Australia’s Skytrans Moving Into 19-Seat Segment With Stralis Aircraft’s Hydrogen Electric Propulsion System
Cairns-based Skytrans Airlines was already considering 19-seat aircraft prior to making the step to partner with Australian aircraft start-up Stralis Aircraft to develop a program to retrofit Beechcraft 1900D aircraft with electric motors. Stralis CEO, Bob Criner, tells Smart Aviation…
India’s SpiceJet Returns To Service 10 Aircraft Temporarily Grounded By Regulator
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) temporarily grounded 10 SpiceJet aircraft for repair, but the aircraft have since returned to service. SpiceJet can only operate the 10 aircraft after confirming to the regulator that all reported defects and malfunctions are rectified, minister of state for civil…
Philippines To Expand Four Domestic Airports
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued requests for bids for initial works related to future expansion of four domestic airports in the Philippines. The four contracts, each for one of the domestic airports, is listed as…
India’s Star Air Plans To Lease Embraer E-175s
Indian start-up Star Air plans to lease two Embraer E175 aircraft, a new type from its fleet of Embraer ERJ-145s, for operation by November this year. Star Air says in a statement it has signed a letter of intent (LOI)…
Thailand’s Nok Air Plans Hub At Chiang Mai International Airport
Nok Air plans to make Chiang Mai International Airport a domestic and international hub. Nok Air CEO, Wutthiphum Jurangkool, says Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is an appealing travel destination and that it will be launching domestic services from Chiang…
Indonesian Citilink Airbus A320 Returns To Surabaya As Captain Incapacitated
An Airbus A320, operated by Indonesian low-cost carrier Citilink, returned yesterday to Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport shortly after take-off as the captain was incapacitated. A spokesperson for government-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I, operator of Juanda International Airport, tells local…
Australia’s Regional Express Partners With Dovetail Electric Aviation For Turbine To Electric Powerplant Conversion
Regional Express (Rex) is forming a strategic partnership with Dovetail Electric Aviation (Dovetail) for turbine to electric powerplant conversions by 2026. Rex in a statement says the partnership will operate under the Dovetail brand to develop and certify the retrofitting of electric engines onto…
Qantas Airways Boeing 737 Declares Mayday Fuel
A Qantas Airways Boeing 737-800 declared an emergency on 18 July for a safe priority landing at Perth Airport due to the low amount of fuel left on board. A Qantas spokesperson tells Smart Aviation Asia Pacific that prior to departure from…
Japan’s Oriental Air Bridge Still Plans To Order Second ATR 42
Japan’s Oriental Air Bridge, which plans to retire its three De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-200s, remains committed to purchasing a second ATR 42-600 after signing an order this week for the first. An Oriental Air Bridge spokesman tells…
Japan’s Oriental Air Bridge Plans Sightseeing Biofuel Flights
Updated to correct that the scenic flight will run on a biofuel blend instead of 100% biofuel in the fourth paragraph. Japanese regional carrier Oriental Air Bridge is partnering with Japanese biofuel producer Euglena and the Japanese travel agency…
Bhutan’s Drukair Airbus A319 Passenger To Freighter Conversion Vital For Country
Bhutan’s national carrier Drukair plans to convert one of its Airbus A319s to a dedicated freighter to diversify the landlocked nation’s logistics capabilities. Drukair CEO, Tandi Wangchuk, tells Smart Aviation Asia Pacific it plans to use its Airbus A319, local…
India’s SpiceJet Launching New Domestic Routes
India’s SpiceJet is launching some new domestic routes, including one under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. SpiceJet says in a statement new domestic routes include a daily service connecting Nashik International Airport with Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport starting 22…
