Wednesday 30 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.538

Airbus A320 -214 4913   PR-AVQ Avianca Brasil delivery 30nov11 TLS-TFS-NAT-CGH  ex F-WWDA


Airbus A320 -214 4952   UK-32020 Uzbekistan Airways delivery 30nov11 XFW-TAS ex D-AXAT

Airbus Updates No.537

Airbus A320 -214 4915   4R-ABO Sri Lankan delivery 29-30nov11 TLS-KWI-CMB  ex F-WWDC
 Airbus A320 -232 4920   B-6833 Shenzhen Airlines for delivery 30nov11 TLS-XFW-OVB ex F-WWIB

Airbus A320 -211 279   VH-YQB Air Australia ferried 26nov11 SZB-PER after paint  ex PK-RMA



Airbus A320 -214 4941   PR-AVR Avianca Brasil delivery 30nov11 XFW-TFS-NAT-CGH  ex D-AXAP
 Airbus A320 -214 4943   CC-BAU LAN Airlines delivery 30nov-01dec11 XFW-LPA-REC-SCL  ex D-AXAQ


Airbus A330 -223 1266   VN-A381 Vietnam Airlines delivery 29nov11 TLS-HAN ex F-WWKR
 Airbus A330 -302 1268   B-16332 EVA Air delivery 29nov11 TLS-TPE ex F-WWKN

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.536


Tripoli Protesters Block Jet From Taking Off

About 100 Libyans surrounded a Tunisian passenger aircraft at one of the capital's airports on Saturday, delaying its takeoff in a protest at the government.

Witnesses said about a dozen cars drove out on to the tarmac at Tripoli's Mitiga airport and blocked a Tunisair Airbus A300 jet, with passengers on board, from moving.

The incident was the latest sign of lawlessness in Libya, where the interim authority in power since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted, the National Transitional Council (NTC), is struggling to control disparate local interests, many of them backed by armed militias.

The protesters were from the Souq al-Juma district of Tripoli, a stronghold of anti-Gaddafi sentiment during the uprising against his rule.

They said they wanted the Libyan government to open an investigation into a clash last week in which several members of the Souq al-Juma militia were killed.

The clash happened in Bani Walid, a town southeast of Tripoli which was a pro-Gaddafi bastion and one of the last places to submit to the new Libyan leadership.

"People are protesting over the slow action that the NTC is taking over this. They are putting pressure on the NTC to take action, and make their message known," said Abdulrazzaq El-Aradi, NTC member for Souq al-Juma.

A spokeswoman for Tunisair said none of the passengers were harmed.

She said some of the protesters had tried to board the aircraft but the captain had shut the door and barred them entry. She said armed men had said they wanted to check the identity of some injured Libyans on board the plane.

A Reuters reporter at Mitiga airport said there was no sign of violence. A few of the protesters had weapons and wore combat fatigues, but most of them were civilians.

"This is a peaceful protest. The plane is intact. The passengers are okay. We do not want to harm anybody," Hosni Berbesh, dressed in fatigues, said.

He said the aim of the protest was to "explain to the government that we have a request, that the government should respond to us".

A Tunisair spokeswoman said the plane later took off with 54 passengers on board. She said some Libyan passengers had chosen to get off the plane, without giving details.

Airbus Updates No.535

 Airbus A319 -112 646   D-AKNF Lufthansa Italia ferried 28nov11 MXP-SOF for interim storage ex D-AVYB

Airbus A319-112 aircraft picture

Airbus A320 -232 4920   B-6833 Shenzhen Airlines delivery 29nov11 TLS-XFW-OVB ex F-WWIB


Airbus A320 -214 4933   XA-YES InterJet delivery 29-30nov11 XFW-KEF-BGR-TLC ex D-AXAE
 Airbus A320 -214 4937   EC-LOP Vueling delivery 29nov11 XFW-BCN ex D-AXAG
 Airbus A321 -231 4932   N549UW US Airways delivery 29nov11 XFW-BGR-PIT ex D-AVZK

Monday 28 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.534

Airbus A310 -324F 684   M-YRGR HSH Nordbank ferried 26nov11 OPO-MIR, basic Deccan 360 cs ex VT-AIN


 Airbus A319 -115ACJ 3356   VP-CSN MAZ Aviation ferried 22nov11 RUH-LBG ex 9H-SNA
 Airbus A319 -133ACJ 4319   P4-RLA SCM Aruba / System Capital Mgmnt regd 23nov11, delivery 26nov11 TLS-DOK  ex F-WHUE


Airbus A320 -214 4639   RDPL-34199  Lao Airlines in full cs at DNR after paint prior delivery ex F-WWBN


Airbus A380 -861 75   HL7615 Korean Air delivery 28nov11 TLS-ICN ex F-WWSS

Sunday 27 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.533

One i missed last week

Hawaiian Airlines signs firm order for five more A330s

 
Growth of Airbus widebody fleet points to success with new type

17 November 2011 Press Release
 
Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines has grown its order for Airbus A330-200s – today signing for an additional five aircraft. Hawaiian became a new Airbus operator just last year and now has a commitment of 22 A330 aircraft – including four that are leased. The airline currently operates five A330-200s.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said, “Adding these additional A330-200s to our fleet over the next four years will support the continued expansion of our network and replacement of our current 767-300s.

Our guests have responded enthusiastically to the cabin comfort and amenities of the A330-200, which, together with the superior service of our front line employees, offer the best airline experience for travelers to Hawaii.”

"This has been our best week of the year in terms of sales, outside the Paris Airshow and it is very gratifying that Hawaiian tops it off with an order for five new A330 wide-bodies to fulfil their ambitious growth plans, "said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Just a year-and-a-half ago, I said I hoped that Hawaiian‘s passengers and employees would come to love this aircraft, and that hope has proven to be a reality.”

Hawaiian’s new A330s, like their existing A330 fleet, will seat 294 passengers in a comfortable, two-class configuration and have a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles. The A330-200 has excellent operational flexibility, serving a wide range of route structures, and provides operators with very low operating costs per seat. Its proven record of efficiency and superior passenger comfort provides airlines with a significant competitive advantage in today’s market. As of the end of October, there were 433 A330-200s in operation worldwide, with a backlog of firm orders of 131. 

Airbus Updates No.532

Airbus CEO Sees Order Volume Down In 2012

Airbus expects to receive fewer new orders in 2012 compared with this year, when customers snapped up the new A320neo aircraft, chief executive Thomas Enders said in a newspaper interview.

"There won't be the same kind of fireworks of new orders in 2012 as there were this year," Enders told German daily Boersen-Zeitung in an interview published on Thursday.

Despite fears of recession, the world's leading plane makers have had a harvest of plane orders this year after moving to upgrade their best-selling models -- the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 -- with new engines capable of saving 12-15 percent of fuel.

Airbus took the lead by promising to introduce the revamped A320neo from 2015 and has sold more than 1,000 of the aircraft, making what the EADS unit claims as the fastest-selling launch.

It has been considering raising its production rate for the A320 to 44 aircraft per month and is expected to make a decision on the matter soon.

Enders said Airbus was not yet ready to make a decision on a production increase, though, as it first wanted to be able to assess current economic developments.

"But the demand of airlines is there, and for the second half of the decade, when the "neo" comes in 2015, a further production increase is certainly imaginable," he added.

Enders also said that the weak economy was making it more difficult for some small and medium-sized suppliers to obtain financing, and that banks were shying away from aircraft financing.

"We have to find new sources of financing. The capital markets in China and Japan provide many opportunities, to name just two examples from Asia," he said.

"We must learn to live in a weak and volatile market environment, in which Asia is playing an ever greater role, not just as buyers of our products, but also in financing," he said.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.531

Airbus A380 -842 63   VH-OQK Qantas delivery 26-27nov11 TLS-SIN-SYD ex F-WWSK
Airbus A330 -343 1238   SU-GDU Egyptair delivery 26nov11 TLS-CAI ex F-WWKI

Friday 25 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.530

Airbus A310 -324F 697   M-YRGT HSH Nordbank ferried 25nov11 LIS-MIR, basic Deccan 360 cs ex VT-AIP


Airbus A320 -214 3492   EI-LIS Belle Air Europe  delivery 25nov11** DNR-TIA in full cs  ex EK32005
 Airbus A320 -233 3535   CC-CQO LAN Airlines ferried 24nov11 SCL-BOG on transfer to Aires ex F-WWDZ


Airbus A330 -323 1265   F-HPTP Air Caraïbes delivery 25nov11 TLS-ORY ex F-WWKZ
 Airbus A330 -243 1271   ZS-SXU South African delivery 25nov11 TLS-JNB ex F-WWYX

Airbus Updates No.529

Airbus A320 -214 4933   XA-YES InterJet delivery 25-26nov11 XFW-KEF-BGR-TLC ex D-AXAE


Airbus A380 -861 83   A6-EDR Emirates delivery 25nov11 XFW-DXB ex F-WWSZ

Thursday 24 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.528

Airbus A319 -112 1172   D-AKNJ Lufthansa Italia ferried 23nov11 MXP-BUD for interim storage ex D-AVWF


Airbus A320 -214 4908   F-HBNJ Air France delivery 23nov11 TLS-ORY ex F-WWDK
 Airbus A320 -214 4909   B-6851 Spring Airlines delivery 24nov11 TLS-SVX ex F-WWBG


Airbus A330 -343 1230   SU-GDT Egyptair delivery 24nov11 TLS-CAI ex F-WWYR
 Airbus A330 -343 1231   N771RD Ryan International delivery 24nov11 LGW-RFD, all white, leased from Virgin Atlantic  ex G-VINE

Airbus Updates No.527

AerCap To Take Back Two Kingfisher Jets

India's Kingfisher Airlines said on Thursday lessor AerCap would take back two of its aircraft in coming months as the companies failed to agree extension terms.

"AerCap had two aircraft coming up for renewal in the next three months where we could not agree on mutually acceptable extension terms," a spokesman for Kingfisher said.

"The aircraft will soon be in a MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) for preparation and redelivery," he added.

Kingfisher, which has cancelled scores of flights in November and now has around 300 flights daily including international, would add a new aircraft to the fleet in December to replace one of those returned.

A majority of its fleet of 66 aircraft is leased.

The spokesman also said lessors have the contractual right to access documents for all their aircraft on an as-needed basis.

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported at least two lessors have agents at Kingfisher's offices copying documents relating to their planes.

Cash-strapped Kingfisher, controlled by flamboyant drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya, is struggling to raise funds.
The company has pushed back deliveries of Airbus's A380 superjumbo airliner and is also set to cancel orders for two A340 aircraft.

Earlier this week, Kingfisher had said its aircraft manufacturers have provided financial support to it and had agreed to a cut in prices.

It has asked banks to offer guarantees to lessors to help it release about INR10 billion rupees locked up with the lessors.

Kingfisher stock has lost more than 63 percent of its value so far in 2011, compared with a 23 percent fall in India's benchmark index.

Kingfisher, which has never made a profit, is in talks with an Indian investor for equity funding. Chairman Mallya last week met a consortium of lenders, led by State Bank of India, in an effort to shore up its finances and get additional working capital.

But banks have been wary of lending to airlines, which are on course to post record losses this fiscal year, hit by high fuel prices and a continuing price war.

Auditors of Jet Airways, India's leading carrier said this month that the airline has to raise funds or generate cash flows to meet obligations.

Kingfisher's auditors had made similar observations and also said its method of accounting of costs incurred on major repairs and maintenance of aircraft is not in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards in India.

But Kingfisher has said the practice is consistent with other major international airlines.
(Reuters)

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.526

Aeroflot Considering Airbus Purchase - Report

Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot will consider on Wednesday an offer for the purchase of 30 Airbus A320 aircraft worth USD$2.25 billion, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported citing Aeroflot and Airbus sources.

It said the possible order for the planes would likely be placed via Rostekhnologii, or Russian Technologies, a corporation that groups most of the state-owned defence enterprises.

Aeroflot was not reachable for comment on the report.

Aeroflot, which historically has bought the bulk of its fleet from Airbus, has favoured rival Boeing more recently as its preferred supplier.

The company, which was set up in 1923 as the Soviet national airline, embarked on a campaign to renew its fleet last year after the state merged fragmented aviation assets into its flagship carrier.

Airbus Updates No.525

Airbus A320 -11 109   G-BUSJ British Airways ferried 23nov11 LGW-CHR for onward storage ex F-WWIC

Airbus A320-211 aircraft picture

 Airbus A320 -231 376   SX-BTP Skywings Airlines ferried 23nov11 ATH-DEL, to ops charters DPS-HKG vv  ex N376BV

Airbus A320-231 aircraft picture

 Airbus A320 -211 726   CS-TQS White ferried 23nov11 LIS-LPAR, Stellar titles & logo, ntu ex YL-BCB


Airbus A321 -231 4881   D-AIDL Lufthansa delivery 23nov11 XFW-FRA ex D-AVZC
 Airbus A321 -212 4901   F-GTAZ Air France delivery 23nov11 XFW-CDG ex D-AVZG

Airbus Updates No.524

Airbus, Boeing Battle For United Order

Airbus and Boeing are bidding to sell around 150 jets to United Continental as the airline joins an industry-wide scramble for fuel savings, people familiar with the matter said.

The merged giant has become the latest battleground as Boeing tries to close a recent sales gap with its European rival and extend the advantage of a huge Indonesian plane order unveiled by US President Barack Obama last week.

The roughly USD$15 billion deal could include 130 revamped narrow-body jets, designed to cut airline fuel costs, and up to 50 of the plane makers' existing models.

Talks could be completed by late December but may slip into 2012, the people said, asking not to be named.
"It is not guaranteed but there is a good likelihood, I'd say more than a 50 percent chance, of a deal before the end of the year," said a source involved in the negotiations.

Another person familiar with the discussions cautioned the deal may take longer than the few weeks remaining until the end of the year to finalise, while others noted that volumes can also change as major aircraft purchases fall into place.

"Negotiations are well underway," a further source said.

Boeing declined comment. An Airbus spokesman said, "We are always in discussions with current and potential customers and these discussions remain confidential".

United Continental was formed last year from a merger of United parent UAL and Continental Airlines, creating a hybrid fleet containing both Airbus and Boeing jets.

A spokesman for the Chicago-based group said it had ongoing talks with plane makers about its fleet needs, but declined to comment on a potential narrow-body order.

DWINDLING SUPPLIES

Despite fears of recession, the world's leading plane makers have had a harvest of plane orders this year after moving to upgrade their best-selling models -- the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 -- with new engines capable of saving 12-15 percent fuel.

Airbus moved first by promising to introduce the revamped A320neo from 2015 and has sold more than 1,000 of the aircraft, making what it claims as the fastest-selling launch.

Boeing responded with the 737 MAX, due to enter service in 2017, and has accumulated more than 700 provisional orders even before finalising the aircraft's design.

Demand from cash-pinched airlines for fuel savings was highlighted last week with the record sale of Boeing jets to Indonesia's Lion Air, months after Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia handed a similar order to Airbus.

Whereas major US carriers used to dominate the world's aircraft industry, the rise of Asian and Middle East airlines and shift of economic power to emerging markets has generated a sudden scramble to get hold of fast-disappearing stocks.

With jet makers running out of production slots, and some banks avoiding the aircraft market due to Europe's debt crisis, Airbus and Boeing are expected to scour the world's leasing firms to find enough aircraft to pull together a United deal.

Even then, supplies are becoming so scarce that the two rivals may have to make do with only part of any deal depending on the timescale United wants for deliveries, analysts said.

"This could be an interesting order. Although United flies Airbus narrow-bodies, Continental flies Boeing and the Continental management team has been happy to source its aircraft from Boeing over the years," said Rob Stallard, aerospace analyst at RBC Capital Markets in New York.

"United Continental is now a very large airline, and given the scale of its fleet replacement requirement and its experience with flying a mixed fleet, we would not be surprised if this order is split," he added.

The outcome could affect the balance of power between the plane makers since it is seen as a relatively open race.

Apart from a 460-plane order at American Airlines that saw wins for both plane makers, most deals for the new planes so far have involved upgrading existing customers.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.523

Airbus rolls out test A320 with sharklets installed

   
Airbus has rolled out its A320 test aircraft following the fitting of 'sharklet' wing-tips, which will be an option on new-build aircraft and standard on the re-engined A320neo.

The test aircraft, MSN1, will undergo flight-testing "in the coming weeks", said the airframer.
Sharklets, which replace the A320's wing fences, will reduce fuel-burn on the type by up to 3.5% on longer sectors of around 3,000nm (5,560km), Airbus claims.

The airframer also expects the sharklets - each of which is 2.5m (8.2ft) tall - to improve take-off performance by up to 3t.

This would provide the A320 with a higher available take-off weight from runways subject to obstacle limitations.
 a320 msn1
 © Airbus
MSN1 will be used to assess the performance of the modification, while Airbus will begin building wings next year which are capable of supporting the new tip.

Installation of the sharklet requires inboard and outboard reinforcement to handle different loading, as well as changes to outer wing ribs to accommodate the structure.

Several carriers have already signed to take the sharklets, including Air New Zealand, Air Arabia, Finnair and LAN.

Airbus Updates No.522

Latin America needs more than 2,000 new passenger aircraft in next 20 years

 
Airlines in the region enjoying second highest traffic growth in the world

18 November 2011 Press Release
 
According to the recently released Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF), Latin America will require 2,028 new passenger aircraft of more than 100 seats between today and 2030, including 1,653 single-aisle, 334 twin-aisle and 41 very large aircraft and estimated at $197 billion.

At a time when the global economy is trying to stabilize, Latin America’s GDP is growing faster than the world at an average annual rate of 5 percent, while the region’s middle class is expected to surge 75 percent in the next 20 years.

Latin American airline traffic will follow suit, growing more than 6 percent per year in the next 20 years, the second highest growth rate in the world after the Middle East and before Asia Pacific. Overall, the region’s traffic is expected to triple in the next 20 years. Intraregional and domestic traffic in Latin America is predicted to rise 6.6 percent in the next 10 years, a faster rate than the 5.4 percent world average. Europe and North America will remain the most important long-haul markets for the region and are expected to reach a share of 31 percent and 25 percent respectively by 2030, while interregional and domestic traffic will dominate market share at 35 percent.

“Latin America’s aviation sector has boomed in the last five years and as a result it has never been stronger. Economic growth is enabling the rise of a new travelling middle class,” said Rafael Alonso, Executive Vice President of Airbus for Latin American and the Caribbean.  “The region is also setting global standards by flying some of the youngest aircraft in the world average and advocating for the environment via aviation bio-fuel efforts that are both commercially viable and environmentally sustainable.”

To date, market forecasts have been released for Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Highlights include:
• Brazil, the largest and fastest growing market for Airbus in Latin America, will require 701 new passenger aircraft of more than 100 seats between today and 2030. The 501 single-aisle, 174 twin-aisle aircraft and 26 very large aircraft have an estimated value of $82 billion. In the past decade, the country’s international and domestic air travel more than doubled, and in the next 20 years GDP will skyrocket 144 percent, 20 percent higher than regional average.

• Mexico will need 412 new passenger aircraft of more than 100 seats between today and 2030. The 371 single-aisle and 41 twin-aisle aircraft forecasted have an estimated market value of $30.5 billion. Considered one of the biggest metropolitan areas of the world based on population growth, international traffic to and from Mexico City grew by almost 90 percent in the last decade.

• Colombia has a demand for 135 new passenger aircraft of more than 100 seats between today and 2030. The 102 single-aisle and 33 twin-aisle aircraft have an estimated value of $13.7 billion. The country’s domestic air traffic grew nearly 80 percent in the past 10 years and international traffic to and from Colombia more than doubled between 2003 and 2011. Colombia’s fleet with more than 100 seats is also among the youngest in the world with an average age of four years, six years younger than the Latin American and world average.
With more than 600 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 300, over 400 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.

Airbus Updates No.521

Airbus predicts Nordic carriers require over 420 aircraft worth US$38.6bn

 
Growth and replacement needs for more eco-efficient aircraft

22 November 2011 Press Release
 
According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF), Nordic airlines are predicted to require 424 new passenger aircraft between 2011 and 2030 with a value of US$ 38.6 billion. 

These new aircraft deliveries will be dominated by single-aisles (365), such as Airbus’ modern A320 Family. Airbus also forecasts a trend toward larger aircraft sizes as airlines seek to grow capacity efficiently, reduce seat mile costs and simultaneously their impact on the environment.  There are 59 twin-aisle new aircraft deliveries forecast over the next 20 years in the Nordics, which will include types such as the A330 and A350 XWB.

Around half of the new aircraft requirement for the region will be for the replacement of older less eco-efficient aircraft, and half will be for new aircraft as air travel continues to grow to and from the Nordics.

The Airbus forecast for the Nordic region is based on an analysis of seven countries, where over 50 airlines operate some 302 passenger aircraft today.

Air traffic to, from and within the Nordics has increased by 67% since 2001 with an increase of 87% in international traffic. As well as connecting the region to the rest of Europe and the world, tourism is becoming increasingly important, with its share of GDP in Nordics, expected to reach 6.5% in 2020 compared to 5.6% today.

Driven by tourism, advanced economies with a high standard of living and further developments in the low cost market, Airbus forecasts that the Nordics will average an annual passenger traffic growth rate of 4.0%. This figure is above other developed aviation markets such as North America (2.5%, domestic) and in line with Western Europe (3.5%, inter regionally).

“The aircraft fleet serving the Nordic market will grow from ~300 aircraft today, to more than 500 over the next 20 years, an increase of aircraft in service of 70%”, says Christopher Emerson, Senior Vice President Product Strategy & Market Forecast, Airbus. “This translates into a large demand for more aircraft, which Airbus is well positioned to supply with its range of modern eco-efficient planes”.

With this long term growth, Airbus recognises the need to continually innovate to meet the demands of airlines, passengers and the environment. As part of this vision for a more connected and sustainable world, Airbus has established The ‘Future by Airbus’ – a unique project designed to lead the debate around the global issues impacting aviation in the future and search for solutions today.

Key areas which are addressed in the Future by Airbus vision and have been showcased in the Nordic region this week include: future energy sources; air traffic management and new aircraft models. Today, Airbus is working with partners in the industry to help find green solutions for tomorrow.  Such projects include: VINGA – an assignment to reduce CO2 emissions through streamlined flight processes with NovAir in Sweden and various commercial biofuel flights with numerous airlines including Finnair.

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern and efficient passenger aircraft families from 100 to over 500 seats. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

Airbus Updates No.520

Airbus A318 -112CJ 4211   VP-CCH private ferried 21/22nov11 JED-LEJ-ZRH-BOD after storage  ex F-WHUD


Airbus A320 -212 419   N419AG ACG Acquisitions  ferried 21nov11 QLA-YYR-YMX ex A9C-EE


Airbus A320 -214 4833   B-6768 Juneyao Airlines delivery 22nov11 TLS-SVX ex F-WWIV


Airbus A320 -232 4899   VH-VGA Jetstar Airways delivery 22nov11 TLS-DXB-SIN ex F-WWBS


Airbus A320 -214 4928   B-6815 China Southern delivery 22nov11 XFW-OVB ex D-AXAC
Airbus A310 -304 485   C-GVAT Air Transat ferried 17nov11 GIG-YMX, all wh for part-out & scrap  ex D-AIDC

Airbus Updates No.519

American Airlines Selects Airbus A319, A321s

News Image
American Airlines Airbus A320neo artists impression.
American Airlines on Monday said it had chosen the Airbus A319 and A321 -- variants of the A320 aircraft -- as part of its narrow-body order announced in July.
The third-largest US airline said the A319 aircraft will be powered by the CFM56-5B engine from CFM International. The A321 aircraft will feature V2500-A5 engines from International Aero Engines.
American Airlines said in July it would take delivery of 130 current-generation aircraft from the Airbus A320 family starting in 2013. The carrier plans to take delivery of 130 aircraft from the A320neo family, which features a new fuel-efficient engine, starting in 2017.
The planes are part of a giant order for 460 single-aisle jets worth up to USD$40 billion split between Airbus and Boeing. The deal calls for American to buy 260 Airbus A320s and 200 Boeing 737s.

Monday 21 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.518

Airbus A318 -112CJ 4878   B- Sonair ferried 21nov11 XFW-YQX-TUL, F-reg for cabin config  ex F-WHUM


Airbus A330 -343 1231   N771RD Ryan International for delivery 22nov11 LGW-RFD, leased from Virgin Atlantic  ex G-VINE


Airbus A330 -343 1264   VQ-BNS Aeroflot delivery 17nov11 TLS-SVO ex F-WWYT


Airbus A340 -313 373   LV-CSX Aerolineas Argentinas ferried 19nov11 LIS-OPO, F-reg prior delivery ex F-GNIH

Airbus Updates No.517

Incident: Saudia A333 near Cairo on Nov 10th 2011, unruly passengers

By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Nov 14th 2011 17:47Z, last updated Monday, Nov 14th 2011 17:47Z
A Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A330-300, flight SV-312 from Cairo (Egypt) to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), was climbing out of Cairo when a passenger attempted to take a cigarette away from another passenger causing an altercation between the two passengers. The flight crew decided to return to Cairo for a safe landing, both passengers were unloaded and taken into custody by Egyptian police.

The aircraft reached Riyadh with a delay of 40 minutes as a result

Incident: SAA A319 at Dar Es Salaam on Nov 14th 2011, bird strike
By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Nov 15th 2011 14:53Z, last updated Tuesday, Nov 15th 2011 14:53Z
A South African Airways Airbus A319-100, registration ZS-SFD performing flight SA-189 from Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) to Johannesburg (South Africa), struck a large bird, presumably a Hadada Ibis, while climbing out of Dar Es Salaam prompting the crew to burn off fuel and return to Dar Es Salaam for a safe landing.

A replacement Airbus A319-100 registration ZS-SFM, having arrived as Nov 14th's flight SA-188 and estimated to conduct Nov 15th's return flight SA-189, reached Johannesburg with a delay of 14 hours.

The incident aircraft reached Johannesburg the following day performing Nov 15th's regular flight SA-189.

The damage to the incident aircraft has not been reported, passengers however reported a changing engine sound suggesting an engine may have been shut down. Passengers indicated the flight crew did not make an announcement.

Incident: Lufthansa A346 near Gander on Nov 15th 2011, electrical trouble

By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Nov 15th 2011 17:49Z, last updated Tuesday, Nov 15th 2011 17:49Z
A Lufthansa Airbus A340-600, registration D-AIHX performing flight LH-459 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Munich (Germany), was enroute at FL350 about 120nm west of Gander,NL (Canada) when the crew decided to divert to Boston,MA (USA) due to electrical problems. The aircraft descended to FL280 enroute to Boston. On approach to Boston the crew indicated they had normal operations and required no assistance. The aircraft landed safely on Boston's runway 22L about 2 hours after turning around.

Incident: Austrian A319 at Frankfurt on Nov 12th 2011, engine shut down in flight

By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Nov 15th 2011 21:41Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 15:37Z
An Austrian Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration OE-LDB performing flight OS-127 from Vienna (Austria) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 44 passengers and 5 crew, was on approach to Frankfurt descending through 6000 feet when the crew declared PAN reporting the right hand engine (CFM56) had failed and needed to be shut down. The aircraft levelled off at 4000 feet to enable the crew work some checklists before the aircraft landed safely on runway 07R about 20 minutes later.

The return flight OS-128 the next morning was cancelled.

The airline reported the engine control malfunctioned prompting the crew to shut the engine down. The crew declared PAN advising air traffic control that assistance was possibly needed and the approach was continued normally to a safe landing.

Incident: Aer Lingus A320 near Santiago de Compostela on Nov 15th 2011, technical problem

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 18:29Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 18:29Z
An Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200, registration EI-DES performing flight EI-772 from Dublin (Ireland) to Fuerteventura,CI (Spain) with 147 passengers, was enroute at FL370 about 35nm north of Santiago de Compostela,SP (Spain) when the crew decided to divert to Santiago de Compostela's Lavacolla Airport due to some technical problem. The aircraft landed safely in Santiago de Compostela about 30 minutes later.

A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration EI-DEO reached Santiago de Compostela about 5 hours later, however could not depart due to the night curfew. The passengers were taken to hotels, EI-DEO continued the flight as flight EI-1772 the following day and reached Fuerteventura with a delay of 17 hours.

The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Lavacolla Airport due to a technical issue. The passengers of this flight as well as the 152 passengers in Fuerteventura waiting for the return flight EI-773 were taken to hotels.

Incident: TAP A343 at Luanda on Nov 16th 2011, hydraulic failure

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 18:48Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 18:48Z
A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A340-300, registration CS-TOD performing flight TP-288 from Luanda (Angola) to Lisbon (Portugal), was in the initial climb out of Luanda's runway 23 when the crew reported a hydraulic failure and returned to Luanda for a safe landing on runway 23 about 30 minutes after departure

Incident: Aeroflot A320 at London on Nov 15th 2011, engine shut down in flight
By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 19:42Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 16th 2011 23:20Z
An Aeroflot Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BHL performing flight SU-242 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) with 108 people on board, was climbing out of Heathrow's runway 09R when the crew shut the right hand engine (CFM56) down, levelled off at 5000 feet and returned to Heathrow for a safe landing on runway 09L about 20 minutes after departure.

The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto later flights and flights the following day.

Incident: Delta A333 near Igloolik on Nov 16th 2011, navigation system failure

By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Nov 18th 2011 22:08Z, last updated Friday, Nov 18th 2011 22:08Z
A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N821NW performing flight DL-232 from Seattle,WA (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 236 people on board, was enroute at FL370 near Igloolik,NU (Canada) when the crew observed the #1 INS failed. About 40 minutes after the #1 INS failed the crew declared emergency after all navigation equipment had failed and requested and received radar vectors to Goose Bay. About another 20 minutes later the crew was able to restore navigation and requested a priority diversion to Detroit,MI (USA) where the aircraft landed safely about 4.5 hours after the #1 INS failed.

The Canadian TSB reported the aircraft had been dispatched with the #2 INS inoperative according to minimum equipment list requirements
Incident: Cathay A343 at Hong Kong on Nov 17th 2011, engine shut down in flight
By Simon Hradecky, created Sunday, Nov 20th 2011 18:02Z, last updated Sunday, Nov 20th 2011 18:02Z
A Cathay Pacific Airbus A340-300, flight CX-903 from Hong Kong (China) to Manila (Philippines) with 234 passengers and 13 crew, was climbing out of Hong Kong when the crew shut an engine down due to a suspected failure. The aircraft returned to Hong Kong for a safe landing about 2 hours after departure.

A replacement Airbus A330-300 registration B-LAI reached Manila with a delay of 4 hours












Saturday 19 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.516

Airbus A300 -605RF 643   A6- Rus Aviation ferried 17nov11 SNN-DRS after paint, N-reg prior delivery “Darina”  ex N7082A
 Airbus A310 -304 499   EP-VIP Mahan Air delivery 18nov11 KBP-THR ex 10+22


 Airbus A319 -133ACJ 4842   VQ-BVQ Rizon Jet ferried 18nov11 SEN-MAN after paint prior cabin config  ex D-AVWI
 Airbus A319 -111 4910   EI-IMS Alitalia delivery 17nov11 XFW-FCO ex D-AVYC
 Airbus A320 -212 222   TS-INE Nouvelair ferried 18-19nov11 MIR-KEF-BGR-MZJ on return to lessor  ex OY-CNC


Airbus A320 -214 4347   B-6850 Chengdu Airlines regd 17nov11 ex OE-IBB
 Airbus A320 -232CJ 4388   F-WHUH Airbus Industrie ferried 17nov11 LDE-BGR-SKF after storage for VIP cabin config, for Deer Air  ex F-WWDG


Airbus A320 -214 4896   CC-BAS LAN Airlines delivery 18-19nov11 TLS-LPA-REC-SCL  ex F-WWBO
 Airbus A320 -232 4902   N608NK Spirit delivery 18nov11 TLS-YYR-FLL ex F-WWBT
 Airbus A320 -232 4904   N794JB jetBlue delivery 18nov11 TLS-YYR-MCO ex F-WWBX


 Airbus A330 -243 795  C-GTSJ Air Transat for delivery 19nov11 MAN-YYZ after paint  ex G-TCXA


 Airbus A330 -243 1262   B-6537 China Eastern delivery 18nov11 TLS-PVG ex F-WWKT

Airbus Updates No.515

Volaris signs MOU for 44 A320 Family aircraft, including 30A320neo

 
All-Airbus low-cost carrier is first to order eco efficient A320neo in Mexico

16 November 2011 Press Release
 
Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 44 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft, comprising of 30 A320neo and 14 A320 Family aircraft. The order makes Volaris the first airline to order the A320neo in Mexico. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.

Since starting operations in 2006, Volaris has become one of the top three airlines in Mexico having quickly expanded their network throughout the country and into the United States. The new 44 A320 Family aircraft are expected to help Volaris continue their expansion and renew their fleet. The airline currently operates 33 Airbus aircraft and has a backlog of 15 more.

“Fuel efficiency and reliability are critical to keeping Volaris among the top low-cost carriers in Mexico,” said Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris. “These new A320s will allow us to maintain the youngest fleet in the country, while further improving our environmental performance.”
                                                                                            
“We are very proud to see Volaris, an all Airbus operator, grow into one of the leading airlines of Mexico,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Volaris will now be among the first customers in Latin America to benefit from the A320neo’s increased capabilities, including a 15 percent reduction in fuel burn and emissions.”
Over 8,100 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and nearly 5,000 delivered to some 340 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

The A320neo is a new engine option for the A320 Family entering into service from 2015 and incorporates latest generation engines and large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 percent in fuel savings. The reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel - the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars, saving 3,600 tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year. The A320neo NOx emissions are 50% below CAEP/6, whilst also having a much smaller noise footprint

Airbus Updates No.514

Spirit Airlines signs commitment for 75 Airbus A320 Family jets

 
Deal includes 45 A320neo eco-efficient aircraft
15 November 2011 Press Release
Spirit Airlines and Airbus signed today at the Dubai Airshow a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 75 single-aisle aircraft, comprising 45 A320neo aircraft (new engine option) and 30 A320s. The engine selection will be announced later.
The new aircraft will be used on Spirit’s targeted growth markets in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. The A320neo will help build on the great economic success the airline has already enjoyed with their existing all-Airbus fleet of 35 A320 Family aircraft
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Airbus and grow our fleet into the next decade,” said Ben Baldanza, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines. “Spirit Airlines’ low fares require an efficient, reliable aircraft and the A320 Family, including the neo, fits that model well.”
“The A320 and A320neo continue to set the pace,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The unrivalled economics of these aircraft convinced Spirit to go all-Airbus and that decision has clearly paid off since for the airline.”
The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload. The A320neo reduces fuel burn by 15%, which is equivalent to 1.4m litres of fuel – the consumption of 1000 mid size cars.  This saves 3600 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year, the amount of CO2 absorbed by 240,000 mature trees. The A320neo aircraft also has a considerably smaller noise footprint.
Including today’s announcement, firm orders and commitments for the A320neo, launched less than a year ago in December 2010, already exceed 1,300 from 23 customers and makes the aircraft the fastest selling airliner ever.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.513

Airbus A320 -214 1306   OO-TCO Thomas Cook Belgium ferried 17nov11 BRU-KEF, all white on return to lessor  ex G-OOAP


Airbus A320 -214 4907   RP-C8394 AirPhil Express delivery 17nov11 XFW-SHJ ex D-AVVL


Airbus A321 -231 4916   D-AIDM Lufthansa delivery 17nov11 XFW-MUC ex D-AVZH


Airbus A330 -343 1263   HS-TBA Thai International delivery 17nov11 TLS-FRA ex F-WWYC

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.512

Airbus Tops Orders Targets After Dubai Show

Airbus said on Wednesday it has reached 1,420 orders as well as commitments for its A320neo passenger jets after a busy Dubai Air Show.
The European plane maker said it had won 211 orders and commitments worth USD$20.5 billion at the show, according to a statement.
The figures, which include 135 firm orders, have pushed Airbus over its target of 1,500 gross orders in 2011, according to published company data.

Airbus Updates No.511

Airbus A320 -214 4891   PR-AVP Avianca Brasil delivery 15nov11 TLS-TFS-NAT-CGH  ex F-WWIS
 Airbus A320 -214 4894   N846VA Virgin America delivery 16nov11 TLS-KEF-BGR-MIA  ex F-WWIU


Airbus A320 -214 4917   D-ABFX Air Berlin delivery 15nov11 XFW-VIE-AUH-XSP, all white, sold to Air Asia ex D-AVVP
 Airbus A320 -214 4921   CC-BAT LAN Airlines delivery 16-17nov11 XFW-LPA-REC-SCL  ex D-AXAA
 Airbus A320 -214 4924   XA-MTO InterJet delivery 15nov11 XFW-KEF-BGR-TLC  ex D-AXAB
 Airbus A321 -211 1905   VQ-BOB Ural Airlines delivery 15nov11 DUB-SVX  ex EI-ERT


Airbus A321 -231 4923   B-6845 Sichuan Airlines delivery 16nov11 XW-OVB ex D-AVZI
 Airbus A321 -211 4925   HZ-ASN Saudi Arabian delivery 15nov11 XFW-JED ex D-AVZJ
 Airbus A330 -243 627   4R-ALH Sri Lankan at ZRH 15nov11 in full cs prior delivery ex EI-EOK


Airbus A340 -212 19   ZS-SLD South African ferried 15nov11 JNB-LDE on return to lessor ex D-AIBE

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Airbus Updates No.510

In Dramatic Reversal Qatar Air Signs Airbus Deal

Qatar Airways returned to the table to sign a USD$6.5 billion deal with Airbus hours after cancelling an announcement at the last minute and bluntly telling the European plane maker to go back to basics.
Chief executive Akbar Al Baker made a second appearance to announce the firm order for five A380 superjumbos and 50 A320neo jets, plus options, hours after announcing an "impasse" in negotiations.
"Price was not at all an issue," Al Baker said of the impasse. "The issue was with the A320 aircraft. Since then, they have gone back to the drawing board and quickly fixed their issues."
The earlier upset threw chaos into Airbus's efforts to recover after being left standing at the Middle East's largest air show when Boeing walked off with a record USD$18 billion order from Emirates on Sunday.
Al Baker, who is known for springing surprises and has often been outspoken about both Airbus and Boeing, compounded the European jet maker's embarrassment by announcing the break-off at a news conference to buy two Boeing 777 freighters.
He said Airbus was "still learning how to make airplanes" in what observers at the air show read as a signal of further disappointment over delays and hesitation over the design of the future A350, a family of planes designed to compete with Boeing's 777 and 787.
It was reported earlier that Qatar Airways was expected to place an order worth USD$6.5 billion including a decision to double its A380 order book to 10 aircraft and buy 50 A320neos.
LATEST TWIST
The upset -- and final deal -- were the latest in a series of twists that have made Qatar's influential order decisions one of the most keenly awaited parts of recent air shows.
Airbus had been counting on an order surge on day three of the Middle East's largest air show to hit back at Boeing, which so far dominates with an USD$18 billion order from host airline Emirates for 50 of its 777 aircraft.
Airbus announced the sale of A320neos to lessor Aviation Capital Group for USD$2.7 billion on Tuesday.

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Airbus Updates No.4245

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