Natilus Deepens Commercial Push for KONA With Ex-Amazon Air Fleet Chief on Advisory Board

New updates have been reported about Natilus.

Natilus has strengthened its commercialization strategy for its KONA regional blended‑wing‑body cargo aircraft by appointing former Amazon Air Head of Global Fleet Management Mylène Scholnick to its advisory board. The move comes as Natilus advances KONA toward first flight within 24 months and prepares for market entry later this decade.

Scholnick, who scaled Amazon Air’s fleet from 36 to 115 aircraft and managed multi‑billion‑dollar aircraft and engine transactions, will advise Natilus on fleet strategy, procurement, and global operations. Her experience is expected to be critical as Natilus transitions from development to production and aligns KONA’s value proposition with the needs of major cargo operators.

Natilus is positioning KONA as a step‑change platform in regional air freight, claiming 30% lower fuel consumption, 50% lower operating costs, and 40% higher payload capacity versus conventional airframes. These performance gains directly target operators seeking to reduce unit costs while improving sustainability at a time when incumbents are focused on production recovery rather than clean‑sheet designs.

The appointment follows Natilus’s recent $28 million Series A round, underscoring a phase of accelerated industrialization and commercial planning for its BWB aircraft family. CEO and co‑founder Aleksey Matyushev said the company is at a “pivotal” stage and emphasized the need for seasoned leadership to scale programs and de‑risk entry into service.

Natilus reports a backlog of approximately 570 aircraft, valued at $24 billion, with customers including Nolinor Aviation, SpiceJet, Flexport, and Ameriflight, providing long‑term revenue visibility if the program delivers as promised. The company also plans to select its first U.S. manufacturing site for KONA later this year, a decision that will shape capital deployment, industrial partnerships, and regional employment.

The advisory board addition complements a bench that already includes former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and other senior aerospace leaders. For stakeholders, Scholnick’s appointment signals Natilus’s intent to build airline‑grade fleet and procurement capabilities early, improve credibility with large operators, and accelerate the path from prototype to scalable cargo platform in a structurally tight and cost‑sensitive air freight market.