27 Feb 2023

North American Aviation Newsletter

Ethiopian Airlines reinstates Abidjan to New York JFK route

Ethiopian Airlines announced the reinstatement of its direct flights between Abidjan and New York John F. Kennedy Airport as of 29 May 2023, operating four times weekly using Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said “We are excited to bring back our direct flight between Abidjan and New York. We have long been offering flights with the best connectivity between the US and Africa. The resumption of our Abidjan-New York flight brings back the flexibility that our passengers love. We have been increasing frequencies and adding new destinations in Africa, Europe, Middle East, and Asia in the past couple of months and we are delighted that the Abidjan-New York route is coming again.”

Mountain Air Cargo operates world’s first Cessna 408 SkyCourier route

Early in January, Mountain Air Cargo, a FedEx air cargo feeder airline with over 40 years of history, announced the opening of the first Cessna 408 SkyCourier route in history between Tallahassee and Orlando. The carrier now employs three C408 SkyCouriers and intends to increase that number to five by year's end in order to expand into new markets. A twin-engine aircraft called the Cessna 408 SkyCourier has a larger cargo capacity than the C208 Caravan. The 6,000-pound cargo capacity of the Cessna 408 SkyCourier is double that of the C208.

Saab 2000 certified in Canada

After completing a cold-soak test to ensure that the aircraft would start up and all systems function after a night where temperatures dipped below -35 degrees Celsius, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has now certified the Saab 2000 for passenger flying in Canada ( -31 F). According to Jetstream Aviation Capital, the type has a sizable amount of market interest from Canadian operators. Jetstream Aviation Capital CEO Stuart Klaskin said "The certification of the Saab 2000 in Canada is a further step in the continued expansion of this great aircraft's global resurgence, in which Jetstream and Saab have been partners for many years. The Saab 2000 is uniquely suited to operations in Canada, given the distances between populations which are mitigated by its' high-speed performance, very efficient operational economics, ability to operate from challenging airfield environments and outstanding cold-weather operational capabilities."

Strategic investment is announced by United Airlines Ventures (UAV).

United Airlines Ventures (UAV) has disclosed a strategic investment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT), which has received approval for the construction of its flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward, Oregon, with production set to start in 2026. The biorefinery being built by NEXT, a Houston-based business, has the potential to produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels once it is fully operational. If NEXT achieves specific milestone objectives, UAV may invest up to $37.5 million in the business.

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