21 Nov 2022

North American Aviation Newsletter

Air Serbia To Launch New Chicago route

Air Serbia will launch direct flights between Belgrade and Chicago O’Hare commencing on 17 May 2023, thus continuing to expand its operations in the United States market after a pause of more than 30 years. The route will operate twice weekly using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Air Serbia Vice President Americas, George Petković said “After more than three decades, the JU 506/507 flight will mark the return of the national airline to Chicago. This is an extremely important city and we are certain that direct flights between Belgrade and Chicago will mean a lot not just to the Serbian diaspora, but also to the wider Balkans region. By introducing flights between those two cities, the region will be better connected to Chicago, and passengers will have more choices. With the good connections that Air Serbia offers we expect great interest for these direct flights, for those who want to continue their travel to other destinations.”

Archer Unveils its Production Aircraft, Midnight

Archer Aviation publicly unveiled its production aircraft, Midnight, a pilot-plus-four-passenger eVTOL aircraft during its Open House event in Palo Alto, CA. Midnight is the evolution of Archer’s demonstrator eVTOL aircraft, Maker, which has validated its proprietary twelve-tilt-six configuration and key enabling technologies. Midnight is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can carry four passengers plus a pilot. Midnight is optimized for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20-miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between. Archer Aviation Founder & CEO Adam Goldstein, said “From day one Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft. We believe our strategy and team's ability to execute on it has allowed us to establish our leadership position in the market, and is why we are confident we will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”

Silk Way West Airlines signs order for GE9X, GE90 engines to power cargo fleet

Silk Way West Airlines announced an order for a combined total of 16 GE9X and GE90 engines to power its fleet of long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft. The carrier recently announced the purchase of GE9X-powered Boeing 777-8 Freighters and GE90-powered Boeing 777 Freighters to upgrade its cargo fleet. The engine order includes five GE9X engines and 11 GE90 engines. Silk Way Group President Mr. Zaur Akhundov, said “We are delighted to continue a successful, long-lasting cooperation with GE Aerospace. This agreement marks the strengthening of our relationship. This is a step forward to a more sustainable future. We believe that this partnership extension will help us to deliver our long-term strategy of sustainable growth and environmental commitments, allowing us to continuously improve the services provided to our valuable customers.”

United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Invest in Biofuel Refinery

United Airlines Ventures (UAV) announced a strategic investment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT), which is permitting a flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward, Oregon, with expected production beginning in 2026. NEXT is a Houston-based company developing the biorefinery which, at full production, could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels. UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into NEXT, as long as the company meets certain milestone targets. United Airline Ventures President Michael Leskinen, said "We believe this investment will not only bolster NEXT's ambitions and create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demonstrates our commitment toward producing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonize the aviation industry."