Boeing Completes Successful 737 MAX First Flight

First new airplane of Boeing's second century takes to the skies launching flight test phase of program
737 MAX 8 remains on track for first delivery in third quarter of 2017

SEATTLE, Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] 737 MAX 8 took to the skies for the first time today. The 737 MAX program achieved the milestone on schedule which begins a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery.
With the latest technology LEAP-1B engines from CFM International and Boeing-designed Advanced Technology winglets, the first member of the efficient 737 MAX family completed a two-hour, 47-minute flight, taking off from Renton Field in Renton, Wash., at 9:46 a.m. local time and landing at 12:33 p.m. at Seattle's Boeing Field.

"Today's first flight of the 737 MAX carries us across the threshold of a new century of innovation – one driven by the same passion and ingenuity that have made this company great for 100 years," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Conner. "We are tremendously proud to begin testing an airplane that will deliver unprecedented fuel efficiency in the single-aisle market for our customers."

During the flight, 737 MAX Chief Pilot Ed Wilson and Boeing Chief Test Pilot and Vice President of Flight Operations Craig Bomben departed to the north, reaching a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) and an airspeed of 250 knots, or about 288 miles (463 kilometers) per hour typical of a first flight sequence. While Capts. Wilson and Bomben tested the airplane's systems and structures, onboard equipment transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team on the ground in Seattle.

"The flight was a success," said Wilson. "The 737 MAX just felt right in flight giving us complete confidence that this airplane will meet our customers' expectations."

With the other three members of the 737 MAX 8 flight-test fleet currently in different stages of final assembly, the 737 MAX remains on track for first delivery to Southwest Airlines in the third quarter of 2017.
The new 737 MAX 8 will deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market with 20 percent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s – and 8 percent per seat lower operating costs than the A320neo. The 737 MAX 8 is the first member in Boeing's new family of single-aisle airplanes – the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 200 and MAX 9 – to begin flight testing. The 737 MAX will extend the Next-Generation 737 range advantage with the capability to fly more than 3,500 nautical miles (6,510 km), an increase of 340 - 570 nmi (629-1,055 km) over the Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX family has 3,072 orders from 62 customers worldwide.

EVA AIR - A321-200 - B-16221-This is the EVA AIR A321 new livery

kobayashi - Taoyuan (Taipei) - Taiwan International (Chiang Kai Shek)

UR-CGV Ukraine Air Alliance (UAA) Antonov An-12BK

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Boeing, SWISS Celebrate Delivery of Airline's First 777-300ER

Airplane will serve as carrier's new flagship
ZURICH, Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) are celebrating the delivery of the airline's first 777-300ER (Extended Range). The latest addition to SWISS' fleet touched down in Zurich today following a non-stop 4,545 nautical miles (8,418 kilometers) delivery flight from Boeing's Everett Delivery Center in Everett, WA.

"The delivery of our first flagship marks a new era in Switzerland's aviation history," said Harry Hohmeister, CEO of SWISS. "As of today, our customers will enjoy a new dimension of air travel experience."

The 777-300ER is the new flagship of SWISS' long-haul fleet and is configured with 340 seats, eight in First Class, 62 in Business Class and 270 in Economy, with wireless internet connectivity throughout. SWISS' 777-300ER will feature a totally redesigned cabin interior to enhance passenger comfort and will be initially deployed on the airline's service between Zurich-New York JFK.

"We are honored that a carrier as prestigious as SWISS is now our newest Boeing 777 operator," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. "The 777-300ER will provide SWISS' network with greatly improved efficiencies and it's a great source of pride for everyone at Boeing that the carrier will utilize this outstanding airplane as its flagship."

The 777-300ER is one of the most fuel and cost-efficient airplanes in its class and is the most reliable twin-aisle aircraft in the world with an on-time departure rate of 99.5 percent. It also has the highest cargo capability of any passenger airplane in service. In addition to this delivery, SWISS has eight unfilled 777-300ERs on order from Boeing.



SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group, serving 104 destinations in 48 countries from the Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva, carrying more than 16 million passengers a year with a fleet of 92 airplanes.

U.S. Navy Awards Boeing $2.5 Billion Contract for 20 More P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

SEATTLE, January 29, 2016 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] will further equip the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with maritime patrol capabilities, building 20 more P-8A Poseidon aircraft following a $2.5 billion U.S. Navy order announced yesterday.

The contract, for Lot 7 of the total P-8A program of record, includes 16 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the next four aircraft for the RAAF. The RAAF’s initial four P-8A aircraft were included in the August 2015 Lot 6 contract award.

“We continue to hear feedback from our Navy customer about the incredible capabilities of the P-8A,” said James Dodd, Boeing vice president and program manager of P-8 Programs. “The deployed squadrons tell us it’s exceeding expectations – we’re looking forward to providing even more capability to the fleet and to Australia.”

This latest award puts Boeing on contract to build 78 Poseidons for the Navy and eight for the Australian fleet, with 33 Poseidons delivered to the U.S. Navy to date. The Lot 7 aircraft will begin delivery in late 2017.

Based on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A offers the worlds’ most advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The Navy has deployed four P-8A patrol squadrons since operations began in 2013.

Australia’s participation in the P-8A program began in 2009 when the government signed the first in a series of memorandums of understanding to work with the U.S. Navy on system design and development. The U.S. Navy and the RAAF also established a joint program office that operates at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The first Australian P-8A will be delivered to the RAAF in late 2016.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Defense, Space & Security is a $31 billion business with 53,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

Saudia's maiden B787s due in early Februar

Saudia  will take delivery of its first two B787-9s - HZ-ARA (msn 41544) and HZ-ARB (msn 41545) - on February 2 the Saudi Gazette has disclosed. The aircraft are part of a quartet that will be delivered during the course of this year with a further four due next year.
For purposes of crew training and familiarization, Saudia will initially operate the aircraft on shorthaul routes to Dammam, Riyadh, and Dubai Int'l beginning March 1. Longer flights to Istanbul Atatürk, Casablanca Int'l, Manchester Int'l, and Paris CDG are currently scheduled to commence from April 1 onwards.

ch aviation

Garuda confirms Indonesia’s new direct link from London Heathrow

Routes Onlines - Richard Maslen
The airline’s current three times weekly Jakarta – London Gatwick operation, which acts as a continuation of flights from the Indonesian capital to Amsterdam, will grow to a five times weekly schedule when the move to Heathrow takes place from March 31, 2016 as it draws on SkyTeam alliance transfer flows via the hub airport to bring additional passenger flows onto the city pair.

Article Start

As we first revealed in November last year, Asian carrier, Garuda Indonesia is to switch its London operation from Gatwick to Heathrow Airport this summer and at the same time will introduce the first and only non-stop flight between the UK and Indonesia. The move follows the acquisition of a suitable pair of slots at the heavily congested hub airport after six years of trying.

The airline’s current three times weekly Jakarta – London Gatwick operation, which acts as a continuation of flights from the Indonesian capital to Amsterdam, will grow to a five times weekly schedule when the move to Heathrow takes place from March 31, 2016 as it draws on SkyTeam alliance transfer flows via the hub airport to bring additional passenger flows onto the city pair.

Asia's top carriers under one roof

Join Air Asia Group, Cebu Pacific, Japan Airlines, Jetstar and more at Routes Asia 2016.

The move to Heathrow is part of Garuda Indonesia’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Europe and meet its commitment as the national flag carrier, to connect Indonesia to the world. The route will be flown using a Boeing 777-300ER configured in a three-class arrangement.

“Making the move to Heathrow Airport has been an ambition of ours since joining SkyTeam in March 2014. Heathrow’s pivotal role in servicing the alliance’s 1,052 destinations makes it an ideal departure airport for our passengers. Flying non-stop direct to Jakarta means we will truly be the most efficient way to reach Indonesia from the UK,” said Jubi Prasetyo, General Manager UK & Ireland, Garuda Indonesia.

The Asian flag carrier first revealed in early 2013 its intent to expand its flights to Europe with the resumption of air services to the UK following its successful reintroduction of flights to Amsterdam in June 2010. The aim was to start a direct flight between Jakarta and London from the final quarter of that year, the first non-stop scheduled air link between Indonesia and the UK using its new Boeing 777-300ER airliners.

However, after twice delaying the launch of a proposed non-stop link between Jakarta and London, the new SkyTeam entrant revealed in March 2014 during Routes Asia in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia that it would instead serve the UK capital with a one-stop strategy via Amsterdam from September 2014.

Garuda’s plans to introduce non-stop flights to Europe have been restricted by limited runway capacity at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with the pavement classification number (PCN) of the runways and apron at Soekarno-Hatta Airport not meeting the required level of strength that is typically needed for the operation of a full capacity, heavy duty commercial airliner such as the Boeing 777-300ER. Even though this new Heathrow service will operate non-stop from the UK, the outbound leg from Indonesia will make a supplementary stop in Singapore, albeit operating as a direct service.

The increased frequency will boost British businesses, which will benefit from improved direct access to the largest economy in South East Asia and one of UKTIs 17 ‘High Growth Markets’. British exporters in particular will be better positioned to utilise the 20 tonne cargo hold onboard Garuda’s 777-300ERs, with the direct connection reducing the time it takes to get goods to market, and offering a real alternative to the continental gateways to Asia.

Because Heathrow is full, slot availability for long-haul routes is rare. The agreement with Garuda Indonesia took six years to come to fruition, according to airport officials, who confirm that Heathrow currently has a queue of thirty airlines waiting for slots. Due to the capacity constraints some long-haul airlines have had to operate from other predominantly point-to-point UK airports, but many more have instead opted to base their operations at hubs abroad, acknowledged its Chief Executive Officer, John Holland-Kaye.

“As the UK's only hub, Heathrow is able to support regular direct flights to 75 long haul destinations not served by any other UK airport. With expansion, we can bring the world to Britain's doorstep by adding up to 40 more long haul routes to high growth markets,” he said.

Analysis of Sabre demand data shows that the United Kingdom was the second largest market in terms of O&D demand between Jakarta and Europe in 2014, just ahead of Germany. London Heathrow was the third largest single source or destination market in Europe to/from the Indonesian capital, supported by indirect flights from the likes of Emirates Airline via Dubai, Singapore Airlines via Singapore, Qatar Airways via Doha, Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi and Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur.

Garuda’s return to Europe in 2010 helped stimulate O&D demand on its initial route between Jakarta and Amsterdam and passenger numbers have grown since that year, increasing 16.1 per cent in 2014.

In the first six months of last year the Amsterdam market was up a further 7.7 per cent versus the same period the previous year.



Garuda Indonesia first started serving the UK market in the mid-1980s as the terminus point on existing services to other points in Europe. A dedicated London operation was introduced from Jakarta in October 1992, via Abu Dhabi while a Bangkok stop was added to the itinerary in subsequent years and flights were also offered from Denpasar. In October 1997 the London operation was suspended for a two year period but resumed from November 1999 on the Denpasar – Bangkok – London routing and latterly via Singapore. The airline departed the UK market in May 2003, leaving Amsterdam as its only European destination, a route which was eventually closed in October 2004.

“Hello ANA Group!” The A380 is to join the jetliner fleet of this Japanese carrier

NA Group has set its eyes on the future with its acquisition of three A380s, which will enable this Japanese carrier to meet increasing traffic demands to and from the country, while also providing a solution for capacity constraints.

The A380 is an ideal answer for generating sustainable growth from busy airports – including Japan’s Haneda and Narita – as the country is expected to reach 30 million foreign travellers by 2020.

As an existing Airbus single-aisle operator, the ANA Group also will benefit from the A380’s capacity and efficiency, along with the Airbus concept of operational commonality across its product line of modern, market-leading jetliners.

With deliveries of the ANA Group’s three widebody A380s beginning in 2019, these aircraft will join the carrier’s single-aisle A320 Family jetliners, which were first ordered in 1987 and subsequently expanded with orders for both the A320ceo (current engine option) and A320neo (new engine option) series.

Best-in-class comfort with the A380

In addition to its benefits for airline operators’ bottom lines, the A380 provides passengers with an unrivalled experience aloft. The jetliner’s double-deck cabin offers superior space and comfort in all classes of service, and it continues to attract travellers – highlighted by its recent recognition as “best aircraft type” in a major passenger survey.



The A380 is utilised today by a global operator base on more than 100 routes around the world. With some 180 A380s delivered to date, one of these Airbus 21st century flagship jetliners takes off or lands somewhere in the world every three minutes.

Brazil's TAM Linhas Aereas begins A350 revenue operations

TAM Linhas Aéreas has begun revenue A350-900 operations after its sole aircraft of the type - PR-XTA (cn 24) - completed its first commercial service between São Paulo Guarulhos and Manaus on Tuesday, January 25.

Once crew training and familiarization flights have been completed, the LATAM Airlines Group unit plans to deploy the twinjet on international flights to Miami Int'l in March followed by Madrid Barajas in April.
TAM has a total of twenty-seven A350 Family aircraft on order from Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) including fifteen A350-900s and twelve A350-1000s.

ch aviation / Alain Charpentier

Boeing, Xiamen Airlines Celebrate Milestone 8,888th 737 Delivery

Airplane adds to China's only all-Boeing fleet
Special livery reflects '8's' significance in Chinese culture

SEATTLE, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today delivered the 8,888th 737 to come off the production line to Xiamen Airlines. The airplane, a Next-Generation 737-800, features a special livery commemorating the airplane's significance.

Just as seven is considered a lucky number for Boeing, eight is considered to be a fortunate number in Chinese culture because it sounds similar to the word that means "prosperity" or "wealth."

"We are excited to celebrate this fantastic milestone with Boeing," said Che Shanglun, president and chairman, Xiamen Airlines. "This milestone delivery comes at a good time to cater to strong travel demand over the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival period. With the special lucky number livery, the airplane also brings our best wishes of good fortune for our passengers."

"Xiamen Airlines is a valued Boeing customer, and we are proud they're taking delivery of this milestone airplane," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737 has been an essential part of Xiamen's all-Boeing fleet, and we look forward to celebrating more achievements together as the airline continues to expand their network."

Formed in 1984 as China's first joint venture between the Civil Aviation Administration of China and a municipal government, Xiamen Airlines is China's only all-Boeing carrier. The airline began flying passengers in 1985 with two 737-200s serving three cities.

With this delivery, Xiamen Airlines has now expanded its fleet size to 133 Boeing airplanes, including 17 737-700s, 106 737-800s, 4 757-200s and 6 787-8s. The carrier is regarded as one of the most profitable airlines in the world, with a record of 29 consecutive years of profit.

Scoot launches daily flights to Guangzhou

Singaporean LCC adds new daily flights in time for Chinese New Year
Written by: Mark Elliott
Scoot’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft

Scoot has expanded its network in China with the launch of a new service to Guangzhou.

The Singaporean low-cost carrier kicked off the new route on 16 January, in time for Chinese New Year, and will now operate daily direct flights to the Chinese city using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

It takes over the daily flight from its partner Tigerair, which previously operated two daily Airbus A320 flights to Guangzhou. Tigerair will continue to operate one daily service on the route.

“Scoot is excited to kick-start 2016 and mark the upcoming one-year anniversary of 787 Dreamliner operations by expanding our footprint in the Pearl River Delta region, in addition to Hong Kong,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO of Scoot. “Our Guangzhou flights complement Tigerair’s existing daily Guangzhou services.”

Scoot’s daily flight, TZ128, will now depart Singapore’s Changi Airport at 0125 and arrive at Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport at 0455. The return service, TZ127, will then leave Guangzhou at 0555 and arrive back in Singapore at 1000.

This complements Tigerair’s daily flights, which leave Singapore at 0605 and depart Guangzhou at 1045. Tigerair will also operate five extra flights to Guangzhou over the Chinese New Year period, between 8 and 15 February.

Guangzhou becomes Scoot’s seventh destination in Greater China, following Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang and Tianjin. It also flies to two destinations in Taiwan.

SpiceJet adds flights to Dubai from Jaipur and Hyderabad

India LCC to add seven more weekly flights to UAE city

Written by:Mark Elliott

SpiceJet will serve both routes using a Boeing 737 aircraft

SpiceJet is continuing to expand its operations to Dubai with the launch of new direct flights from Jaipur and extra services from Hyderabad.

The new services will commence on 16 February 2016, with flights from Jaipur running five times a week, and two additional weekly flights being added to the Hyderabad route, taking the total frequency to daily. Both routes will be operated using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Following these launches, SpiceJet will offer direct connections to Dubai from 10 Indian cities.

“We see huge potential, especially from non-metro cities such as Jaipur, waiting to be unlocked,” said Shilpa Bhatia, SpiceJet’s senior vice president of commercial.

“Over the years we have also witnessed resurgence in demand on the Hyderabad-Dubai route from business and leisure travellers alike. Dubai is a key market in increasing our footprint across the Middle East and with these flight launches we aim to provide our customers with better and more convenient travel options.”

The Jaipur-Dubai flights will depart the Rajasthan city every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 1015, arriving in Dubai at 1230. The return flights will then leave Dubai at 0400, arriving back in Jaipur at 0830.

SpiceJet’s Hyderabad flights will depart daily at 0010 and arrive in Dubai at 0300. The return flights will then leave at either 1300 or 0400 depending on the day of the week, arriving back into Hyderabad at 1830 or 0900.

2016- NEW AIRLINE-Chinese Start-up Jiangxi Airlines Takes Off

China Aviation Daily
Jiangxi Airlines officially commenced operations on Jan. 29, 2016
Jiangxi Airlines, a joint venture between Xiamen Airlines and the Jiangxi provincial government, officially commenced operations with its first revenue flight taking off from Nanchang Changbei International Airport to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport at 8:50 a.m. on Friday.

More than 100 passengers took the airline's inaugural flight from Nanchang to Urumuqi with a stopover in Xi'an. They received special gifts and souvenirs from Jiangxi Airlines.

The Nanchang-based carrier gained its AOC on Jan. 8 and was cleared to take off by the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Jan. 28.

It has received two 737-800s, with the third one to join its fleet in late March. The airline said it expects to operate five aircraft by the end of 2016 and expand its fleet to 20 aircraft by 2020.

Jiangxi Airlines will fly the Boeing 737 aircraft on domestic routes from Nanchang to Xi'an, Urumqi, Guiyang and Xiamen.

SPICE JET completes turnaround with highest ever quarterly profit

Indian LCC back on track after financial difficulties

Written by:Mark Elliott

SpiceJet recorded an average load factor of 92% in the quarter

SpiceJet’s recovery from its financial difficulties appears to be complete, with the Indian low-cost carrier having posted its highest-ever quarterly net profit.

The Delhi-based airline was on the brink in late 2014, when financial problems forced it to ground multiple aircraft and slash its route network. But following a major turnaround effort in 2015, SpiceJet recorded a net profit of INR2.38 billion (US$35 million) for the third quarter of its financial year (ending 31 December 2015).

This marks an improvement of more than INR5bn compared to the net loss of INR2.75bn the airline suffered in the same period in the previous financial year.

The strong result was driven by an 11% year-on-year increase in revenue, which totalled INR14.60bn for the quarter. In terms of EBITDA (earnings before tax and other items), SpiceJet again saw an increase of almost INR5bn to INR2.92bn.

“SpiceJet was back to near normal operations this quarter. While the margins remain slightly depressed due to wet lease operations, the Chennai floods and exchange losses, we are happy with the progress we have made so far,” said Ajay Singh, the airline’s chairman & managing director. “The company will continue to work on reducing legacy cost and increasing efficiency,” he added.

This is the fourth consecutive profitable quarter for SpiceJet since its turnaround began in January 2015. The airline also recorded a load factor of 91.6% for the quarter, the highest of any Indian carrier.

Cebu Pacific welcomes first aircraft with new livery

New paintwork revealed to coincide with LCC's 20th anniversary

Cebu Pacific Air has taken delivery of the first aircraft bearing its new livery.

The brand new Airbus A320 was handed over to Cebu Pacific on 22 January in a ceremony at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France. It becomes the 34th A320 in the low-cost carrier’s fleet, and will be followed by another aircraft featuring the new livery by the end of January.

Both new single-aisle jets come equipped with 180 economy class seats and the ‘Sharklet’ wing-tip extensions that are designed to save fuel.

“As we look to celebrate the airline’s 20th anniversary this year, we proudly welcome this addition to our fleet which features Cebu Pacific’s new logo,” said Atty JR Mantaring, Cebu Pacific’s vice president of corporate affairs.

“The plane’s refreshed livery signifies the airline’s growth and evolution from pioneering low-cost travel in the Philippines, to successfully growing its flight operations across key domestic and international markets today.”

By the end of January 2016, Cebu Pacific’s fleet will comprise 35 A320s, eight smaller A319, six long-haul A330s and eight ATR 72-500 turboprops. And by 2021, Cebu Pacific intends to take delivery of three more brand new A320, 30 A321neo and 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

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TURKISH AIRLINES - B777-300ER - TC-JNN

New movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

First China Airlines A350XWB takes shape in Airbus’ Final Assembly Line

Assembly of the main airframe sections of the first A350 XWB for China Airlines is advancing at Airbus’ Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

This involves the assembly of the wing-fuselage junction, the installation of the tailplane and also the tailcone. The aircraft will then be moved to the next assembly station for structural completion, ground testing of mechanical, electrical and avionics systems, and then the start of cabin installation. First delivery of Airbus’ latest generation widebody airliner to China Airlines is scheduled in Q3 2016.

China Airlines has 14 A350-900 twin engine widebodies on order. The aircraft will be deployed on the carrier's long-haul routes to Europe, Australia and the United States as well as on selected regional routes. China Airlines currently operates 24 A330s and six A340s on regional and long haul services.
The A350 XWB is the world’s latest generation airliner and the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable & efficient widebody product family. The aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB 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. For passengers, it brings new levels of in-flight comfort, with an extra-wide cabin offering more personal space in all classes, including 18 inch wide seats as standard in economy class. To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 777 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 41 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever

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Cathay Pacific’s new livery makes debut on freighter fleet 22 Jan 2016

Cathay Pacific Airways today welcomed its first freighter showcasing the airline’s brand new livery. The freshly painted freighter, a Boeing 747-400ERF (Extended Range Freighter) arrived in Hong Kong from the HAECO facility in Xiamen on 19 January.

The new Cathay Pacific livery was first unveiled on one of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at a special event held at Hong Kong International Airport on 1 November 2015. A continuation of the work that began in late 2014 to refresh Cathay Pacific’s brand identity, the livery is a vital part of the airline’s brand image and a symbol of the company’s values displayed on its most important asset.

The new livery comprises three key design elements: the incorporation of the updated and streamlined brushwing; a simplification of the colour palette to Cathay Pacific green, grey, and white; and a more prominent display of the Cathay Pacific wordmark and brushwing. These updates are most evident on three areas of the aircraft: the nose, the fuselage, and the tail. Overall, these elements give a more contemporary feel to the livery, which is better aligned with the direction of Cathay Pacific’s overall brand redesign.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing Mark Sutch said: “We are delighted that a freighter was chosen as the second in-service aircraft to get the new Cathay Pacific livery. We have one of the world’s most comprehensive international cargo networks and it will be pleasing to see our Boeing 747-400ERF showcasing the airline’s new livery around the world. This livery refreshes our brand and symbolises our continuing efforts to consistently deliver excellent service to our customers.”

Cathay Pacific currently operates freighter services to 46 destinations and also carries freight in the bellies of its 140-plus passenger aircraft that serve a growing global network. The new livery will be progressively introduced onto all the aircraft in both its passenger and freighter fleets.

Cathay Pacific group enters new era with rebranding of Dragonair as Cathay Dragon

The Cathay Pacific Group today announced a new era of growth and opportunity for its two airlines. Cathay Pacific’s wholly owned sister airline Dragonair is to be rebranded as Cathay Dragon. The two will remain as separate airlines, operating under their own licences.

By more closely aligning the two brands, this rebranding will capitalise on Cathay Pacific’s high international brand recognition and leverage on Cathay Dragon’s unique connectivity into Mainland China – one of the world’s fastest-growing business and leisure travel markets. The airlines’ customers will benefit from greater convenience and a more seamless travel experience.

Since Dragonair became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific in 2006, it has added 23 new destinations and the number of passengers travelling across both carriers has grown five times to more than 7 million in 2015. The combined annual passenger number of the two airlines grew from 22 million to more than 34 million last year.

This spectacular growth has been made possible by the Cathay Pacific Group’s efforts to channel international passengers to and from Mainland China, regional and long-haul markets through Hong Kong International Airport.

Cathay Pacific’s Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved together. Cathay Dragon is a brand that will be recognisably part of the Cathay Pacific Group for our customers from different parts of the world. The rebranding will enable us to capture the fast-growing passenger flows across the two carriers by creating a more seamless travel experience.

“We are building on what is a true Hong Kong success story that has made our city a leading international aviation hub and gateway to and from Mainland China markets. This rebranding will sharpen our competitive edge by offering an attractive Cathay-led brand package that carries the assurance of a consistently high-quality customer experience.”

The rebranding will see a new livery created for Cathay Dragon that features a Cathay-style brushwing logo. This livery will appear for the first time on one of Cathay Dragon’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft in April and will be progressively introduced to the rest of the airline’s fleet.

Cathay Dragon’s Chief Executive Officer Algernon Yau said: “We can assure our customers that Cathay Dragon will continue to provide the same high level of products and services that made us a four-time winner of the World’s Best Regional Airline award. We will have the same dedicated team continuing to offer their friendly and caring service style. We will also continue to build on our experience and understanding of what our passengers like and treasure, such as speciality Chinese and Asian dishes as well as popular local Hong Kong snacks."

The Cathay Pacific Group will launch a major international advertising and marketing campaign later this year to promote recognition of Cathay Dragon and the benefits this rebranding will bring to passengers.

Change is in the air

We are pleased to announce that Dragonair will soon be rebranded as Cathay Dragon. We are bringing our two brands closer together because we believe in offering passengers one seamless brand experience.

Dragonair’s heritage and award-winning reputation particularly in the rapidly growing China market, is important to us. Therefore, a link to the old name is essential, along with preserving the distinct travel experience that Dragonair is renowned for.

The new Cathay Dragon name embodies a decade of work that has made journeys smoother for the many passengers who connect between Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

Our New Logo

To create a seamless brand experience for our passengers, it is important to establish a clear link between our two airlines. By using the Cathay name and iconic brushwing logo, we can show their relationship and premium service in a clear and simple way.

The distinctive red of Dragonair is retained, but with a slightly deeper and richer tone.

Our New Livery

The livery was redesigned to align Cathay Dragon more closely with Cathay Pacific. Visual signals, such as the use of the brushwing on the tails of both fleets, express the partnership and shared brand values between the two airlines. It celebrates our heritage and at the same time, looks towards the future with a timeless, yet contemporary, elegance.

The Chinese dragon emblem is well-known throughout the region and we wanted to retain this icon in the redesign. We have subtly updated the image, adding a slight colour gradient to the dragon’s back and simplifying some of the details. It will feature on the nose of every aircraft.

Contemporary Chinese: The Design Philosophy

We are deeply proud of our heritage in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and keeping this spirit is important. This will be reflected in Cathay Dragon’s approach to contemporary Chinese elements in its design philosophy.

Cathay Dragon will continue to draw inspiration from the designs and tastes that represent modern Chinese creativity. The process encompasses both physical design as well as on-going refinement of service offerings as a whole.

Brand Experience

Moving between Cathay Dragon and Cathay Pacific will feel familiar yet fresh across all aspects of the passenger journey.

Both airlines will offer a premium in-flight experience, but each will have its own distinct personality that reflects the specific needs of our passengers. In-flight meals, for example, will continue Dragonair’s tradition of providing the best of Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine.

Cathay Dragon and Cathay Pacific. One seamless brand experience that truly enables a Life Well Travelled.

Congo Airways outlines regional, int'l expansion plans

Norbert Sengamali, the Sales and Marketing Director of Congo Airways (Kinshasa N'Djili), has outlined the carrier's proposed expansion plans insofar as regional and international operations are concerned.
Launched in October last year, the state-backed carrier operates a pair of A320-200s on flights connecting Kinshasa N'Djili with Gemena, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Kananga, Goma, Kindu, Mbandaka, and Mbuji Mayi domestically. Service to more remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo such as Beni and Buta Zega is also planned with the upcoming arrival of its first two Dash 8-400s.

Outlining Congo Airways' medium- and long-term expansion plans, Sengamali told African Aerospace that the carrier's maiden regional destinations would be Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, Luanda, and Pointe Noire. Towards the end of this year, a further two A320-200s will arrive thereby allowing for the roll out of services to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya, Lagos in Nigeria, and Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire.

"In 2018, we want to go intercontinental. We are looking at wide-bodies," he said adding that Dubai Int'l and Guangzhou were currently being looked at.
Air France Consulting is providing technical assistance to the Congolese carrier.

ch-aviation

Iran selects Airbus for its civil aviation renewa

Agreements for 118 new aircraft, pilot training, airport operations and ATM support
Iran officials have signed two agreements with Airbus covering new aircraft orders and a comprehensive civil aviation co-operation package. The agreements were signed at the Élysée Palace, Paris, during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s official visit to France with French President François Hollande.

Iran Air has signed an agreement with Airbus for the acquisition of the full range of new Airbus airliners (73 widebodies and 45 single aisle). This includes pilot and maintenance training and support services to help the entry into service and efficient operations of these new aircraft.

In parallel the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Dr. Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi, has signed a comprehensive co-operation agreement as part of the country’s modernisation of its civil aviation sector, to support the development of air navigation services (ATM), airport and aircraft operations, regulatory harmonization, technical and academic training, maintenance, repair and industrial cooperation.

These two agreements took place as part of the implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action) on January 16th 2016, and its associated rules and guidance.

The agreement for 118 new aircraft signed by Mr Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and CEO, includes 21 A320ceo family, 24 A320neo family, 27 A330ceo family, 18 A330neo (-900), 16 A350-1000 and 12 A380.

"Today’s announcement is the start of re-establishing our civil aviation sector into the envy of the region and along with partners like Airbus we’ll ensure the highest world standards,” said Mr Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and CEO.

“The skies have cleared for Iran’s flying public and Airbus is proud to welcome Iran’s commercial aviation back into the international civil aviation community. Today is a significant step in the overhaul and modernisation of Iran’s commercial aviation sector and Airbus stands ready to play its role in supporting it,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer of passenger airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, and subsidiaries in the US, China, India, Japan and in the Middle East. In addition, it provides the highest standard of customer support and training through an expanding international network.