Chalk up another 100 aircraft order for Airbus (plus 60 options). Air France-KLM announced a firm order to refresh the KLM, Transavia, and Transavia France fleets with A320neo family aircraft.
Airplanes and Airports
Baltimore, Boston picked for PLAY’s US debut
Travelers from Baltimore and Boston now have a new option to Europe. Iceland’s PLAY intends to launch both markets in Spring 2022, connecting the US to Europe via its hub at Keflavik.
Qantas picks Airbus for fleet refresh
The next several decades will see a lot of Airbus planes in the skies over Australia. Qantas announced its intention today to renew its single-aisle fleet with a mix of up to 134 A220 and A320neo family aircraft.
United, ZeroAvia see hydrogen-powered regional jets by the end of the decade
United Airlines wants to power some of its regional jets with hydrogen by the end of the decade. The company announced a deal with ZeroAvia to purchase up to 100 of the new zero-emission, 100% hydrogen-electric engines (ZA2000-RJ). The engine could be retrofit to existing United Express aircraft as early as 2028.
Vaayu secures A320 P2F deal, expects early 2022 EIS
The first A320 freighter conversion took flight this week, a major milestone in the project as it moves towards entry into service in the first half of 2022. Vaayu Group expects to take delivery of the first plane early next year, part of a five plane deal announced during the Dubai Airshow last month.
Connect Airlines plans 2025 hydrogen conversion
Upstart Connect Airlines sees a lower carbon operation very soon in its future. The company, part of the Waltzing Matilda Aviation group, signed a letter of intent with Universal Hydrogen to convert a dozen Dash 8-300 turboprops to hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, hopefully by 2025.
Breeze grows into Long Island, Palm Beach
New York’s Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) are slated to join the Breeze Airways network map in 2022, part of an eight route expansion for the airline. And with the move, a bit of shift in the way the company is planning its operations.
Allegiant, Viva Aerobus plan groundbreaking joint venture
Allegiant sees significant potential carrying leisure travelers to Mexican resort destinations, but the cost – both real and relative to domestic expansion – is too high. Viva Aerobus wants to expand deeper into the US leisure segment, but its prior attempts mostly failed. Together, however, the two believe they can become a strong player in the transborder market, commanding a double digit share.
Air Canada fined $2 million in DOT settlement
Air Canada and the US Department of Transportation agreed to a $4.5 million fine related to the airline’s failure to provide timely refunds to passengers after cancelling flights in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airbus snags another massive A321neo/A321XLR deal from Indigo Partners
When Indigo Partners decides to buy planes the company does not mess around. Previously responsible for the one of the largest orders of single-aisle planes in the world, the company continues its growth plans with a firm order for 255 additional A321neo aircraft, announced at this year’s Dubai Air Show. As with the prior deal, these planes will be distributed among the four low cost carriers owned by Indigo Partners around the world.