Surf Air Mobility Enters Agreement to Supply Electric Powertrains to Kenya’s Largest Cessna Caravan Charter Operator Z.Boskovic Air Charters
17 Janeiro 2024 - 10:30AM
Business Wire
Electrifying Z.Boskovic’s fleet of 13 Cessna
Caravans helps to bring green regional flying to Kenya by enabling
lower emission air travel.
Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) (“Surf Air Mobility”, “Surf
Air”, “the Company”), a company that aims to transform regional
flying through electrification, and Z.Boskovic Air Charters Ltd
(“Z.Boskovic”, “ZBAC”), a leader in private charters, safari,
freight, and corporate travel in Kenya, have entered into an
agreement to upgrade Z. Boskovic’s current and future fleet of
Cessna Caravans with Surf Air’s proprietary electrified powertrain
technology once certified. Z.Boskovic currently operates 13 Cessna
Caravan, making them Kenya’s largest charter operator of Cessna
Caravan, and intends to add two additional Caravan aircraft to
their fleet by the end of 2024.
This partnership is another step toward Surf Air’s expansion of
its proprietary electrified powertrain technology as it follows
similar agreements to supply its electrified powertrains to
Safarilink and Yellow Wings, two other Kenyan air operators.
Surf Air’s fully electric and hybrid electric powertrains are
targeted to reduce direct emissions by 100% and up to 50%,
respectively. As a top safari air operator in Kenya, Z.Boskovic’s
commitment to environmental protection is at the core of their
business. By substantially lowering the carbon emissions of their
Caravan fleet, Z.Boskovic believes they can better deliver on their
mission of protecting Kenya’s natural ecosystem while being a
responsible steward of the country’s wildlife.
“Z.Boskovic’s wide range of mission profiles is a testament to
the Caravan’s flexibility within the regional air travel market and
we’re excited for our technology to improve their business further
while reducing the impact on the planet,” said Stan Little, CEO of
Surf Air Mobility. “We believe upgrading existing fleets of Cessna
Caravans, rather than creating brand new aircraft from scratch,
makes our technology easier for operators to adopt, accelerates
their ability to cut aviation emissions sooner, and aligns our
companies’ visions of making the largest impact as quickly as
possible.”
Electrifying Z.Boskovic’s fleet positions them well within
Kenya’s consumer landscape, with increasing demand for safari and
adventure trips along with a greater demand for greener, more
sustainable travel.
“We at Z.Boskovic Air Charters Ltd are very excited to partner
with Surf Air Mobility in their development of both hybrid and
fully-electric variants of the Cessna Grand Caravan and
consequently to implement electric powertrains, when certified, for
all our current and future Cessna Caravan aircraft,” says Jimmy
Kibati, CEO of Z. Boskovic Air Charters Ltd. “Over the last sixty
years, ZBAC has been a highly reputed pioneer in the air charter
business and the introduction of Cessna Caravan fleet in Kenya and
Africa. Introduction of this new technology is anchored in our
strategic plan, and we are keen to work with Surf Air Mobility both
technically and commercially to make this a reality in Kenya and
within the Africa Region.”
Surf Air is developing electrified powertrains with a target to
have the equivalent power to combustion Caravan engines. As such,
Surf Air believes its fully electric and hybrid electric aircraft
variants will meet Z.Boskovic’s operational needs. Then as battery
technology and energy density improve, Z.Boskovic and others who
operate the fully electric powertrain, have the potential for the
range and capabilities to continue to improve.
Surf Air plans to make the path to electrified aircraft adoption
a simple process for operators to upgrade at a cost similar to
regular engine overhauls, while increasing the time between
subsequent overhauls compared to combustion engines.
Electrified powertrains are anticipated to be quieter than their
combustion counterparts due to a reduction in engine noise. As
Kenya’s largest charter operator of Cessna Caravan, Z.Boskovic
recognizes this is critically important to reduce impact on
wildlife and will make for a better experience for passengers on
board.
Kenya is a global leader in sustainability and environmental
protection, and Z.Boskovic’s commitment to helping lead the air
mobility industry forward demonstrates the immediate and practical
applications for Surf Air’s electrified powertrain technology.
About Surf Air Mobility
Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility
platform expanding the category of regional air travel to reinvent
flying through the power of electrification. In an effort to
substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying
and as the operator of the largest commuter airline in the US, Surf
Air Mobility intends to develop powertrain technology with its
commercial partners to electrify existing fleets and bring
electrified aircraft to market at scale. The management team has
deep experience and expertise across aviation, electrification, and
consumer technology.
About Z.Boskovic
Z. Boskovic Air Charters Ltd (“ZBAC”) is an executive private
Air Charter Company based at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, Kenya.
Established in 1964, ZBAC started with a fleet of one aircraft to
the present fleet of twenty (20) aircraft ranging from Cessna
C206H, Cessna C208 legacy, Cessna C208B EX (Standard
Configuration), Cessna 208B EX Oasis (Executive Configuration) and
the Beechcraft KingAir B200 SE. ZBAC prides itself at provision of
Premier Air Service Solutions through Eastern, Central and Southern
Africa and currently operates the largest fleet of Caravans for
private Charter Services in Sub Saharan Africa. The services
offered by the company range from Safari Charters, Corporate
charters, Humanitarian Services, Aerial photography, scenic and
survey flights, and conservation flights. The company operates in
more than 700 airstrips in Africa in provision of bespoke air
charter services. This year, ZBAC will be celebrating the 60th
anniversary of uninterrupted and successful air charter operation
in Kenya.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of
the transaction; Surf Air Mobility’s ability to anticipate the
future needs of the air mobility market; future trends in the
aviation industry, generally; Surf Air Mobility’s future growth
strategy and growth rate and its ability to access its financings
and grow its fleet. Readers of this release should be aware of the
speculative nature of forward-looking statements. These statements
are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as
assumptions made by and information currently available to the
Company and reflect the Company’s current views concerning future
events. As such, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, among many others: Surf Air
Mobility’s future ability to pay contractual obligations and
liquidity will depend on operating performance, cash flow and
ability to secure adequate financing; Surf Air Mobility’s limited
operating history and that Surf Air Mobility has not yet
manufactured any hybrid-electric or fully-electric aircraft; the
powertrain technology Surf Air Mobility plans to develop does not
yet exist; any accidents or incidents involving hybrid-electric or
fully-electric aircraft; the inability to accurately forecast
demand for products and manage product inventory in an effective
and efficient manner; the dependence on third-party partners and
suppliers for the components and collaboration in Surf Air
Mobility’s development of hybrid-electric and fully-electric
powertrains, and any interruptions, disagreements or delays with
those partners and suppliers; the inability to execute business
objectives and growth strategies successfully or sustain Surf Air
Mobility’s growth; the inability of Surf Air Mobility’s customers
to pay for Surf Air Mobility’s services; the inability of Surf Air
Mobility to obtain additional financing or access the capital
markets to fund its ongoing operations on acceptable terms and
conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that might be
instituted against Surf Air, Southern or Surf Air Mobility; changes
in applicable laws or regulations, and the impact of the regulatory
environment and complexities with compliance related to such
environment; and other risks and uncertainties indicated in the
prospectus. These and other risks are discussed in detail in the
periodic reports that the Company files with the SEC, and investors
are urged to review those periodic reports and the Company’s other
filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov, before making an investment decision. The Company
assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements
except as required by law.
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Surf Air Mobility: press@surfair.com
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