Today the Brazil Navy has released new photos of wreckage belonging to Air France flight 447 (AF447) – Airbus A330-200 F-GZCP / MSN: 660 – that mysteriously crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1. One picture is showing an IFE screen, others show the recovery of parts of the galley.
Photos: Brazil Navy
Related:
Photos – AF447 Wreckage
Photos – AF447 Tail Recovered from Atlantic Ocean
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 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 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
At Paris Airshow 2009 day 1 and day 2, Airbus announced several new aircraft orders from various customers.
Qatar 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.
Private 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 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 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 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
As you might know, Paris Airshow 2009 at Le Bourget opened its doors just yesterday June 15 – 21. You can follow live coverage of daily flight displays and major Airbus events as well as photos and videos on a dedicated Airbus website.
Link: http://www.airbus.com/events/bourget2009/
This Paris Air Show marks 100 years of the event, which coincides with Airbus’ 40th anniversary of its first aircraft programme.
Many of Airbus’ activities will be covered live as they occur, including:
Airbus also introduced its all new Airbus online shop called “Let’s shop Airbus“. The Airbus shop offers a large variety of Airbus merchandise like aircraft models, t-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts, caps, luggage, posters, pins, stickers, accessories, office supplies and more.
Great stuff!
The second Boeing 787 Dreamliner has moved to the flight line to begin fuel testing. This is the second of six 787s being used in the flight-test program.
Each of the six flight-test airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests during the flight-test program. This airplane, designated ZA002, will focus on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, this airplane has successfully completed a rigorous series of tests while still in the factory.
ZA002 features the livery of the Dreamliner’s launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan.
Photos: Boeing
Source: Boeing
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
During my stay in Hong Kong a few weeks ago, I was able to take at shot of F-GCBF. The Boeing 747-228B(SF), formerly operated by Ocean Airlines, is sitting there on the tarmac since August 2007. It is stored at Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok (HKG / VHHH) with uncertain future. Three of its engines were already removed.
Ocean Airlines was a cargo airline based in Italy. They stopped flying in October 2007 and suspended operations in April 2008.
Maybe some enthusiast might be interested in this photo. 🙂
One of my Flickr contacts catched the Sukhoi Superjet 100 arriving at Paris Le Bourget. The new Russian regional jet will be on display at Paris Air Show 2009, taking place next week June 15 – 21.
Photos by Jerome_K via Flickr
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.
“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
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
