terça-feira, 30 de maio de 2017

C919, the first aircraft independently developed by China, commences its maiden flight in Shanghai



The first C919 aircraft completes its maiden flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport successfully at 14:00 on May 5th, 2017.
The first C919 aircraft commences its maiden flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport successfully on May 5th, 2017. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council sent congratulatory messages for the success of the first flight of C919 aircraft.

It was 15:19 on May 5th, 2017 in Shanghai, China. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which is exceptionally busy in ordinary days, held its breath, stared soulfully, and opened its arms: An airliner with blue painting to symbolize the sky and green painting to symbolize the earth on the rear fuselage lightly spread the wings of youth and steadily landed on the fourth runway. This is a historic moment. It indicates that the "Trunk Liner Dream" haunting the Chinese nation for a hundred years has finally made a historic breakthrough, and the blue sky finally has a trunk liner which is developed by China completely in accordance with the world advanced standards. It means that after nearly half a century of hard exploration, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China has gained the core competences of developing a modern trunk liner. This is not only a major historic breakthrough in China's aviation industry, but also a significant achievement made by China in deeply implementing the strategy of driving development by innovation and comprehensively promoting the structural reform of the supply side.

Mr. Ma Kai, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, and Mr. Han Zheng, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, attended the first flight activities. Vice Premier Ma Kai made a speech at the first flight activities. Mr. Ding Xuedong, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, Mr. Miao Wei, Minister and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Mr. Xiao Yaqing, Minister of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), Mr. Feng Zhenglin, Vice Minister and Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of Ministry of Transport and Director and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Mr. Zhang Yanzhong, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the major projects of large aircraft of the State Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr. Jin Zhuanglong, Chairman and Secretary of the Party Committee of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) and General Director of C919 Program, and Mr. He Dongfeng, President of COMAC and Executive Deputy General Director of C919 Program, also attended the activities. Mr. Ding Xuedong read out the congratulatory messages sent by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for the success of the first flight of C919 aircraft. Mr. Miao Wei and Mr. Feng Zhenglin made a speech at the first flight activities respectively. Mr. He Dongfeng presided over the first flight activities.

In the afternoon of May 5th, 2017, the first C919 aircraft flown by Pilot in Command Cai Jun and Test Pilot Wu Xin and carrying Observer Qian Jin and Flight Test Engineers Ma Fei and Zhang Dawei took off from the fourth runway of Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 14:00 and soared into the sky. After completing the scheduled flight test subjects with a smooth cruising flight of 1 hour and 19 minutes at an altitude of 3000 meters within specified airspace in the southeast of Nantong, the aircraft returned and landed safely at 15:19. Mr. Cai Jun reported on behalf of the crew that the aircraft functioned well in the air. Mr. Jin Zhuanglong, General Director of C919 Program, announced that the first flight of C919 was successful.

C919 aircraft is the first single-aisle trunk liner developed by China completely in accordance with the airworthiness standards and the prevailing market standards. C919 aircraft is designed to be the most popular 150-seat single-aisle aircraft in the air transport market. The baseline version has a standard range of 4075 km and an extended range of 5555 km, with seats for 158 passengers in hybrid configuration and seats for 168 passengers in all economy-class configuration. By using advanced aerodynamic layout, structural material and airborne system, the drag of C919 aircraft is 5% lower than that of the similar type in service, the field noise is over 10 db lower than the fourth stage requirements of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the carbon dioxide emission is 12%-15% lower, the nitrogen oxide emission is over 50% lower than the emission level specified by ICAO CAEP6, and the direct operating cost is reduced by 10%. Up to now, a total of 570 C919 orders are obtained from 23 domestic and foreign customers. C919 aircraft has strictly implemented China Civil Aviation Regulations (CCAR) Part 25 Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes (CCAR25). CAAC accepted the application for type certificate for C919 in 2010 and comprehensively carried out airworthiness examination. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) accepted the application for type certificate for C919 in April 2016.

The successful first flight of C919 aircraft means that China has made clustered breakthroughs in civil aircraft technology and gained the core competences of developing trunk liners. Since the research and development of C919 aircraft was started in July 2008, COMAC has taken the development path of "China design, system integration, international tendering, and gradual promotion of domestication", adhered to the technical route of "Independent development, international cooperation, and international standard", captured more than 100 key and core technologies including aircraft and engine integration, fly-by-wire system control law, active control technology and whole-aircraft refined FEA, established China civil aircraft R&D core competences including design and development, final assembly and manufacture, customer service, airworthiness certification, supplier management and marketing by taking COMAC as a platform, formed a civil aircraft industry chain leaded by Shanghai and participated by nearly 200,000 people from more than 200 enterprises in 22 provinces and cities such as Shaanxi, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Liaoning and Jiangsu, and improved China's capability to support the civil aircraft industry. COMAC has also promoted 16 international aviation enterprises to found 16 joint ventures with Chinese enterprises, which drives the industrial development of airborne systems including power unit, avionics, flight control, power supply, fuel and landing gear. 16 material manufacturers and 54 standard part manufacturers including China Baowu Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. have become the suppliers or potential suppliers of C919 program. A group of aviation industry supporting areas were set up in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, Jiangxi and other provinces. A relatively complete industry chain that has innovation capability and independent intellectual property rights, centers on COMAC, unifies AVIC, radiates throughout China and faces to the whole world is under construction.

The successful first flight of C919 aircraft also means that China has made new significant achievements in implementing the strategy of driving development by innovation. Trunk liner is called "a flower in modern industry". With the delivery of ARJ21 aircraft for operation, the first flight test of C919 aircraft and the setup of Sino-Russian long-range widebody aircraft program, China civil aircraft industry is advancing rapidly towards marketization, industrialization and internationalization. Through the research and development of C919 and ARJ21 aircraft, China has mastered more than 6,000 civil aircraft technologies in 20 specialties and 5 categories, accelerated the group breakthroughs in key technologies such new material, modern manufacturing and advanced power, and promoted the development of many basic disciplines such as fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and computational mathematics. A large quantity of advanced materials represented by the third-generation aluminium-lithium alloys and composite materials are applied in the China-made civil aircraft for the first time, accounting for 26.2% of the weight of the aircraft structure,which promotes the establishment of manufacturing and process system for special materials such as landing gear 300M steel, and facilitates the application of "green" advanced processing methods such as titanium alloy 3D printing and skin mirror milling. 36 domestic colleges and universities including Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Beihang University and Northwestern Polytechnical University have participated in the technology research and development of C919 aircraft, a civil aircraft technology innovation system which gives priority to COMAC, takes market as guidance and integrates production, study and research as one was set up, and a path for the innovation and development of major national science and technology projects was preliminarily formed.




During the course of developing ARJ21 and C919 aircraft, our country has cultivated a backbone team for the development of civil aircraft with youth as the main body. Since its foundation in 2008, COMAC has insisted on the strategy of "Developing programs via talents and cultivating talents via programs". The total number of COMAC employees has increased from more than 3,000 when the company was established to more than 10,000, and a group of civil aircraft leading talents and backbones were cultivated in the aircraft research and development practice with the post-80s and post-90s as the main body. Among all the employees, 2 experts are listed in "Ten Thousand Talents Program", 40 experts are listed in "National Thousand Talents Program", and more than 160 experts are listed in various national and local talents programs. During the process of tackling key research topics and overcoming difficult problems for more than ten years, COMAC has borne in mind the spirit of "two bombs and one satellite", the spirit of manned spaceship, the spirit of servicing the nation with aviation and the spirit of craftsmen, adhered to the spirit of "settling down to, concentrating on and being infatuated with one's job", persisted in "struggling hard, tackling key problems, enduring hardship and devoting for a long term", insisted on "mastery design, fine manufacture, service in good faith and constant perfection seeking", comprehensively carried out innovation, pioneering and creation practices in program research, program development, corporate governance and party building, and fostered the spirit of Chinese trunk liner, which gave wings to the dream of letting Chinese trunk liner fly in the blue sky.




The maiden flight of C919 aircraft indicates that the program comprehensively enters the phases of development flight test and verification flight test. A total of 6 test aircraft of C919 development batch are put into flight test to comprehensively carry out the flight test related to stall, power, performance, control stability, flight control, icing, high temperature and extreme cold. Meanwhile, two aircraft for ground tests are respectively put into test such as static test and fatigue test. The second flight test aircraft is scheduled to complete the first flight in the second half of the year.






Site of the maiden flight.











The first C919 aircraft landed smoothly and commenced the maiden flight at 15:19 on May 5th, 2017.









Virgin America expands A321neo routes as of 30MAY17

Virgin America in recent schedule update filed additional routes to be operated by Airbus A321neo, set to enter first revenue service tomorrow (31MAY17). As of 30MAY17, updated A321neo operation as follow.

*eff 31MAY17 San Francisco – Washington Reagan 1 daily, replacing A320

*eff 14JUN17 San Francisco – New York JFK VX022/029 1 daily, until 26AUG17

eff 27AUG17 San Francisco – Honolulu 1 daily, replacing A320

eff 15OCT17 Los Angeles – Newark VX1156/1167 1 daily, replacing A319/320
A321neo routes listed above currently scheduled until 04NOV17 inclusive. At present time, there are no A321neo operation scheduled 05NOV17 – 03JAN18.
* Previously reported on Airlineroute.
eff 04JAN18 Los Angeles – Honolulu 1 daily, replacing A320
By Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Swiss S17 CS300 operations as of 29MAY17

swiss

Swiss International Air Lines later this week will begin Bombardier CSeries CS300 operation, 2 weeks later than previously scheduled (15MAY17). Inaugural service is now scheduled on 01JUN17. Additional service entry also sees date revision, while regular operations at Zurich will commence from mid-September 2017, one-month earlier than planned.
Between 01JUN17 and 28OCT17, the CS300 aircraft will gradually enter service on following routes (effective date based on Switzerland departure). Operational frequency varies and the CS300 aircraft may only operate on selected dates.
eff 01JUN17 Geneva – London Heathrow (Inaugural flight)

eff 01JUN17 Geneva – Palma Mallorca (third CS300 route)

eff 01JUN17 Geneva – Porto (second CS300 route)

eff 02JUN17 Geneva – Madrid

eff 06JUN17 Geneva – Nice

eff 09JUN17 Geneva – Barcelona

eff 09JUN17 Geneva – Moscow Domodedovo

eff 15JUN17 Geneva – Malaga

eff 17JUN17 Geneva – Lisbon

eff 17JUN17 Geneva – Pristina

eff 18JUN17 Geneva – Prague

eff 19JUN17 Geneva – Athens

eff 01JUL17 Geneva – Irakleion

eff 01JUL17 Geneva – Zakinthos (until 02SEP17)

eff 02JUL17 Geneva – Zurich

eff 07JUL17 Geneva – Valencia

eff 19AUG17 Geneva – Thessaloniki (until 02SEP17)

eff 22AUG17 Geneva – Olbia

eff 04SEP17 Geneva – Marrakech

eff 09SEP17 Geneva – Catania

eff 09SEP17 Geneva – Corfu

eff 16SEP17 Geneva – Biarritz

eff 17SEP17 Zurich – Brindisi

eff 17SEP17 Zurich – London Heathrow (until 01OCT17)

eff 17SEP17 Zurich – Paris CDG

eff 17SEP17 Zurich – Vienna (until 01OCT17)

eff 15OCT17 Zurich – Venice

eff 17OCT17 Zurich – Brussels

eff 18OCT17 Zurich – Bari

eff 19OCT17 Zurich – Manchester (until 22OCT17)

eff 19OCT17 Zurich – Prague

eff 20OCT17 Zurich – Budapest

eff 20OCT17 Zurich – Hanover

eff 21OCT17 Zurich – Sofia

eff 23OCT17 Zurich – Palermo

one-time service scheduled on following routes:

21JUN17 Geneva – Dublin

01OCT17 Zurich – Nice (Also on 22OCT17)

15OCT17 Zurich – Krakow

On 07JUN17 and 08JUN17, CS300 is scheduled to operate selected Zurich service:

07JUN17 Zurich – Hanover

07JUN17 Zurich – Madrid

07JUN17 Zurich – Milan Malpensa

08JUN17 Zurich – Gothenburg

Planned CS300 operational routes and dates remain subject to change. The CS300 aircraft is operated by Swiss Global Air Lines.By Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Norwegian 737MAX 8 S17 service entry changes as of 29MAY17



Norwegian in recent schedule update revised planned Boeing 737MAX 8 (operated by Norwegian Air International; D8 7M8) operations, previously scheduled to enter service on 01JUN17. Due to the delay of aircraft delivery, selected routes will be operated by Norwegian Air Shuttle 737-800 (DY 73H) instead.

As of 29MAY17, planned changes as follow.
Revised intra-European 737MAX 8 service launch date:
Edinburgh – Oslo eff 21JUN17 1 daily (Previously scheduled from 01JUN17, this was revised to 16JUN17 and further delayed to 21JUN17)

Following new Trans-Atlantic routes will be operated by DY 73H between 15JUN17 and 31AUG17, instead of D8 7M8:

Belfast – Providence eff 02JUL17 2 weekly (summer seasonal service)
Bergen – Newburgh Stewart eff 02JUL17 2 weekly (This route has been converted to year-round operation)
Bergen – Providence eff 01JUL17 2 weekly
Cork – Providence eff 01JUL17 3 weekly
Dublin – Providence eff 02JUL17 5 weekly
Edinburgh – Providence eff 16JUN17 4 weekly (Note the D8 7M8 is still scheduled to operate 21JUN17 – 30JUN17)
Shannon – Newburgh Stewart eff 01JUL17 2 weekly
Shannon – Providence eff 02JUL17 2 weekly

Following new Trans-Atlantic routes, will be operated by DY 73H and D8 7M8 initially in July and August 2017:

Dublin – Newburgh Stewart eff 01JUL17 1 daily (DY 73H operates Day 246 from DUB, Day 135 from SWF, 01JUL17 – 31AUG17)
Edinburgh – Newburgh Stewart eff 15JUN17 1 daily (DY 73H operates 15JUN17 – 19JUN17; Day 246 in 01JUL17 – 31AUG17)

Following new Trans-Atlantic routes, on board D8 7M8, remains unchanged:

Belfast – Newburgh Stewart eff 01JUL17 3 weekly
Edinburgh – Hartford eff 17JUN17 3 weekly (Inaugural on 17JUN17 operated by DY 73H)

As a result of these changes, updated schedule now shows Norwegian 737MAX 8 inaugural scheduled on 20JUN17, simultaneously on Edinburgh – Hartford and Edinburgh – Newburgh Stewart route, departing EDI at 1715LT. For the month of July and August 2017, 737MAX 8’s Trans-Atlantic frequency will be 14 weekly, instead of previously planned 42.
Further changes to planned 737MAX 8 operation remain highly possible.

By Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Azerbaijan plans 2 A340 flights to Paris in June 2017



Azerbaijan Airlines in recent schedule update filed Airbus A340-500 operations on Baku – Paris CDG route, scheduled in late-June 2017. The A340-500 will operate this route on 23JUN17 and 27JUN17, replacing Airbus A319/320.

J2073 GYD0630 – 1020CDG 340
J2074 CDG1125 – 1835GYD 340
Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Juneyao Airlines outlines B787-9 plans; first due in 3Q18


Juneyao Airlines (HO, Shanghai Hongqiao) has said it expects to take delivery of the first three of its five B787-9s in 2018 and will deploy the widebody aircraft on new routes to Europe, Australia, and the United States, reports China Civil Aviation Network.
The order for the five aircraft – Juneyao's first widebodies – was finalised in February, with options for an additional five of the same type. Last week, while celebrating its addition to the Star Alliance family as a Connecting Partner, Juneyao's Chairman Wang Junjin said that the first B787-9s were expected in September 2018 with a total of three delivered that year. A further two are due in 2019 as per the Boeing agreement announced earlier this year.
Wang added that Nanjing would continue to act as a supporting base to its main Shanghai hub.
The Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) aircraft will join Juneyao's current all-Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) fleet of forty-one A320-200s and twenty-one A321-200s. The carrier began operations in 2006 and currently serves domestic Chinese destinations and short-haul international flights to neighbouring countries such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Russia. Its 9 Air (AQ, Guangzhou) low-cost unit is also in the process of expanding its own operational niche having applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for authority to start international flight operations. According to FlightGlobal, Chairman Wang has alluded to initial destinations including Singapore, Denpasar, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
ch aviation

BASEL TRIP

Paul Bannwarth

segunda-feira, 29 de maio de 2017

TAP Portugal to lease six Airbus aircraft from BOC Aviation



TAP Portugal (TP, Lisbon) is set to take delivery of four new A320neo family aircraft and two A330-900s between 2018 and 2020, leased from BOC Aviation. All six aircraft will be sourced from BOC's orderbook with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac).
The lease agreement opens up a new customer for BOC.
"TAP Portugal represents yet another new European customer and we are delighted to begin our partnership with this national carrier, which will expand our globally diversified customer portfolio even further," said BOC's Chief Commercial Officer, Steven Townend.

The Portuguese airline says the new aircraft are part of its process of upgrading its fleet.

"TAP’s fleet renewal plan, that includes 53 brand new Airbus NEO family aircraft, is a foundational element of our business strategy," said TAP's Vice President of Finance, Teresa Lopes. "BOC Aviation’s ability to design innovative solutions to help finance new aircraft was very important for TAP. We are sure BOC Aviation and TAP will now be starting a mutually beneficial and cooperative long term relationship going forward."

TAP operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising: twenty-one A319-100, nineteen A320-200s, four A321-200s, fifteen A330-200s, three A330-300s (inactive), and four A340-300s.
ch aviation
photo:João Luis Pessoa  - LPPT

Ariana Afghanistan eyes ATRs, Boeings for fleet renewal



Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG, Kabul) has outlined plans to renew and replace its fleet that currently comprises two A310-300s and three B737-400s.
Airline personnel told CAPA the state-owned carrier plans to acquire three B737-800s, two B767-200s and two ATR42s by the end of 2019. The aircraft are to be sourced from the second-hand market.
It is hoped the first Avions de Transport Régional turboprop and B737-800 will arrive by the end of 2017.
As such, though the incoming fleet will be used to gradually replace its current jets, Ariana plans to retain the B737-400s for another two years. The aircraft recently completed C checks and thus have another two years of life on the clock. However, with the arrival of the -800s, the older -400s will be gradually weaned off international flights in favour of domestic Afghan services. There they will compliment the ATR42s which will be used to develop services to secondary Afghan towns and cities.
The widebody B767s will be used to replace the A310s.
ch aviation

Monarch Airlines adds maiden B737NextGen



Monarch Airlines (ZB, London Luton) has taken delivery of its maiden B737-800 following the arrival of TC-AAY (msn 40874) at Birmingham Int'l on Thursday, May 18.

The ex-Pegasus Airlines aircraft, which will become G-ZBAV on the UK register, is scheduled to be deployed into service from June 21 onwards. It will be based out of Birmingham Int'l and will serve Menorca, Dalaman, Rome Fiumicino, Alicante, Lisbon, Madrid Barajas, Tenerife Sur, Malaga, Faro, and Palma Son Sant Joan.

Other destinations that will eventually roll out as the summer season progresses include Barcelona El Prat, Stockholm Arlanda, Lanzarote. Service to Fuerteventura, Larnaca, and Las Palmas is scheduled to commence from November onwards.
ch aviation

Russia’s MC-21 airliner made first flight



The MC-21 first flight took 30 min at the altitude of 1,000 meters and at the speed of 300 km/h

Russia’s new MC-21-300 airliner had made its first flight in Irkutsk today, on May 28. The first flight took 30 min at the altitude of 1,000 meters and at the speed of 300 km/h, reported Irkut Corporation, the aircraft designer. The flight plan included the aircraft in-flight stability and controllability checks.

During the first flight the aircraft has also performed go-around maneuver followed by a flight over the runway, climbing and turning.

The MC-21 crew commander Oleg Kononenko reported that the flight went in the normal mode. “There are no obstacles revealed preventing the tests continuation”. The copilot Roman Taskayev confirmed that the characteristics and operational modes of the power plant were confirmed and all aircraft systems operated without glitches.

The MC-21 took off powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines. The alternative Russian powerplant – Aviadvigatel PD-14 is to be certified in 2018.

MC-21 is the first Russian-made narrowbody commercial passenger aircraft designed in the post-Soviet era. The program was launched in 2007 and is headed by Irkut, a subsidiary of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation. The flight prototype was rolled out in June 2016.

MC-21-300 is a baseline variant that has maximum take-off weight of 79,250 kg and can carry up to 211 passengers for a distance of up to 6,000 km. The shorter, 72,560 kg MTOW, variant — MC-21-200 with 165 passenger capacity is at design stage.

Irkut says that MC-21 aircraft is superior to existing counterparts in terms of flight-technical characteristics and efficiency. Its major contributor to the enhancement of flight-technical characteristics is the composite wing. The share of composites in MC-21 design exceeds 30%. According to the designers, calculated reduction of direct operational costs for MC-21 is 12-15% lower than for counterparts.

MC-21 certification in Russia is now planned for 2018 with the EASA certificate to be obtained a year later.

The MC-21 backlog stands at 175 firm orders and more than 100 commitments. Russia’s largest carrier Aeroflot is expected to become the launch operator with first airframes to be delivered in 2019.
Russian Aviation Insider 

sexta-feira, 26 de maio de 2017

Uzbekistan Airways - B787-8 - UK78702

CV880M - JFK

Vistara receives its first A320neo




Three class layout for full service operations

Airbus has delivered the first A320neo to Vistara, a Delhi based full service airline and joint venture between Tata Sons Ltd. and Singapore Airlines (SIA). The delivery is the first of seven aircraft to be leased from BOC Aviation. The aircraft sports a unique A320neo Vistara star symbol livery on its underbelly.

The CFM powered aircraft is configured in a three class layout with 158 seats (8 business class, 24 premium and 126 economy class). Vistara has taken inputs from its growing number of frequent fliers and redesigned the cabin with even more comfort and relaxing features such as mood lighting and increased seat pitch.

Vistara currently operates 13 A320 aircraft on domestic India routes. The increased range of the NEO provides greater reach as Vistara spreads its wings internationally in the future.
The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 15 percent fuel and CO2 savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 as well as 50 percent noise reduction. With more than 5,000 orders received from 92 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market. With this delivery, Airbus has delivered more than 110 A320neo aircraft to 24 operators






CORSAIR - B747-400 - F-HSEA

FPP - LPPT

ALK AIRLINES - MD-82 - LZ-DEO

FPP - LPPT

SMALL PLANET - A320-200 - LY-ONL

FPP - LPPT

Beijing Capital Lisbon late-July 2017 launch update as of 24MAY17



Beijing Capital Airlines once again revised planned operational routing for new service to Portugal, as the airline restores Hangzhou – Beijing sector under the same flight number. From 25JUL17, the airline’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft will operate Hangzhou – Beijing – Lisbon route 3 times a week.

Operational schedule for Beijing – Lisbon sector remains unchanged.

JD459 HGH1850 – 2110PEK0110+1 – 0730+1LIS 332 246
JD460 LIS1100 – 0540+1PEK0825+1 – 1040+1HGH 332 357
Jim Liu - Airline Routes

Bombardier Delivers the First CS300 Aircraft to C Series launch Operator SWISS


SWISS becomes the first airline to integrate both C Series aircraft models to its fleet
CS300 aircraft to be operated from Geneva, Switzerland

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) took delivery of its first CS300 aircraft at Bombardier’s facility in Mirabel, Canada, where the C Series aircraft are manufactured. When the aircraft enters commercial service in a few days, SWISS will become the first airline to operate both C Series aircraft models. SWISS will dedicate this new aircraft to the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland as the airline will operate this CS300 aircraft from Geneva.

“We are very proud to deliver SWISS’s first CS300 aircraft today. SWISS is known for its leading-edge technical and operational excellence and has been a wonderful partner for the C Series aircraft program. The SWISS family has been part of the C Series journey from the beginning and we thank the airline for its continuous support,” said Fred Cromer, President of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “This new delivery is a demonstration of Bombardier’s commitment to deliver revolutionary and high-performing aircraft and help connecting communities with the best flying experience in the world!”

“The C Series aircraft program continues getting strong momentum with its successful entry into service with SWISS and today, the launch airline becomes the first one to take delivery of both the CS100 and the CS300 models,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President, C Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The C Series airliners demonstrate robust in-service performance to date and we are confident that SWISS will also benefit from a smooth entry-into-service with the CS300 aircraft.”

“We are delighted that, having successfully integrated the first Bombardier CS100s into our fleet from mid-2016 onwards, we can now welcome our first CS300,” says Thomas Klühr, SWISS’s Chief Executive Officer. “With its 20 additional seats, this second model in the C Series family ideally complements our current aircraft fleet, and gives us an optimal equipment mix for our European short- and medium-haul services. Our first CS300 will be initially stationed in Geneva, where its superior comfort credentials will be excellently suited to this premium travel market,” Klühr continues. “In fact, our entire Geneva-based fleet will soon consist solely of Bombardier C Series aircraft.”

SWISS’ first CS300 aircraft is scheduled to enter service on June 1st, 2017 with its maiden commercial flight taking passengers from Geneva to Heathrow. SWISS will take delivery of a total of 30 CS100 and CS300 aircraft.

Twelve C Series aircraft have been delivered by Bombardier so far, nine of which have been delivered to SWISS. Three CS300 aircraft are currently in operations with airBaltic.



The C Series aircraft is manufactured by the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership, an affiliate of the Bombardier Commercial Aircraft segment of Bombardier Inc.

Jet Airways increases London flights from Oct 2017



Jet Airways at the launch of winter 2017/18 schedule plans to expand London Heathrow service, with the introduction of 3rd daily Mumbai – London Heathrow operation. The new mid-morning Mumbai departure 9W116/115 will commence on 29OCT17, on board Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

9W120 BOM0230 – 0700LHR 77W D
9W116 BOM0905 – 1335LHR 77W D
9W118 BOM1310 – 1740LHR 77W D
9W119 LHR1005 – 0030+1BOM 77W D
9W115 LHR1530 – 0555+1BOM 77W D
9W117 LHR2105 – 1125+1BOM 77W D
The airline also operates 1 daily Delhi – London Heathrow flight.

By Jim Liu - Airline Routes

quinta-feira, 25 de maio de 2017

JetBlue A320-232 - N531JL - Whonors New York's Finest - JetBlue debuts a special livery, “Blue Finest,” honoring the New York Police Department.

CV880M - JFK

First Air Mauritius A350 XWB takes shape in Airbus’ Final Assembly Line


Assembly of the first A350 XWB for Air Mauritius is advancing well at Airbus’ Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.




The wing-fuselage junction, the installation of the tailplane and also the tailcone have been completed. The aircraft is in the next assembly station for structural completion such as the installation of winglets, ground testing of mechanical, electrical and avionics systems. Next steps will include in particular cabin completion, engine installation, painting and flight tests. This will lead to the delivery scheduled in Q4 2017, of the first A350-900 to Air Mauritius.


Air Mauritius will acquire a total of six A350-900 twin engine widebodies comprising four directly purchased from Airbus and two on lease from AerCap. At entry into service, the A350 XWB will be deployed on the carrier's long-haul, mainly the Mauritius-Paris route. Air Mauritius currently operates a fleet of 13 aircraft of which 10 Airbus aircraft including six A340-300, two A330-200 and two A319 on regional and long haul services.

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 831 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.



Iran cools on MRJ-90s over delayed EIS date



Iran's Deputy Transport Minister, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, has confirmed that the country will not be purchasing any MRJ90s from Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, reports Iran's Press TV. National carrier Iran Air (IR, Tehran Mehrabad) had been considering the Japanese manufacturer for a possible order of eighty MRJs.

Kashan said that "there is no chance of reaching an agreement with this company [Mitsubishi] at present and the purchase of aircraft from it is out of question."
Japan's regional jet program has suffered significant delays since launching in 2008, and earlier this year announced that it was yet again pushing back its expected entry into service (EIS) until 2020.
Iran Air has recently made deals with Boeing, Airbus and Avions de Transport Régional for fleet upgrade and replacement. The vigorous spending spree comes after the lifting of economic sanctions against the country last year. Iran Air's current fleet has an average age of more than 23 years old.
Rival carrier Iran Aseman Airlines (EP, Tehran Mehrabad) is still apparently considering adding MRJ metal to its fleet. In April this year, Aseman placed an order for up to sixty B737 MAX with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare), but said at the time that it had not yet given up its MRJ plans.
ch aviation

India's SpiceJet to lease in B787s for longhaul debut



SpiceJet (SG, Delhi Int'l) has confirmed previous speculative reports pointing to its anticipated venture into the longhaul low-cost market.
The Indian budget carrier's chairman Ajay Singh told The Times of India in an interview last week that SpiceJet would lease two B787s, said to be B787-8s, for use in serving cities in Europe among other destinations.
"We are looking at starting the service by this winter," he said. "Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be leased and we may fly to cities in the UK, like Birmingham Int'l or London, where we can look beyond London Heathrow. A return fare of INR25,000-30,000 (USD385-462) for these sectors will have great demand."
Singh also confirmed that SpiceJet does indeed have the option of converting into widebody jets, fifty aircraft of their recent order with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for 100 firm order B737 MAX jets with purchase rights for an additional fifty.
"We will exercise that in due time," he said.
ch aviation

Sudan's Badr Airlines partners Aloor Airlines for Juba ops

Badr Airlines (J4, Khartoum) has resumed flights to South Sudan following the signing of a partnership agreement with South Sudanese operator Aloor Airlines (Juba).

The Sudan Tribune reports Badr Airlines is slated to operate flights between the South Sudanese towns of Wau and Juba with an onward sector to the North Sudanese capital Khartoum. The first such service took place early last week using B737 equipment.

Badr Airlines last served Juba between 2004 and 2011 when the city was still a part of the Republic of Sudan (today North Sudan). The flights ended in 2011 following South Sudan's independence and the subsequent escalation in tensions between the states over the oil-rich Kordofan border region.
Badr Airlines also serves Cairo Int'l and Jeddah internationally with domestic destinations listed as Port Sudan, El Obeid, Damazin, El Fasher, Geneina, and Nyala. It currently operates one B737-300 and four B737-500s.
ch aviation

Delta Air Lines' first Airbus A350-900 made its maiden sortie today, flying for 5h 37min off the coast of France.


The aircraft (MSN 115 and registration N501DN) took off from Toulouse at 10:24 local time and returned to the airport at 16:01 local time, FlightRadar24 data shows.
Delta plans to take delivery of the A350 in July with it scheduled to enter revenue service in October, executives have said.
The Atlanta-based carrier will be the first US carrier to operate the A350, with American Airlines not taking its first of the type until 2020 and United Airlines evaluating whether to keep its order for A350-1000s.
Delta will use the A350 to replace its last six Boeing 747-400s on flights to Asia. The aircraft will initially be based at its Detroit hub.
The airline will configure its A350s with 306 seats, including 32 in business, 48 in premium economy and 226 in economy.
Delta deferred 10 of the 25 A350-900s it has on order earlier in May, citing weak long-haul demand. Delta will now take its first 15 aircraft through 2019, with its remaining 2019 and 2020 deliveries deferred to at least 2022.
ATW

Air Moldova receives second A319


The aircraft was previously operated by Frontier Airlines and China Eastern Airlines (Air Moldova)

Air Moldova has added an Airbus A319 narrowbody to its fleet. The 150-seat airliner, with registration code ER-AXM, was delivered to the Moldovan flagship carrier’s base at Chisinau airport last week.

According to open source information, the aircraft was put into operation in 2002. It was originally operated by US carrier Frontier Airlines, and later by China Eastern Airlines. It is the second of the type in Air Moldova’s fleet, the first having been delivered in June 2015.

Air Moldova also operates one A321 and two A320s, as well as several Embraer E190s, which the carrier uses quite intensively.

The airline first carried over one million passengers within a year in 2015, largely thanks to the cessation of direct air travel between Russia and Ukraine. No passenger traffic data for 2016 is available.
Russian Aviation Insider

TUS AIR - FK100 - new Fokker 100 jet in Fokker's factory in Netherlands. The aircraft will arrive soon to TUS main hub at Larnaca airport!

Tus Air

VIM Airlines takes delivery of A330 widebody



The airplane, which was delivered earlier in May, is the carrier's second of the type (VIM Airlines)

Russian carrier VIM Airlines is continuing to expand its fleet. The airline recently received another Airbus А330-200 widebody, which has already performed its first revenue flight from Moscow’s Domodedovo airport to Yerevan’s Zvartnots.

The carrier now operates two of the type. Similarly to its first A330, which was introduced in January 2017, the newly arrived airplane can seat 252 passengers (with 24 seats in the business class and 228 in economy). The airline expects three more A330s to join its fleet this year.

Open source data indicate that the carrier’s new A330, registration code VQ-BMI, was built in 2005. The aircraft was previously operated by Taiwanese airline EVA Airways.

Apart from the two A330s, VIM has received one more two-aisle aircraft since the beginning of the year, its seventh Boeing 777-200ER. Its fleet also comprises Boeing 737-500s, 757-200s, 767-300s (currently stored), and Airbus A319s.


The carrier’s passenger traffic grew by 30.2% in 2016 to 2.076 million, which it the country’s ninth largest operator. In Q1 2017, the airline’s passenger traffic increased to 336,900 people (11.2% up year-on-year). VIM has also recently become the 11th Russian carrier to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Russian Aviation Insider

Hainan Airlines to add 13 787-9s and six 737 MAX 8s



HNA Group subsidiary Hainan Airlines is raising funds to acquire 13 Boeing 787-9s and six 737 MAX 8s.

China’s Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed Hainan Airlines’ five-year plan, paving the way for the additional 19 aircraft.

Under the strategy, the Haikou-based carrier will add seven Boeing 787-9s in 2018, followed by another six 787-9s and six 737 MAX 8s between January and August 2019. It currently has 10 787-8s and nine 787-9s in its fleet.

Hainan Airlines valued the order at about $4.19 billion and detailed plans to raise the money through a bonds issue.

The aircraft will be used to strategically grow its fleet and network, in a bid to boost profitability and competitiveness.
According to the carrier's website, its current fleet of 179 aircraft includes Airbus A330s, Boeing 737s, 767s, 787-8s and -9s.
Victoria Moores - ATW

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