Canada’s Nolinor Aviation is set to announce a new agreement with Nautilus, a US-based aerospace manufacturer. The deal involves the purchase of several blended-wing-body regional cargo aircraft, known as Kona. This marks a significant step for Nolinor in its pursuit of innovation and operational excellence.
Nolinor Aviation, established in 1992, has made its mark as a provider of specialized commercial charter flights across Canada, the United States, and international destinations. The company is recognized for offering tailored services to meet various transportation needs.
The Kona aircraft is designed by Nautilus to operate on gravel and unpaved runways. It features a turboprop configuration with a payload capacity of 3.8 metric tons and can cover distances up to 900 nautical miles at cruising speeds of 220 knots.
Nautilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev expressed pride in partnering with Nolinor Aviation, noting that “the Kona cargo aircraft is designed to redefine air freight with its efficiency, adaptability, and innovative features.”
Nautilus has been developing its family of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body aircraft with claims of reducing fuel consumption by 30% while increasing payload capability by 40%. A subscale technology demonstrator was operated in April 2023 to validate the performance of the BWB design after extensive wind-tunnel testing.
Nautilus also plans to introduce an autonomous version of the Kona where remote pilots monitor flights from ground stations. As of 2023, the company had agreements for over 460 aircraft orders valued at $6.8 billion.
In December 2024, Nautilus unveiled its BWB passenger aircraft named Horizon. This model aims to compete directly with Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 MAX by significantly reducing carbon emissions and accommodating up to 200 passengers over ranges up to 3,500 nautical miles.
Nolinor Aviation operates out of Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX) and maintains satellite bases across Canada. Its fleet includes Boeing 737 variants used for diverse missions ranging from passenger services to petroleum transport.
