No let up on fleet orders, deliveries

by ORIENT AVIATION 

December 1st 2012

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November was a very good month for Airbus in the region as several customers ordered or took delivery of the manufacturer’s A330s, A320s, A321s, its new engine option (neo) version, and an A319 assembled in China. Read More »

TransAsia chairman, Vincent Lin: his carrier’s two new A330-300s will increase its international passenger market by 40%

Up and coming Taiwanese carrier, TransAsia Airways, received its first A330-300, the initial step in its fleet renewal plan that includes a second A330-300, 12 A321neos, 6 A321-200s and 12 ATR-600s (including three options).

TransAsia chairman, Vincent Lin, said once both A330-300s were operating, the airline’s international passenger market would increase by 40%. Since 2010, TransAsia has doubled its international network to 16 destinations. It intends to fly to New Zealand, Guam, Sydney and the Middle East using the new A330s.

Across the Taiwan Strait, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines has confirmed an order for 60 A320s, with deliveries scheduled from 2014 for two years.

Airbus parent company, EADS, has said the Toulouse- headquartered airplane maker was securing A320 customers following an increase in production to 42 A320s a month last October. The first of the more fuel efficient A320neos will begin arriving at customer airlines in 2015.   

In November, orders and deliveries for Airbus aircraft included: Etihad Airways’ two A330-200s and the conversion of a commitment for seven A320s to seven A321s; EVA Air accepted the first of its 12 new A321s, leased through the Aviation Capital Group in the U.S.; Cebu Pacific announced its fleet had grown to 41 aircraft following the delivery of its 23rd A320; Maldivian Airlines became a new A320 operator and Tibet Airlines took delivery of its first A319 assembled at the Airbus Tianjin Final Assembly Line.  

Boeing also scored a big win when it secured the largest order in the history of SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.  

SilkAir CEO, Leslie Thng, announced his airline would convert a Letter of Intent for 23 B737-800s and 31 B737 MAX 8s to a final order valued at list prices at US$4.9 billion. In China and Central Asia respectively, Tianjin’s OK Airlines agreed to buy three MA60s from AVIC subsidiary, Xian Aircraft Corp, and Azerbaijin Airlines ordered four new Embraer 190 jets and bought two pre-owned Embraer 170 jets through the manufacturer’s leasing arm, ECC Leasing.