Flyingphotos Magazine News: julho 2021

quarta-feira, 28 de julho de 2021

Indian Ocean based Air Austral becomes first French A220 operator

First A220-300 for Air Austral takes off at the A220 final assembly line in Mirabel, Canada

Mirabel, Canada, 27 July 2021 – The first of the three A220s for Air Austral, France’s La Réunion Island-based airline, has been delivered from the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mirabel, Canada. The second and third aircraft are expected to join the Air Austral fleet in the coming days.

Airbus is delighted to welcome Air Austral as a new Airbus customer and operator. This A220 will be the first of the type to be operated by a French airline in the Indian Ocean region.

Air Austral has selected the Airbus A220-300 as part of its medium and short-haul fleet modernisation plan in order to boost its operational efficiency, offering an enhanced passenger experience in a comfortable two-class cabin layout with 132 seats: 12 in business class and 120 in economy-class.

Bearing the airline’s distinctive livery representing La Reunion Island’s beautiful landscapes, Air Austral will strengthen its regional network with three A220-300s, flying on routes between La Réunion Island and Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, and as far as India.

Powered by latest-generation geared turbofan engines, Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G, the A220 is the quietest and most eco-friendly aircraft in its category. The aircraft features a 50% reduced noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft, 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat as well as 50% lower NOx emissions than current industry standards.

To date over 160 A220s have been delivered, operating routes in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ new generation single-aisle family member.

Chile’s SKY takes delivery of its first A321neo

Hamburg, 27 July 2021 – SKY, a Chilean-based low-cost carrier, has taken delivery of its first A321neo leased from Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL), becoming the first airline in Chile to operate the A321neo.

SKY’s A321neo aircraft are powered by CFM Leap-1A engines and can seat up to 238 passengers in a two-class layout. SKY is the first airline in South America to operate the A321neo with a high density cabin configuration.

The A321neo has a 95 percent airframe commonality with Airbus’ A320 Family, fitting seamlessly into SKY’s existing fleet of 19 A320neo. This aircraft incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 20 percent fuel and CO2 savings, as well as a 50 percent noise reduction. Additionally, The A321neo shares a common type rating with other members of the Airbus A320 Family, which allows A320 Family pilots to fly the aircraft without additional training.

SKY has been an Airbus customer since 2010 and became an all-Airbus operator in 2013. The A321neo will allow SKY to further expand their route offering in Latin America in the near future.

Airbus has sold over 1,100 aircraft and has a backlog of nearly 430 aircraft to deliver in Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, Airbus has over 660 aircraft in operation throughout the region, representing approximately 60 percent market share of the in-service fleet. Since 1994, Airbus has secured nearly 70 percent of net orders in the region.

SKY express to Begin Fleet Modernisation with ATR 72-600

Greek airline to optimise connectivity to islands with sustainable regional turboprop

Toulouse, July 1, 2021 – Market-leading turboprop manufacturer ATR and Greek airline SKY express today announce the delivery of an ATR 72-600 aircraft. This deal represents a new country of operations for the ATR 72-600 which is currently flying in over 50 countries around the world. With a fleet of 10 ATR -500 series aircraft, the airline has opted to continue its long relationship with ATR for its fleet modernisation project. When the ATR 72-600 enters into service later this month, it will be the first step in ensuring continued and sustainable operations to Greece’s many islands.

In the context of the aviation industry’s collective goal of decarbonisation and with many communities reliant on air links to supply essential connectivity, ATR aircraft represent the ideal solution to creating a more sustainable industry. The ATR 72-600 burns up to 40% less fuel and emits up to 40% less CO2 than a similarly-sized regional jet. In 2019, this advantage allowed it to become the first aircraft eligible for Green Financing loans.

SKY express President of the Board of Directors, Theodoros Krokidas remarked: “We are delighted to be introducing the ATR 72-600 into our fleet. In today’s context, it is more important than ever before to be able to offer our passengers efficient and flexible solutions with the best possible standards of comfort and safety. At SKY express we are committed to contributing to reduce CO2 emissions, and the ATR 72-600 fits perfectly in this strategy. ATR aircraft are well suited to serving islands with their ability to take-off and land from runways other aircraft simply cannot access and this is essential for regional operations in a country such as Greece. We know that when our passengers see this aircraft with its beautiful new livery, they will be looking forward to enjoying the very latest standards of on-board comfort.”

ATR Chief Executive, Stefano Bortoli, said: “There is no better solution with which to provide essential links and connectivity than an ATR 72-600, which is the sustainable benchmark in regional aviation today. Studies have shown than an increase of 10% in regional flights can lead to a 5% increase in local GDP, proving the value of regional air transportation and the fundamental role of regional connectivity. With many more aircraft needing to be replaced, we hope that airlines all over the world will follow the example set by SKY express and put their faith in turboprop aircraft, which are the economical solution to reducing emissions in aviation.”