Short Takes
November 27th 2015
MANUFACTURERS: ATR has opened a representative office in Beijing, as it aims to tap into the potentially lucrative Mainland market. The facility, located in close proximity to Beijing’s Capital Airport, will be headed by ATR VP-sales China, Wang Qi. Read More » “We see many opportunities where ATR aircraft can contribute to the development of regional operations and fill a need for optimized connectivity and frequency of service at very competitive cost. Opening ATR’s Beijing office is a natural step forward in our efforts to build up partner relationships while enhancing our capabilities to meet the customer’s needs,” the manufacturer said. Airbus has secured joint European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification for its Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM-powered A320neo, marking a major milestone for the variant’s entry into service with launch customer Qatar Airways at year-end. The PW1100G is one of two engine options available on the A320neo, alongside CFM International’s LEAP 1A.
AIRLINES: Biman Bangladesh Airlines has taken delivery of its first direct-purchased B737-800NG from Boeing. Biman’s chief, Kyle Haywood, said the national carrier was “extremely satisfied with the Next-Generation 737-800” as it looks to expand and modernize its fleet. Emirates Airline has said Berlin and Mexico City were on top of its destination wish list in 2016. Etihad Airways has signed a research agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology to develop a satellite-based fog prediction and monitoring system at fog prone Abu Dhabi International Airport. EVA Airways has finalized its order for up to 24 GEnx-1B-powered B787-10s and two GE90-115B-powered B777-300ERs, valued at more than $8 billion at current list prices, originally announced October 15, with deliveries from 2017 through to 2022. Hong Kong Airlines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit, as well as route exemption for its planned four-weekly A330-200 launch to Saipan in second-quarter 2015.
LESSORS: Singapore’s BOC Aviation has placed an order for 11 CFM 56-powered B737-800s and 11 LEAP-1B-powered B737 MAX 8s, scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2021, as follow-on from the 50 B737 MAX 8s and 30 B737-800s it ordered in August 2014.
MRO: Rolls-Royce has announced changes to three of its approved maintenance centres specialised in overhauling its Trent engines. The implemented changes will affect joint ventures Hong Kong Aero Engine Services (HAESL), Singapore Aero Engine Services (SAESL) and Germany’s N3 Engine Overhaul Services (N3), and will mean these centres will have to compete to secure Trent TotalCare overhauls rather than being awarded them based on territory.
ROUTES: AeroMexico will add a fifth weekly rotation to the Narita-Mexico City B787-8 route from April 6. Malaysia’s AirAsia will launch a four-weekly Guangzhou-Langkawi A320 service commencing January 24. AirAsia X will add a four-weekly Kuala Lumpur-Delhi A330-300 service beginning February 3. Air China will launch a thrice-weekly Yangzhou-Taizhou-Taipei B737-800 route from January 25. Austrian Airlines will replace the B777-200ER with the B767-300ER on the four-weekly Vienna-Narita service from October 30. Garuda Indonesia will resume Denpasar-Pudong operations after six years with a thrice-weekly A330-200 service from January 12. Jin Air will replace the B737-800 with the B777-200 on its daily Incheon-Hong Kong rotation beginning December 1. Lufthansa will terminate its daily Dubai-Munich A330/A340 service from April 10. Malindo Air will terminate its thrice-weekly Kuala Lumpur- Visakhapatnam B737-800 service from February 13. Myanmar National Airlines will launch a four-weekly Yangon-Taipei A319 operation from January 26. Oman Air will add a seventh weekly rotation to the Muscat-Goa B737-800 route from December 1. Qantas Airways will boost capacity on the Melbourne-Hong Kong route starting April 29, as it replaces the A330-300 with the B747-400 on three of its seven-weekly flights. Singapore Airlines will cease first class service on flights to Amsterdam and Barcelona/Sao Paulo from March 27 and October 3, respectively. Thai Lion Air has increased frequency on the Don Mueang-Ubon Ratchathani B737-900ER route from four- to five-daily, and it will increase frequency on the Don Mueang- Nakhon Si Thammarat sector from twice- to thrice-daily starting December 1. Virgin Australia will launch a weekly Christchurch-Rarotonga B737-800 service from June 25.
