Western Global Airlines Inaugurates New Base Maintenance Operation in Blytheville, Arkansas
ESTERO, Florida--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Global Airlines, Inc., the 'can-do airline,' announced today that it had opened a new base maintenance facility at Arkansas International Airport in Blytheville, Arkansas. The new facility includes a 50,000 ft 2 hangar, 40,000 ft 2 of stores capacity, and is adjacent to a premier suite of aviation component repair, sheet metal, and machine shops. Maintenance operations for WGA at the site are expected to commence in June 2025.
'We are pleased to announce the relocation of our base maintenance operations from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Blytheville, Arkansas,' said James K. Neff, WGA's CEO and Founder. 'With its access to outstanding back shop capabilities, a highly supportive airport authority, and a much more attractive cost of living, BYH will be a huge improvement for our fixed base maintenance operations going forward.'
In addition to its new base maintenance operation in Blytheville, the company will continue to maintain line maintenance operations at airports across the world, including Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Myers, Florida; Ostend, Belgium; and Shenzhen, China.
About Western Global Airlines. Established in 2013 and based in Estero, Florida, Western Global Airlines is an FAA Part 121 certified cargo airline operating globally for the world's leading airlines, multi-national freight forwarders, and the United States Air Mobility Command. With an operating fleet of fourteen B747-400Fs and MD-11Fs, WGA has carried millions of tons of wide-body cargo to over 400 cities in 135 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.westernglobalairlines.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Trump orders FAA to remove supersonic flight restrictions: ‘Bold new chapter in aerospace innovation'
President Trump is boosting supersonic aviation in the United States. An executive order the commander in chief signed Friday directs the Federal Aviation Administration to repeal a 1973 rule prohibiting overland supersonic flight, establish new noise standards for aircraft and remove other regulations that get in the way of the development of high-speed planes. 'The United States stands at the threshold of a bold new chapter in aerospace innovation,' the president wrote in the order. Advertisement 'For more than 50 years, outdated and overly restrictive regulations have grounded the promise of supersonic flight over land, stifling American ingenuity, weakening our global competitiveness, and ceding leadership to foreign adversaries.' 3 'President Trump is Making Aviation Great Again,' the White House said of the his executive order. AFP via Getty Images Trump argued that advances in engineering and technology have now made supersonic air travel 'not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.' Advertisement 'This order begins a historic national effort to reestablish the United States as the undisputed leader in high-speed aviation,' the president declared. 'By updating obsolete standards and embracing the technologies of today and tomorrow, we will empower our engineers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to deliver the next generation of air travel, which will be faster, quieter, safer, and more efficient than ever before.' Under current FAA rules, only military aircraft – flying in specially designated areas – are allowed to break the sound barrier over land. The 1973 ban on overland supersonic flight was primarily due to the disruptive impact of the sonic booms produced when aircraft exceed the speed of sound. 3 Boom Supersonic hopes to develop a commercially viable supersonic aircraft. AP Advertisement 3 The FAA banned supersonic flights over the United States in 1973, over noise concerns. Chad Robertson – However, new technology has enabled one aircraft maker, Boom Supersonic, to develop a plane that can cruise above Mach 1 without emitting a sonic boom. 'Supersonic is back, baby!' Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl wrote on X, noting that in January, his company's XB-1 aircraft became the first privately developed supersonic jet to break the sound barrier. 'And today…[Trump] broke the sound barrier…permanently!' he added. Advertisement Scholl argued that the ban on supersonic flight has 'crippled progress' in aviation for half a century, but with Trump's order in place, 'The supersonic race is on and a new era of commercial flight can begin.' 'By removing decades-old regulatory barriers and promoting cutting-edge supersonic technology, President Trump is Making Aviation Great Again,' the White House said in a statement.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lucid signs US graphite supply deal for EV batteries
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Lucid Group has signed a second agreement with Graphite One for U.S.-sourced materials needed for lithium-ion batteries as the electric car maker seeks to strengthen its domestic supply chain, according to a June 4 press release. The latest agreement will provide Lucid and its battery cell suppliers with natural graphite from the Graphite Creek deposit north of Nome, Alaska, where Graphite One expects to begin production in 2028, per the release. The deal complements a 2024 pact in which Graphite One agreed to provide Lucid and its battery cell suppliers with graphite processed for use in battery anodes, starting in 2028, the release said. The active anode material (AAM) would come from Graphite One's planned plant in Warren, Ohio. Lucid has increased U.S.-based battery-electric-vehicle production as part of its strategy for weathering tariff uncertainty. Executives have highlighted the company's efforts to localize critical supplies, including the transition to Panasonic's Kansas battery facility and the sourcing of domestic graphite through partnerships with Graphite One and Syrah Resources. Beginning next year, Syrah will supply AAM from its production facility in Vidalia, Louisiana, under a three-year deal with Lucid, per the release. "A supply chain of critical materials within the United States drives our nation's economy, increases our independence against outside factors or market dynamics, and supports our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of our vehicles," Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said in the release. Establishing supplier networks to build EV batteries has been a trend encompassing both traditional automakers and EV-only makers, such as Lucid. For example, Nissan Motor Corp and SK On signed a battery deal in March. The previous deal between Lucid and Graphite One is a non-binding supply agreement, pending Graphite One's commencement of AAM graphite production at the Ohio facility, according to the Canadian company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis document, filed in April. The plant is Graphite One's first AAM factory, CEO Anthony Huston told Supply Chain Dive. If successful, the Lucid and Graphite One partnership would establish a U.S. source of graphite materials for EV batteries for the carmaker. However, Hunan Chenyu Fuji New Energy Technology, an AAM manufacturer based in Changsha, China, would play a critical role in supporting the partnership. Graphite One signed a technology licensing agreement and a consulting agreement with Chenyu last October, according to the MD&A document. Chenyu agreed to assist in the design, construction and operation of the Ohio facility. Additionally, Chenyu would receive quarterly royalties for its technology used in AAM manufacturing. Graphite One turned to Chenyu for the technology because it doesn't exist in the U.S., Huston said. 'There's no technology in the United States,' Huston said. 'And the reason why is because we haven't had it [graphite production] for 34 years. Once you stop producing something, you lose the ability to have the know-how, and the understanding, and the actual processing side that surrounds it.' Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from Graphite One CEO Anthony Huston Recommended Reading Automotive supply chains can benefit from sourcing alliances. Here's why. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
Archer Aviation or Joby: Billionaire Ken Griffin Loads Up on One Top eVTOL Stock
eVTOL aircraft – or what can broadly be termed flying taxis – have been drawing plenty of attention recently, with leading companies in the space readying themselves for commercial operations. Several operators have conducted successful test flights and are now working closely with aviation regulators (such as the FAA in the U.S. and EASA in Europe) to secure certification for commercial use. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter eVTOL aircraft have the potential to be serious disruptors. They could revolutionize urban transportation by offering fast, quiet, zero-emissions air travel over congested cities – combining the convenience of helicopters with the efficiency of electric propulsion. It's a market expected to see robust growth in the coming years. According to a recent report by MarketsandMarkets, the eVTOL aircraft market was estimated to be worth $760 million in 2024 and is projected to grow rapidly, reaching $4.67 billion by 2030 – reflecting an average annual growth rate of 35.3% over the period. The momentum is expected to continue, with the market projected to grow from $6.53 billion in 2031 to $17.34 billion by 2035, at a slightly lower but still strong annual growth rate of 27.6%. With such growth on the horizon, it's no surprise that Wall Street titans like Ken Griffin are paying close attention. Griffin is an investing legend, the founder and CEO of Citadel, currently regarded as the most profitable hedge fund in history. His holdings include two of the most prominent players in the space: Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR) and Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY). But recently, Griffin has begun shifting his bets, trimming his stake in one while increasing his stake in the competitor. So, we decided to dig deeper into these two eVTOL pioneers to understand what might be driving Griffin's moves – and how the Street's stock experts are sizing up their prospects, with some insight from the TipRanks database. Archer Aviation One name definitely making waves – or more accurately, causing turbulence – on Wall Street over the past year is Archer Aviation. The stock has been on a tear, gaining 187% over the past 12 months. What's all the excitement about? Quite a few things, actually. Archer is still in the pre-revenue stage, making it a speculative bet, but the company has been taking meaningful steps toward commercialization. It is advancing through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) certification process for its Midnight aircraft, and Archer recently kicked off piloted test flights. While certification timelines in the U.S. remain somewhat uncertain, the company is on track to launch operations in the UAE by the end of the year. Archer also has some eye-catching collaborations with major industry players. It has the backing of auto giant Stellantis, and agreements in place with United Airlines and Abu Dhabi Aviation (the UAE connection). Archer has also secured a high-profile partnership as the exclusive Air Taxi manufacturer for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while also becoming the official and exclusive eVTOL sponsor for Team USA. Furthermore, Archer is already thinking beyond the 'flying taxi' segment – it has teamed up with Anduril Industries, a U.S. defense tech firm, to develop hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for military use, marking Archer's strategic entry into defense through its new Archer Defense division. Additionally, for a company yet to generate any revenue, Archer has a solid cash position of $1 billion on the balance sheet. So, it's not that difficult to understand why investors have been backing this name. However, maybe Griffin thinks the gains are quite enough for now. During Q1, he sold 3,088,640 ACHR shares, trimming his holdings by 42%. That cautious stance is one Barclays analyst David Zazula evidently thinks is merited. Zazula highlights why investors should watch it here: 'Aircraft certification is not guaranteed, potentially eliminating the company's future revenue opportunity. Success of only a few players could invite regulator scrutiny from an anti-trust standpoint; a technical or engineering failure could cause the grounding of aircraft and a loss of revenue,' Zazula explained. 'Given the reliance of Archer's plan on near term revenues from international sales, we believe more clarity is needed on certification progress with the respective regulators to support current stock levels.' Accordingly, Zazula rates ACHR shares as Equal Weight (i.e., Neutral) while his $4.5 price target factors in a one-year slide of 54%. (To watch Zazula's track record, click here) Elsewhere on the Street, one other analyst joins Zazula on the sidelines but with an additional 4 Buys, the stock claims a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Going by the $10.92 average price target, a year from now, shares will be changing hands for a 10.5% premium. (See ACHR stock forecast) In the opposite corner vying for investors' eVTOL attention, we have Joby Aviation, another company making big strides toward kicking off commercial activities. Its flagship eVTOL aircraft is the S4, a tilt‑rotor vehicle seating one pilot and four passengers. Powered by six electric motors – four on a fixed wing and two on a V‑tail – it transitions seamlessly from vertical takeoff to wing‑borne flight. Much like Archer, Joby is positioning its aircraft for short-haul urban and regional travel, targeting both the U.S. and Middle East markets with an eye on launching operations as early as next year. But Joby is going even further by rapidly expanding its operational capabilities – from in-house pilot training to proprietary dispatch software – as it seeks full control over every aspect of its service ecosystem. That push toward vertical integration is being matched by technical progress. In April, Joby hit a critical milestone, successfully completing its first piloted full transition flight – a key achievement on the road to FAA testing and certification. On the financial front, Joby is gaining altitude as well. It recently secured a $250 million investment led by Toyota, extending its funding runway and boosting its production capacity. Investor confidence climbed further after Joby signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia's Abdul Latif Jameel to explore a billion-dollar eVTOL rollout – potentially involving up to 200 aircraft. And across the Atlantic, the company is also preparing to launch air taxi services in the UK, where Virgin Atlantic aims to begin operations from London and northern England once regulatory approval is secured. All of that must have caught Griffin's eye. During Q1, he upped his JOBY stake by 242%, with the purchase of 1,979,364 shares. These are currently worth $15.8 million. That confident stance is mirrored in Cantor analyst Andres Sheppard's thesis, who writes: 'We continue to believe JOBY is amongst the best-positioned in the eVTOL industry to achieve commercialization and FAA Type Certification. We are also encouraged by the company's plans to enter into service and to carry its first passengers in Dubai by 1H26, which will be the initial market. Additionally, JOBY continues to have the strongest liquidity position in the industry with ~$813M in cash, short-term investments (as of 1Q25), and ~$1.3B in total liquidity (inclusive of Toyota investment). JOBY is partnered with Toyota for production, Delta Air Lines for operations, and the DoD (for various use-cases), which we continue to see as meaningful differentiators. We remain bullish over the long term.' Quantifying his bullish stance, Sheppard rates JOBY shares as Overweight (i.e., Buy) and backs it up with a $9 price target. If he's right, that implies a potential upside of ~13% from current levels. (To watch Sheppard's track record, click here) Overall, JOBY stock carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on a mix of 4 Buys, 2 Holds, and 1 Sell. The average price target stands at $8.29, implying a modest 4% upside over the next 12 months. (See JOBY stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
