Airbus on 25 March conducted a test flight of an Airbus A380 quadjet with one engine powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). MSN 1 was flown from Blagnac airport in Toulouse with one of its Trent 900 engine operating on 27t of unblended SAF, the European airframer says. This is the third Airbus aircraft type to fly on 100% SAF over the course of 12 months, following an A350 in March 2021 and an A319neo in October. The A380 used was recently assigned to be Airbus’s ZEROe Demonstrator, a flying testbed for future technologies intended to be instrumental in bringing the world’s first zero-emissions aircraft to market by 2035.
The SAF used was provided by Total Energies. It was produced from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids at Normandy in France, and primarily consisted of used cooking oil and other waste fats. An A380 flight between Toulouse and Nice, scheduled for 29 March, is testing the use of SAF during take-off and landing. All Airbus aircraft are currently certificated to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene, and the airframer aims to achieve certification of 100% SAF by the end of this decade.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) on 26 March began flight checks on the new third runway at Hong Kong International airport. The flight checks, conducted in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Department and the Flight Inspection Center of Civil Aviation Administration of China, seek to ensure related air navigation service equipment, flight procedures and airfield ground lighting system fully meet the standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation, the airport says. The checks are expected to be completed in April and the third runway is scheduled to commence operation this year as planned, the airport adds. The pavement work of the third runway has been completed, while related infrastructure facilities including taxiways, airfield ground lighting system and rescue and firefighting facilities, among others, have also been “substantially completed”.

The board of Saudi carrier Flynas has approved raising the volume of its orders to 250 aircraft after ratifying the strategic plan of the airline. The board reviewed Flynas’ financial results for 2021 and noted its success in quickly recovering from the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and the efficiency of the executive management in managing the crisis restoring the pre-pandemic operating levels in record time, the airline says. Chief executive and managing director Bander Almohanna states: “The decision of the board to raise Flynas’ new aircraft orders to 250 supports our effort to achieve the civil aviation strategy, and expresses the board of directors’ belief in the growth opportunities and positive perspective of domestic and international markets.” “From our position as a Saudi air carrier, we see great opportunities for expansion supported by the strategic location of the Kingdom and the prospects opened by Saudi Vision 2030 for the air transport sector. This is reinforced by the launch of the civil aviation strategy, which aims to increase the annual passenger traffic to 330 million and connect Saudi Arabia with more than 250 destinations worldwide by 2030,” he adds. Almohanna further states: “We will explore aircraft of different capabilities, to fly to new destinations increasing the connection of the world to the Kingdom, support tourism and contribute to the transportation of pilgrims and Umrah performers.” Flynas is currently in discussion with aircraft manufacturers in drafting agreements. Furthermore, Flynas’ board approved its international expansion within the new strategic plan and to explore the opening of new bases in several countries. Data shows that the carrier currently has 42 Airbus A320s in service or in storage and 78 A320neo and A321neo units on order.