Airbus’ A380 will continue pleasing passengers on a global scale

The A380, which takes off or lands somewhere in the world every two minutes, will retain its status as a passenger-pleasing aircraft in the years to come thanks to Airbus’ top-level support for the double-deck airliner and its continued use by operators around the globe.

More than 300 million passengers have flown on A380s since the aircraft’s service entry in 2007, with 330-plus flights performed each day by the global fleet – providing ample opportunity for travellers to enjoy the most spacious cabin in the sky. The A380 currently is operated on 150 routes, while 400 airports worldwide are A380-compatible.

Over 240 A380s have been delivered to date. Among the latest operators is All Nippon Airways (ANA), with the Japanese carrier gearing up to receive its third A380 from Airbus, optimising flight services on the highly popular route connecting Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Honolulu in the U.S. Hawaiian Islands.

An unmatched passenger experience

With the quietest cabin in the sky and room for highly comfortable seating in all classes of service, A380 passengers can enjoy every aspect of the flight and arrive at their destination feeling inspired and ready to go. Its double-deck interior enables operators to increase profit and maximise revenues.


Airbus is fully engaged in cabin refurbishing with several of its A380 customers – looking to introduce even greater levels of passenger comfort. The investments by these customers, which include Qantas and Singapore Airlines, herald many years of continued operations for the A380.

ANA’s third “FLYING HONU”

With the arrival of its third A380, ANA will be able to offer 14 A380 flights per week on the Narita-Honolulu route – an increase from the current 10, significantly expanding overall capacity.


Like the preceding two, ANA’s third A380 is painted in a special livery depicting the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (also known as the Honu). This latest A380’s orange design – inspired by the Hawaiian sunset – was seen for the first time when the aircraft was recently rolled out of Airbus’ paint shop in Hamburg, Germany.

The first “FLYING HONU” entered service on ANA’s Narita-Honolulu route in May 2019 and features a blue design representing Hawaii’s blue skies. The second aircraft, also delivered last year, is painted emerald green to match the clear oceans surrounding the Pacific island chain.

Service entry: the BelugaXL supports Airbus’ production ramp-up with a “smile”

here’s a new shape in the sky as the next-generation BelugaXL begins regular operations in facilitating Airbus’ production ramp-up across the company’s commercial aircraft programmes.

The initial BelugaXL – featuring a livery with distinctive whale-type smile – was delivered for operation in December, and it entered service earlier this month. Ultimately, six of the highly modified twin-engine A330 airliners will operate from 11 destinations in Europe, providing Airbus with additional transport capacity as these oversize cargo airlifters gradually replace the five Beluga ST prececessors – which are derived from the company’s cornerstone A300 aircraft. All Beluga operations are managed by Airbus Transport International (ATI), an Airbus subsidiary.

According to Philippe Sabo, ATI’s Head of Oversize Air Transport, the BelugaXL’s service entry represents a step-change in the way aircraft components are transported across Europe.

“With 30% more capacity than the existing Beluga ST, it really will help us to better support the production ramp-up for A350 XWBs and the single-aisle A320 Family,” explained Sabo. “And its high-speed cargo loading system means we can significantly reduce turnaround times – something which is key to achieving our targets.”

Enhancing Airbus’ production network

The BelugaXL’s greater size enables the new-generation airlifter to accommodate a set of A350 XWB wings, for example, speeding up their transport from the Broughton, UK production site to the programme's final assembly line in Toulouse. The aircraft also can carry the A350 XWB's largest fuselage section with room to spare.

“We are really impressed with the aircraft,” Sabo added. “The way it behaves is fantastic and I particularly like the livery – it feels like the aircraft is looking at me when I’m close to it!”

ATI will operate a combined ST/XL fleet until mid-2023 as the remaining five BelugaXLs enter service. Airbus’ programme, customer support, engineering and ATI teams will work together in supporting the start of operations and subsequent ramp-up, with a second BelugaXL to be delivered in mid-2020, followed by a third in early 2021.

Air transport is Airbus’ primary method for moving large aircraft components across its European production network – including sites in France, Germany, Spain and the UK – which is complemented by the company’s use of road, rail and sea.

Nordic Aviation Capital finalised order for 20 A220 Family aircraft

Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the leading lessor of regional aircraft, signed at the end of 2019 a firm order for 20 A220 Family aircraft.

This latest order from NAC, counted in the 2019 order-book, is a huge endorsement and affirms the strong market demand for the state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient A220 Family.

“NAC’s order for the A220 shows this aircraft is just as relevant in the regional world as it is in the mainline one,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “We are delighted to work with NAC going forward, we thank them for their confidence and congratulate them on their new offices in Limerick.”

NAC is today the largest lessor of regional aircraft in the world, managing and owning 500 aircraft on lease to 78 airline customers in over 50 countries.



The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and widebody passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft, along with significantly lower emissions and a reduced noise footprint. The A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft. At the end of December 2019, the A220 had accumulated 600 orders and over 100 aircraft in service with seven operators worldwide.

ZURICH TRIP ( World Economic Forum Zurich Airport )

Paul Bannwarth

New Boeing 777X Completes Successful First Flight

Three hour, 51 minute flight marks new phase for rigorous test program

Largest and most fuel efficient twin-engine commercial jet expected to deliver in 2020

SEATTLE, Jan. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Boeing (NYSE: BA) 777X jetliner took to the skies today, entering the next phase of its rigorous test program. Based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, the 777X took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a.m. local time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field.

"The 777X flew beautifully, and today's testing was very productive," said Capt. Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot for Boeing Test & Evaluation. "Thank you to all the teams who made today possible. I can't wait to go fly your airplane again."

Capt. Chaney and Boeing Chief Pilot Craig Bomben worked through a detailed test plan to exercise the airplane's systems and structures while the test team in Seattle monitored the data in real time.

"Our Boeing team has taken the most successful twin-aisle jet of all time and made it even more efficient, more capable and more comfortable for all," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Today's safe first flight of the 777X is a tribute to the years of hard work and dedication from our teammates, our suppliers and our community partners in Washington state and across the globe."

The first of four dedicated 777-9 flight test airplanes, WH001 will now undergo checks before resuming testing in the coming days. The test fleet, which began ground testing in Everett last year, will endure a comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in the air over the coming months to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the design.

The newest member of Boeing's market-leading widebody family, the 777X will deliver 10 percent lower fuel use and emissions and 10 percent lower operating costs than the competition through advanced aerodynamics, the latest generation carbon-fiber composite wing and the most advanced commercial engine ever built, GE Aviation's GE9X.

The new 777X also combines the best of the passenger-preferred 777 and 787 Dreamliner cabins with new innovations to deliver the flight experience of the future. Passengers will enjoy a wide, spacious cabin, large overhead bins that close easily for convenient access to their belongings, larger windows for a view from every seat, better cabin altitude and humidity, less noise and a smoother ride.

Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021. The program has won 340 orders and commitments from leading carriers around the world, including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Since its launch in 2013, the 777X family has outsold the competition nearly 2 to 1.

About the Boeing 777X Family

The 777X includes the 777-8 and the 777-9, the newest members of Boeing's market-leading widebody family.

Seat Count: 777-8: 384 passengers

(typical 2-class) 777-9: 426 passengers

Engine: GE9X, supplied by GE Aviation

Range: 777-8: 8,730 nautical miles (16,170 km)

777-9: 7,285 nautical miles (13,500 km)

Wingspan: Extended: 235 ft, 5 in. (71.8 m)

On ground: 212 ft, 8 in (64.8 m)

Length: 777-8: 229 ft (69.8 m)

777-9: 251 ft, 9 in (76.7 m)

For more information, please visit www.boeing.com/777X.

LOS ANGELES TRIP 2020

hsckcwong

LAX, USA

National Airlines takes delivery of maiden A330-200

National Airlines  has said it has taken delivery of its maiden Airbus widebody, an A330-200, with a second planned for June 2020 and a third by early 2021.

Vistara mulls more aircraft to expand to Europe, US

Vistara is planning to add more B787s to expand into Europe and the United States as its parent Singapore Airlines Group looks to exert more competitive pressure on the Gulf carriers, Bloomberg has reported.

The Indian full-service carrier, a 51/49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines Group, is still in the early stages of planning its proposed acquisition, sources close to developments told the news wire. The exact size of the potential order will, however, be predicated on, among others, the airline's ability to acquire slots at London Heathrow, they said.

Vistara currently has six B787-9s on firm order from Boeing but expects to take additional units from lessors.

The first two B787s are scheduled to deliver in February and March 2020. 

The airline has yet to confirm their initial routes but it is understood that it is studying various options for serving London as a matter of priority.
Ch aviation

FlyBosnia plans charter flights from 2020

FlyBosnia plans to operate regular charter flights to Turkey, Egypt, and Italy during the 2020 summer season.

Beginning on May 25, the start-up carrier will run flights until mid-October from Sarajevo to Antalya and Hurghada 

FlyBosnia, which currently operates a single A319, E7-FBA (msn 1808), plans to add another two of the type in April.

According to the airline's booking tool, it currently offers 2x weekly service from Sarajevo to London Luton and 1x weekly flights to Riyadh, as well as 1x weekly flights from Mostar to Rome Fiumicino. In a press release issued to support the launch of the latter city pair last month, it said: “Due to a much better development strategy and conditions at Mostar and Tuzla Int'l Airports, FlyBosnia continues to establish direct lines from there.”

Vision Air International secures EASA TCO

Vision Air International  has become the first Pakistani charter airline to secure a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Third-Country Operator (TCO) permit, according to a media release by the airline.
The achievement will enable Vision Air to further grow its global charter business by offering flights to the EU and will be vital as it looks to commence scheduled operations later this year.
Vision Air has a fleet of three aircraft a single B737-200(F) and two B737-300(QC)s.

ZURICH TRIP 2020 ( World Economic Forum Zurich Airport )

Paul Bannwarth