Appalachian Air to launch later this month

Appalachian Air is set to commence its maiden operations on October 27 with daily roundtrip flights from Pikeville to Nashville Int'l.
Though marketed by PublicCharters, the public charter flights are flown on-board a 19-seater Jetstream 32 sourced from Corporate Flight Management.

 

BELGIAN AIR FORCE - A321-200 - CS-TRJ

Alain Charpentier - TLS

GARUDA INDONESIA - A330-300 - F-WWYR

Alain Charpentier - TLS

CEIBA Intercontinental B777 released after ICC impounding

CEIBA Intercontinental has recovered its sole B777-200(LR), CS-TQX (msn 40668), after it was impounded at Madrid Barajas by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The move follows an ICC ruling in favour of UK-based firm, BTP Fitzpatrick GE Ltd, which had taken Equatorial Guinea's government to court over non-payment of monies due for the 2004 construction of a 13 kilometre-long dual motorway from Malabo airport to the Ela Nguema neighbourhood in downtown Malabo.

KLM celebrates 95th anniversary in Amsterdam style

KLM celebrated its 95th anniversary with the unveiling of a special “KLM 95 years” logo on one of its MD-11 aircraft ,

SCAT - B737-700W - LY-AZV

Ton Jochems - AYT

FedEx orders four more B767 freighters

FedEx Express has ordered four more B767-300(F)s from Boeing bringing its total order book for the type to 54. With six B767 freighters already in service, the US freight giant intends to use the aircraft to replace its outgoing fleet of MD-10s.
ch-aviation

Air Lease Corporation Announces Lease Placement of Two Additional New Boeing 777-300ERs with EVA Air

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Today Air Lease Corporation  announced two additional twelve-year lease agreements with EVA Air (Taiwan) for new Boeing 777-300ER widebody aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2016 and 2017 from ALC’s order book with Boeing. With this latest contract, EVA has now leased four new Boeing 777-300ERs from ALC.

“ALC continues to help expand EVA Air’s long haul fleet with the lease of these two Boeing 777-300ERs,” said Chi Yan, Vice President of Air Lease Corporation. “EVA Air is a significant customer for ALC in the Asia Pacific region, and these additional lease placements underline our commitment to EVA’s growth plans.”

IRAQI AIRWAYS - B747-400 - YI-ASA

Paul Denton - Dubai

INDIGO - A320-200Sharklets - F-WWIU

 

Alain Charpentier - TLS

 

 

ETIHAD Delays Boeing 787-9 Inaugural to late-Dec 2014

ETIHAD is delaying planned Boeing 787-9 service inaugural, based on latest schedule update in the GDS, and the OAG. The Boeing 787-9 aircraft is now scheduled to enter service on 27DEC14, same date as A380 inauguration, instead of 01DEC14.

Revised Boeing 787-9 operational dates as follow:
eff 27DEC14 Abu Dhabi – Dusseldorf until 31DEC14
eff 27DEC14 Abu Dhabi – Doha EY391/398 until 31DEC14

Following planned Boeing 787-9 service launch remains unchanged:
eff 01JAN15 Abu Dhabi – Mumbai 1 daily
eff 01JAN15 Abu Dhabi – Washington Dulles 1 daily
eff 01APR15 Abu Dhabi – Dusseldorf 1 daily
eff 01JUN15 Abu Dhabi – Brisbane 1 daily
eff 01JUN15 Abu Dhabi – Moscow Domodedovo 1 daily

Current schedule suggests ETIHAD may be planning a double inaugural event as Boeing 787-9 departs at 0215LT for Dusseldorf on 27DEC14, followed by A380 departing for London Heathrow at 0235LT.
Routes online

AVANTI - ATR-72-500 - D-ANFE

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Royal Air Maroc outlines initial B787 operations

Royal Air Maroc has outlined its provisional B787-8 timetable with delivery of its first of four airframes on order from Boeing due before year-end.
ch-aviation timetable data shows that for the purposes of crew training, the Moroccan national carrier will deploy the twinjet on daily Casablanca Int'l to Paris Orly flights over the period January 8 to February 21, 2015.
Thereafter, the type will be deployed on its 5x weekly transatlantic services to New York JFK.
 ch-aviation

TAAG Angola to source additional Christmas capacity from Hi Fly

Hi Fly has been contracted to provide TAAG Angola Airlines with additional capacity on its Portugal routes over the upcoming Christmas period,.

 Hi Fly will operate ten extra Luanda to Porto flights and six extra Luanda to Lisbon flights over the period December 16, 2014 to January 7, 2015. Operations are on-board a combination of A330-200s and A340-300s.

Norwegian studying possible nonstop B787 flights to Hawaii

Marco Moutinho - LGW


Norwegian Long Haul is reportedly studying the possible launch of direct Europe-Hawaii services. Pacific Business News says the Hawaiian Tourism Authority's (HTA) vice president of brand management, David Uchiyama, recently held talks with Oslo Lufthavn AS, the operator of Oslo Gardermoen Airport, over the proposed 10'915km-long route, which would operate direct using a trans-polar routing.
ch-aviation

Surinam Airways mulls widebody replacement, possible partnerships

Surinam Airways is looking to replace its sole widebody aircraft, an A340-300, PZ-TCP (cn 49), with more efficient machinery once its lease with the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) expires in 2015.
According to the AirFinanceJournal, the Surinamese national carrier is currently considering either the B767 or the A330 as possible options.
ch-aviation

Libyan Airlines wet-leasing a Tunisian A330

Libyan Airlines has wet-leased TS-IRA, the only A330-200 in the Syphax Airlines fleet ch-aviation has learned.
The Tunisian carrier introduced the widebody jet for use on its weekly Montréal Trudeau operations earlier this year. However, given the poor loads encountered following the route's launch, Syphax has now reduced the operation to a seasonal service resulting in excess available capacity.
ch-aviation

Jasmin Airways could launch in March 2015

Jasmin Airways could commence operations as early as March 2015.
Having obtained its approval-in-principle to launch operations from the Tunisian Ministry of Transport late last year, Amara said the carrier would now source a pair of dry-leased A320-200s, for use on its planned charter operations.

Boeing St. Louis Facility to Supply Parts for New 777X

EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today it will produce 777X parts at its site in St. Louis, Mo., bringing back inside the company work that is currently performed at suppliers or performed overseas for the current 777 program.

The design for these parts will be done in St. Louis, Boeing Aerostructures Australia (BAA) and other Boeing sites.

The parts built by the St. Louis team will support 777X work at the composite wing center in Everett, Wash., home of the 777X program. The new composite wing center is currently under construction and will be more than 1 million square feet.

"Boeing has outstanding capability, resources and experience across the company and the 777X program will leverage that skill base," said Bob Feldmann, vice president and general manager, 777X program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "A program of this size requires that we bring together all of the talent that Boeing has to offer."

Earlier this year, Boeing selected its Everett, Wash. site as the location for a new composite wing center for the 777X program. In this wing center, Boeing will perform fabrication and assembly of the 777X's composite wing. Additionally, Boeing will perform final assembly of the 777X in Everett.

To accommodate this production work, Boeing will expand its current St. Louis composites facility, which will begin producing parts for the 777X program in 2017.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Boeing St. Louis and we look forward to being a partner on the 777X program," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing Military Aircraft Cross-Enterprise Design/Build vice president. "Placing this work in St. Louis optimizes resources, skills and technology in St. Louis and creates high technology jobs in the region."



The 777X builds on today's passenger-preferred, market-leading 777 and offers more market coverage and revenue capability than the competition. First delivery is targeted for 2020.

Boeing, Alaska Airlines Announce Order for 10 Next-Generation 737-900ERs

The airline's newest 737-900ER is seen here at Boeing Field in Seattle being prepared for delivery.

Purchase reflects major investment in Alaska Airlines' hometown of Seattle

SEATTLE, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Alaska Airlines today announced an order for 10 Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes, building on Alaska's all-Boeing fleet. As Seattle's hometown airline, Alaska continues to invest in the region it calls home.

Today's purchase, which brings Alaska's total Boeing jets on order to 74, means the airline's customers will enjoy expanded service from its Seattle hub and a commitment to a locally manufactured fleet of the most fuel efficient airplanes in the market.

"We love having Seattle as our home and buying locally built airplanes is a point of pride for us," said Alaska Airlines' president and CEO Brad Tilden. "These new planes will allow us to serve our customers even better with improved in-cabin experience, including our new leather Recaro seats with added leg room, power outlets at every seat and larger overhead bins."

With a list price of $990 million, this order represents a significant investment in the long term success of Alaska Airlines.

"Alaska Airlines is a valuable partner with its all-Boeing fleet," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. "We share many of the same values, including a strong commitment to our community and a focus on innovation. It is always special for Boeing employees to see 'Proudly All-Boeing' written on the nose of an Alaska 737."

These new airplanes will not only allow network growth, but also enable further cost reductions by replacing Alaska's 737-400s with new 737-900ERs, capable of carrying 25 percent more passengers while using the same amount of fuel. Take a video tour inside Alaska's newest 737-900ER that just rolled out of the factory at: http://bit.ly/YY88nQ.

Boeing supports Alaska Airlines operations with essential support and services from its Boeing Edge portfolio that include: Wind Updates and Jeppesen eCharts for more efficient navigation, Jeppesen Crew Tracking to quickly staff airplanes when flight schedules change, and Boeing's Landing Gear Exchange Programs, Maintenance Performance Toolbox and Mobile Maintenance Applications for iPad to speed the detection and resolution of maintenance issues

SAX-Tanzania to launch First Flights in time for Christmas

NAIROBI, Kenya--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fly-SAX, Kenya’s premier safari and private charter airline, is pleased to announce that its fully-owned subsidiary, SAX-Tanzania, the new airline established in Tanzania, is making final preparations to commence flights in time for Christmas this year, subject to receiving regulatory approvals from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.

SAX-Tanzania will be flying Dash 8 Q400 modern turbo prop “business-class” standard 68 seater planes on the routes from Dar Es-Salaam to the popular destinations of Kilimanjaro, Mwanga and Kigoma.

Brown Francis, General Manager of SAX-Tanzania, added: “We have chosen the Dash 8 Q400s because they are faster than any jets currently servicing these destinations. Additionally, because of their size, they are environmentally friendly as fuel consumption is lower compared with bigger jets. My country is home to three of Africa’s natural wonders and is rapidly becoming the holiday destination of choice for international visitors as well as domestic holidaymakers. I believe that we have the right planes, the right crew and the right business model in place to grow this airline to best serve our passengers within Tanzania.”

MED VIEW - B767-300ER - CS-TRN

João Luis Pessoa - FPP - Lisboa

AMERICAN AIRLINES / USAIR - B757-200W - N204UW

João Luis Pessoa /FPP - Lisboa

ANGOLA GOVERNMENT - DHC8-Q400 - D2-EEA

PMB/FPP - Lisboa

AIR CORSICA - A320-200 - F-GHOE - 25ª Anni

Alain Charpentier - TLS

AZA AZERBAIJAN - A320-200 - F-WWIQ

Alain Charpentier - TLS

AERO GROUP - ERJ-145 - F-HFKC

PMB/FPP - Lisboa

RYANAIR - B737-800W - EI-EMI

PMB/FPP - Lisboa

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

First airplane to feature new cabin interior from award-winning Taiwanese architect

EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and China Airlines today celebrated the delivery of the airline's first 777-300ER (Extended Range). The new airplane is the first of 10 777-300ERs that the Taiwanese flag carrier plans to introduce in the coming years.

"The introduction of the Boeing 777-300ER fleet is an important milestone for China Airlines," said China Airlines Chairman Huang-Hsiang Sun. "Over the past two years, China Airlines has taken a broad new approach and philosophy to cabin design. In addition to enhancing safety and fuel efficiency, China Airlines is making a pioneering move in the airline industry to incorporate Taiwan's cultural creativity into its cabin interior. I am confident that this will leave a lasting impression on passengers and enhance our competitiveness."

China Airlines will introduce a new, state-of-the-art cabin interior onboard its 777-300ER designed by award-winning Taiwanese architect Ray Chen. The airline configured its 777-300ER to seat 358 passengers in a three-class layout highlighted by the new 'Family Couch' seats in economy class, where three seats convert into a flat surface for rest and relaxation.

"China Airlines has been a valued Boeing customer for over 50-years and we are honored to celebrate the milestone delivery of their first 777-300ER," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & CEO Ray Conner. "The airline's new 777-300ER represents the beginning of a new era for China Airlines and the people of Taiwan. As the many Boeing models before it, we are confident that the 777-300ER will continue to help China Airlines open up new markets and expand its horizons, as they continue to achieve tremendous success."

China Airlines will launch operations of their first 777-300ER to Hong Kong in October and will eventually introduce the airplane on transpacific routes, connecting Taipei with major cities in North America, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
The Boeing 777 is the world's most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane. The 777-300ER is equipped with the world's most powerful GE90-115B commercial jet engine, and can travel, with a standard three class configuration, a maximum range of 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers).

Headquartered in Taoyuan, China Airlines is the largest carrier in Taiwan with a Group fleet of nearly 90 airplanes. The airline currently serves more than 13 million passengers annually to over 118 destinations across the globe.

Aeroflot decides against using 'Dobrolet' name for new LCC

Aeroflot will not relaunch its budget operations under the Dobrolet brand name, but will instead stick to Бюджетный перевозчик ('Byudzetniy Perevozchik' - "Budget Air Carrier"). Aeroflot sources who spoke to Russia's Vedomosti newspaper on condition of anonymity this week said management had discussed various options but had settled on a more generic name as a means of protecting the Dobrolet brand until such time that international sanctions are lifted and the carrier is once more free to operate as it pleases.

Sources stated that the carrier had already begun its certification with Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) with B737-800s to be sourced from Aeroflot which in turn sourced them from Orenair.
Aeroflot transferred the aircraft to Orenair shortly after Dobrolet suspended operations in August.

Initial flights will likely launch on October 27 covering Ufa, St. Petersburg, Samara Kurumoch, Perm, Volgograd, Adler/Sochi, Tyumen, and Surgut.
ch-aviation
Photo;Ton Jochems - BRU

FIRE FLY - B737-400 - 9M-FZB

The second Firefly B737-400 passed through AMS on its way to DGX near
Cardiff.
Ton Jochems - AMS

CARIBEAN AIRLINES - B767-300ER - 9Y-LGW

Marco Moutinho - LGW

THOMSON FLY - B787-8 - G-TUIB

Marco Moutinho - LGW

Romania's Blue Air to set up first Italian base in Turin

Blue Air is set to establish its first Italian base in Turin with effect from October 26.
Using a single B737 based at the airport, the Romanian LCC plans to offer a 6x weekly service to Catania in Sicily initially with other destinations expected to roll out in due course
Photo:Ton Jochems - BRU

Golden Myanmar Airlines has begun operating thrice-weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays) between Yangon (RGN) and Chiang Mai (CNX) in Thailand. The short 364-kilometre sector will be flown by the airline’s A320s and will face direct competition from Air Bagan’s twice-weekly flights. This is the airline’s second destination in Thailand as it already operates flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.

Estonian Air commenced operations on its second route to the Swedish capital on 29 September, when it added 10 weekly flights from its Tallinn (TLL) base to Stockholm Bromma (BMA). The 391-kilometre sector will be operated until 27 March, using wet leased 47-seat ATR 42-500s from DOT LT. No other carrier serves this specific airport pair, but Avies is providing indirect competition by flying twice-weekly from Tallinn to Stockholm Arlanda. Furthermore, the flag carrier of Estonia is also flying 23 times weekly to Arlanda from its base

Etihad Airways Confirms Initial A380 and 787 Routes

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first Airbus A380 will operate commercially to London Heathrow from December 2014, while its first Boeing 787-9s will debut on routes to Düsseldorf from December this year and then to Washington DC and Mumbai from January 2015.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first A380 will operate commercially to London Heathrow from December 2014.

A second A380 will operate on the same route from the first quarter of 2015 and by the end of 2015, Etihad will have five of the type in operation, with plans to also introduce them on routes to both Sydney and New York JFK.


The airline has a total of 10 A380s on firm order. Four A380s will arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and two in 2017. Each aircraft is designed to carry 498 passengers in four living spaces on the aircraft. This includes two VIP customers in its new The Residence by Etihad concept, nine customers in an innovative First Class Apartments layout, 70 customers in its new Business Class Studios, and 417 customers in Economy Class.

Etihad also has major plans for the B787 which enters the fleet in the final quarter of 2014. Etihad’s first B787-9 will enter commercial service in December 2014, with a second aircraft entering service in January 2015. As with the A380, by the end of 2015, Etihad will have five of the type in operation. The first B787s will initially be deployed on its route between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf from December this year and then to Washington DC and Mumbai from January 2015. Services to other cities will be confirmed in 2015 as more B787s enter the airline’s aircraft fleet, says the carrier.

The airline has a total of 71 B787s scheduled for delivery between the end of 2014 and 2023, including 41 B787-9s and 30 B787-10s, making it the largest customer of the aircraft type in the world. Two B787s are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2014 with three due to arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and nine in 2017. All five initial B787 deliveries will have a three-class arrangement aboard the aircraft, configured to carry 235 customers. There will be eight First Suites in First Class, 28 Business Studios in Business Class and 199 Economy Smart Seats in Economy Class.
Routes online

China Eastern to Start Boeing 777-300ER New York JFK Service from mid-Nov 2014

China Eastern from 15NOV14 is introducing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operation on Shanghai Pu Dong – New York JFK route, replacing Airbus A340-600 aircraft. The Boeing 777 operates on daily basis, and reservation is now open.

MU587 PVG1150 – 1325JFK 77W D
MU588 JFK1525 – 1925+1PVG 77W D
Routes online

BIMAN Bangladesh Airlines Increases London Heathrow Service in W14

BIMAN Bangaldesh Airlines is introducing 4th weekly rotation for London Heathrow route, starting 31OCT14 (except certain dates in November 2014). The airline operates Boeing 777-300ER service with Dhaka – London Heathrow – Sylhet – Dhaka routing.



BG017 DAC1045 – 1550LHR 77W 6
BG015 DAC1100 – 1605LHR 77W 3
BG001 DAC1100 – 1605LHR 77W 5
BG005 DAC1100 – 1605LHR 77W 7



BG016 LHR1815 – 1020+1ZYL1120+1 – 1200+1DAC 77W 3
BG002 LHR1815 – 1020+1ZYL1120+1 – 1200+1DAC 77W 5
BG018 LHR1815 – 1020+1ZYL1120+1 – 1200+1DAC 77W 6
BG006 LHR1815 – 1020+1ZYL1120+1 – 1200+1DAC 77W 7
Routes online

 

 

Ukraine's Kharkiv Airlines begins scheduled operations

Kharkiv Airlines began operating its first scheduled services on Monday, September 16 with daily flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen from Odessa and Kharkov using its single B737-800.

Following its acqusition by the Azov-Black Sea Investment Company in May last year, Kharkiv Airlines resumed operations in June offering charter flights from Kharkiv, Donestsk and Kiev to destinations in Greece, Egypt, Tunisia, India, Vietnam, Thailand and the Dominican Republic.
ch-aviation
Photo:Ton Jochems - AYT

Eritrean Airlines wet-leasing a Ukrainian A320

Eritrean Airlines has wet-leased an A320-200 from Ukrainian ACMI specialist, YanAir .

Vive Perú to use Beechcraft, Embraer truboprops

Vive Perú is set to commence domestic operations using a Beech  King Air B200 and an EMB-120ER. Having secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications, the start-up plans to specialize in medical evacuation, freight haulage, and executive charter flights.

Hai Au Aviation, launches seaplane flights (Vietnam)

Hai Au Aviation has commenced operations with scheduled seaplane flights between Hanoi and the  Ha Long Bay.
Operations are on-board two Cessna (single turboprop)s Grand Caravan 208B-EXs (cn 208B5121 and cn 208B5122), that arrived early last month.

Airbus readies A350 XWB for first customer Qatar Airways

 

 

 The first A350 XWB for Qatar Airways is progressing towards delivery before year end. The aircraft equipped with Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines rolled out of the Airbus factory in Toulouse fully painted, prominently bearing Qatar Airways’ livery.

Following the recent EASA Type Certification, the Qatar Airways A350-900 is now entering into its final stage of production during which Airbus and the airline teams are actively working together in order to ensure a seamless hand-over process. The remaining steps up to delivery comprise notably the cabin completion as well as ground and flight tests.

The A350 XWB is Airbus’ all-new mid-size long range product line and the newest member of Airbus' leading widebody family. The A350 XWB stands out in its class thanks to its combination of passenger comfort, technological innovation and its unique industrial process. Built hand-in-hand with our customers, the A350 XWB sets new standards in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. At the end of September 2014, the A350 XWB had won 750 orders from 39 customers worldwide.

AIR CALEDONIE INTERNATIONAL - A330-200 - F-OHSD - New livery

Hung-Hsin Hsu - Tokyo - Narita

TRANS NUSA - ATR-42-600 - F-WWLX

Alain Charpentier - TLS

AIR ASIA INDIA - A320-200Sharklets - F-WWDX

Alain Charpentier - TLS

First A350 XWB for Vietnam Airlines enters final assembly

 Final assembly of the first A350 XWB for Vietnam Airlines has begun at the Roger Béteille Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

Scheduled for delivery in mid-2015, the aircraft will see Vietnam Airlines become the first Asian airline to fly the A350 XWB and the second operator in the world of the all-new, fuel-efficient widebody.

Vietnam Airlines has a total of 10 A350 XWB on order. The aircraft will be operated on the carrier’s premium long range services.

The five A350 test aircraft currently flying have accumulated some 2600 flight hours in over 600 flights, with entry into service planned for Q4 2014. The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) will bring a step change in efficiency compared with existing aircraft in this size category, using 25 per cent less fuel and providing an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions. To date, the A350 XWB has already won 750 firm orders from 39 customers worldwide.