sexta-feira, 12 de dezembro de 2025

FLEET - Sun PhuQuoc Airways welcomes its fifth Airbus A321NX — a brand-new aircraft delivered directly from Germany

  • On The Morning Of December 11, Sun Phuquoc Airways Took Delivery Of Its Fifth Aircraft—An All-New Airbus A321Nx Freshly Rolled Out From Airbus’s Hamburg Facility (Germany). This Milestone Continues To Advance The Airline’s Plan To Build A Modern, Fuel-Efficient Fleet That Will Support International Network Expansion In The Coming Year.

The Airbus A321NX, owned outright by Sun PhuQuoc Airways, has just completed its ferry flight from the manufacturer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City). 

The aircraft will then have brand livery painting before entering commercial service.




The delivery of Sun PhuQuoc Airways' fifth aircraft marks another step towards building a safe, modern, and internationally competitive fleet. According to its long-term fleet plan, the airline aims to expand to 25 aircraft by the end of 2026 and to approximately 30 to 35 aircraft by 2027.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways is increasing flight frequency on domestic routes while finalizing plans for its first international services. From November 1, 2025, the airline will officially launch its first three domestic routes: Phu Quoc – Hanoi, Phu Quoc – Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City. The Phu Quoc – Da Nang and Phu Quoc – Nha Trang tourist corridor routes will begin regular operations starting in March 2026.

On November 25th, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam granted Sun PhuQuoc Airways a comprehensive Air Operator Certificate (AOC), allowing international operations. With this approval, the airline will launch its first international routes starting in March 2026, including Seoul – Phu Quoc and Taipei – Phu Quoc, followed by Busan – Phu Quoc in September 2026 and Kaohsiung – Phu Quoc in October 2026. To ensure an effective market entry, the airline has appointed General Sales Agents (GSAs) in Taiwan and South Korea. In 2026, SPA also plans to operate international routes from Phu Quoc to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways

FLEET - Fleet rollover of Austrian Airlines’ short- and medium- haul fleet has begun

  • First Embraer 195 with the registration I-ENJA transferred to Air Dolomiti in Italy
  • The aircraft flew for nine years with the Austrian registration OE-LWM
  • COO Stefan-Kenan Scheib: “We are saying goodbye to the first of 17 Embraer aircraft, which has served us well and provided important services for many years. We are delighted that a large part of the Embraer fleet will now continue to fly with Austrian’s sister company Air Dolomiti. I would like to thank everyone in the Austrian team who has made the start of the fleet rollover for Austrian Airlines’ short- and medium-haul fleet so quick, safe, and straightforward.”

A flight with the flight number EN9910 took off today at 05:04 pm, writing a piece of Austrian Airlines flight history: under the registration number I-ENJA, the Embraer aircraft, which previously flew for Austrian under the registration number OE-LWM, was transferred to Verona. It was given a send-off by Austrian Technik with a specially made banner. Today’s flight marks the start of the already announced fleet rollover for the short- and medium-haul fleet. The first step in this process is the decommissioning of the 17 Embraer aircraft in the Austrian Airlines fleet. A total of 13 of these 17 aircraft will go to sister company Air Dolomiti. The remaining four aircraft will be sold externally. The sales process will start at the beginning of 2026.

“We are saying goodbye to the first of 17 Embraer aircraft, which has served us well and provided important services for many years. We are delighted that a large part of the Embraer fleet will now continue to fly with Austrian’s sister company Air Dolomiti. I would like to thank everyone in the Austrian team who has made the start of the fleet rollover for Austrian Airlines’ short- and medium-haul fleet so quick, safe, and straightforward”, says Stefan-Kenan Scheib, COO Austrian Airlines.

The first Embraer 195 took off on its maiden flight for Austrian Airlines in January 2016. The 17 Embraer aircraft, each with a capacity of 120 passenger seats, joined the red-white-red airline at that time as replacements for the Fokker. The “Whisky Mike” that was retired today leaves the Austrian fleet after 30,393 operating hours – 21,417 of which were for Austrian – and more than nine years of service with the Austrian fleet. It began scheduled service with Austrian Airlines on April 18, 2016, with a flight from Vienna to Stuttgart, and was the fourth Embraer to be added to the fleet at that time.

Extensive fleet rollover

Instead of the 17 Embraer aircraft, Austrian Airlines will receive six additional brand-new Airbus A320neo aircraft, each with 180 seats. The first of these six aircraft is expected in summer 2026. This will bring the Austrian home carrier’s Airbus fleet to 46 aircraft.

All these measures are part of an extensive fleet rollover of Austrian Airlines’ short- and medium-haul fleet.

As previously announced, the long-haul fleet is also being renewed. In mid-2024, the first two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners were added to the Austrian Airlines fleet. As things stand at present, ten more of these aircraft will be added by the end of 2028. This will modernize the current long-haul fleet – which also consists of seven Boeing 777s and three Boeing 767s – and expand it to 12 aircraft.

The bottom line is that Austrian Airlines is harmonizing its entire fleet. Five fleets – Embraer, Airbus, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787-9 – will become two in the future: the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

As things currently stand, the Embraer 195 will be phased out by the end of 2028. The next Embraer aircraft is expected to leave Austrian in February 2026.
Austrian

Arajet takes delivery of 13th Boeing 737 MAX

Newest aircraft, named ‘Isabel de Torres’


 Arajet received its 13th Boeing 737 MAX 8, named 'Isabel de Torres', in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Arajet has operated Boeing 737 MAX aircraft since its launch in 2022. Its network connects the Dominican Republic to various destinations in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

In 2022, the Santo Domingo-based airline closed a deal that includes 20 firm orders for the high-density 737 MAX 8-200, as well as 15 purchase options.

AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

 







Paul Bannwarth

ROUTES - Air India entered a unilateral interline partnership with Scoot.



Air India passengers flying to Singapore from Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai will be able to connect to a host of destinations via Scoot “that were previously not covered by any of the airline's other existing partnerships,” the airline said.
Air India passengers will be able to connect onward from Singapore on Scoot flights to:
 Macau; 
 Indonesia; 
Padang and 
Labuan Bajo
Malaysia; 
Kota Kinabalu
Kuching, 
Langkawi, 
Ipoh, Kuantan, 
Miri, 
Sibu, 
Malacca and
 Kota Bharu  
Philippines:
Davao 
Iloilo City 
Thailand
Koh Samui, 
Chiang Rai 
Chiang Mai 
Vietnam. 
Nha Trang
Phu Quoc  
Scoot is the LCC subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.

FLEET - T’way Air (South Korea) is seeking to raise US$130 billion in capital, via a third-party allocation paid-in capital increase and public offering of common stock

T’way Air (South Korea) is seeking to raise US$130 billion in capital, via a third-party allocation paid-in capital increase and public offering of common stock. Its parent company, Sono International, will participate. Proceeds will be used to acquire a total of 16 aircraft in 2026, including ten B737-8s and six A330-900s.
Aviator / Image: T´way

 

ROUTES - beOnd (Maldives) plans to expand its network to China

beOnd (Maldives) plans to expand its network to China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, India, France, Italy and the UK by 2026, while aiming for a fleet of 20 aircraft and 30+ destinations by 2030.
Aviator / Image: beOnd 

FLEET - ASKY Receives Its 15Th Aircraft: The Boeing 737 Max 8

 


The Pan-African airline ASKY has officially taken delivery of a new aircraft registered ET-BBD, the second aircraft fresh from factory received in 2025 following ET-BBB. Configured with 8 Business Class seats and 177 Economy Class seats, this unit becomes the 6ᵗʰ Boeing 737 MAX 8 to join the fleet, which now totals 15 aircraft, bringing the average fleet age to 8.87 years.

During the official ceremony held at Gnassingbé Eyadéma Lomé International Airport, Mr. Esayas Woldemariam HAILU, CEO of ASKY, applauded the joint efforts of the staff, airport authorities, and the Government:

“This aircraft represents a strategic milestone for ASKY. Thanks to the dedication of our teams and the unwavering support of the authorities, we are confidently continuing our growth trajectory. This investment fully aligns with the Government’s 2030 vision to position Lomé as a leading Hub for mobility in West Africa.”

He further emphasized the relevance of the timing:

“Beyond economic and environmental factors, this acquisition comes at a crucial time. It will enable us to better meet the needs of our passengers, particularly during the festive season, by bringing more families and communities closer together across the continent.”

This new aircraft also reinforces the company’s strategic direction, notably with the launch of the building of the B737 Max flight simulator in early November, which is set to enhance in-house training and operational efficiency.
AYSK




quinta-feira, 11 de dezembro de 2025

Boeing November 2025 orders & deliveries


With 164 new orders, November 2025 wasn't a slow month for the manufacturer. It was also able to deliver 44 aircraft. The details can be found below.

Ordered were:

9 B777-9s by China Airlines
65 B777-9s by Emirates
6 B787-10s by Etihad Airways
15 B787-9s by Gulf Air
43 B737MAXs by Unidentified customer(s)
2 B777Fs by Unidentified customer(s)
1 B787-9 by an Unidentified customer
15 KC-46As by the USAF
8 B787-9s by Uzbekistan Airways

Cancelled were:

1 B737MAX by Aerolineas Argentinas
4 B787-10s by Air Canada
5 B737MAX by Comair
10 B777-9s by Etihad Airways
7 B787-10s by Etihad Airways
1 B737MAX by Unidentified customer
10 B777-9s by Unidentified customer

According to various online sources, the ten Unidentified B777-9s are also from Etihad Airways.

Delivered were:

2 B737MAXs to AerCap
1 B777F to Aerotranscargo
1 B737MAX to Air Lease Corporation
1 B787-10 to Air Lease Corporation
2 B737MAXs to Alaska Airlines
3 B737MAXs to American Airlines
1 B787-9 to American Airlines
2 B737MAXs to BOC Aviation Ltd.
2 B737MAXs to CDB Leasing
1 B737MAX to China Southern Airlines
1 B737MAX to Copa Airlines
2 B737MAXs to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
1 B767-300F to FedEx
1 B737MAX to flydubai
1 B737MAX to GOL Linhas Aereas
1 B737MAX to Greater Bay Airlines
1 B787-9 to Lufthansa
2 B737MAX to Minsheng Financial Leasing
1 B787-9 to Oman Air
1 B737MAX to Ryanair
5 B737MAXs to Southwest Airlines
2 B787-10s to TAAG Angola Airlines
1 B777F to Turkish Airlines
2 B737MAXs to United Airlines
1 B767-300F to UPS
2 KC-46As to the USAF
2 B737MAXs to VietJetAir
1 B737MAX to Xiamen Airlines

Boeing has now received a total of 1,000 orders and 92 cancellations, leaving a net of 908. The number of deliveries stands at 537.
Illustration by Boeing.

 

DEFUNCT AIRLINE - Air Antilles gets AOC suspended



On 8 December 2025, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) suspended the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) of Air Antilles. It did so after an audit that was conducted earlier in the month.

In this audit, the DGAC found several issues that needed immediate attention.

Air Antilles, which was relaunched in 2023 after the previous version went out of business in 2016, had a temporary AOC until the end of January 2026.

Operations started in June 2024 out of its base at Pointe-a-Pitre.

The airline, which has been struggling financially since the launch, is now embarking on a restructuring and is seeking new capital to be able to continue to operate.

Air Antilles' fleet, which is made-up of one DHC-6, one ATR42-600, and two ATR72-600s is currently parked until the suspension is lifted.

Photo: Air Antilles

 

SPECIAL COLOURS - Airlink's latest looker Debut


Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline is crowning its Black Friday fares promotion with the roll-out today of its latest “Skybucks” custom- liveried aircraft, the first to emerge from its new aircraft painting facility at Polokwane International Airport.

The Embraer ERJ135LR jetliner, registration ZS-TGC, in its new seductive black paint- scheme is expected to make its operational debut tomorrow when it operates from Polokwane to Airlink’s hub at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport.

It took a team of six Airlink personnel just 18 days to dress-up the aircraft in its smart Skybucks frequent flyer programme colours.

"The process began with the careful removal of the old paint, through light sanding technique, to prepare the surface. We then applied the new, high-quality paint, which is designed for durability and a gloss smoothy finish. In aviation, an uneven application can disrupt aerodynamic airflow, thereby compromising the aircraft's performance and fuel efficiency. The final finish must be exceptionally smooth to minimize drag. This is a highly specialized task, and Airlink’s new paint shop in Polokwane is established to be a centre of excellence for this specialised field,” said Samuel Mampshika, Airlink’s Executive Manager: Responsible Person Aircraft.

Airlink 

FLEET - Bayelsa-Backed Pioneer Airlines Takes Delivery of First ATR72-600


Pioneer Airlines made its inaugural flight, landing at Bayelsa International Airport in Abuja.

The airline plans to operate on the Niger Delta routes, as well as flights from Lagos and Abuja.

The Niger Delta routes would include Port Harcourt, Warri, Uyo, and Calabar.

Photo: Pioneer

FLEET - Nigeria’s Enugu Air expects fleet of 20 aircraft by YE26

Nigeria's Enugu State plans to acquire 14 additional aircraft in 2026, taking the fleet of its virtual carrier Enugu Air to 20, Governor Peter Mbah announced in his 2026 budget speech to the Enugu House of Assembly last week.

"As you know, we procured three aircraft earlier in the year, and we have already concluded the acquisition of another three, which are due to arrive shortly, but certainly before Christmas. So we currently have six aircraft," he said to loud applause.

He said Enugu Air had become "an economic enabler and a strategic platform for our emergence as a regional hub".

Enugu Air is operated by Nigerian air operator certificate (AOC) holder Xejet (4U, Lagos) with a fleet of three Embraer regional jets, all purchased outright by Enugu State. This includes one E190 and two E170s acquired from Egypt's CIAF Leasing - Air Operation (Cairo International). ADS-B data shows that only one E170, 5N-ENU (msn 17000274), is currently active on domestic routes serving Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt City, and Benin City. Sistership 5N-ENR (msn 17000175) is parked at Asaba.

ch-aviation has contacted Xejet for more information about the additional aircraft.
CH Aviation

quarta-feira, 10 de dezembro de 2025

FLEET - Aercap Signs Lease Agreements With New Customer My Freighter For Two New Airbus A321Neo Aircraft



DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE: AER) today announced it has signed lease agreements for two new Airbus A321neo aircraft with My Freighter, an Uzbekistan-based cargo airline that also operates charter and scheduled passenger services as Centrum Air. The aircraft are scheduled to deliver in Q4 2027.

"We are very pleased to welcome My Freighter as AerCap's first customer in Uzbekistan, and to support both the local aviation industry and Tashkent as an emerging hub connecting East and West," said Peter Anderson, the Chief Commercial Officer of AerCap. "With its market-leading fuel efficiency and extended range, the A321neo will help drive the expansion of My Freighter and its passenger airline, Centrum Air, as they enter new markets. We wish the My Freighter team continued success with their growth plans and look forward to a long and successful partnership."

"We are pleased to take this next step in our growth together with AerCap. The addition of the Airbus A321neos to our fleet will strengthen our operational capabilities and support our expanding international network, including the upcoming launch of routes to Europe. The A321neo's enhanced efficiency, and extended range will enable us to offer greater comfort and more travel opportunities for our passengers while further developing Uzbekistan's connectivity with key markets around the world," commented Abdulaziz Abdurakhmanov, Chairman and CEO of Centrum Holding.

 

FLEET - Afcom to lease 1st 737-800SF from Nauru AEI’s NG conversion gains first Indian operator




Afcom Holdings will expand its fleet by leasing a 737-800SF from Nauru Airlines to become the first Indian operator of AEI’s 737NG conversion. 
The lease is part of a broader strategic deal that Afcom and Nauru signed last week.
 Cargo Facts

AIRLINE / ROUTES - South African Airways' added leases delayed to 2026



South African Airways' network rebuilding strategy has been set back, as an A320-200 and two A330-200s originally scheduled for delivery in 2025 from various lessors are now expected only in 2026, after their current operators chose to retain the aircraft longer, according to CCO Tebogo Tsimane.

He told Aviation Week at the recent 57th annual general assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in Luanda, Angola, that the setback has "put our plan behind. This capacity is important to improve our codeshares and our connectivity because we are a network carrier and we are building a connecting schedule around Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, and then secondarily around Cape Town International."

SAA is looking for additional leased A330s to enter service in the second half of 2026, Tsimane said.

Group CEO John Lamola recently told ch-aviation that two A330-300s from flynas (XY, Riyadh), which were awaiting cabin modifications at Istanbul Airport, are no longer being taken due to high modification costs. He said replacements had been identified but declined to elaborate.

Lamola confirmed to ch-aviation at the AFRAA event that SAA is poised to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for its long-term fleet requirements before the end of 2025. The news was broken by ch-aviation in an earlier interview with Lamola, where he disclosed that SAA plans to purchase 28 new-generation airframes plus accompanying engines to be delivered from 2032 as part of its long-term fleet plan.

The airline is looking to acquire up to 16 widebodies for long-haul routes to be delivered in tranches of five from 2032, plus 12 new-generation narrowbodies, also to be delivered from 2032, to replace the airline’s A320-200s, whose leases are expiring.

Codeshare partnerships

In the meantime, SAA is accelerating its partnership growth, having signed new codeshare agreements with TAAG Angola Airlines in Luanda on December 1. SAA will add its flight code to TAAG-operated flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Luanda Dr António Agostinho Neto and onward connections to Lisbon and São Paulo Guarulhos.

This was followed by a codeshare agreement between SAA and Turkish Airlines on December 4, signed alongside a Star Alliance Chief Executive Board meeting in Geneva. SAA will codeshare on Turkish-operated flights from Istanbul to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban King Shaka, Frankfurt International, Paris CDG, and London Heathrow.

This follows similar commercial partnerships in 2025 with Lufthansa, Emirates, and CemAir.

SAA currently operates an in-house fleet of 18 aircraft, including fourteen leased A320-200s, two leased A330-300s, and two company-owned A340-300s. In addition, it wet-leases one A330-300 from Hi Fly Malta for added capacity regionally to Accra and Abidjan and intercontinentally to Brazil; and two B737-800s from SunExpress to boost domestic capacity over the December peak summer holiday season in South Africa.

CH Aviation

FLEET - Air Serbia took delivery of its third E195 aircraft, serial 19000688, which was sourced through Azorra (US).


 Air Serbia