The easy Report for April 2021 is ready!
As usual, we will be summing up major news from the aviation world, with many useful links!
The easy Report: Business Aviation News
On April 22, Bye Aerospace announced the all-new eFlyer 800. The eFlyer 800 is an 8-seat all-electric twin-turboprop class aircraft. The eFlyer 800 is geared toward the regional and charter aircraft market. However, it aims to provide the service at a much lower cost, close to one-fifth of the operating cost of traditional twin turboprops. Most importantly, the eFlyer 800 is a zero-carbon dioxide-emitting aircraft! Sustainability all the way! Read more about the eFlyer 800 here!
In a press release on March 31, ZeroAvia announced that it has secured USD 24’300’000 to initiate engine development for new 50+ seat zero-emission aircraft.
In a press release on April 15, Gulfstream revealed that its first fully outfitted G700 completed its first flight!
The easy Report: Covid-19 Related News
To help restart business and international flights, airline executives are urging the streamlining of digital health passports or apps. Airports, airlines, and border agencies could use digital health passports as a means to confirm negative Covid-19 status before boarding. Read more about the issue and its challenges here!
A new study published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kansas State University revealed that keeping the middle seat open on airplanes helps reduce the risk of Covid-19 exposure. Read more about the CDC’s study here!
In positive news, Qantas reported a strong return for passenger domestic air travel in a mid-April update. Corporate travel, including the small business segment, is back to almost 65% pf pre-Covid levels, and increasing!
The easy Report: Updates on Boeing’s 737 MAX Jets
On Thursday, April 8, Boeing identified a potential electrical problem involving some of the newly returned 737 MAX airplanes. The identification of the electrical problem also came after Alaska Airlines finalized an order for 23 new Boeing 737 jets. Southwest Airlines also reached a new purchase agreement with Boeing for 100 737 MAX airplanes in March. Nearly all the affected jets were built before Boeing resumed deliveries of the 737 MAX in December 2020.
In a statement on April 9, Boeing stated that it has recommended that some airlines operating the 737 MAX temporarily pause operations to address the issue.
On Friday, April 16, industry sources revealed that engineers discovered similar grounding flaws elsewhere in the cockpit.
On April 30, the FAA issued a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) requiring an electrical bonding fix to 71 of the newly manufactured 737 MAX jets. Read more about the electrical problems found on some Boeing 737 MAX Jets here!
The easy Report: Commercial Aviation News
In a press release on April 2, Air Canada and Transat A.T. Inc. announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate the arrangement agreement proposed for the proposed acquisition of Transat by Air Canada.
In a press release on March 31, Frontier Airlines announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 30 million shares of its common stock. The price of one share to the public is USD 19.
This month, JetBlue announced that it is adding Sport 24, an in-flight sports streaming platform, to its new fleet of Airbus A321LR aircraft. JetBlue’s new A321LR aircraft are on track to begin transatlantic flights to London later this year.
According to a press release on April 8, Avelo Airlines is launching a new low-cost airline with routes from California. Avelo Airlines will begin operating flights to 11 destinations in the western US. One-way fares start at as low as USD 19.
In a press release on April 8, Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) launched Connect Airlines. Connect Airlines will connect Toronto Bill Bishop City Airport with some airports in the United States.
This April, Delta Airlines finalized a firm order for 25 A321neo aircraft.
The easy Report: Air Taxi News
Unfortunately, new research from PitchBook revealed that electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are unlikely to deploy in the early or mid-2020s. Air taxis are still facing many technological, regulatory, and infrastructure hurdles. Read more about PitchBook’s report here!
The easy Report: Supersonic Air Travel News
This month, Aerion revealed a glimpse of its new aircraft, the AS3. The AS3 is a commercial airliner designed to travel at Mach 4+. Aerion is projecting that the AS3 will “take the skies” before the end of the decade! The AS2, on the other hand, may commence production in 2023.
That’s all for this month’s easy Report!
Join us next week for easycharter’s Airport of the Month!
