SalamAir revises plans, sets new 1Q17 launch date

SalamAir (OMS, Muscat) has revised its launch plans with scheduled commercial passenger flights now slated to begin on Monday, January 30, 2017. Previous plans had called for the start-up LCC to complete its AOC and begin flights in mid/late December.
SalamAir said in a statement that its initial route will be Muscat-Salalah with international flights to Dubai Int'l to follow on February 15, 2017. Future destinations are expected to cover the Gulf, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent as well.
Operations are onboard a trio of A320-200s leased from LATAM Airlines Group.
Salam Air is owned by the Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) which won a government tender in January 2016. Founded in 2014, ASAAS is a partnership between the State General Reserve Fund, Muscat Municipality, and various pension funds.

ch aviation

SANTOS DUMONT TRIP

Marcelo Fouquet de Biassi

Kuwait Airways expands 777-300ER operations in 1Q17

Kuwait


Kuwait Airways in today’s (30DEC16) inventory update adjusted planned operational aircraft for New York service. The 777-300ER, which started New York JFK service on 25DEC16, continues to operate once a week on Sundays. From 15FEB17, the daily Kuwait City – Shannon – New York JFK – Kuwait City service will be exclusively served by the -300ER, replacing -200ER.

KU117 KWI0900 – 1350SNN1600 – 1900JFK 77W D

KU118 JFK2100 – 1700+1KWI 77W D

The airline will also Boeing 777-300ER service on following routes, based on the latest update:

eff 20JAN17 Kuwait City – Jeddah Selected flights
eff 07MAR17 Kuwait City – Paris CDG
eff 08MAR17 Kuwait City – Frankfurt
eff 09MAR17 Kuwait City – Istanbul Ataturk 1 weekly

Jim Liu - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

Qatar Airways signs sale-and-leaseback deal for A350s

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Singapore-based lessor BOC Aviation has signed a purchase-and-leaseback agreement with Qatar Airways for six new Airbus A350s.

The aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery in 2017, are part of the Qatari flag-carrier’s order for 80 A350s, which is made up of 38 A350-900s and 42 of the larger A350-1000s.

Deliveries of the twin-aisle A350 have been slower than expected; the Airbus production line was impacted by slow deliveries of cabin and interior equipment.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Air Carriers Organization annual meeting in Casablanca, Morocco, in late November, Qatar Airways’ Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said that it had 12 A350s on strength at that point.

“We should have had 19 by the end of [2016],” he said. “Three more are promised [by year-end]. We think only one will arrive.”

The sale-and-leaseback deal “adds to our fleet of in-demand aircraft on long-term leases,” BOC Aviation’s MD and CEO Robert Martin said. “This incremental capital expenditure is in line with our current strategy to grow our fleet through disciplined investment.”



Alan Dron alandron@adepteditorial.com

Air Koryo Flight Attendants Featured on 2017 Calendar

Yonhap News Agency 

North Korea has featured a flight crew of its flag carrier Air Koryo in a 2017 calendar of the communist country, obtained Thursday by Yonhap News Agency, in what is seen as an unprecedented move to revitalize its tourism industry amid international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile developments. 

The calendar published by the state-run the Korea Publications Export and Import Corp. has the cover showing the airline's two pilots and five flight attendants.
It carries scenes of the cabin crew at work such as arriving at an airport, giving safety instructions and offering in-flight meals, with the August side showing a flight attendant pouring the country's own brand of beer, Taedonggang.
"It is the first time a North Korean calendar carries photos of female flight attendants, way different from previous calendars that mostly carried bland photos of scenic views and cultural sites," a source knowledgeable about North Korean affairs said.
The North's production of the calendar is interpreted as a move to overcome a foreign currency shortage
by drawing more foreign tourists to the country at a time it has faced growing economic sanctions imposed by the international community over its nuclear and missile programs.
The calendar marks as holidays the birthdays of the country's former leaders -- the current leader's late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and late father, Kim Jong-il -- but not that of current leader Kim Jong-un, which falls on Jan. 8.
The number of North Korean public holidays in the new year totals 71, three days more than this year, according to the calendar.

Kuwait Airways expands 777-300ER London service from Jan 2017

Kuwait

Kuwait Airways this week extended Boeing 777-300ER scheduled operation into 2017, including additional flights added for Kuwait City – London Heathrow route. From 10JAN17, the 777-300ER operation will increase to 7 weekly, from current 3 weekly.

KU103 KWI0445 – 0900LHR 330 367

KU103 KWI0445 – 0900LHR 773 5

KU101 KWI0935 – 1350LHR 773 x57

KU101 KWI0945 – 1400LHR 773 7

KU104 LHR1030 – 1950KWI 330 367

KU104 LHR1030 – 1950KWI 773 5

KU102 LHR1535 – 0055+1KWI 773 x15

KU102 LHR1605 – 0125+1KWI 773 1

From 18JAN17, 777-300ER operation increases to 10 weekly (KU103/104 Day 7 operates with A330-200), and all 11 weekly flights will be served by 777-300ER from 19FEB17.

Jim Liu - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

SANTOS DUMONT TRIP

Marcelo Foquet de Biasi

AIR ANTILLES - ATR 72-600 - F-WWEK

Alain Charpentier - TLS

AIR FRANCE - A319-100 F-GRXL

FPP - Lisboa

ALASKA AIRLINES - B737-900ER - N493AS - "More to Love"

hsckcwong - LAX

BASEL TRIP

Paul Bannwarth

Airbus hit by delays to Emirates A380 order

Airbus' flagship superjumbo faces another setback after a dispute between customer Emirates and engine maker Rolls-Royce delays delivery of 12 aircraft.


Article Start
Airbus has announced delays in the delivery of 12 A380 aircraft to its major customer Emirates, following an agreement between the airline and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce.
Six aircraft expected to be delivered in 2017 will now be delayed until 2018, with a further six subsequently delayed until 2018.
The delay stems from a disagreement between the superjumbo’s largest customer and the provider of its Trent 900 engines, which had suffered from “technical issues” according to Emirates president Tim Clark.
Wesley Charnock  - Head of Digital Content, Routes, UBM EMEA

Finnair expands A350 Asia service in S17

Finnair in last week’s schedule update made additional adjustment to planned Airbus A350-900XWB operation to East Asia, including Seoul and Tokyo Narita. Planned changes as follow.


Helsinki – Seoul Incheon The airline’s A350-900XWB will operate on daily basis from 03MAY17, replacing A330
AY041 HEL1730 – 0820ICN 359 D
AY042 ICN1020 – 1355HEL 359 D

Helsinki – Tokyo Narita AY073/074 to be operated by A350 instead of A330, from 01OCT17 (Seasonal increase on AY071/072 will be served by A350 from 04JUN17, previously reported)
AY071 HEL1645 – 0805+1NRT 359 x246
AY073 HEL1715 – 0855+1NRT 359 D
AY072 NRT0950 – 1350HEL 359 x357
AY074 NRT1100 – 1520HEL 359 D

Jim Liu  - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

Royal Jordanian plans 787 Algiers / Rome service in S17

Royal Jordanian in recent schedule update filed 2 additional destinations to be served by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, on limited time basis in summer 2017 season. Planned new 787 operations as follow.

Amman – Algiers
29MAR17 – 31MAY17 Day 3
03JUN17 – 14JUN17 Day 36

Amman – Rome
20SEP17 – 25OCT17 Day 3

Planned 787-8 operations remain subject to change.
Jim Liu  - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

Airbus adapts A380 deliveries

Reconfirms its delivery target from 2018 onwards

Following an agreement reached between Emirates Airline and Rolls-Royce and a consecutive agreement between Emirates Airline and Airbus, the Toulouse based aircraft manufacturer is to adapt the A380 delivery stream with six aircraft deliveries postponed from 2017 to 2018 and six others from 2018 to 2019.

Airbus re-confirms the target to deliver around 12 A380s per year from 2018 as announced earlier in July 2016.

Further fixed cost reduction initiatives will be accelerated so the impact on break-even in 2017 is minimal.

Zimex Aviation - ATR 72-202(F) - HB-ALL - cn 411

FPP - Lisboa

ASL AIRLINES - B737-400F - OE-IAX

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

AVIANCA - ATR-72-600 - F-WWEC

Alain Charpentier - TLS

FEDEX - ATR-72-200F - EI-FXJ

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

Russia's Azur Air adds maiden B737

Azur Air (ZF, Krasnoyarsk) has added a maiden B737-800 to its fleet following the delivery of VQ-BJK (msn 27984) late last week.
The twinjet, the first B737 Family aircraft in the Russian leisure carrier's fleet, is expected to make its commercial debut on flights to Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 2017.
According to airline chief executive Mikhail Kritskii, Azur Air expects to take delivery of several more aircraft of the type during 2017.
Azur Air operates eight B757-200s and eight B767-300(ER)s on regular passenger flights throughout Russia, as well as to the Far East, the Middle East, North Africa, Western Europe, and the Caribbean.

ch aviation

Qatar Airways S17 operation changes as of 27DEC16

Qatar Airways in recent days made additional adjustment to its summer 2017 schedule, effective from 26MAR17. As of morning hours of 27DEC16, planned service changes as follow.

Doha – Amsterdam 3 of 7 weekly flights moves to afternoon/evening operation, 777-300ER service
QR273 DOH0730 – 1320AMS 77W x246
QR275 DOH1510 – 2100AMS 77W 246
QR274 AMS1625 – 2340DOH 77W x246
QR276 AMS2235 – 0550+1DOH 77W 246

Doha – Bangkok A380 operation increases to up to 2 daily. Operational schedule remains subject to change as schedule update for this route is on-going

Doha – Cape Town Planned year-round 777-300ER service is cancelled. From 27MAR17, Northern summer season operates with 787-8 on daily basis

Doha – Denpasar Operational aircraft changes, A330-300 continues operating QR960/961, 777-300ER continues operating on QR962/963. Boeing 787-8 previously scheduled for this 2 daily flights

Doha – Dublin eff 12JUN17 Previously reported, new 1 daily Boeing 787-8 service

Doha – Guangzhou Boeing 777-300ER to replace A380 during following period: 21JUN17 – 29JUN17 (Odd Days), 04JUL17, 17SEP17 – 03OCT17 (Odd Days)

Doha – Melbourne eff 30JUN17 Previously reported, A380 operates this route once a day, replacing 777-300ER

Doha – Mumbai Boeing 777-300ER continues 1 daily service on/after 26MAR17, replacing A330-300

Doha – Paris CDG QR039/040 operated by Boeing 777-300ER, instead of A380, during following period: 22JUN17 – 30JUN17 (Even Days), 18SEP17 – 04OCT17 (Even Days)

Doha – Tunis Summer seasonal 787-8 operation in 2017 scheduled from 16JUN17 to 28OCT17, 1 daily

Jim Liu  - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

Thai S17 London operation changes as of 26DEC16

Thai Airways International (THAI) in recent inventory update adjusted planned Bangkok – London Heathrow frequencies for summer 2017 season, effective from 26MAR17. The airline has closed reservation for TG916/917 service (777-300ER) on Thursdays, meaning the airline plans to operate 13 weekly flights, instead of 14.

Planned schedule as follow.
TG910 BKK0110 – 0715LHR 380 D
TG916 BKK1240 – 1845LHR 773 x4
TG911 LHR1230 – 0545+1BKK 380 D
TG913 LHR2125 – 1500+1BKK 773 x4
Jim Liu - Data & Analysis Manager - Airlineroute, Routesonline

AZUL Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras - A320 NEO F-WWDR msn 7386

Alain Charpentier - TLS

FRENCH BLUE - A330-300 (F-HPUJ)

Alain Charpentier - TLS