Electric seaplanes, boutique airlines & more (The Allplane Newsletter #145)
There are Two New Podcast Episodes:
Giulio Ranucci, head of Aeroporti di Roma’s innovation arm, shares some insights about how airports can be vectors for innovation and startup acceleration. LISTEN.
Eric Lithun, founder of Norwegian startup Elfly, explained some details of the fascinating electric seaplane that he is working on. LISTEN.
Electric Aviation
Interesing dissection of the recently announced Elysian Aircraft E9X concept. Is it feasible? Check out what electric aviation expert Raphael Giesecke says about it.
Electra has got an order for 50 aircraft from Indian operator JetSetGo, which has ordered the same number of aircraft from Overair and Horizon Aircraft. Interesting, how some operators are ordering “families” of aircraft from different advanced air mobility developers, in order to cater to different segments of the market.
The European Parliament voted a resolution that is a rather strong endorsement of electric and hybrid aviation. It really reads like a long wish list!
Advanced Air Mobility
Sirius Aviation presented its hydrogen-electric eVTOL concept, the Sirius Jet. I had the chance to speak with the founder, Alexey Popov, a few days ago and learn a few details about this truly ambitious project (aim to have a range of >1,000km!)
Horizon Aircraft listed on the Nasdaq and, on the same day, booked a large order (50 aircraft + 50 options) for its eVTOL Cavorite X7 from an Indian private aviation operator. READ.
As mentioned earlier, Overair has also sold 50 of its Butterfly eVTOLs to JetSetGo!
And the Archer Midnight has made a surprise appearance in a music video by Kygo and Ava Max. Is this a first for eVTOLs in pop culture?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Norwegian has invested in Norsk E-Fuel, a producer of synthetic SAF with which it had already signed a strategic agreement last April. Norsk E-Fuel is developing a SAF plant in Mosjøen, in northern Norway that will produce 7,000 tons of SAF. To put this in context, this is 80% of the amount necessary to operate the domestic trunk route between Oslo and Bodø. Norwegian has so far invested 12M NOK (around €1M) and plans to inject another 45-50M NOK into the venture (€4M approx.).
Hydrogen Aviation
Airbus successfully tested the fuel cell for its future ZEROe aircraft. The test was done on the ground and the hydrogen fuel cell successfully powered an electric motor. It will eventually be tested in an A380 testbed.
And the European manufacturer opened as well the latest of its ZEROe Development Centres (ZEDC) in Stade, in northern Germany. READ.
What else in aviation?
I had a long conversation with airBaltic’s CEO, Martin Gauss, reviewing some of the most important projects that the airline has currently under way. READ.
FLIGHT REVIEW: Check out my review of Starlux Airlines’ business class. The Taiwanese carrier has an interesting positioning as a “boutique” airline.
Air India presented its new A350-900 in public at Wings India 2024 and it also announced the set up of a pilot training center together with Airbus.
Air Astana is preparing its IPO this year. READ.
It looks like Air Asia’s Thai subsidiaries won’t be joining the merger of the group’s other airlines just yet (they will have to wait 2-3 years due to some financial-legal reasons). READ.
Is Brazilian low-cost airline GOL in trouble? The airline is said to be preparing to file for Chapter 11 in the US and be able, then, to restructure its debts.