ATR delivers first ATR 72-600 to Air Corsica with brand new PW127XT engine

Toulouse, 29 November 2022 – The world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer ATR, today delivers the first ATR 72-600 with the brand new PW127XT engine to launch customer Air Corsica.

Following a firm order for five new ATR 72-600, announced a year ago at the Dubai Airshow, this delivery marks an important step in Air Corsica’s fleet upgrade and sustainable development, ensuring the airline will continue to fulfill its public service mission with the most economical, reliable and responsible aircraft on the market.

A clear testament of ATR’s commitment to investing in technology that brings affordable and sustainable regional mobility, the new PW127XT engine offers a 20% reduction in maintenance costs and a 3% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the PW127M – which means -45% fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to similar-size regional jets.

Air Corsica’s passengers will benefit from high cabin comfort and further innovation as the aircraft will be equipped with USB ports for charging electronic devices during the flight – a first in ATR cabins.

The airline will also be optimising the maintenance of its entire ATR fleet through a 12-year Global Maintenance Agreement. This pay-by-the-hour contract covers the repair, overhaul and pooling services of Line Replaceable Units, and includes the propellers, landing gears and leading edges availability and maintenance, plus a long-term price agreement for the provision of over 2,000 spare parts.

Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, President of Air Corsica’s Supervisory Board, commented: “ATRs are central to our model of air travel in Corsica. They have proven to be the right product for our short-haul operations, enabling us to limit our impact on the island’s pristine environment and to meet our passengers’ demand for quick, frequent, reliable, and yet lower emission, air travel. Selecting both the latest generation turboprop, the newest engine on the market to equip it, and the best maintenance programme to optimise its reliability, makes perfect business sense, and moreover, is the most responsible choice.”

ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said: “Air Corsica and ATR have grown together ever since their first ATR flight in 1990. Over decades they have shown commitment to flying the latest technology and most responsible aircraft available. As our product evolves to meet new market needs and incorporates further innovations, it remains the most reliable, efficient, cost-effective aircraft on the market, as well as the most sustainable platform to operate regional routes. This makes ATR and Air Corsica a perfect match.”

Increasing fuel prices, growing carbon taxation, as well as greater passenger demand for lower emission travel all mean that the aviation industry is naturally favouring low-carbon emitting

aircraft such as ATR turboprops. Studies show that, even today, if all regional jets in Europe were replaced by turboprops, the reduction of CO2 emissions would be equivalent to the amount of CO2 removed by a forest of around 5000 km2 – approximately the surface covered by forests in Corsica.

ATR

 

Japan Orders Two More Boeing KC-46A Tankers

Japan Air Self-Defense Force now slated for six multi-mission KC-46A tankers with two already delivered

Growing global fleet of Pegasus aerial refuelers increasing interoperability for mission success

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 29, 2022 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a contract to deliver two additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), bringing the total on contract for Japan to six.
Boeing delivered the first KC-46A tanker to Japan in October 2021, and a second in February 2022.
“The unmatched versatility and multi-mission capabilities of the KC-46A tanker further support JASDF’s air mobility mission,” said James Burgess, vice president and KC-46 program manager. 

“The growing global KC-46A fleet increases the interoperability advantages for our customers, ensuring mission readiness as well as value for their investment.”
Designed to refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling
procedures, the proven Pegasus has flown more than 10,000 sorties and is delivering millions of pounds of fuel every month to allied forces around the globe. In addition to refueling, the KC-46A delivers multi-mission capabilities necessary for the 21st century fleet, including data connectivity and personnel, cargo and aeromedical transportation.
“This additional KC-46A acquisition reinforces the U.S.-Japan security alliance to support security and stability throughout the Pacific region,” said Will Shaffer, president of Boeing Japan. “Boeing is proud of our enduring partnership with Japan, and we look forward to supporting the nation’s KC-46A fleet that will fly for decades to come.”
Boeing has delivered 67 KC-46A tankers, including 65 to the U.S. Air Force and two to Japan. 

Built on the proven 767 airframe that has more than 1,200 delivered—and with more KC-46A aircraft operational globally than any tanker except the Boeing-built KC-135—the Pegasus also provides crucial mission reliability for global customers.

The contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force through the Foreign Military Sales process. Boeing builds KC-46A aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, the JASDF and other allied customers on its 767 production line in Everett, Washington. In addition, Boeing’s Japanese partners produce 16 percent of the KC-46A airframe structure. 

The JASDF also operates four earlier generation Boeing-built KC-767 aircraft.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. 

As a top U.S. exporter, thecompany leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. 

Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability,
and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. 

Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

Boeing
 

Fly Baghdad (Iraq) plans Baghdad – Moscow Vnukovo flight on 22 December 2022 with B737-800, switching to B737-900ER shortly thereafter.

Ton Jochems - AYT
YI-BAW B737-800W

Utair (Russia) was unable to obtain permits to operate some flights to UAE, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, due to low demand on domestic flights. The permits will be transferred to other air carriers.

RA-73049 - B737-500

Ton Jochems - AYT
 

Royal Jordanian plans to resume Amman – Aden service from 19 April 2023, with A320/321 aircraft.

 JY-AZA - A320-200

Ton Jochems - AYT

Red Wings (Russia) has upgraded most of its SSJ100 to the Long Range version, increasing the aircraft’s flight range from 3,000 km to about 4,500 km

Ton Jochems - AYT 

China’s aviation regulator gives green light for mass production of COMAC C919

 The Civil Aviation Administration of China has awarded the Commercial Aviation Corporation of China (COMAC) with a production certificate for domestically made

C919 narrow-body aircraft, according to Chinese media.

The state-owned aerospace manufacturer is now allowed to begin mass production of the C919 under an approved quality control system, The Paper reported on November 29, 2022.

Prior to receiving the recent approval, COMAC had to request authorization from the local regulator for each jet of the type it manufactured. However, since the restriction does not apply to COMAC anymore, the company reportedly plans to build up to 25 C919s each year by 2030.

The plane, which is considered a rival to narrow-body single-aisle planes such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo, received its type certificate from the CAAC on September 29, 2022. According to the manufacturer, the C919 is the first passenger aircraft to be fully developed by a Chinese entity “in accordance with internationally accepted airworthiness standards” and “with independent intellectual property rights”.

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Ethiopian Airlines will make a final decision on purchasing a new regional jet fleet and additional widebodies in 1H 2023

  The carrier is weighing orders for the A220 or E195-E2, and the A350-1000 or B777X, as well the A350F or the B777XF.

Photo:Ethiopian

AeroItalia will open flights from Florence to Bucharest, Catania and London Heathrow in mid December 2022.

Photo: AeroItalia
 

IndiGo (India) can wet lease three B777-300ER from Turkish Airlines for a year following the relaxation of the applicable norm by the civil aviation ministry.

 Aviator Daily News

Star Peru / B737-3H4 / OB2181P - Retro c/s for this aircraft celebrating 25 years. Congratulations Star Perú.

Photo: Juan Manuel Temoche - SPJC Spotter

Lima - Callao / Jorge Chavez International (LIM / SPJC)
Peru
 

Panorama Airways (Uzbekistan) has received an AOC from Uzbekistan’s CAA, and plans to launch domestic and international flights in December 2022, including to Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the UAE.

 Aviator daily news

Photo: Panorama Airways

Croatia Airlines signs firm order for six A220 aircraft

 

Toulouse, 29 November 2022 – Croatia Airlines, Croatia’s national flag carrier based in Zagreb, has signed a firm order for six A220-300 aircraft. Croatia Airlines plans to lease an additional nine A220s, taking its total commitment for the type to 15.

The A220s will replace previous generation aircraft in the company's fleet, reducing operating costs as well as improving environmental efficiency and competitiveness while offering passengers unrivaled comfort throughout its fleet.

“Today’s signing of a contract for the purchase of state-of-the-art Airbus aircraft is a very special moment for all of us at Croatia Airlines. It marks the beginning of a new period of aviation, a new period in the life of Croatia Airlines, a new period for our passengers, and a new period for Croatia’s tourism and economy as a whole,” said Jasmin Bajić, CEO and President of the Management Board of Croatia Airlines.

“We are thrilled to add Croatia Airlines as a new A220 customer. The A220 is ideally suited to Croatia's aviation needs, providing operational flexibility and efficiency allowing its airline to pursue its ambition for both regional and international connectivity without compromising on any aspect, be it passenger comfort or trip and seat cost economics,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.

The A220 is a clean sheet design and the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100 to 150-seat market segment bringing together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest generation GTF™ engines. The A220 delivers a 50% reduced noise footprint, up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat and CO2 emissions - compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

Airbus and Croatia Airlines have had a long-standing partnership starting 25 years ago, when the airline first became an Airbus operator. Today, the Croatian carrier operates an Airbus fleet of seven single-aisle aircraft from the A320 Family (five A319s and two A320s).

With currently more than 230 A220s delivered to 16 airlines operating on four continents, the A220 is the optimal aircraft for regional as well as long-distance routes and will enable Croatia Airlines to further contribute to the development of tourism in the region, while providing flexibility to right-size their operations.

To date, more than 70 million passengers have enjoyed the A220. The fleet is currently flying on over 800 routes and 325 destinations worldwide. As of the end of October 2022, around 30 customers have ordered 780+ A220 aircraft - confirming its breakthrough on the small single-aisle market.

MSC Air Cargo to launch in late 4Q22

 

Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) has taken delivery of the first of four B777-200Fs that it aims to operate on behalf of MSC Air Cargo, with plans to begin these commercial operations in early December 2022.

The Swiss-based shipping giant has not yet confirmed the exact date of the first flight. Its initial schedule covers the following routes:



• México City Int'l-Indianapolis Int'l (3x weekly),

• Indianapolis-Frankfurt Hahn (4x weekly),

• Frankfurt Hahn-México City (2x weekly),

• Frankfurt Hahn-Hong Kong Int'l (weekly),

• Hong Kong-Anchorage Ted Stevens (weekly),

• Anchorage-México City (weekly), and

• Frankfurt Hahn-Indianapolis (weekly).

N707GT (msn 67992) was delivered from Everett to Cincinnati Int'l on November 21, 2022, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The aircraft is already in MSC Air Cargo livery but remains parked, awaiting entry into service. It will be operated on behalf of the Swiss-based shipping giant under a long-term charter agreement. It joins the existing fleet of nine B777-200Fs operated by Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, including one placed with Atlas Air and eight with sister carrier Polar Air Cargo.

ch aviation

The other three B777-200Fs for MSC Air Cargo's operations are scheduled to deliver in 2023.

Air Samarkand plans to launch operations from Samarkand to many destinations in Europe, Asia and Russia, with A320 and A330 aircraft.

 

Air Peace (Nigeria) took delivery of two A320s, serials 3308 and 6306, on lease.

 

MYAirline (Malaysia) will launch its first commercial flights from 01 December 2022

MYAirline (Malaysia) will launch its first commercial flights from 01 December 2022, linking Kuala Lumpur with Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi, with A320s. The carrier also plans to serve Kota Bharu, Penang, Sibu, Tawau, Miri, Alor Setar and Terengganu.

Aviator daily news / Myairlines
 

Privilege Style (Spain) is in the final stages of incorporating an A330-200, serial 1407, which will replace the B767-300, serial 27902, in the fleet. The A330 will begin service in March 2023. The carrier also cancelled the addition of a second B777-300, serial 34568

Aviator Daily News

Fly Gangwon (South Korea) took delivery of one A330-200, serial 1261, on lease.

 

JAL group’s Spring Japan to operate Yamato A321Fs

JAL Group has outlined its A321-200(P2F) network to be operated by subsidiary Spring (IJ, Tokyo Narita) for door-to-door delivery company Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd from April 2024 using four of the converted freighters.

In a statement dated November 22, 2022, the JAL Group said three of the aircraft had been delivered with the fourth due in February 2023. The conversion process is scheduled to begin in March 2023 at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) facility in Singapore.

Yamato handles around 1.8 billion parcels annually and services the entirety of Japan. The four freighters will wear Yamato livery. The JAL Group says the decision to use Spring as the operating airline, rather than Jetstar Japan (GK, Tokyo Narita), will optimize management resources and strengthen the low-cost carrier's business model. The four routes, which will run 21x daily, are:

• Okinawa Naha - Kitakyushu;

• Tokyo Narita - Okinawa Naha;

• Tokyo Narita/Tokyo Haneda - Sapporo Chitose; and

• Tokyo Narita/Tokyo Haneda - Kitakyushu.

Yamato advises the maximum payload on each aircraft will be 28 tonnes. The main deck of each plane will accommodate 14 AAY containers and the lower deck will accommodate ten AKH containers. The joint venture remains subject to application and approval from the relevant authorities.

ch aviation

Ghana names new flag carrier ‘GhanaAirlines’, aims to begin operations in 2023

 Ghana’s new national airline is moving closer to take off after the Ghanaian government revealed it had selected the name ‘GhanaAirlines’ for the new flag carrier.

The new name was announced by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during 2023 budget presentation to the Ghanaian Parliament, AviationGhana reported.

Ofori-Atta also said that the country expects the airline to be operational in 2023, according to a report by GhanaWeb.

The new national carrier is expected to accommodate short-, medium- and long-haul routes with a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400

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Los Angeles International Airport - 10/2022

Atlas Air 30th Anniversary Logo

hsckcwong

Russia’s first MC-21 receives Rossiya livery

Several photos of the first Irkut MC-21 narrow-body airliner painted with Rossiya livery surfaced online ahead of the aircraft’s delivery.  

The aircraft, registration 73054, was painted in a hangar at Spektr-Avia in Ulyanovsk, Russia.  

The exact delivery date remains unclear.  

In late 2021, after long delays, it was announced that delivery was scheduled for September 2022. However, in September 2022, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said the delivery had been pushed back to 2025 due to the necessity to “fully Russify” the aircraft by removing all foreign-made parts.  

The new photos were first posted by Stewardess_Notes Telegram channel in the evening of November 23, 2022, and likely to have been taken after November 10, when the aircraft flew from Moscow (MSK) to Ulyanovsk (ULY).  

First of many  

Even before some of the harshest sanctions in the world were placed on Russia, the country’s aviation industry had high hopes for the MC-21.  

Intended to compete with the likes of the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo, the latest iterations of the most mass-produced airliners in the world, the MC-21 was poised to become the flagship of Russian aviation.  

It received its first orders soon after being announced in 2010, with Aeroflot becoming the launch customer.  

In 2021 Aeroflot’s subsidiary Rossiya signed an agreement to receive the first shipment of MC-21s.  

The initial order was soon expanded several times over. Furthermore, in September 2022 Aeroflot went on to announce its largest-ever order of Russian-made aircraft, opting to purchase 339 Russian-made jets, 210 of which were MC-21s.  

Aerotime

 

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes / B737-800 / PR-GXI - “Somos Feitos de Viagens”

Bruno Bavose/GOL – Divulgação.
 

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - 11/2022

Paul Bannwarth