AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - 05/2023

 Paul Bannwarth

HYBRIDS COLORS - ANADOLUJET / A321-200 / YL-LDS

Ilgaz DEGER
 

SPECIAL COLORS - Sun Express / B737-8HC(WL) / TC-SPE (PAN Patrol The Mighty Movie livery)

 Paul Bannwarth

NEW AIRCRAFT - Air Canada Cargo / B767-300(F) / C-GXHM

 Paul Bannwarth

Air Algerie begins opening bids related to the recent tender for the acquisition of 10 aircraft due for delivery between 4Q 2023 and 1H 2024. Agreements for the six A330s, two B737-800s and two B737-9s are expected to be signed soon.

 

UniWorld Air Cargo (Panama) plans to begin a transition from B727-200Fs to B737 Classic freighters later in 2023 as it expands its fleet.

 

EuroAtlantic Airways (Portugal) to wet lease one B777-200, serial 32784, to Aircalin (New Caledonia) to cover flights from Noumea to Tokyo and Singapore while the latter’s A330neo is in maintenance.

Photo: Euroatlantic Airways
 

Qantas (Australia) sold another B717, serial 55054, to another major carrier; the third B717 to leave

All 20 of the QantasLink B717s will be gradually replaced by 29 A220s, the first of which is due to arrive later in 2023. The first of 20 A321XLRs will arrive in late 2024.

Photos: QANTAS

 

Boris Rhein names Lufthansa Dreamliner "Wiesbaden"

Aircraft with the registration D-ABPB has been in service on long-haul routes to North America since 22 May.
Carsten Spohr: "Boeing 787 sets standards in sustainability and comfort."

Wiesbaden has a new flying ambassador. The fifth Boeing 787-9 in the Lufthansa fleet, with the registration D-ABPB, was named today at Frankfurt Airport by Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein in the name of the state capital. Since 22 May it has been in service to destinations in Canada and the USA. Its first destination with passengers on board was Dallas in Texas. The D-ABPB is the fifth aircraft in total to carry the name "Wiesbaden" around the world.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: "The Boeing 787-9 sets standards in sustainability and comfort. It is one of the quietest and most economical long-haul aircraft in our fleet and offers all customers a premium flying experience. With these qualities, it is a perfect fit for Wiesbaden, the capital of the state of Hesse, whose name it will carry around the world as an international ambassador."

Boris Rhein, Minister President of the State of Hesse, said: "Lufthansa is one of the largest and most important employers in our state. The airline is a guarantee of prosperity for Hesse. By deploying the new aircraft, Lufthansa is not only helping to secure the region's outstanding location factor, it is also committed to sustainable travel. With the name 'Wiesbaden', this aircraft will become an ambassador for the capital of Hesse and the state of Hesse. I wish the aircraft, its passengers and crew a good flight at all times."

Gert-Uwe Mende, Lord Mayor of the state capital Wiesbaden, said: "Lufthansa is once again giving wings to the state capital Wiesbaden - we are very pleased about that. The new aircraft carries the name of Wiesbaden out into the world. Many passengers and crew members will hopefully experience the new aircraft as a safe, comfortable and efficient means of transport, technically up to date. I wish the new aircraft always an unscathed return and always a bit of Wiesbaden lifestyle at every flight altitude and on the way to every destination."

The "Papa Bravo" was already transferred from its production facility in Everett in the USA to Germany on 31 March. Since then, the Dreamliner was initially operated up to three times a day between Frankfurt and Munich. This allowed the necessary training flights to be completed and as many crews as possible to be trained.

Fifth aircraft with the name Wiesbaden

There is a long tradition of aircraft bearing the name of the Hessian capital. The Boeing 787-9 is already the fifth Lufthansa aircraft with the name "Wiesbaden. On July 15, 1964, the then Lord Mayor Georg Buch named a Boeing 727 with the name of the spa city for the first time at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airport.

The predecessor of the Boeing 787-9 with the name "Wiesbaden" was an Airbus A340, which was named in the name of the state capital in the summer of 2009 and decommissioned during the pandemic.

Reduction of CO2 emissions by 40 per cent and improved travel experience

The ultra-modern "Dreamliner" long-haul aircraft consume on average only about 2.5 litres of paraffin per passenger and 100 kilometres of flight. That is up to 40 per cent less than its predecessor, the A340. Between 2022 and 2027, the Lufthansa Group will receive a total of 39 Boeing Dreamliners. Lufthansa currently operates five Boeing 787-9s with the registrations D-ABPA, D-ABPB, D-ABPC, D-ABPD and D-ABPE. In the current summer timetable, destinations in Canada and the USA are served exclusively with this aircraft type: Austin (AUS), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW) and Montréal (YUL).

The Boeing 787-9 offers passengers a noticeably improved travel experience. The aircraft cabin is exceptionally quiet and, depending on the time of day, is ideally lit by a new lighting system. The higher entrance area gives all guests a very pleasant feeling of space as soon as they board, and the large windows offer all passengers the opportunity to let their eyes wander to the horizon or dim them easily at the touch of a button. Business Class guests enjoy a state-of-the-art seat with direct access to the aisle, among other features.

LUFTHANSA

 

NEW AIRLINE - Zara Airways (Pakistan) reportedly plans to operate direct flights between Pakistan and Canada from August 2023

 According to a request has formally been forwarded to the CAA in Pakistan. Flights expected to fly from Toronto to Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

Aero Time news

Air Tanzania is looking forward to expanding its flights outside the country by introducing new routes to various destinations within and outside Africa, including London, Dubai, Muscat, Accra, Lagos, Juba and Lilongwe.

Air Tanzania
 

NEW AIRLINE - Global Airlines(UK) Has Acquired An Airbus A380

Global Airlines grabbed the headlines as the week started after the United Kingdom-based carrier announced that it had purchased an A380. That’s right - bought - not leased! While it seems like a significant risk to acquire such a behemoth during this sensitive climate of the air travel market, the startup is confident about soaring high with the aircraft.

It plans to conduct transatlantic service from London by the spring of next year. By deploying the A380 to the United States, it will be the first new airline to take on the type outright in eight years. All in all, there has been a positive twist of fate for the aircraft in recent months.

Global Airlines founder and chief executive James Asquith shared the following about his company's plans:

“Acquiring our aircraft rather than leasing showcases our commitment to financial security and resilience from day one.. Acquiring our aircraft rather than leasing showcases our commitment to financial security and resilience from day one.”

Against the grain

While Global Airlines didn't share how much the plane was purchased for, it noted that the unit is from German aircraft finance business Doric Aviation. The next stage is to overhaul and refit the A380 to what the company calls its high specification. Overall, the firm is determined to provide passengers with “the best experience in the sky today.”

Sibylle Paehler, Managing Partner at Doric has since shared the following about the purchase:

"We are delighted to have worked with James and the team on the acquisition of their first Global Airlines aircraft. Contrary to popular belief, the A380 is widely recognised as the best way to fly, offering unparalleled comfort and features that lead to a unique travel experience. We are proud to have placed this beautiful modern aircraft with a new airline that will soon take to the skies. We are confident that Global Airlines will acquire more A380 aircraft in the near future."

It may be a brave move to entrust the A380 to kickstart operations in this era. After all, airlines have been phasing out the plane out in favor of more efficient and sustainable twinjet options. Even narrowbodies are increasing in popularity across the Atlantic Ocean, let alone quadjet widebodies.

Photo: Global Airlines 

Simple flying

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - Malaysia's SKS Airways to lease ten E195-E2s

SKS Airways (KI, Johor Bahru) signed a strategic agreement with Azorra Aviation and Embraer (EMB, Sao Jose dos Campos) to lease ten E195-E2s at last week's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) event. SKS Airways says the aircraft will "open new growth opportunities in the region.

Deliveries of the aircraft will commence in early 2024. The airline, which styles itself as "Malaysia's new commercial carrier," already operates a pair of DHC-6-300s from Kuala Lumpur's Subang Airport and the Embraers will facilitate a significant ramp-up of operations. The lease agreement period is 12 years.

"With these strategic partnerships, we are excited to embark on a new phase of growth, with a fleet of Embraers operating out of Subang. The prevalence of the E-Jets at city airports around the world and the low noise emissions of the E195-E2 makes the aircraft a perfect fit for flights in and out of Subang," said SKS Airways Director Dato Rohman Ahmad.

The Malaysian government is keen to ramp up scheduled passenger services at Subang. It published the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) in 2021, saying that the airport, when redeveloped, would be capable of handling over seven million passengers a year. According to ch-aviation PRO airports data, SKS Airways presently flies from Subang to Pulau Redang and Tioman, while Batik Air Malaysia, Firefly, and Berjaya Air all schedule passenger flights in and out of the airport. Earlier this year, AirAsia said it would open a base at Subang and restart flights there. In addition, cargo carrier Raya Airways also schedules freight flights to and from the airport.

SKS Airways say the Embraer aircraft will form the core of its Subang-focused expansion plans. SKS Airways commenced operations in 2022, focusing on domestic, short-range, leisure, and commuter flights to unserved and underserved destinations. The SKS Airways' E195-E2s, which will seat 136 passengers, have a range of 4,800 kilometres.

CH Aviation

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air eyes 150+ B737 MAX order - report

Riyadh Air (RXI, Riyadh) is in talks about an order for at least 150 B737 MAX as part of its total narrowbody commitment, which could tally up to 300-400 aircraft, Bloomberg has reported.

Citing internal sources, the news wire said that while Airbus would likely be selected for part of the order, the European manufacturer was constrained by the lack of near-term delivery slots for the preferred A321-200N type.

The Saudi start-up placed its first tentative order in March 2023, comprising thirty-nine B787-9s with a further 33 options. Chief Executive Tony Douglas said later that the state-owned carrier would order more aircraft "soon".

Riyadh Air, which is poised to be the second flag carrier alongside Saudia (SV, Jeddah) with a focus on inbound tourism and a single hub at Riyadh airport, plans to launch in 2025.

CH Aviation

AIRPORT - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-Turkey - 05/2023

Ilgaz DEGER