen aircraft. The Fokker Next Gen Airline Advisory Group is being assembled to capture customer needs, learn from daily aircraft operations, and explore the challenges and solutions related to hydrogen-powered aircraft. The formation of the Airline Advisory Group will allow for (potential future) customer and operator insights to be considered during the development phase of the Fokker Next Gen clean sheet aircraft. As part of the Airline Advisory Group, ASL Aviation Holdings will provide unique insights from the cargo and passenger sector, helping shape Fokker Next Gen’s development of their next-generation aircraft. The Airline Advisory Group serves as a platform for key industry players to contribute their expertise, supporting Fokker Next Gen in its mission to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation.
AAR reports first quarter fiscal year 2025 results: AAR reported first quarter fiscal year 2025 consolidated sales of $661.7 million and net income of $18.0 million, or $0.50 per diluted share. For the first quarter of the prior year, the Company reported sales of $549.7 million and a net loss of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Our adjusted diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 were $0.85, compared to $0.78 in the first quarter of the prior year. Consolidated first quarter sales increased 20% over the prior year quarter. Our consolidated sales to commercial customers and to government customers both increased 20% over the prior year quarter. These increases were primarily due to the acquisition of the Product Support business and organic growth. Sales to commercial customers were 71% of consolidated sales in both the current and prior year quarters. “During the quarter, we continued to execute well across the company. We drove 26% organic growth in our new parts distribution activities, had strong operational performance in our hangars and saw a return to growth in our government business. The quarter also included meaningful contributions from Trax, and the recent Product Support acquisition continues to exceed our expectations,” said John M. Holmes, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AAR. Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $75.9 million in the current quarter, compared to $74.7 million in the prior year quarter. Acquisition, amortisation, and integration expenses were $7.1 million in the current quarter compared to $2.9 million in the prior year quarter. Operating margins were 6.6% in the current quarter, compared to 4.6% in the prior year quarter. Adjusted operating margin increased from 7.3% in the prior year quarter to 9.1% in the current year quarter. The improved adjusted margin over the prior year is primarily driven by the favourable contribution from the recently acquired Product Support business as well as improved execution.
Alton Aviation Consultancy says 10,000 more aircraft will operate by 2034: As global air traffic demand exceeds pre-pandemic levels in 2024, airlines are turning their attention to fleet expansion, according to a new report from Alton Aviation Consultancy. Despite record profits, operators need to consider short- and long-term strategies to overcome production issues and secure additional capacity. The global aviation advisory firm today released its independent 2024-2034 Commercial Aircraft Fleet Forecast, offering detailed insight into current market conditions, alongside a 10-year forecast of air traffic demand and the active fleet. Alton’s projections indicate the fleet should increase from 31,000 aircraft in operation today to 41,100 by 2034, marking an annual growth rate of 2.8%. Despite optimistic projections, airlines face challenges as OEMs struggle to ramp up the production of new aircraft. The current aircraft shortage coupled with ongoing supply chain uncertainties and new engine technology challenges have prompted airlines to retain older aircraft to meet near-term capacity requirements.
Elbe Flugzeugwerke re-enters A380 MRO market: Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus, announced that it is re-entering the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market for the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380. EFW will carry out an upcoming A380 airframe maintenance service for Global Airlines, a new customer of EFW, at its facility in Dresden, Germany in 4Q2024. Under a contract signed with Global Airlines, EFW will conduct airframe heavy maintenance services to facilitate entry into commercial service of the airline’s first A380 aircraft. EFW will be responsible for all scheduled maintenance, including mandatory inspections and component replacements. In addition to Global Airlines, EFW has received A380 MRO orders from other customers, and will expand its A380 maintenance activities from 2025 onwards. The A380 has been recommissioned by many airlines across international routes and is making a strong comeback in recent times, which is expected to give rise to a growing demand for its maintenance services. EFW is one of the few companies in the world with deep MRO experience in the A380, having carried out some 50 heavy maintenance jobs including cabin conversions for the platform.
Farsound expands US presence: Farsound announced the opening of its new facility in San Antonio, Texas, as part of its commitment to serving a growing customer base across the Americas. The facility spans 20,000 square feet of warehouse space and 8,000 square feet of office space. It includes private offices, collaborative workstations, conference rooms, and a spacious breakroom for staff. Chris Knott, Farsound’s CEO, said: “The launch of our warehouse in Texas is a significant milestone in our long-term global expansion plans, and we’re thrilled to see it come to life this month. The acquisition and development of this facility highlight our dedication to seizing opportunities that enhance our strong reputation in the American aviation parts distribution and MRO sectors. I want to extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in making this launch a reality.” Driven by ongoing global demand in the aviation sector for new parts and mandatory maintenance services, Farsound has experienced steady growth in the U.S. and internationally over the past few years. Last year, Farsound’s UK team moved into an expanded, purpose-built headquarters in Essex to support this growth. Additionally, the company has recently added new warehousing and customer service facilities in Madrid, Spain, and Canada.
ACI World launches guidance to enhance accessible travel: Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched the Airports and Accessible Travel: A Practical Guide – an essential publication dedicated to improving accessible travel for all passengers. The guide has been developed by the ACI World Facilitation and Services Standing Committee, together with leading accessibility advocacy groups, ACI World training partners, ACI Regions, ACI airport members and Customer Centric Consulting. It was made possible with the financial support of InterVISTAS Consulting and Amadeus. Building on the ACI World Airports and Persons with Disabilities Handbook, the expanded guidance provides up-to-date best practices for integrating accessibility into both new and existing airport facilities. It includes practical recommendations, case studies, and strategies for barrier-free design, accessible procedures, and services for passengers with visible and non-visible disabilities, while also focusing on staff training. To further support its global members, ACI also developed the Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA) program, which provides a continuous improvement path for airports regarding accessibility for passengers with disabilities. This program helps airports measure, evaluate, and enhance their accessibility management and culture through tailored advice from subject matter experts and learning experiences with peers. It remains the only international assessment and accreditation program dedicated to airport accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Embraer to invest in new MRO facilities for commercial jets in Texas: Embraer announced the expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services network to support the growing fleet of E-Jets in the Unites States by opening a new Embraer owned service center at the Perot Field Alliance Airport, in Fort Worth, Texas. In partnership with the City of Fort Worth, Denton County and the State of Texas, Embraer expects to begin operations in an existing hangar, in the first quarter of 2025, while building a second hangar that should be concluded by 2027. With the new facilities, Embraer’s capacity to serve the E-Jets customers is expected to have a considerable increase in the US. “This expansion will significantly increase the capacity, capability, and footprint of our services network by providing world-class support to our customers and the growing fleet of E-Jets in North America. Also, it is part of Embraer’s growth strategy in the US,” said Carlos Naufel, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support. The new Fort Worth service center will be added to the global network of Embraer which includes 80 authorized centers and 12 owned service centers around the world. The city of Fort Worth has been selected as the finalist location for the proposed project, subject to approval by local government authorities of certain proposed incentives.
Air Astana upgrades London flights: Air Astana, in partnership with Airbus, is enhancing the efficiency of its long-haul flights by installing additional fuel tanks on Airbus A321LR and enabling non-stop flights over lang-haul distances without the need for technical stopovers. Starting on 4 October 2024, the airline plans to resume non-stop flights on the Almaty to London route, which has been operating with a technical stop in Aktau since March 2022. With the new modifications, the route will become fully non-stop and more comfortable, reducing the overall flight time by 1.5 hours to 9h 35m. This will make it one of the longest narrow body routes in the world. This modernisation is a key component of Air Astana’s long-term strategy to enhance operational efficiency. It incorporates all necessary technical and safety aspects, providing passengers with more comfortable conditions for long-haul flights and improving the airline’s operational performance.
ADE, Liebherr sign MRO deal: Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) and Liebherr-Aerospace have signed a cooperation agreement during the event MRO Asia-Pacific 2024. Based on this collaboration, ADE will benefit from Liebherr-Aerospace’s set of predictive maintenance algorithms and further trend monitoring applications. Combined with advanced technical support, these will bring added value to the maintenance of the full scope of Liebherr products, such as bleed, air management, and flight control components on board Airbus A320 / A321 aircraft. ADE’s own digital fleet management platform, ELEVADE is Asia’s first commercially available aircraft health management system. Built as a comprehensive ecosystem, it streamlines real-time aircraft health monitoring, encompassing a large fleet of Airbus aircraft and will be continuously fed by Liebherr-Aerospace’s health management predictors, which are tailored to the products developed by the European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The tool helps to manage and monitor the health status of aircraft and manages, analyses and predicts unexpected issues in real time. “This collaboration with ADE highlights the growing need from the aerospace industry for new digital solutions that we can provide,” said Alex Vlielander, Chief Customer Officer of Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS. “These new predictors based on our vast OEM and customer service experience will fit perfectly into ADE’s current offer and match with their objective to support fleet performance.”
Airinmar signs services extension with Singapore Airlines: AAR subsidiary Airinmar, a leading independent provider of component repair cycle management and aircraft warranty solutions, has signed an extension with Singapore Airlines. The extension utilises Airinmar’s full scope of repair cycle management services, including repair order, quote, and turnaround time (TAT) management; repair cost value engineering; component warranty recovery; and TAT guarantee enforcement. Airinmar will also continue using its proprietary online systems to optimize Singapore Airlines’ repair order status management and consolidate repair quotations. “Airinmar has provided repair cycle management services and systems to Singapore Airlines since 2005 and is delighted to continue our long-term relationship,” said Matt Davies, Airinmar’s General Manager. “We are proud to successfully deliver our full range of services to support the airline with repair cost reduction and component availability across their passenger and cargo fleets.”
Drayton Aerospace taps EmpowerMX from IFS: Drayton Aerospace Porto Alegre (POA), a global leader in civil, freight aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), has selected EmpowerMX from IFS to plan, execute, and optimise its operations. This collaboration aims to enhance return on investment (ROI) and deliver transformative efficiency gains by optimising the utilisation of resources. Key benefits include predictive control over maintenance turnaround times, improved management of risk factors, and heightened customer satisfaction. EmpowerMX from IFS is a recognised asset and service management software solution for leading independent third-party MROs. It is a perfect fit with Drayton’s vocation for providing value, quality work and world-class service to commercial airlines and freight operators. With a comprehensive roll-out plan over the next few months, the Drayton POA team will use IFS EmpowerMX to implement its vision of introducing proven MRO best practices to transform maintenance operations through cloud-based, mobile-first technology. It will play a key role in the efficiency of the business well into the future and be pivotal in their focus on becoming a world-class, third-party MRO centre of excellence.
Rocky Mountain College purchases the new ALSIM AL100i: ALSIM announced that Rocky Mountain College, based in Montana, has made a significant acquisition by purchasing the new AL100i simulator for its aviation program. The AL100i is the exact replica of the P100i, the successful trainer aircraft manufactured by Piper. The simulator will be designed to FTD 5 standard, offering a full-size cockpit replica, a semi-enclosed instructor station, an active electrical control loading, and a specific flight model based on aircraft flight characteristics. The AL100i will feature the immersive 3 projectors visual system for an unequalled 210×55° field of view. On top of this, the simulator will be equipped with the original G3X and GNX375 manufactured by Garmin, ensuring the same level of performance, features, and reliability as the aircraft, a world first for these avionics. Dan Hargrove, Director of Aviation at Rocky Mountain College, states: “We have added several new Piper 100i training aircraft to our fleet. We pride ourselves in providing excellent Part 141 flight training to our students and truly preparing them for careers in many different sectors of the aviation industry. Many do go on to fly for the airlines, but likewise, others fly cargo, air ambulance, back country Alaska, firefighting, corporate and fractional. We have been looking for some time for a flight training device that is cockpit specific to both successful ease our students into our flight training program and prepare them for a variety of careers. We believe the AL100i is just what we are looking for.”
Jet Aviation acquires Jet IN FBO: Jet Aviation announced that it has acquired Jet IN’s FBO and ground handling located at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). The FBO provides handling, fuelling, and services for passengers and crew. The FBO was opened in 2023 and features a 10,000-square-foot passenger terminal, 40,000-square feet of aircraft hangarage, a 10,000-square-foot maintenance shop, and more than three acres of dedicated ramp space. With the acquisition, Jet Aviation acquires all assets of the FBO operation. “Across our network, we are continuously looking for ways to strengthen our presence and provide even more seamless connections for our customers,” said Jeremie Caillet, President, Jet Aviation. “Milwaukee allows us to offer a gateway into the Upper Midwest region in a market where we know our customers are traveling, and where we also have aircraft based. It furthers our growth in the US and supports our vision of enabling global flight, with passion, where and when our customers need us. Jet IN have built a fantastic facility and team in the area, and share our commitment to the highest standards of safety and service quality. We look forward to building on this as the facility and team join our global network.”
Virgin Australia partners with Sabre: Sabre and Virgin Australia announced a strategic partnership to modernise the airline’s retailing capabilities through the phased implementation of SabreMosaic, the revolutionary AI-driven platform built to transform airline retailing. This establishes Virgin Australia as the flagship customer and will enable the airline over time to adopt the broad suite of solutions within SabreMosaic, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s journey towards modern retailing and the general market availability of the SabreMosaic solutions. The collaboration underscores the companies’ commitment to innovation and industry leadership, as well as the airline’s aim to be an early mover in the industry transition to offer-and-order based modern retailing. “Building on our decades-long partnership, Sabre is proud to collaborate with Virgin Australia as our launch partner for SabreMosaic, which is our revolutionary platform designed to transform airline retailing,” said Roshan Mendis, Chief Commercial Officer, Sabre Travel Solutions. “We aim to empower Virgin Australia to deliver a personalised, dynamic travel experience that will set a new standard in the industry. This collaboration marks the beginning of a new era, as SabreMosaic is now available to airlines worldwide.”
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