Massive Antonov An-124 cargo plane impounded by Canada to be given to Ukraine.

A massive Antanov An-124 Volga Dnepr cargo plane that had been confiscated by Canadian authorities in February 2022 a few days after Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine will now be given to Ukraine, according to local sources.

The massive jet, registration RA-82078 arrived on 27th February, just four days after Russia's invasion started and the same day Canadian airspace was closed to all Russian-operated aircraft.  This meant the big An-124 had been grounded at Toronto Pearson Airport ever since.

The aircraft will now be given to Ukraine after a legal ruling by Ukrainian Courts that Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency illegally approved air-worthiness certifications for all twelve of the Antonov An-124s in the Volga Dnepr fleet.  

The matter was discussed during a meeting on 11th April 2023 between the Prime Ministers of both nations, Denys Shmyhal and Justin Trudeau which helped facilitate the transfer. 

Since the start of the conflict, Antonov Airlines has operated an active fleet of five An-124-100 aircraft which it rehomed at Leipzig - Halle Airport in Germany. It is understood RA-82078 will be transferred to the fleet within the next two months. 

According to reports,  three other Volga-Dnepr An-124 aircraft, registrations RA-82043, RA-82045 and RA-82046 are impounded in Germany and their fate is unclear although it is unlikely they will return to the skies this year.

Mexico sells Presidential 787 Jet to Tajikistan for $98 million.

The Mexican Government has finally sold off its Presidential Boeing 787 jet for approximately $92 million, despite it costing the country $200 million when it was new.

Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador had refused to use the jet, claiming it was too expensive and luxurious, since he took office in December 2018. Now, after nearly 4.5 years of trying to, the president confirmed the country had sold the jet to Tajikistan. 

"After a long time, we managed to sell the plane,” López Obrador commented, “We are happy. We are going to use the money from selling the plane to build two hospitals.” 

The president had been looking to offload the aircraft for some time as it cost almost the same to keep the plane grounded as it would to use the aircraft for official business. 

WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group celebration tour continues with second inauguration of dedicated freighter in Halifax

WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group yesterday celebrated the inauguration of the second of three 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters in Halifax alongside integral partners and key stakeholders. The event was commemorated by a ribbon cutting, signifying the launch of WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's dedicated freighter service in one of the carrier's six hubs, which will fulfil the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's Halifax celebration is the second of three inaugural events, taking place across Canada.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating this long-awaited milestone in Halifax, a core hub for WestJet Cargo that will connect our freighter service to Atlantic trade lines," said Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo. "Our Halifax hub unlocks unlimited potential to facilitate the distribution of a diverse variety of cargo products, including fresh seafood across Canada and enables WestJet Cargo to meet the large demand for freighter service across the east coast."

"Today is an exciting day for the GTA Group as we celebrate and welcome this highly anticipated moment in Halifax. This joint venture with WestJet Cargo will without a doubt, strengthen our position to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Canadian cargo market," said Mario (Mauro) D'Urso, Chairman of The GTA Group of Companies." The capacity of these four dedicated freighters will bring customers new competitive options by providing more air freight capacity to cargo customers who depend on reliable and on-time performance. We are thrilled to see these freighters take flight as we strive to provide exceptional service to all of our customers and their business needs."

American Airlines employee dies on tarmac of Austin int'l airport

Authorities in Austin Texas confirmed an American Airlines employee had died on the tarmac of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after the vehicle he was on struck an airbridge. Austin-Travis County EMS said the person died of "traumatic injuries" but had no further details.

The airport confirmed the incident and said that staff had worked with the emergency services, but said the accident had no significant impacts on its operations.  

American Airlines confirmed the man was an employee and issued the following statement: "We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members."

Austin Police Department told reporters the male was pronounced dead at the scene and the department's Vehicular Homicide Unit was investigating the incident as an accidental death at this time.

SpaceX's next-generation Starship exploded minutes after lift-off.....

The latest launch of a SpaceX rocket ended in disaster after it exploded minutes after lift off in an uncrewed test flight from South Texas on Thursday.  Reuters reported that the flight test was the first for Starship mounted atop the company's new Super Heavy rocket, and the first launch ever for that lower-stage booster, which SpaceX claims is the most powerful launch vehicle on Earth.

Executives from SpaceX are spinning the event as a success as the craft made it halfway to the edge of space, nearly 25 miles up before it failed.  The original plan was for the craft to climb to around 90 miles or so before re-entering the earth's atmosphere near Hawaii.

Air Canada buys 9.5 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel - SAF is a core pillar of airline's Climate Action Plan

9.5 million litres of SAF will generate GHG reductions equaling approximately 23,500 tonnes of CO2e calculated with a full life cycle assessment

Equivalent of GHG emissions absorbed by 28,000 acres of forest in one year

Air Canada marks Earth Day by announcing the purchase of 9.5 million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The airline continues advancing initiatives in its Climate Action Plan by strengthening its partnership with SAF producer, Neste, to power flights with Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM from San Francisco International Airport. The 9.5 million litres of SAF will generate GHG reductions of approximately 23,500 tonnes of CO2e calculated based on a full lifecycle assessment. The 23,500 tonnes of CO2e are equivalent to the annual GHG emissions absorbed by 28,000 acres of forest as per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency equivalencies calculator.

At Air Canada, we have adopted a multifaceted approach to addressing climate change and sustainability. Environmental and social factors are incorporated into our strategic decisions, as are our fleet purchases and daily operations through our support of low-carbon alternatives. SAF comprises one of our core pillars in pursuing our net-zero emission targets. We have been purchasing Neste's SAF since February 2022. Today's announced purchase represents a five-fold increase in our SAF procurement year over year and is an important step towards our target of one per cent fuel to be SAF by 2025, supporting our journey towards our 2050 net zero decarbonization goals," said Michael Rousseau, President and CEO at Air Canada.

"Decarbonising aviation is more important than ever and Neste is committed to helping the aviation industry move towards a more sustainable future. We are proud to support Air Canada in working towards their ambitious goal of net-zero emissions from all its global operations by 2050 by supplying Neste's SAF which helps enable airlines to reduce their emissions. We look forward to continuing to work together as we increase our annual SAF production capability to 1.5 million tons per annum by the end of 2023," said Michael Sargeant, Vice President Americas from the Renewable Aviation business unit at Neste.

Through Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Program, corporate customers and cargo freight forwarders can purchase SAF, carbon offsets or a combination of both to offset or reduce GHG emissions related to business travel or cargo shipments, mitigating their carbon footprint. This program is one of the many comprehensive initiatives being implemented as part of Air Canada's Climate Action Plan.

Powering aircraft with SAF directly reduces GHG at the source. Sustainable aviation fuel provides an alternative to conventional, fossil-based jet fuel. It is widely recognized as a key lever towards achieving aviation's GHG emission reduction goals. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ could reduce GHG emissions by up to 80%* over the fuel's life cycle, compared to conventional jet fuel.

Canadian police investigating $20 million gold heist at Toronto Pearson Airport

Canadian police are investigating the theft of a $20 million that's around £11.9 million cargo of gold and other valuables that was stolen from a cargo holding facility at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The cargo was reported missing after arriving on an aircraft early Monday evening, Peel Regional Police Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn told a news conference on Thursday.

Duivesteyn said after the aircraft landed the cargo was unloaded and taken to a holding facility, in line with normal procedure, but disappeared some time afterwards.  “An aircraft arrived here at the airport in the early evening. As per normal procedure, the aircraft was unloaded and cargo was transported from the aircraft to a holding cargo facility. - What I can say is that the container [had] a high-value shipment. It did contain gold but was not exclusive to gold and contained other items of monetary value.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are understood to be also investigating the incident which is one of the largest in Canadian history. As yet the origin of the gold or the airline concerned has not been released by the police. 

BOC Aviation latest results.....

BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 635 aircraft owned, managed and on order.  Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 86 airlines in 39 countries and regions worldwide as of 31 March 2023.   

Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The first quarter of 2023 was a successful period for us. At the end of the quarter, we had placed all new aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2023 and had lease commitments signed for all but one aircraft with leases expiring this year, which reflects the strong demand amongst the world’s airlines for modern technology aircraft. Our collection rate was 103% for the quarter, demonstrating the improving financial health of our airline customers and the speed with which they are recovering from the pandemic.”

Transactions Summary 

A total fleet of 635 aircraft owned, managed and on order1

An average aircraft age of 4.6 years and an average remaining lease term of 8.0 years for the 393 owned aircraft fleet, both weighted by net book value

Order book of 207 aircraft1

Executed a total of 23 transactions in the first quarter of 2023, including:

Commitments to purchase three aircraft

Delivery of two new aircraft

Sale of one owned aircraft

13 lease commitments  

The customer base of 86 airlines in 39 countries and regions in the owned and managed portfolios 

Managed fleet comprising 35 aircraft, with all aircraft on lease2

Owned aircraft utilization improved to 99% as of 31 March 2023, with two single-aisle and two twin-aisle aircraft off lease2. As of the date of publication, all but one aircraft are committed for lease

Notes:

Includes all commitments to purchase aircraft including those where an airline customer has the right to acquire the relevant aircraft on delivery.

Excludes 17 owned and one managed aircraft that remain in the possession of certain Russian airlines despite the termination of the leases with those airlines.

Shareholders and potential investors are reminded that the above data are based on the Company’s records and have not been audited or reviewed by the Company’s auditors.

Qatar Airways flights to Casablanca and Marrakesh will resume on 30 June 2023...

Qatar Airways flights to Casablanca and Marrakesh will resume on 30 June 2023, operating four times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays. The flight will be operated with the Boeing 787-8 with 254 seats: 22 Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats.

With the addition of Casablanca and Marrakesh, passengers can now enjoy connectivity to over 160 destinations across the airline’s extensive global network via the world-class Hamad International Airport (HIA). The award-winning airline remains committed to Morocco with the resumption of both cities’ routes, bolstering global connectivity, customer excellence and cultural connections. In summer 2023, Qatar Airways will operate four weekly flights to and from two airports in Morocco.  

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The Qatar Airways’ flights to Casablanca and Marrakesh solidify our commitment to the Moroccan market and meet a strong demand for connectivity to these two beautiful and historic cities. The FIFA World Cup 2022TM brought Qatar and Morocco together through football and bolstered our cultural and economic cohesion. Connecting through our Hamad International Airport offers passengers an unparalleled 5-star travel experience to over 160 destinations and continues to grow and expand our network.”

Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, is known for its beauty and modern elegance juxtaposing timeless architectural character, attracting people all over the world to visit this truly classic city. Marrakesh, on the other hand, holds a more traditional aesthetic with phenomenal scenery, thriving souqs and a rich history.  

One new Airbus A320neo aircraft delivered to Spirit Airlines.

Aviation Capital Group LLC (“ACG”) announced the delivery of one new Airbus A320neo aircraft on long-term lease to Spirit Airlines. Powered by the ultra-efficient Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, this is the second of four aircraft scheduled to deliver to the airline from ACG’s order book with Airbus.

Aviation Capital Group was founded in 1989 and is one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers with approximately 470 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2022, which are leased to approximately 95 airlines in approximately 45 countries. ACG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.

WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group celebrate inauguration of dedicated freighter in Toronto

WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group yesterday celebrated the inauguration of the first of three 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters in Toronto alongside integral business partners and key stakeholders. The event was commemorated by a ribbon cutting at WestJet's Toronto hangar, signifying the launch of WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's dedicated freighter service that will fulfil the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's Toronto celebration is the first of three inaugural events, taking place across Canada, with events in Halifax and Vancouver, to follow, respectively.

"We are thrilled to be celebrating this long-awaited milestone in Toronto, a core hub for WestJet Cargo and home of the GTA Group," said Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo. "As Canada's largest global hub, Toronto is a vital destination for our dedicated freighter operation that will enable WestJet Cargo to plug into a vast network of cargo entering the country and allow us to seamlessly execute the distribution of this cargo to its final destination across Canada."

"Today is an exciting day for the GTA Group as we celebrate and welcome this highly anticipated moment in Toronto. This joint venture with WestJet Cargo will without a doubt, strengthen our position to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Canadian cargo market," said Mario (Mauro) D'Urso, Chairman of The GTA Group of Companies." The capacity of the four dedicated freighters will bring customers new competitive options by providing more air freight capacity to cargo customers who depend on reliable and on-time performance. We are thrilled to see these freighters take flight as we strive to provide exceptional service to all of our customers and their business needs."

WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's dedicated freighters will now begin operating between its designated hubs in Halifax, Calgary, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto and Vancouver. Integrating into the WestJet Group's existing network, WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group's dedicated freighters will work in tandem with the cargo-carrying bellies of WestJet's fleet, creating global connectivity and opening trade lanes between Canada and the Caribbean, Europe, Japan and the United States.

"Our incredibly talented team at WestJet Cargo is eager to disrupt Canada's underserved air cargo market, by bringing competitive cost advantages, increased choice, reliable on-time performance and exemplary customer service. Today's celebration signifies a green light to do just that, as we strive to meet the needs of Canada's expanding cargo market," continued de Bruijn.

Dislodged filter caused Virgin Orbit's failed UK launch

Virgin Orbit Completes Key Failure Investigation Test, 

Confirms Cornwall Failure Root Cause 

Virgin Orbit has successfully completed a month-long, full-scale test series to verify the root cause of the January 9th launch failure and test and verify the modification designed to address it.

A key element to the investigation focusing on the filter in the fuel tank outlet, the test campaign recreated flight conditions and demonstrated the dislodging and subsequent travel of the filter into the Newton-4 engine. This high-fidelity test article included all the key elements of the fuel feed system up to the engine inlet.

Ground test results matched flight data, confirming the dislodging of the filter as the initiation event of the January launch failure. A series of nine tests verified the performance of a redesigned filter.

The failure investigation centred on a standard fault tree methodology which guided the investigation and key analyses and tests. All potentially credible scenarios were investigated. The modified design, that has now been verified through test, has been incorporated into the Company’s next rocket which is planned for a flight from Mojave Air and Space Port later this year.

Virgin Orbit has recently filed plans under Chapter 11 bankruptcy arrangement subject to the court's approval. The company is pursuing a competitive sale process in order to maximize value for all stakeholders. Virgin Orbit has proposed a May 4th deadline for indications of interest (“IOI”) and has asked the Court to approve bid procedures including the IOI deadline and a bid deadline of May 14, 2023. Any sale transaction will be implemented according to the Plan or according to a separate sale order under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Pursuant to the proposed Plan, the sale proceeds will be distributed in accordance with the Plan and any applicable sale order.

JetBlue announces Puerto Rico expansion

JetBlue is expanding its offering to Puerto Rico with two new routes launching this summer. 

JetBlue will now offer year-round service from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina, and from Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida.

“As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, we are thrilled to continue diversifying our network and to further grow JetBlue’s presence on the island with the addition of these two new routes,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “This growth will increase competition and choice for customers travelling to and from Puerto Rico and for travellers in Raleigh and Tampa, while also building on our commitment to support tourism on the island and connect family and friends. We look forward to delivering even more of the much-loved JetBlue experience – with our unique combination of low fares and award-winning service – to our customers traveling between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland following the successful completion of our combination with Spirit.”

“We’re excited about the news of additional JetBlue direct flights between Puerto Rico and the US mainland. These two new flights will help us to continue on the path of growth in our tourism sector. We look forward to building on JetBlue's success in Puerto Rico,” said governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi.

“The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is thrilled to announce along with our partner, JetBlue, the incorporation of these new routes. The expanded network connects two of Puerto Rico’s main airports to key markets in the continental United States providing travelers with even more options to explore and enjoy the diversity available on the island. We value the longstanding alliance between the Government of Puerto Rico and JetBlue, and look forward to continue providing excellence in the visitor experience, and increasing Tourism’s contribution to local economies”, said executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Carlos Mercado Santiago.

Bombardier gets regulatory approval to add its Smart Link Plus system to existing aircraft

Bombardier has achieved Transport Canada (TC), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Challenger and Global Smart Link Plus system installations

Canadian planemaker, Bombardier announced this week, a major advancements in its comprehensive *Smart Link Plus connected aircraft system with several key regulatory approvals. The company has recently achieved essential TC, EASA and FAA approvals for almost its entire fleet of Challenger and Global aircraft. With these approvals, operators of all in-service Challenger 300, Challenger 350, Challenger 3500, Challenger 605 and Challenger 650, as well as Global 5000, Global 6000, Global Express and Global XRS aircraft will be able to install the innovative Smart Link Plus aircraft health management system on their business jets.

Smart Link Plus is an advanced health monitoring system that collects crucial aircraft data, enabling flight and maintenance crews to quickly prioritize and proactively troubleshoot essential in-flight alerts, increasing an aircraft’s operational efficiency. Aircraft operators can effectively track, troubleshoot and dispatch a technician based on information received from the system, enabling them to make detailed maintenance decisions quickly and efficiently.

Qatar Airways welcomes passengers to the new Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden

Qatar Airways welcomes passengers to the new Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden 

This new lounge experience is designed to immerse passengers in a tranquil environment filled with natural light, exotic plants and elegant furnishings

Qatar Airways has opened the new Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, named ‘The Garden’ which overlooks ‘The ORCHARD’, surrounded by renowned retailers and restaurants while offering uniquely designed relaxation spaces and areas to socialise.

An exclusive sanctuary available for Qatar Airways Premium Passengers, The Garden stretches over an area of 7,390 square metres and can accommodate up to 707 passengers. It features 24 quiet spaces, each designed to offer optimum relaxation available free of charge for the first six hours, and also features seven spa treatment rooms. 

Accessible for passengers travelling in Premium cabin, the new lounge offers a range of premium facilities that fulfil the needs of business, leisure and family travellers with numerous dining options, relaxation rooms, a fitness studio, pedicure & manicure stations, spa facilities, dedicated private spaces, recreational areas and a nursery. The lounge has been influenced by modern aesthetics incorporating natural light in its distinct design, providing passengers with an immersive experience reflecting The ORCHARD below.  

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, stated: “At Qatar Airways, excellence is embedded in the core of our brand, and as we continue to evolve our offerings, we choose to provide our passengers with the very best experiences in aviation and hospitality. Passengers can now enhance their journey to a new level at our newly opened Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden at Hamad International Airport. This world-class lounge showcases a sophisticated way of travel, centred in comfort, wellness and nature. I welcome our premium passengers to experience this spectacular addition to our signature lounge portfolio.”