Short Takes
October 1st 2012
AIRLINES: Africa World Airlines, Hainan Airlines’ joint venture airline in Accra, Ghana, launched services with flights to three Ghanaian cities flying two Embraer ERJ 145s. Read More » Shareholders are the majority investor, Hainan Airlines, the China-Africa Development Fund and two Ghanaian financial sector companies. China Southern Airlines has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture carrier, China Southern Henan Airlines, with the provincial aviation authority of Henan. The Guangzhou-based carrier will hold a 60% equity in the new airline, with the remaining shares controlled by the Henan Civil Aviation Investment Corp.
CODE-SHARES: Two of China’s big three carriers, China Southern Airlines (CSA) and China Eastern Airlines, will operate a code-share on the Beijing-Paris route when A380s are the scheduled aircraft for the route. CSA has ordered five A380s, with three of the aircraft already flying in the carrier’s fleet. The remaining two A380s will be delivered to CSA later this month and next January respectively.
COMPONENTS: Cathay Pacific Airways (30%) and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd (HAECO) have formed a joint venture company, HAECO ITM Ltd, to provide inventory technical management services for the airline, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dragonair, and other airlines. HAECO will hold 70% of the new company.
FINANCE: Etihad Airways has completed the transfer of its increased shareholding in Virgin Australia – to 10% – following approval of the equity purchase by the relevant Australian regulatory authorities.
FLEETS: Taiwanese-based carrier, TransAsia, will take delivery of its first A330 next month, as part of its long-term fleet upgrade, which will add 29 new aircraft to the up and coming carrier by 2022. The ordered airliners are two A330-300s, six A320-321s and six A321neos (with six options) and eight ATR 72-600s (one option).
INFLIGHT: Air New Zealand has announced a cabin upgrade of its fleet of eight B777-200ERs at a projected cost of US$100 million. The carrier’s deputy CEO, Norm Thompson, said Panasonic had been selected for the IFE upgrade because its system offered touch screens and weight savings. The upgraded interiors would also include the popular Skycouch seat. Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines tied for first place with Australasian travellers in the latest independent Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards, followed by Thai Airways International, Emirates Airline and Air New Zealand.
LEASING: China Construction Bank Financial Leasing Corp. has ordered 50 of Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC)’s C919s. ICBC Financial Leasing Co. Ltd has become the first Mainland Chinese customer for Airbus’ neo aircraft type. Last month, the Chinese lessor confirmed it had signed a purchase agreement for 30 A320ceos and 20 A320neos with the Toulouse manufacturer.
