Vertical Aerospace, a UK aerospace company founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick to design and build zero-emission electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), has announced a significant investment in the UK with the opening of the Vertical Energy Centre (VEC) in Bristol. This new 15,000 ft facility will produce advanced technology electric batteries for the aerospace industry.
Bristol is home to Vertical Aerospace’s current 50-person battery team, which is developing proprietary battery technology to achieve a higher power-to-weight ratio for eVTOL aircraft flight. Vertical Aerospace announced last year its strategic partnership with Molicel, a company that has been producing high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion cells for over 20 years. Vertical Aerospace has already conducted extensive cell testing at the VEC and has commissioned the battery production equipment with the first prototype battery modules developed in-house at the facility.
Vertical Aerospace has already made significant strides in battery testing, conducting crash, thermal runaway, vibration, durability and thermal characterization, propagation and drop tests under the supervision of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and setting battery standards for electric aviation with EASA.
The Bristol-based company has developed significant intellectual property in battery design, including cell packaging, cooling and electronic battery management systems, to deliver high-power, high-performance battery packs capable of powering eVTOL aircraft. Vertical aims to enter service with a 220Wh/kg battery system that will enable its VX4 aircraft to fly missions with rapid recharge cycles, minimizing the impact on battery pack life.
Vertical’s VX4 eVTOL is expected to be able to carry a pilot and up to four passengers, travel distances up to 100 miles, and achieve a cruising speed of 150 mph. Vertical’s VX4 prototype has successfully commenced piloted flight testing following the receipt of an airworthiness certificate from the UK Civil Aviation Authority in September 2022. The flight test program will continue in the coming months, reaching higher altitudes and speeds.
Vertical Aerospace has recently secured a £14 million grant from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) as part of a joint initiative with the UK government to further develop its battery technology. The project, in collaboration with University College London (UCL), will increase the core capacity of the UK company’s battery system, improve recycling efficiency and expand its use in other markets.
Lord Johnson, UK Minister for Investment, said the investment in Vertical Aerospace to develop electric battery technology brings us closer to achieving zero-emission flights, a key objective of the Jet Zero Council. The Jet Zero Council (JZC) is a partnership between industry and the UK government that brings together ministers and company CEOs with the aim of achieving at least 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK fuel mix by 2030 and zero-emission transatlantic flights within a generation.
Vertical Aerospace is part of an ecosystem of high-level partnerships, including Rolls-Royce, Honeywell Aerospace, Leonardo and GKN Aerospace, working together to facilitate operational execution and the path to certification, enabling a lean cost structure and production at scale.
The Bristol-based company has a portfolio of more than 1,400 aircraft on pre-order from airlines, aircraft lessors, helicopter operators and tour groups, including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow, Marubeni, Iberojet and FLYINGGROUP, as well as Japan Airlines (JAL), Gol, Air Greenland, Gozen Holding and AirAsia.
Vincenzo graduated in 2019 in Mechanical Engineering with an aeronautical curriculum, focusing his thesis on Human Factors in aircraft maintenance. In 2022 he pursued his master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Palermo, Italy. He combines his journalistic activities with his work as a Reliability Engineer at Zetalab.
The Avelo Air crew and members of airport staff at the inaugural party in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
Avelo Airlines has been growing consistently since the airline began scheduled services back in April 2021. Despite being in the middle of the pandemic, the airline has continued to grow, and with the carrier about to complete its second full year of operations, they haven’t slowed down growth and have even picked up the pace.
Ribbon cutting for the Avelo inaugural in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
In the past couple of weeks, the airline has announced multiple new destinations including Nashville, Tenn.; Mobile, Ala.; and Brownsville/South Padre Island, Texas. Well, the airline has announced three more new destinations, all from their fifth and latest base in Raleigh, N.C.
New destinations in this round of announcements will include Memphis, Tenn.; Rochester, N.Y. and Manchester, N.H., the latter of which will become its first destination in New Hampshire. Flights to Memphis and Rochester will begin on June 14, 2023, whereas flights to Manchester will begin on June 21, 2023, and all of the new flights will operate on a twice-weekly basis.
Avelo Air’s first flight to Kalamazoo taxiing in (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
The competition among carriers in Raleigh is tough as many airlines operate a hub or focus city in the city including American, Delta, Breeze, Frontier and now Avelo. This will bring Avelo up to 41 total destinations and five bases spread across the country: Burbank, Calif.; New Haven, Conn.; Orlando, Wilmington, Del. and Raleigh, N.C.
AirlineGeeks had the opportunity to go on two inaugural flights of this airline. First was the airline’s very first flight back in April of 2021 HERE, and second was the inaugural flight from Kalamazoo, Mich. which can be found HERE.
Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.
Onboard the Successful Hawaiian Airlines Texas Flight
A Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 taxiing after landing in Honolulu. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
Hawaiian Airlines touched down in Texas for the first time in April 2021, connecting Austin with the Aloha state. The new service offered fresh demand for the Honolulu-based airline as it looked to reallocate resources at a time when the demand for core markets such as Australia and Asia was heavily suppressed due to global Covid-19 restrictions.
Just a little less than two years later, the route continues to prove successful for Hawaiian Airlines. Within the first year of service, the airline increased its Austin frequency from two flights to three weekly trips. As demand continues to grow, Hawaiian recently announced a fourth weekly Austin flight on Sundays for summer 2023. The airline will ramp up flights just in time for Labor Day weekend with the fourth weekly frequency flying until Sept. 5. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
As Hawaiian grows in Austin, the airline will offer over 1,100 seats to Honolulu each week. This represents 12% of all seats between Texas and Hawaii each week this summer according to Cirium. Starting in May, flights will depart Honolulu at 6:45 p.m. and arrive in Austin the next morning at 7:35 a.m. local time. The carrier’s A330 will spend just two hours on the ground in Austin before departing at 9:35 a.m. and arriving in Honolulu at 12:45 p.m. local time.
The airline is re-timing its Austin flight times to improve aircraft utilization and offers additional inter-island and international connectivity to cities such as Auckland, Tokyo, and Pago Pago. Passengers can also take advantage of the airline’s new interline agreement with Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines which expands passenger access to the islands of Moloka’i, Lāna’i, and Kapalua.
Flying the only Hawaiian Airlines flight to Texas
After a recent visit to Honolulu, I had a chance to try out Hawaiian’s service on its new Austin route. I began my journey back to Texas on a beautiful Monday morning at Honolulu Airport’s Terminal One. This terminal is exclusively used by Hawaiian Airlines and was not crowded at around 7:00 a.m.
Hawaiian’s modern and spacious check-in space at Terminal One. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
There were plenty of self-check-in kiosks available and agents to assist with baggage drop off. With no bags to check, I headed straight to the TSA PreCheck lanes to clear security. With an average of 22,000 passengers traveling through the airport each day, Hawaiian Airlines recently spent $14 million on a new four-lane checkpoint at the makai end of Terminal 1. With no lines, I was able to breeze through security in less than five minutes.
Honolulu’s airport is an avgeek paradise. Terminals are connected to each other with open-air walkways that provide phenomenal views of the ramp activity. There is also an airside park located in Terminal 2 that makes a perfect hangout spot on a long layover.
There’s a beautiful outdoor park accessible to all passengers within the airport. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
Honolulu’s airport offers fantastic avgeek views throughout each terminal. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
My flight departed from the C gates which are used for U.S. mainland and international flights. Prior to entering the gate area, I had to go through the state’s agriculture inspection station. With no lines early in the morning, this took less than a minute to complete.
Boarding for flight HA82 to Austin began promptly at 9:15 a.m. Hawaiian’s long-haul fleet includes 24 A330-200s. Each aircraft features 278 seats, including 18 lie-flat seats in business class, 68 extra comfort economy seats, and 192 economy seats. The airline is currently awaiting delivery of 12 Boeing 787-9s, with the first aircraft expected later this year. Once in the fleet, the 787 will offer 89% more premium cabin seats compared to the A330 jets.
The Airbus A330-200 operated my flight to Austin. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
Each A330 in the fleet is named after Polynesian constellations that were used to navigate the Hawaiian islands. I was flying onboard N830HA, named “Makali’i,” after the Pleiades star group found within the constellation Taurus.
As I boarded, I made a right turn toward the Extra Comfort economy cabin. I was sitting in seat 20A, a window seat. Each Extra Comfort seat has an 18-inch width and a 36-inch pitch. The seats have five additional inches of legroom compared to the regular economy cabin. Each seat had a comfortable blanket available for use.
Each Economy Comfort seat offers 5 additional inches of legroom. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
We pushed back right on time, lined up on Honolulu’s famous reef runway, and were airborne to Austin before 10:00 a.m. We were treated to beautiful views of O’ahu as we climbed towards 36,000 feet.
Beautiful departure views after takeoff from Honolulu. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
Once we began our Pacific crossing, flight attendants jumped to begin their service. The airline recently committed to replacing 50% of onboard single-use plastics by 2025 and plans to expand local sourcing of food and beverages to 40% for its Hawaii-based catering operations by 2025.
A small snack and drink service was offered just after departure. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
Breakfast was served about 30 minutes after departing Honolulu. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
The service began with a drink service and snack mix accompaniment. This was immediately followed by breakfast which included scrambled eggs with mushrooms, marinara sauce, and tater tots. There was also fresh fruit and a sweet cookie. Interestingly, Hawaiian Airlines has committed to only using cage-free eggs on all flights departing Hawaii by 2025. The food quality seemed to be higher than the meal quality on a long-haul U.S. airline transatlantic flight.
Each seat offers an inflight entertainment screen with over 100 hours of movies and TV shows. Notably, over 30% of the content highlights the state of Hawaii, so there’s a lot to learn as well if you’re interested in the state’s history and culture. There’s also a USB charging port available on all seats. Economy Comfort seats also have a power outlet, offering an additional source of power to stay charged in flight.
Instead of a movie, I opted to enjoy the flight tracker. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
While there are plenty of movies onboard to keep you entertained, Hawaiian does not offer wifi on any of its flights. This, however, is set to change later this year when the airline begins offering free Starlink wifi from SpaceX on its A321neo and A330 planes. The new 787s are also expected to offer new wifi.
The A330 fleet offers seat-back screens at every seat and beautiful mood lighting to give the cabin a cozy feeling. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
About halfway through the flight, I walked to the back of the plane to purchase a snack from the buy-on-board menu. I bought an Island Princess snack box for $10 which featured a sweet assortment of nuts and chocolates.
I purchased this sweet snack box for $10 about halfway into the flight. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
The cabin crew created a welcoming atmosphere and were very hospitable. They came up and down the aisle throughout the flight offering water and other drinks to passengers.
The pre-arrival snack bag included a sandwich and several snacks. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
There was yet another meal service one hour prior to landing in Austin. The flight attendants handed each passenger a snack bag with an egg salad sandwich, snack mix, and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Despite the dull look, the sandwich was delicious and a great touch. Many other U.S. airlines flying between the U.S. and Hawaii barely offer even one proper meal on flights over five hours.
Flying into the sunset while en route to Austin. (Photo: Mateen Kontoravdis | AirlineGeeks)
We touched down in Austin at 8:40 p.m. local time after a very pleasant 3,762 mile journey from Honolulu. Within a few minutes, we had arrived at our gate and the journey came to a conclusion.
During a 2021 interview with AirlineGeeks, Peter Ingram, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines said, “Austin is a market that just keeps getting better and better in terms of the growth in the community. It really fits in the wheelhouse of what works for us in terms of a growing population with disposable income that is in an age demographic interested in traveling.”
Despite flying in February, my flight was over 80% full. The airline flew over 32,000 passengers on the Austin route in 2022, with the load factor averaging 88% during the peak summer season. Even though American and United offer daily one-stop connectivity to Hawaii from their Dallas and Houston hubs, Hawaiian has found success in Austin and continues to develop the route as demand grows each year. It’ll be exciting to see how the airline continues to grow in Texas and beyond over the next several years as it takes delivery of its forthcoming Dreamliner fleet.
Mateen has been interested in aviation from a very young age. He loves learning about different aspects of the industry. Mateen has been an editor for the website since early 2017. Most recently, Mateen is additionally the website’s overall strategist. In addition to writing for AirlineGeeks, Mateen is a sophomore at the University of Texas studying Human Dimensions of Organizations. You can also find him on Instagram (@Plane.Photos) where he enjoys sharing his aviation photography with thousands of people on a daily basis.
Scale model of a Bombardier C Series wind-tunnel test aircraft (Photo | John Flett)
The Bombardier brand is one of the most familiar names in the global aviation industry and has its origins in Quebec, Canada. The Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier (Musée de l’ingéniosité J. Armand Bombardier) in Valcourt, Quebec — ninety minutes east of Montréal, Canada’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport — charts the history of Bombardier and its founder Joseph-Armand Bombardier.
What may not be commonly known is Bombardier’s beginnings and its role in the design and manufacture of snowmobiles. Bombardier launched a seven-passenger snowmobile in 1937 and founded his company L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée in 1942.
Following the invention of the Ski-Doo in the late 1950s and its phenomenal success, the company was listed publicly in 1969 and diversified into the railway industry in 1970. In addition to supplying cars for the new Montreal subway system in the 1970s, Bombardier successfully bid for a contract with the New York City Transit Authority in 1982 to provide 825 subway cars.
Bombardier’s foray into aerospace followed in 1986, when the company purchased Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair. At the time, Canadair was manufacturing the iconic Challenger widebody business jets and the CL-215 amphibious firefighting aircraft. Bombardier continues to develop and manufacture enhanced Challenger aircraft and has superseded the CL-215 with the Bombardier 415 amphibian.
With its purchase of Canadair, Bombardier began a revolution in regional jet development with the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) program and subsequent series of aircraft. Further acquisitions in the 1990s included Learjet with its luxury private jets and Boeing’s de Havilland with the iconic Dash 8.
This placed Bombardier as the only manufacturer of both turboprop and jet 50-seat regional aircraft. In recent years the development of the C series of aircraft and the initial partnership and subsequent sale to Airbus resulted in the rebranded A220 regional aircraft.
The layout of the museum has a chronological order with an introduction to J. Armand Bombardier’s first inventions in a reconstructed reproduction of his workshop, a 270-degree short film of the company’s history and an exhibition space of the evolution of the company. Though relatively small, the museum also has an impressive collection (or reserve) of Bombardier snowmobiles that can be accessed with an enhanced ticket.
Aviation buffs may be disappointed by the limited space accorded to the company’s aerospace history and may wish to also include Ottawa’s Canada Aviation and Space Museum on their itinerary. Though within the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier, there is a free flight simulator and an 8.6 percent scale model used for wind tunnel testing of the C Series family of aircraft. One of only twenty used as part of the 4,500 hours of wind tunnel testing undertaken for the development of the aircraft.
For those who wish to enhance their visit to the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier further, you can pre-book a 90-minute guided tour of the Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) factory situated across the road from the museum. BRP manufactures a range of brands including Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and Can-Am Off-Road vehicles.
John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content.
John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.
An Emirates Airbus A380-800 in the airline's new livery (Photo: Emirates)
The world’s largest Airbus A380 fleet is getting a new look, as Emirates recently revealed a new livery. The Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based carrier — which is also the world’s largest Boeing 777 operator — announced that its aircraft will sport a new signature, distinctive livery.
A Refreshed Look
While the livery’s overall colors and branding largely remain the same, Emirates has modernized several aspects of its livery. Perhaps the most notable change can be seen in the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the tail, which now has a 3D artwork effect to give the appearance that it is flowing.
Winglets on the Airbus A380-800s will now be painted red on the outside with the Emirates logo on it in white. From a passenger’s perspective, the insides of the winglets will feature the colors of the UAE flag.
The “Emirates” lettering across the fuselage is now more prominent, with the airline noting that it is bolder and 32.5% larger. The airline’s website URL has also been dropped from the design. On the underside of the fuselage, Emirates has retained the red branding that allows its aircraft to be easily identified from the ground.
First Livery Change in Over Two Decades
This is the third livery that Emirates aircraft have worn since the airline’s founding in 1985. The overall theme of the livery has remained constant throughout the years, but the look has evolved with each iteration of the livery. The carrier’s original livery debuted with its launch in 1985 and was designed by British design company Negus & Negus. The livery had its first refresh in 1999 with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing 777-300 at that year’s Dubai Airshow.
The evolution of Emirates’ livery (Photo: Emirates)
Emirates rolled out its latest livery update on an Airbus A380-800 registered as A6-EOE. The aircraft’s first flight in the new livery took place on March 17, 2023 when it operated flight EK51 from Dubai International Airport to Munich Airport. The airline plans to apply the new livery to 24 aircraft this year, which will be followed by a gradual rollout to the rest of its fleet of approximately 250 aircraft in the coming years.
“Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world,” Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said in a press release. “We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.”
Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
A 787-9 Dreamliner destined for Air France during its checks at Paine Field.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Air France is strengthening its summer 2023 schedule by bringing back multiple destinations that were suspended due to the pandemic and restoring capacity to 2019 levels. The French airline will operate up to 835 daily flights to 191 destinations in 89 countries.
Asia
With the reopening and easing of health restrictions in Greater China, the carrier will fly daily to Beijing – Capital (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), and Hong Kong (HKG) from July 1. Air France will have a schedule of 21 weekly operations between Paris – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Greater China.
The company will also be increasing its operations to Japan, where it will fly twice daily to Tokyo, operating from the two main airports. The airline will have 11 weekly flights to Haneda (HND) and three weekly operations to Narita (NRT).
North America
Air France is scheduled to operate 180 weekly flights in the United States to 14 destinations, including high-demand markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, among others.
For the summer season, the airline will have 50 weekly flights between France and Canada. The airline will resume its seasonal service between Paris (CDG) and Quebec (YQB) from May 2, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
It will also inaugurate a new route between the French capital and Ottawa (YOW) with five weekly operations on Airbus A330-200s and will be the only airline to connect the Canadian capital with Europe on non-stop flights. Air France will be the carrier with the largest capacity between Europe and Canada this summer.
Africa
In this region, Air France remained very present during the COVID-19 crisis and will maintain higher capacity at 2019 levels. As of June 12, 2023, the carrier will add a new service to Dar Es Salaam (DAR), operated three times a week on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner via Zanzibar (ZNZ), thus expanding its offering in Tanzania.
In its Kenya schedule, the airline will have non-stop operations between Paris (CDG) and Nairobi (NBO) with daily flights on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
South America
In French Guiana, the carrier will fly from May 5 between Cayenne (CAY) and Belem, Brazil (BEL) with a weekly frequency operated by Airbus A320.
Europe
Air France’s short/medium-haul network will offer up to 650 daily flights and 106 destinations between France and Europe for the summer season.
The airline will have 66 seasonal services in France and Europe this summer, with operations from Paris and French regional airports.
These routes will connect to Corsica from Paris (ORY), Bordeaux (BOD), Caen (CFR), Rennes (RNS), Lille (LIL), Lyon (LYS) and Nantes (NTE); Greece from Paris (CDG), Marseille (MRS), Nice (NCE) and Toulouse (TLS); Algeria from Paris (CDG/ORY), Marseille (MRS), Nice (NCE) and Toulouse (TLS); Morocco from Paris (CDG/ORY) and Nice (NCE); and Tunisia from Paris (CDG/ORY), Marseille (MRS) and Nice (NCE).
Transavia France, a low-cost subsidiary of Air France – KLM Group for its summer operation will have 200 short/medium haul connections on 120 destinations, including 100 to/from Orly Airport (ORY). The airline positions itself as the first low-cost operator in the Paris metropolitan area.
New destination with Air France’s new Boeing 777-300ER cabins
Johannesburg (JNB) will be the next destination served by Boeing 777-300ERs with new cabins as of March 27. The South African city joins New York (JFK), Dakar (DSS) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) where these aircraft currently operate.
Air France will gradually be refurbishing the cabins of 12 Boeing 777-300ERs with a configuration of 48 seats in Business Class, 48 in Premium Economy and 273 in Economy.
A look at the Boeing 777's nose and door factory. (Photo: Boeing)
Airbus and Boeing are expanding their search for engineers in India to meet booming demand for aircraft and expand their presence in the country, one of the largest economies globally, according to a Bloomberg report.
In recent months, airlines and lessors have started to use their right to compensation as a bargaining chip for the constant delays in the delivery of commercial aircraft by the two companies.
The world’s two largest aerospace manufacturers are looking to source skilled – and cheap – labour in an Asian country, which is trying to position itself as a manufacturing base. With around 1.5 million new engineers graduating each year in India, both companies see it as a source of English-speaking and available talent.
According to Bloomberg, Airbus plans to hire more than a thousand new employees in India during 2023, out of a total of 13.000 new workers the European manufacturer would hire worldwide. The company currently employs more than 700 people at its Bangalore centre and more than a hundred in customer service areas in New Delhi.
Moreover, Boeing and its suppliers plan to increase their workforce in India. They currently employ about 18.000 people and have hired about 1.500 per year in the recent past. It is the second country in the world with the most employees of the American manufacturer after the United States itself. It is important to note that a worker in India represents a derisory cost to the company compared to what an employee in Seattle demands.
Last week it was announced that Boeing would strengthen its presence in the country by setting up a plant to convert 737 aircraft into freighters. The company’s investment in India exceeds one billion dollars a year, with a growing presence in its economy following the signing of various agreements.
India’s potential and importance
Compared to China, Airbus and Boeing see India as an interesting alternative for the establishment of new production sites, not only because of the above but also because of the reduced geopolitical tension with the West.
Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, said it was time for India to become an international centre of reference for aircraft manufacturing and assured the country was well on its way to achieving this.
India has a long history of outsourcing workers to large international companies, thanks to its availability of talent and cheap labour. The country is home to a large share of employees providing support in technology and information areas. Recently, higher-skilled jobs in various sectors of multinational companies have been on the rise.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the goal is to make the country the third largest airline market in the world. The current trend seems to confirm this: aviation activity and competition are intensifying. Demand for air travel, both domestic and international, is already close to pre-pandemic levels. And projections indicate that this will continue for the near future.
On Wednesday, Flair Airlines — the trending Canadian ultra low-cost carrier — announced that it would be filing a $50 million CAD ($36.4 million) lawsuit against a lessor that claimed the carrier had failed to make payments on one of its aircraft last week.
The lawsuit against Airborne Air Capital — an Ireland-based lessor — was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and alleges that Airborne Air Capital had aimed to seize 4 of Flair’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and lease them out to different carriers in Canada. The lessor company had responded to Flair’s comments suggesting that Flair had failed to make on time payments on the fleet.
The airline was forced to cancel flights in recent days as aircraft were stranded across Canada in Edmonton, Toronto and Waterloo. The carrier released a statement on March 15 saying that, “Airborne Capital’s unlawful and immeasurably destructive actions were taken on the first weekend of many of our customers’ school breaks. This is profiteering on the backs of Canadians and was entirely unexpected and unwarranted.”
As of now, it is uncertain who is in the right here. Flair alleges in its court filing that Airborne Air Capital had been working with Canadian airlines, who are much larger than Flair in an effort to sabotage its operation though this claim for the time being is unsubstantiated.
Long Shot Lawsuit
According to the airline, it had reached an arrangement with the lessor to make delayed payments before the 4 aircraft were seized at around 3 am EDT on Saturday with no notice. Airborne Air Capital told CH-Aviation in a statement that, “Airborne Capital strongly rejects the allegations that have been made by Flair Airlines in recent days in relation to four Airborne-managed aircraft.”
The leasing of the four Airborne-managed aircraft was terminated following a five-month long period, during which Flair was regularly in default of its leases by failing to meet its payments when due, with payment arrears reaching millions of dollars,” It is unclear for the time being what is true and what isn’t since there has yet to be any ruling on the lawsuit though chances are the airline may be looking for a chance to get itself out of payments by causing a stir of sorts.
The seizing of aircraft is not a common practice by lessors and was most notably used during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Flair, a low-cost carrier in a Canadian market that has long been notorious for a lack of low-cost options will likely continue to face an uphill battle combatting “Big Air” as the carrier puts it. The airline has been well received in Canada though the recent suit will likely mean more turbulence ahead for Flair in its quest to defeat “Big Air.”
The airline assured passengers that it will remain operating through the lawsuit and has deployed additional aircraft to cover flights.
Ezra Gollan is a student, photographer and aviation enthusiast based in New York, New York. He has spent over half a decade around New York City’s airports as a photographer.
New Saudi Arabian Flag Carrier Orders All Boeing Fleet
The Boeing 787-9 rolls out of the paint shop in Boeing house colors (Photo: Boeing)
Earlier this week, Boeing announced that Riyadh Air — the brand new Saudi Arabian national carrier — would order 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 33 more of the 787-9 variant . This announcement came at the same time flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, SAUDIA, also placed an order for 39 787 Dreamliners, with options for an additional 10. That order will be broken down between -9s and -10s produced by Boeing in South Carolina and Washington. The combined orders totaled to become the fifth-largest commercial aircraft order concerning value in Boeing’s history.
This past weekend, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz — Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — announced the launch of Riyadh Air to the public. The airline was in talks with Airbus and Boeing, choosing the latter to build its fleet and launch its operations. The carrier will be wholly owned by the PIF of Saudi Arabia and will be based in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. The overarching goal of the new gulf-based airline is to connect the world and grow Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry with 100 destinations by 2030.
One of the ambitions for Riyadh Air is to go head to head with other gulf carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, who have far-flung route structures stretching across the globe. Currently, SAUDIA — also state-owned — connects portions of the world, although not on the level of the other three. The airline operates to three destinations in North America: New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Emirates and Qatar Airways both operate 13 routes to North American airports, and Turkish Airlines offers service to 15.
Riyadh Air’s CEO, Tony Douglas, stated that the airline will compete with the other gulf carriers by, “shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disrupter in terms of customer experience.” It is currently unclear if the airline will connect passengers with SAUDIA, who is a part of the Sky Team alliance and is based in Jeddah.
With a range of 7,565 nautical miles, the 787-9s will allow the Riyadh-based carrier to operate to distant cities such as Perth, Australia; Chicago, Rio De Janeiro and Tokyo . However, it is currently unclear which cities the carrier will launch and operate to with its fleet.
On Feb. 23, the FAA halted 787 Dreamliner deliveries after a data analysis error related to the forward pressure bulkhead was discovered. This portion of the aircraft helps keep the 787 pressurized in flight. The error was reconciled by Boeing to the FAA’s satisfaction and deliveries were cleared to resume this week. This recent delay shouldn’t have an impact on recent orders placed by the two airlines. The Virginia-based manufacturer is off to a strong start, with this recent announcement from Riyadh Air and Saudia, along with other carriers totaling over 300 orders and 100 options placed so far this year.
Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.
Flair Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (photo Airlinegeeks - Vanni Gibertini)
Recently, passengers at multiple airports across Canada experienced flight delays and cancellations, after Flair Airlines had four aircraft seized by their lessor for non-payment. The travel interruptions came during the busy March break travel season in Canada.
Leases Terminated for Four Boeing 737s
Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Airborne Capital issued lease termination notices for four aircraft, effectively grounding them and forcing the airline to cancel and delay flights. Four Boeing 737 aircraft were seized:
A 12.8-year-old Boeing 737-800 registered as C-FFLA was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
A 3.1-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLRS was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport
A 3.3-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKD was seized at Region of Waterloo, Canada’s International Airport
A 3.4-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKI was seized at Edmonton, Canada’s International Airport
Another two Boeing 737s leased to Flair by Airborne Capital were not seized. The Edmonton,Canada-based airline reportedly owed approximately one million Canadian dollars ($73,000,000) to the lessor.
According to the passengers, flight cancellations and delays occurred at all three airports, with the airline initially attributing the disruptions to maintenance issues. Flair has stated that it will be using three spare aircraft to fill gaps left by the affected aircraft. The carrier has stated that it was working to rebook passengers and that passengers who chose to rebook their own travel would receive reimbursement within seven days.
A Bumpy Road for Flair
Flair Airlines began operations in 2005 as Flair Air. In its early days, the airline operated cargo and charter flights for a variety of clients. In 2017, it rebranded itself as Flair Airlines and announced that it would become an ultra low-cost carrier. Since this relaunch, the airline has faced a number of challenges, including a review by the Canadian Transportation Agency over foreign control and a lawsuit with a large Canadian investor.
In September of 2022, Flair announced that it was increasing capacity by 50 percent in its summer 2023 schedule. The airline stated that in a press release that seven new aircraft would be entering service for the summer, bringing the total fleet to 27 aircraft. Prior to the recent seizure, Flair’s fleet consisted of less than 20 aircraft.
The latest troubles for Flair raise questions about the airline’s financial position and future growth plans. While passengers have been drawn to the airline due to its low fares, a series of maintenance-related cancellations in December of 2022 and the latest aircraft seizure are likely to erode consumer confidence in the airline.
In a statement, Flair has categorized the seizures as “extreme and unusual actions taken by a New York-based hedge fund.” It further noted that “the airline is aggrieved by this unprecedented action.”
Airborne Capital has declined to comment publicly on the seizures.
Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
