Month: November 2007

Hainan Airlines takes delivery of their first A330

Hainan Airlines, a subsidiary of the HNA Group, based in China, has taken delivery of its first A330 on lease from CIT Aerospace. The aircraft, a A330-200, powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines was handed over to the HNA Chairman, Mr. CHEN Feng in a ceremony held in Toulouse. The aircraft will seat 222 passengers in a two-class configuration.

The HNA Group, the fourth largest aviation group in China, comprises Hainan Airlines, Xinhua Airlines, Changan Airlines, Shanxi Airlines and is now setting up its Grand China Air. The group currently operates 12 A319s and has 98 Airbus aircraft on order.
HNA was established in 1993 and currently operates on trunk routes, regional routes and business charter services to more than 90 destinations.

Source: Airbus

Videos – A380 First Time Landing in Montreal

There are some really great videos on YouTube, featuring the first time landing of an Airbus A380 at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (Canada). MSN007 will leave Montreal today on 13th November to go to Orlando International Airport in Florida and will return to Montreal on 15th November.
Now enjoy these great videos!

Skybus sending pigs into flight

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a….pig?? This holiday season, you may find yourself flying with pigs! Proving that pigs really can fly, Capital One put six giant pigs into flight today to make a point about its “too good to be true” features of the new rewards money market account. The pigs are taking flight on the exterior of a Skybus Airline A319 passenger jet, and the plane will fly passengers nationwide across the US for six months.

Skybus Airlines Airbus A319 Flying Pigs
Skybus Airlines Airbus A319 Flying Pigs

Skybus Airlines Airbus A319 Flying Pigs

The Capital One flying pig plane features six giant flying pig illustrations, adorned with bomber jackets, scarves and aviator goggles. Each of the pigs is approximately 10 feet high with a wingspan of 13 feet. For the next six months, flights on the Capital One Rewards Money Market pig plane will be available to the public on regularly scheduled Skybus Airline routes.

Capital One Financial Corporation’s new Rewards Money Market account earns consumers travel miles for saving money instead of spending it. The commercial jet will travel across the sky as a larger-than-life reminder that smart saving (putting your pennies in a Capital One Rewards Money Market account instead of a piggy bank) can really take you places. “Many consumers think that a product that rewards you for saving sounds too good to be true,” said Pam Girardo, spokesperson for Capital One Direct Banking. “So we decided to drive home the message in a visual way. If customers think they’ll earn rewards for saving money ‘when pigs fly,’ then we’ll put pigs in flight!”.

Middle East Airlines expanding Airbus fleet

During the first days of the 2007 Dubai Airshow, various Airlines based in the Middle East announced their Airbus fleet expansion.
Besides Emirates Airlines and NAS, today Air Arabia and Saudi Arabian Airlines announced their expansion plans.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has signed a firm contract for 34 Airbus A320 aircraft with an option for 15 more. The airline, based at Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates, has yet to specify the engines to be installed on its new fleet.
Air Arabia already operates 10 leased A320s, and serves a network of more than 37 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia. Launched in 2003 and based in Sharjah, Air Arabia has served more than 5 million passengers over the past four years.

Saudi Arabian Airlines

Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 22 Airbus A320 aircraft as part of the fleet modernisation plans. The agreement allows Saudia to increase the order by eight further A320s.
The agreement is particularly significant as it marks the first time Saudi Arabian Airlines have placed an order with Airbus in some two decades. Previously, Saudi Arabian Airlines were the launch customer for the Airbus A300-600, which was delivered in 1984.
Saudi Arabian Airlines is one of the biggest and the longest-established airlines in the Middle East.

Source: Airbus

Saudi Prince buys A380

Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz AlsaudToday, Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud has signed a firm order with Airbus for an A380 Flying Palace, becoming the first customer for the VIP version of the double-deck airliner.
The A380 will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines and will undergo cabin outfitting at a yet to be chosen completion centre. The A380 provides 551 square meters of interior space. Information about the planned interior features have not been disclosed.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud is Chairman of Kingdom Holding company and owns a property of 25 Billion USD. In addition to the Airbus A380 he already owns a private Boeing 747.

Passengers refuse to fly without wingtip

This story is ridiculous! Passengers of a SriLankan Airlines A340 refused to fly without its wingtip and started “a minor revolt”.
The wingtip was removed after it sliced through the wing of a British Airways 747 one day earlier. The crew insisted that it’s just a aerodynamic part to keep fuel costs low and that the plane could fly just fine without it, but passengers weren’t buying it and left the plane. Continue at bostonherald.com …

… stupid, stupid passengers …

Emirates Airline buys 70 Airbus A350s and 11 additional A380s

The first big surprise of Dubai Airshow 2007 has been made! Dubai based Emirates Airline has signed a firm contract for 50 Airbus A350XWB-900 plus 20 A350XWB-1000, and 11 additional A380s in an agreement which could eventually rise to 131.
The order includes the firming up of 8 A380 aircraft announced at Le Bourget in June plus an additional 3. This brings Emirates’ total incremental A380 orders in 2007 to 15 aircraft making Emirates the largest A380 customer with 58 firm orders. In addition the contract also includes the possibility for an additional 50 A350 XWBs. The firm orders have a list price value of US 20.2 billion dollars.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said, “The A350 XWBs and A380s will play an important role in supporting Emirates’ and Dubai’s growth plans. As the leading international airline for the 21st century, it made sense for Emirates to choose the A350 XWB – an aircraft designed with 21st century technologies. It offers the latest efficiencies in operational economics and environmental performance, balanced with the latest passenger comfort. We are also adding more A380s to our order, to match our new growth plans which are aligned to Dubai’s aim to attract 15 million visitors a year by 2012.”

“Emirates Airline is placing great faith in our A350 XWB and A380 programmes as well as in our company and we are rightfully proud”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “Our products offer unmatched performance and passenger comfort as well as reduced fuel burn which not only makes good business sense but is also good for the environment”, he added.

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) is Airbus’ response to market demand for a medium-capacity long-range widebody family. Designed with airlines’ priorities in mind, the A350 XWB confronts the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations and increasing environmental concerns. Available from 2013, it has an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st century design with a wider and taller fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort.

Source: Airbus

National Air Services (NAS) firms up purchase of 20 A320 Family aircraft

Riyadh based National Air Services (NAS) has signed a firm contract to buy 20 Airbus A320 Family aircraft for the company’s budget airline arm, nasair, following an earlier agreement signed at the 47th International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. The agreement includes 18 purchase rights.

nasair is the first budget airline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and began services in February 2007. The carrier now flies to 21 domestic destinations.

Source: Airbus

C-Jet orders Airbus ACJ

C Jet Limited, the aviation company of a private individual based in Hong Kong, has placed a firm order for an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), becoming a new customer.

C Jet Ltd’s Airbus ACJ will feature a luxurious interior based on the Prestige cabin-concept, which features a lounge, dining area, private office, bedroom and ensuite bathroom with shower. It will be powered by CFM International CFM56-5B7/P engines. The choice of cabin-outfitter has yet to be made.

BAA Jet Management Ltd of Hong Kong, which has already placed orders for an Airbus ACJ and an A318 Elite, will manage and operate the aircraft on behalf of C Jet Limited. This will be BAA Jet Management’s second Airbus ACJ under management. BAA Jet Management Ltd will also manage an A318 Elite.

“With its larger and more comfortable cabin, as well as a more modern design, the Airbus ACJ Family is the natural choice for companies and individuals that want to trade up from traditional top-of-the-line business jets,” says BAA Jet Management Ltd Vice Chairman Jay Shaw. “This is an important market opportunity, on which Airbus and BAA Jet Management Ltd are well placed to capitalise,” he adds.

Airbus’ ACJ Family, which recently passed the milestone of 100 sales, is increasingly popular in China and has a strong presence in Asia-Pacific.

“The Airbus ACJ is just a great aircraft to do business in, as more and more forward-thinking customers such as C Jet Ltd and BAA Jet Management Ltd are recognising,” comments Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy. “And with the Airbus ACJ Family now flying on every continent, including Antarctica, they have to be one of the most popular corporate jets in the world,” he adds.

Sales of the ACJ Family, which comprises the A318 Elite, the Airbus ACJ and the A320 Prestige, have blossomed in the last few years, driven by an increasing awareness among top-of-the-line customers of their benefits – such as larger, more spacious, more comfortable cabins, an inherently modern design and greater value.

Source: Airbus