Category: Airbus

NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH today announces a follow-on order for additional nine A320 Family aircraft. The order will raise NIKI’s fleet to 20 A320 Family aircraft. The A320 Family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321.

The successful Vienna-based low cost carrier NIKI will employ the new Airbus jets on routes to European cities and holiday destinations. The airline, founded in 2003, operates in partnership with Air Berlin, which is another major Airbus customer.

“We placed this additional order after four years of successful Airbus aircraft operations. The additional A320 Family aircraft will substantially increase our low-cost services out of Vienna”, says Niki Lauda, President of NIKI. “The Airbus aircraft underpins our strategic objectives on quality, operational economics and comfort. Extra comfort levels are guaranteed through the new Airbus cabin, enhancing customer satisfaction. That is our top priority.”

The new cabin delivered to NIKI effectively features the most modern design and technological innovations derived from the A380. New smooth lines not only create an ambient atmosphere but also give more space at shoulder level. Increased Overhead Stowage offers 15 per cent more volume. The state of the art design gives a measurable noise reduction, while also decreasing the weight of the aircraft and thus making it more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

Source & Photo Credit: Airbus

Atlantic Airways, flag carrier of the Faroe Islands and based in Sørvágur, has signed a firm contract for one Airbus A319 plus one option, and becomes a new Airbus customer.

Atlantic Airways’ Airbus A319s will feature a comfortable single-class cabin layout. The aircraft will be operated on the airlines’ network between the Faroes and Denmark as well as to other growth destinations in Europe.

Source: Airbus

MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC, the US investment fund, through an affiliate, has signed a firm contract for six A330-200 Freighter aircraft. The company intends for the aircraft to be used by certain of its airline portfolio companies, such as Varig Logistica in Brazil and Global Aero Logistics in the USA. With this agreement the two airlines will become new Airbus operators. This new contract brings firm orders for the recently launched A330-200F to 72 firm orders from eight customers, confirming the strong market demand in the Freighter sector.

The A330-200F is a derivative of the very popular A330 family operated by more than 60 operators worldwide. This will greatly facilitate the entry into service of the new all-cargo variant into existing A330 fleets. The A330-200F will also benefit from full operational commonality unique to Airbus thanks to the well recognised Airbus Fly-By-Wire technology, which also enables faster pilot transitioning to and from other Airbus aircraft, both passenger and freighter.

The A330-200F can carry up to 64 metric tonnes of cargo over 4,000 nautical miles/7400 km in its standard version. When selecting the optional payload mode the aircraft can carry 69 metric tonnes up to 3,200 nautical miles/5930km. These range and payload capabilities will enable operators to grow their business by opening up or extending cargo routes currently operated. Thanks to an optimized fuselage cross-section, it has the interior flexibility to carry a wide variety of pallet and container sizes for maximum interlining capability, offering 30 percent more volume than any freighter in its class.

Source: Airbus

Hamburg International has signed a new firm order for a further two A319s last week while taking delivery of its first A319. The aircraft, powered by CFM-56 engines from CFM International, was handed over to the airline’s management team Christoph von Saldern, Norbert Grella and Klaus Schlichtmann at a ceremony held in Hamburg. The aircraft provides a comfortable single-class configuration for 150 passengers. As part of its fleet renewal programme, Hamburg International has ordered 16 A319s in total.
The independent charter airline intends to employ the A319s on routes to European cities as well as on dedicated international flights to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

TACA, a leading Latin American airline, has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 15 additional A320 Family aircraft (12 A320s and three A319s). The aircraft will be configured in a comfortable two-class layout. Engine decision has not yet been announced.
TACA already successfully operates a fleet of 36 A320 Family aircraft (nine A319s, 23 A320s and four A321s) serving the whole American continent from Canada to Argentina and Chile.

Source: Airbus

China Airlines, Taiwan’s largest carrier, has signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of 14 A350-900 and taken another six on option. The new generation medium capacity long-haul aircraft is being acquired by China Airlines as part of their future fleet modernisation program.

China Airlines intends to start using the all-new A350 XWB from 2015. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, especially developed for the A350XWB and will be fitted in a comfortable layout of 327 seats.

The A350 will primarily be deployed on the airline’s long-haul routes to Europe, Australia and the United States, enabling China Airlines to offer its passengers non-stop service on ultra long routes.

Source: Airbus

Brazilian carrier TAM Linhas Aéreas has firmed up its order for 22 A350 XWBs and for 4 additional A330-200s. The airline based in São Paulo has furthermore added another 20 A320 Family aircraft to the initial order. TAM, Airbus’ biggest customer in the southern hemisphere, now has the largest A350 XWB fleet. This agreement raises the number of orders for the A350 XWB to 314 aircraft.

With a fleet of 102 Airbus aircraft, including 15 A319s, 70 A320s, three A321s, twelve A330-200s and two A340-500s, TAM operates not only the largest Airbus Fleet in Latin America, but also comprising the most Airbus models of any fleet in the region.

Source: Airbus