terça-feira, 30 de abril de 2013

EVERGREEN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES - B747-412F-SCD, N491EV

José Ramon Valero - JFK

AFRICAN WORLD AIRLINES - ERJ-145LR, 9G-AET


Africa World Airlines took delivery on 30 August 2012 of its first Embraer 145 aircraft that will be used to operate domestic routes. A second aircraft was delivered on 8 September 2012 but was damaged in a ground collision on 13 September 2012. These aircraft were previously operated by Tianjin Airlines which is a sister company within the HNA Group.

Photo: PRM - Accra - Kotoka International - Ghana

National Air Cargo 747 Crashes in Afghanistan, All on Board Feared Dead (N949CA)



A Boeing 747 cargo jet has crashed today following takeoff at the US air base in Bagram, Afghanistan. Reports indicate that all 7 crew perished in the crash.
The 747 belonged to National Air Cargo, which is a U.S.-based charter and cargo carrier.
The aircraft was said to be carrying military equipment bound for Dubai.

The runway is now closed and the whole base is on lock-down. National Air Cargo has confirmed the accident, but is waiting for the full facts before releasing a statement.’
Photo: Ton Jochems, N949CA - AMS

AV Cargo Airlines plans African cargo ops from May onwards



AV Cargo Airlines, the phoenix that has risen the ashes of Zimbabwe's bankrupt Avient Cargo Airlines (Z3) has introduced the first of three planned additional MD11 freighters (MSN 48746 | N278WA) into its fleet with flights to Africa planned in due course. 
Based out of London Gatwick, the aircraft will operate its inaugural flight April 30.

“With the first aircraft in service, we will commence building our scheduled services,” Simon Clarke, CEO of AV Cargo, said. “The additional capacity will enable us to increase the number of destinations served as we expand our reach across the African continent. This is a pleasing and proud occasion for AV Cargo and another milestone achieved.”

Other scheduled services into Africa will Lagos, Nigeria; Bamako, Mali; Entebbe, Uganda; Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Pemba Island. 
The African Aviation
Photo: (AirCargoWorld) 

United to Add 30 New Embraer 76-Seat Aircraft to United Express Fleet





United purchasing aircraft that a United Express partner will operate

CHICAGO, April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced an agreement to add 30 Embraer 175 regional jets to the United Express fleet. Under an agreement with Embraer, United will purchase the aircraft with deliveries in 2014 and 2015. These aircraft will be operated by a United Express partner to be announced later.

"At United, we are focused on modernizing our fleet, and we look forward to introducing the E175 to our United Express service. Compared to the 50-seat aircraft we are replacing, these aircraft provide a superior customer experience and are more fuel efficient," said Jim Compton, United's vice chairman and chief revenue officer. "With a large first class cabin, wider fuselage, and larger overhead bins, this aircraft brings an improved regional flying experience to our customers."



The Embraer 175 is the first 76-seat regional jet aircraft in the United Express fleet. The aircraft will be configured with 12 United First, 16 Economy Plus and 48 United Economy seats. The design of the aircraft will result in more personal space for customers with wider seats and aisles than those on the 50-seat aircraft. The aircraft can accommodate standard carry-on bags, resulting in more convenience for customers.

As United inducts the new aircraft into the United Express fleet, the company will remove some of the older 50-seat regional jets in the fleet. The E175s will consume 10 percent less fuel per seat and will have less CO2 emissions per seat than the 50-seat aircraft they replace.



Wizz Air Hungary takes delivery of its first Airbus Sharklet equipped A320



Wizz Air Hungary, the largest Central and Eastern European low cost - low fare airline, has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices. The carrier becomes one of the first Eastern European Airlines to do so, following the delivery in March of the first A320 with Sharklets to Wizz Air Ukraine. Wizz Air’s cumulative orders stand at 112 aircraft. Including this delivery, Wizz Air Hungary’s in service fleet rises to 38 A320 Family aircraft.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by four per cent on longer sectors. Sharklets are an option on A320 Family aircraft. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.
AIRBUS

segunda-feira, 29 de abril de 2013

NORDWIND AIRLINES - A320-200, VP-BJH

A new type for Nordwind Airlines. Arrived at night on delivery from Amman. Formerly F-OHGV with Royal Jordanian

Sergey Kustov - Moscow - Sheremetyevo - Russia

Nepal Airlines selects the Airbus A320 for fleet modernisation

Sharklet equipped to save up to four percent in fuel burn 



Nepal’s national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy two Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices. Sharklets deliver up to four percent savings in fuel consumption making the aircraft a cornerstone of NAC’s fleet modernisation.

The A320 was chosen for its unbeatable economics, its unique performance capability required for high altitude airport operations and its flexibility that enables it to be deployed on a wide variety of routes.

“For a landlocked nation, aviation really is our window to the world and the world’s window to us. Nepal offers explorers, trekkers and pleasure seekers a wide range of cultural, ecological and outdoor pursuits. Adding the A320 to our fleet, will help us to capitalise on tourism growth and to enhance our network using the most fuel efficient aircraft available,” said Madan Kharel, Managing Director, Nepal Airlines Corporation.

The A320 is fully equipped to benefit from Required Navigation Performance (RNP) allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes using state-of-the-art onboard navigation systems. This is particularly useful for operations at high altitude airports which are constrained by mountains such as Kathmandu.

“The A320 is the most capable and efficient aircraft that can serve challenging airports like Kathmandu. The Sharklets will deliver four per cent less fuel burn, so for a landlocked nation such as Nepal, these aircraft will be a lifeline and economic driver for prosperity. We are delighted to welcome Nepal Airlines as our newest customer,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

NAC was incorporated on 1 July 1958 through the enactment of the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act. 1962. The Airline currently flies to four international destinations and 25 spectacular domestic locations in the heart of the Himalayas.

The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. More than 9,400 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever.


Air Europa to add A330-300s for Caribbean leisure routes

Air Europa plans to lease two ex-Orbest (Spain) A330-300s to increase its own flights to the Caribbean following the bankruptcy of Orbest and its tour operator parent Orizonia.
Air Europa, itself owned by Spain's largest tourism group Globalia, will use the two aircraft to increase capacity on long-haul routes with a strong leisure focus from Madrid Barajas (MAD) to Cancún International (CUN), Havana José Marti International (HAV) and Punta Cana International (PUJ). After having already added another ex-Orbest A330-200, Air Europa will operate a total of 13 long-haul aircraft from this summer season, 11 A330-200s and the two A330-300s.
ch-aviation

Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos takes on two Saab 340As

TAG - Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos has taken delivery of two ex-Romstrade Logistic Express Saab 340As YR-DAA (c/n 116) and YR-DAC (c/n 117) for use on its scheduled and charter operations throughout Guatemala and the sub-region. .
Photo: TAG

MONARCH - A320-200, G-ZBAA

FPP - Faro

JET2 - B737-800, G-GDFR "22kg Baggage"

FPP - Faro

JET2 - B737-800, G-GDFJ

FPP - Faro

Avolon delivers a second B737-800 to TUI Travel

This is the second of a two aircraft deal whereby the aircraft will be operated by Jetairfly a subsidiary of TUI Travel.

SriLankan Airlines to get 13 Airbus aircraft with 7 A350s - Corrected



Apr 28, 2013 (LBO) - State-run SriLankan Airlines will acquire seven Airbus A350-900 and six A330-300 aircraft to upgrade its product and cut costs starting from October 2014, chief executive Kapila Chandrasena said.

SriLankan will acquire 10 aircraft from Airbus through a mix of operating and finance leases in a deal which has a 'present value' of 1.2 billion US dollars and another three from an aircraft leasing firm, he said.

Cabinet approval has been given to sign a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 10 purchase options and the first aircraft is expected to arrive starting from October 2014, he said.

The aircraft are to be delivered over 7 years.

In the first phase six Airbus A340 aircraft which are up to 18 to 16 years old will be replaced by A330-300 aircraft.

Seven A330-200 aircraft which are around 13 to 16 years old will be replaced starting from 2017 with A350-900 aircraft. Three will come from an aviation leasing firm as there were no manufacturing slots available at Airbus in that period.

The balance four A350s will be acquired from Airbus Industries starting from 2019.

SriLankan was aiming to maintain a fleet with an average age of about five years. SriLankan has already modernized its A320 narrow body fleet of eight aircraft.

With several very old aircraft in the fleet, the airline could not give the same level of service to all passengers and operating costs were also high.

"If you look at our configurations we could not standardize service," Chandrasena said.

"With the new aircraft everyone will get the same experience.

"Fuel is 50 percent of our operating costs. With newer aircraft fuel is about 40 percent. That is a huge quantum of savings."

Even after accounting for acquisition costs, a net gain of 7 to 10 percent could be made with new aircraft, he said.

The aircraft will be financed with a mixture of finance and operating leases. Industry practice was to have about 30 percent on finance leases, Chandrasena said.

Last year the airline made an operating loss of 20.5 billion rupees, according to published data.

The new aircraft would also be able to carry a full load of passengers without sacrificing cargo over long haul destinations, he said.

Airbus will also give 31 million US dollars worth tools, equipment and training to set up an aircraft maintenance and repair facility (MRO) for the new types.

"We are also targeting the regional airlines that will be an additional revenue stream for SriLankan as well."

Sri Lankan Engineering is already servicing A320 aircraft for a number of regional airlines at its facility in Katunayake. A second facility is to be set up in Mattala.

Corrected - headline - six A330s and seven A350s
Lanka Business online

sexta-feira, 26 de abril de 2013

Spring Airlines Japan to launch in late 2013 from Tokyo Narita: First B737-800, N272LM (JA01GR)

Spring Airlines' plans to establish a Japanese subsidiary are advancing, with local reports stating the carrier will be based at Tokyo Narita with domestic operations to commence by Oct-2013 and international operations in 2014


Rick Schlamp
- Seattle - Boeing Field - USA

Transaero launches cargo services: Tupolev Tu-204-100C, RA-64052


The carrier has leased two ex-Aviastar Tu-204-100Cs, its first dedicated freighters, from Ilyushin Finance Co
Oleg Botov - Moscow - Domodedovo  - Russia

TAC Airlines a subsidiary of United Airways : MD-83 (N9414W)

Ilgaz Deger - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int'l - LTFJ - Turkey

TITAN AIRWAYS - A320-200, G-POWI

Ton Jochems - AMS

Palau Airways, TonléSap Airlines suspend flights until autum



Palau Airways and its sister carrier, TonléSap Airlines , have both suspended their flights effective immediately. It is understood that both airlines have temporarily ceased operations for the summer with the intention of refinancing themselves and ultimately resuming operations sometime "in the autumn".

AER LINGUS CONFIRMS BOEING 757 DEAL TO BOOST TRANSATLANTIC OFFERING



Republic of Ireland national carrier Aer Lingus has confirmed it has reached an agreement to damp lease three Boeing 757-200s to expand its transatlantic activities during the first half of 2014. The aircraft will be acquired via Air Contractors and the first jet is expected to enter service in January 2014 with all three aircraft in operation by next summer. The details of the anticipated deal were revealed during the Aer Lingus Group interim management statement for the period from January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013, representing the first quarter of the Group’s 2013 financial year.

The airline remains tight-lipped over its operational plans for the 757s and simply says they will operate in the North Atlantic market, but the expansion of a previous interline partnership with US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways into a full blown codeshare agreement earlier this year will support its strategy in the US market. It is rumoured that the 757s will be based at Shannon Airport and will be used to expand the carrier’s existing offering, increasing the existing seasonal services to Boston and New York and potentially freeing up a larger Airbus A330-200 to operate from Dublin, where demand is stronger.


LOT's Dreamliner Flights On Sale Today



CHICAGO and NEW YORK, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets for LOT Polish Airlines' Dreamliner flights have gone on sale today at lot.com or through travel agents. LOT will begin flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Chicago to Warsaw on June 5, followed on June 7 from Toronto to Warsaw. The New York City JFK -Warsaw flights will begin in July, following the delivery of LOT's third Dreamliner from Boeing.



With the return of the Dreamliner, LOT is redefining the travel experience with its new Premium Economy Class, offering 50 cm wide seats in a 2-3-2 three-row arrangement. Premium Club passengers will have a 12.4 inch monitor with USB and electric outlet available. Premium Club passengers will also enjoy the comfort of a dedicated check-in desk at the airport and priority baggage handling.

Premium Economy Class roundtrip fares start at $2057 and in Business-Class, LOT passengers can experience the Dreamliner at fare levels starting from $2948. Fares are valid for round-trip flights from Chicago to Warsaw, include all taxes and fees and are subject to availability as well as changes without notice.

quinta-feira, 25 de abril de 2013

AVIATRANS K - MD-83, UR-CHL

Igor Bubin Kiev - Zhulyany - Ukraine

CityWing - LET-L410, OK-TCA


Citywing

THOMAS COOK AIRLINES - A320-200, OO-TCI "promoting the island of Gran Canaria."

Ivan Coninx - Brussels - National (Zaventem) / Melsbroek - Belgium

IBERIA EXPRESS - A320-200,EC-JSK - "Salmés golf's Cup in Tenerife "


Chema Gómez - Alicante - Spain

LAN and TAM take delivery of first Airbus A320s with Sharklets


LAN and TAM Airlines, two of Latin America’s leading airlines and part of the LATAM Airlines Group -- one of Airbus largest customers in terms of orders, in-service aircraft and backlog -- took delivery of their first Airbus A320s equipped with Sharklets. Powered by CFM, the LAN and TAM aircraft were delivered this week and will begin operating domestic routes within Chile and Brazil. The two airlines combined have ordered 380 aircraft and have more than 240 aircraft in operation. Their joint Airbus backlog totals nearly 180 aircraft.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and allow Airbus’ airline customers to reduce fuel burn up to four percent over longer sectors and reduce approximately 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions per aircraft per year. Sharklets offer operators the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

 AIRBUS

Air Lease Corporation Announces the Placement of a New Boeing 777-300ER and Lease Extensions of Four Aircraft with KLM



LOS ANGELES, California, April 24, 2013 — Today Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced a long term lease agreement with KLM (The Netherlands) for a new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery in March 2015. Additionally, ALC and KLM reached agreement on lease extensions for three 737-800s and one 777-200ER, currently operating in the KLM fleet.

“ALC’s management team has a history that spans many decades working closely with KLM to support their fleet needs. We are very pleased to provide an incremental 777-300ER for their long-haul operations and extend leases on four aircraft currently in their fleet,” said Grant Levy, Air Lease Corporation’s Executive Vice President.
Photo:FPP

China’s CAS signs GTA with Airbus for 60 aircraft

Eco-efficient Airbus aircraft support fast growing Chinese civil aviation 

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) has signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the purchase of 60 Airbus aircraft, which includes 42 A320 Family aircraft and 18 A330 aircraft.

The GTA was signed today at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing by Li Hai, President and CEO of CAS and Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus in the presence of the visiting French President François Hollande and the Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was part of a series of France-China agreements signed today.

“We are delighted to receive a new order from our long-standing customer CAS for both the Airbus best-selling single aisle A320 Family and wide-body A330 Family,” said Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus. “The A320’s high reliability and low operational cost has made it very popular with Chinese airlines. As congestion puts pressure on airports in large cities in China, the A330 is an excellent solution as larger aircraft can transport more passengers with less flights. The comfort of the A330’s spacious cabin is also appealing to passengers. These eco-efficient Airbus aircraft will contribute to the growth and success of China’s aviation sector,” said Fabrice Brégier.

By the end of March 2013, there were some 750 A320 Family aircraft in operation with 14 Chinese airlines and more than 110 A330s in operation with six operators.

More than 9,400 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,500 delivered to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft Family. With 99.7 per cent reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,200 orders, with around 900 aircraft flying with some 90 operators worldwide. Ever since the original version of the A330-300 entered service, the hallmark has been its very efficient operating economics. Thanks to the introduction of numerous product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft in its class and the family is achieving average dispatch reliability above 99 percent
Airbus

VietJetAir leasing 3 A320s from AWAS for use in regional expansion plans

VietJetAir
 is set to lease three new sharklet-equipped A320-200s from Dublin-based aircraft leasing company AWAS. The Vietnamese LCC currently operates a fleet of six A320-200s hubbed out of Vietnam’s three major economic and tourist centres: Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International (SGN), Hanoi Noibai International (HAN) and Da Nang International (DAD).
Currently it only operates one international route, Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International (BKK), with services connecting Hanoi with the Thai capital due to commence this summer. VietJetAir says it plans to use the aircraft in aiding its expansion plans which include flights to Busan Gimhae (PUS), Kuala Lumpur International (KUL), Seoul Incheon International (ICN), Singapore Changi International (SIN) and Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE)
ch-aviation

Ethiopian Airlines to resume Dreamliner flights: sources



By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines is set to become the world's first carrier to resume flying Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliner passenger jets, with a commercial flight on Saturday to neighbouring Kenya, two airline sources said.

Boeing's Dreamliners have been grounded since regulators ordered all 50 planes out of the skies in mid-January after batteries on two of them overheated. U.S. regulators approved a new battery design on Friday, clearing the way for installation.

An Air India source told Reuters in New Delhi that commercial operations should start within a week or so, immediately after approval from the local regulator DGCA.

"Ethiopian Airlines will be the first airline company to resume 787 Dreamliner flights in the world. Saturday's the date," a senior Ethiopian Airlines source told Reuters. "We're flying to Nairobi, Kenya on the normal flight schedule."

Another source, who also declined to be named, confirmed the plan to resume flights on Saturday by the airline, the first African carrier to purchase Dreamliner planes. It ordered 10, has received four, and started flying them in August.

"It should be a matter of days, not weeks. I think one week or so," the source said, without giving further details.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which grounded the planes, is expected to issue an Airworthiness Directive on Thursday. This applies to U.S. airlines, but other nations are expected to follow suit immediately.

The grounding has cost Boeing an estimated $600 million, halted deliveries and forced some airlines to lease alternative aircraft. Several airlines have said they will seek compensation from Boeing, potentially adding to the plane maker's losses.

Randy Tinseth, Boeing's vice president for marketing, said in the Ethiopian capital that the planes for all airlines would be modified and they would then work with their own regulatory authorities to determine when flights would resume.

"Each airline will be a little bit different," he told reporters, adding that Boeing expected to meet its target of delivering more than 60 of its Dreamliner planes in 2013.

"The timing will change a little bit but we will be able to meet our commitments to our customers in terms of delivery this year," Tinseth said.

Ethiopian Airlines previously said its fleet did not suffer any of the technical glitches experienced by other Dreamliner jets, though it withdrew the planes from service to undergo special inspection requirements mandated by the FAA.

(Additional reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York and Anurag Kotoky in New Delhi; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Edmund Blair and Louise Heavens)

terça-feira, 23 de abril de 2013

Sunday Airlines - new brand of Scat Air Company for charter flights - B757-200, UP-B5704

Nikolay Ustinov - Almaty Spotting Club". - Almaty Airport - UAAA - Kazakhstan




Batik Air to launch operations on May 3



Batik Air (Jakarta), the new subsidiary of Lion Air (Jakarta) was originally planning to launch its full-service operations on April 26 from Jakarta to both Balikpapan and Manado. However this launch has been delayed to May 3.
In addition, the new carrier will launch two-class Boeing 737-900ER service from Jakarta to Pekanbaru and Ambon on May 8.
Airliners Gallery
Photo:Andrew W. Sieber - Seattle, WA, United States

Air Canada Toronto-Dublin Flights to be Extended Year-round in 2014 with Introduction of Air Canada rouge Service




Emerald Isle becomes fourth European destination in Air Canada rouge network

MONTREAL, April 23, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today announced that its current seasonal service between Toronto and Dublin, Ireland will be converted to year-round service operated by its new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, beginning in 2014. Air Canada will operate the route this year from May 17 through to September 30, 2013 and Air Canada rouge will commence year-round service starting May 1, 2014. Bookings on the new Air Canada rouge service will become available starting in June 2013 on aircanada.com and through travel agents.

"Air Canada has been serving Ireland since its predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines, first flew to Shannon in 1947. Today, there is a very strong market for both leisure customers and visiting friends and relatives, so this is an ideal market for our new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, to operate more cost effectively on a year-round basis," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. "This is the fourth European destination announced for Air Canada rouge, which will begin flying this July to Edinburgh, Venice and Athens in addition to a number of Caribbean destinations. We intend to grow Air Canada rouge quickly from four aircraft to 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015."

Air Canada rouge's July 1 launch network also includes eleven destinations in the Caribbean. Its startup fleet consists of two Airbus A319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that will grow to ten aircraft by the end of 2013, 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015.

Air Canada rouge's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft feature a two-cabin configuration with three customer comfort options including rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating with additional legroom, and, beginning in winter 2013, Premium rouge offering both additional room and enhanced service. The airline's Airbus A319 aircraft are configured with rougeand rouge Plus preferred seating. All flights will offer customers streamed wireless inflight entertainment, stylish and modern cabin interiors with innovative new seats, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.
Air Canada

BA splits long-haul order, will buy 12 A380s.



Making one of the most anticipated long-haul aircraft order announcements in recent years, British Airways yesterday said it will purchase 12 A380s and place options for a further seven A380s

The split order means that BA for the first time will operate long-haul Airbus aircraft.
Photo:Airbus

Air Lease Corporation Announces the Placement of Two New Boeing 777-300ERs with Ethiopian Airlines



LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today Air Lease Corporation (AL) announced a lease agreement with Ethiopian Airlines for two new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, both on lease for twelve years. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in May and June 2015.

"We are proud to expand our relationship with Ethiopian Airlines by placing two brand new 777-300ERs into their long haul fleet. These aircraft will enhance their intercontinental operations with leading fuel efficiency and a premier passenger experience,” said Kishore Korde, Air Lease Corporation’s Senior Vice President.

“We are very happy to finalize this deal with our strong partner, Air Lease Corporation. These two new Boeing 777-300ERs are critical for our rapidly expanding non-stop long haul routes. Today, our network of 72 international destinations covers four continents through our main hub in Addis Ababa, offering the most convenient connections to passengers traveling between Africa and the rest of the world. The introduction of these two new Boeing 777s into our young and modern fleet is part of our continuing commitment to afford our customers the best possible on-board long haul experience,” said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.

Spirit Airlines starts flying its first Airbus A320 with Sharklets



Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) is celebrating Earth Day today as it begins flying its new Airbus A320 Sharklet-equipped aircraft. The pictured Airbus A320-232 N619NK (msn 5517) was handed over to the carrier on March 25.

As part of its green efforts, several years ago Spirit made the conscious decision to transition to a fleet of new, fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft and enhanced them with an eco-friendly seating configuration. In fact, Spirit burns far less fuel per passenger than its competitors. Its A320 aircraft provide an incredible 89.4 passenger miles per gallon.* Spirit has also signed an agreement with Airbus for an order which includes their latest A320neo (new engine option) aircraft, which will be even more fuel efficient than Spirit’s current A320s. In addition, Spirit’s “Bring Less, Pay Less” baggage program has led to a reduction in bags carried per passenger and resulted in Spirit using the equivalent of nearly six million gallons less fuel in the past year.

Spirit currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 49 aircraft, including 29 A319s, 18 A320s and two A321s. The company has five more new Airbus A320s scheduled for delivery in 2013, as well as seven A320s scheduled for delivery in 2014 and 10 in 2015. Spirit has 75 new aircraft (30 classic A320s and 45 A320neos) on firm order for delivery between 2016 and 2021. In addition, Spirit has signed a letter of intent with ILFC to lease five A320neo aircraft, subject to final documentation.

Photo: Spirit Airlines.

IAG and British Airways select the A350

A350-1000 to take major role in British Airways future long-haul 
After a thorough selection process, International Airline Group (IAG), and British Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft plus 18 options, as part of the airline’s on-going long-haul aircraft fleet renewal and modernisation strategy.

IAG, owner of both British Airways and Iberia, has also secured commercial terms and delivery slots that could lead to firm orders for Iberia. Firm orders will only be made when Iberia is in a position to grow profitably, having restructured and reduced its cost base.

The choice of the A350-1000 follows British Airways’ decision in 2007 to buy 12 Airbus A380s, the first of which will be delivered this summer. Operating the A380 and A350 together delivers real value to the world’s leading airlines because it allows them to match aircraft capacity to traffic demand on any route.

“The A350-1000 will bring many benefits to our fleet. Its size and range will be an excellent fit for our existing network and, with lower unit costs, there is an opportunity to operate a new range of destinations profitably. This will not only bring greater flexibility to our network but also more choice for our customer,” said Willie Walsh, IAG Chief Executive.

Across all its aircraft families Airbus’ unique approach ensures that aircraft share the highest commonality in airframes, on-board systems, cockpits and handling characteristics. This reduces significantly operating costs for airlines. In addition, with only minimal additional training, pilots can transition between these aircraft more efficiently.

“This is an important announcement from one of the world’s most respected and influential airline brands,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A380 and the A350 are perfectly matched for greener long haul operations and demonstrate environmental leadership. We are simply delighted that British Airways has chosen the A350 to spread its global wings and its iconic livery.”

The A350-1000 is the largest member of the A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family seating up to 350 passengers in three classes, with a range capability of 8,400 nautical miles (15,500 km). The A350 XWB Family includes the A350-900 and A350-800 seating 314 and 270 passengers respectively, offering airlines the ability to match the aircraft to their network needs and thereby guaranteeing optimum revenue potential. Compared to its nearest established competitor, the A350 XWB Family reduces fuel burn by 25 per cent.

British Airways currently operates a total of 112 A320 Family aircraft. It is one of the world’s only airlines to operate all members of the A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321). British Airways first became an Airbus operator in 1988, when it began flying A320s. The airline added the A319s to its fleet in 1999 and the A321 in 2004.
AIRBUS

segunda-feira, 22 de abril de 2013

RwandAir Places Firm Order for Dual-Class Bombardier Q400 NextGen Airliner



Airline will become 12th operator of Q400 aircraft in Africa

Bombardier Aerospace and RwandAir of Kigali, Rwanda announced today that RwandAir has signed a firm purchase agreement for one Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner.

Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the order is valued at approximately $33 million US.

“As demand for domestic and regional travel in Africa accelerates, our 67-seat, dual-class Q400 NextGen aircraft will ensure RwandAir is well positioned to offer increased capacity on popular routes that are being opened and serviced with our 37-seat Bombardier Dash 8-200 aircraft,” said John Mirenge, Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir. “The Q400 NextGen turboprop is the right aircraft to develop our domestic and regional market and to firmly support RwandAir on our path towards growth and increased profitability. We are also complementing our new dual-class Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jets by offering similar cabin amenities on the Q400 NextGen aircraft, providing for a seamless passenger service between the two aircraft models and aligning our total fleet strategy towards a unified passenger experience. We are developing the RwandAir brand and we are gaining momentum in the region through selection of the right aircraft and right services for our growing market.”

“As one of our newest and fast-growing customers, RwandAir is serving Africa’s expanding domestic and international markets and we are delighted that the carrier has yet again chosen Bombardier aircraft to further develop its network of short- and medium-haul destinations,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 NextGen turboprop has proven its capability and flexibility in many regions of the world and is operating in diverse environments. We anticipate that it will serve RwandAir and its customers very well.”

RwandAir will become the 12th operator of Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft in Africa, and its Q400 NextGen aircraft will join more than 40 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft that are already in service with, or have been ordered by, 11 operators in nine countries in Africa.

With the transaction announced today, Bombardier has taken firm orders for 468 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have transported more than 243 million passengers and have logged over 3.8 million flight hours and more than 4.1 million take-offs and landings in service with more than 40 operators in over 30 countries on five continents.

BOMBARDIER


Tail section for Qatar Airways’ first A380 rolls out of paint shop



· The vertical tail section for the first A380 for Qatar Airways has been painted with the airline’s trademark oryx logo at Airbus facilities in Hamburg. The painting was completed earlier this week and the assembly of the airline’s first A380 is set to begin this month, for delivery in early 2014.

· The distinctive Qatar Airways logo is comprised of a violet oryx with silver streaks and the paint was applied over a period of 10 days.

· Qatar Airways will become the eleventh operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in 2014. The airline has firm orders for ten A380s and will operate the aircraft on its most premier routes.
AIRBUS

ILFC DELIVERS ITS 250TH 737NG TO CHINA AIRLINES

· ILFC announced today it has delivered the first of three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft to China Airlines, boosting the airline’s capacity to expand its flight route network by adding new, modern aircraft to its fleet.

domingo, 21 de abril de 2013

TRANSAVIA - B737-800W, PH-HZW "New SunWeb col"

Ton Jochems - AMS

EASYJET - A319-100, G-EZIW," New EasyJet logojet promoting Rome-Milan flights"

Ton Jochems - AMS

NORWEGIAN - B737-800, LN-DYU

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

FAI Rent-a-Jet - CRJ200LR, D-ACRN

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

AIR MALTA - A320-200, 9H-AED "European Capital of Culture 2018"

Ton Jochemes - AMS

TRANSAVIA - B737-800, PH-GGW (ex GOL)

Ton Jochemes - AMS