quinta-feira, 12 de setembro de 2024

NEW AIRLINE - Koala Airlines aims to commence 737 MAX services

Koala Airlines has recently revealed further details on its plans and its corporate image on social media.

Based in the southern city of Melbourne, Koala Airlines is hoping to commence Boeing 737 MAX 8 operations

The AOC formerly belonged to Desert Air Safaris, another Australian airline acquired
by the owners of Koala Airlines in 2019.

Desert Air Safaris flew for over 50 years specializing in offering air tours and charter flights throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands


 

NEW AIRLINE - Start-up Asman Airlines welcomes 1st aircraft

A bit of news from Kyrgyzstan, as start-up Asman Airlines took delivery of its first aircraft on 5 September 2024. The aircraft, DHC-8-400 EX-21001 (4457), arrived in Bishkek on this date. It was previously in use with Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines as N451QX, the registration it also had when conducting its delivery flight from Calgary.

In total, the airline will operate four DHC-8-400s, with the second set to be delivered in October 2024, the third in May 2025, and the final one around November 2025.

Asman Airlines is established by Manas International Airport, which in its turn is majority owned by the government of Kyrgyzstan. It's goal is to improve and strenghten domestic and regional connectivity.

Photo by Asman Airlines.



Norway's Norse Atlantic shifts focus to more ACMI, charter


Norse Atlantic Airways (N0, Oslo Gardermoen) has announced it is revising its business strategy by allocating at least half of its fleet capacity to ACMIs and charter services from the fourth quarter and throughout the IATA winter season.In a statement announcing its second quarter results for 2024, the Norwegian airline said the third quarter was being dominated by its own flying, but the pivot to more ACMIs and charters was aimed at greater profitability and better risk management during the upcoming European winter. This comes after the airline recorded a 115% fall in revenue per passenger in the second quarter on the back of lower industry fares. The revenue slump came despite a 105% rise in available seat kilometres, an 89% rise in flight frequencies, 99% growth in passengers, and load factors improving to 82% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
"Following a strong transatlantic market in Summer 2023, many airlines increased capacity for 2024, leading to the softening of fares and impacting all carriers serving that market," the airline explained.
Its revised business plan will see more of Norse Atlantic's fleet’s capacity and revenue locked into longer-term contracts, leaving the carrier with lower market risk and a significant cost reduction in the future. Founder and CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said Norse Atlantic was negotiating with several airlines regarding multi-year contracts for fleet allocation, some of which would have an impact from the end of 2024 if they materialise. He said more details would be disclosed in autumn 2024.
Meanwhile, he said, the airline has agreed in principle to commercial terms with one of its lessors to streamline its fleet by redelivering three B787-8 widebodies in 2024, which will result in Norse Atlantic operating a uniform fleet of B787-9s.
"The three B787-8s have the shortest lease term remaining and have been subleased by the company. The agreement will result in Norse having a uniform, flexible, and cost-efficient fleet of B787-9 aircraft only. The transaction is expected to result in a significant accounting gain. Completion of the early redelivery is subject to the completion of formal documentation and execution of the aircraft redeliveries," he elaborated.
From the end of May, Norse Atlantic increased its fleet of own-operated aircraft from 10 to 12 after it took delivery of two B787-9s from sublease as planned, representing a capacity growth of 20%. This created further economies of scale across the business and helped reduce unit cost in the second quarter, it said. The airline now expects to see a further decrease in the cost of available seat kilometres (CASK) in the third quarter.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the Norse Atlantic fleet includes twelve B787-9s, of which seven are under its Norwegian AOC and five under its UK AOC, Norse Atlantic (United Kingdom) (Z0, London Gatwick). The aircraft are on operating leases from BOC Aviation and AerCap, respectively. The carrier serves transatlantic flights between Europe (Oslo Gardermoen, Athens, Berlin Brandenburg International, London Heathrow, Paris CDG, and Rome Fiumicino) and the United States (New York JFK, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Las Vegas Harry Reid), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Thailand), and Cape Town International (South Africa).







FLEET - Adanis, Ambanis take B737 MAX BBJs Support



Indian industrial conglomerates Adani Group and the Ambani family's Reliance Industries have both taken delivery of B737 MAX business jets for their own corporate needs, ch-aviation research has revealed.

Reliance Industries took its first B737-9(BBJ) T7-LOTUS (msn 65334) on August 27, 2024. The aircraft was ferried from Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH to Delhi International after extensive cabin completion, sporting a livery with the logo of the conglomerate. The aircraft was ferried by subsidiary Reliance Commercial Dealers (Mumbai International). It has not yet been in service since the delivery.

The holding also operates one ACJ319-100, one Global 6000, two Global 7500s, one Global Express, one Global Express XRS, one Falcon 9000EX EASy, and one E135. Except for the newly inducted MAX, the other aircraft are registered in India.

Adani Group, meanwhile, is preparing to induct its first B737-8(BBJ). N516BJ (msn 64061) was ferried after repainting at Ostrava back to Basel for cabin outfitting on June 18, 2024. The group's current executive fleet comprises just two PC-24s.

The two B737 MAX BBJs are the first Boeing executive jets of this generation to be operated in India.

CH Aviation

FLEET - AirSial inks deal with BOC Aviation for two A320s




 
AirSial (PF, Karachi International) has reached an agreement with BOC Aviation to lease two A320-200s, with both aircraft due to arrive in early 2025. The two parties signed the agreement in Dubai on August 22. The additions will boost the AirSial fleet to seven aircraft.

The privately owned airline says the extra aircraft will allow it to expand and strengthen its domestic and international route network. The ch-aviation schedules module shows AirSial operates to Islamabad International, Lahore International, Karachi International, Multan, Sialkot, Jeddah International, Dammam, and Muscat. In late October, the carrier is adding Riyadh to its schedules.

In June, ch-aviation reported on comments AirSial officials made to Pakistani outlets concerning new aircraft. The reports stated that the airline was looking to acquire five more aircraft to expand its international services and that talks with suppliers were underway. Ameen Ahsan , CEO of AirSial, told ch-aviation this week that negotiations for the additional three aircraft were continuing.

CH Aviation

quarta-feira, 11 de setembro de 2024

SPECIAL LIVERY - Saudia unveils first pics of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner livery to mark National Day

Saudia has unveiled the first pictures of a specially painted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that is being redesigned to celebrate the upcoming Saudi National Day.
The selected Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered HZ-ARB, was pictured with deep green engine cowlings and a new snazzy tail design.
The Saudia Arabian flag carrier posted photos of the widebody jet over social media on September 10, 2024, as celebrations begin to build for Saudi National Day on September 23, 2024.

In a post on X Saudia wrote: “A special green preparation for Saudi National Day. 

Wait for us.”Saudia

In total the airline posted photos of the 787-9 Dreamliner as work to alter the aircraft’s livery nears completion.

On September 23, 1932, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud renamed the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in 1965 King Faisal bin Abdulaziz decided the day should be marked with national celebrations.

Every year Saudi National Day is commemorated with a public holiday and traditional festivities are held across the Kingdom.


 

SPECIAL LIVERY - Dedicated A380 livery unveiled, highlighting the Emirates Airline Foundation’s work to improve the lives of children

DUBAI, UAE, 2 September 2024: Emirates has rolled out a new A380 livery dedicated to raising
awareness around the Emirates Airline Foundation’s humanitarian work, which has transformed the
lives of thousands of children around the world.
The A380 livery’s design is inspired by the playful elements of the Emirates Airline Foundation’s logo,
incorporating the theme of children’s artwork with pastel stars in light green, warm orange, baby blue
and soft pink across the fuselage, rounded off with a bold message that encapsulates the Foundation’s
mission – ‘Help to support children in need’. All four engine cowls of the Emirates A380 have also been
adorned in the warm orange hue, symbolising a better future for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable
children that the Foundation supports. Watch the livery come to life here
The new livery has taken the airline’s philanthropic message to the skies, and the aircraft heads to
Johannesburg, South Africa, today where the Foundation supports two important projects.
Operating under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman &
Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, the Emirates Airline Foundation is a non-profit charity
organisation providing humanitarian, philanthropic aid and essential services for children, with the aim
to create meaningful, sustainable and lasting impact in the communities that it serves.

Over the last twenty years, The Emirates Airline Foundation has supported over 50 projects, partnering
with numerous community-based organisations and NGOs to deepen their work and serve the critical
developmental needs of children for safe housing, food and medical care, and empowerment through
education and capacity development, irrespective of geography, background, political associations or
religion. 
Funding towards projects is made possible by the generous donations made onboard or online by Emirates customers, donors and employees.

The projects supported by the Foundation have mainly been focused in Emirates’ destinations, where
the airline’s employee volunteers can actively donate their time and oversee their management.

 


The Foundation currently supports 14 NGOs in 9 countries, which includes Emirates-CHES Home, a
safe haven for 100 abandoned HIV positive children who regularly receive medical support and care;
IMMPACT Girls Education Project in rural India which provided education through community-based
learning centres to 5,000 girls last year and face to-face training sessions for almost 1,500 teachers;
Prithipura Communities in Sri Lanka supporting 240 infants, children and young adults with disabilities
through specialist care, education, vocational training and employment opportunities; Virlanie
Foundation in the Philippines where funding from the Emirates Airline Foundation helps reach out to
abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected and orphaned children. 

The Foundation also helped to bring the Emirates Friendship Hospital in Bangladesh to life for over a decade, and healthcare has been made available to over 650,000 people living in poverty.

In Kenya, the Foundation supports three organisations: The Little Prince Nursery and Primary
School providing holistic education and rehabilitation for children, and the Foundation has supported its
meal programme since 2014; Alfajiri Street Kids which offers a safe space and a range of programmes focusing on art therapy for more than 200 children; Starehe Boys’ Centre which delivers
academic support for underprivileged boys and includes a high school and multiple tertiary programmes. The Foundation sponsors four-year scholarships for 10 boys studying at the school.

In South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Foundation’s focus on holistic education and medical care includes:
Fikelela Children’s Centre which is committed to serving children afflicted with HIV/AIDS. 
 

The Foundation supports the running costs of the centre and has also funded new facilities to help care for
and house 40 young children, including infants who have been neglected or abandoned because of the virus. 

Singakwenza aims to support early childhood education for low-income communities in South Africa, and the Foundation has provided training for 71 practitioners to create learning opportunities for 970 young children. St Marcellin’s Children’s Village cares for orphaned and homeless children in Zimbabwe, many with physical disabilities, blindness and HIV, and over 70 children are currently under the care of the organisation with the Foundation’s support.

In Brazil, the Saint Rita de Cassia Orphanage houses 96 orphaned and abandoned girls in Rio de Janeiro and provides shelter, education and care from ages 4-14. Externato Sao Francisco de Assis
is a non-profit that cares for underprivileged children, often from single-parent families and operates a
school with more than 70 pre-school students.

In its home base of Dubai, the Foundation supports SAFE Centre for Autism, a facility that offers a safe and inclusive environment for children struggling with complex learning difficulties.

In the last financial year, 20 other NGOs have also benefited from the Foundation, with over 500 flight
tickets issued on Emirates to volunteers conducting medical, engineering and education missions around the globe. 
Missions include Virginia Children’s Connection to perform plastic surgery, cleft lip repair, and burn care for more than 275 patients in India; World Wide Smiles (FWWS) travelled to Uganda to offer dental healthcare; Global Smile Foundation journeyed to Lebanon to perform surgery on children born with cleft palate and lip; Operation of Hope Worldwide sent 46 medical professionals from various countries to perform transformative surgeries in Zimbabwe for conditions such as cleft lips and severe burn injuries; and Australian Doctors for Africa went to Ethiopia to conduct intensive training in orthopaedics and wound management.

The Emirates Airline Foundation is regulated by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department
in Dubai (IACAD) and is licensed by the Government of Dubai.

To find out more about the Foundation’s active projects, or if you would like to make a donation of cash or Emirates Skywards Miles, please visit: www.emiratesairlinefoundation.org

SPECIAL LIVERY - Aeromexico unveils special B737-9 Mayan culture


The B737-9, with registration XA-GQS, bears a colorful design inspired by Mexican folklore.
The livery features Kukulkan, whose name in the Mayan language, k’ukulk’an, translates as ‘feathered serpent’ – a prominent figure among the Mayan deities
The livery was created by renowned Mexican street artist, illustrator and graphic designer Edgar Flores, also known as ‘Saner’.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Aeromexico said it will reveal more details on September 10, possibly with an update on which routes the B737-9 will fly to.

Aeromexico

NEW LIVERY - AeroMexico celebrates 90th birthday with new livery


This year, AeroMexico is celebrating its 90th birthday. To mark this important milestone, the airline has unveiled a new corporate image, including a new livery. The first aircraft to have received the new image is Embraer ERJ190LR XA-IAC (19000238).

FLEET - BeOnd takes first A321

BeOnd (B4, Malé) has taken delivery of its first A321-200 to support its network expansion and increase its operational readiness.

8Q-FBB (msn 1711) was ferried from Hyderabad International to Malé on September 3, 2024, and operated via Kuwait to Oslo Gardermoen the next day. The 22.5-year-old aircraft formerly operated by Fly2Sky underwent total cabin refurbishment and is currently configured for up to 68 passengers in an all-business class layout with lie-flat seats only. The aircraft is on lease from Aerovista.

The aircraft joined BeOnd's hitherto only aircraft, A319-100 8Q-FBA (msn 2119), which seats up to 44 passengers.

The scheduled premium leisure carrier currently connects Malé with Riyadh, Dubai World Central, Zurich, and Milan Malpensa. The two European destinations are served via Dubai. BeOnd recently secured fifth-freedom rights to sell tickets for the Zurich-Dubai leg only. It said that the A321 will be used to expand its network to Europe, Dubai, and Bangkok.
CH Aviation / Beond



 

FLEET - 1st C919s for Air China and China Southern

During a ceremony at Shanghai-Pudong on 28 August 2024, COMAC delivered the first C919s to Air China and China Southern Airlines. For both airlines, it's the first of 100 they have on order. Both airlines will take delivery of two more C919s this year.
Air China took delivery of C919-100ER B-919X (00019), which was ferried to Beijing-Capital on 29 August 2024, while China Southern welcomed C919-100STD B-919J (00018), which flew to Ghuangzhou on 29 August 2024 as well.
With these deliveries, all three major Chinese airlines have the C919 in the fleet, with China Eastern currently being the largest operator with seven aircraft. It's expected that Suparna Airlines will be the first next operator.
According to COMAC, the manufacturer holds firm orders for more than 1,000 C919s and 700+ options.
Photo by COMAC.


 

OTT Airlines to be folded into China Eastern


 

OTT Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, will be discontinued and merged into the mainline. The airline launched operations in December 2020 and was established to operate the Chinese manufactured aircraft for China Eastern. The complexity of having a separate airline with a relative small fleet made China Eastern to make the decision to disband OTT.

OTT (which stands for One, Two, Three) Airlines currently has a fleet that is made-up of 24 ARJ21-700s. It also operates two VIP Legacy 650s. These will now be transferred to the mainline.

Photo by COMAC.


FLEET - K-Mile Air welcomes 1st B767F


A happy moment in the history of K-Mile Air occured on 6 September 2024, when the airline welcomed its first widebody freighter in the form of Boeing B767-300ERBCF HS-KSA (33421). The freighter was welcomed at Bangkok by co-workers of the airline after completing its flight from Guangzhou where it was readied for the airline.

Entry into commercial service for the aircraft is scheduled for October 2024. The airline is planning to deploy it on flights to China, India and other destinations in South East Asia.

K-Mile Air, which is a joint-venture with the ASL Aviation Group, is planning to add a second B767F to its fleet later this year. This aircraft will be HS-KSB (33422) and is currently in the process of being prepared for delivery at Guangzhou.

Next to its B767, the airline's fleet is made-up of three B737-400SFs and two B737-800BCFs.

Photo by K-Mile Air.


FLEET - 1st A321neo for Icelandair emerges

 

Icelandair has shared photos of its first Airbus A321neo emerging after painting. The airline is set to take delivery of A321-200NX TF-IAA (12213) in November. By the start of next year's summer season, it expects to have taken delivery of three more.

In total, Icelandair is set to lease seven A321-200NXs, five via SMBC (one of which is this one), and two from CDB Aviation Leasing. The seven aircraft are an interim solution for the thirteen A321-200NYs the airline has on order directly with Airbus and which are planned for delivery from 2029 onwards.

Icelandair will use its new A321neos to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing B757s. Currently, the airline's fleet is made-up of seventeen B737-8s, four B737-9s, twelve B757-200s, two B757-300s, three B767-300ERs, and two B767-300ERBCFs.

Photo by Icelandair.