Short Takes
December 4th 2015
AIRLINES: Following negotiations with Airbus, China’s Spring Airlines announced yesterday it planned to purchase 45 A320neos and 15 A321neos, in a deal worth US$6.3 billion at list prices. Air Busan has dusted off its plans to pursue an Initial Public Offering (IPO), after rival, Jeju Air, raised US$91.6 million in its stock exchange debut last month. Read More » Bangladesh Airlines has taken delivery of its first direct-purchased B737-800NG from Boeing. Biman’s CEO , 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 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.
MANUFACTURERS: 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. Boeing has completed the B787-10”s detailed design almost two weeks ahead of schedule, which will allow assembly to begin on the largest Dreamliner family aircraft in 2016. The first flight is scheduled for 2017, with delivery to its launch customer, United Airlines, in 2018. 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. “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. Bombardier has outlined its CSeries production ramp up schedule, which forecasts 250 of the airliners to be in service by 2020, generating revenues of US$25 billion.
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 mean these centres will now have to compete to secure Trent TotalCare overhauls rather than being awarded them based on territory.
ROUTES: Beijing Capital Airlines has received clearance for twice-weekly Hangzhou-Madrid A330-200 operations from December 28. Emirates Airline will increase frequency on the Dubai-Manila B777-300ER route from 14- to 18-weekly from March 29 and it will reduce frequency on the Dar es Salaam A330-200 flights from double daily to daily from December 15, but with the larger B777-300. Flynas will launch a four-weekly Dammam-Khartoum A320 service beginning January 4. Gulf Air has increased frequency on the Bahrain-Hyderabad A321 route from five-weekly to daily. HK Express will increase frequency from daily to nine a week from Hong Kong to Ningbo A320 starting December 19. Jetstar Pacific has launched a twice-weekly Nha Trang-Hong Kong A320 service. Thai Airways International (THAI) will route its daily Bangkok-Kunming A330-300 service via Chiang Mai twice a week starting January 3. Tigerair Taiwan will launch a second daily Taoyuan-Narita A320 rotation from January 25, following the commencement of four-weekly Taoyuan-Haneda flights on December 19.
