Boeing furloughs thousands as no progress made to resolve strike

The U.S. manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday it will temporarily furlough tens of thousands of employees after about 30,000 machinists went on strike on Friday, halting production of its 737 MAX and other aircraft.

"We are initiating temporary furloughs over the coming days that will impact a large number of US-based executives, managers and employees," CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an email to employees. "We are planning for selected employees to take one week of furlough every four weeks on a rolling basis for the duration of the strike."

The strike, Boeing's first since 2008, adds to a tumultuous year for the planemaker which began when a door panel blew off a new 737 MAX jet in mid-air in January.

Ortberg also said he and other Boeing leaders "will take a commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike."

Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers held two days of discussions in the presence of federal mediators. The union, which said on Tuesday it was frustrated with the first day of mediation, said late on Wednesday it had concluded another day of talks with "no meaningful progress."

KLM-BCG partnership announces Singapore Airlines as new customer

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced that Singapore Airlines is leveraging Pathfinder, one of the AI-based tools in the comprehensive suite developed by KLM and BCG under their partnership to improve digital airline operations worldwide.
Pathfinder is a customizable, state-of-the-art solution based on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced optimization. The solution for intelligent aircraft assignment optimization, that has been tailored to SIA’s needs, has allowed the airline to strengthen its operational resilience, improve on-time performance and utilize its aircraft resources more efficiently.
Tan Wei Qi, Divisional Vice President Operations Control at Singapore Airlines said:  "Pathfinder facilitates quicker data-driven decisions for Singapore Airlines, enabling us to optimize our operations, realize sustainability benefits from reduced fuel burn, and reduce flight disruptions as part of our commitment to providing a world-class experience to all our customers."
Maarten Stienen, COO KLM and Dirk-Maarten Molenaar, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG commented: "Over the last six years, the KLM-BCG Partnership has established itself as the leading player in digital airline operations with unparalleled offerings in the market. As the needs of airlines evolve, we look forward to further collaboration with top carriers worldwide to support their digital transformation in operations. We're delighted to partner with Singapore Airlines."

SAS is building a global hub in Scandinavia

SAS has announced an extensive expansion from Copenhagen starting with the summer traffic programme for 2025, positioning the main hub as a key international gateway to and from Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Today, SAS presents 15 new routes from Copenhagen, including a new long-haul route to Seattle. Adding several new direct flights from Copenhagen to popular European and Intercontinental destinations will support greater growth for both SAS and all of Scandinavia as a global hub.

Copenhagen Hub Expansion

The new routes introduced in the summer schedule are Krakow, Madrid, Budapest, Lyon, Valencia, Malta, Bucharest, Milan Linate, Seville, Turku, Billund, Kristiansand, Harstad/Narvik and Bodø. Furthermore, there will be a frequency increase on 15 of the existing routes, including key destinations such as Stockholm, Oslo, Prague, Berlin and Helsinki, solidifying Copenhagen's position as a global hub.

With the recent entry into SkyTeam, SAS is focusing on global reach and will continue to develop Copenhagen as its main hub for international travel. Copenhagen’s attractive location in continental Europe allows for efficient same-day travel across Northern, Central, and Western Europe. The hub will also serve as a key transit point for long-haul travel, connecting Europe with North America and Asia. 

“Following new ownership and the successful completion of our restructuring, SAS is emerging as a competitive and financially strong airline. By enhancing Copenhagen as our main hub and expanding our network, we are boosting connectivity and driving economic growth not only in Denmark but across Scandinavia. As we focus on building a global hub in Scandinavia, Copenhagen will become a central gateway, bringing the region even closer together,” says SAS CEO Anko van der Werff.

“For our passengers, this means more travel options, improved convenience, and a seamless experience across a growing number of destinations”, van der Werff continues.

Saab delivers fifth GlobalEye to the United Arab Emirates

The recent delivery is the fifth in the series of five GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft delivered to the UAE since 2020.

“In close partnership with the UAE Air Force, Saab has developed, produced and delivered a fleet of five state-of-the-art GlobalEye aircraft, all in a period of less than 10 years. This further reinforces Saab’s position as leading provider in the airborne early warning and control segment,” says Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s business area Surveillance.

GlobalEye is an advanced multi-domain AEW&C solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in the air, at sea and over land. By providing real-time information to units in the air force, army and navy, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats. 

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East Midlands Airport welcomes new cargo aircraft

A new cargo aircraft was welcomed to East Midlands Airport (EMA) this week as the airport grows its capacity and British cargo airline One Air boosts its fleet operating from the airport.

EMA is the UK’s number one air fright hub, supporting cargo-only aircraft carrying goods around the world.

One Air moved its operation from Heathrow Airport in April and is now based at EMA, running regular flights between Hong Kong and the UK. One Air’s move to EMA provided favourable availability for flight slots including night flying and fewer restrictions for all-cargo aircraft.

The latest aircraft brings its total fleet at EMA to three 747s – with the new arrival boasting a nose door as well as side door for loading and unloading. The original Boeing-built freighter also has a higher payload capacity of up to 124,000 kgs. It follows the second 747-400 which arrived at EMA in December to support One Air’s growing programme between China/Hong Kong and Europe. This represents rapid growth from a company which ran its first flights in July 2023 after receiving its AOC certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority

easyJet to compete directly with British Airways on new route to Tbilisi in Georgia.

easyJet has announced this week that it plans to compete with British Airways when it introduces a new service to Tbilisi in Georgia next year.

The budget carrier will start the route on 1st April 2025 with the service operating twice a week from the carrier's home base of London Luton Airport. 

When we checked yesterday, the basic seat-only fare on easyJet for a return from Luton flight on 22nd April back 6th May was £222.98. British Airways fare from Heathrow for similar dates - 22nd April returning on 5th May was £274.09.  The main difference is the taxes, while the net fare was £101 on BA and on easyJet was £134.98.

Tbilisi offers a rich blend of history, diverse architecture, and culture. The city’s picturesque Old Town streets, historic sulphur baths, and a lively arts scene, alongside opportunities to sample traditional Georgian and Russian cuisine plus award-winning wines.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said:  "We are delighted announce a new route to a brand-new destination on our network today, and to be providing  direct connectivity between the UK and Tbilisi in Georgia for the first time from next summer, providing even more choice for our customers flying from London Luton who choose us for our unrivalled network which we continue to strengthen, our crew and their fantastic service, and of course our great value fares.”

In recent months, a complete reevaluation of the relationship the U.S. has with Georgia was ordered by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State. Financial aid and military cooperation from the U.S. has also been frozen and the European Union also followed suit.  Indeed, in Europe, there is talk that more sanctions from the EU could be imposed.  Georgia had also previously wished to join NATO and was, for a while described by the organisation as a 'prospective member state'. Now, that has been dropped from recent NATO declarations.  

Georgia signed a deep strategic partnership agreement in 2023 with China which has seen Tbilisi awarding a Chinese-led consortium the exclusive rights to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Not only that, according to Carnegie Politika Georgia also embarked towards energy cooperation with Turkey and has developed warmer ties to Iran following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Forthcoming elections in October could further cement diplomatic, financial and emotional ties with Russia, China and Iran or an attempt to resuscitate the relationship with the West. According to the Financial Times Western leaders need to brace for a full-blown Georgian crisis and a plan needs to be ready. 

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ATSG Charitable Foundation to support STEM education......... Inspiring future aviation professionals

The ATSG Charitable Foundation has announced its financial support for three elementary school book fairs and the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future program, reinforcing its commitment to STEM education with the goal of engaging more students in aviation and related career fields.

“We are focused on fostering a passion for STEM subjects, especially aviation,” said Mike Berger, CEO of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and member of the Foundation’s board of directors. “By supporting programs that inspire an interest in science and technology, we are helping to create a pipeline of young talent who will one day shape the future of aviation.”

The Foundation will sponsor book fairs at Broward Elementary School in Tampa, Florida; Hamilton Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Putnam Elementary School in Blanchester, Ohio near the ATSG Corporate Headquarters. The book fairs, provided by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, will offer every student the opportunity to take home three books of their choice free of charge, while the schools will receive an additional 300 books for classroom and library use. These initiatives are part of ATSG’s broader effort to spark curiosity and learning in STEM fields from an early age.

Why LAX, LAS, and LHR Should Invest in LH2

IDTechEx predicts the hydrogen aeroplane market will grow to US$28.4 billion, but only with strategic airport investment.

 

IDTechEx’s new report, “Sustainable Future Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts”, finds the hydrogen aeroplane market will be worth US$28.4 billion in 2045. The largest part of this will be coming from hydrogen-powered narrow-body commercial airliners. However, this can only happen with strategic infrastructure investment at the right airports. 

Hydrogen is a promising option for the future of aviation. Unlike batteries, it has enormous gravimetric energy density, allowing the plane to carry plenty of energy without becoming too heavy. The limitation of hydrogen is its volumetric energy density – the space it takes up. Because hydrogen is light, it occupies far more space than jet fuel for the same amount of energy. At room temperature and pressure, a hydrogen tank would need to be more than 3,000 times the size of a jet fuel tank to hold the same energy.

 

Compressing hydrogen helps to get more energy into a smaller volume. Most companies looking at compressed hydrogen are considering 700 bar. Pressurizing hydrogen to 700 bar increases its density by a factor of 470, meaning the tank needs to be just over 7 times bigger for the same energy, but also that anybody looking to make use of hydrogen will need to invest in 700 bar hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. 

 

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is even more dense. At 71g/L, it still weighs nearly ten times less than jet fuel for the same volume but now contains ~25% of the energy. So now, if a plane could be refuelled with liquid hydrogen and got similar efficiency out of the engines, it could expect to get around 25% of the range. For something like an Airbus A320, or Boeing 737max, this would mean around 1,500km of range. This might not sound like much, but a surprising amount of flights are less than 1,500km.

 

IDTechEx’s report, “Sustainable Future Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts”, found that around 60% of all flights in the US (domestic and international) are less than 1,500km.

 

49ers and United Airlines launch SAF pilot project to reduce carbon emissions from air travel

United and the San Francisco 49ers announced today that the team has become the first in the NFL to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As an initial step toward addressing emissions concerns, the team has purchased enough SAF to cover its game-related flying on United from San Francisco to Los Angeles this Sunday.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% on a lifecycle basis – from production to end use – because it is made from renewable materials rather than oil. United's SAF is certified by an independent third party as meeting several sustainability criteria, including its carbon intensity.

United was the first airline to create a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050, without relying on voluntary carbon offsets, and remains a U.S. industry leader in the purchase and use of SAF. The airline purchased more sustainable fuel than any U.S. airline in 2023 and has used a blend of SAF at five airports in the U.S. and Europe including San Francisco International Airport – among the most locations of any U.S. airline.

"SAF has the potential to be a powerful tool to help reduce carbon emissions from flying, but the industry is still in its infancy, supply is limited, and most people don't know what it is," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "We're proud to partner with like-minded organizations like the 49ers to demonstrate and elevate to a broader audience why it's important to support real solutions like SAF."

Alaska Airlines take-over of Hawaiian Airlines completes

This week Alaska Air Group confirmed it had completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now begin the work to secure a single operating certificate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will allow the two airlines to operate as a single carrier with an integrated passenger service system. 

In the interim, the airlines will continue to operate as separate carriers with no immediate changes to operations and will maintain separate websites, reservation systems and loyalty programmes until later in the integration process. The management structure at Hawaiian Airlines has already been changed and according to sources at the airline, the company will transition to 80% Alaska Air leaders by the end of 2025.   

The Alaska Air Group features:  

Fly nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations including 29 international markets in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. This expanded network feeds the more than 1,200 destinations available through the oneworld Alliance.

Maintain hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, San Diego and Anchorage, with Honolulu becoming the second largest behind Seattle.

Operate a fleet of 350 aircraft, which includes 2 Boeing 787, 24 Airbus A330, 18 Airbus A321neo, 235 Boeing 737, 19 Boeing 717, 44 Embraer E175, and 8 dedicated freighters (3 Boeing 737-700, 2 Boeing 737-800 and 3 Airbus A330).

Employ more than 33,000 people across North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles retain their full value at the moment, however, HawaiianMiles will be absorbed into Mileage Plan within a year and a time limit to redeem or exchange HawaiianMiles will be introduced. Later this month, Alaska Airlines promises members will be able to seamlessly transfer miles between Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles on a 1 - 1 basis.  

British Airways announces direct flights to Georgian capital, Tbilisi

British Airways will launch flights from London Heathrow to Tbilisi, Georgia next year, operating four times per week from 30 March 2025.

Despite recent moves more towards Russia and away from the West, political unrest and aggressive anti-western attitudes, the UK's leading airline has decided to launch flights to Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia.   

Located at the crossroads where Europe meets Asia, Georgia is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, traditional cuisine and picturesque scenery. The country proudly lays claim to being the birthplace of wine, with an 8,000-year-old history of winemaking that remains a predominant part of its culture today. The nation is also home to a large number of Russians who have set down roots in the country since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

In recent months, a complete reevaluation of the relationship the U.S. has with Georgia was ordered by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State. Financial aid and military cooperation from the U.S. has also been frozen and the European Union also followed suit.  Indeed, in Europe, there is talk that more sanctions from the EU could be imposed.  Georgia had also previously wished to join NATO and was, for a while described by the organisation as a 'prospective member state'. Now, that has been dropped from recent NATO declarations.  

Georgia signed a deep strategic partnership agreement in 2023 with China which has seen Tbilisi awarding a Chinese-led consortium the exclusive rights to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Not only that, according to Carnegie Politika Georgia also embarked towards energy cooperation with Turkey and has developed warmer ties to Iran following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Forthcoming elections in October could further cement diplomatic, financial and emotional ties with Russia, China and Iran or an attempt to resuscitate the relationship with the West. According to the Financial Times Western leaders need to brace for a full-blown Georgian crisis and a plan needs to be ready. 

Tbilisi is located on the banks of the Mtkvari River, surrounded by hills with the Caucasus Mountains to the north. The city attracts visitors looking to soak up the charm of the cobbled streets of its historic city centre, its unique blend of architecture, and diverse cuisine, which has been influenced by its history and surroundings. The canyons and caves near Kutaisi and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites are within easy reach for avid explorers.

NASA picks lunar relay contractor for Near Space Network Services

NASA has awarded a contract to Intuitive Machines, LLC of Houston, to support the agency’s lunar relay systems as part of the Near Space Network, operated by the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

This Subcategory 2.2 GEO to Cislunar Relay Services is a new firm-fixed-price, multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contract. The contract has a base period of five years with an additional 5-year option period, with a maximum potential value of $4.82 billion. The base ordering period begins Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2029, with the option period potentially extending the contract through Sept. 30, 2034.

Lunar relays will play an essential role in NASA’s Artemis campaign to establish a long-term presence on the Moon. These relays will provide vital communication and navigation services for the exploration and scientific study of the Moon’s South Pole region. Without the extended coverage offered by lunar relays, landing opportunities at the Moon’s South Pole will be significantly limited due to the lack of direct communication between potential landing sites and ground stations on Earth.

The lunar relay award also includes services to support position, navigation, and timing capabilities, which are crucial for ensuring the safety of navigation on and around the lunar surface. Under the contract, Intuitive Machines also will enable NASA to provide communication and navigation services to customer missions in the near space region.

.Indonesian Air Force orders four Airbus H145 helicopters

Indonesian Air Force orders four Airbus H145 helicopters 

The Indonesian Air Force has placed an order for four Airbus H145 helicopters as part of its training modernisation programme. The order was announced during the Bali International Airshow taking place this week.

Under the agreement between the Indonesian Air Force and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), Airbus will deliver the five-bladed H145s to PTDI, who will manage the reassembly and completion of the mission equipment and other customisation work at its facility in Bandung, Indonesia, for final delivery to the air force. These multi-mission helicopters will be deployed for military training and light search-and-rescue missions.

“We are honoured by Indonesia’s selection of the country’s first Airbus H145 for its new training fleet. We are fully confident that the highly versatile H145 will make a positive impact in enhancing its military pilot training and at the same time be a critical enabler for its search-and-rescue operations. With a trusted partner in PTDI, we look forward to working together in support of Indonesia’s fleet,” said Vincent Dubrule, Head of Asia-Pacific, Airbus Helicopters.

“We are deeply honoured by the trust placed by the Indonesian Air Force through their order of the H145 helicopters as part of their training modernisation programme. This collaboration not only strengthens the long-standing partnership between PTDI and Airbus, but also showcases our commitment to providing innovative and reliable solutions for national operational needs. Through this close partnership, PTDI will not only support the delivery of the H145 helicopters but will also enhance our capabilities in terms of integration and assembly at our facilities. We are confident that this cooperation will create new opportunities for the development of the national aerospace industry and further sustain the long-term relationship between PTDI and Airbus, which we continue to strengthen for a more advanced future,” said Gita Amperiawan, President Director, PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

Airbus Helicopters and Indonesia have an enduring relationship of close to 50 years dating back to 1976 when PTDI first obtained a licence to produce the NBO-105 helicopter. PTDI became a key supplier of Airbus H225’s rear fuselage and main airframe in 2008, with full production in place in Indonesia by 2011. The two companies expanded the industrial cooperation in 2017, to include support and services dedicated for the Indonesian military fleet of helicopters, and most recently deepened the collaboration to explore the development of aerostructure production for the manufacturer's helicopter platform, helicopter completions, and enhancing local maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities.

 

Losses reduce at Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace,  a global aerospace and technology company working towards zero-emission aviation, has just announced its financial results for the first half of the year ended June 30, 2024. 

Vertical maintained its industry-leading capital efficiency with an operating loss of £20 million. The company also got a boost in the first half of the year, when it was awarded an £8 million grant from the UK Government as part of its Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).

Stuart Simpson, CEO at Vertical, said:  “During the past few months we have delivered our most advanced full-scale VX4 prototype, have gone from first powered ground test to 'wheels up’ in just one week and completed the first phase of our piloted test flight programme. Every day I continue to be deeply impressed by the phenomenal engineers we have and the progress we are making here in Bristol as we build a new generation of aviation. This could not be a more exciting time to follow Vertical as we accelerate through our piloted flight tests and work closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, our home regulator, on the path to certification.”

Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines

Alaska Air Group has today announced it has completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now begin the work to secure a single operating certificate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will allow the two airlines to operate as a single carrier with an integrated passenger service system. 

In the interim, the airlines will continue to operate as separate carriers with no immediate changes to operations and will maintain separate websites, reservation systems and loyalty programmes until later in the integration process. The management structure at Hawaiian Airlines has already been changed and according to sources at the airline, the company will transition to 80% Alaska Air leaders by the end of 2025.   

As of today, Alaska Air Group’s airlines and subsidiary airlines:

Fly nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations including 29 international markets in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. This expanded network feeds the more than 1,200 destinations available through the oneworld Alliance.

Maintain hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, San Diego and Anchorage, with Honolulu becoming the second largest behind Seattle.

Operate a fleet of 350 aircraft, which includes 2 Boeing 787, 24 Airbus A330, 18 Airbus A321neo, 235 Boeing 737, 19 Boeing 717, 44 Embraer E175, and 8 dedicated freighters (3 Boeing 737-700, 2 Boeing 737-800 and 3 Airbus A330).

Employ more than 33,000 people across North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles retain their full value at the moment, however, this is likely to change when HawaiianMiles is absorbed into Mileage Plan. Later this month, Alaska Airlines promises members will be able to seamlessly transfer miles between Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles on a 1 - 1 basis.