Southwest Airlines has entered into a deal with a unit of Valero Energy for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the Chicago Midway International Airport, the carrier said on Thursday. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects domestic production of biofuels to increase by about 50% in 2024, led by rising production of SAF, which can help decarbonize the aviation sector. Under the two-year agreement, Illinois' largest SAF supply deal, Southwest will purchase a minimum of 3.6m gallons of neat SAF for use in its operations as early as in the current quarter, the company said in a statement. The carrier will also have the option to purchase up to 25m gallons of neat SAF over the agreement's term. Southwest said the neat SAF is expected to be produced from waste-based feedstocks, including used cooking oil, animal tallow, and distiller's corn oil. Diamond Green Diesel, a joint venture between the unit of Valero and Darling Ingredients, will supply the neat SAF, which will be blended with Valero's conventional jet fuel and delivered through existing fuel delivery infrastructure.<br/>
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Icelandic budget carrier Play is planning to obtain a Maltese air operator’s certificate in order to diversify its activities, following pressure on its transatlantic operations. It is aiming to support its southern European services, and will use the Maltese AOC to station aircraft in Tenerife – serving both Icelandic and other destinations. CE Einar Orn Olafsson had hinted at such a strategy while speaking to FlightGlobal earlier this year, suggesting that the carrier could use Spanish crews to operate opposite-direction sectors from southern Europe to Iceland. The airline, which uses a fleet of Airbus single-aisle jets, says it expects to complete the Maltese AOC process by spring next year. It indicates that it will place three or four aircraft on the Maltese AOC and retain six or seven on its Icelandic AOC. While the carrier says its financial position is “secure” and it is not intending to pursue additional funding, it says its full-year earnings are likely to fall below last year’s level. It attributes this to stronger competition, greater capacity and lower yields on the transatlantic routes, and states that it is “de-emphasising” its transatlantic operation in response – cutting back “significantly” on the number of North American destinations next year.<br/>
Kazakhstan’s regional operator Qazaq Air could modernise its fleet early next year through a tie-up with Vietnam’s Sovico Group. Sovico Group is linked to budget carrier Vietjet and, earlier this year, was reported to be pursuing an investment in Qazaq Air. This followed a number of failed attempts by the Kazakh government to privatise the carrier, which operates regional services with a fleet of De Havilland Dash 8-400s. The carrier has expressed interest in expanding its fleet and network with jet aircraft. Qazaq Air is owned by Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, the internal news service for which indicates that Sovico Group plans to provide 20 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to Qazaq Air over the next five years. It reports local outlet Kapital – which cites Kazakh transport minister Marat Karabayev – as saying that the first aircraft will join the Qazaq fleet in 2025, despite efforts to have an initial four arrive this year. Karabayev insisted the negotiations to acquire Qazaq Air were proceeding without problems, and added that the options for Qazaq Air’s fleet included taking both new and older aircraft.<br/>
Air Tahiti Nui has appointed Philippe Marie, the airline’s former secretary-general, as its new CE. The French Polynesian airline said on 17 October that Marie is “poised to steer the airline toward new opportunities and advancements”. “We are thrilled to welcome Mr Marie back to the Air Tahiti Nui team,” says Caroline Borawski, the carrier’s vice-president of the Americas. “His deep-rooted knowledge of the islands of Tahiti and his airline industry expertise are invaluable to us as we look to solidify our stronghold as a leading carrier in the competitive Pacific region.” Marie served as the airline’s secretary-general from 2004 to 2007 and returns to the carrier from Marara Paiement, a Tahitian financial institution. The airline says he also spent fourteen years as deputy general manager of Banque de Tahiti, and three years as technical advisor on financial and economic matters for the government of French Polynesia. There, he helped develop policies, laws and financial frameworks. “Marie’s extensive knowledge of the destination is set to both enhance the airline’s operational integrity and compliance, and build upon the strong foundation that Air Tahiti Nui has established with its partners,” the company adds. The carrier, based in Papeete, serves 10 countries in cooperation with codeshare partners that include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air Calin, Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas and LATAM Airlines Group.<br/>