Category Archives: Aviation

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has confirmed its order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX-8s. The deal was sealed during a signing ceremony at the Farnborough Airshow, and will make ANA the first Boeing 737 MAX customer in Japan. The deal also includes options for 10 further 737 MAXs, and in addition, ANA converted two previous orders for the Boeing 777-9 passenger aircraft to the Boeing 777-8F cargo aircraft. As a result, ANA will become the first carrier in Asia to fly the Boeing 777-8F. President and CEO of ANA Holdings, Koji Shibata, recognized ANA’s long relationship with Boeing, reminiscing on 2012, when the airline was the launch customer of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The carrier now has a total of 61 aircraft on order from Boeing, including the Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 787, and Boeing 777X aircraft.

According to Boeing’s 2022 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) report, there will be continued robust demand for dedicated freighters to support global supply chains and growing express networks. “Carriers will need 2,800 additional freighters overall, including 940 new widebody models in addition to converted narrow-body and widebody freighters over the forecast period, “ the report stated. The insights are a part of Boeing’s2022 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) report which showcases the company’s annual long-term forecast. The company also projected demand for more than 41,000 new airplanes through 2041, underscoring aviation industry resilience two years after the pandemic began. The CMO forecasts a market value of $7.2 trillion for new airplane deliveries, with the global fleet increasing by 80% through 2041 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. In addition, Boeing Global Services forecasts $3.6 trillion in demand in its market segments over the same time period, including strong demand for maintenance and modifications such as converted freighters; digital solutions that increase efficiency and reduce cost; and effective training to enable the supply of pilots and technicians, says reports.

The first professional cargo hub airport in China began officially operating on Sunday morning when a Boeing 767-300 cargo jet took off from the Ezhou Huahu Airport in the Hubei Province in Central China. It is the first dedicated freight hub airport in Asia and the fourth worldwide, and it is situated in the city of Ezhou. The new airport, which has a 23,000 square metre cargo terminal, a freight transit centre that is more than 700,000 square metres, 124 parking spaces, and two runways, is anticipated to increase the efficiency of air freight transport and advance the nation’s opening up. Su Xiaoyan, senior head of the airport’s planning and development department, claimed that the way in which Ezhou Huahu Airport operates complies with China’s development requirements.

The pre-delivery payment commitment was obtained by Vertical Aerospace and American Airlines, securing delivery slots for 50 VX4 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This statement is significant for Vertical Aerospace since it gives the firm legitimacy for its project, which had promises from a number of corporations instead of actual purchases, including American Airlines, AirAsia, Air Greenland, GOL, and Virgin Atlantic. American Airlines has confirmed the delivery slots and the commitment of corresponding pre-delivery payments for 50 VX4 eVTOL aircraft, as per an announcement from Vertical Aerospace. According to a release, both parties will now expand on their current joint working group to work together on a framework to investigate the future of advanced air mobility and get ready for the VX4’s introduction into service. This pre-delivery payment commitment and slot reservation confirmation is the first of its kind for a significant airline in the eVTOL sector. Several eVTOL firms have reported 4,500 alleged orders from customers worldwide in the last couple of years. But rather than being clear rules, these directives are better accurately described as pledges. After Vertical Aerospace and American Airlines made their announcement, Stephen Fitzpatrick, the founder and CEO of the eVTOL company, commented, “We are thrilled to have accomplished this significant feat in our eVTOL relationship with American Airlines. Together, we are enabling emissions-free flight for tourists visiting from all over the world.

The Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa Cargo, has established challenging goals for climate protection: by 2030, net CO2 emissions should be cut in half as compared to 2019, and by 2050 it hopes to be carbon neutral. It has already joined the so-called “Science Based Target Initiative” (SBTi) in 2021 in order to further detail these net targets and broaden the target system to include pure reduction targets in order to put its CO2 reduction trajectory in line with the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement. Dorothea von Boxberg, Chairperson of the executive board and CEO, Lufthansa Cargo said, “Our CO2 footprint per tonne kilometer has already been reduced by 52 per cent in the past 25 years. But even so, it is hardly sufficient. We should therefore set ourselves challenging goals for the future. We have discovered a reliable, scientific foundation for this with the “Science Based Targets Initiative.” 

India’s newest all-cargo airline, Pradhaan Air Express, the world’s first A320 converted freighter known as “Pehalwan,” which landed in Delhi from Singapore on Saturday night, said Nipun Anand, CEO and Founder of Pradhaan Air Express. “It moves us one step closer to receiving our Air Operator Permit, which will allow us to launch the commercial operations very soon. Moving closer to the goal of establishing India’s first airline using an Airbus narrow-body freighter feels very special. The arrival of our aircraft in Delhi has left us completely speechless.” The aircraft’s main deck is completely palletized and has a cargo capacity of 21 tonnes. Commenting after the plane landed at IGIA. He said the aircraft will provide charter capacity to Indian shippers and freight forwarders on both local and foreign routes.   

DHL Aviation has officially begun operating a Bahrain-Delhi freighter flight. In a LinkedIn post, DHL Express India stated, “DHL has commenced operations for the first-ever DHL Aviation Bahrain freighter directly to Delhi. With this addition, Delhi will now have 17 freighter connections every week, linking both North and East India to more than 220 countries across DHL’s global network. “The new freighter will fly six times each week, on the Bahrain-Delhi-Bahrain route, thereby boosting the capacity for the region, and enhancing service quality for customers,” a release stated. 

Bolloré Logistics and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo sign sustainability partnership agreement which covers Air France KLM Martinair routes and will help Bolloré Logistics curb Scope 3 GHG emissions, stated a release. The joint effort includes an extension of Bolloré’s participation in AFKLMP Cargo’s SAF programme, which kick-started in January 2021 for cargo flights between Charles de Gaulle and New York John F. Kennedy airports. “This new pact between the two partners covers all routes operated by Air France KLM Martinair Cargo in all geographical areas and will enable Bolloré Logistics to reduce its Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 75 per cent throughout the year, translating to a minimum of 4,400 tonnes of CO2. The continuation of this partnership is testament to the ambition of both companies to pursue their commitments to contribute sustainably to the decarbonisation of airfreight transport,” added release.

The Hirasar Airport, also known as Rajkot Greenfield International Airport, is likely to be operational from August this year, said an official. The airport, which is 30 km from Rajkot, an industrial city, is being constructed on an area spanning 1,032 h.a. in four phases. There will be a total of 14 parking spaces, and the passenger terminal will be 23,000 sq. metres in size. “The construction work is progressing quite well, and this airport should be operational by August or September. Even the runway’s construction is 85 per cent complete. The logistics of various enterprises in the Saurashtra region, Gujarat will benefit time and cost-related solutions provided by the airport on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad route. The foundation stone for this project, which cost Rs 1,405 crore was approved by the Modi administration in 2018, was laid in October 2017.

Taxiway ‘Bravo’ at Chennai International Airport finally opened on Friday to ease the congestion and promote the speed during the peak hours. The capacity of the current primary runway will be increased as a result of the operation of Bravo, the principal taxiway (B-TWY), Chennai airport officials said. B-TWY parallel the main runway, which handles 90 per cent of domestic, international, and cargo movements. According to the statement, “before, the B-TWY had a curve at the Guindy end that led in various constraints resulting to aircraft holding, therefore using extra time and fuel for departing flights taxiing from terminal to primary runway for take-off.” The straightened taxiway “will ease the situation and promote speedier passage of flights and cargo by eliminating delays while taxiing, specifically during peak hour traffic.”