Zero-Emissions, NASA 747 Retirement, Delta Profits - Dec 14 Aerospace
Air New Zealand partners with four aircraft manufacturers towards zero-emission flights
Air New Zealand is set to work with Eviation, Beta, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace towards the development and acquisition of aircraft for demonstration flights by 2026. The airline plans to sign a statement of intent with the goal of initially acquiring three aircraft with options for another 20 from one or more of these partners.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said the partnerships "will pave the way for our long-term partners to deliver an aircraft that can replace our Q300 turbo prop domestic fleet."
The company has also partnered with Hiringa Energy, a refueling infrastructure firm, to research the necessary infrastructure required for operating green-hydrogen aircraft. Air New Zealand plans to utilize sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help meet its 2050 net-zero emissions goal.
NASA's retired Boeing 747 SOFIA makes final flight
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing ($BA) 747 made its final flight to its permanent home, the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, yesterday.
The SOFIA aircraft has been in service since 2014 and completed its primary mission in 2019, along with a three-year mission extension in September of this year. SOFIA flights carried a reflecting telescope to observe infrared light from the Moon, planets, stars, star-forming regions, and nearby galaxies.
The National Academies' Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 report concluded that the productivity of SOFIA's mission no longer justifies the program's operational costs, and will not be continued on a new airframe for the time being.
Airbus completes longest test flight of A321XLR
Airbus' new A321XLR -- XLR stands for "extra long range" -- completed a 13 hour test flight over Europe yesterday without any stops for refueling. The flight took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) in France. With an advertised range of 4,700 nautical miles, the narrow-body XLR is intended for use on long-distance, lower-volume routes. The airframe is expected to enter commercial passenger service in 2024.
Boeing to push US Congress for 737 MAX 10 certification extension
Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplane's ($BA) CEO said on Tuesday that the company is continuing to push Congress for legislation allowing Boeing's 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification if a Dec. 27 deadline passes. United Airlines ($UAL) CEO, Scott Kirby, whose company just ordered more than 100 MAX 10s, said Tuesday that he does not expect lawmakers to make any extension until sometime next year. The extension has to do with a new requirement related to cockpit alerting systems, and an inability to meet the deadline could mean large delays for deployment of new aircraft.
Delta Air Lines expects profits to double in 2023
Delta Air Lines Inc ($DAL) said this morning that its profits are expected to almost double in 2023 as a result of "robust" demand for travel and decreases in non-fuel operating costs.
New study claims zero-emission aviation could be reality in UK within 20 years
A new study published by Cranfield University demonstrates that a shift to zero-emission flights, at least domestically, could be a possibility within 20 years. The study cautions, however, that such an outcome would require a national hydrogen strategy in order to become a reality.
Despite rising COVID cases, Chinese domestic flights double
As Chinese lawmakers dropped nearly all COVID restrictions for domestic travelers, flights and bookings nearly doubled from recent figures. So far, December passenger flights have recovered to 61.28% of their level from the same period in December 2019.