There’s a new podcast episode!

Ivan Terekhov is the head of research and intelligence at TNMT, the research arm of Lufthansa Innovation Hub, an organization dedicated to identifying promising technologies and startups in the travel and aviation industries. With Ivan we discuss TNMT’s methodology and whether some new aviation technologies are over-hyped.

Listen to this episode here.

Electric Aviation

There were quite a few orders for electric aircraft:

Heart Aerospace signed a letter of intent with Swedish leasing firm Rockton for 20 ES-30 aircraft plus another 20 options. READ.

Eviation signed a letter of intent with MONTE, a UK-based lessor focused on sustainable air mobility. READ.

Even within the relatively restricted ranges of these early 100% electric aircraft, there is a decent amount of feasible routes. This study identified 203 potential routes in the Nordic region alone.

AURA Aero presented the final design of its 19-seater ERA aircraft, featuring no less than 8 electric motors (!). READ.

Advanced Air Mobility

Here are seven different approaches to vertiport design. READ.

Archer has completed the assembly of its first Midnight eVTOL and is preparing to fly-test it. READ.

Japan Airlines is partnering with Wisk. Interestingly, JAL already had Volocopter as a partner in AAM. Wisk, however brings to the table rather unique autonomous flight capabilities. READ.

Vertical Aerospace has pushed the certification time-frame for its VX-4 eVTOL by an extra 12 months (to 2026). Certifying new aircraft is hard and expensive (as we discussed on the podcast with AFuzion’s Vance Hilderman, one of the world’s top experts in the matter)

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

World Energy signed a deal with World Fuel Services (a different company despite the similarity in names!) to supply 27 million gallons of SAF over a six year period. READ.

Other sustainable aviation news

Emirates plans to invest $200M in sustainability-enhancing projects in the next 3 years. READ.

Interesting post making the case for capacity restrictions at Amsterdam Schiphol going to benefit mostly network (more pricey) airlines that will increase pricing power, at the expense of low cost airlines. READ.

Hybrid Air Vehicles has reached an agreement to set up an airship factory near Doncaster, in the North of England…it now needs to find the cash! READ

(here is the podcast we did with HAV’s CEO Tom Grundy)

Xwing got a contract with the USAF to test and continue developing its autonomous flight technology. READ.

What else in aviation?

Turkish Airlines showcased its new inflight catering offering (which is even more impressive than the already outstanding one, onboard chefs included), while it suggested it may soon order another 600 aircraft to underpin its goals to double in size in the coming decade. READ.

Etihad is launching AI-powered bookings via chat interface. READ.

Large private jet order: NetJets ordering $5B worth of Embraer Praetor 500s (250 aircraft). READ.

The latest iteration of Alaska Airlines’ traditional salmon livery is a beautiful colour scheme inspired by native art and culture.

Electric aircraft orders, autonomous flight & more (The Allplane Podcast #125)