ALC order for 111 Airbus aircraft launches sustainability fund: Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) covering 25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs, four A330neos and includes seven A350Fs. The order which will be finalised in the coming months, makes the Los Angeles based ALC one of Airbus’ largest customers and lessor with the biggest A220 order book. Founded in 2010, ALC has ordered a total of 496 Airbus aircraft to date. With this order ALC and Airbus are launching a multi-million dollar ESG fund initiative that will contribute towards investment into sustainable aviation development projects that will in the future be opened to multiple stakeholders from the aircraft leasing and financing community and beyond. “This new order announcement is the culmination of many months of hard work and dedication by both organisations to optimise and fine tune the size and scope of this large aircraft transaction in view of the rapidly growing global airline demand to modernise their jet fleets through the ALC leasing medium,” said Steven Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.
Jazeera Airways orders 29 A320neos: Airbus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jazeera Airways, the Kuwait-based carrier, for 20 A320neos and eight A321neos. Marwan Boodai, Chairman Jazeera Airways said, “Jazeera Airways is pleased to extend its long-term relationship with Airbus further with this significant new order. We will effectively double our current fleet size to 35 aircraft by 2026. The airline has pulled out of the pandemic strongly in Q3 with a return to profitability. We have exciting expansion plans ahead, which will further boost our contribution to the Kuwait economy and in particular the travel sector.” “We are proud to extend our partnership with Jazeera Airways through this latest agreement which will add an additional 28 Airbus aircraft to its all Airbus fleet”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, and Head of Airbus International. “The A320neo Family is without doubt the best platform to support Jazeera Airways’ growth plans. This is the perfect illustration of how Airbus helps escort the growth of its successful customers.”
ATR signs deals with Air Corsica, Pratt & Whitney: Air Corsica and ATR announced a firm order for five new ATR 72-600 aircraft to be powered by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada engine, the PW127XT. Deliveries will start by November 2022. The order means a full upgrade of Air Corsica’s ATR 72 fleet. Thanks to its state-of-the-art turboprop engines, the Corsican airline will be able to optimise its operations, with increased capacity and reduced operating costs, and contribute to the development of a more responsible aviation. Air Corsica passengers will benefit from a more spacious cabin with larger overhead compartments, and the cutting-edge navigation technology available on board will further improve the regularity and reliability of the services they offer. ATR will introduce the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT engine series as the standard engine for the ATR 72 and 42 aircraft. The new engine series boasts the latest materials and technologies available on the market, enabling next level efficiency and extra time (XT) on wing for its aircraft. The PW127XT will provide 3% improvement in fuel efficiency from technology injection. It consumes over 40% less fuel versus other regional jets, amounting to a similar proportion of CO2 savings. The engine is compatible with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), in line with ATR’s goal of 100 percent SAF compatibility by 2025 and helps ATR customers fulfil their sustainability pledges to reach zero-emission aviation by 2050.
Sanad signs MOU with MEPC, deal for Rolls-Royce: Leasing company Sanad, wholly-owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KSA-based Middle East Propulsion Company (MEPC) to enhance the regional presence and service reach of both companies. The MoU will see a collaboration between both companies in joint capabilities across advanced aero-engine repairs. Within the current framework, both organisations will benefit from each other’s diverse leading services across engine repairs, upgrades, overhaul, and testing processes. Sanad also announced it has signed a deal with GAL, a provider of integrated aircraft sustainment solutions for military and civilian customers within EDGE Group. The deal will provide Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine maintenance services to support GAL’s Performance Based Logistics contract with UAE Air Force Air Defence (AFAD). The agreement establishes a new foundation for the delivery of MRO services for Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines that power the UAE’s Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet.
SR Technics signs several deals for support: SR Technics announced it has signed an engine services agreement with Constellation Aviation Services LLC to provide engine MRO services for their CFM56-5B engines powering the luxurious A318-112 Elite aircraft. Constellation Aviation is a premium charter operator headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that offers premium VIP private jet charter service and aircraft management services. They chose SR Technics as their engine MRO provider for their flexibility, top service quality, and unparalleled TAT. SR Technics also announced that MNG Airlines has selected SR Technics as its preferred PW4000 MRO provider. Since March 2020, MNG Airlines, a fast-growing Turkish cargo operator, based at Atatürk International Airport, Istanbul, has been sending its PW4000 engines to the Zurich facility. SR Technics flexibility, quality, and one of the fastest TATs in the aviation industry have proved key for successful cooperation on five consecutive PW shop visits. Somon Air has also elected to work with SR Technics on an engine services contract. Somon is a private airline based at Dushanbe International Airport, Tajikistan. SR Technics will provide two Somon Air’s B737NG engines shop visits in its renowned engine services facility at the Zurich Airport. SR Technics also announced that it has been awarded a four-year extension of an existing contract to maintain, repair, and overhaul RoyalJet’s CFM56-7B engine fleet, installed on the Boeing 737BBJs.
Embraer announces deal with Overland Airways: Embraer has announced a firm order for three new E175s, plus three purchase rights for the same model of aircraft, with Overland Airways, from Nigeria. The 88-seat aircraft, with premium class cabin configuration, will be delivered from 2023. The deal is worth at US$299.4 million at list prices with all purchase rights being exercised. These aircraft will increase the domestic flights and allow to expand more regional routes. The president and CEO of Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, said, “we are confident that this is the right moment to invest, as regional aviation is on an optimistic post-pandemic recovery. Our customers will really enjoy all comfort in the E175, and we appreciate our partnership with Embraer.” Cesar Pereira, Vice-president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Embraer Commercial Aviation said, “we are proud of this partnership with Overland and to support their regional expansion. We are seeing growing long-term demand for rightsized aircraft to deliver profitable domestic connections in Nigeria.”
Etihad signs partnerships for sustainability: Etihad Airways has signed multiple partnership and collaboration agreements with the aviation industry’s top manufactures, suppliers and stakeholders bringing aviation’s leading organisations together under its strategic sustainability programme to drive decarbonisation creating the industry’s most comprehensive multi-organisational partnership to reduce Co2 emissions globally. Etihad’s work with partners including Boeing, GE, Airbus and Rolls Royce supports the organisation’s strategic objectives to achieve a 20 percent reduction in emissions intensity in its passenger fleet by 2025, cut 2019 net emissions by 50 percent by 2035, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, acknowledged the uniting of these industry players for decarbonation is a unique and important step forward for the industry: “There’s no silver bullet for this one, no obvious single act that will provide a solution. It’s going to require the combination and the sum of many different organisations and governments working together for small, incremental improvements.”
Emirates, Etihad, GE Aviation sign deal on SAF: Emirates and GE Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a programme that will see an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, powered by GE90 engines, conduct a test flight using 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by the end of 2022. Currently, SAF approved for use is a blend of petroleum-based Jet A or Jet A-1 fuel and a SAF component with a maximum blend limit of 50 percent. One of GE’s fuel experts chairs an international task force to develop standardized industry specifications supporting adoption of 100 percent SAF, which does not require blending with conventional jet fuel. A milestone collaboration for both Emirates and GE Aviation, the 100% SAF test flight is expected to demonstrate how widebody commercial aircraft using jet fuel made from alternative sources can lower lifecycle CO2 emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels with no operational issues. The demonstration flight also supports both companies’ broader efforts to reduce CO2 emissions as the industry looks to scale up its use of SAF. Etihad also signed a deal with GE for future opportunities to work together on initiatives to lower CO2 emissions from Etihad’s fleet of 787 aircraft as part of the airline’s comprehensive sustainability program. As part of the MOU agreement, Etihad will allow GE to use its fleet of 787s, spearheaded by the signature Greenliner aircraft, as a test platform for new technologies and engine hardware aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and improving the performance of the GEnx engines that power the aircraft. The data from these tests will be shared between GE and Etihad to inform implementation of enhancements across Etihad’s 787 fleet. Both companies also agreed to collaborate on a 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) flight demonstration.
Pratt & Whitney Canada expands carbon offset to helicopter engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada announced the expansion of its year-old carbon offset service to include operators of the company’s helicopter engines enrolled in the Eagle Service Plan (ESP) and Fleet Management Program (FMPTM) pay-per-hour maintenance programs. Pratt & Whitney’s carbon offset service automatically aligns operators’ flight hours with offset purchases, in collaboration with South Pole, a globally recognised carbon offset provider. Carbon offsets that are purchased are invested in accredited schemes for reducing CO2 emissions, such as initiatives focused on renewable energy or forest conservation. The service was introduced in December 2020 for business aviation operators enrolled in the ESPTM program. Along with continually advancing engine efficiency and increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), carbon offsetting plays an important role in reducing aviation’s environmental footprint. Pratt & Whitney is committed to making aviation more sustainable and supports customers’ ambitions to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Kuwait Airways launches Collins Aerospace ACARS over IP: With the global volume of daily ACARS messages continuing to grow, Kuwait Airways and Collins Aerospace have taken an important step to help ease the congestion of VHF traffic in busy areas. Using Collins’ Ground Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (Ground FOMAX), two of Kuwait Airways’ A330NEO aircraft are now able to uplink and downlink non-critical and non-Air Traffic Control messages via an Internet Protocol (IP) link. This reduces the reliance on traditional VHF/VDL or Satcom media — reducing communication traffic and lowering costs for the airline. Developed in partnership with Airbus, Ground FOMAX provides a connection through a VPN-secured IP connection between the aircraft and the ground. The messages are then routed by ARINC’s Ground Messaging Processor (GMP) through the ARINC Global Network in the same format as ACARS messages today. This helps airlines manage the costs associated with sending these messages and provides an ACARS connection at airports where no VHF coverage is present. Collins Aerospace also announced that it and Taqnia will expand Collins’ ACARS coverage on the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. Taqnia Space will oversee ground station deployment at suitable locations across Saudi Arabia to close the current geographical gap in coverage. This latest deployment increases the availability of the Collins air/ground VHF datalink network for aviation customers, improving point-to-point airborne connectivity and the delivery of timely information between pilots and ground operations.
CargoBooking launches eMagic: CargoBooking.aero has launched a new online tool eMagic, which converts emailed enquiries in different formats and languages into standard data formats, eliminating the need for manual processing. eMagic can read different types of content, including email, text, and image and convert them into instant air cargo quotes using standard data formats such as JSON and IATA ONE Record. The information is carried through to bookings, payments, and track and trace services, enabling air cargo booking platform CargoBooking to provide an end-to-end fulfilment solution. The eMagic tool works by analysing the content of an email to identify the key elements needed for a quote, from customer details to cargo information, including origin, designation, number of pieces, gross weight and piece dimensions, commodity, Special Handling Codes and shipment-ready date. A quote request is then created on the CargoBooking.aero platform, where users can review possible routes and prices, select options for the end-customer quote, check capacity, and review prices. Once the information is selected, the end-customer receives a quote offer email with the contents of the original request now in standard format. Confirmed bookings are created within the system of the airline or General Sales Agent.
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