Air Transport

Cardless, Inc, & LATAM Airlines Group S.A. partner to create, a new co-branded United States credit card program

Airlines Credit Card
San Francisco-based financial technology firm, Cardless, Inc, and LATAM Airlines Group S.A. partner to create, distribute and market a new co-branded United States credit card program for avid American travelers. Specific benefits of the new LATAM Airlines Credit Card program, along with availability for applications, will be announced later this year.

"We are beyond thrilled to be joining forces with LATAM in our first foray into travel rewards credit cards. Moving beyond entertainment and leisure, travel rewards are an absolute necessity in the 21st century – a fact that the isolation of the past two years has only intensified. We can't wait to help LATAM reward their customers with tangible benefits that bring people across the world back together."

Michael Spelfogel, President and Co-Founder of Cardless

Cardless cards offer a number of features designed for digital native consumers, both in terms of security and easy access. New users will easily be able to apply for a Cardless card using their smartphone, and the virtual card will be delivered to their mobile wallet in seconds. The physical card will carry no card number, in order to protect the user from fraud – should the digital-only number become compromised, users will be able to receive a new number through the Cardless mobile app.

"We strive to continuously improve our customer experience and this new partnership seeks to offer more options for accumulating miles through a simpler and more intuitive digital experience. Fintech companies are pioneers in adaptability and flexibility with the end-user in mind, and the LATAM Airlines Credit Card program exemplifies this.", said Paola Peñarete, Vice President of Sales for North America, Caribbean, Mexico, and Asia, LATAM Airlines Group.

LATAM Group currently offers travelers the opportunity to join LATAM Pass, one of the largest airline loyalty programs in the world with over 40 million members to date. LATAM Pass members can join the waitlist to become one of the first to apply for the LATAM Cardless credit card program.

About LATAM Airlines Group S.A
LATAM is based in Santiago, Chile, offering nonstop flights between Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Orlando in the United States, and key destinations in South America. LATAM's international codeshare partners add even more opportunities for U.S. customers to earn and redeem miles for global travel.

About Cardless, Inc.
Cardless, Inc. is a credit card company based in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 2019 by Stanford graduates Michael Spelfogel and Scott Kazmeierowicz, Cardless is on the cutting edge of co-brand credit card product development. Cardless has raised $50M in equity funding from investors including Activant Capital, Greycroft, Accomplice, Pear VC, the ownership of Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, and the Founders of Plaid, Bonobos, Flatiron Health, and 100 Thieves.

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Eviation Announces Order from Solyu for 25 Alice All-Electric Commuter Aircraft

PR Newswire | September 12, 2023

Eviation Aircraft, a manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, today announced that Solyu, a leasing company based in Seoul, South Korea, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 25 commuter Alice aircraft with options for 25 additional aircraft. Solyu is focused on supporting sustainable aviation by providing financing and leasing solutions for the Alice to a global customer base of operators. Leading the Electric Age of Aviation The nine-passenger Eviation Alice is the world's first flight-proven all-electric commuter aircraft. Built from a clean-sheet design integrating magniX's industry-leading electric propulsion system, Alice produces zero carbon emissions and features lower operating costs per flight hour compared to light jets or high-end turboprops – thereby providing the opportunity to activate more routes, improving the convenience of air travel. "Solyu's order is a testament to how lessors are embracing Alice as the future of flight," said Eddie Jaisaree, Vice President, Commercial Sales at Eviation. "The leasing community is an important constituent in bringing about sustainable change in the aviation industry. It is exciting to see a forward-thinking company such as Solyu recognizing Alice's zero carbon technology, economic viability and beautiful design." "We are very excited to work with Eviation to bring sustainable aviation to the market," said Andrew Claerbout, President of Solyu. "With aviation regulations focusing on sustainability and airlines demanding to reduce their carbon footprint, we see Alice as a major contributor to meeting those targets. In addition to its zero emissions, Alice's flexible layout and low operating costs will provide operators opportunities to open new markets." "As we continue to take important steps toward certification, Alice has now secured US$ 5 billion in orders," said Gregory Davis, CEO of Eviation. "It is gratifying to see the marketplace so excited about Alice's innovative design, low cost of operation and environmental credentials. We are delighted to have Solyu, our newest leasing customer, join us in our mission to lead the electric age of aviation." About Eviation Aircraft Based in Washington State, U.S., Eviation Aircraft Inc. develops and manufactures electric aircraft to delight operators and passengers with green, cost efficient and convenient regional transportation. Its electric propulsion units, high-energy-density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and innovative airframe are designed from the ground up for electric flight. Please visit us at www.eviation.com. About Solyu Based in Seoul, South Korea, Solyu is a lessor focused on providing customers with the newest technology, zero emissions aircraft. The team at Solyu is highly experienced with decades of global experience in aircraft leasing and finance.

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Aviation Technology

Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM co-lead ZeroAvia's latest financing round

ZeroAvia | September 21, 2023

ZeroAvia today announced that Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM have co-led the company's latest financing round. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Alaska Airlines, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, AP Ventures and Amazon Climate Pledge Fund have also participated in the investment. This investment will enable ZeroAvia to accelerate progress towards certification of its first engine as well as delivering the company's mission of a hydrogen-electric engine in every aircraft. In conjunction with the investment, Airbus and ZeroAvia have agreed to collaborate on certification approaches for hydrogen power systems. The companies also intend to work together on a number of critical technical areas, including liquid hydrogen fuel storage, flight and ground testing of fuel cell propulsion systems, and development of hydrogen refueling infrastructure and operations. ZeroAvia is pursuing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems as the most environmentally friendly and economically attractive solution to aviation's growing climate change impact. The company's hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which is then used to power electric motors to turn the aircraft's propellers, with the only byproduct during flight being water. Airbus is a global leader in fostering alternative propulsion using hydrogen. Fuel cell systems are an important part of its ZEROe aircraft concepts program, designed to deliver low-carbon emission airframes of various sizes. The industry major has recently ground tested a hydrogen engine concept at 1.2 MW power. The investment will support ZeroAvia's continued growth and technology development, most notably progressing its first product – ZA600 - through to certification. ZeroAvia recently completed the first stage of flight testing of the prototype ZA600 and is moving to complete design work ahead of certification, targeting 2025 entry-in-service to support up to 20 seat aircraft. The funding will also enable ZeroAvia to continue to progress its larger engine program - the ZA2000, a 2-5.4 MW modular powertrain designed to support larger commercial aircraft applications. The company is working on retrofitting a Dash 8 400 76-seat testbed demonstrator provided by Alaska Airlines, with a view to first flight testing with a full size engine in 2024. The investment will help ZeroAvia extend the leadership it has established across core in-house technologies for multi-MW class hydrogen-electric engines, including high temperature PEM (HTPEM) fuel cells, advanced electric motors and power electronics, and onboard liquid hydrogen fuel storage. Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia, said: "Anybody following the development of hydrogen aviation - and its potential to transform the industry - will see this investment as a positive step. Airbus has led the way with its zero-emission vision and its commitment to extensive R&D programs. For ZeroAvia to now have investors such as Airbus coming on board is the strongest possible validation of the prospects for hydrogen-electric propulsion technology." "ZeroAvia has already been successful in flight testing fuel cell propulsion, and hydrogen storage and distribution systems on board their Do-228 flight test platform which puts them in a strong position to take their technologies to the next phase of development," said Glenn Llewellyn, Airbus Vice President ZEROe aircraft. "In addition, ZeroAvia is supporting the development of a wider hydrogen ecosystem for aviation - technologies, decarbonised hydrogen supply and certification of hydrogen propulsion systems - which all complement well with our own ambition to bring a ZEROe hydrogen powered aircraft to service by 2035." Andy Challis, Co-Head of Principal Investments, Barclays, said: "Replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen has been identified as a key decarbonisation pathway for hard to abate sectors, such as aviation. Our Sustainable Impact Capital portfolio is one of many ways which Barclays is supporting green-tech companies to innovate and scale, recognising that doing so at speed is crucial for a timely transition to net zero. ZeroAvia has shown that with ambition, technological innovation and the right support from both the public and private sector, it is possible to scale and implement such hydrogen technologies at pace, as evidenced by the ZA600 moving ever closer to commercial flight. We're delighted to be making a follow-on investment and look forward to seeing ZeroAvia continuing to drive change in the aviation sector." Majid Mufti, Managing Director NEOM Investment Fund, said: "At NEOM, we are committed to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions that pave the way for a greener future. Our focus on maximizing renewable energy sources and fostering innovation in alternative fuel systems aligns with ZeroAvia's pioneering efforts in hydrogen-electric propulsion technology. Developing a green hydrogen future is central to NEOM's mission, and participating in this venture with ZeroAvia was a natural choice for us. We look forward to working closely with the company and contributing significantly to reaching that future." About ZeroAvia ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation, focused on hydrogen-electric aviation as the initially targeting a 300-mile range in 9–19 seat aircraft by the end of 2025, and up to 700-mile range in 40–80 seat aircraft by 2027. Based in the US and the UK, ZeroAvia has already secured experimental certificates for its three prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA, passed significant flight test milestones, secured a number of key partnerships with major aircraft OEMs, secured pre-orders for nearly 2,000 engines from a number of the major global airlines, with future revenue potential over $10bn. ZeroAvia is part of the UK Government's Jet Zero Council. About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2022 it generated revenues of € 58.76 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. About Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital As part of the firm's broader commitments, Barclays will invest £500m of its own capital, led by the Principal Investments team, in fast-growing, innovative, environmentally-focused companies whose values are aligned with those of Barclays and which target the goals and timelines of the Paris Agreement. Investments will be strategic to Barclays, its clients and the communities it serves, with clear scalable propositions that deliver both environmental benefits and economic returns. About NEOM NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. NEOM will include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in groundbreaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity.

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Aviation Technology

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A321neo to Spirit Airlines

PR Newswire | October 25, 2023

Garmin announced its latest aviator smartwatch – the D2™ Mach 1 Pro. Featuring a large AMOLED touchscreen display, up to 25 days of battery life1, an LED flashlight and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for the most demanding pilot lifestyles, including those who fly professionally. Sporting classic pilot watch styling and premium materials like sapphire and titanium, the D2 Mach 1 Pro is ready to be worn both in and out of the cockpit. With extensive aviation, health, fitness and smartwatch features – D2 Mach 1 Pro redefines what pilots should expect from their smartwatch. "This year marks 10 years of the D2 series – a smartwatch line that pilots have relied on to combine aviation tools with the latest smartwatch technology. The D2 Mach 1 Pro provides an extensive set of advanced capabilities that pilots use every day, all while touting battery life that can withstand even the long-haul commercial pilot trips. Features like the LED flashlight and large AMOLED display, combined with the high-end materials, make this the most premium-built D2 smartwatch yet." –Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales and Marketing New features pilots will love A built-in LED flashlight offers variable white light intensities, a strobe function and red light for flight deck operations. Improved battery life touts up to 25 days in smartwatch mode and up to 46 hours in the Fly activity, perfect for the professional pilots who complete their trip over multiple days. Red Shift Mode changes the entire watch interface to shades of red to help preserve night vision, which provides for potentially clearer sight for demanding night flying conditions. The ECG app2 allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Users can take a 30-second ECG recording and view the results immediately on their smartwatch and, optionally, later in the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app. When pilots aren't taking to the skies, they can get a better understanding of their fitness levels and track their performance with more than 30 built-in sports apps and advanced training features like hill score and endurance score. Designed for pilots Built for 24/7 wear, the carbon gray D2 Mach 1 Pro combines a durable design and premium materials like sapphire and titanium with a vibrant and sunlight-readable 1.4" AMOLED display. The 51mm watch case features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel and stainless steel 5-button design, allowing for quick access to flying tools, fitness stats, smart notifications3 and more – all on the responsive touchscreen interface. Compatible with a wide variety of metal, leather, nylon and silicone QuickFit™ bands, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be styled for every type of event, whether it's a workout at the gym or a night on the town. Premium aviation features on your wrist The D2 Mach 1 Pro includes all the preflight, in-flight and postflight features pilots have come to know and trust from the D2 series, including a worldwide aeronautical database, HSI, Direct-to and moving map — all available without a phone connection. Pilots can stay informed with easy access to NEXRAD3, METARs, TAFs and MOS4 weather reports — alongside custom weather alerts as well as non-weather alerts like time, distance, altitude and a fuel timer. Utilize the wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor5 to monitor blood oxygen levels and barometric altimeter for altitude alerts. And in case of an engine-related issue, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance and glide time, along with a bearing pointer to the nearest airport and a list of alternate airports. Flight logging is a breeze with the D2 Mach 1 Pro, which automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically transfers the date, duration, total flight time and route to the user's flyGarmin.com logbook3. Pilots can connect with the Garmin Pilot™ app to seamlessly transfer flight plans to the watch and view the list of waypoints included in their route. Additionally, for pilots operating a PlaneSync™-equipped aircraft, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used to access the aircraft dashboard to view status information6 including fuel, electrical, database and location information while away from the aircraft. Customized fitness With dozens of built-in sports apps – including new team sport activities like football, baseball, softball and more – D2 Mach 1 Pro provides data and insights for many passions. Whether working out at a gym or in the comfort of one's home, the D2 Mach 1 Pro tracks activities like strength, cardio, indoor rowing, stair stepping, yoga and HIIT. Users can also take advantage of daily workout suggestions or follow animated cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates workouts right on their watch screen. For those exploring the great outdoors, they can keep track of adventures like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, whitewater rafting and more. Around-the-clock wearability The D2 Mach 1 Pro is designed for all-day wear and includes advanced health and wellness tools, as well as a suite of smart features to keep users connected while on the go. Loaded with 24/7 health monitoring features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes Body Battery™ energy monitoring, all-day stress tracking, jet lag advisor, advanced sleep monitoring and sleep score, and more. Packed with connected features, the D2 Mach 1 Pro lets users receive smart notifications3; download songs from Spotify®, Deezer or Amazon Music7 for phone-free listening; check their calendar; breeze through checkout lines with Garmin Pay™ contactless payments8; and more. Like all Garmin smartwatches, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used with either Android or Apple® smartphones. Available now, the D2 Mach 1 Pro includes a vented titanium bracelet with carbon gray DLC coating as well as a black silicone band for a suggested retail price of $1399.99. Garmin products and services have revolutionized flight and become essential to the lives of pilots and aircraft owners and operators around the world. A leading provider of solutions to general aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, government and defense, and commercial air carrier customers, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate. Recipient of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for Garmin Autoland, Garmin developed the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to control and land an aircraft without human intervention. Visit the Garmin Newsroom, email our media team, connect with @garminaviation on social, or follow our blog. Battery life based on D2 Mach 1 Pro when smartwatch mode is enabled. The ECG app is only available when paired with a smartphone with the latest version of the Garmin Connect smartphone app. The ECG app is not available in all regions; see Garmin.com/ECG for availability. The ECG app is not intended for use by people under 22 years old. With the ECG app, this device is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. When paired with a compatible smartphone, with a data connection, and in range of Bluetooth technology. U.S. airports only This is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition; see Garmin.com/ataccuracy. Pulse Ox is not available in all countries. Remote aircraft status requires active PlaneSync subscription. User's smart device must have internet connectivity. Feature is available on-ground only and requires GDL 60 to have LTE connectivity; signal strength and other factors may apply. See Garmin.com/PlaneSyncCoverage for coverage details. May require premium subscription by a third-party music provider View current supported country, payment network and issuing bank information at Garmin.com/GarminPay/Banks.

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