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Aerorutas Expands with Falcon 2000 for US Cargo Charters

Aerorutas (San Fernando, AR) is set to add a Falcon 2000EX EASy II, its first Dassault Aviation business jet, to expand its ad-hoc cargo charters to the United States.

The Argentinian business charter specialist revealed this in a June 27 application for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and exemption from the US Department of Transportation. The Falcon 2000, identified as N303CL (msn 61), was ferried from Bogotá to San Fernando via S?o Roque S?o Paulo Catarina on June 27.

Aerorutas plans to use the Falcon 2000 exclusively for cargo charters and has not applied for passenger services.

The carrier, based at San Fernando executive airport near Buenos Aires, obtained its Argentinian AOC in November 2023. Its current fleet includes a Learjet 31A and a Beech King Air B200GT.

Emirates Reveals First Destinations for Refurbished Boeing 777s

Emirates has announced Geneva, Tokyo Haneda, and Brussels as the inaugural destinations for its refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft. These upgraded jets will feature Emirates' new Premium Economy class and 'next generation Business Class seats' in a 1-2-1 configuration, debuting on flights starting August 11.

"As part of our $3 billion investment in 191 aircraft, Emirates is transforming our Boeing 777s with enhanced interiors inspired by our flagship A380," stated Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Airline. The revamped cabins promise modern design elements, signature finishes, and increased privacy in the new Business Class.

Emirates plans to refurbish a total of 81 Boeing 777s as part of its extensive retrofit program, with additional destinations to be announced soon. The airline's ambitious initiative marks one of the largest retrofit programs in the industry, reinforcing its commitment to passenger comfort and satisfaction.

Today marks the start of the comprehensive interior refurbishment process for Emirates' Boeing 777 fleet, encompassing everything from the First Class cabin to the installation of new seating configurations in Business, Premium Economy, and Economy classes.

Royal Australian Air Force Upgrades VIP Fleet with B737-8BBJs

The Royal Australian Air Force is preparing to receive two B737-8(BBJ) aircraft, replacing its current B737-700(BBJ)used for transporting senior politicians and dignitaries.

The first replacement aircraft, A62-001 (msn 67959), underwent testing in Dallas, Texas, throughout June and completed its ferry flight to Camp Springs via Warner Robins on July 1. The introduction into service details were sought from the Australian Defence Force by ch-aviation.

The second B737-8(BBJ), currently N787BJ (msn 67960), is awaiting delivery.

These VIP aircraft will join the Royal Australian Air Force's 34 Squadron at Canberra's Fairbairn RAAF base. This update marks the renewal of the entire VIP fleet, following the replacement of three Bombardier Challenger CL-604s with Falcon 7Xs in 2019. The leases for the current B737-700BBJs, which faced reliability issues, are expiring this year.

Initially planned as a AUD 371 million lease through the National Australia Bank for 12 years starting in 2021, foreign exchange fluctuations increased costs to AUD 411 million by early 2024, projected to exceed AUD 550 million by lease end. Consequently, the decision was made to purchase the two aircraft outright.

India Ranks Third in Domestic Aviation Market

India has secured its position as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, trailing only the U.S. and China. Data from Official Airline Guide (OAG) reveals that airlines like IndiGo and Air India have significantly expanded their fleets to meet the rising demand for air travel.

Over the past decade, India's domestic airline capacity has doubled from 7.9 million seats in April 2014 to 15.5 million seats in April 2024. This growth has propelled India ahead of Brazil, now fourth with 9.7 million seats, and Indonesia, fifth with 9.2 million seats.

India leads the top five countries with the highest annual average capacity growth rate of 6.9%, followed by China at 6.3% and the U.S. at 2.4%.

IndiGo and Air India, with a combined order of over 1,000 planes, dominate the market, accounting for 90% of domestic seats in India. The country has witnessed a significant shift towards low-cost carriers (LCCs), with LCCs commanding 78.4% of the domestic capacity in April 2024, marking the sharpest transition among the top five aviation markets.

Stellantis Boosts Archer with $55 Million Investment After Flight Test Milestone

AMSTERDAM and SANTA CLARA, CA – Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) and Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) have announced a $55 million investment by Stellantis in Archer, following the successful achievement of its transition flight test milestone last month.

This latest investment follows Stellantis’ earlier purchase of 8.3 million shares of Archer’s stock in March this year and builds on a total 2023 investment of $110 million in Archer through both open market purchases and strategic funding agreements.

Archer remains focused on completing its high-volume manufacturing facility in Georgia by the end of this year. The initial phase will cover approximately 350,000 square feet on a 100-acre site, aiming to support the production of up to 650 aircraft annually, positioning it as one of the largest facilities by volume in the aircraft industry. The collaboration aims to leverage Stellantis’ manufacturing expertise for Archer’s commercial ramp-up.

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, praised the achievement, stating, “With this additional investment in Archer, we remain on course for a future where freedom of mobility extends beyond today’s roads.”

Archer CEO Adam Goldstein highlighted the strategic partnership with Stellantis, emphasizing their joint effort to redefine urban transportation through sustainable, efficient electric air taxi flights. Archer’s Midnight aircraft is designed for four passengers, aiming to significantly reduce travel times compared to conventional ground transportation.