Short Takes
March 16th 2015
AIRLINES: HK Express deputy chief, Andrew Cowen, said his airline was actively seeking out lessors to supply it with A321s to operate in capacity-constrained markets. Hong Kong Airlines’ dual currency IPO has lapsed after the carrier failed to file the formal application and supporting documents within a six-month deadline. Read More » The Kuwaiti government has refused to cover Kuwait Airways’ KWD145 million ($491 million) debt incurred over the past two years. According to the Kuwait Times, finance minister, Anas Khalid Al Saleh, said the airline was now a private company, and as such should handle its losses like any other commercial operation. MIAT - Mongolian Airlines has deferred the delivery of its two outstanding B737-800s to 2019-2020, and said it was evaluating the introduction of the B787 to its fleet.
CARGO: Hangzhou-based YTO Cargo Airlines, China’s first private cargo carrier, has commenced international operations with a Shanghai (PVG) -Seoul (ICN) – Qingdao – Hong Kong – Shanghai (PVG) charter service. Backed by 400 million yuan ($63 million) in start-up capital, YTO plans to provide scheduled domestic and international freight services with an initial fleet of two B737-300(F) aircraft.
CODESHARES: Qatar Airways has added its ‘QR’ designator to 28 Japan Airlines (JAL) domestic routes from Tokyo Haneda.
LESSORS: Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has firmed up an order for 55 Airbus aircraft, comprising 25 A330-900neo and 30 A321LR. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has placed a firm order for 30 COMAC ARJ21-700 aircraft, bringing the total orders for the regional jet to 308.
MANUFACTURERS: Boeing delivered 60 commercial aircraft in February, leading rival Airbus’ 45 deliveries for the month. Meanwhile, the US manufacturer logged seven orders for a total of 72 aircraft in February, the largest being an order for 50 737-MAX aircraft from an undisclosed customer, while Airbus logged three orders during the month, for a total of 32 aircraft, the largest being a combined order for 18 A320neo and five A320ceo aircraft, also placed by an undisclosed customer.
MRO: Lufthansa Technik AG (Singapore) has extended its cooperation with EVA Air, and subsidiary Evergreen Aviation Technologies (EGAT), for another ten years to provide component support for EVA’s A321, A330, B747 and B777 fleets. MTU Maintenance has signed an exclusive eight-year maintenance agreement with Maldivian. MTU will provide MRO services for the flag carrier’s A320/A321 CFM56-5B engines, as well as engine lease support through its newly-founded engine lease company, MTU Maintenance Lease Services B.V.
ROUTES: Air Arabia will launch its seventh route to Iran, as it begins twice-weekly Sharjah – Sanandaj A320 operations on April 10. Air India has reduced frequency on the Delhi – Moscow (DME) B787-8 route from four- to twice-weekly. Cathay Pacific Airways will again add capacity to the Hong Kong – Sydney route, as it replaces the A330-300 with the B777-300ER on one of its four-daily departures from October 1. China Southern Airlines will increase frequency on the Guangzhou – Perth B787-8 route from thrice- to four-weekly effective July 15, and has shelved plans to open a twice-weekly Guiyang – Tokyo (HND) B737-800 service from May 22. Etihad Airways will increase frequency on the Abu Dhabi – Tehran A320 route from thrice-weekly to daily starting April 16. flydubai will increase frequency on the Dubai – Juba B737-800 route from five-weekly to daily beginning March 29. HK Express will launch a four-weekly Hong Kong – Jeju A320 service from June 27. China’s Juneyao Airlines will add a second daily rotation to the Shanghai (PVG) – Osaka (KIX) A320 route starting March 29. Nepal Airlines will increase frequency on the Kathmandu – Kuala Lumpur B757-200 route from four-weekly to daily beginning April 9. NokScoot will start thrice-weekly Bangkok (DMK) – Nanjing operations from May 5, and thrice-weekly Bangkok (DMK) – Seoul (ICN) flights May 10, both operated by two-class B777-200ER aircraft. Philippine Airlines will increase frequency on the Manila – Guam A320 route from five-weekly to daily effective May 21. Qatar Airways will replace the B777-200LR with the B777-300ER on the five-weekly Doha – Miami route from May 2, and plans to operate the route daily from November 18. Vistara will add a daily Delhi – Guwahati – Bagdogra – Delhi A320 rotation effective April 1.
