Swoop Heats up the New Year with Service to Los Cabos

Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline, brings new sunny destination to Abbotsford with launch of inaugural route

ABBOTSFORD, BC, Jan. 31, 2022 /CNW/ – Today, Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low cost airline, celebrated its first flight between Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) and Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).  The ultra-low-cost airline’s inaugural service took off from Abbotsford at 9:00 a.m. PST and is scheduled to arrive at 2:55pm local time. 

“As the country’s leading ultra-low fare airline, we’re pleased to add another warm-weather getaway option for residents of the Fraser Valley, with Los Cabos topping our growing list of non-stop destinations available from Abbotsford,” said Shane Workman, Head of Flight Operations, Swoop. “Abbotsford International Airport has been an integral partner back, going back to June 20^th, 2018, when we operated our first Swoop flight. We’re thankful for their continued commitment to supporting the ultra-low cost model at YXX, bringing more affordable air travel and vacation options to Canadians.” 

Today’s inaugural service marks the first of many to come in 2022, as the airline furthers its commitment and strategic focus on providing more choice and ultra-low fares to the Fraser Valley and Vancouver’s Lower Mainland. Swoop’s introductory fares from Abbotsford to Los Cabos start at just $79 CAD†, and Canadians can unlock additional hotel discounts when they add a hotel or all-inclusive resort to their booking through Swoop Getaways. Beginning March 12, Swoop will also add Mazatlán to its non-stop sun flying schedule from Abbotsford, the third destination in Mexico following Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.

In celebration of the new service, Swoop’s Head of Flight Operations, Shane Workman was joined by Parm Sidhu, YXX Airport General Manager for an inaugural ceremony prior to departure from Abbotsford International Airport, where travellers were treated to refreshments and giveaways.

“We look forward to expanding our connectivity with Swoop to bring travellers from Abbotsford in a direct flight to Los Cabos,” said Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “As Canadian tourism to the destination continues a steady recovery, we continue to implement strong health and safety protocols as travellers look to experience all that our destination has to offer from world-class gastronomy to luxury resorts.”

To learn more about Swoop and for flights from Abbotsford, please visit FlySwoop.com and for information on how Swoop is ensuring a safe and healthy travel experience visit FlySwoop.com/traveller-safety.

†70 total seats available for travel between February 14 – April 25, 2022. Sale ends February 6 (11:59pm MT).

About Swoop

Swoop is on a mission to make travel more affordable and accessible for all Canadians. Established in 2018 as an independent subsidiary of the WestJet Group of Companies, Swoop is Canada’s ultra-not-expensive airline. Offering scheduled service to destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, Swoop’s unbundled fares put travellers in control of purchasing only the products and services they desire.

Swoop’s modern fleet of ten Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, equipped with in-seat power and Wi-Fi connectivity has safely carried more than 3 million travellers in three years of operation. FlySwoop.com allows travellers to quickly and easily book flights, manage bookings, check-in, view boarding passes, track flights and access Wi-Fi service in-flight.

Winnipeg Airports Authority welcomed highest travel volumes since onset of the pandemic in fourth quarter of 2021

January 28, 2022

Increased passenger traffic and steady air cargo growth propelled WAA forward in the last quarter of 2021.  

Building on a stronger third quarter, the last three months of the year saw 518,726 passengers travel through the airport, an increase of almost 300 percent compared to the same period in 2020, but still only 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels. WAA closed 2021 having welcomed 1,223,054 passengers, slightly below the 1.3 million passengers in 2020 and well below the 4.5 million passengers the airport saw in 2019.  The encouraging sign is YWG saw 42 percent of its total annual traffic in the final quarter of the year.  

WAA’s consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $25.1 million, compared to $13.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes were $9.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, versus $2.7 million during the same period last year.  

“We continued to see promising signs of recovery in the fourth quarter as restrictions on travel abated as vaccination levels increased,” said Barry Rempel, President and CEO of WAA.  “The holiday season was a considerable improvement over 2020, with families and loved ones enjoying reconnecting, many for the first time since the start of the pandemic.” 

The increase in traffic in the fourth quarter of 2021 was the result of WAA working closely with airline partners to restore service for the region. Winter charter season kicked off in November with direct service to several sought-after sun destinations, such as Cancun, Palm Springs, and Puerto Vallarta.  

WAA continued to support the growth of the airport’s booming cargo sector in the fourth quarter. The number of cargo planes landing at YWG jumped by 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the same period in 2020. Each quarter in 2021, the cargo sector exhibited steady growth over the previous year, reaffirming WAA’s plans for future cargo expansion. 

Other highlights from the quarter included celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the terminal’s opening, as well opening two new exhibition spaces in the terminal for travellers to explore post-security. Gathering restrictions didn’t allow the airport to repeat the previous season’s celebratory homecoming of the CFL Grey Cup Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers with the community; however, the airport did welcome home curling legends Team Jennifer Jones after they secured their place on Canada’s Winter Olympic Team.  

WAA also continued to support the communities we serve in the fourth quarter. The WAA team proudly rolled up their sleeves for the 25^th year in a row to harvest the airport garden in support of Harvest Manitoba. Employees also organized a donation drive for Main Street Project, helping deliver in-demand items in advance of the holiday season. WAA’s subsidiary WASCO worked closely with partners in Iqaluit to help bring bottled water into the community and bring empty bottles out of the community for recycling amid their drinking water emergency.   

The year did end with a new challenge for the industry as the Omicron variant started to take hold across the country, creating uncertainty for the new year. WAA continues to work with our partners to mitigate the risk Omicron poses to travellers and airport employees and continue to provide a safe and healthy travel environment. 

Looking ahead, 2022 will be another exciting year for WAA as it works to restore choice for passenger service to the region while also expanding YWG’s cargo campus. Demolition work will begin in early 2022 to allow for the construction of the Multi-tenant Air Cargo Logistics Facility, which received funding under the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund. 2022 also marks the 25th anniversary of WAA and the shift to local management of the airport campus. WAA will also welcome a new President and CEO in the first half of 2022.

Lynx Air CEO sees room for all amid cutthroat market crowded with carriers

From CTV News 🔗link to source story

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press & Staff | January 30, 2022

From Lynx Air

Australian Merren McArthur first touched down in Canada in the mid-1980s for a ski holiday that turned into a two-month stay in the Rockies.

“I landed in Calgary and the pilot said it was -40 C. And I was like, `Whoa, I didn’t know that humans could survive in that temperature,”’ McArthur recalls.

“I walked into the Banff Springs Hotel and asked them if they had any jobs. I became their first female doorman.”

She loved the skiing. “But I remember being introduced to Caesar cocktails, and I really liked them.”

Now McArthur’s back as CEO of Lynx Air, enticed by the mountainous task of getting an upstart budget carrier off the ground amid intense low-cost competition and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) have been beefing up since the summer in preparation for a clash with Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. – and with each other – particularly for domestic flights and sun destinations.

Flair Airlines was down to one aircraft in April. It now has a dozen 737s, with eight more coming by the end of June as the Edmonton-based airline adds routes from Victoria to St. John’s, N.L.

Meanwhile, WestJet budget subsidiary Swoop continues to expand, unveiling nine new routes out of Edmonton in November.

“It is going to be a price war,” said aviation expert and McGill University lecturer John Gradek.

“It’s a harbinger of what’s going to happen this summer with the continuous battle between Flair and Lynx to basically get the price advantage in the marketplace. And Air Canada and WestJet are going to get caught in the crossfire,” Gradek said.

McArthur says “it will be competitive,” but that she sees pent-up demand in Canada, where ULCCs claim only about 12 per cent of the market compared with more than 40 per cent in Europe.

“We’re not really about targeting or taking share away from our competitors, we’re actually about enticing more people to fly and growing the market,” she says.

Lynx, formerly known as Enerjet, plans to make its first flight from Calgary to Vancouver on April 7. By May it aims to operate 76 flights per week along seven routes servicing Vancouver, Kelowna, B.C., Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. The company expects more routes will be added this summer.

For the moment, flight cancellations define the sector. In the last three weeks alone Air Canada, WestJet, Transat, Sunwing, Flair and Swoop have scrapped more than 5,300 flights in February alone, or 14.5 per cent of their collective trips, according to figures from airline data company Cirium.

Even if travel restrictions ease and demand rebounds, other hurdles remain.

A shortage of staff, particularly pilots, continues to hamper the industry, though Lynx hopes to hire 450 employees this year, the majority in Calgary. North America will face a shortage of 12,000 pilots by 2023, according to projections from consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Shifting travel patterns have also seen more Canadians make leisure travel decisions at the last minute, while others opt for road trips instead of air.

“People are finding it difficult to plan months in advance with changing COVID restrictions and developments,” said David Huttner, a London-based expert in low-cost-carriers, which offer bare-bones discount fares and charge extra for services such as checked bags and cancellations.

“The travel habits change, especially on shorter routes. Someone going Montreal-Ottawa now might be more likely to drive in their own car.”

But while the pandemic saw billions of dollars in revenue go up in smoke over the past 20 months, it also burned down barriers to entry for new airlines.

Plummeting demand for aircraft meant carriers could access them more quickly and cheaply. And greater availability of airport slots has given companies leverage when striking deals with airport authorities.

McArthur – like Flair CEO Stephen Jones and WestJet chief operating officer Diederik Pen – cut her teeth in the Australia-New Zealand aviation market, an ideal training ground for Canadian airline executives.

Both Australia and Canada are massive countries with diffuse populations dependent on air travel to span the great distances between cities. Both have a long-standing flag carrier – Qantas and Air Canada respectively – that dominates the market. Both have hosted few independent low-cost carriers, with Canada a noted graveyard for budget airlines – six foundered here between 1995 and 2015: Greyhound Air, Roots Air, Air Canada’s Zip, Jetsgo, Zoom Airlines and Canjet.

McArthur is the second woman to head a national commercial airline in Canada, following Annick Guerard – who became the No. 1 at Transat A.T. last May, less than two weeks before McArthur began her tenure.

She worked as a lawyer for two decades, eventually landing as general counsel to low-cost airline Virgin Blue – soon to become Virgin Australia – in 2008.

She started as CEO of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines in 2013, returning it to profit within three years by focusing on charter flights for mining and resource companies, and continued to juggle that job after becoming chief executive of Virgin Australia Cargo.

Before taking a career break just before the pandemic struck, McArthur shifted to CEO of Virgin Australia’s low-cost Tigerair Australia in 2018, where she assembled a management team that achieved gender parity.

“I perhaps have a natural tendency to embrace diversity, because I do think that creativity and innovation is driven by people being able to bounce different ideas around the table,” she says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2022.

Charlottetown Airport numbers up in 2021, but there’s a long way to go

From CBC News 🔗 link to source story

‘We’re pleased with where we are compared to 2020’

Yakosu Umana · CBC News · January 28, 2022

Charlottetown Airport CEO Doug Newson says his team is in discussions with several airlines, and hopes to have a schedule of operators ready for summer in the coming weeks. (Jane Robertson/CBC )

The number of passengers flowing through the Charlottetown Airport in 2021 was an improvement from the “abysmal” year that was 2020, according to CEO Doug Newson.

The airport had 111,160 passengers in 2021 compared to around 71,000 the previous year, when the pandemic began.

That makes up roughly 29 per cent of the record-breaking number of passengers in 2019, which was more than 383,000. 

“We’re pleased with where we are compared to 2020,” Newson said. “But still have a long way to go to get back to normal.”

Last year, the Charlottetown Airport saw its best days during the end of July and into the first week of August. It was one of their busier weeks, Newson said. 

“We had three new flights starting, and within a five-day period two new airlines and a new flight to Calgary, and people travelling, people coming to the airport to pick up their family,” he said.

“We are hoping to see similar numbers or even better as we approach the summer of 2022.”

Summer plans well in the works

Newson thanked the federal government for providing financial support for smaller airports nationwide.

He said the Charlottetown Airport would have had “significant” financial loss if not for the aid, but the airport still isn’t where it needs to be financially. 

Newson says he wants travelers to feel safe when coming to the Charlottetown Airport. (Tony Davis/CBC)

“We just hope that in 2022, [we] will not see another setback where we’re at 30 per cent of normal levels,” he said.

Newson said his team is in discussions with several airlines, and hopes to have a schedule of operators ready for summer in the coming weeks. 

“Swoop has announced new service to Edmonton, we expect WestJet to be back on Calgary, but we are also expecting some other new flights for this summer,” he said.

“Even with the uncertainty we’re going through today, I think most of them have to move forward with summer plans here very soon and are quite optimistic that P.E.I. will be a popular destination for domestic tours in the summer.”

With files from Angela Walker

RCAF search and rescue plane conducts training in Quesnel

From Quesnel Cariboo Observer 🔗 link to source story

A CC-130H RCAF search and rescue airplane was spotted in Quesnel this week. Winnipeg-based crews were in B.C. conducting training on the west coast, where they will be stationed this summer. (RCAF Photo)

Crews from Winnipeg got the chance to train in B.C., where they will be stationed this summer

CASSIDY DANKOCHIK | January 27, 2022

Quesnel residents were buzzed by a military craft on Tuesday, Jan. 25, as a CC-130 Hercules Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) search and rescue crews trained in the area.

The large, black plane was seen flying low around Quesnel, as crews parachuted out of it.

Captain Christine MacNeil, the public affairs officer for 19 Wing Comox, said the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron based out of Winnipeg was conducting mountain familiarization training, open water training, as well as pilot and flight engineer upgrade training.

“As the Royal Canadian Air Force SAR crews can be called into any terrain, in any weather, and at any time of day, it is important that their training never become routine,” she said in an email.

“Therefore they train in different landscapes, different altitudes, all types of weather, and to ever-changing scenarios. As a result, RCAF SAR crews are highly trained specialists who stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”

The Hercules is being used as a search and rescue airplane in Victoria while the newly acquired fleet of CC-295 Kingfishers are prepared for full-time service. The CC-115 Buffalo search and rescue aircraft flew its final flight for 19 Wing Comox on Jan. 15.

Aircraft from the 435 will be based out of 19 Wing Comox throughout the summer, and help provide coverage during “periods of low operational tempo.”

“Therefore, it is important that the SAR crews increase their training and experience on the west coast,” MacNeil wrote.

After multiple crew members parachuted out of the CC-130, the plane landed at Quesnel’s airport, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers.

Passenger traffic at Halifax airport again down 75 per cent from pre-pandemic

From The Toronto Star 🔗 link to source story

By The Canadian Press | Friday, January 28, 2022

An Air Canada Airbus A220-300 airliner from Toronto arrives at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. on Monday, June 28, 2021.  ANDREW VAUGHAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS

HALIFAX – For the second year in a row, passenger traffic at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in 2021 was down 75 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.

As a result, Atlantic Canada’s busiest airport continued to record significant financial losses, despite a spike in business last summer when COVID-19 infection rates dropped, vaccination rates rose and travel restrictions were temporarily lifted.

More passengers were served during the month of August than January to July combined.

The Halifax International Airport Authority says that by the end of 2021, with the Omicron variant causing a huge increase in COVID-19 infections, the airport once again returned to 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

In all, 1.1 million passengers travelled through the airport last year, compared with the 4.2 million passengers welcomed in 2019 before the pandemic hit.

Official financial results for 2021 have yet to be released, but the airport authority’s financial loss is expected to be a marginal improvement from the $40 million loss reported in 2020, when there were just under 1 million passengers.

“The past two years have been the most challenging years in Halifax Stanfield’s history,” Joyce Carter, CEO of the authority, said in a statement. “We anticipate that it will take several more years for the airport to fully recover from the effects of COVID-19.”

The airport authority, like others across the country, operates on a user-pay model, which means it has few ways to make money without passenger traffic.

About 45 per cent of concessions in the air terminal building remain closed, while others have reopened with limited hours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022.

REM station at YUL: ADM selects the bid from AECON and EBC

MONTRÉAL, Jan. 27, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – ADM Aéroports de Montréal announces that following a rigorous bidding process, it has selected Connect Cité, a general partnership formed by AECON and EBC, as the preferred proponent for the construction of the REM station at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. This is the last step before the official start of the project, which will improve intermodality and access to the airport site.

Under this contract, the general partnership will act as general contractor and construction manager (GC/CM) and be a key collaborator of ADM throughout the execution of the work. Its mandate includes all the work for the construction, project management and commissioning of the station shell and its associated buildings to allow REM to install its equipment and put the station into operation.

Connect Cité was selected following the submission of a detailed proposal that respected the budget allocated to the project and was evaluated against industry standard metrics. The quality management plan, environmental and sustainable development performance, execution and construction management strategy, innovation, quality of proposed resources and occupational health and safety performance were among the criteria analyzed during the exercise. ADM employed the services of a fairness officer to ensure ethical compliance throughout the process.

“This project will allow YUL to shine internationally and join the network of major airports that benefit from a sustainable and efficient link to their city centre. Although the pandemic has forced us to postpone many construction projects, we remain more convinced than ever of the importance of connecting the REM network to our site for the benefit of our travellers, employees and the community. We are pleased to be accompanied in this journey by firms that have solid expertise in carrying out similar projects,” said ADM President and CEO Philippe Rainville.

The contractual financial closing and the start of construction by Connect Cité are scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. The terms and conditions associated with the project will then be reviewed in coordination with REM and its general contractor. 

About Aéroports de Montréal
ADM Aéroports de Montréal is the airport authority for the Greater Montréal area responsible for the management, operation and development of YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, certified 4-stars under the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating program, and YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel.

Chorus Aviation issues statement in response to recent press speculation

HALIFAX, NS, Jan. 27, 2022 /CNW/ – Chorus Aviation Inc. (“Chorus”) (TSX: CHR) has been made aware of press speculation regarding Chorus’ involvement in a process for the potential acquisition of a European-based aircraft lessor. While Chorus routinely explores acquisition opportunities, there can be no assurance that a transaction will result from any such opportunities. Chorus does not intend to make any further comment on any such speculation.

About Chorus Aviation Inc.

Chorus is a global provider of integrated regional aviation solutions. Chorus’ vision is to deliver regional aviation to the world. Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chorus is comprised of Chorus Aviation Capital a leading, global lessor of regional aircraft, and Jazz Aviation and Voyageur Aviation – companies that have long histories of safe operations with excellent customer service. Chorus provides a full suite of regional aviation support services that encompasses every stage of an aircraft’s lifecycle, including aircraft acquisitions and leasing; aircraft refurbishment, engineering, modification, repurposing and preparation; contract flying; aircraft and component maintenance, disassembly, and parts provisioning.

MHIRJ Expands MRO Network with New Facility in Macon, Georgia, Solidifying Its Position as the Largest Regional MRO in the World Français

MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) announced today that it is expanding its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Network with the opening of a new facility in Macon, Georgia. The new facility will be located at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport and is part of MHIRJ’s growing footprint in North America servicing the CRJ Series fleet.

MHIRJ Expands MRO Network with New Facility in Macon, Georgia, Solidifying Its Position as the Largest Regional MRO in the World (CNW Group/MHI RJ Aviation Group)

The lease has been signed for two additional lines of maintenance, with the potential to grow that number to four, which would bring the total up to 40 lines of maintenance within the MHIRJ network. With facilities in Macon, Georgia; Bridgeport, West Virginia and Tucson, Arizona, MHIRJ is the world’s largest Regional MRO.

“We are excited about this addition to our Service Center network as it confirms MHIRJ’s position as the largest Regional MRO in the world and it allows us to provide better service for our customers,” said Hiro Yamamoto, President and CEO of MHIRJ.

“We have experienced phenomenal growth in our business and are in the middle of a strategic expansion plan of our MRO infrastructure in the United States. The new Macon facility is MHIRJ’s first investment in the state of Georgia and will allow us to expand our business and bring our operations closer to some of our key customers,” said Ismail Mokabel, Senior Vice President and Head of Aftermarket at MHIRJ.

The new facility will add around 200 jobs in the local community at full capacity, for which MHIRJ will kickstart the hiring efforts immediately. “Our key priority now is hiring talented technicians and support staff to join the MHIRJ team,”  added Ismail.

“It’s a great day in Macon-Bibb County to welcome MHIRJ to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport,” says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller. “Our airport has become a hub of aviation activity, bringing more and more companies here.”

Robby Fountain, MBCIA Chairman. “The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority is proud to have an international organization like MHIRJ choose our community to expand. Being located in the Aerospace Corridor and within a purpose-built hangar complex, we are well versed in the aviation industry and know MHIRJ will add to the successes of not only our community but the world as their facility becomes operational later this year. We are enthusiastic about the partnership with MHIRJ and proud to bring more #MaconOpportunities.”

About MHI RJ Aviation Group

MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) provides comprehensive critical operational, engineering and customer support solutions including maintenance, refurbishment, technical publications, marketing and sales activities for the global regional aircraft industry. Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, and bolstered by an Aerospace Engineering Centre, MHIRJ’s network of service centers, support offices and parts depots are positioned in important aviation hubs in Canada, the U.S. and Germany. A wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., MHI RJ Aviation Group includes MHI RJ Aviation ULC (Canada), MHI RJ Aviation Inc. (U.S.A.) and MHI RJ Aviation GmbH (Germany).

WE ARE HIRING. Visit www.mhirj.com/en/careers to know more.

For more information about MHI RJ Aviation Group, please visit: www.mhirj.com  

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life, and ensure a safer world.

For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com

*CRJ, CRJ Series and MHIRJ are trademarks of MHI RJ Aviation ULC or its affiliates.

FLYHT Agrees to Purchase Shares of CrossConsense, Adding Strategic

Capabilities in Aircraft Maintenance and Expanding European Presence

Calgary, Alberta and Frankfurt, Germany – January 27, 2022 – FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX-V: FLY) (OTCQX: FLYLF) (the “Company” or “FLYHT”) and CrossConsense GmbH & Co. KG (“CrossConsense”) today announced an agreement whereby FLYHT will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CrossConsense. This acquisition is expected to accelerate FLYHT’s strategic roadmap to build out a maintenance capability, and will fulfill the Company’s goal to increase its presence in the European and Middle East markets.

CrossConsense develops and markets software to support commercial aviation maintenance management. Products include:

• A predictive maintenance troubleshooting and engineering tool;
• Software to support aircraft maintenance, repair and data migration; and
• Live data dashboards to assist aircraft maintenance teams.

CrossConsense has also constructed a progressive web application plus native apps that offer up-to-date data on an airline’s fleet status. Additionally, CrossConsense offers consulting and support services as well as hosting, database operation and performance monitoring of commercial aircraft maintenance applications.

The acquisition of CrossConsense is designed to further cement and extend a number of FLYHT’s key commercial objectives. Through this transaction, FLYHT will now be able to build a meaningful European presence, within a major aviation hub, as CrossConsense is based in Frankfurt, Germany. Additionally, the transaction is expected to expand FLYHT’s reach into software technical services in support of aircraft maintenance functions. Finally, the transaction is expected to bring new worldwide customers to both companies.

Udo Stapf, the founder and majority shareholder of CrossConsense stated, “The integration of our team and capabilities with those of FLYHT’s is expected to meaningfully enhance our capabilities to provide global solutions to our combined customer base of more than 100 airline and cargo customers. Under the FLYHT umbrella of products and services, we will be better positioned to service the growing needs of our customers, helping them improve efficiency.”

Bill Tempany, CEO of FLYHT, stated, “Acquiring CrossConsense will expand FLYHT’s product line with predictive maintenance and maintenance system services – two areas that are in high demand by our customers and synergistic with our current offering. The ability to utilize real-time AFIRS data in a maintenance environment is anticipated to provide a substantial impetus to our customers’ Actionable Intelligence. Additionally, the combination is expected to establish a meaningful European presence for our company through which we can further build our global operations.”

Added Tempany, “We welcome the many talented maintenance software specialists at CrossConsense to the FLYHT team. Their extensive knowledge of aircraft maintenance management systems and development expertise in blockchain processes strengthens our knowledge base in areas that are especially aligned with FLYHT’s key ongoing strategic initiatives.”

Transaction Detail

Under terms of the agreement, FLYHT (through its wholly owned German subsidiary formed as part of this transaction) will acquire all of the outstanding securities of CrossConsense. The purchase price was within industry norms for revenue multiples of private companies. This agreement is subject to approval of the German Government and the TSX Venture Exchange and to be effective January 1, 2022, with a transaction close as soon as possible after those approvals are received.

Additionally, Udo Stapf will continue his involvement in the business, with an agreement in place for provision of services over the 18 months following the transaction’s effective date.

FLYHT also announced that Axel Christ from CrossConsense has been appointed Managing Director of the new organization. Over his 15 years at CrossConsense he has made significant contributions, responsible for innovation and technology of the company’s software and services. Mr. Christ has been working with Kent Jacobs, President of FLYHT in Calgary, on aligning priorities and goals.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides airlines with Actionable Intelligence to transform operational insight into immediate, quantifiable action, delivering industry leading solutions to improve aviation safety, efficiency, and profitability. This unique capability is driven by FLYHT’s patented aircraft certified hardware products including AFIRS™, a satcom aircraft interface device which enables real-time streaming of flight information, cockpit voice and black box data streaming, AFIRS Edge, a state-of-the-art 5G WQAR and satellite data communications device, and TAMDAR™ and the FLYHT-WVSS-II™, which deliver airborne weather and humidity data in real-time. FLYHT is headquartered in Calgary, Canada with an office in Littleton, Colorado, and is an AS9100 Quality registered company. For more information view our latest presentation here, or visit http://www.flyht.com.

About CrossConsense

Founded in 2002, Frankfurt Germany-based CrossConsense offers its customers in the commercial aviation industry, highly skilled services, designed to enhance their productivity and uptime performance, based on sound knowledge in the areas of maintenance, engineering and logistical support. CrossConsense maintains a staff of 24 dedicated, experienced, and motivated team workers. For more information, visit https://www.crossconsense.com.