Emirates places an order for 5 Boeing 777 freighters

Sakshi Jain

09 Nov 2022

Emirates has committed to purchasing additional Boeing 777 freighters as it plans to expand its fleet of freighters in the upcoming years. This year, the airline took delivery of two brand-new 777Fs and beginning in 2023, it aims to convert several passenger 777F variants to freighters.

The two companies said on Tuesday, November 8, that the long-haul carrier Emirates will spend more than $1.7 billion to purchase five Boeing 777 freighters, considerably increasing its cargo flying capacity. It will receive two of these aircraft in 2024, while the remaining three will arrive in 2025.

“Emirates is investing in new freighters so that we can continue to serve customer demand with the latest fuel-efficient aircraft. This order reflects Emirates’ confidence in airfreight demand and overall aviation sector growth. It lays the ground for our continued growth, which is driven by the reach of our diverse global network, the advanced handling infrastructure at our Dubai hub, and the tailored transport solutions that Emirates has developed to serve our varied customers’ needs.”

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO, Emirates

Emirates already operates 11 Boeing 777 freighters. According to the airline, this deal brought its overall number of wide-body aircraft orders to 200. 

The airline disclosed a $1 billion investment at the Dubai Airshow last year to add two new 777Fs, demonstrating its continued commitment to freight operations. This year has already seen the delivery of these aircraft. The arrangement to convert four Boeing 777-300ER passenger planes into complete freighters was also revealed. It was signed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stated that the order reflects Emirates’ confidence in airfreight demand and overall aviation sector growth

In comparison to the 777F, the modified freighters will offer up to 10 more pallet places, enabling the transportation of more low-density cargo, including items for online sales. Emirates committed to converting six more of its own Boeing 777-300ERs into freighters earlier this year, bringing the total number of the type to 10. The conversion of the aircraft will start in 2023.

The airline has grown to rely nearly exclusively on Boeing 777 freighters for its cargo operations. Emirates, which was the 777F's debut client, operates scheduled and charter flights to locations on all six continents with its current fleet of 777F aircraft. The airline has grown to rely nearly exclusively on Boeing 777 freighters for its cargo operations. 

Emirates was the Boeing 777 freighter's debut client. Since then, the adaptable aircraft has evolved into the backbone of the airline's operations, flying scheduled and charter flights to locations on all seven continents.

Emirates has committed to purchasing additional Boeing 777 freighters as it plans to expand its fleet of freighters in the upcoming years

Emirates can easily transport time-sensitive cargo, fresh goods, pharmaceuticals, pets, vehicles, and champion racehorses from the point of origin to the point of destination because of the 777-F's range and payload abilities.

Emirates currently has a fleet of 11 Boeing 777 freighters in operation in addition to its widebody 777 and A380 passenger fleet, which both have belly-hold cargo space.

Following the COVID-19 epidemic, the demand for cargo services has increased globally, and Emirates wants a bigger piece of the pie. It has made it clear that it intends to be prepared to meet the constantly increasing demand for air cargo by developing its fleet and network and entering strategic partnerships.

ALSO READ - Emirates threatens to cancel the Boeing 777X orders if delivery postponed beyond 2023 

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New Visakhapatnam International Airport project to take off soon

Radhika Bansal

09 Nov 2022

The ground is now fully cleared for the much-delayed Visakhapatnam International Airport project to take off.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office has written to the Prime Minister's Office requesting that Narendra Modi lay the foundation stone, possibly virtually, for the new airport construction during his visit to the port city of Visakhapatnam on November 12. But the PMO has not included it in Modi's itinerary, official sources said.

Development of the new international airport in Public-Private Partnership mode at Bhogapuram, 40 km northeast of Visakhapatnam, was first mooted in the year 2014, post-bifurcation of the state as the existing one in the city is owned by the Indian Navy. For various reasons, the project did not take off for over eight years.

The original plan was grandiose as the state government wanted to build an aerotropolis that would include aviation-linked manufacturing units, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, research and development centre and test laboratories, multi-modal logistics, exhibition and conference centres, leisure and entertainment facilities, aviation education and training facilities.

The plan also included the development of the airport with one runway, parallel taxiway and other infrastructure capable of servicing the world's largest aircraft.

The previous Telugu Desam government initiated the process to acquire over 2,700 acres of land in the Bhogapuram area for the airport development but it got stuck in litigation all these years over a 50-acre piece right at the centre of the proposed project where the runway was supposed to come up.

The AP High Court last week finally dismissed the farmers' petitions against the land acquisition, clearing the way for the project development. In 2018, the previous Chandrababu Naidu government chose GMR Airports Limited as the project developer after cancelling the bid earlier won by the Airports Authority of India.

The YSR Congress, then in opposition, opposed handing over the project to GMR but, upon assuming power, signed a concession agreement with the same entity in June 2020, altering the scope of the project.

The Board of the AP Airports Development Corporation Limited Board had felt that the proposed aero city and aviation academy may not be feasible and communicated the decision to the state government.

Accordingly, the other components of the plan were dropped and only the international airport would now be developed. Consequently, the state government decided to retain 500 of the total 2,703 acres of land acquired for the aerotropolis, and hand over only 2,203 acres to GMR for the development of the greenfield international airport.

According to GMR sources, the INR 3,000 crore project involves designing, building, financing, constructing, developing, operating and maintaining the greenfield international airport for 40 years, which could be extended by an additional 20 years through international competitive bidding.

A Special Purpose Vehicle GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) has been floated to take up the development. As per the latest development model, GMR offered to pay INR 303 PPF (per passenger fee) to the state government. As per projections, the number of passengers is expected to touch nine million by the year 2036.

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The world's most beloved aircraft might just be back again

Prashant-prabhakar

09 Nov 2022

The second An-225 Mriya, the largest airplane in the world, is now under design, according to Ukrainian aircraft maker Antonov Company.

AeroAffaires

Currently, design works in this direction have begun. According to available expert estimates, currently there are about 30% of components that can be used for the second model of the aircraft. The cost of building the aircraft is estimated at least 500 million euros. However, it is too early to talk about the specific amount

the company said in a Facebook post

The story so far

The An-225 Mriya aircraft, the pinnacle of Ukrainian aviation, was destroyed in Hostomel on the first day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Along with the Mriya, five further aircraft were based at the airfield: the AN-74, AN-26, N-124, N-132, and N-22. The first two planes were totally destroyed, while the rest suffered significant damage.

 DMYTRO LARIN, ukrainska pravda

The state-owned corporation Antonov promptly declared that the Mriya plane will be rebuilt. Although Ukroboronprom State Concern [a Ukrainian maker of weaponry and military hardware] and its officials estimated the cost to be between $120 million and $3 billion, the exact amount was unknown. However, as a designer at Antonov State Enterprise named Anatolii Vovnianko indicated at the time, actual completion costs would range from $250 million to $300 million.

When the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, the airplane was being stored at Hostomel Airport, the location of the Antonov Company. The airport, which is close to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was bombed on the first day of the invasion. Russian paratroopers were supposedly ordered to the area to create a bridgehead so that more forces could be airlifted in. Mriya suffered severe injuries during the struggle for Hostomel's authority.

History shows..

The Soviet space program led to the development of the An-225 Mriya, which translates to "Dream" in Ukrainian, to transport the Buran space shuttle as well as substantial rocket parts. In 1988, it took flight for the first time. It was the largest functioning aircraft and the most powerful aircraft ever made, with six engines and 42 tires able to carry up to 640 tons.

Representative | News18

The An-225's second incomplete airframe, which was initially intended for ground testing, was kept at Hostomel. It's unclear where it is right now.

What's new?

Yevhen Havrylov, the Acting General Director of Antonov, claims that the rebuilt Mriya is already 30% complete.

According to him, at a covert site, work on the new aircraft is still ongoing. Parts from the bombed-out aircraft will be added to the second, unfinished AN-225 in addition to new parts.

SOURCE(s): aerotime.aero | Yahoo

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IndiGo grounds 30 aircraft due to disruptions in the global supply chain

Radhika Bansal

08 Nov 2022

One of India's largest airlines IndiGo said that nearly 30 aircraft have been grounded due to "supply chain disruptions" on Monday, November 7. The airline is evaluating the wet leasing of planes and other options to boost operations. In a 'wet lease' arrangement, the lessor maintains operational control of flights while providing aircraft and crew.

ALSO READ - DGCA allows IndiGo to wet lease Turkish Airlines planes

The carrier, which is the world's seventh largest in terms of daily departures, had 279 aircraft in its fleet. It operates more than 1,600 daily flights and currently flies to 100 destinations, including 26 international ones. 30 planes of IndiGo are grounded due to supply chain problems, reported PTI citing sources.

A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby one airline (the lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline, which pays by hours operated.

IndiGo grounds 30 aircraft due to disruptions in the global supply chain

ALSO READ - DGCA turns down IndiGo request to wet lease Turkish planes

Last month, IndiGo’s request for wet leasing Boeing planes from Turkish Airlines for up to two years was cancelled by the aviation regulator DGCA. The regulator, however, allowed IndiGo to wet lease the planes for up to six months.

When contacted, an IndiGo spokesperson on Monday, November 7 confirmed to PTI that around 30 aircraft are on the ground. The spokesperson said that globally, the aviation industry continues to face significant supply chain disruptions.

"While it is our immediate priority to deploy adequate capacity to serve our customers, we are actively engaged with our OEM partners to work on mitigation measures that should ensure the continuity of our network and operations. As we work on various cost-efficient countermeasures with our OEM partners, the endeavour is to minimise the economic impact of around 30 AOG (Aircraft on Ground), resulting from this global disruption."

Spokesperson, IndiGo

The airline is looking at slowing down redeliveries through lease extensions, exploring the reinduction of aircraft into the fleet, and evaluating the wet lease options within the regulatory guidelines. "We are bullish on the market opportunities and will continue to add flights in existing and new markets," the airline said. The carrier has a domestic market share of more than 57%.

The carrier, which is the world's seventh largest in terms of daily departures, had 279 aircraft in its fleet.

ALSO READ - Around 10-12% of the Indian aircraft fleet grounded due to maintenance or engine-related issues

On November 1, aviation consultancy firm CAPA said that more than 75 planes of Indian carriers are currently grounded due to maintenance and engine-related issues. These planes, which account for around 10-12 % of the Indian fleet, are grounded due to maintenance or engine-related issues. "These will have a significant impact on financials in the second half," CAPA said in its India Mid-Year Outlook 2023.

During an earnings call with analysts on November 4, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said supply chain disruption in aircraft manufacturing and subsequent shortage of spare engines worldwide have impacted the airline's operations due to the grounding of aircraft. "The challenges are forcing us to look at different ways and means to make sure that we can operate," he had said.

ALSO READ - IndiGo reports a loss of INR 1,583.33 crore in Q2 of the fiscal year 2022-23

In the September quarter, IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation reported a widening loss to INR 1,583.34 crore due to higher fuel costs and foreign exchange loss.

IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation reported a widening loss to INR 1,583.34 crore due to higher fuel costs and foreign exchange loss.

ALSO READ - Air India becomes India’s top “on-time” airline

Grounding of aircraft also comes at a time when competition in the skies is expected to heat up as the Tata Group-run Air India has started to realign its airline business and has set an ambitious target to achieve a 30% share in the domestic as well as international (to and from India) market over the next five years.

Go First facing the same issues as IndiGo

IndiGo is planning to extend the lease of in-service planes and induct new aircraft on the wet lease because supply-chain disruption has forced the grounding of 30 Airbus A320 planes.

Go First, which is facing a similar issue, has increased the utilisation of its operational aircraft to cover up the grounding of its Airbus planes. Go First is operating fewer flights than it did last winter and is trying to maintain the schedule it filed by increasing aircraft utilisation.

Go First is operating fewer flights than it did last winter and is trying to maintain the schedule it filed by increasing aircraft utilisation.

ALSO READ - Go First grounds over a fifth of its fleet due to delayed deliveries of engines by Pratt & Whitney

IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, operates a fleet of around 280 planes, which include Airbus A320 (CEO/NEO), A321 and ATR-72 aircraft. IndiGo and Go First’s Airbus fleet is powered by Pratt & Whitney and CFM engines.

Go First has 58 Airbus A320 (CEO/NEO) planes in its fleet and is operating 30-32 of them. A source in Go First said the airline was expecting up to 16 engines from Pratt & Whitney this month.

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Singapore Airlines had a successful Q2 as a result of increased travel demand

Sakshi Jain

08 Nov 2022

Singapore Airlines, a dominant Asian airline, had a successful second quarter as a result of increased travel demand. Singapore Airlines announced its first-half operational profit had reached a record SGD 1.23 billion (USD 876 million) for the period that ended in September. It was also the highest quarterly profit ever, coming in at SGD 678 million, surpassing the previous record of SGD 674.6 million set in Q3 2007–2008 by nearly 15 years.

The airline has profited from high passenger demand throughout the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere as countries increasingly reduce their COVID-19 border regulations. Although airlines are still expanding, there is still a capacity problem, which has led to higher ticket prices and increased income for the airline.

Singapore Airlines Posts Profits in Two Straight Quarters, first-half profit soars to $876 million

A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines stated that the carrier does not anticipate a decline in demand as the holiday season approaches.

“Demand is expected to be strong as we head into the year-end peak travel season. Forward sales are expected to remain buoyant in the coming months leading up to the Lunar New Year period.” Spokesperson, Singapore Airlines

During the COVID-19 pandemic, to avoid legal action from its creditors, many of its regional rivals had to sell their planes or lay off their employees permanently. As a result, when the borders were reopened, they were unable to react as swiftly as SIA could.

Singapore Airlines stated that "proactive fundraising, talent retention, and resource deployment" put it in a "strong position to capture the pent-up demand"

As a result, this led to a 13-fold increase in the number of passengers transported by full-service carrier SIA and low-cost carrier Scoot together, over the six months leading up to September 30, 2022.

Singapore Airlines stated that "proactive fundraising, talent retention, and resource deployment" put it in a "strong position to capture the pent-up demand", which was one of the reasons for its quick response to the reopening.

In the second quarter of FY 2022–23, the combined passenger capacity of Singapore Airlines' two carriers increased to an average of 68% of pre-pandemic levels.

“With strong support from many stakeholders, Singapore Airlines and Scoot were among the first carriers to launch flights and start sales to points served out of Singapore as the government took decisive action to reopen its borders to international travel, starting with the launch of the country's Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangements in September 2021.”

Singapore Airlines

The revenue increased by SGD 5,226 million (+694.0%) year over year to SGD 5,979 million during the first half. The 11-fold increase in traffic greatly outpaced the 118.7% increase in capacity. The result was that the passenger load factor increased by 66.8 percentage points to 83.0 per cent.

For the first half, the Group reported an operating cash surplus of SGD 2.51 billion, an increase of SGD 2.62 billion from the previous year.

As a result, it was able to redeem the first tranche of SGD 3.496 billion worth of convertible bonds that it had issued to its shareholders to raise money back in June 2020, as well as declare a dividend of 10 cents per share for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic crippled the aviation industry.

Scoot is the low-cost carrier of the Singapore Airlines Group, currently operating out of Singapore to more than 20 destinations across Asia

The Group's passenger network covered 100 destinations in 36 countries and territories, with SIA serving 74 destinations and Scoot serving 48 destinations. The cargo network comprised 107 destinations.

With East Asian countries expected to gradually ease travel restrictions and in anticipation of the year-end travel demand, Singapore Airlines is planning to increase flights to various destinations in Japan, China and Indonesia in the coming months.

It will also step-up recruitment of cabin crew and pilots. The airline's total capacity is projected to reach an average of around 76 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of FY 2022-23.

ALSO READ - Singapore Airlines reports profit for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak

Singapore Airlines is also currently in discussion regarding the merging of Tata-owned Air India and Vistara to create a multi-hub carrier.

Singapore Airlines is also currently in discussion regarding the merging of Tata-owned Air India and Vistara to create a multi-hub carrier.

ALSO READ - Vistara – Air India merger talks with Tata Group confirmed by Singapore Airlines

In a statement to the Singapore Stock Exchange, Singapore Airlines said, "The discussions seek to deepen the existing partnership between Singapore Airlines and Tata and may include a potential integration of Vistara and Air India. The discussions are ongoing, and no definitive terms have been agreed upon between the parties."

The merging of Air India and Vistara would then create the single largest carrier in the country, creating a mammoth competitor to the current low-cost dominant carrier IndiGo. The amalgamation of the carriers would also provide strong competition to the Middle Eastern carrier's presence for connections from the country.

Connections to North America are also an area for growth with the airline. Domestically, Vistara is the second-largest carrier in the country by market share.

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Aviation sustainability: the way forward

Prashant-prabhakar

07 Nov 2022

Sustainable aviation looks for ways to lessen the negative effects that flying has on both society and the environment. Through innovative new techniques, it seeks to lessen aviation's impact on climate change. This area of expertise focuses on energy-efficient flight operations, cutting-edge propulsion systems, environmentally friendly aircraft technology, and highly effective aircraft designs.

Airbus ZEROe Project | Representative | Airbus

A paradigm shift in the aviation sector was signaled by the International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition's first meeting at COP26 in Glasgow and the announcement of net zero global emissions targets by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airport Council International (ACI).

The aviation sector today is in an ironic situation. On the one hand, it connects individuals, locations, economies, and cultures. Additionally, it is essential for transporting supplies around the world, such as vaccines during the most recent global pandemic, and delivering humanitarian help to areas that need it most.

On the other side, aviation contributes significantly to climate change, making up between 2 and 3% of global carbon emissions. If significant adjustments aren't done, this percentage might rise to over 20% by 2050. The entire climate impact of the aviation industry can be up to three times greater than that of carbon emissions alone due to other, non-CO2 related consequences of air travel, such as contrail cirrus created by soot particles.

The World Aviation Festival, which was held this year in Amsterdam, focused heavily on the duty of industry leaders and stakeholders to address these issues. Three new realities were highlighted:

1. The urgent message

In favor of pursuing actual aircraft emissions reductions, EasyJet has chosen to discontinue its carbon offsetting program. The airline focuses on technologies such sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen power, and carbon capture while testing its processes within the Science-Based Targets project in order to reduce CO2 emissions by 35% per passenger kilometer by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050.

With KLM introducing a portion of sustainable aviation fuel to all flights departing from Amsterdam and Lufthansa forming new agreements to use and promote sustainable fuels, both airlines have jumped on board. In addition, Lufthansa has added AeroSHARK film, a biomimetic technology that lowers drag, conserves fuel, and illustrates the innovation principle in action, to its fleet of Boeing 777F freighters.

Lufthansa Technik

Singapore Airlines has implemented new SITA technology and switched to sustainable aviation fuel in an effort to cut emissions by 15,000 tons yearly.

With the BA Better World pledge, which includes investment and advocacy around the considerate use of resources, the development of sustainable aviation fuel, and waste reduction measures, British Airways is on what it considers its "most important trip yet."

2. Cooperation and transparency are key

Airlines have access to a growing array of technologies for reducing emissions, from sustainable fuels to flight operations software.

It is impossible to exaggerate the value of collaboration given the immense complexity of the aviation value chains. For instance, the adoption of hydrogen-powered aircraft must coexist with major infrastructural modifications that will have an impact on a large portion of the aviation supply chain. Likewise, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel calls for international cooperation to create and control standards for raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and calculations of emissions reduction.

3. Sustainable Aviation Fuel- next name of the game

Because it may produce immediate emissions reductions, SAF is an essential component of the climate action puzzle. Long-term adoption of alternative solutions, like electrification and hydrogen power, will also be important, but full-scale implementation is still years, if not decades, away.

Representative | ADS Group

An important year for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), 2022 saw more SAF offtake agreements announced than in the previous two years put together, making it by far the most significant year to date. Over three dozen airlines have signed up for upwards of 80 SAF offtake agreements, totaling a commitment of approximately 3.5 trillion liters of SAF, according to ICAO.

Key producers of SAF

The obvious advantages of SAF are well known, but meeting the increasing demand for SAF will be the main problem. Neste, the top supplier of sustainable aviation fuel, is well cognizant of this. Neste began producing SAF in 2011 and can already produce 100.000 tons of it annually.

Representative | ecac-ceac

There is also a rush of new players entering the renewable fuel industry alongside well-established providers like Neste, and more and more airlines are committing to utilizing SAF.

As an example, the IAG airlines have actively promoted the use of SAF in their respective markets. The first transatlantic flight powered by 35% SAF was carried by British Airways last year.

Regulation and collaboration are crucial

The use of sustainable fuels by airlines is being expedited by the necessity for strict regulation and regulations.

To decarbonize the aviation sector, urgent adoption of technologies like SAF, ambitious cooperation across value chains, and meaningful action right now are all essential. Additionally, global agreement on the best ways to encourage and measure emissions reductions would be required.

2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Wikipedia

The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference is being in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 through November 18, 2022. It is more widely known as Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP27.

SOURCE : NESTE | JOURNEYTOZEROSTORIES.NESTE

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