Ryanair (Ireland) has extended 24 of the 29 A320 leases out as far as 2028, while the carrier opportunistically added a B737 NG which became available again at attractive levels.

  Ryanair is eyeing the MAX 10 going forward, else it will looking at additional MAX 8200s.

Aviator Daily News
Photo: Ton Jochems

Condor (Germany) is now relying on an A330-300 from Wamos Air (Spain) and an A330-900 from Air Belgium for long-haul flights to Punta Cana, New York and Toronto, after ending the A330-300 wet lease contract with SmartLynx (Latvia) earlier than planned due to issues.

Photo: Ton Jochems - AMS

Photo: Ton Jochems - Brussels
 

Aviator Daily News

CMA CGM prioritises third-party ACMI over own ops

OO-AIR A330-200F Air Belgium
Ton Jochems - BRU

CMA CGM Air Cargo (2C, Paris CDG) has abruptly suspended all of its planned in-house air cargo services to the United States as it focuses on leasing its aircraft to other operators, Freightwaves has reported.

"To adjust to our clients' needs, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend our connections with Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson and Chicago O'Hare. Our customers have been kept well-informed throughout this process," the French shipping firm said without stating a reason.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows CMA CGM Air Cargo, a recently certified subsidiary of shipping giant CMA CGM, operates two in-house A330-200Fs and two B777-200Fs. One aircraft of each type is currently wet-leased to Qatar Airways, while the other two units fly CMA CGM Air Cargo's own routes out of Paris CDG - the A330 to Cairo Int'l and the B777 to Hong Kong Int'l, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. CMA CGM also owns two more A330-200Fs leased on a CMI basis to Air Belgium, both of which currently operate on behalf of DHL Express's EAT Leipzig unit, connecting Brussels National with each of Cincinnati Int'l and Miami Int'l.

Ch Aviation

Brussels-Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] Belgium - 12/2022

Air Belgium

 Steven Picalausa

Air Belgium (Hong Yuan Group c/s) 7 OE-LAL / A330-200F

Ton Jochems
 

Air Belgium in financial difficulties

On 10 November 2022, various Belgium news outlets have reported that Air Belgium is in a dire financial situation and urgently needs a capital investment of ten million euros before the end of this year. Without this money the airline is said to go under.

According to the various articles a shortage of pilots, high fuel prices and raising costs due to inflation are impacting Air Belgium so heavily that it's running out of cash. Earlier this year, the Chinese Hongyuan Group acquired a stake of 49% in the airline but can't invest more as that would raise it's shares over the 50% treshold, which is not allowed by European law. The other shares are owned by various Belgium investors, which have already expressed reluctance to invest more money.

Air Belgium is currently operating a fleet one Airbus A330-200, one A330-200P2F (to be operated for Hongyuan Group), four A330-200Fs (operated for CMA CGM), two A330-900s and two Boeing B747-8Fs (operated for Hongyuan Group).

Express Air Cargo / TS-ICD / B737-800W

Ton Jochems

Brussels Airlines / OO-SFH / A330-300

 Ton Jochems

Global Reach Aviation / OY-MIT / CRJ900

 Ton Jochems

IBERIA / EC-NVR / A350-900

 Ton Jochems

Air Belgium took delivery of its first A330-200, serial 1521, with serial 717 to follow. Both are leased from Altavair AirFinance (UK)

 Steven Picalausa 

Brussels-Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] Belgium - 09/2022

 Steven Picalausa

Brussels-Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] Belgium - 08/2022

 Steven Picalausa 

Brussels-Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] Belgium - 08/2022

Steven Picalausa