Boeing Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract for 15 KC-46A Tankers

- 138 KC-46A aerial refuelers are on order globally
- Multi-mission Pegasus provides advanced capabilities for the joint force and allies

 EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 30, 2023― The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $2.3 billion contract for the ninth production lot of 15 KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, expanding its fleet of the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refueler. To date, 128 KC-46A Pegasus are on contract with the U.S. Air Force, with 68 delivered and operationally deployed worldwide.
“The combat-ready KC-46A is transforming the role of the tanker for the 21st century,” said James Burgess, vice president and KC-46 program manager. “We’re proud to work side-by-side with the Air Force ensuring the Pegasus provides unmatched capabilities and continues to evolve for the U.S. and its allies’ global mission needs.”
The KC-46A Pegasus delivers crucial fuel and data for the fleet, as well as cargo, personnel and aeromedical transportation for joint force rapid mobility, global reach and agile combat employment.
Last year, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the KC-46A for global operations including combat deployment. The Pegasus continues to demonstrate its agile combat employment capabilities, recently completing a 42-hour endurance flight supporting a U.S. Air Force Bomber Task Force mission in the Indo-Pacific region.
During 2022, KC-46A aircraft operating in a series of U.S. Air Force global employment exercises in the European theater, Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East performed at a greater than 95% mission capable rate, demonstrating the aircraft’s reliability and combat readiness.
Boeing builds KC-46A aircraft on the 767 production line in Everett, Wash., supported by a supplier network of about 37,000 American workers employed by more than 650 businesses throughout more than 40 U.S. states. With Boeing’s in-line production, the KC-46A is designed and built as a tanker from day one — not a post-production conversion — making the Pegasus uniquely suited to integrate advanced technology for fleet data connectivity and combat-ready defensive features, as well as new capabilities as the needs of the mission evolve.
Boeing is on contract for 138 KC-46A Pegasus tankers globally. Boeing has delivered two of six KC-46A tankers to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and is on contract for four KC-46A tankers for the Israel Air Force. The expanding global fleet creates commonality and interoperability efficiencies and mission-readiness advantages for the U.S. Air Force and allies.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains Form Joint Venture to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology Using Ethanol

 United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains will invest up to a combined $50 million in the joint venture – Blue Blade Energy – to develop the technology

United has entered into an offtake agreement with Blue Blade Energy for up to 135 million gallons of ethanol based SAF annually and up to 2.7 billion gallons in total

United has invested in more SAF production than any other airline

CHICAGO and DENVER and OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines, Tallgrass, and Green Plains Inc. today announced a new joint venture – Blue Blade Energy – to develop and then commercialize a novel Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock. If the technology is successful, Blue Blade is expected to proceed with the construction of a pilot facility in 2024, followed by a full-scale facility that could begin commercial operations by 2028. The offtake agreement could provide for enough SAF to fly more than 50,000 flights annually between United's hub airports in Chicago and Denver.*

Blue Blade's new SAF technology was developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a leading center for technological innovation in sustainable energy. SAF, which uses non-petroleum feedstock, is a low-carbon alternative to traditional jet fuel that offers up to 85%** lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

"The production and use of SAF is the most effective and scalable tool the airline industry has to reduce carbon emissions and United continues to lead the way," said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen. "This new joint venture includes two expert collaborators that have the experience to construct and operate large-scale infrastructure, as well as the feedstock supply necessary for success. Once operational, Blue Blade Energy has the potential to create United's largest source of SAF providing up to 135 million gallons of fuel annually."

United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains will each provide their unique industry expertise to help develop the joint venture. Under this collaborative approach:

Tallgrass will manage research and development of the technology, including pilot plant development, and will manage the construction of the production facility.

Green Plains will supply the low-carbon ethanol feedstock, and use its ethanol industry expertise to manage operations once the pilot facility is constructed.

United Airlines will assist with SAF development, fuel certification and into-wing logistics, and has also agreed to purchase up to 2.7 billion gallons of SAF produced from the joint venture.

"At Tallgrass, we are striving to innovate how we deliver the energy that powers our nation and enables our quality of life," said Alison Nelson, Vice President, Business Development at Tallgrass. "Air travel uniquely connects people and improves lives, and the advancement of this novel SAF technology presents a meaningful opportunity to reduce emissions from aviation.  We are excited to partner with industry leaders United Airlines and Green Plains on this initiative."

If the technology is commercialized, the location of Blue Blade's initial plant would allow easy access to low-carbon feedstock from Green Plains' Midwest ethanol production facilities. While the initial SAF facility intends to use ethanol, the technology has the capability to work with any alcohol-based feedstock as its fuel source.

"Our transformation to a true decarbonized biorefinery model has positioned Green Plains to help our customers and partners reduce the carbon intensity of their products by producing low-carbon proteins, oils, sugars and now decarbonized ethanol to be used in SAF," said Todd Becker, President and CEO of Green Plains. "This partnership with world class organizations like United Airlines and Tallgrass, shows the value creation that is possible with our low-carbon platform. The potential impact of this project is a gamechanger for US agriculture, aligning a strong farm economy and a robust aviation transport industry focused on decarbonizing our skies."

Blue Blade Energy marks one of the largest direct investments from United Airlines Ventures (UAV), United's corporate venture arm, into SAF. Launched in 2021, UAV targets startups, upcoming technologies, and sustainability concepts that will complement United's goal of net zero emissions by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets. United has aggressively pursued strategic investments in SAF producers and revolutionary technologies including carbon capture, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.

*Assuming current regulations requiring SAF to be blended with conventional jet fuel are removed to allow for the use of unblended SAF.  

**Based on United’s current SAF supply

UNITED

Australia's Bonza commences scheduled passenger ops

Australian low-cost startup Bonza (BNZ, Sunshine Coast) is commencing scheduled passenger operations on January 31, 2023, with a roundtrip flight between its Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport base and Proserpine, located midway up the Queensland coastline. Bonza is the first Australia-based operator of the B737 MAX type, with the inaugural flight also becoming the first scheduled domestic service in Australia to use the MAX.

A B737-8 registered as VH-UIK (msn 43975), operating flight AB777, departed Maroochydore on the morning of January 31 (local time). While the flight was largely filled with media and other invited guests, the remaining seats were made available to the general public on a paid bases last week. The return service, AB778, also carrying fare-paying passengers, heads back to Maroochydore later in the day.

Bonza CEO Tim Jordan says passengers can expect "a fresh approach to flying" with a focus on quality while keeping operating costs down. Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast Airport Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Brodie, who encouraged Bonza to establish their base there with a range of incentives, says Bonza will provide 772,000 seats in and out of the airport over the next 12 months.

In addition to VH-UIK, Bonza has two more B737-8s at Maroochydore; VH-UJK (msn 43974) and VH-UJT (msn 62533). A fourth aircraft, VH-UBI (msn 60388) remains in Tucson International. ch-aviation research has identified another six B737-8s flagged to go to Bonza. Three were originally to go to NordStar (Y7, Norilsk) but not taken up and three were due to go to LOT Polish Airlines (LO, Warsaw Chopin) and also not taken up. The aircraft are VH-UQI, VH-UNN (msn 44304), VH-UQP (msn 44305), VH-UMQ (msn 43957), VH-UKH (msn 61864), and VH-UDV (msn 43973).

The 777 Partners-backed Bonza plans to roll out across 27 routes serving 11 destinations up and down Australia's east coast, including 11 routes from Maroochydore. The airline is flying regional sectors on a low-frequency basis (two to four times a week) and except for Melbourne Tullamarine, avoiding capital cities, including Australia's busiest airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith.

Initially, Bonza has announced flight start dates and schedules for 15 routes. In addition to the Maroochydore - Prosperine route, the details of the first routes are;


Maroochydore - Mackay - three times a week from February 14;

Maroochydore - Melbourne Avalon - three times a week from February 21;

Maroochydore - Townsville - three times a week from February 22;

Maroochydore - Rockhampton - three times a week from March 13;

Rockhampton - Townsville - three times a week from March 24;

Maroochydore - Cairns - five times a week from March 27;

Maroochydore - Newcastle Williamtown - three times a week from March 28;

Cairns - Mackay - twice a week from March 29;

Newcastle Williamtown - Proserpine - twice a week from March 30;

Cairns - Rockhampton - twice a week from March 31;

Maroochydore - Proserpine - three times a week from March 31;

Maroochydore - Mildura - twice a week from April 4;

Maroochydore - Albury - twice a week from April 7;

Maroochydore - Port Macquarie - twice a week from April 12; and

Maroochydore - Coffs Harbour - twice a week from April 20.


CH Aviation / Bonza

Norway’s Flyr “critical” after failed capital raising

Flyr (Norway) (FS, Oslo Gardermoen) has said it is “in a serious financial situation” after failing to raise the capital it needed, and its board will now “assess whether there are alternatives for continued operation.” As its stock price plummeted, it assured in one of its statements issued on January 30 that “today’s flights are running as normal.”
The loss-making carrier said it had informed the Oslo Stock Exchange on the morning of Monday, January 30 that the company “has not been successful with its new financing plan.” That same day’s flights from Oslo to Alicante, Gran Canaria, and Malaga will operate, it pledged, adding: “The company has no scheduled flights on Tuesday and information about future flights will be shared as soon as possible on flyr.com.”

In its Oslo Børs filing, it lamented that “market conditions and continued uncertainty with regards to airline travel and earnings through 2023 have deterred investors from committing capital for the required period of time, in spite of the company’s wet-lease opportunities and improving ticket sales.”

It said that “due to the unsuccessful process to underwrite a rights issue or carry out a private placement, the company is now in a critical short-term liquidity situation.” The board will continue to try to find “feasible alternatives to secure continued operations [but] there is no guarantee that a solution that would create meaningful shareholder value for current shareholders will be found.”

Flyr said in early November that it was hoping to raise up to NOK530 million kroner (USD53.5 million) in new equity to survive the lean winter season. It failed to secure that amount but opted to rejig its fundraising later that month and managed to raise NOK250 million (USD24.9 million) in a share issue.

This was only half the cash it needed as it prepared for a ramp-up in spring 2023. Most recently, it had been trying to secure further funding of EUR330 million euros (USD33.2 million) in a rights issue but had “not yet been able to raise the sufficient market underwriting.”

Options for the airline had included increased wet-lease operations, and a month ago it said it had applied to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for a foreign air carrier permit to operate chartered and ACMI flights from November 2023 as it had seen “an increasing number of requests from North American companies.” In mid-December, it initiated discussions with a European airline for a wet-lease arrangement for six aircraft for the 2023 summer season, to start at the end of March. Such a deal “would considerably de-risk the business case and improve the chances of succeeding with a new financing plan,” it said.

To be ready to perform these obligations, Flyr “had to reverse some of the liquidity preserving measures it had planned and implemented, as the wet-lease agreement was considered instrumental in securing the new financing plan that would address” both its short-term and long-term funding requirements. This drove it to seek the as-yet unfulfilled EUR330 million rights issue.

Also on January 30, Oslo Børs decided to temporarily place the company in its Recovery Box, a “special compartment” where the stock exchange can place securities “when the issuer is subject to circumstances that make pricing of the securities particularly uncertain.” Such a category does not affect trading.

Ch Aviation / Photos: Flyr
 

Fly Meta to lease four Boeing 777-300ERSF

 Fly Meta to lease four Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft from AerCap

The aircraft are scheduled to deliver in 2024 through 2025.

SkyUp Airlines (Ukraine) will operate charter flights from Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara and Suceava in summer 2023 season to Egypt, Spain, Greece, Tunis, Turkey and Portugal, on behalf of a tour operator.

Aviator Daily News
Photo: Ton Jochems - AYT

 

American Airlines (US) plans to reactivate nine B737-800s from storage in 2023, while taking delivery of two A321neos, 17 B737-8s and four B787-8s in 2023.

Aviator Daily News
Photo: Duncan Stewart - LAX

Los Angeles International Airport - 11/2022

hsckcwong

 

Juneyao Airlines / A321-271NX / B-32CJ - New "rose"

Photo: Steven Ma
Shanghai - Hongqiao (SHA / ZSSS)

Air Moldova plans Chisinau – Yerevan nonstop flight on 26 March 2023, with A319.

Aviator Daily News - Ton Jochems - AYT
 

Alaska Air Group (US) retired ten A320s and nine Q400s during 4Q 2022. All remaining A320s have since been retired and all remaining Q400s will be retired by the end of January 2023. The Group received four B737-9s during the quarter, bringing the total B737-9 fleet to 37, and received three E175s during the quarter, bringing the total E175 fleet to 33.

 Aviator Daily News / Duncan Stewart - LAX

Azul (Brazil) begins A330-900 service on Recife – Fort Lauderdale route from 02 March 2023, replacing the -200.

 Aviator Daily News / FPP

Southwest Airlines (US) has converted four 2023 B737 MAX 7 firm orders to MAX 8 firm orders in 4Q 2022. Additionally, in January 2023, the Company exercised 10 MAX 7 options for delivery in 2024.

Aviator Daily News / Duncan Stewart

Air France-KLM orders four A350Fs to modernise the fleet of Martinair, part of KLM Group

Toulouse, 27 January 2023 - The Air France-KLM Group has placed a firm order for four A350Fs, the brand new Airbus widebody freighter, to be operated by Martinair Holland N.V., a Dutch cargo airline headquartered and based in Amsterdam Schiphol airport, and part of KLM Group. The A350F’s will allow the airline to retire its existing older generation freighters and replace them with a clean sheet cargo aircraft that offers a big step towards more sustainable cargo operations.

“We are delighted to make this major step forward to the A350F. It accelerates Air France KLM Martinair Cargo sustainability ambitions with significant improvement on fuel emissions and complying with most stringent ICAO Chapter 14 for noise and CAEP 8 for NOx. We are fit for the future!” said Adriaan den Heijer, Executive Vice President Air France KLM Cargo and Managing Director Martinair.

“Another A350F endorsement, and a great one too! We are delighted to see the A350F enter the KLM/Martinair world, confirming the relevance this most modern high capacity long range cargo aircraft brings to the airfreight segment. I am very pleased with the way our program is taking off. With 50% less noise, and 40% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to the previous generation aircraft it is replacing, that is hardly a surprise! We thank Air France-KLM Group for their continued confidence.” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

The A350F is based on the world's most modern long range leader, the A350. The aircraft will feature the largest main deck cargo door and a fuselage length optimised for cargo operations. Over 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials resulting in a minimum 30 tonnes lighter take-off weight, which together with efficient Rolls-Royce engines generate an advantage of at least 20% lower fuel burn and CO2 emission over its current closest competitor. Delivery to Martinair will be in time to comply with the latest ICAO CO2 emissions standards that will come into effect by the end of 2027. With a 109 tonnes payload capability (+3t payload / 11% more volume than its competition), the A350F serves all cargo markets (Express, general cargo, special cargo…).

Launched in 2021, the A350F recorded 35 orders from seven customers.

Airbus

GlobalX welcomes 1st freighter

On 24 January 2022, GlobalX welcomed its first freighter aircraft. Arriving at its base at Miami (FL) from Kansas City (MO) on this date was newly converted Airbus A321-231P2F N410GX (1199). The Airbus was previously flying passengers for Ural Airlines.

The aircraft is the first of fifteen converted A321P2Fs the airline has committed to. GlobalX is planning to operate its own cargo flights but will also provide Aircraft, Maintenance, Crew and Insurance (ACMI)-operations for third parties. Last May, it signed a contract with Avianca in which GlobalX is to operate five A321P2Fs for the carrier from Colombia.

Next to the freighters, GlobalX is currently operating a fleet of one A319, six A320s and two A321s. The company is also looking into leasing ten Boeing B717-200s. Originally, the original plan was to welcome the first B717 in October 2022 but that never happened. What the status of these plans are is unknown.

Photo by GlobalX Airlines / Scramble

flybe. ceases trading, suspends flight operations

Flybe (BE, Birmingham, GB) has announced in a notice on its website published in the early hours of January 28, 2023 that it has "ceased trading" and that all flights operated "have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. The notice further says that the High Court has appointed David Pike and Mike Pink as Joint Administrators advising passengers to contact the Civil Aviation Authority for further news.

ch-aviation fleets advanced data shows that using a fleet of nine Dash 8-400s on dry-lease from Aergo Capital (one) and Nordic Aviation Capital (eight), it operated scheduled services out of two bases at Belfast City and Birmingham airports.

From Belfast it operated to Amsterdam Schiphol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, London Heathrow, Manchester International and Newcastle, GB. From Birmingham, flybe. served Amsterdam, Belfast City, Edinburgh, Geneva, and Glasgow International. In addition, the regional carrier linked Amsterdam with East Midlands and Heathrow with Newcastle and Newquay, and Manchester with Newquay. The only routes to remain unserved following the suspension of operations are Amsterdam-East Midlands, Belfast City-East Midlands, Belfast City-Newcastle, London Heathrow-Newquay, and Manchester-Newquay, according to ch-aviation schedules data. The airline had a market share of 18.95% out of Belfast City and just 3.83% out of Birmingham by scheduled seat capacity at the time it ceased flight operations.

Having just relaunched operations less than one year ago on April 13, 2022, this is the second iteration of flybe. entering administration after the collapse of flybe. (2002) on March 4, 2020.

Investment adviser Cyrus Capital Partners acquired the assets of the original flybe. in April 2021, then planning to resume operations in summer 2021. Flybe Limited has yet to file any financial statements with the UK's Companies House for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.

CH Aviation

Russia's Nordwind plans direct flights to South Africa

 

South Africa has been talking to Russia's Nordwind Airlines (N4, Moscow Sheremetyevo) about launching direct flights between Moscow Sheremetyevo and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, even though the carrier is subject to US and European sanctions invoked due to Russia's war on Ukraine, meaning it cannot legally fly to South Africa under international aviation safety regulations.

South Africa's ambassador to Russia, Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka, told the Russian state-owned newswire Sputnik that Pretoria was waiting for the airline's decision. The aim is to launch four non-stop flights a week, including one weekly to Cape Town, to boost Russian tourism, Maqetuka said.

"Our transport department discussed Aeroflot flights with the Russian transport ministry, then we were informed that it had been decided that it would be Nordwind," he said.

Nordwind's management did not respond to numerous emailed requests for confirmation. Still, on phoning, a company employee in Moscow confirmed that flights to South Africa were in the pipeline but could give no further details.

South Africa's International Air Services Council confirmed to ch-aviation that it had not yet received an application for a foreign operator's permit (FOP) from Nordwind.

Plans to establish direct flights to South Africa before the 2023 Russia-Africa summit in St. Peterburg in late July were also disclosed by Oleg Ozerov, Russia's ambassador-at-large and head of the Russia-Africa partnership forum, Sputnik and fellow Russian news agency TASS both reported.

South Africa and Russia have maintained close diplomatic relations based on the historical ties between the Soviet Union and South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC). Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor in Pretoria this week about increased bilateral cooperation. Joint Russian, South African, and Chinese naval exercises are scheduled to take place in February off South Africa's East Coast, controversially coinciding with the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
CH Aviation

Aircastle lessor took control of the two A320 and the sole A330 of Aura Airlines (the entire fleet).

ex EC-NMY was ferried today as LY-BLC MAD-KEF on the way to Goodyear storage

José Ramon Valero - Madrid

Los Angeles International Airport - 11/2022

hsckcwong