The Brazil Air Force recently published further pictures of Air France flight 447 (AF447) wreckage (Airbus A330-200 F-GZCP / MSN: 660).
Photos: Brazil Air Force
Related:
Photos – AF447 Tail Recovered from Atlantic Ocean
Photos – Air France Flight 447 Tail Found
Just recently the vertical stabilizer of Air France flight 447 (AF447), Airbus A330-200 (F-GZCP / MSN: 660) was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean. The wreckage was lifted on a navy ship and brought to land for further investigation.
Source: Brazil Air Force
Zurich based Swiss International Air Lines has received its first new A330-300. The aircraft is the first of nine A330-300s ordered in September 2007 to expand the Swiss’ medium to long haul network.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B EP engines, the carrier’s first A330-300 is fitted in an all-new, comfortable three-class layout with a total of 236 seats (183 seats in Economy, 45 in Business Class and 8 in First Class).
“We are more than pleased to introduce the eco-efficient A330-300 into our fleet. Its true wide body cabin combined with our all-new, high-class product increases passenger appeal, comfort and style, while its outstanding performance strengthens our competitiveness and reduces the environmental impact at the same time,” said Christoph Franz, CEO of Swiss.
By adding A330-300s to its Airbus fleet, Swiss will fully benefit from the advantages of the unique Airbus commonality, allowing to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers. This gives Swiss more operational flexibility and will result in significant cost savings.
“We are proud to see Swiss expanding their services with the unrivalled A330 aircraft. Through state of the art technology and outstanding economics, the A330 is a ‘first class’ aircraft for a ‘first class’ airline. Swiss and Airbus make a perfect fit,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.
Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus
One of my Flickr friends spotted some unusual tail design at Toulouse Blagnac. An Airbus A330-200, to be the first A330-200 for US Airways (N279AY), is sitting there at the ramp, wearing a never seen color scheme on its tail.
Could this be part of a new US Airways livery? Or is it just a one-time special livery to celebrate their new A332?
Photo by a380spotter
Airbus deliveries for the first quarter of 2009.
| Model | Number of Deliveries | By Customer |
| A318 | 1 | 1 – Comlux |
| A319 | 31 |
10 – easyJet 2 – CIT Leasing (Tiger Airways) 2 – Hainan 3 – Lan Airlines 1 – ILFC (Bangkok Airways) 1 – BOC Aviation (Aeroflot) 1 – ILFC (Mexicana) 2 – AERVENTURE (Royal Jordanian Airlines) 1 – Hamburg International 1 – Indian Airlines (NACIL) 1 – China Southern Airlines 2 – Germanwings 1 – ILFC (Armavia) 1 – GECAS (Aeroflot) 1 – ILFC (Chongqing Airlines) 1 – Private Customer |
| A320 | 51 |
1 – Tiger Airways 4 – Aegean Airlines 1 – AERVENTURE (Spring Airlines) 1 – ALAFCO (Wataniya Airways) [Link] 2 – ILFC (Jetstar Airways) 1 – Middle East Airlines 1 – Shenzhen Airlines 1 – AERVENTURE (Aegean Airlines) 2 – GECAS (Cebu Pacific) 3 – jetBlue Airways 1 – GECAS (Bulgaria Air) 1 – Air France 3 – AirAsia 1 – RBS Aerospace (TAM – Linhas Aereas) 2 – Wizz Air 1 – AERVENTURE (TAP- Portugal) 3 – GECAS (Aeroflot) 2 – AERVENTURE (Aeroflot) 2 – RBS Aerospace (Aer Lingus) 1 – easyJet 1 – China Eastern Airlines 2 – CIT Leasing (National Air Services) 1 – Aerdragon Aviation Partners (Air France) 1 – Alafco (Wataniya Airways) 2 – Go Air 1 – indiGo 1 – ILFC (Air Arabia) 1 – CIT Leasing (Iberworld) 1 – Silkair 1 – Aircraft Purchase Fleet (Alitalia) 1 – Middle East Airlines 1 – Air Berlin 1 – AERVENTURE (Air France) 1 – Spring Airlines 1 – ILFC (Air Arabia Maroc) |
| A321 | 18 |
2 – Indian Airlines (NACIL) 2 – Air China 3 – China Southern Airlines 1 – TAM – Linhas Aereas 4 – Turkish Airlines 2 – US Airways 1 – TAM – Linhas Aereas 1 – Air France [Link] 1 – ILFC (Aegean Airlines) 1 – NIKI |
| A330 | 13 |
2 – CIT Leasing (Etihad Airways) 3 – AWAS (Singapore Airlines) [Link] 1 – Grupo Marsans (Air Comet) 2 – Middle East Airlines 1 – ILFC (Hainan) 1 – Lufthansa 1 – Aer Lingus 1 – Finnair [Link] 1 – Lease Corporation Int’l (Singapore Airlines) |
| A340 | 2 | 2 – Lufthansa |
Finnair has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-300. The new aircraft is the first of eight A330-300s ordered by Finnair for the development of its medium and long haul operation. Powered by General Electric CF6-80E1 engines, the carrier’s new A330 can seat 271 passengers in a two-class cabin (229 seats in Economy and 42 in Business Class).
With the brand new Airbus A330-300, the Finnair fleet now includes 35 Airbus aircraft: 11 A319s, 12 A320s, six A321s, five A340s and the first A330. Finnair was also the first airline to order the Airbus A350 XWB, signing for 11 aircraft with first delivery in 2014.
Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus
Yesterday February 27, Airbus has delivered the 500th A321 ever produced. The aircraft was handed over to Air France at Airbus’ Delivery Centre in Hamburg. The A321 is the largest member of the best selling A320 Family. It is the most efficient single-aisle aircraft in its segment.
Air France’s A321 is equipped with Airbus’ enhanced single-aisle cabin and can accommodate 174 passengers in a comfortable two-class layout. The aircraft is powered by CFM 56-5B/3 engines.
“Air France was the first airline to operate the A320 and in our 75th anniversary year we are pleased to be receiving the 500th A321, the largest member of the family. Air France was also the first major airline to operate all four members of the A320 Family in 2003 and they have served us on our medium haul network and will continue to do so”, said Pierre Vellay, Senior VP New Aircraft and Corporate Fleet Planning Air France.
“We are delighted that Air France continues to renew its medium haul fleet with A321s; the preferred aircraft on medium range high-density routes,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Airbus invests around 100 million Euros every year to keep the A320 the most eco-efficient single aisle aircraft in the world. Reaching the milestone of 500 deliveries proves the sustainability of these investments and underlines the leading position of the A321 in its market segment in terms of operational efficiency, passenger comfort and environmental friendliness.”
The first A321 was delivered in 1994, as well as the first one to the Air France Group. Today Airbus has sold more than 750 A321s to about 65 customers all around the world.
Source: Airbus
Korean Air has placed firm orders with Airbus for two more A380 aircraft. This latest purchase agreement brings the total number of A380s ordered by Korean Air to 10 aircraft. The carrier will operate the aircraft in a three-class layout on routes linking Seoul to destinations in North America and Europe, including Los Angeles, New York and Paris.
“Our decision to purchase the A380 aircraft is in line with our vision to become a global leading carrier providing the best quality of service to our passengers,” said Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air. “The A380 is a comfortable, environment-friendly aircraft for the 21st century and it will enable Korean Air to provide Excellence in Flight to our customers.”
Total orders for the aircraft now stand at 200 from 16 customers.
Source: Airbus
Image: Airbus
This undated video taken from the design process of the A350XWB is showing a computer rendering with parts of the future fuselage – from the inside and outside – and its A380-orientated nose.
Last week Air Austral, the airline based in Saint Denis, La Reunion, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of two A380s in a single-class configuration.
In a single-class configuration the aircraft will seat around 840 passengers in the widest economy class seats and the service proven quietest cabin in the sky. Air Austral plans to operate the A380 through one of its subsidiaries on its high-density route from La Reunion to Paris, France. No engine choice has been made at this stage.
Today Singapore Airlines has added a new Airbus type to its fleet with the delivery of its first A330-300. Acquired under a lease agreement with Dublin-based AWAS, the A330-343 (9V-STA) was handed over to the airline at a ceremony in Toulouse attended by Mak Swee Wah, Executive Vice President Operations and Services, Singapore Airlines, Frank Pray, President and Chief Executive Officer of AWAS and Tom Enders, President and Chief Executive Officer, Airbus.
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the A330 fleet will be operated by the carrier on regional and medium haul routes, initially linking Singapore with destinations in Australia and Japan. The airline is configuring its A330s in a high comfort layout seating 285 passengers in two classes, with accommodation for 30 in Business Class and 255 in Economy.
Today Kuwait based Airline Wataniya Airways, has taken delivery of its first leased A320 aircraft, and has become the newest Airbus operator. Wataniya Airways, founded in 2006, plans to take delivery of a total of seven leased A320s.
In a standard two class configuration, the A320 can seat 180 passengers, however Wataniya’s configuration is particularly spacious with just 122 seats.
Wataniya Airways will offer scheduled services to major destination in the Gulf and the Middle East based out of its own premium services terminal at Kuwait international Airport from early 2009.
Source: Airbus
Images: Airbus
