FLEET - Maersk Air Cargo Swan’ the first 777F, (OY-MAC) coming in after painting in PDX

Maersk airline prepares to deploy first 777 freighters
Maersk continues to move forward with plans to expand its air cargo business in 2024, taking delivery of the first two 777s from Boeing for air operations.
Maersk Air Cargo offers nine flights per week from China to the U.S. with three Boeing 767-300 freighters. The aircraft are owned by Maersk but operated on its behalf by Miami-based Amerijet International. Six flights shuttle between Rockford and Hangzhou on the central China coast near Shanghai, with a connection each way in Seoul, South Korea. The other flights operate between Shenyang in northern China and South Carolina, also stopping in Seoul.
Maersk currently operates 21 Boeing 767-200 and 767-300 freighters, most of which were converted after their lives as passenger aircraft. Two factory-built 777s are expected to arrive in late summer or early fall.

Snohomish County Airport/Paine Field - KPAE, USA - Washington

Photo: Herison Riwu Kore

 

FLEET - Allegiant Air defers MAX debut to early 4Q24

4th Allegiant Max 8-200 from painting at VCV
 

Allegiant Air has again delayed the introduction of its first B737-8-200 from August to October

The US ultra-low-cost carrier, which had initially expected to introduce the new aircraft type in March and then in August, has now scheduled its first flights for October 2.

In May, Allegiant Air expected to add just six B737-8-200s, all arriving in the second half of the year, and end the year with 126 aircraft in its fleet. It was originally expected to receive 12, but Boeing’s ongoing quality issues and reduced production have forced ULCC (and many other carriers globally) to adjust its fleet growth plans accordingly.

Allegiant Air is set to take delivery of twenty-six B737-8-200s and twenty-four B737-7s (with options for an additional 80 airframes), joining and replacing the Airbus-based fleet it currently operates, consisting of thirty-five A319-100s and ninety-six A320-200s.

Photo: Herison Riwu Kore

N811NV /  B737-8-200 MAX

ROUTES / FLEET - Emirates delays start of Airbus A350 operations

Emirates airline delayed the start of its Airbus A350 operations by 50 days, Aeroroutes reported.

This week, Emirates updated its flight schedule and delayed the aircraft’s debut to November 4. The model was initially scheduled to begin operations with the airline on September 15 on the Dubai-Bahrain route.

As of today, these are the scheduled operations with Emirates’ A350:

Dubai – Edinburgh as of November 4 (Unchanged)

Dubai – Bahrain as of November 15 (Previously September 15)

Dubai – Kuwait as of November 15 (Previously September 16)

Dubai – Ahmedabad as of 01 January 2025 (Previously 27 October)

Dubai – Bologna as of January 1, 2025 (Previously December 1)

Dubai – Bombay as of January 1, 2025 (Previously October 27)

Dubai – Colombo as of January 2, 2025 (Previously January 1, 2025)

Dubai – Lyon as of March 1, 2025 (Previously December 1, 2025)

Dubai – Muscat as of March 1, 2025 (Previously December 1, 2025)

The airline has 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order. These aircraft will have a three-class configuration: 32 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 259 in Economy.

AEROROUTES

 

ROUTES - First commercial Condor A321neo flight departed

Ready for take-off: After Condor officially took delivery of its first brand-new A321neo on June 19, the first flight with passengers took off from Frankfurt to Tenerife South (TFS) this Friday at around 1 pm as DE1478. The A321neo will then return to Frankfurt as DE1479. In the coming days, the aircraft will then fly from Düsseldorf to the Greek islands to Chania, Heraklion, Preveza or Kos, but also to Jerez de la Frontera or Pristina in Kosovo.

The Condor A321neo flies in a two-class configuration with Business Class and Economy Class. The cabin has a total of 233 seats in a 3-3 seating arrangement. Guests can enjoy the "FlyConnect" internet and entertainment portal on board, where the latest entertainment program with blockbusters, classics, children's films and a wide range of music and magazines is available to stream on personal devices free of charge. In the “FlyConnect” portal, guests can also purchase various data packages to stay connected above the clouds.

In addition to the new in-flight entertainment and significantly more storage space in the overhead bins for personal travel items, the new cabin also welcomes guests in stylish elegance. The new mood light, tailored to Condor, in combination with the Condor color concept creates an unmistakable feel-good atmosphere on board the new short-haul and medium-haul aircraft for a relaxed vacation.

Condor continues on course for modernization

With the completion of the long-haul fleet renewal, only factory-new A330neo aircraft have been in service to Condor's long-haul destinations since March. Since then, Germany's most popular leisure airline has continued its modernization course on short and medium-haul routes with 43 A32Xneo orders. The aircraft with the registration D-ANMZ is the first of a total of 28 A321neo aircraft ordered. Back in May, Condor welcomed its first brand-new A320neo in the color "Passion", which is already in active flight operations.

With the ultra-modern short and medium-haul aircraft of the A32Xneo family, Condor is focusing on state-of-the-art technology, maximum efficiency and the highest level of customer comfort. The new Condor aircraft are equipped with the latest generation of engines from Pratt & Whitney: The two new versions PW1127G on the A320neo and PW1133G on the A321neo not only reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent but can also be operated with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In addition, the factory-new Airbuses have up to 20 percent lower CO2 emissions and up to 50 percent less noise. Converted, the kerosene consumption per passenger per 100 kilometres on board an A321neo is 1.7 liters, with an A320neo at 1.9 liters - and that with maximum customer comfort. Once the modernization is complete, Condor will have the youngest fleet in Europe.
CONDOR

SPECIAL SCHEME- Emirates unveils special Wimbledon-livery

Emirates is celebrating being the official airline for the The Championships, Wimbledon for the first time and has unveiled a special livery on one of its Airbus A380s.

A6-EOE (169) now has large Wimbledon-decals applied to its aft fuselage and is set to make its debut to London-Heathrow on 1 July 2024.

According to the airline's press-statement, the decals will remain on the aircraft during the whole tournament and is also planned to be used on flights to Barcelona, Brisbane, Casablanca, Manchester, New York-JFK (NY), Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Perth, Washington (DC), and Zürich.
Photo by Emirates.

FLEET - Vietnam Airlines revives regional jet plans

Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi Noi Bai International) is revisiting a plan to induct regional jets to fly to airports too small to handle the carrier's existing aircraft, according to the airline's general director, Le Hong Ha. Speaking at the annual general meeting of shareholders in Hanoi on June 21, 2024, Ha outlined several prospective fleet changes he said would accommodate growth.

He said between 2025 and 2030, Vietnam Airlines intends to buy or lease 50 narrowbody Airbus aircraft, or alternatively, lease E190s, which can fly into airports such as Con Dao, Rach Gia, and Ca Mau. Ha added that in light of worldwide aircraft shortages and the ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine issues, Vietnam Airlines is reconsidering a plan to sell three A321-200s. He also said the carrier is studying the C919 and could operate the type in the future.

Vietnam Airlines' current 97-strong fleet includes forty-two A321-200s, twenty A321-200Ns, fourteen A350-900s, six wet-leased ATR72-500s, four B787-10s, and eleven B787-9s. However, eleven of the A321-200Ns are out-of-service for mandated engine inspections. Ha said another six will go out of service by the end of the year, and he expects the engine inspections to take until the end of 2025 to complete. Consequently, in the short term, aircraft operating hours have been increased, and the network "rearranged."

In 2022, Ha canvassed the prospects of operating regional jets. At the time, he said the carrier was looking at the E190, E195, or A220 types and that he hoped to see the first flying by the end of 2023. Ha said they would replace the ATR72-500s, which subsidiary VASCO - Vietnam Air Services (0V, Ho Chi Minh City) operates on behalf of Vietnam Airlines.

Meanwhile, the state-owned carrier recorded consolidated calendar 2023 revenue of VND93.265 trillion dong (USD3.66 billion), nearly 30% higher than the previous year and approaching pre-pandemic peak levels. Pre-tax consolidated losses decreased by VND5.583 trillion (USD219 million), halving compared to 2022. Vietnam Airlines chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa told the meeting the board's primary goal in 2024 is to reduce losses and balance revenue and expenditure.

In the wake of the meeting, Bloomberg reported on a statement on Viet Nam's National Assembly's website that said the airline was facing a financial crisis because it had not completed refinancing tasks such as restructuring non-core investments and the sale of new shares. This was reportedly due to regulatory approval delays. However, the statement also warned that Vietnam Airlines faced insolvency as soon as next month if the repayment deadline for a government-backed loan is not extended.

Vietnam Airlines received VND4 trillion (USD157 million) in low-cost loans from commercial banks during Covid-19 that were refinanced at 0% interest in 2021 by the country's central bank. Repayments are now falling due. However, the government now wants parliament to approve a repayment extension through December 31, 2027, giving the airline time to complete its restructuring.
Ch Aviation

 

AIRPORT - Los Angeles International Airport, USA

K.C.Wong
 

HYBRID C/S - Garuda Indonesia leases A330-330 (HS-XTG ) from Thai Air Asia X to fly to Haji

Photo:etlspotter

 

FLEET - Saudia / B787-10 / HZ-AR29

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

Comlux / CS100 / 9H-FIVE

Ton Jochems - VLC
 

AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - 06/2024

Paul Bannwarth
 

ROUTES - Air India will introduce its new Airbus A350-900 on the Delhi – London (Heathrow) route on September 1.

Air India today (27JUN24) filed aircraft changes on Delhi – London Heathrow route, as the airline launches A350-900XWB aircraft service on this route on 01SEP24. The A350 will operate on 14 of 17 weekly flights, replacing 777-200LR/-300ER aircraft.


AI161 DEL0245 – 0730LHR 359 D

AI111 DEL0645 – 1130LHR 359 D

AI165 DEL1415 – 1900LHR 788 6

AI165 DEL1515 – 2000LHR 788 24


AI162 LHR0945 – 2250DEL 359 D

AI112 LHR1315 – 0205+1DEL 359 D

AI166 LHR2045 – 0940+1DEL 788 6

AI166 LHR2145 – 1035+1DEL 788 24

 

ROUTES - United Airlines considers basing B737s out of Narita

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) may relocate some B737s from their base in Guam International to Tokyo Narita, according to Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances.

In an interview, he told The Airline Observer the company has assets in the western Pacific and would benefit from more diverse utilisation. It was not disclosed how many airframes could be moved to Japan.

Andrew Nocella, chief commercial officer, said: “We have these 737s and a slot portfolio at Narita, and all the feed from the United States on widebody jets, and it created a unique opportunity."

The company has already made some movements in that direction, scheduling daily flights from Tokyo Narita to Cebu onboard a B737-800, starting on October 27, 2024, the ch-aviation schedules module shows, the first intra-Asia United flight in seven years. "This seemed like something we would like to try, and the advanced bookings indicate that it’s going to be very successful,” said Nocella.

United Airlines declined to comment on the report.

The number of flights and passengers at Guam International continues to plumb pre-pandemic levels, with the airport seeing 368,200 passengers between January and April 2024 versus 636,846 in the same period in 2019 (a 42% decrease). United Airlines is by far the largest operator in this hub, with over 63% of overall capacity and 60% of all frequencies.

Currently, United Airlines flies to Tokyo Haneda from Chicago O’Hare, Guam, Los Angeles International, New York Newark, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles, and it serves Tokyo Narita from Denver International, Guam, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, New York Newark, Saipan, and San Francisco. It codeshares with ANA - All Nippon Airways.

Photo: Duncan Stewart

Ch Aviation

SPECIAL SCHEME - Etihad unveils 20th anniversary livery

Airline reveals special livery on one of the six A321neos joining its fleet

Detail marks airline’s 20-year journey and looks forward to the future

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad’s newest bespoke livery has been revealed. The design’s line-style art celebrates the intricate beauty of unity, with each stroke embodying the essence of the airline’s home. It reflects the rich history that the national airline of the UAE has developed over the last twenty years as one of Abu Dhabi’s most important home-grown brands.

The design has been applied to one of the A321neos that has just joined the airline’s fleet, and artfully showcases iconic landmarks across Abu Dhabi.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The livery marks our 20th year of delivering remarkable service, fulfilling our mission to deliver extraordinary experiences inspired by our Emirati identity.

“It reflects the journey we have been on, and it also sets the tone for our future as we give flight to our ambition, to be the airline that everyone wants to fly.”

The livery decal wraps around both sides of the fuselage in both Arabic and English and has been applied to one of six A321neos which have recently joined the airline after an intense period of activity involving teams across the airline.

A321neos join the fleet

Etihad is bringing six A321neos into operation as it further boosts its growing network and frequency.

The aircraft are equipped with advanced CFM LEAP 1A engines, which offer reduced emissions and up to 20 per cent more efficiency compared to some similar power units of its class.

John Wright, Etihad’s Chief Operations and Guest Officer said: “We are pleased to have brought in this fleet so quickly after committing the aircraft in December last year. With constrained aircraft deliveries worldwide, this fleet is an important bridge for our growth plans as we anticipate the arrival of over 20 new aircraft in 2025.

“An airline normally takes up to two years to bring a new airframe and engine type into operation, and it is a testament to the speed and flexibility of our Etihad teams and our partners that we have been able to commission them safely and compliantly within seven months.”

The aircraft will be deployed across a number of routes, including services to India and the Middle East, showcasing the new livery to guests across Etihad’s network.

ETIHAD

FLEET - Condor welcomes 1st A321neo

Condor's fleet renewal is continuing with the arrival of its first Airbus A321neo. The aircraft, A321-271NX D-ANMZ (11825), was handed-over to lessor Aviation Capital Group and the airline at Hamburg-Finkenwerder on 16 June 2024.

The aircraft is currently being readied for service at Frankfurt and is expected to make its first commercial flight on 5 July 2024. It will, initially, be based at Düsseldorf.

In total, Condor will add 28 new A321neos to its fleet until 2029. Earlier this year, in April 2024, the airline also took delivery of its first of thirteen A320neos.

Photo by Aviation Capital Group.

Texel Air Australasia (TNZ, Auckland International) has begun operating a four-strong B737-800(BCF) fleet for logistics operator Team Global Express, formally launching the service at a hangar event in Brisbane this week.

Texel will provide the capacity to Team Global Express on an ACMI basis for the next seven years.

The four aircraft to be used on the contract are ZK-TXA (msn 33013), ZK-TXB (msn 29644), ZK-TXC (msn 33798), and ZK-TXD (msn 35092) and primarily run domestic sectors within Australia, but also some short offshore routes to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The Team Global Express contract was formerly held by Airwork NZ (Auckland International). Texel Australasia's fifth B737-800BCF services a contract for Parceline Express, a subsidiary of Freightways NZ and New Zealand Post.

Meanwhile, local cargo ACMI competitor Nauru Airlines (Nauru) also appears to have acquired additional work from Team Global Express and added a third aircraft to their operations servicing their contract with the logistics company. A B737-800(SF) registered as VH-8TG (msn 33003) began exclusively operating services for Team Global Express on May 31, 2024, mainly on the Brisbane International - Cairns - Darwin triangle. The airline already has its two B737-300(SF)s flying for Team Global Express on ACMI terms.

 

NEW AIRLINE - Global Airlines defers launch to 2025

Global Airlines (London City) has deferred its launch to 2025 and partnered with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a tech-focused law firm, as a strategic legal advisor to support its investment strategy and capital raises.

The UK start-up, which aims to fly A380-800s on transatlantic routes, said the delay was due to "operations and maintenance timelines", and stressed that it too has been affected by the same pressures impacting the whole sector. Global Airlines has already delayed its launch once from the first half of 2024 to the end of the year.

Global Airlines said it is continuously working towards launching, with the next steps poised to be the hiring of key senior roles, investing in the return to service of its first owned A380, 9H-GLOBL (msn 120), while working on acquiring more of the type.

9H-GLOBL was ferried from Mojave via Montréal Mirabel to Glasgow Prestwick on April 30-May 1, 2024. It remains at the Scottish gateway, awaiting maintenance and repainting. The next stage of cabin outfitting is due to start "in the coming weeks".

"Since our flight across the Atlantic, appetite from large funds and institutional investors has never been higher and Orrick is well placed to support us as we build for the future," CEO James Asquith claimed.

Global Airlines has contracted Hi Fly (5K, Beja) as its technical partner, the world's only airline with experience in inducting a second-hand A380. 9H-GLOBL was ferried in by Hi Fly pilots.

Photo: Global
 

AIRPORT - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - 06/ 2024

 Paul Bannwarth