JetBlue orders 30 additional Airbus A220-300, raising its firm order to 100

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft. This takes the airline’s firm commitment for the A220-300 to 100 aircraft. This latest agreement lifts the total firm order book for the A220 to 740.

“We’re already seeing benefits from the eight A220s we’ve added to the fleet, and we’re very happy to have more on the way,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “We’ve seen double-digits increases in customer satisfaction scores, and these fuel-efficient aircraft support our leadership in reducing carbon emissions. With 30 additional A220s on order, we’re in a position to accelerate our fleet modernization plans to deliver stronger cost performance and support our focus city network strategy.”

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft

“It is very rewarding to see a happy customer coming back for more aircraft not even a year after Entry into Service of its first A220. We salute our friends at JetBlue on this landmark deal,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “Over 700 A220 orders to date underscore the strong market appetite for this all-new Single Aisle aircraft.”

Jetblue started A220-300 operations in April 2021 and currently operates eight A220s in a 140-seat configuration, with USB-C, USB-A and AC power at every seat. The A220 also offers the largest cabin, highest ceiling, biggest windows and most spacious overhead bins in its class.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market, bringing together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. The A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

With around 15 airlines operating close to 200 A220s on four continents, the A220 is the optimal aircraft for regional as well as long-distance routes.

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Air101: JetBlue introduces its new Airbus A220-300 - take a look inside.

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CDB Aviation moves forward with A330 P2F strategy with new conversion order and freighter introduction in China

CDB Aviation detailed new developments in its A330 passenger-to-freighter (“A330 P2F”) strategy and related commercial activity at the Singapore Airshow. 

Advancing its already leading position in the A330 P2F conversion segment, CDB Aviation committed to an additional twelve conversions with EFW, expanding its A330 P2F fleet to fourteen aircraft. Moreover, the lessor is on pace to launch the A330-300 P2F freighter type in China in 2022, with lease commitments from Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines.

Orders twelve more conversions from Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (“EFW”), bringing the A330 P2F fleet to fourteen aircraft

Launches the A330-300 P2F type in China, backed by new leases with Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines

Debuts first A330 P2F conversions to be performed in Shanghai, China, and Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A.

Becomes the largest lessor of EFW-converted A330 P2Fs

“We have strategically positioned our platform to be the A330 P2F program frontrunner among lessors,” commented Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer, adding that the A330 P2F marked the lessor’s first entry into the air cargo space. “We’re very satisfied with this program’s progress and momentum to date and look forward to further expanding our freighter fleet in collaboration with our partners at Airbus, ST Engineering, and EFW.”

CDB Aviation was one of the first lessors to secure conversion commitments for the A330 P2F, contracting two initial conversions with EFW in November 2020. With this latest order, the company will become the largest lessor of EFW-converted A330 P2Fs, with a total of fourteen aircraft in its fleet.

“The A330 P2F continues to gain traction as the preferred next-generation type in the fast-growing Medium Widebody Freighter space. It is delivering to cargo operators the most advanced fly-by-wire technology, increased volumetric capacity for today’s less dense freight, reduced fuel consumption, a lower environmental footprint, and the benefits of Airbus fleet commonality,” added Hannigan.

“We are proud to have leading lessor CDB Aviation on board, growing its orders for A330 P2Fs,” said Andreas Sperl, EFW’s Chief Executive Officer. “The A330 P2F program is proving highly popular, and we now have over eighty aircraft on order. EFW is leading the overall A330 P2F program, which is a collaboration between ST Engineering, Airbus, and EFW. To ensure we can meet the rising demand for freighter conversions, EFW and ST Engineering are in the process of ramping up their conversion capacity.”

Photo Airbus

BOC Aviation orders eight shipsets of CFM LEAP-1A Engines to power new Airbus A320neo family aircraft

BOC Aviation has confirmed orders for eight shipsets of CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power new Airbus A320NEO family aircraft on order from Airbus and scheduled for delivery in 2023.

CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines and produces engines for both the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 series.

“CFM engines have powered our fleet since 1998, and we are pleased to build on this long-standing relationship. This contract signifies our continued confidence in the CFM LEAP engine and reflects our customers’ satisfaction in CFM LEAP-powered A320NEO aircraft as an efficient and reliable airframe and engine combination,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOC Aviation, at a signing ceremony today.

“With this order, CFM engines will power 486 aircraft in our portfolio, and we look forward to continue providing our airline customers with fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft solutions,” said David Walton, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, BOC Aviation.

Read more on BOC Aviation's amazing milestone with GE. 

“We are pleased that BOC Aviation has again chosen the LEAP-1A engine to power its new A320neo family aircraft,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International “And we are both honoured by the continued faith that BOC Aviation has shown in our people and our products and proud to bring sustainability benefits in terms of better fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, as well as the industry’s highest asset utilisation, to BOC Aviation and its airline customers.”

Air101: BOC Aviation lists its operational transactions for the fourth quarter and 2021

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More than 1,000 engines from GE Aviation - BOC Aviation

BOC Aviation Limited announced this week that it has taken delivery of more than 1,000 engines from GE Aviation since its inception.

 BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 521 aircraft owned, managed and on order. Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 86 airlines in 38 countries and regions worldwide as of 31 December 2021. BOC Aviation is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Singapore with offices in Dublin, London, New York and Tianjin.

Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate this achievement, and are proud of our long-standing relationship with GE Aviation that dates back to 1995. This milestone is testament to the strong cooperation we share with one of the world’s top aircraft engine suppliers and reflects our disciplined investment strategy of building our portfolio with the latest aircraft technology. We look forward to building on this partnership and providing our airline customers more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft solutions in the future.”

“We are excited to extend our long-term relationship with BOC Aviation," said Kathy MacKenzie, president and CEO of GE Aviation’s commercial engine operations. “This milestone is a significant one, and we are proud to have a strong relationship with them built on passion, capability, and a commitment to drive toward a more sustainable future with technology that improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.”

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Original NASA Photographs of the First Men on the Moon up for Auction at Bruun Rasmussen in Copenhagen.

Photo courtesy of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers

An iconic moon selfie, the world’s first photograph of Earth seen from space and a ‘moonwalking’ astronaut all made history, headlines and onto the covers of international publications across the world. These are just three of the moments depicted in the 74 original NASA photographs from the space race to the Moon, which are now up for auction at Bruun Rasmussen on 9 March for a combined value of DKK 1.5 million.

“That’s one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind”

The famous words were spoken by astronaut Neil Armstrong in front of the whole world in 1969, as he became the first human being to set foot on the Moon. All the astronauts participating in NASA’s lunar missions were equipped with a state-of-the-art Hasselblad camera to capture the new and previously unseen world and document this highpoint in human endeavours. Carefully selected photographs were at the time published on the front pages of major US magazines. From a private collection, we can now present 74 original NASA photographs from the Apollo 8-17 missions at auction for a total estimate of DKK 1.5 million.

"It was truly a time of greatness, and there was a sense of incredible accomplishment because we as humans had succeeded in making it to the Moon. A belief in our own abilities and a sense of limitless potential abounded in society, and despite the crises that also existed during that time, humanity achieved some of the greatest things within space exploration – putting a human on the Moon. The spirit of the times and the world history that was written during this period shines through clearly in the photographs. Knowing that these are the original photographs taken by the astronauts during the biggest missions of their lives presents a great thrill in this digital age,” says Lærke Bøgh, Head of Department and Specialist at Bruun Rasmussen.

Photo courtesy of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers

Photographs from the Front Pages of National Geographic and LIFE

Several of the collection's photographs have belonged to NASA's own archives and were not known to the public, while selected copies appeared on the covers of major influential American magazines such as National Geographic and LIFE to tell the world about the United States' success in the lunar race. The auction includes three iconic photographs that made it to the covers in 1969. Furthermore, 27 of the photographs have been published inside the two magazines.

On the cover of National Geographic (December 1969), the words "First Explorers on the Moon" were printed across the auction's photograph of the Moon's first explorers: the moonwalking Buzz Aldrin in full astronaut gear and Neil Armstrong, who photographed Aldrin and can be glimpsed in the reflection of Aldrin's visor in what could be described as a ‘moon selfie’. The same photograph also graced the cover of LIFE (August 1969) and is the most famous image of a human on the Moon.

LIFE also had two other covers with photographs now up for auction. One cover (January 1969) is the very first photograph of the Earth taken by a human. The photographer was astronaut William Anders and the image shows the beautiful marble-like planet floating in space with the headline "The incredible year '68". The second cover (August 1969) is with a photograph of the American flag placed on the surface of the Moon, as a symbol of the conquest of the new world by man, or more particularly the Americans, with the simple caption stating "On the Moon".

The 60th Anniversary for President Kennedy’s Famous Moon Speech

This year marks the 60th anniversary for the American president John F. Kennedy’s famous Moon speech: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.”

His inspiring words in 1962 were not just about the vision of putting humans on the Moon, but about galvanizing the spirit of the times where everything seemed possible for mankind. The auction also includes photographs of Kennedy's final visit to NASA at Cape Canaveral on 16 November 1963 – just six days before his tragic death. 60 years later, in the midst of a pandemic, climate crisis and global political unrest, this spirit is once again needed. Perhaps this is also why there is currently a growing conversation about the exploration of space. This is true for both the world's great powers who are announcing new ambitious space programmes and missions to the Moon, while enterprising business magnates are developing new technologies for space travel.

The world of art also has a rising interest in the moon. In Denmark, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art curated a large lunar exhibition in 2018, which dealt with our view of the Moon in an artistic perspective. Five of the auction's photographs were on display at this exhibition, including the beautiful photograph of the Apollo 11 command module floating over the Sea of Fertility, the allegorical close-up of an imprint made by Buzz Aldrin's boot in the Moon’s dust and an extraordinary panorama of a giant lunar canyon.

The Astronauts Bring Together Art and Science

Photo courtesy of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers

The idea behind the Apollo programme was to get the first human safely to the Moon and back again to Earth. Between 1968-1972, a series of more or less successful Apollo missions were launched by NASA. On several of the missions, the spaceships managed to enter the lunar orbit, and on the famous Apollo 11 in 1969, they finally landed on the Moon. At the auction, photographs from all the major milestones are presented: Right from Apollo 8 with a photograph of the Saturn V, which was the first rocket to get man out of Earth’s orbit and towards the Moon, over Apollo 11 with the very first image of a human on the Moon, to Apollo 17 with a photograph of the last human to set foot on the celestial body.

On their world-changing journeys, the astronauts were equipped with the latest Hasselblad camera to visually document what they were experiencing. They were instructed in the use of the camera by NASA, Hasselblad, Kodak, Zeiss specialists and photographers at LIFE and National Geographic. All the photographs are original and developed in limited numbers. Several are so-called "NASA red numbers" and "NASA black numbers", while others have original NASA captions and vintage Kodak watermarks indicating that they were developed right after each mission took place.

However, the photographs became much more than just documentation of space exploration. They became works of art that convey a rare view of outer space, including an "Earth Rise" and the "dark side" of the Moon – images we can never see from Earth itself. In addition, the photographs represent the mixed sense of awe and fear felt among the astronauts as explorers and individuals over what was at stake. There are photographs of the preparations before departure with serious expressions fixed on the faces of the people involved, the life-threatening work done in outer space and the tense smiles from inside the spaceships.

The 74 photographs have been given an individual estimate ranging from DKK 4,500 to DKK 90,000 and will be up for auction on 9 March at 2 pm in Bredgade 33, Copenhagen.

Read more about the auction and the stories behind each photograph in the catalogue HERE and at Bruun Rasmussen's website HERE.

You can get a closer look at all the photographs at Bruun Rasmussen's preview from 24-28 February. The opening presentation of the preview includes a talk about the NASA photographs by specialist Lærke Bøgh on 24 February at 4 pm.

View the calendar for the preview and the auctions HERE.

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Global Low Cost Airlines Market Report 2021-2025

Research And Markets issues a new  Low Cost Airline Market report providing an in-depth analysis of the key market trends that are shaping the future of this segment and an analysis of the low-cost airline market globally. Detailed market insight is provided on the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Europe. It also features profiles of some of the segment's leading players and looks at how companies can better meet their customers' needs.

Scope

Though the US was the worst affected country by the coronavirus pandemic, the LCC market in the country managed to be number 1 in terms of seats sold in 2020, with 115.5 million seats sold. Spain and the UK held the second and third positions, respectively.

The pandemic has transformed the customer preferences to a greater extend with safety and hygiene becoming the need of the hour. As social distancing is the new normal, the demand for digitalized services and contactless technologies is also booming.

By keeping costs down and prices low, the ULCCs have managed to gain a considerable market share from legacy competitors and have developed a new demographic segment called family flyers, who earlier used to either travel by car or stay home.

Reasons to Buy

Understand the impact of COVID-19 on this market

Gauge which are the biggest and most promising regional markets for the low-cost airlines market

Understand the demand-side dynamics within the industry to identify key trends and growth opportunities

Gain an understanding of the outlook for regional markets and learn from existing successes and our recommendations.

Key Topics Covered:

Snapshot

Key Trends

Deals

Key Insights

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Middle East and Africa

Outlook

Company Profiles

Appendix

Companies Mentioned

Ryanair

easyJet

Southwest Airlines

IndiGo

AirAsia

Allegiant

Spirit

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4sfnop

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Polaris Program Will Undertake a Series of Pioneering SpaceX Dragon Missions, Demonstrating New Technologies and Culminating in the First Human Spaceflight on Starship

Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4, announced the Polaris Program, a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes here on Earth. The program will consist of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX’s Starship with humans on board.

The first mission, Polaris Dawn, is targeted for no earlier than the fourth quarter of this year and will be commanded by Isaacman, an accomplished pilot and astronaut who led Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“The Polaris Program is an important step in advancing human space exploration while helping to solve problems through the use of innovative technology here on Earth,” said Isaacman. “On Polaris Dawn, we endeavour to achieve the highest Earth orbit ever flown in addition to conducting the world’s first commercial spacewalk and testing of Starlink laser-based communication. Alongside these important objectives, we will be supporting scientific research to advance both human health interests on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights.”

Building upon the Inspiration4 mission, Polaris Dawn will continue to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

The Polaris Dawn Mission

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavouring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown.

While in orbit, SpaceX mission control will carefully monitor Dragon and the crew as they:

Attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk with SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suit. The development of this suit and the execution of the EVA will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions.

Become the first crew to test Starlink laser-based communications in space, providing valuable data for future space communications systems necessary for human spaceflight to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Conduct scientific research designed to advance both human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights. This includes, but is not limited to:

Using ultrasound to monitor, detect, and quantify venous gas emboli (VGE), contributing to studies on human prevalence to decompression sickness;

Gathering data on the radiation environment to better understand how space radiation affects human biological systems;

Providing biological samples towards multi-omics analyses for a long-term Biobank; and

Research related to Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), which is a key risk to human health in long-duration spaceflight.

SpaceX and Polaris Dawn will also collaborate with the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, Space Technologies Lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Air Cargo Container Market Report 2022

A new report predicts the global air cargo container market to grow with a CAGR of 3.70% over the forecast period from 2021-2027.

The report on the global air cargo container market provides qualitative and quantitative analysis for the period from 2019 to 2027. The study on air cargo container market covers the analysis of the leading geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW for the period of 2019 to 2027.

The report on air cargo container market is a comprehensive study and presentation of drivers, restraints, opportunities, demand factors, market size, forecasts, and trends in the global air cargo container market over the period of 2019 to 2027. Moreover, the report is a collective presentation of primary and secondary research findings.

Porter's five forces model in the report provides insights into the competitive rivalry, supplier and buyer positions in the market and opportunities for the new entrants in the global air cargo container market over the period of 2019 to 2027. Further, Growth Matrix gave in the report brings an insight into the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider.

Report Findings

1) Drivers

The rising demand for transportation of various goods across the globe in a short span of time is a major factor driving the growth of the market for air cargo containers

2) Restraints

The price of aviation fuel is one of the major concerns

3) Opportunities

The air cargo container market has potential opportunities to grow in the future as the number of commercial airlines is increasing at a rapid pace, and E-commerce is also boosting its market demand

ANA HOLDINGS and Joby Partner to Bring Air Taxi Service to Japan

Japan’s largest airline joins forces with leading eVTOL company to establish aerial ridesharing service in Japan

A future journey from Osaka station to Kansai International Airport could be reduced to less than 15 minutes, compared to one hour by car

ANA HOLDINGS, INC. and Joby Aviation, Inc. announced they are forming a partnership that will see Japan’s largest airline join with Joby to bring aerial ridesharing services to Japan. Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) also joined the partnership, with the intention of exploring opportunities such as ground-based transportation.

Joby is a California-based company developing an all-electric, five-seat aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL). With a maximum range of 150 miles (241 kilometers), a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h) and a low noise profile to allow it to access built-up areas, Joby's piloted aircraft is designed to make convenient, emissions-free air travel an everyday reality. For example, the 31-mile (50 km) journey from Osaka station to Kansai International Airport could take less than 15 minutes by air rather than one hour by car.

ANA and Joby are set to collaborate on all aspects of establishing this revolutionary new form of transportation in Japan, including the development of infrastructure, pilot training, flight operations, air traffic management, public acceptance, and the regulatory requirements to operate. The integration with ground transportation will also be considered, with Toyota supporting the effort. The parties will also conduct joint discussions with relevant private companies as well as local and national governments.

The partners are all existing members of Japan’s Public-Private Conference for the Future Air Mobility Revolution, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to accelerate the adoption of aerial ridesharing in the country.

30 years of combat air power - US Air Combat Command.

On June 1, 1992, the U.S. Air Force’s Tactical Air Command and Strategic Air Command major commands combined to form Air Combat Command.

The establishment of ACC followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and marked a post-Cold War shift from preparing for large-scale peer conflict to readying forces for smaller-scale regional conflicts and humanitarian operations. Upon activating, ACC assumed control of all fighter units based in the continental United States to also include all bomber aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, battle management resources, and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

ACC focused in on its newly streamlined objectives, creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity, and laid the foundations, from past to present, for success and a legacy of Airmen-led innovation.

Video by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman

ACC’s beginnings:

The establishment of ACC in 1992 was entrusted to retired Gen. John M. Loh, the final commander of TAC, who set his sights on defining an inclusive culture for the new command.

Loh did not consider himself to be a pioneer, he was just fortunate and humbled enough to be named the first commander of Air Combat Command, and to set the stage and operating style of the command. According to Loh, this wasn’t the old SAC or the old TAC, but a new command that required a new and different culture.

He made communicating his intent for the new command a critical part of his leadership strategy.

When he went out to the field he ensured all Airmen knew they were vitally important to the success of ACC’s mission.

ACC’s future:

ACC leaders are always looking to the future. The creation of a fighter roadmap, assuming the role of lead command for cyber, and other major efforts like standing up the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, developing cyber mission defence teams, and establishing a Diversity and Inclusion office create more opportunities for ACC Airmen to grow.

To improve readiness the command is instituting the Combat Air Force Force Generation model. ACC is evolving its organizational structures, warfighting concept of operations, force presentation and generation, and how it prepares its Airmen to ensure they are ready strategic competition.

Milestones:

July 1, 1993 – ACC’s ICBM mission, along with the Twentieth Air Force and F.E. Warren AFB transferred to Air Force Space Command.

July 27, 1993 – The first female fighter pilot, 2nd Lt. Jeannie Flynn, began her F-15E course flight training at Luke AFB.

Aug. 11-13, 1993 – Two B-1Bs from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB circumnavigated the globe for the first time and in a record-breaking 24.4 hours non-stop.

Dec. 11, 1993 – ACC officially accepted ACC-1 (the “Spirit of Missouri), it’s first B-2 aircraft.

June 3, 1995 – Two 7th Bomb Wing B-1Bs landed after completing a historic 36-hour, 13 minute, 20,100 mile, non-stop around-the-world flight.

Aug. 25, 1995 – A 2nd Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortress and it’s five-member crew set an aviation world record from Edwards AFB, flying 5,400 nautical miles, unrefueled, with a payload of 11,000 pounds – in 11 hours, 23 minutes with an average speed of 556 mph.

Aug. 31, 1995 – ACC’s first SR-71 Blackbird aircrew became fully mission qualified, with the second crew being qualified Nov. 21, 1995.

June 11, 1996 – The first production E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft was formally accepted by ACC and the 93d Air Control Wing at Robins AFB.

April 9, 1997 – The first production F-22 was unveiled and named “Spirit of America.”

Sept. 11, 2001 – As one of the earliest response unit F-15 Eagles from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB were scrambled in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Dec. 30, 2002 – ACC accepted its first F-22 Raptor.

Jan. 22, 2006 – The 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley AFB flew the first F-22 operational sorties in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE.

Feb. 7, 2008 – The first overseas operational deployment of the 12 F-22 Raptors from the 27th Fighter Squadron supporting the U.S. Pacific Command’s Theater Security Package in the Western Pacific.

March 6, 2013 – ACC’s first F-35s were delivered to Nellis and Edwards AFBs.

May 3, 2013 – ACC declared Initial Operation Capability for the F-35A.

Oct. 1, 2015 – ACC officially transferred the B-1B lancers of the 7th and 28th Bomb Wings and the Long-Range Strike-Bomber Program to Air Force Global Strike Command, placing all strategic command bomber assets under a single MAJCOM.

Sept. 1, 2017 – As the first operational F-35 unit, the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill AFB received its twenty-sixth and final block 3F F-35A.

June 7, 2018 – Air Force officials announced the service’s cyber responsibilities will realign to ACC from AFSPC.

April 15, 2019 – ACC F-35A Lightning II’s deployed into combat for the first time from the 4th Fighter Squadron at Hill AFB.

April 30, 2019 – Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II’s conducted the first combat airstrikes of that platform in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Oct. 11, 2019 – ACC activates Sixteenth Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, integrating Twenty-Fourth Air Force along with Air Force Cyber, and Twenty-Fifth Air Force into a single headquarters to provide global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber, electronic warfare and information operations.

Aug. 20, 2020 – ACC activates Fifteenth Air Force, integrating wings and direct reporting units from the Twelfth Air Force and Ninth Air Force to form the 15th AF, responsible for generating and presenting ACC’s conventional forces.

Oct. 29, 2020 – The first iteration of AGILE FLAG ended. The experiment was a stepping stone to the ability to deploy into theatre as Lead Wings.

Nov. 5, 2020 – The 23rd Wing and 347th Rescue Group leadership received the Air Force’s first two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters at Moody AFB.

April 20, 2021 – ACC’s receives its first F-15EX Eagle II designated EX-2 at Eglin AFB, Florida.

 by Staff Sgt. Dana Tourtellotte

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Volga-Dnepr’s integrated logistics solutions bolstered the delivery of medical equipment for oxygen production in Nevinnomyssk

                             Volga-Dnepr, one of the largest groups of air cargo carriers with expertise in integrated logistics services, has offered an effective solution to transport special equipment for the production of liquid medical oxygen. The dedicated cargo weighing over 16 tonnes has safely arrived aboard Il-76TD-90VD from Shanghai (China) to Mineralnye Vody (Russia) to be further transported to Nevinnomyssk - the construction site for the future plant built by Medical Oxygen, LLC with support of Arnest Group.

The Volga-Dnepr’s specialists have been working in close cooperation with the customer to map out possible delivery options, choosing the most appropriate aircraft type, dealing with terminal handling in the airport of origin and organizing last-mile delivery from the airport of destination to Nevinnomyssk.

Ekaterina Andreeva, Commercial Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, highlighted: “The experience and expertise of our team enable us to expand our boundaries from air freight to more complex integrated logistics solutions. In the case of medical equipment transportation, there is no time to lose. Our structured relations with suppliers and in-depth understanding of each supply chain step allowed us to organize this transportation smoothly and effectively, paying particular attention to 120 km last-mile delivery. For us, healthcare projects are a top priority as they are all part of our life-saving logistics strategy aimed at overcoming the pandemic and its consequences”.

It is expected that the first production line of the plant will turn out up to 10 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen per day with further plans to upscale it to 20 tonnes per day.

Volga-Dnepr Group continues expanding the scope of its logistics services relying on its long-term experience, a diversified fleet of capable freighters and the competencies of its specialists.

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Volga-Dnepr Group signs deal with Singapore Space & Technology Ltd for future space logistics

Volga-Dnepr Group, the leading group in the air transport services with expertise in integrated logistics services, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore Space & Technology Ltd (SSTL) to support Singapore, as well as other countries of Southeast Asia, in the field of space logistics.

The agreement was officially signed during the Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) 2022 held in Singapore at the beginning of February, with the signing ceremony being attended by senior managers of both parties and the Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Singapore.

The Group will be able to offer its integrated logistics services to support SSTL's network of space companies for the launch of their satellites, whereas SSTL will create more awareness of the Group’s services in the Singapore space ecosystem. With 30+ years of experience and competence in the aerospace sector, Volga-Dnepr will provide transportation and charter services for satellites, fr om manufacturing and assembly sites to required end destinations, covering, if required, design solution, first/last mile, terminal handling, customers clearance, to name a few.

Oleg Novikov, Development Director, Southeast Asia of Volga-Dnepr Group, highlights: “Within our Group, we strongly believe in partnerships that broaden capabilities and open new opportunities not only for two companies but also for the whole sector. The aerospace sector has been demonstrating positive dynamics amid the active development of satellites’ launch programmes, ramped up by IoT (internet of things) penetration across various industries, mobile network spread, including 5G, and other forward-thinking projects. We are happy to be part of this challenging environment and spin aerospace logistics across the globe in the interest of our partners and customers”.

Jonathan Hung, Executive Chairman of SSTL, comments: “Through this partnership, Volga-Dnepr Group will work with SSTL to provide transportation and charter services for satellites, and support SSTL's network of space companies to navigate relevant regulatory requirements, providing an alternative option for satellite airlift. To illustrate this, On 27 January 2022, the Ilyushin Il-76, an enormous freighter owned by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, carried a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite owned by Japanese-based Earth Observation space company, Synspective, a portfolio company in SSTL’s Space Accelerator Programme. The freighter landed at Auckland International Airport, wh ere the satellite is destined to be launched into orbit by New Zealand-founded space company Rocket Lab. This is a clear example of what SSTL and Volga-Dnepr Group can achieve together to support the Aerospace industry.”

Volga-Dnepr has been providing dedicated logistics services for the aerospace industry for more than three decades delivering satellites, aircraft spare parts and even parts of the fuselage. Throughout 2021 the Group has delivered over 4,000 tonnes of aerospace equipment aboard its unique ramp freighters - An-124 and Il-76 and is set to support its customers further.

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Air Lease Corporation Announces leases 25 Boeing MAX jets to Malaysia Aviation Group

Air Lease Corporation has announced the long-term lease placements for 25 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), parent company of Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB). The aircraft are scheduled to deliver to the airline starting in early 2023 through the beginning of 2026 from ALC’s orderbook with Boeing.

“ALC is pleased to announce this significant deal for 25 new 737-8 aircraft with MAG,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “These 25 new Boeing aircraft will help grow Malaysia Airlines’ expanding route network and improve operations and the efficiency of the airline’s fleet.”

Izham Ismail, Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG said: “After a detailed tender process in the last quarter, we are pleased to appoint ALC as the aircraft lessor for our Boeing 737-8 fleet. This exercise is tied to the restructured terms of our existing orderbook with Boeing. We are happy to have in ALC, a partner who is committed to be part of our future endeavors as outlined in our Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 ('LTBP2.0'). The 737-8 is key to LTBP2.0 with its superior product offerings and better fleet performance which includes amongst others, improved fuel efficiencies of up to 15%. This aligns well with our sustainability journey, whilst also enabling MAB with greater flexibility and agility to implement our future network strategies.”

In addition to these 25 Boeing aircraft, Malaysia Airlines currently has six Airbus A350-900 aircraft on long-term lease from ALC.

Asia-Pacific region will need over 17,600 new aircraft by 2040

Retirement of older aircraft to accelerate, demand progressively more driven by replacement, supporting the industry’s decarbonisation objectives

Air freight set to more than double in Asia-Pacific region by 2040

5.3% passenger traffic growth per year translating to a need for 17,620 passenger and freighter aircraft

Continued improvements in fleet efficiency, sustainable fuels, operations and propulsion technologies will enable the sector’s 2050 net-zero objective

                                         In the next 20 years passenger traffic growth of 5.3% per annum and accelerated retirement of older less fuel-efficient aircraft will see the Asia-Pacific region require 17,620 new passenger and freighter aircraft. Nearly 30% of these will replace older less fuel-efficient models.

In a region which is home to 55% of the world’s population, China, India and emerging economies such as Vietnam and Indonesia will be the principal drivers of growth in Asia-Pacific. GDP will grow at 3.6% per year compared to the world average 2.5% and double in value by 2040. The middle class, who are the likeliest to travel, will increase by 1.1 billion to 3.2 billion and the propensity for people to travel is set to almost triple by 2040.

Of the demand for 17,620 aircraft, 13,660 are in the Small category like the A220 and A320 Family. In the medium and long-range categories, Asia-Pacific will continue to drive demand with some 42% of global requirements. This translates to 2,470 Medium and 1,490 Large category aircraft.

Cargo traffic in Asia-Pacific will also increase at 3.6% per annum, well above the global 3.1% average and will lead to a doubling in air freight in the region by 2040. Globally, express freight boosted by e-commerce will grow at an even faster pace of 4.7% per year. Overall, reflecting that strong growth over the next 20 years, there will be a need for some 2,440 freighters, of which 880 will be new-build.

“We are seeing a global recovery in air traffic and as travel restrictions are further eased the Asia-Pacific region will become one of its main drivers again. We are confident of a strong rebound in the region’s traffic and expect it to reach 2019 levels between 2023 and 2025,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “With an ever-greater focus on efficiency and sustainable aviation in the region, our products are especially well-positioned.”

“Our modern portfolio offers a 20-25 % fuel burn and therewith CO2 advantage over older generation aircraft and we pride ourselves that all our aircraft products are already certified to fly with a blend of 50% SAF, set to rise to 100% by 2030. In addition, our newly launched A350F offers efficiency gains of 10 to 40% compared to any other large freighter, existing or expected, both in terms of fuel consumption as in CO2 emissions. ”

Globally, in the next 20 years, there will be a need for some 39,000 new-build passenger and freighter aircraft, of which 15,250 will be for replacement. As a result, by 2040 the vast majority of commercial aircraft in operation will be the latest generation, up from some 13% today, considerably improving the CO2 efficiency of the world’s commercial aircraft fleets.

The global aviation industry has already achieved huge efficiency gains, as shown by the 53% decline in aviation’s CO2 emissions per revenue passenger kilometre since 1990. Airbus’ product range supports at least a 20% CO2 efficiency gain over previous-generation aircraft. In view of further ongoing innovations, product developments, operational improvements as well as market-based options, Airbus has a clear ambition to achieve the air transport sector’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

* * * Airbus Global Market Forecast categorizes aircraft into Small, Medium and Large as per slide below

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Aviation Capital Group finalises order for 20 A220s

Global full-service aircraft lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG), wholly owned by Tokyo Century Corporation, has signed a firm contract for 20 A220s following its order for 40 A320neo Family aircraft including five A321XLRs announced in December 2021.”

We are delighted to expand our partnership with Airbus through this A220 order”, said Steven C. Udvar-Hazy, Senior Vice President, OEM Relations & Market Development at ACG. “Our airline customers will appreciate the A220’s environmental friendliness, passenger comfort, and competitive operating economics.”

“This order for 20 A220s from Tokyo Century’s Aviation Capital Group reflects the potential of the aircraft as a sound investment, including for investors based in the Asia Pacific region”, said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “We thank and congratulate our partners at ACG. With fuel and emissions efficiency ever more a discriminating investment choice, the A220 really stands out. Equally gratifying is the market feedback that the A220’s cabin is becoming the passengers’ darling in the regional and small single-aisle segments.”

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. Featuring a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards, the A220 is a great aircraft for regional as well as long-distance routes operations. The latest agreement lifts the total number of firm orders for the A220 above 700.

With this order, ACG is supporting the recently launched multi-million dollar ESG fund initiative by Airbus that will contribute towards investment into sustainable aviation development projects.

 

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Jazeera Airways confirms order for 28 new A320neo family aircraft

Jazeera Airways, the Kuwaiti-based carrier, has firmed up an order with Airbus for 28 aircraft, including 20 A320neos and eight A321neos. The order confirms the Memorandum of Understanding announced in November 2021.    

“Jazeera Airways is a long-standing partner of Airbus and we are delighted to see them grow their all-Airbus fleet with an additional 28 A320neo Family aircraft”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.  “The A320neo Family offers the right size, economics and customer comfort for Jazeera Airways to serve its growing customer base and open new routes competitively. We salute team Jazeera for their remarkable development and thank them for their trust and for this important order”.

“We are pleased to confirm this latest order with Airbus,” said Rohit Ramachandran, Jazeera Airways Chief Executive Officer. “By taking both A320neo and A321neo versions we will have great flexibility to extend our network to medium and longer haul destinations from Kuwait, offering passengers more choice to travel and enjoy popular destinations as much as underserved ones”

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines, Sharklets and aerodynamics, which together deliver 20% in fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation Airbus aircraft. The A320neo Family has received more than 7,400 orders from over 120 customers.

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Love is in the air – IAG Cargo flies over 500 tonnes of Valentine’s Day flowers worldwide and 8 tonnes champagne

IAG Cargo has flown over 500 tonnes of flowers across the world in the run-up to Valentine’s Day

Corks will also be popping in the Maldives, with an 8-tonne single shipment of champagne transported to the island from London on the weekend of the 12 February

IAG Cargo’s expanding network and specialist Constant Fresh product have enabled the movement of the romantic goods, showing love really is in the air

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has transported over 500 (538) tonnes of flowers across its network in time for Valentine’s Day this year, with an additional special shipment of 8 tonnes of champagne from London to the Maldives. Greater capacity has supported the uptick in flower shipments, which are up 23% by sold tonnes from 2021, with tulips, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums proving most in demand.

 

Over the past few weeks IAG Cargo has been operating flights carrying large volumes of flowers across its network from countries such as Kenya, India, South Africa, Holland, Colombia and Ecuador to destinations across the United States, Canada and into its hubs at London, UK and Madrid, Spain. Many of the flower shipments from Kenya in particular have been transported on the widebody Boeing 777-300, maximising the number of goods for the celebration of romance and love across the world.

 

Valentine’s Day flowers rely on a complex supply chain, with IAG Cargo and freight forwarders working to transport the flowers from farms to customer shelves within 72 hours of being cut, within temperatures of between 0 and 8°C. IAG Cargo specialises in the required cold chain management via its Constant Fresh service, designed to optimise the longevity of perishables. 

 

Freddie Overton, Regional Commercial Manager for Europe & Africa at IAG Cargo commented: “It is a busy time of the year for flowering farms, floral retailers and distributors who are all working hard to ensure consumers worldwide can cherish their loved ones this year. We’re delighted to partake in the process, with our global network ready and capable of taking flowers right across the world. We have some of the best floral facilities in the world to help get Valentine’s flowers to market, looking as fresh as the day they were cut.”

 

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Huawei and SAUDIA Airlines sign deal for an extensive partnership that includes adding the SAUDIA app to AppGallery

 Huawei Consumer Business Group announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SAUDIA Airlines for an extensive partnership that includes adding the SAUDIA app to AppGallery; Huawei’s official distribution platform and one of the top three global app marketplaces in the world.

 In addition to establishing a wider and closer cooperation on other digital products and services, the collaboration will also allow both brands to build awareness to a wider audience in the Middle East and Africa; and beyond.

SAUDIA guests will now be able to book and plan their flights between Saudi Arabia and their chosen destination from the convenience of their Huawei smart devices, bringing users a richer and more engaging range of functions conveniently to their fingertips.

Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA Airlines said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of our MoU with Huawei. This agreement further enhances our capabilities to develop and deliver exceptional digital products to our customers. We are continually striving to push the boundaries of innovation to ensure our guests enjoy high quality experiences and our partnership with Huawei is testament to our success with our guests”.

The SAUDIA App has now become part of Huawei’s wider holistic ecosystem which offers a broad range of solutions and services including customer-centric initiatives for Huawei users.

Israeli airlines to increase repatriation flights to Ukraine as insurance companies halt coverage.

A number of Israeli airlines are increasing flights to Ukraine over the next few days to help Israeli nationals evacuate the area ahead of a possible Russian invasion. EL AL has scheduled a flight for Monday from Kiev and has confirmed it will operate additional flights as required. 

Two repatriation flights have been scheduled by Arkia on Monday and Tuesday with more planned if the need arises. Israir has said it will offer a flight from Kiev on Monday, with others planned. 

Many other airlines are cancelling flights or rerouting them as insurance companies will cease to cover aircraft flying in Ukrainian airspace from tonight. 

Ukraine’s State Air Traffic Services Enterprise issued a notice to airlines warning against flying over the Black Sea,  as safety could not be guaranteed.

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