terça-feira, 31 de maio de 2016

Singapore Airlines' A350-900s To Serve South Africa


Johannesburg will become the second long-haul destination in Singapore Airlines’ route network to be served by the latest-generation Airbus A350-900 fleet, with effect from 27 June 2016.

The A350 will initially be deployed on flights serving the Singapore-Johannesburg route on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Frequency of A350-900 services will progressively increase to cover all seven weekly Johannesburg flights, including four weekly flights which continue to Cape Town.

With advanced technology and superior operating efficiency, the newest addition to the Airline’s fleet will offer customers an improved travelling experience with features such as higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body and lighting designed to reduce jetlag.
Customers will also be able to enjoy the Airline’s latest-generation cabin products on the A350-900 aircraft. This includes all-new Business, Premium Economy and Economy class seats, as well as the award-winning KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.

Singapore Airlines’ initial batch of A350s are being fitted with 253 seats in three classes, seating 42 customers in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.
The Airline took delivery of its first A350-900 in March and initially deployed the aircraft on select short-haul flights for crew training purposes, before deploying it on daily services to Amsterdam earlier this month. As previously announced, the A350-900 will also be used on flights to the German city of Dusseldorf, which will be a new destination in the Singapore Airlines route network, from July.

Singapore Airlines currently has two A350-900s in service and another 65 on firm order.
Singapore / Paul Bannwarth TLS

Singapore Airlines Updates June 2016 A350 Regional Service



Singapore Airlines in last week’s schedule update made additional changes to planned Airbus A350-900XWB operations on regional route, not covered on Airlineroute. The A350 aircraft will be operating service once again on Singapore – Hong Kong and Singapore – Kuala Lumpur route from 07JUN16 (previously reported as 28JUN16). 

Planned schedule as follow.

Singapore – Hong Kong 1 daily (4 weekly, Day x146 from 28JUN16)

SQ890 SIN0735 – 1120HKG 359 D
SQ891 HKG1230 – 1620SIN 359 D

Singapore – Kuala Lumpur 1 daily (4 weekly, Day x146 from 28JUN16)

SQ118 SIN1845 – 1945KUL 359 D
SQ119 KUL2040 – 2145SIN 359 D
Airline Routes

Thomson Airways Schedules Boeing 787-9 W16 Nordic Operations 8 Shares

Thomson Airways in the week of 29MAY16’s OAG Schedules Analyser update has filed planned Boeing 787-9 operation for winter 2016/17 season, which will operate on a number of Scandinavian routes. Planned 787-9 operation in winter 2016/17 season as follow.


eff 12DEC16 Helsinki – Phuket 2 weekly (Additional 787-9 service operates bi-weekly)

eff 13DEC16 Copenhagen – Phuket 1 weekly

eff 13DEC16 Helsinki – Krabi 2 weekly (Additional 787-9 service operates bi-weekly)

eff 13DEC16 Stockholm Arlanda – Cancun 1 weekly

eff 14DEC16 Copenhagen – Krabi 2 weekly

eff 14DEC16 Helsinki – Mauritius bi-weekly

eff 14DEC16 Stockholm Arlanda – Montego Bay 1 weekly

eff 16DEC16 Copenhagen – Cancun 1 weekly

eff 16DEC16 Stockholm Arlanda – Colombo bi-weekly

eff 17DEC16 Stockholm Arlanda – Mauritius 1 weekly

eff 18DEC16 Helsinki – Cancun 1 weekly

eff 18DEC16 Stockholm Arlanda – Phu Quoc 1 weekly

eff 21DEC16 Copenhagen – Mauritius bi-weekly

eff 23DEC16 Helsinki – Colombo bi-weekly
Airline Routes

China Eastern Expands European Presence with Four New Routes in June

China Aviation Daily
China Eastern Airlines plans to expand its international presence in Europe this June with four new routes between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Amsterdam, Madrid, Prague and St Petersburg.

The new flights to St Petersburg will begin on June 21, followed by Shanghai Pudong-Prague on June 23. Both services will be operated thrice-weekly.

The carrier will then launch the Shanghai Pudong-Amsterdam service on June 26, and Shanghai Pudong-Madrid flights on June 28. The airline will operate four-times weekly on the two routes.

China Eastern will deploy Boeing 767s on the Shanghai Pudong-St Petersburg route, and Airbus A330-200s on routes from Shanghai to Amsterdam, Madrid and Prague.

Xiamen Airlines Welcomes Its 154th Boeing Aircraft

A brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft Monday landed smoothly at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and joined the fleet of Xiamen Airlines, which is the 7th Boeing aircraft introduced by the airline this year.


With the arrival of the new airplane, Registration B-7560, the Xiamen-based airline expanded its all-Boeing fleet size to 154, including 17 737-700s, 109 737-800s, six 787-8s and four 757-200s. The carrier is regarded as one of the most profitable airlines in the world, with a record of 29 consecutive years of profit.

A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engines receives joint EASA and FAA Airworthiness Type Certification


Paving the way for the delivery of the first A320neo with CFM LEAP engines in mid-2016



On 31st May 2016, the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft, the A320neo, received on-schedule the Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the second engine option to be certified – CFM International’s* LEAP-1A engine. This certification paves the way for the delivery of the first A320neo equipped with this engine type in mid-2016. This award follows by six months the initial Certificate of Airworthiness received from the EASA and FAA for the A320neo, powered by the Pratt & Whitney engine option. The first A320neo was delivered on 20th January 2016.

Fabrice Brégier, Airbus’ President and Chief Executive Officer said: “This key milestone for the A320neo programme, and its second engine option – the specially developed LEAP-1A, is a double seal of approval by the two major international governing bodies and comes after the A320neo Family had successfully accomplished a rigorous programme of certification trials. We look forward to the entry into service of LEAP-powered models in the very near future.”

The two LEAP-powered aircraft assigned to the flight test campaign have now successfully accumulated over 1,000 flight hours in more than 350 flights – including 150 flight hours completed with the same aircraft in an airline-like environment to ensure operational maturity at entry into service. Certification of the remaining aircraft/engine variants with LEAP engines will follow in the coming months. When all flight testing has been completed, the NEO development fleet (with both engine options) will have achieved a combined total of 3,000 flight hours.

The A320neo Family offers unbeatable fuel efficiency. Featuring latest engine technologies, Sharklet wing-tip devices and cabin innovations, the A320neo Family aircraft offers the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft delivering 15% fuel burn per seat reduction at entry into service in 2016, and a 20% reduction by 2020. Furthermore, everyone will benefit from the A320neo’s enhanced environmental credentials – which include a significant decrease in C02 emissions and a nearly 50 percent lower noise footprint.

The A320neo Family offers airlines an engine choice between the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM and the CFM LEAP-1A engines. With one aircraft in three sizes (A319neo, A320neo, A321neo), the A320neo Family, seating from 100 to 240 passengers, allows operators to match the right aircraft size to demand and seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment on low to high-density domestic to longer range routes up to 4,000nm. Thanks to their widest cabin, all members of the A320neo Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18-inch wide seats in economy as standard. Since its launch on 1st December 2010, the A320neo Family has received a tremendous market endorsement with more than 4,500 orders from over 82 customers, representing some 60 percent share of the market.



*CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines.


TOULOUSE TRIP



Paul Bannwarth

Cathay Pacific Adds New A350 Routes in NW16



Cathay Pacific in today (31MAY16)’s schedule update has opened reservation for additional destinations to be served by Airbus A350-900XWB aircraft. At the launch of winter 2016/17 season, A350 will begin serving following long-haul routes.

eff 30OCT16 Hong Kong – Auckland CX117/118 1 daily

eff 31OCT16 Hong Kong – Paris CDG CX279/278 3 weekly

eff 31OCT16 Hong Kong – Rome

Planned A350 operation remains subject to change.
Routes online
Photo:Alain Charpentier - TLS

China Airlines Airbus A350-941XWB cn 049 F-WZGV // B-18901

Airbus

segunda-feira, 30 de maio de 2016

Singapore Airlines Adds Johannesburg to A350 Service


ATW Daily News
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will add Johannesburg, South Africa, to its list of Airbus A350-900 routes beginning June 27. It will begin with Monday, Thursday and Saturday services and will eventually move to daily, and will include 4X-weekly Singapore-Capetown service.
Singapore's A350 will have 253 seats with 42 business, 24 premium economy and 187 economy class. SIA will offer Panasonic Avionics inflight entertainment and connectivity across its upcoming A350 and Boeing 787-10 deliveries.

The first SIA A350 was delivered in March and is in service to Amsterdam; Düsseldorf will be added in July. The airline has two A350-900s in service with 65 on order.

Cathay Pacific Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350 XWB

China Aviation Daily

Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, with an A350-900 touching down at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday morning after a nonstop flight from Toulouse.
According to flightradar24, the A350-900 airliner, Registration B-LRA performing delivery flight CX3350, departed from Toulouse Airport at 2:16 p.m., Saturday and arrived at Cathay Pacific's home base Hong Kong International Airport at 7:53 a.m. on Sunday (all local time).

The aircraft is due to be formally unveiled to media and staff at Hong Kong Airport on Monday evening.

The Hong Kong-based carrier will start operating its first A350 revenue flight CX907 to Manila on June 1, followed by a daily basis to Manila and Taipei from the next day until the second aircraft arrives in July.

Then the two A350s will only run regional routes for the first three months to Manila, Taipei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Kansai, prior to commence long-haul operations in September, beginning with Dusseldorf and London.
Besides, Cathay Pacific also plans A350 flights between Hong Kong and Auckland in the second half of the year.

The A350-900s is configured with 214 economy in a 3-3-3 configuration, 28 premium business seats in a 2-4-2 arrangement and 38 business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout.

Cathay Pacific has 22 A350-900s and 26 A350-1000s on order. The airline is due to take delivery of 12 A350-900s this year and ten more in 2017, to be followed by 26 of the larger and longer-range A350-1000s from 2018 through to 2020.

Cathay Pacific Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350 XWB


Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, with an A350-900 touching down at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday morning after a nonstop flight from Toulouse.

According to flightradar24, the A350-900 airliner, Registration B-LRA performing delivery flight CX3350, departed from Toulouse Airport at 2:16 p.m., Saturday and arrived at Cathay Pacific's home base Hong Kong International Airport at 7:53 a.m. on Sunday (all local time).

The aircraft is due to be formally unveiled to media and staff at Hong Kong Airport on Monday evening.

The Hong Kong-based carrier will start operating its first A350 revenue flight CX907 to Manila on June 1, followed by a daily basis to Manila and Taipei from the next day until the second aircraft arrives in July.

Then the two A350s will only run regional routes for the first three months to Manila, Taipei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Kansai, prior to commence long-haul operations in September, beginning with Dusseldorf and London.

Besides, Cathay Pacific also plans A350 flights between Hong Kong and Auckland in the second half of the year.
The A350-900s is configured with 214 economy in a 3-3-3 configuration, 28 premium business seats in a 2-4-2 arrangement and 38 business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout.




Cathay Pacific has 22 A350-900s and 26 A350-1000s on order. The airline is due to take delivery of 12 A350-900s this year and ten more in 2017, to be followed by 26 of the larger and longer-range A350-1000s from 2018 through to 2020.

TAP Express Launches Embraer E190 Operations



ATW Daily 
NewsTAP Portugal has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190, which will be operated by regional subsidiary TAP Express. It wasplaced into service May 23 on the Lisbon-Nice route. The new aircraft also operated service from Lisbon to Barcelona and Toulouse on its first day of operations with TAP Express.

Following a recent change of ownership, TAP Portugal is rebranding its Portugalia (PGA) regional operation as TAP Express.

The entry into service of the 106-seat E190 aircraft is part of TAP's regional fleet renewal strategy, which should soon include nine E190s and eight ATR 72s operating for TAP Express, the company said in a statement. The E190s will replace the entire Fokker 100 fleet, which has been in service since 1989.

"We at TAP are very pleased to launch the new E190 aircraft into operation as part of our thorough strategic plan to improve product and services in the whole, including the renewal of the company's entire regional fleet. The E190 will allow TAP to open new routes and expand to new markets, while ensuring more flexible and reliable operations with better efficiency and cost-effectiveness," TAP CEO Fernando Pinto said.
The latest E-190 increases TAP's fleet to 78 aircraft. In June, the company will take delivery of two additional Airbus A330s, increasing its fleet to 80 aircraft.

Cathay Pacific adds maiden A350-900



Cathay Pacific  has taken delivery of its first A350-900, B-LRA (cn 029). The twinjet was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac to Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok on May 28 and is tentatively scheduled to make its commercial debut on June 1 on flights to Manila and Taipei Taoyuan.

According to Airbus Industrie , the Hong Kong-based carrier's A350 fleet will include twenty one additional A350-900s and twenty six of the larger A350-1000s. Of the -900s, a total of twelve are scheduled to be delivered this year with the remainder due next year. Deliveries of the -1000s are scheduled to begin in 2018.

Cathay has meanwhile announced final plans for the retirement of its B747-400 fleet with the last flight planned to be CX543 from Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong on October 1. It currently operates three B747-400s, mainly on routes to Taipei and Tokyo Haneda.
ch aviation

Comlux Aviation to operate Crystal Cruises' VIP B777



Comlux Aviation says its VIP airline division, Fly Comlux, has signed an aircraft management contract with Crystal AirCruises for the operation of their incoming VIP-configured B777-200(LR), P4-XTL (msn 40955). The contract was announced during the EBACE tradeshow in Geneva earlier this week.


The former Air Austral  aircraft is currently at Victorville where it is undergoing reconfiguration to accommodate eighty-eight guests with flat-bed first class seats as well as a lounge and bar. It is expected to enter service for Crystal AirCruises in 2017 using the AOC of Comlux Aruba (CXB, Aruba).

Once in service, the twinjet will be used to fly Crystal AirCruises customers on high-end exclusive luxury tours around the world.

As recently reported, Crystal AirCruises is remarketing its VIP-configured B787-8 owing to a change in business plans.
ch aviation

Cathay Pacific Airways becomes new operator of the A350 XWB


Cathay Pacific Airways has become the sixth airline to operate the world’s latest and most efficient twin engine widebody airliner. The airline’s first aircraft featuring the carrier’s new livery has arrived at its home base in Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific has configured its A350-900 with a premium three class layout with a total of 280 seats, comprising 38 in Business Class, convertible to fully lie-flat beds, 28 in Premium Economy and 214 in the main cabin. After an initial period flying on regional routes, Cathay Pacific’s A350-900 will begin long haul operations later this year.
Altogether Cathay Pacific 48 A350 XWB on order, including 22 A350-900s and 26 of the larger A350-1000s.
The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce 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. The spaciousness, quietness, beautiful interior and mood lighting in the cabin contribute to superior levels of comfort and well-being, setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers.
To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 798 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 42 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.
Airbus

CityJet: first Sukhoi Superjet 100


CityJet becomes the first European airline to operate the Superjet SSJ100. CityJet will lease 15 Superjet SSJ100 aircraft with an option for an additional 16.
Sukhoi

TOULOUSE TRIP


Paul Bannwarth

quarta-feira, 25 de maio de 2016

SMARTWINGS - B737-800W - OK-TVV

Pedro Filipe - Lisboa

Malaysia Airlines to Add Two More Airbus A350s

The Star Online 

Malaysia Airlines Bhd is adding two new Airbus A350-900s with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) which will be delivered in 2018.


The national carrier said on Monday it had exercised the lease option for a 12-year lease agreement for the two new planes.
"The transaction is pursuant to the option provided under the existing Lease Agreement for the four (4) A350-900s signed by both parties in September last year," it said.
The A350 aircraft are from ALC's order book and they will be delivered in 2018. They will be powered by two Rolls Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.

Malaysia Airlines's CEO Christoph Mueller said the additional two Airbus A350-900s will complement the existing four (4) that is on order to reach a critical fleet size, allowing standby aircraft for any scheduled maintenance and enabling future network expansion.

"Technological and innovative advancements make flying this aircraft a real pleasure and it will bring a whole new experience to our offerings, with the aircraft able to operate non-stop from Kuala Lumpur to London and throughout Asia."


ALC chairman and CEO Steven F. Udvar-Házy said in addition to the four A350-900s placed by ALC last year, "we are confident that these two additional A350-900 aircraft will further maximize Malaysia Airlines' business operations as well as global growth".

Air China on 20 May began its fourth non-stop service to Frankfurt

The Star Alliance carrier has begun thrice-weekly flights on the 9,114-kilometre route from Shenzhen (SZX). No other carrier operates the route. Air China will fly A330-200s on the route. It already serves fellow Star Alliance carrier Lufthansa’s home hub from Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. Flight CA771 is scheduled to take off from Shenzhen at 23:30 and arrive in Frankfurt at 06:20, with the return flight CA772 leaving Frankfurt at 12:00 and landing in Shenzhen at 05:45 the next day. This is also Air China’s first international service from Shenzhen. A total of eight Chinese airports are now served this summer non-stop from Frankfurt by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Lufthansa. This compares with seven from Paris CDG, six from Amsterdam, five from Rome Fiumicino, five from Helsinki and just four from London Heathrow.
aenna

NokScoot drawing up fleet renewal plans



NokScoot (XW, Bangkok Don Mueang) management has begun soliciting proposals from Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) as it proceeds with the finalization of its fleet renewal plans.

Airline chief executive Piya Yodmani told the Bangkok Post that among the models currently being considered are the A330neo and the B787. Once a decision has been made and the aircraft eventually begin arriving, NokScoot's existing fleet of three B777-200(ER)s will be returned to Singaporean shareholder, Scoot (TZ, Singapore Changi). No timeframes were disclosed for the move.

A 51/49 joint venture between Nok Air (DD, Bangkok Don Mueang) and Scoot, NokScoot was launched in 2013 and hopes to break even by the end of the current financial year. Using its trio of B777s, the LCC serves Chongqing, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang, Taipei Taoyuan, and Tianjin from its Bangkok Don Mueang hub.
ch aviation

Moldova's FlyOne outlines proposed scheduled operations



FlyOne (5F, Chisinau) will inaugurate scheduled operations next month managing director Nicu Berla has announced.

According to TASS, the start-up will serve Barcelona El Prat, Verona, Dublin Int'l, London, Lisbon, Parma, Florence Peretola, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Voronezh Chertovitskoye. FlyOne commenced revenue operations last month offering charter flights from its Chisinau hub to Antalya, Heraklion and Rhodes.

While it operates a single A320-200, ER-AXJ (cn 295), a second is expected by month-end with additional aircraft to be ordered if the need arises.
ch aviation

Air China Introduces its First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner



China's national flag carrier becomes the first customer in the nation to operate the airplane



BEIJING, May 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air China officially unveiled the airline's first 787-9 Dreamliner to the public at a grand ceremony in Beijing today. The national flag carrier is the first airline in the country to have a 787-9 enter into service.

"The 787-9 Dreamliner employs a multitude of cutting-edge technologies best represented by its electronic handling system and wide application of composite materials," said Captain Wang Yingnian, chief pilot of Air China. "As such, it enjoys clear advantages such as low fuel consumption, low emission and lower noise, which are highly aligned with the green flying idea that Air China has long been an advocate of."

This is the first of 15 Dreamliners set to join Air China's fleet.

"We are very honored that the 787-9 has joined Air China's national flag carrier fleet," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior vice president of Northeast Asia Sales, "Carrying the long term partnership between Air China and Boeing, Air China's 787-9 will provide comfort and convenience for passengers, exceptional fuel efficiency and environmental performance for the airline customers."

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly over 40 more passengers an additional 285 nautical miles (830 km) with the same exceptional environmental performance — 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized airplanes.

The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passengers features such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

"We believe the 787-9 will become the backbone of Air China's international long-haul routes and will play an important role in supporting Air China's international development strategy," added Captain Wang.



Air China, headquartered in Beijing, is a leading provider of passenger and cargo services in China with scheduled flight routes connecting 174 cities in 40 countries and regions. Air China will use its 787-9s to ride on the wave of fast growing international passenger traffic by expanding its international network through non-stop point-to-point services.

terça-feira, 24 de maio de 2016

CityJet adds maiden Sukhoi SuperJet


(WX, Dublin Int'l) has taken delivery of its maiden SSJ 100-95 following the handing over of EI-FWA (msn 95102) at Venice Marco Polo on Tuesday, May 24.


Altogether, the Irish carrier is expected to take delivery of three more of the type this year with the remaining eleven to arrive from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (Moscow Zhukovsky) during 2017 and onwards. Aside from this current batch of fifteen leased aircraft, the Irish airline has options for an additional sixteen of the type as well.

The twinjet will initially be deployed on charter flights before eventually being used on regular CityJet services. The latter is, however, largely dependent on the aircraft securing London City certification, something it hopes to achieve by year-end.
CityJet is using the SuperJet to replace its older fleet of nineteen ARJ-85s.
ch aviation

Boeing, Air Austral Celebrate Delivery of Airline's First 787 Dreamliner


Reunion Island-based carrier becomes first 787 French operator



SAINT-DENIS, Reunion Island, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Air Austral are celebrating the delivery of the carrier's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The newest addition to the Air Austral long-haul fleet will touch down at Roland Garros Airport in Saint-Marie, Reunion Island tomorrow following a 10,500-mile (16,898-kilometre) delivery flight originating from the Boeing Everett Delivery Center in Everett, Wash.

"The state of the art 787 Dreamliner's unique capabilities enable us to launch the Dzaoudi to Paris Charles de Gaulle route," said Marie-Joseph Male, executive chairman and chief executive officer, Air Austral. "This airplane is the most advanced in the world, with superior operating economics all while providing our passengers an unrivalled on-board experience."

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to midsize airplanes, the 787 will provide Air Austral with unmatched fuel efficiency and environmental performance, using 20 to 25 percent less fuel and with 20 to 25 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

"It is an honor to deliver the first 787 Dreamliner to Air Austral, a first for a French operator," said Van Rex Gallard, vice president sales Latin America, Caribbean and Africa, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The Dreamliner will complement Air Austral's growing long-haul fleet, made up of 777s and now a 787, as well as its trans-continental network to Europe and Asia."



Air Austral announced an order for two 787-8 Dreamliners in 2015. Air Austral was founded in 1975 and currently operates a fleet of nine aircraft to over 10 destinations worldwide.

Jet2 Outlines S17 A330 Operations

British carrier Jet2.com has filed planned Airbus A330-200 operation for summer 2017 season, which sees the A330 aircraft based in Manchester, entering service from Late-May 2017. Planned A330-200 operation as of 24MAY16 as follow.

eff 24MAY17 Manchester – Rhodes 1 weekly (Day 3)

eff 25MAY17 Manchester – Lanzarote 2 weekly (Day 47)

eff 25MAY17 Manchester – Palma Mallorca 6 weekly (LS831/832 Day x23, LS955/956 Day 2)

eff 26MAY17 Manchester – Tenerife South 3 weekly (Day 125)
Current schedule is filed until 22JUN17. Additional routes or adjustments will be added gradually in the coming weeks.
Airline Routes

Airbus Corporate Jets adds Jet Aviation to Service Centre network

Adds to choice and global reach of support services

Airbus has added Jet Aviation and its MRO facilities to its ACJ Service Centre network, enhancing choice and geographical reach for its corporate jet customers and operators around the world.

The expanded network comprises companies that are owned or controlled by Airbus, as well as independent ones that it has approved. Its capabilities include line and heavy maintenance, cabin-refurbishing, and cabin and system upgrades.

The ACJ Service Centre network now comprises the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC) in Toulouse, Comlux America in Indianapolis, HAECO Private Jet Solutions in Xiamen, Jet Aviation in Basle, Dubai and Singapore, Sepang Aircraft Engineering (SAE) in Kuala Lumpur and ST Aerospace in Singapore. It will grow to include others over time.

The network provides dedicated support to ACJ customers around the world, and includes the provision of turnkey services, enabling customers to benefit from Airbus quality and standards – as well as peace of mind. It complements Airbus’ leadership in turnkey cabin-outfitting of large business jets, where it is uniquely well qualified with some 70 completions to its credit.

“Airbus corporate jet customers and operators already benefit from a worldwide support network sized for more than 500 customers and operators around the world,” says Benoit Defforge, Managing Director, Airbus Corporate Jets. “The ACJ Service Centre network complements this by adding services tailored to corporate-jet operator needs,” he adds.




Customised Airbus corporate-jet support and services have long included single-point-of-contact access to the corporate jet customer care centre (C4you) team, dedicated customer support directors, training and customised maintenance programmes.






More than 180 Airbus corporate jets are in service around the world, and they are flying on every continent, including Antarctica.

Embraer S.A.: First E190-E2 Jet Completes Maiden Flight Ahead of Schedule Embraer S.A.



SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, May 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The E-Jets E2 program reached another important milestone today with the completion of the maiden flight of the E190-E2. The flight was originally scheduled to take place during the second half of this year.


The aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m., local time from Embraer's facility in Sao Jose dos Campos and flew for three hours and 20 minutes. The flight occurred just three months after the E190-E2 made its public debut at a rollout ceremony at the factory in late February. The inaugural flight marks the beginning of the certification campaign for the E190-E2, the first of three new second-generation E-Jet models. The E190-E2 is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2018.

"A first flight is always an emotional occasion, no matter how many you witness over the years. In this particular case, we are not only keeping our promises to the market, we are going beyond by being a few months ahead of schedule. I want to thank each and every Embraer employee who is participating in this project," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO.

"What a first flight! Today, all of us at Embraer should be proud and thrilled of this remarkable achievement. Watching the first E190-E2 take to the skies means we are paving the way for a bright future in commercial aviation. I'm certain that the market will show even greater interest not only for E190-E2, but also for the other E2s as well," said Paulo Cesar Silva, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.

Embraer Captain Mozart Louzada commanded the aircraft along with First Officer Gerson de Oliveira Mendes, and Flight Test Engineers Alexandre Figueiredo and Carlos Silveira. Today's flight evaluated aircraft handling and performance characteristics with the crew analyzing a significant number of flight parameters, including speed, altitude and landing gear retraction. This was made possible by the high level of maturity that the E2 reached during program development through the extensive use of digital modeling simulations and ground and static tests that employed rigs and an iron bird.

"There are always a lot of expectations with a first flight and todays' was no exception. The flight was very smooth. We were able to significantly open the flight envelope by flying at mach 0.82, climbing to 41,000 feet and retracting the landing gear and flaps, and engaging the fly-by-wire in normal mode. All of these demonstrate that the E190-E2 project is very mature and robust, and exceed all performance targets" said Captain Louzada.


The aircraft that flew today is the first of four prototypes that will be used in the E190-E2 certification program. Two additional aircraft will be assigned for the E195-E2 certification process that will lead to entry into service in 2019. Three more aircraft will be used to certify the E175-E2 which is scheduled to enter service in 2020.

The E190-E2 has the same number of seats as the current-generation E190 and can be configured with 97 seats in dual class or 106 seats in a single-class layout. It has 400 nautical miles more range than the current-generation E190 and gives operators the ability to fly the aircraft up to 2,800 nautical miles.

Since the E-Jets E2s were launched in June 2013, the program has logged 640 commitments from airlines and leasing companies: 267 are firm orders and 373 are options and purchase rights. The E-Jets family of aircraft is the leader in the up-to-130-seat aircraft category with more than 50% worldwide market share. Embraer E-Jets are currently in service with some 70 customers from 50 countries.



E-Jets E2s represent the best of new technology in a proven platform. The application of advanced technologies for engines, wings, and avionics sets the E2s apart by providing airlines with the most efficient airplanes in the category yet maintaining commonality with current-generation E-Jets. Enhancements include new aerodynamically-advanced high-aspect ratio distinctively-shaped wings, improved systems and avionics, 4th generation full fly-by-wire flight controls, and Pratt & Whitney's PurePowerTM Geared Turbofan high by-pass ratio engines (PW1700G on the E175-E2, PW1900G on the E190-E2 and E195-E2). These combine to generate double-digit reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, noise, and maintenance costs, as well greater productivity though less scheduled maintenance downtime. E-Jets E2s will achieve similar costs per seat as larger re-engined narrow-body aircraft but with significantly lower costs per trip. Those savings will create new opportunities for lower-risk development of new markets and fleet right-sizing.

Air Hamburg orders one more Embraer Legacy 650 business jet


GENEVA, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer Executive Jets and the Germany-based business charter operator Air Hamburg have signed a purchase agreement for yet another Legacy 650. The agreement was announced today at the opening of the 16th European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. The delivery of this aircraft is scheduled for the third quarter of 2016.
This new acquisition brings to nine the total of Embraer business jets in Air Hamburg's fleet, currently comprised of seven Legacy 600/650 and one Phenom 300, which serve its customers' travels to European, Russian and Middle Eastern destinations.

"We believe that customer loyalty is earned by ensuring their total satisfaction, and by building strong and enduring relationships. Partnerships are established based on real commitment, and we are pleased to support Air Hamburg's continuous growth," said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "We understand that executive jets are powerful tools for successful decision makers worldwide, who value speed, flexibility, efficiency, and productivity in their daily business relations as well as for leisure travel with their family. The Legacy 650 offers all these values, including an outstanding cabin comfort based on a proven platform with over 25 million hours flown."

"Our customers have been consistently pleased with the superior and unparalleled Legacy 600/650 flight experience. By offering three distinct cabin zones, with the largest cabin and baggage compartment in their classes, these aircraft combine everything we need to meet our unwavering commitment to offer best-in-class services," said Simon Ebert, Partner, Air Hamburg. "Embraer business jets' great reliability is also fundamental for our growth strategy as well as to keeping our round-the-clock service available every day of the year."





Himalaya Airlines to Commence Its Scheduled Flight from May-end

Himalaya Airlines -- a Nepal-China joint venture airline -- has announced its direct scheduled flight to Doha, Qatar from May 31. The airline will fly its new Airbus 320-214 from Kathmandu to Doha on a regular basis thereafter.

The flight will depart from Kathmandu at 11:00 p .m. and land in Doha at 1:30 a.m. (local time). Similarly, the return flight will depart at 2:30 a.m. from Doha and land in Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:15 a.m. starting June 1.

The airline will operate three flights from Kathmandu to Doha in a week for the first 15 days on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Then after, the airline will operate regular flight in Kathmandu to Doha sector.

The flight route has scheduled for the convenience of the passengers, said Vijay Shrestha, vice president, administration of Himalaya Airlines, during the press briefing here today. "It gives us immense pleasure that Himalaya Airlines is going to start first direct scheduled flight to Doha from end of May, to advance tourism and business between Nepal and Qatar and strengthen the bi-lateral relationship."

The airline has informed that the aircraft passenger cabin is configured with 150 economy and eight business class seats and aims to ensure greater degree of reliability and punctuality for its passengers.

The airline has said that it has appointed Cleopatra Travels as its General Sales Agent (GSA) for passenger and cargo for the state of Qatar. The GSA will be responsible for the sales and marketing, market development, reservations and ticketing services representing the Himalaya Airline in Qatar.

Established in August 2014, the airline started its international flights operation from April 12 this year, flying directly to Colombo of Sri Lanka. The airline has planned services to more destinations, namely, Delhi, India; Lhasa, Chengdu and Beijing in China a few months later, as per the airline.

Tibet Airlines holds 48.99 per cent of the equity capital of the company, whereas the Nepali side holds 51.01 percent share.

Hainan Island gets first European connection

Hainan Airlines extends Chongqing-Rome route to Haikou

Written by:Mark Elliott


The outbound service from Haikou will be a night flight

The Chinese island province of Hainan is now connected to Europe, following the launch of a new service by Hainan Airlines.

On Saturday 21 May, the carrier commenced twice weekly flights from Haikou, the capital of Hainan, to Rome. Flights will operate via Chongqing.

Under the new schedule, Hainan Airlines’ flights will depart Haikou’s Meilan International Airport every Wednesday and Saturday at 1945, arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 0735 the next day. The return service will leave the Italian capital every Thursday and Sunday at 1210, getting back to Haikou at 1015.

The carrier will deploy a 214-seat Airbus A330 aircraft on the route, with 36 flat-bed seats in business class and 178 seats in economy.

This new service marks an extension of Hainan Airlines’ existing Chongqing-Rome route, and the carrier also operates three weekly flights to Rome from Xi’an.