News

Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest airline, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for two additional A320ceo aircraft, adding to a previous order for five A320s aircraft placed in September 2007. All aircraft will be equipped with Airbus “Sharklet” fuel saving wing tip devices and will be powered by IAE V2500 engines. The aircraft will also be the first A320s in Aegean’s fleet to feature the enhanced take-off weight capability of up to 78 tonnes, thus enabling the carrier to expand its route network with even longer range operations. Mr. Theodoros Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, stated: “AEGEAN’s decision to take delivery of seven new Airbus A320s shows its commitment to invest once more in the ongoing qualitative growth of the aviation sector in Greece. Our capabilities are increasing and the existing competitive advantage of the low average age of our aircraft is further enhanced. We do everything in our hands to further increase the satisfaction of our passengers and certainly our competitiveness”. Aegean Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, was named for the fourth year in a row the Best Regional Airline in Europe at the 2014 World Airline Awards. Aegean Airlines operates to date an all-Airbus single-aisle fleet of 36 Airbus A320 family aircraft including 17 directly purchased. This new order will strengthen the airline’s network that reaches today 205 international routes from its eight Greek bases (scheduled and charter flights), thus supporting tourism in Greece. Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 08/31/14  

International Airlines Group (IAG) has converted eight A350-900 options into firm orders for Iberia. The airline becomes a new customer for the fast-selling A350XWB Family. The aircraft will be equipped with efficient Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines and will deliver huge operational benefits through Airbus’ unique family values.

The A350 XWB is the latest addition to the market-leading Airbus Widebody product line. Offering its customers a 25 per cent reduction in fuel-burn, the all-new mid-size long-range A350 XWB Family comprises three versions from 276 to 369 seats. The A350 has carbon fibre fuselage and wings and sets new standards in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. At the end of June 2014, the A350 XWB had won 742 orders from 38 customers worldwide.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 08/02/14

 

ANA Holdings has firmed up an order Friday for 30 A320neo Family aircraft (seven A320neo and 23 A321neo). The initial agreement was announced in March 2014. The aircraft will be part of ANA Holdings fleet development and modernisation strategy to replace its existing single-aisle fleet in the coming years. Deliveries will start from 2016.

Shinichiro Ito, President and CEO of ANA HD said: “The aircraft we have selected will enable us to modernize and expand our fleet further as we seek to become one of the world’s leading airline groups. These new aircraft will give us maximum flexibility and improved fuel efficiency and will allow us to meet the growth in demand, both internationally and in our domestic Japanese market.”

In selecting the A320neo, ANA is investing in the best in class, ensuring excellent cabin comfort as well as operational efficiencies. ANA’s A320neo Family will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines.

The assembly of Airbus’ first A320neo has been completed following painting of the aircraft and the mounting of PW1100G-JM engines. It will soon start ground tests to prepare for first flight. The flight test campaign for the A320neo will kick-off in Q3 2014, paving the way for Entry Into Service in Q4 2015.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 08/02/14

The world’s newest airliner, the Airbus A350-900, had taken off friday morning for the final stage towards certification. These Route Proving tests are designed to demonstrate readiness for airline operations and will include high airfield performance, auto-landing trials, and airport turnaround and handling services. Some flights will have passengers on board. The A350 world tour itinerary includes 14 major airports worldwide and one route via the North Pole.

The world tour using A350 MSN5 test aircraft forms part of the route proving for certification campaign. The aircraft (MSN5) is one of the fleet of five test aircraft and one of two with a fully functional cabin (42 business class and 223 economy class seats). The A350 flights will be operated by Airbus flight crews with the participation of Airworthiness Authority pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The tests form part of the last trials required for aircraft Type Certification scheduled for Q3 this year. The first airline delivery, to Qatar Airways, will follow towards the end of the year.

The three week trial (four trips) starts in Toulouse, France. Trip one, includes destinations such as Canada via the north-pole and Frankfurt. Trip two to Asia, the world’s fastest growing aviation market, includes visits to Hong Kong and Singapore. The third trip brings the aircraft to Johannesburg and to Sydney. From Sydney it will fly to Auckland, followed by Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo before returning to Toulouse. On the fourth and final trip, the A350 will depart from Toulouse to Doha, then onto Perth and back to Doha. From Doha it will fly to Moscow, then to Helsinki from where it will fly back to Toulouse.

Today five development A350s are flying and are actively involved in the intensive flight test program, which has already reached over 540 flights and 2,250 flight hours.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

 

Hawaiian Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for six A330-800neo aircraft. The agreement adds yet another name to the growing list of launch customers for the new aircraft type. The new commitment replaces a previous order placed by Hawaiian for six A350-800s.

“The A330-800neo’s fuel efficiency, additional range and commonality with our existing A330 fleet makes the A330-800neo an elegant solution to our need for growth aircraft toward the end of this decade,” said Mark Dunkerley, President and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 18 A330-200 aircraft, with additional orders for 16 A321neo aircraft on backlog.

Source Airbus / Edited By airline Adviser 07/27/14

 

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Hainan Airlines announced that the two companies are finalizing terms and working toward a purchase agreement for 50 737 MAX 8s, reaffirming the Chinese airline’s preference for an all-Boeing single-aisle fleet.

The commitment, valued at more than $5.1 billion at current list prices, will be subject to the approval of the Chinese government and will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

“The 737 is the backbone of our single-aisle fleet,” said Adam Tan, vice chairman and president of Hainan Group. “The new 737 MAX will help our airline grow, become more efficient and offer five-star service for our passengers.”

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and MG Aviation Limited finalized an order for two additional 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at $499 million at current list prices. The order will support the leasing company’s growing fleet of modern airplanes.

“The 787-9 will be an excellent addition to our leasing portfolio, enabling us to provide our customers with exceptional range, increased capacity and superior economics,” said Joe Nakash, chairman of MG Aviation. MG Aviation previously placed an order for two 787-9s in 2006 and now has four unfilled 787-9s orders.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Intrepid Aviation announced the leasing company’s first direct Boeing order for six 777-300ERs (Extended Range), valued at $1.9 billion at current list prices.

Intrepid also has the option to purchase an additional four 777s. If all options are exercised, the value of the announcement could reach more than $3.2 billion at list prices.

“The economics of the 777-300ER are outstanding and offer an attractive growth potential for our airline customers,” said Franklin Pray, Intrepid Aviation president and CEO. “We are pleased to work with Boeing and add this order of the most popular twin-aisle aircraft of all time to our existing fleet of 777-300ERs.”

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced an order for 26 airplanes – six 777-300ER (Extended Range) and reconfirmed 20 737 MAX 8 airplanes, valued at $3.9 billion at current list prices.

This 737 MAX order for 20 airplanes, valued at more than $2 billion at current list prices, brings Air Lease Corporation’s combined orders for the 737 MAX to 104 airplanes. The 777-300ER order, valued at more than $1.9 billion at current list prices, marks the 100th 777 order from ALC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy during his career in the industry.

“Additional 777-300ER and 737 MAX airplanes in our portfolio provide the economics and passenger-pleasing experiences our airline customers require,” said Hazy. “The 777 has maintained a broad customer base and will continue to do so well into the future. The 737 MAX represents game changing efficiencies and improvements for the environment in the single-aisle market.”

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

Courtesy Boeing

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Avolon announced the leasing company’s commitment for six 787-9 Dreamliners and five additional 737 MAX 9 airplanes, valued at more than $2 billion at current list prices.

This commitment marks Avolon’s first order for the efficient 787 Dreamliner and will increase the lessor’s 737 MAX portfolio to 20 airplanes. When finalized, the order will be posted on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

“Our investment strategy is focused on building a portfolio of young, modern and fuel-efficient commercial aircraft. This order for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft, when combined with our ongoing sale and leaseback investments in the 787 family, reflects our commitment to our customers to have a product offering built around the latest and most technically advanced aircraft available in the market,” said Domhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/27/14

Courtesy Boeing

Farnborough, United Kingdom, /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Qatar Airways have finalized an order for 50 777-9Xs, valued at $18.9 billion at current list prices. The 777X order, first announced as a commitment at the 2013 Dubai Airshow, was part of the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history.

In addition, the airline announced a commitment for 50 additional 777-9X purchase rights. If exercised, that would take Qatar’s 777X order tally to 100 airplanes valued at $37.7 billion at list prices.
Qatar Airways also announced their intent to order four 777 Freighters and options for four more, with a combined value of $2.4 billion at list prices.

“Qatar Airways continuously builds upon its successful fleet program, and this latest announcement demonstrates the quality equipment we acquire to deliver on our signature Five-Star service,” said His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways. “The Boeing 777 is the backbone of our fleet and is highly amenable to the standards Qatar Airways upholds. We look forward to building on our legacy with the next-generation 777-9X.”

The 777-9X will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane, necessary in today’s competitive environment. The 777-8X is 5 percent more efficient than its competitor at all ranges while providing for new network opportunities. Design of the 777X is underway and production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020. To date, the 777X has accumulated 300 orders and commitments from six customers worldwide.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/21/14

 

 

 

Courtesy Boeing

Farnborough, United Kingdom, /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Okay Airways announced an order today for six 737 MAX 8s and four Next-Generation 737-800s, valued at $980 million at current list prices.

Okay Airways, the first privately owned airline in China, also announced it will convert five 737-800s from a previous order into 737-900ERs (Extended Range). With today’s conversion announcement, Okay Airways will be the first airline in China to operate the 737-900ER and has eight of the airplanes on order.

“The 737 is the backbone of our fleet and has fueled our growth with its proven reliability and efficiency,” said Liu Weining, president, Okay Airways. “The addition of the new 737 MAX airplanes will help us explore new regional markets while strengthening our existing domestic routes.”

Okay Airways is headquartered in Beijing with its main hub at Tianjin Binhai International Airport. Its jetliner fleet includes 12 Boeing 737-800s and one Boeing 737-300 Freighter, which serves 40 domestic destinations.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/21/14

 

Courtesy Boeing

Farnborough, United Kingdom /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Monarch Airlines announced that the two companies are finalizing terms and working towards a Purchase Agreement for 30 737 MAX 8s, marking the start of a fleet transition for Monarch to Boeing single-aisle airplanes.

The order, valued at $3.1 billion at current list prices, will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website when finalized.

The announcement is an important milestone in an exhaustive three year evaluation process, and a key part of The Monarch Group’s transformation and renewal,” said Iain Rawlinson, Executive Chairman, The Monarch Group. “Boeing truly understood our business and put together a complete package that fits extremely well with our ambitions for the Group. With this announcement, we begin another chapter in our long and fruitful relationship with Boeing, something which now stretches over 40 years.”

“Having reviewed all of the options in the marketplace, we concluded that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft that best fits our future route network strategy, enabling us to tightly control our unit costs whilst offering a superior service to our customers,” said Andrew Swaffield, Managing Director, Monarch Airlines.

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,000 orders from 42 customers worldwide, the most successful launch in Boeing history. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/21/14

Courtesy Airbus

Transaero Airlines, Russia’s second largest airline, signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus for 20 A330 aircraft (8 A330ceo and 12 A330neo). This agreement makes Transaero an important launch customer and the first European airline to commit to the A330neo. The A330s will allow Transaero to continue the massive fleet modernization program and to boost its medium and long-haul domestic and international network.

“Maintaining the balance between proven technologies and new fuel efficiency and passenger comfort solutions, the A330neo will enable a smooth integration into Transaero’s fleet and represent an attractive investment profile for our financial partners” said Alexander Krinichanskiy, Executive Director of Transaero.

Transaero Airlines launched services in November 1991, and currently serves more than 200 routes all over the world. Transaero will begin operating its first Airbus aircraft (A321) in 2015. In 2011 Transaero Airlines signed a contact with Airbus for eight A320neo and in 2012 became the first Russian customer for the A380, ordering four aircraft, the first of which will enter into service at the end of 2015.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/21/14

 

Hong Kong Aviation Capital (HKAC), a fast growing aircraft leasing company based in Hong Kong, has signed a firm order with Airbus for a total of 70 A320neo Family aircraft (40 A320neo and 30 A321neo)
The contract was finalized at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow by Donal Boylan, CEO of HKAC and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. The agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the 2013 Paris Air Show.

“We are pleased to have finalized the order for 70 A320neo Family aircraft with Airbus. The green credentials of the NEO is one of the key factors for us to choose the aircraft and through reduced fuel burn and emissions, HKAC will enable its airline clients to reduce operating cost while improving their environment impact,” said Donal Boylan, CEO of HKAC. “In addition, the A321neo will enable operators to deliver reduced operating cost per seat, and better compete where airport slots are restricted,” added Donal Boylan.

The agreement will be submitted for confirmation of HKAC’s majority shareholder, Bohai leasing. HKAC currently has a portfolio of over 50 single and twin aisle Airbus aircraft. It provides financing leasing services to several airlines in Asia and worldwide. This is HKAC’s first direct order with any aircraft manufacturer.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 07/21/14