Blended-wing jets set to transform Canadian Air travel
Modern planes with a blended-wing design will establish the foundation of a Canadian airline, following a recently signed agreement. Previously, these types of aircraft were purchased by an American cargo giant.
A similar prototype of a passenger aircraft, which features wings "merged" with the body, was recently showcased at the CES 2025 electronics fair in Las Vegas. JetZero and Siemens are planning to jointly produce it. It turns out they are not the only ones—the California company Natilus has been developing such aircraft models with a BWB (blended-wing-body) design for years.
For now, modern cargo freighters; later, passenger planes
Nolinor Aviation, a Canadian airline specializing in charter services, has signed an agreement with Natilus, a California aircraft manufacturer, to purchase several Kona cargo aircraft. According to the manufacturer, the Kona aircraft, developed in compliance with federal and Canadian aviation regulations, is set to usher in a new era of air transport thanks to its modern design.
The new plane will use less fuel and land in difficult terrain
What sets it apart from an ordinary plane, besides its futuristic wing design? Kona can operate in challenging terrain—it's adapted to work on gravel and unpaved runways, allowing it to take off and land on strips as short as about 2,600 feet. In comparison, the Boeing 737-200 requires a runway approximately 5,600 feet long and a paved surface.
Additionally, the Natilus aircraft was designed to transport cargo weighing up to 8,400 pounds over a distance of about 1,035 miles. The new aircraft will feature wings with a span of approximately 82 feet. Thanks to its special design with a parallel fuselage, it will offer cargo space more than twice as large as traditional transporters of the same size. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D engines, it is intended to consume 30 percent less fuel.
Canada wants to use them in mining provinces
The buyer will also appreciate the Kona aircraft’s lower maintenance needs. The placement of the engines at the rear, above the wings, means they absorb less pollution from the runways, unlike traditional models with engines under the wings.
Nolinor Aviation plans to use the Kona for remote cargo operations in Canada's Northwest Territories and Nunavut, where increased mining activity has led to higher demand for both passenger and cargo flights. This collaboration aims to improve operational efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Nolinor Aviation operates from its main base in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada, as well as from satellite bases in Edmonton and Winnipeg. The current fleet consists of nine Boeing 737-200 aircraft, which can carry 119 passengers or 29,700 pounds of cargo. The new Kona aircraft's ability to land on unpaved runways will be crucial for operations in remote regions of northern Canada, as they only require a 2,600-foot strip to take off and land on surfaces such as earth, gravel, or ice.
For now, cargo; in the future, passenger planes
Natilus is also working on a project for a Horizon passenger aircraft with a blended-wing design (BWB), capable of accommodating around 200 passengers.
The Canadians are not the first customers for these futuristic planes. As early as 2023, Ameriflight, the largest cargo carrier in the USA with over 100 aircraft, placed an order for 20 planes from Natilus. According to the aviation agency Altair, the 20 Kona planes for Ameriflight were priced at 134 million USD.
