Category: Orders & Deliveries

First China-Built A320 Delivered

Yesterday June 23, Airbus delivered the first A320 assembled at its Final Assembly Line China (FALC) in Tianjin. At a grand ceremony, the aircraft was handed over by Airbus President and CEO, Tom Enders, to the Chairman of Dragon Aviation Leasing, Li Hai. The aircraft (Airbus A320-232 – Reg: B-501L – MSN 3591) will be leased to and operated by Sichuan Airlines.

Tianjin Party Secretary Zhang Gaoli, Mayor of Tianjin, Huang Xingguo, as well as German State Secretary (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) Hartmut Schauerte and the President of Sichuan Airlines, Lan Xinguo were present at the ceremony attended by more than 1000 guests.

Sichuan Airlines - First China-Built Airbus A320

The Export-Import Bank of China, a strategic long term partner to Dragon Aviation Leasing, has been supporting the financing for the purchase of the aircraft. The A320 to be operated by Sichuan Airlines will be in a two-class configuration, with eight first class seats and 156 economy seats. The aircraft will be deployed on domestic trunk routes between the airline’s base of Chengdu to such major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. It will enter into service on 24th June on the route from Chengdu to Beijing. The aircraft will join the existing fleet composed of 40 Airbus single-aisle aircraft.

Sichuan Airlines was established in 1986 and it started commercial flight operation in 1988. The Sichuan Airlines Co Ltd so far operates 40 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. It is the largest airline in China with all-Airbus fleet (above 100 seats).

Source: Airbus
Photo: Airbus

Paris Air Show 2009 – Airbus Orders – Day 5

Today on Paris Air Show, Airbus announced that Turkish Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for seven Airbus A330. The order includes two of the increased take-off weight version of the A330-200, which offers an extended flying range of up to 7,200 nautical miles, and five A330-300s.

With deliveries scheduled from August 2010, Turkish Airlines will use the aircraft on their regional and long-haul routes.

Turkish Airlines Airbus A330

Airbus also announced today that Chennai based Paramount Airways, one of India’s leading domestic premium airlines, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy ten A321 aircraft with an option for an additional ten.

With the new aircraft, Paramount Airways will launch international services from South India. The A321s will feature Airbus’ newest cabin design.

Paramount Airways Airbus A321

Images: Airbus

Paris Air Show 2009 – Airbus Orders – Day 3 + Day 4

ZestAir orders A320
Zest Airways Inc (ZestAir) of the Philippines has placed a firm order with Airbus for its first brand new A320. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of two A320s that the airline purchased in the open market in 2008.

Philippines-based ZestAir currently serves a network of 18 destinations across the Philippines. With the delivery of its newly ordered aircraft the airline will extend its network to international destinations in Asia.

Aigle Azur Airbus A319

Aigle Azur orders its first brand new Airbus A319
The French private airline Aigle Azur has placed a firm order with Airbus for one new A319 aircraft. This is the first time the airline has purchased an aircraft directly from Airbus.

The new A319 will be configured in a comfortable two-class layout and will be powered by CFM-56 engines from CFM International.

Aigle Azur currently operates a fleet of ten A320 Family aircraft, comprising three A319s, three A320s and four A321s. Aigle Azur flies from several cities in France to various destinations including Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Portugal and Tunisia.
Founded in 1946, Aigle Azur is the oldest private French airline. The company became an Airbus operator in 2003 and has operated an all-Airbus fleet since 2005.

Wizz Air Airbus A320

Wizz Air commits to buy 50 Airbus A320s
Wizz Air, the largest Central and Eastern European low cost – low fare airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy 50 more A320s. This will take their total orders up to 132 aircraft. All Wizz Air aircraft will be configured in a comfortable single-class layout, seating up to 180 passengers. No choice of engine has been made yet.

The new A320 order will allow Wizz Air to reinforce and expand its extensive network established at 11 operating bases, in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Czech Republic. It will also allow the airline to add new destinations to its 130 existing routes. This new large A320 order will enable Wizz Air to reinforce its strong position in the region. The rapidly expanding Central and Eastern Europe’s low-cost low fare airline already operates a young and eco-efficient Airbus fleet of 24 A320s.

Photos: Airbus

Paris Air Show 2009 – Airbus Orders – Day 1 + Day 2

At Paris Airshow 2009 day 1 and day 2, Airbus announced several new aircraft orders from various customers.

Qatar Airways Airbus A320Qatar Airways buys 24 Airbus A320 Family aircraft
Qatar Airways has signed a firm contract for 24 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The agreement includes the firming up of a contract for four A321 aircraft announced at the Farnborough Air show in July 2008.
Qatar Airways currently operates 19 A320 Family aircraft, the Middle East’s largest fleet. The new aircraft configured with a two-class cabin will be deployed to enhance and expand services on regional, Eastern European and south west Asia services.

 

Airbus A320 PrestigePrivate Asian customer orders Airbus A320 Prestige
A private Asian customer has placed a firm order for an Airbus A320 Prestige, becoming the first to order the type in the region.
Based on the modern A320 airliner, but featuring a customised cabin, extra fuel-tanks for intercontinental range, and a host of other features, the Airbus A320 Prestige has the largest cabin in its class, making it the new top-of-the-line in business jets.

 

Cebu Pacific Airbus A320Cebu Pacific increases A320 orders to 15
Cebu Pacific of the Philippines has increased its outstanding A320 orders to 15, with a new firm order for five aircraft. Scheduled for delivery from 2013, the new aircraft will join an existing A319 and A320 fleet flying on the low cost carrier’s extensive domestic and regional route network. The initial batch of 10 aircraft is scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2013.

 

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350 XWBVietnam Airlines orders more Airbus aircraft
Vietnam Airlines announced at the Paris Air Show that it has placed a firm order with Airbus for 16 more single aisle A321s and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for two additional A350 XWBs.

 

AirAsia X Airbus A350 XWBAirAsia X orders 10 A350 XWB
AirAsia X, the long haul low cost affiliate of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 A350 XWB aircraft. The airline will use the aircraft on a network linking its Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur with destinations worldwide, especially in Europe and Australia. AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat more than 400 passengers in a two-class layout (Ouch! Welcome to the slave ship!).

Images: Airbus

First Embraer E-Jet Delivered to Augsburg Airways

On Tuesday, Embraer delivered the first EMBRAER 195 jet to Augsburg Airways, a Lufthansa Regional partner.
The original deal with Lufthansa was announced in June 2007, with 30 firm orders for the EMBRAER 190 jet and the option to receive any model of the E-Jets family.

Augsburg Airways’ EMBRAER 195 is configured for 116 passengers in a dual-class layout, separated by a moveable divider, and the “next seat free” (ticket purchased, where the neighboring seat remains unoccupied) in the Business Class. Based at Lufthansa’s Munich hub, the aircraft will be operated by Augsburg Airways on Lufthansa routes, offering passengers more comfort and safety, without the undesirable middle seat.

Augsburg Airways Embraer 195

“We are very proud to be the first EMBRAER 195 operator based in Germany,” said Bernadette Rampl, Managing Director of Augsburg Airways. “We are eager to introduce the EMBRAER 195, the first jet in our fleet, since it is economically efficient and has an undeniably high level of comfort.”

The new aircraft will become part of the modern and efficient regional fleet Lufthansa has depended upon for both its European routes and feeder flights to its long-haul network. The airline is also investing during these testing times, and is committed to deliver the best flying experience to its customers.

The EMBRAER 195 is the biggest and newest of the four members of the EMBRAER 170/190 E-Jets family, and began commercial operation in September 2006.

Source: Embraer
Photo: Embraer

Oman Orders C-130J Super Hercules

Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Sultanate of Oman for a C-130J Super Hercules. The aircraft, to be delivered in mid-2012, is in the longer C-130J-30 configuration.

Oman currently operates a fleet of three C-130Hs purchased in the early 1980s. The new C-130J will be used to further support Omani operations where its ability to operate out of remote austere airstrips will be invaluable.

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules

This order for Oman brings to 11 the number of countries that have acquired C-130Js. Other nations which are operating or have ordered the C-130J include Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Photo – 50th 767 Delivered to Japan Airlines

Boeing last week delivered the 50th Boeing 767 jetliner, a 767-346ER (Registration: JA622J) to Japan Airlines (JAL), the fifth-largest 767 operator in the world.
The 767-300ER is the 404th Boeing airplane delivered to Tokyo-based JAL Group, a Boeing- and McDonnell Douglas-heritage customer since 1960.

Japan Airlines (JAL) 50th Boeing 767 (767-346ER - JA622J)

Source & Photo: Boeing

Embraer Delivers First Lineage 1000 Jet

Embraer delivered the first Lineage 1000 executive jet, yesterday, in São José dos Campos, Brazil, to HE Aamer Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The aircraft, to be managed on behalf of the owner by Prestige Jet, also of Abu Dhabi, will have its first public exhibition at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), May 12-14, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Embraer Lineage 1000 Executive Jet - Managed by Prestige Jet - Abu Dhabi

In Embraer’s portfolio of six executive jets, the Lineage 1000 is the largest aircraft. Configured to accommodate up to 19 people in a total cabin volume of 4,085 cubic feet (115.7 cubic meters), the jet’s flexible interior offers five distinct privacy zones, as many as three lavatories, and an available stand-up shower. There is a wide variety of cabin configurations to fit all travelers’ needs, with plentiful room for work, rest and meetings. The airplane was launched three years ago, at EBACE.

Embraer Lineage 1000 Luxury Cabin Interior

Prestige Jet was formed in 2007, operating out of Abu Dhabi International Airport, and has quickly established itself as one of the foremost providers of top-of-range executive flight services from and to the Middle East Region. The range of services offered by Prestige Jet extends also to charter brokerage travel and aircraft sales, acquisition, and management.

Source & Photos: Embraer

Swiss Receives Its First A330-300

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).

Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330-300

“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

Flybe Receives Its 50th Bombardier Q400

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that U.K. airline Flybe has taken delivery of its 50th Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliner. The aircraft is equipped with the 1000th installation of Ultra Electronics’ Active Noise Control (ANC) system which is called the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system on Q400 and other Bombardier Q-Series aircraft. Since the introduction of the ANVS system to Bombardier’s Dash 8 aircraft in 1996, the aircraft have been known as Q-Series airliners, signaling a new era in turboprop passenger comfort. The “Q” means quiet.

Flybe Bombardier Q400

Flybe, previously known as Jersey European, placed an initial order for four Q400 airliners in March 1999. Subsequent orders were announced in 2003, 2005 and 2007, confirming Flybe as the largest operator of the aircraft type. Flybe which operates 190 routes in 13 countries, carried 7.5 million passengers in 2008 and is now the largest regional airline in Europe.

“The Bombardier Q400 airliner has been the dominant factor in our growth and success,” said Jim French, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Flybe. “It has excellent operating economics, amazing performance, and the ANVS system contributes significantly to its outstanding passenger comfort.”

“Flybe operates the largest fleet of the world’s most technologically advanced turboprop,” said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 airliner is optimized for short-haul service and Flybe’s successful experience with our high-speed turboprop’s capabilities in European markets has set a standard which other airlines around the world can follow.”

Firm orders for the Q400 airliner have reached 347 aircraft, with 233 having been delivered as of January 31, 2009.

Source: Bombardier
Photo: Bombardier