quinta-feira, 31 de março de 2016

NEW COLOURS / 2016 - ROSSIYA - Russian Airlines - Boeing 747-446 - EI-XLE

 
Rolled out at Dublin and the first B747 for Rossiya in their new colours. Ex Transfer.
Paul Quinn - Dublin

FRONTIER - A320-200 - N214FR

Duncan Stewart - LAX

Ryukyu Air Commuter Unveils Bombardier Q400 Cargo‑Combi Aircraft in Okinawa


Bombardier Commercial Aircraft celebrated today with Ryukyu Air Commuter Co., Ltd (RAC) of Okinawa, Japan as the airline unveiled two of its Q400 Cargo-Combi aircraft during a special ceremony held at the Japan Transocean Air Maintenance Center at Naha Airport, Okinawa. RAC, the launch customer of the Q400 Cargo-Combi aircraft, is a member of Japan Airlines Group (JAL) and the Q400 aircraft unveiled today are the first two of five ordered by the airline in the cargo-passenger combi configuration.
RAC’s Q400 combi aircraft each provide up to 5,600 lb. (2,540 kg) of cargo capacity and comfortably accommodates 50 passengers. Inaugural tours of the aircraft were provided for guests that included representatives of the Okinawa prefectural government.
The airline, which also operates four Bombardier Q100 and one Q300 aircraft, provides domestic passenger services from the islands of Okinawa.
“Since 1997, RAC has been a strong champion of the Bombardier Dash 8 Series 100 aircraft that has served as the backbone of our regional network operations,” said Takashi Irei, President, Ryukyu Air Commuter. “As we approach 20 years of profitable and efficient operations, we are proud to grow our fleet and be the first airline to launch service with the Q400 Cargo-Combi aircraft. Today marks an 

important milestone in our continued collaboration with Bombardier and sets the stage for the next 

chapter of our growth strategy serving Okinawa’s business and leisure hubs.” 

“It is an honor to celebrate the official unveiling of the Q400 Cargo-Combi aircraft right here in RAC’s backyard,” said Andy Solem, Vice President, Sales, China and North Asia, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “RAC -- with its forward-thinking and innovative insight – sought Bombardier’s help to address a particular business requirement, and the unique Q400 Cargo-Combi aircraft is the result of that collaboration. The aircraft now offers new opportunities in the regional 
aircraft market for cargo-passenger transportation.”



Ex-EVA Air chairman considering stake sell-off



Chang Kuo-wei, the former chairman of EVA Air (BR, Taipei Taoyuan), is planning to cut all ties with the Taiwanese carrier and its parent firm, Evergreen Group, following his removal at an extraordinary board meeting earlier this month.

Chang's lawyer told the Taipei Times last week that he was now considering selling off his stake in EVA to his brother, Song Yao-ming, as part of plans to raise capital for what may be a new airline. In addition to his role as chairman, Chang is also a fully-certified Captain at EVA Air.

The brothers and other heirs to the family fortune have been fighting for control of the firm since the death of their father and company founder Chang Yung-fa in January this year.
Chang claims his brothers and his step mother used their overall majority shareholding to remove him during the board meeting. He also claims that the move violates their late father's wish to see him as the successor to the Evergreen Group chairmanship and sole inheritor of his estate.

Photo:Kobayashi - Taiwan



An audit of the Evergreen Group and its subsidiaries has reportedly valued Chang's 11.45% share in the conglomerate at TWD7.74 billion (USD237.3 million).

Boom Technology to develop 40-seater supersonic jets




Boom Technology (Denver Centennial) is a US start-up planning to develop and build a 40-seat civilian supersonic jet capable of travelling at Mach 2.2. The firm plans to have a one-third-scale technology demonstrator ready by early 2017.

Thus far, UK businessman Richard Branson has said his Virgin Galactic unit has signed up for ten options while an undisclosed European operator has opted for fifteen options. Virgin Galactic has committed to provide Boom with development services.

Funded by Y Combinator, Sam Altman, Seraph Group, Eight Partners, and other venture capitalist firms, Boom Technology is led by Blake Scholl.
ch aviation

Spirit Airlines seeks A321 order conversion

Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale Int'l) has opened negotiations with Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) about the possible conversion of an undisclosed number of later delivery A321-200 (sl)s to A320-200 (sl)s airline CFO Ted Christie has told CAPA.

The US ULCC currently has twelve A320ceo and twenty-two A321ceo due for delivery from the Europeans. The stage of the discussions was not revealed.
Spirit currently operates twenty-nine A319-100s, forty-three A320-200s, and nine A321-200s on flights throughout the United States as well as to the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Duncan Stewart - LAX

ZURICH TRIP


Paul bannwarth









quarta-feira, 30 de março de 2016

Fleet in Latin America to more than double by 2034

Long-term forecast sees resilience, sound growth potential for aviation in the region



According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF), Latin America will need 2,540 new passenger and freighter aircraft between 2015 and 2034, to meet long term growth in the region. This demand includes 1,990 single-aisle and 550 widebody like the A330, A3350 XWB and A380, worth an estimated US$330 billion. This demand will mean that the passenger and freighter fleet operated by the regions airlines will more than double to nearly 3,000 aircraft in the next 20 years. Today, 53 percent of Latin America’s in-service fleet are Airbus aircraft operated by the region’s leading carriers. This includes the Americas’ first A350 XWB, delivered to LATAM Airlines Group in January, operated by TAM.

Latin America’s traffic will grow at an average of 4.7 percent annually in the next 20 years, above the world average of 4.6 percent. Driving this growth are airlines domiciled in the region growing at 5.0 percent annually, placing them among the world’s top three fastest-growing group of airlines.

The region’s urbanization is a factor propelling this growth, as Latin America is one of the most urbanized in the world second only to North America, with some 80 percent of its population living in cities. A consistent economic growth will also prompt traffic growth in the region; according to the GMF, in the next 20 years, Latin America’s annual GDP is forecast to grow at a rate of 3.6 percent, above the world’s 3.2 percent. Furthermore, Latin American passengers will play a part in fueling traffic growth, taking on average over twice as many flights by 2034 as they do now.

“Latin America’s long-haul route expansion is imminent, and we are already seeing airlines respond by opting for larger, longer-range and more efficient aircraft such as the A350 XWB and the A380, which both began operating in the region in 2016,” said Rafael Alonso, President of Airbus for Latin American and the Caribbean. “We are also seeing the region’s top airlines modernizing their fleets with the A320neo Family, allowing them to achieve efficiency gains even in a less-than-favorable economic environment.”

While presenting the Airbus Global Market Forecast for Latin America during a press conference at Chile’s FIDAE (Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio) Air Show, Alonso added, “By 2034 we will see nine of the world’s 91 megacities located in Latin America, including Santiago, making it a world-leading emerging aviation market. In the long-term, we are optimistic about the outlook for Latin America as it expands its aviation footprint on the world’s stage.”

Presently, the long-haul market space presents a solid opportunity for Latin American carriers to claim back market share. Today, the top European and North American airlines carry the majority of long-haul traffic into and out of the region, at 83 percent and 75 percent respectively.

In fact, according to the GMF, the traffic flows between South America and Western Europe and between South America and the United States are forecast to be two of the world’s largest international traffic flows by 2034.

Similarly, the intra-regional and domestic market within Latin America also holds tremendous growth potential given that traffic is expected to nearly triple in the next 20 years, growing at a favorable rate of 5.3 percent. Passengers in North America and Europe can count on at least one flight per day to connect them to the 20 largest cities in their regions, but in Latin America this figure is smaller. Only 43 percent of the region’s top 20 cities are connected by one daily flight, leaving the rest of the region’s cities with less-than-weekly connections or none at all.




The region’s low cost carriers (LCC) have grown tremendously in the past 15 years, accounting for only 10 percent of air traffic in Latin America in 2003 to almost 40 percent today. Previously concentrated exclusively in Brazil and Mexico, the LCC model has emerged in other key markets like Colombia and Chile.



With nearly 1,000 aircraft sold and a backlog of more than 400, over 600 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 1990, Airbus has secured 63 percent of net orders in the region and in the past 10 years alone, Airbus has tripled its inservice fleet.

Aircraft Interiors Expo 2016: Airbus reveals full-scale cabin mock-up of A330neo, showcasing new “Airspace by Airbus” cabin brand


o Visit Airbus at Hall B5 5B20 - from Tuesday 5th to Thursday 7th April

o Media Briefing on Tuesday April 5th 09.00hrs at our stand

o Virtual reality innovations on Airbus’ Single-Aisle and Widebody cabin offerings

o New A320 pivoting overhead stowage full-scale mock-up

o Seating ‘comfort demonstrator’

Airbus showcases its new cabin innovations at this years’ Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany – the world’s largest event dedicated to the aircraft interiors industry, in-flight entertainment, connectivity and passenger services. At the centre stage, visitors to the Airbus stand will be able to experience for the very first time the new Airspace by Airbus cabin interior of the A330neo demonstrated by our full-scale cabin mock-up. The new cabin brand encompasses four key attributes: Comfort, Ambience, Service and Design. Airspace cabins will thus be more relaxing, inspiring, 
functional and beautiful, which will stimulate a unique and leading passenger experience.
Visitors will also be able to experience the innovation highlights of our other aircraft programmes, in full immersive 3D virtual reality. In addition, they will be able to test and feel the different levels of comfort standards in Economy class using our specially configured Cabin Comfort Demonstrator.

For the latest in A320 Family cabin comfort, Airbus is also showcasing its new pivoting overhead stowage compartment mock-up as well as its *SFE seat offering. Now delivered and entering service shortly, the new pivoting stowage option takes full advantage of the A320’s wide fuselage cross section offering 60% more stowage. Aesthetically, the new bin option embodies a modern curved appearance of those in the new A350 XWB airliner. 

Airbus’ space-efficient concepts go beyond new products: Airbus Upgrade Services will present its range of retrofit solutions and services.
For the media attending the show, our cabin experts and executives will be available for dedicated briefings and interview opportunities each day. The Expo’s trade media will also be hosted at our dedicated Airbus cabin press briefing to be held on Tuesday April 5th at 09h00.
*SFE = Supplier Furnished Equipment

Mozambique's CR Aviation to return $1.7mn to SS firm



Mozambique's social security services (Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social de Moçambique - INSS) says it will seek to recover MZN84 million meticais (USD1.7 million) worth of investments made in local carrier CR Aviation (Maputo) last year after a government inquiry ruled it illegal.


As part of its mandate to invest in local small and medium enterprises, the INSS had planned to acquire a 15% stake in the carrier for USD7 million which had in turn planned to use the funds to acquire four new aircraft as well as cover MRO and inspection-related expenses. However, following an investigation last year, the Mozambican Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security ordered the INSS to cancel the investment and recover its funds.

According to the official AIM news agency, minister Vitoria Diogo found the agreement violated several legal requirements in particular that the INSS could only invest in a publically-listed company (which CR Aviation is not).
For its part, CR Aviation operates charter as well as scheduled passenger flights throughout Mozambique using light aircraft leased from South African operators.
ch aviation



FLYBE - ERJ190 - G-FBEJ





Passengers from Doncaster Sheffield Airport have flown off to #‎Paris on our inaugural flight from Doncaster, part of a recently announced eight route deal.

Plus, to mark the launch we have today announced a new business route to Dusseldorf that will be available for booking from 31st March 2016! Read more

2016 / New Airline - Start-up Vietstar Airlines applies for a business licence


The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has requested the government to formally approve an operator's licence for Vietstar Airlines (Ho Chi Minh City). Founded in 2010, Vietstar Airlines is owned by the Vietnamese People's Air Force which falls under the Ministry of National Defence.

In its application, Vietstar Airlines says it plans to operate both passenger and cargo flights using leased A320 and B737 model aircraft initially. It plans to connect the north and south of the country as well as neighbouring ASEAN countries.

The Vietnamese News Service reports the carrier had registered capital of VND800 billion (USD35.8 million) as of March 31, 2015; VND47.3 billion short of the minimum required capitalisation for an international and domestic passenger and cargo carrier.

Vietstar Airlines Multirole Corporation also offers aircraft MRO, groundhandling, and pilot training services throughout Vietnam.
ch aviation

Nepal Airlines to Buy Four New Aircraft

Business Traveller


Nepal Airlines is planning to buy four new aircraft to fly new international routes including Indian destinations.

The airline currently owns four airplanes for its international routes: two Airbus and two Boeing. Along with these, it also operates small aircraft on its domestic routes.

"We are planning to buy four aircraft - two wide-body and two narrow-body, preferably from Airbus with an estimated cost of US$400 million," says Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director, Nepal Airlines. 
Nepal Airlines operates services to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
"We have received requests for starting services from Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Amritsar. Two of the new aircraft will be deployed on Indian sector (cities not yet decided) and the rest will be for China and Saudi Arabia," Kansakar adds.

Established in 1958, the airline claims to have always made profit despite its small fleet and "have never been in the red".

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Paul Bannwarth

segunda-feira, 28 de março de 2016

Cathay Pacific’s first A350 XWB performs its maiden flight in Toulouse


The first A350-900 for Cathay Pacific Airways has completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France. The aircraft will now enter the final phase of production including cabin completion, further ground checks and test flights before being prepared for delivery in the second quarter of the year.

The aircraft will be the first of 48 A350 XWBs acquired by Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific’s A350 XWB fleet will include 22 A350-900s and 26 of the larger A350-1000s, for operation on long- and medium-haul services.

Bringing new levels of efficiency and comfort in the long range market, the A350 XWB family will be especially well suited to the needs of Asia-Pacific airlines. Firm orders from carriers in the region for the new aircraft already total 241, representing over a third of total sales for the A350 XWB to date.

The A350 XWB is the world’s latest generation airliner and the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable & efficient widebody product family. It features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.
This and more photos are available in high resolution in our press room: www.airbus.com/pressroom


SWISS - B777-300ER - HB-JNA

Paul Bannwath

ZURICH TRIP






Paul Bannwarth

ZURICH TRIP


Paul Bannwarth