This Week in Airliner, Airports and Airlines
NASA Selects Electra as awardee in AACES 2050 Program.
IATA Director-General, Willie Walsh, address to the AFRAA AGA.
ICAO Global Forum advances the future of air transport facilitation.
Gulfstream G700 exceeds 65 city-pair speed records.
ICAO - Asia Pacific leaders' chart safe and sustainable path for regional aviation boom.
Avia Solutions Group orders up to 80 Boeing 737 MAX jets to gear up expansion.
Spirit Airlines announces comprehensive agreement to deleverage balance sheet and position the company for long-term success as a leading low-fare carrier.
Riyadh Air introduces the world's most modern inflight entertainment experience with Panasonic Avionics' Astrova providing innovative entertainment and gaming.
Worldwide incidents and accidents.
Bonus video - Bell 47 at Oshkosh 2014
AIRLINES, AIRPORTS & AIRLINERS NEWS
NASA SELECTS ELECTRA AS AWARDEE IN AACES 2050 PROGRAM
NASA has awarded Electra a contract to develop key technologies and aircraft concepts for next generation commercial airliners that could enter service by mid-century. The award to Electra comes under NASA's Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 initiative, which is part of NASA's ambitious research program to cement U.S. leadership in decarbonizing aviation.
John Langford founded Electra in 2020 with a specific mission to lead in the development of sustainable aviation technologies. Langford previously founded Aurora Flight Sciences in 1989, which Boeing acquired in 2017. In 2021 Electra developed a 150-kW hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion system, and in 2023 began testing it in flight aboard the company's two-passenger Ultra Short prototype aircraft. The prototype integrates proprietary aerodynamic designs and distributed hybrid-electric propulsion to achieve ultra short take-off and landing in distances as short as 150 feet. Electra is currently developing a nine-passenger version of the Ultra Short for introduction into passenger and cargo service later this decade. To date, Electra has over 2,000 aircraft orders from 52 airline customers.
The larger focus of AACES is to develop technologies and aircraft concepts that significantly reduce carbon emissions from commercial aircraft. Electra is supported by a powerhouse team that includes American Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment, and the University of Michigan Department of Aerospace Engineering. The team will be led by Dr. Alejandra Uranga, Electra's Chief Engineer for Research and Future Concepts. Uranga serves on the University of Southern California's Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department faculty and previously co-led a NASA N+3 program while a research engineer at MIT.
“Being selected by NASA for AACES is an important achievement for Electra,” said Uranga. “It validates our unique concepts and their potential scalability. We are honoured with this opportunity from NASA to step up to the major leagues and help build a sustainable future for air transportation.”
“This work is part of the research NASA conducts under its Advanced Air Vehicles Program,” said Barbara Esker, deputy administrator for programs under the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This new collaboration will help NASA and the private sector deliver new technologies to fulfil our mutual goal of cleaner skies in the decades ahead.”
IATA DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WILLIE WALSH, ADDRESS TO THE AFRAA AGA
Good morning colleagues, friends, and honoured guests. All protocols observed. Thank you to Eng. Yehia Zakaria, Chairman and CEO of Egyptair and President of AFRAA, and to Abderahmane Berthe, Secretary General of AFRAA for the kind invitation to address you this morning. I am so pleased to be with you today in the amazing city of Cairo.
Africa has enormous potential. You know the statistics. It is home to 18% of the world's population but accounts for just 3% of global GDP. And it accounts for an even smaller share of global air transport-just 2%.
As Africa's airline leaders, I know that you are ready to take advantage of this potential to grow your airlines and connect the continent. I also understand the enormous challenges you face-among these, high costs and taxes, including the highest into-wing jet fuel prices in the world, low adoption of global safety standards, and airport infrastructure in need of investment.
I don't come here with any magic solutions, but as your global association I want to assure you that we work closely with AFRAA, we are focused on your needs, and we are looking at how we can support our members' success even more effectively. And, while I am here, I will be keen to hear your feedback and ideas.
Today, I also want to share some thoughts on three critical issues.
Safety
The first is safety-always our top priority. Safety thrives with global standards. We see that clearly in IOSA-a condition of membership for both AFRAA and IATA. Airlines on the IOSA registry outperform those not on the registry. That is the case in Africa and globally.
Africa has made significant improvements in safety. There were no hull losses or fatal accidents between 2020- and 2023. However, we took a step backwards from this in 2024. And even in 2023 the African turboprop hull loss rate was the highest in the world. This tells us that there is still work to do on safety.
Part of that work is safety culture. The IATA Safety Leadership Charter provides eight principles aimed to standardize a global approach for safety culture in each airline. Some 118 airline CEO's have signed, fourteen of these are in Africa. While that is a significant number, with 37 IATA members and 65 IOSA airlines in the continent, there is scope for more to join. If you have not yet signed, I encourage you to do so.
An increased willingness to share data is an important outcome of an effective safety culture. The more data we can bring together, the more powerful the insights we can draw from it. Along with encouraging you to sign the Safety Leadership Charter, I also ask that airlines not yet contributing their data to the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) initiative to do so. GADM has become a powerful analytical tool to improve safety. And if you participate-at no cost-you will also get access to rich data that can enhance your safety performance.
With such actions, our call on governments to adopt and effectively implement global safety standards, grows stronger. That is important in Africa where AFCACs website shows that some 20 AFCAC states have not met AFCAC's own 60% implementation threshold for ICAO SARPS. That's not good enough. And it is also not good enough that we are still waiting for final reports from 38 accidents in Africa investigated under Annex 13. We cannot let governments in Africa-or anywhere for that matter, forget their crucial responsibilities to implement ICAO SARPS and complete accident reports in a timely manner.
Blocked Funds
The second issue that I want to address is blocked funds. Airlines deliver huge social and economic benefits, but we are not charities. You have every right to count on the repatriation of funds for tickets sold across your global networks.
Globally, our tally shows $1.662 billion of airline money is blocked from repatriation-$950 million of which is in African countries. Within Africa, the largest amounts are in the XAF and XOF zone where over $300 million is being withheld. Working with your teams, progress has been made. But every success seems to be balanced by an increase somewhere else-the problem is persistent.
No country wants to lose connectivity which drives economic prosperity. That is the strongest point in our argumentation…..
• If airlines cannot repatriate their revenues, they cannot be expected to provide service.
• Economies will suffer if connectivity collapses.
• So it is in everybody's interest-including the government-to ensure that airlines can repatriate their funds smoothly.
A big thanks again from IATA for all the work that you and your teams do in this area. It helps us to help you. And we will continue the fight and repeat this message until every dollar owed is seen in your accounts!
Sustainability
Lastly, a word on sustainability. This is the biggest challenge we face. By 2050 we must be at net zero carbon emissions. This is existential to our future growth, the health of our planet and the prosperity of people everywhere who depend on aviation.
There will be many political twists and turns on the way to 2050. But in 2021 we set the course to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and reversing course is not an option.
For Africa, aviation's energy transition is a big development opportunity. SAF will contribute more than 60% of the mitigation needed for aviation's decarbonization. But only a few percent of our fuel needs can currently be met with SAF and there is no production in Africa.
That must change and change quickly. Africa has the people and natural resources to develop a world-leading SAF sector, provided the financing and government incentives are available. This is a perfect example of “build it and they will come”. And along with SAF will come jobs, growth and progress towards energy independence.
So, if I may be so bold to suggest, SAF production would be a great priority for one of this event's main sponsor. Aviation connectivity is the infrastructure of global trade. So finding ways to finance SAF production in Africa should fit nicely within the mission of our friends at Afreximbank who have a mission to support African trade development.
IATA is doing its part by strengthening its sustainability team. Among our top priorities are building a SAF registry that will be a foundation stone for a global SAF market, producing and updating roadmaps to net zero in the areas of technology, finance and policy, and freeing up the carbon credits that airlines will need to meet their CORSIA obligations. On this last point, last week we hosted an auction for airlines to purchase credits from the very limited stock available.
As we move along the journey to net zero, you can count on IATA's support-in the region and from our growing central sustainability team.
I will conclude by thanking you again for the invitation to be with you today. The numbers tell us that Africa has the greatest unused potential for aviation development in the world. That is a great motivation for us all.
ICAO GLOBAL FORUM ADVANCES THE FUTURE OF AIR TRANSPORT FACILITATION
The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Global Facilitation Forum, held in Bogotá from 21-23 October and hosted by Colombia's Aeronautica Civil, brought together some 200 aviation leaders from 42 States and 15 international organizations who will shape key initiatives for air transport facilitation.
The three-day forum under the title of “Seamless Skies: Efficient Facilitation for a Connected World”, marked two significant milestones in addition to celebrating ICAO's 80th anniversary: the 75th anniversary of ICAO's Annex 9 on Facilitation and Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority's centennial celebration.
"This cornerstone event brought together world experts and stakeholders to advance one of ICAO's fundamental objectives: facilitating borderless and efficient air travel," stated ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar.
The forum addressed critical aspects of modern aviation facilitation, including:
• Evolution of regulatory frameworks
• Enhancement of regional cooperation
• Digital transformation of passenger journeys
• Optimization of cargo operations; and
• Integration of public health measures in aviation
2024, designated by ICAO as the Year of Facilitation, has provided a platform for the Organization and its Member States to strengthen the regulatory foundations that enable seamless international air transport.
Colombian Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Jorge Enrique Ramírez and Civil Aviation Director Sergio París Mendoza highlighted their country's commitment to advancing global aviation facilitation standards during the forum's opening ceremony.
The forum's outcomes will guide ICAO's facilitation initiatives as the Organization continues working with Member States to enhance the efficiency and security of international air transport.
GULFSTREAM G700 EXCEEDS 65 CITY-PAIR SPEED RECORDS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the ultra large- cabin Gulfstream G700 recently exceeded 65 city-pair speed records. The latest record-breaking flights include a trip from Savannah to Honolulu using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and traveling 4,090 nautical miles/7,574 kilometres in 8 hours and 52 mins at an average speed of Mach 0.90. The aircraft also set a speed record traveling 6,507 nm/12,051 km from Los Angeles to Sydney in just 14 hours and 26 minutes.
“Gulfstream continues to see remarkable interest in the G700 around the world, and we are pleased to take it directly to our customers to showcase the extensive capabilities this industry-leading aircraft has to offer,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “The G700 is unmatched in performing these record- setting flights and illustrates its unique combination of speed, range and cabin size.”
The latest records are pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association and the Fe´de´ration Ae´ronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as world records.
The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, whisper-quiet noise levels, natural light from 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows and the industry's lowest cabin altitude. The aircraft can fly 7,750 nm/14,353 km at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nm/12,316 km at Mach 0.90 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935, the fastest in the Gulfstream fleet.
Inspired by the belief that aviation could fuel business growth, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. invented the first purpose-built business aircraft, the Gulfstream I, which first flew in 1958. Today, more than 3,000 aircraft are in service around the world. Together with parent company General Dynamics, Gulfstream consistently invests in the future, dedicating resources to researching and developing innovative new aircraft, technologies and services. With a fleet that includes the super-midsize Gulfstream G280, the high-performing Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER, and a next-generation family of aircraft including the all-new Gulfstream G400, the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600, the flagship Gulfstream G700 and the ultralong-range Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream offers an aircraft for every mission.
ICAO - ASIA PACIFIC LEADERS CHART SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE PATH FOR REGIONAL AVIATION BOOM
As the Asia Pacific region prepares for unprecedented aviation growth, regional leaders gathered in Cebu, Philippines to ensure this expansion happens safely and sustainably. The 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Asia Pacific Region, attended by 361 aviation leaders, focused on charting the region's aviation growth out to 2050.
"Let me remind you that for some States, aviation and tourism contribute up to 40% of the national Gross Domestic Product. Furthermore, many island States and landlocked States depend heavily on-air transport to connect to the wider world," ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano told delegates in his opening address.
"Our aim is to create an inclusive global aviation system that drives sustained economic growth for all Member States, regardless of their current level of aviation development," ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar told delegates.
The recent establishment of an ICAO liaison office in Fiji, supported by several partner countries, will help small island developing States implement international standards and fully leverage aviation as a catalyst for sustainable development.
Environmental action at the forefront
The conference supported global efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by 2050. This ambitious target requires fundamental changes in how aircraft operate and what powers them. Twenty-four Asia Pacific States, representing 83% of the region's international flights, are already tracking their carbon emissions through CORSIA, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.
A key focus was scaling up the supply and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as a crucial element in the decarbonization strategy. The conference endorsed ICAO's Global Framework for SAF, Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels, and other cleaner aviation energies, including the Finvest Hub. The Hub is intended to have multiple important functions: creating a platform to match aviation decarbonization projects with potential investors, exploring innovative funding mechanisms, collaborating with development banks, and maintaining a database of funding sources.
"Net zero emissions will be the most challenging of the six goals in ICAO's long-term strategic plan. It will require a fundamental transformation across technology, operations, partnerships, and financing. This transformation must extend beyond the aviation sector, encompassing the energy and finance industries and impacting numerous other sectors," Secretary General Salazar emphasized.
Safety and efficiency challenges
The conference responded to critical safety and efficiency challenges that are becoming increasingly urgent as air traffic grows in the region.
Current regional safety oversight scores fall below global averages, prompting renewed commitments to improvement.
Capacity issues were also discussed, with Council President Sciacchitano highlighting that "better collaboration between civil and military operations is essential for optimal use of airspace and for a more efficient air traffic management system.”
Several critical technological challenges were on the agenda. While the region has completed less than half of the second phase of its planned digital aeronautical information systems upgrades, leaders committed to speeding up this essential work which is crucial for managing more flights safely and creating efficient routes that use less fuel and reduce emissions.
Delegates also urged governments to take appropriate actions to detect, mitigate, and report Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Frequency Interference, which threatens navigation safety, and share best mitigation practices.
Additionally, the conference looked at ensuring the seamless integration of drone operations into existing airspace and explored frameworks for incorporating Artificial Intelligence in aviation while maintaining safety standards.
Shaping an inclusive future
Building an inclusive aviation workforce isn't just about equality - it's about securing our industry's future competitiveness and innovation,' Secretary General Salazar noted. Leaders acknowledged gender equality in the air transport system as crucial for the sector to maintain a sustainable professional workforce, and achieving sustainable growth requires harnessing all available talent. The Conference noted that some States in the Asia and Pacific Region have taken exemplary steps in gender equality by adopting policies and issuing circulars to promote the representation of women and girls in aviation sector. Despite progress, women remain significantly underrepresented across the aviation sector, particularly in technical and leadership roles. In espousal of the Conference theme topic: “Shaping the Future of Aviation: Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive”, the Conference urged States/Administrations, international organizations and industry to continue efforts to improve gender equality, synchronize efforts to achieve the Strategic Objectives, goals, programmes, and initiatives of ICAO to advance international civil aviation in a sustainable manner.
AVIA SOLUTIONS GROUP ORDERS UP TO 80 BOEING 737 MAX JETS TO GEAR UP EXPANSION
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Avia Solutions Group, the world's largest ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) provider, today announced its first order with the company for 40 737-8s, with the potential to order 40 more later.
Avia Solutions Group has 11 air operator certificates (AOC) including Avion Express, Smartlynx, Klasjet, Air Explore, BBN, Ascend Airways and Skytrans among others. These AOCs operate year-round in over 60 countries on behalf of various scheduled airlines and tour operators.
"As the world's largest ACMI provider, carrying over 35 million passengers annually for our clients, we have committed to a strategic approach of expanding our capacity to meet our customers' seasonal needs, and our first order with Boeing is a key pillar of this," said Gediminas Ziemelis, Chairman of Avia Solutions Group. "This is a proud moment for all of us at Avia Solutions Group and is testament to the fact that Avia Solutions Group is now entering a clear phase of sustained growth. These 737 MAXs will enhance the fleets of our airlines, giving their customers both operational flexibility and greater fuel efficiency."
The 737-8 is the market's most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes. This flexibility is crucial for an ACMI operator like Avia Solutions Group, enabling it to provide additional capacity to airlines during peak travel periods or support operations during unexpected aircraft or staff outages.
"ACMI providers such as Avia Solutions Group offer important, flexible capacity to meet the dynamic demand in our industry, and we are honoured Avia has selected Boeing airplanes to help meet that demand from its customers," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "By choosing the 737-8, Avia Solutions Group is aligning with its customers' plans to operate increasingly fuel-efficient fleets that improve the passenger experience."
The 737-8 can seat between 162 and 210 passengers, depending on configuration, and has a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km). In addition to improved environmental performance for operators, 737 MAX passengers experience features designed to create a spacious, relaxing environment, including the Boeing Sky Interior and customizable LED lighting.
SPIRIT AIRLINES ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT TO DELEVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND POSITION THE COMPANY FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS AS A LEADING LOW-FARE CARRIER
Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAVE) today announced that it has entered into a restructuring support agreement (the "RSA") supported by a supermajority of Spirit's loyalty and convertible bondholders on the terms of a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring. The restructuring is expected to reduce Spirit's debt, provide increased financial flexibility, position Spirit for long-term success and accelerate investments providing Guests with enhanced travel experiences and greater value.
In connection with the RSA, Spirit has received backstopped commitments for a $350 million equity investment from existing bondholders and will complete a deleveraging transaction to equitize $795 million of funded debt. To implement the RSA, the Company has commenced a prearranged chapter 11 process in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Court"). Existing bondholders are also providing $300 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing, which, together with Spirit's available cash reserves and cash provided by operations, is expected to further support the Company through the chapter 11 process.
Spirit expects to continue operating its business in the normal course throughout this prearranged, streamlined chapter 11 process. Guests can continue to book and fly without interruption and can use all tickets, credits and loyalty points as normal. The chapter 11 process itself will not impact Team Member wages or benefits, which are continuing to be paid and honored for those employed by Spirit. Vendors, aircraft lessors and holders of secured aircraft indebtedness will continue to be paid in the ordinary course and will not be impaired.
"I am pleased we have reached an agreement with a supermajority of both our loyalty and convertible bondholders on a comprehensive recapitalization of the Company, which is a strong vote of confidence in Spirit and our long-term plan," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This set of transactions will materially strengthen our balance sheet and position Spirit for the future while we continue executing on our strategic initiatives to transform our Guest experience, providing new enhanced travel options, greater value and increased flexibility. I'm extremely proud of the Spirit team's hard work and dedication, which is key to our sustained progress in advancing our business and delivering for our Guests."
As part of the chapter 11 process, Spirit is filing a proposed Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") that incorporates the agreed terms of the RSA and is subject to confirmation by the Court. The Company has received support from a supermajority of its loyalty and convertible bondholders and expects to emerge from a streamlined chapter 11 process in the first quarter of 2025.
In conjunction with the petition, Spirit has filed a series of first-day motions, which, once approved by the Court, will further facilitate the Company operating its business in the ordinary course during the streamlined chapter 11 process.
As a result of the chapter 11 filing, Spirit expects to be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in the near term. The Company expects that its common stock will continue to trade in the over-the-counter marketplace through the chapter 11 process. The shares are expected to be cancelled and have no value as part of Spirit's restructuring.
RIYADH AIR INTRODUCES THE WORLD'S MOST MODERN INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE WITH PANASONIC AVIONICS' ASTROVA PROVIDING INNOVATIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's premium international airline, has announced a new partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) as its official partner for inflight entertainment (IFE) at the APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) EXPO in Long Beach, California. This collaboration uses Panasonic Avionics' Astrova IFE solution which is set to enhance Riyadh Air's guest experience by providing an immersive entertainment experience on board.
The partnership will see Panasonic Avionics' Astrova IFE solution installed across Riyadh Air's entire Boeing 787-9 fleet facilitating a broad range of innovative solutions for guests that include prior browsing and selection of content, continuous viewing from flight to flight, and pairing of smart devices. The airline's research has shown that guests demand USB-C port charging technology - aligning with Saudi Arabia's mandate for mobile phones to have USB-C charging ports by 2025 - while seeing less value in dated hardware such as corded handsets and slower wireless charging.
Riyadh Air will offer guests an array of high-quality content through state-of-the-art 4K OLED HDR 10+ screens that feature top-notch, cinema-quality visuals, interactive capabilities, and unmatched reliability. This is coupled with high-fidelity audio that guests can experience on their own wireless headphones using Panasonic Avionics' Bluetooth® technology, and up to 100W of DC power via USB-C for fast charging devices. The addition of Panasonic Avionics' technology further cements Riyadh Air's commitment to delivering an exceptional and engaging guest experience.
Atlantic Ocean, over Atlantic Ocean: S Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 on a flight from Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Frankfurt (Germany) hit severe inflight turbulences passing an intra-tropical convergence zone over the Atlantic Ocean. According to Lufthansa, five passengers and several crew members incurred "minor injuries". There was a total of 329 passengers and 19 crew members on board.
Netherlands, Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM): A KLM Airbus A330-203, suffered a bird strike to both engines on departure from runway 24 at Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS). Engine vibrations were reported by the crew and it was decided to return to AMS. The flight landed back at AMS, 28 minutes after take-off.
USA, Denver International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN): A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, was evacuated at the gate after passenger's phone had caught fire. The aircraft was still at the gate at Denver International Airport when the fire started. All 108 passengers evacuated safely, with those in the back using the rear emergency slides, while those in the front exited through the jet bridge.
