Airbus Updates No.2236

Airbus A321	-251NXLR	8887		EI-LRA	Aer Lingus	delivery 26jul19 XFW-DUB	ex D-AYAV
Airbus A321	-271N	8937		VN-A626	VietJetAir	delivery 25-26jul19 XFW-AZI-SGN	ex D-AVYJ
Airbus A321	-211	9028		N392DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 25jul19 BFM-MCI	ex F-WZMY
Airbus A330	-223	195		CS-TOI	TAP Air Portugal	ferried 30jul19 LIS-ENS, for part-out & scrap	ex OE-LAN
Airbus A330	-243MRTT	1883		19-003	Republic of Korea Air Force	delivery 19-20jul19 TOJ-YYC-PUS	ex EC-339
Airbus A330	-941	1926		PK-LEI	Lion Airlines	posn 23jul19 CGK-JED on Hajj-lease to Flynas	ex F-WWYA
Airbus A350	-941	251		B-308H	Hainan Airlines	delivery 29jul19 TLS-LDE, for interim storage	ex F-WWAW
Airbus A350	-1041	326		G-XWBA	British Airways	delivery 27jul19 TLS-CHR-LHR	ex F-WZFH
Airbus A350	-941	327		F-HTRE	Air Caraïbes Atlantique	delivery 25jul19 TLS-ORY	ex F-WZNO
Airbus A350	-941	329		9V-SMV	Singapore Airlines	delivery 27jul19 TLS-SIN	ex F-WZGX
Airbus Canada A220	-171	50039		N120DU	Delta Air Lines	delivery 25jul19 YMX-ATL	ex C-FOYA

Airbus Updates No.2235

Airbus A320	-232	934		HC-CID	TAME	ferried 31jul19 UIO-MZJ on return to lessor	ex N934BV
Airbus A320	-214	2116		VP-BWD	Aeroflot	ferried 25jul19 SVO-OSR prior return to lessor	ex F-WWDY
Airbus A320	-214	5320		RP-C3270	Cebu Pacific Air	ferried 26-28jul19 MNL-GUM-HNL-ONT-LCQ, for Air Canada rouge?	ex F-WWDH
Airbus A320	-214	6125		PR-OCA	GECAS	Avianca Brasil cs, ferried 27-30jul19 GIG-SJU-BGR-SNN-LDE	ex F-WWDY
Airbus A320	-214	6712		PR-OCR	(Avianca Brasil)	ferried 29jul19 GIG-CNF-QSC	ex F-WWDC
Airbus A320	-251N	7514		PR-YYI	Azul Linhas Aéreas	ferried 30jul19 LETL-SNN, VQ-reg for paint prior delivery	ex VQ-BXF
Airbus A320	-271N	8635		PR-XBD	Latam Brasil	delivery 26-27jul19 TLS-FOR-CNF	ex F-WWDY
Airbus A320	-251N	8940		9H-NEB	Air Malta	delivery 31jul19 XFW-MLA	ex D-AUAC
Airbus A320	-251N	8949		SE-ROR	SAS	delivery 25jul19 XFW-ARN	ex D-AUAJ
Airbus A320	-251N	8962		TC-NCH	Pegasus Airlines	delivery 31jul19 XFW-SAW	ex D-AUAM
Airbus A320	-271N	9029		B-309R	Air China	delivery 31jul19 TSN-HGH	ex B-000D
Airbus A320	-251N	9065		N356FR	Frontier Airlines	delivery 26jul19 BFM-TPA	ex F-WZMC
Airbus A320	-271N	9096		EC-NFI	Vueling	delivery 30jul19 TLS-BCN	ex F-WWIA
Airbus A320	-251N	9110		G-UZLH	easyJet	delivery 30jul19 TLS-LTN	ex F-WWDV
Airbus A320	-251N	9117		B-30A2	Hongtu Airlines	delivery 26-27jul19 TLS-TSE-TSN, Air Travel cs	ex F-WWIF
Airbus A320	-251N	9133		B-309X	China Southern	delivery 26-27jul19 TLS-TSE-CAN	ex F-WWDJ
Airbus A321	-211	5044		VQ-BOH	Aeroflot	ferried 31jul19 OSR-KUN prior paint and delivery to?	ex D-AZAP
Airbus A321	-211	7433		C-GJTH	Air Canada rouge	onward delivery / first in svc 26jul19 YMX-YYZ-YQB	ex TF-JOY
Airbus A321	-211	8104		C-GKFA	Air Canada rouge	delivery 26jul19 LCQ-YMX	ex TF-CAT
Airbus A321	-272N	8753		VN-A625	Vietnam Airlines	delivery 26-27jul19 XFW-OVB-HAN	ex D-AZAI

Airbus Updates No.2234

Air France to add up to 120 A220s; accelerate A380 phase-out

Illustration of Air France Airbus A220-300 © Airbus

31.07.2019 - 08:26 UTC

Air France-KLM has announced its board has reached several strategic decisions regarding its Air France (AF, Paris CDG) subsidiary's future fleet configuration.

In a stock market filing, the Franco-Dutch carrier said it had committed to Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) to a firm order for sixty A220-300s, with an additional 30 options and 30 purchase rights. The first aircraft should be delivered in September 2021.

The group plans to use the A220s to gradually replace Air France's fleet of A318-100s and A319-100s which currently number 18 and 33 respectively.

"With a capacity of 150 seats and an operating range of 2,300 nautical miles (4,260 kilometres), the A220-300 is perfectly suited to replace the A318 and A319 on the Air France short- and medium-haul network. This aircraft will allow the company to increase its competitiveness by reducing its cost per seat by more than 10% compared to the aircraft it will replace," it said.

Concerning Air France's widebody fleet, the group said it had now decided, in principle, to retire seven of its ten A380-800s by 2022. The group has already indicated that leases on the other three jets will not be renewed on their expiration in 2020.

Air France-KLM said the accelerated retirement was necessary given the cost disadvantage the A380 has over other widebody jets.

"The current competitive environment limits the markets in which the A380 can profitably operate. With four engines, the A380 consumes 20-25% more fuel per seat than new generation long-haul aircraft, and therefore emits more CO2. Increasing aircraft maintenance costs, as well as necessary cabin refurbishments to meet customer expectations reduce the economic attractiveness of Air France's A380s even further. Keeping this aircraft in the fleet would involve significant costs, while the aircraft programme was suspended by Airbus earlier in 2019," it said.

As previously reported, Air France will absorb all of the group's A350 order backlog which currently stands at twenty-one A350-900s destined for the French carrier while KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol) is due to add seven (although these will be switched to Air France as part of a fleet homogenisation deal in which Air France's B787 order backlog will be switched to its Dutch sister).

Airbus Updates No.2233

Air France-KLM signs commitment for 60 A220 aircraft 

The Air France–KLM Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 60 A220-300 aircraft to modernise its fleet. By acquiring the industry’s most efficient and technologically advanced single-aisle aircraft, the airline will benefit from a significant reduction in fuel burn and CO₂ emissions. These A220s are intended to be operated by Air France. 

“The acquisition of these brand new A220-300s aligns perfectly with Air France–KLM’s overall fleet modernisation and harmonisation strategy,” said Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group. “This aircraft demonstrates optimum operational and economic efficiency and enables us to further improve our environment footprint thanks to the A220’s low fuel consumption and reduced emissions. It is also perfectly adapted to our domestic and European network and will enable Air France to operate more efficiently on its short and medium-haul routes.”

“It is an honour for Airbus that Air France, a long-standing valued customer, has endorsed our latest family member, the A220, for its fleet renewal plans,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to supporting Air France with our A220 by bringing the latest technologies, efficiency levels, and environment benefits. We are delighted to embark on this partnership and we are looking forward to seeing the A220 flying in the Air France colours.”

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and wide-body passenger comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. The A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft.

Air France currently operates a fleet of 144 Airbus aircraft.

With an order book of 551 aircraft as of end of June 2019, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100-to-150-seat aircraft market, estimated to represent 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.

Airbus Updates No.2232

Indonesia's Lion Air takes delivery of first A330-900

Lion Air Airbus A330-900 © Airbus

23.07.2019 - 21:33 UTC

Lion Air (JT, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) took delivery of the first of ten A330-900s on July 19, 2019, becoming the first operator of the type in the Asia-Pacific region.

PK-LEI (msn 1926) was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac directly to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta on July 19-20, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

The Indonesian LCC plans to initially use the new type to run charter Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia. As such, its first commercial service was from Jakarta to Jeddah on July 22.

On dry-lease from BOC Aviation, the Airbus widebody twinjet is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-72 engines and features 436 all-economy class seats.

According to an airline statement, Lion Air has commitments for ten A330-900s and options for four more. Two are expected this year while the remaining eight are due in 2020.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows the Lion Air Group subsidiary's fleet currently includes three A330-300s alongside thirty-eight B737-800s and sixty-four B737-900(ER)s. It also has ten grounded B737-8s and four B737-9s. Sister carrier Thai Lion Air (SL, Bangkok Don Mueang) also operates three A330-300s, eleven B737-800s, and nineteen B737-900(ER)s.

Airbus Updates No.2231

PIA Pakistan opens A320 MRO facility at Islamabad

PIA - Pakistan International Airbus A320-200 © PIA - Pakistan International Airlines

26.07.2019 - 03:37 UTC

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Karachi Int'l) has established an MRO facility at Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l, where the overhauling of its A320 Family of jets will be carried out, the flag carrier revealed in a statement.

PIA's engineering team carried out its first complete A-check in a newly constructed hangar at the airline's Islamabad Engineering base, on one of its eleven A320-200s, AP-BLB (msn 2155).

The facility existed previously at the airline's Karachi Int'l hub and has been moved to Islamabad. The initiative was part of PIA's business plan, CEO Arshad Malik said, adding that basing the engineering team in Islamabad would benefit the carrier in terms of cost savings, and with the potential to generate additional revenues through providing MRO services to other airlines.

Amir Ali, the carrier's director of MRO and training, said that plans were also underway to upgrade the engineering facilities at Lahore Int'l.

In February, the Pakistani government was said to be considering a proposal to move PIA's headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad, together with another plan to appoint the airline to operate the airport, which opened on May 3, 2018, replacing the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in this role.

Airbus Updates No.2230

Avianca Holdings to dispose of 14 A320 Family jets to FTAI

Avianca Airbus A320-200 © Avianca

26.07.2019 - 14:57 UTC

Avianca Holdings will further reduce its overall fleet through the end of this year following the decision to sell 14 aircraft.

In a stock market filing, the Panama-based holding firm said it had reached an agreement to sell ten A318-100s and four A320ceo to New York-based Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (FTAI Aviation), for an estimated aggregate price of approximately USD160 million. The sale is expected to close by year-end.

“We are excited to execute a flexible phase-out plan that maximizes our fleet value. It has been terrific working with FTAI – we look forward to exploring new opportunities across our fleet with FTAI and continuing to build our relationship with them," Anko van der Werff, Avianca’s Chief Executive Officer, said.

According to ch-aviation fleets advanced, Avianca Holdings' ten A318s operate for its Avianca Airlines (AV, Bogotá) subsidiary alongside the four A320ceo.

As part of its Avianca 2021 turnaround strategy, Avianca Holdings, in March, succeeded in cutting seventeen A320neo from its 128-strong order with Airbus. In addition, it also deferred deliveries of another 35 aircraft of the type to between 2019-2022 thus saving the firm financial commitments of more than USD2.6 billion.

It also retired its fleet of ten E190s in late June.

Airbus Updates No.2229

Airbus A321	-251NXLR	8887		EI-LRA	Aer Lingus	delivery 26jul19 XFW-DUB	ex D-AYAV
Airbus A321	-251NX	8897		A6-ATC	Air Arabia	delivery 19jul19 XFW-SHJ	ex D-AVXG
Airbus A321	-271N	8937		VN-A626	VietJetAir	delivery 26-27jul19 XFW-AZI-SGN	ex D-AVYJ
Airbus A321	-271NX	8941		HA-LVE	Wizz Air	delivery 25jul19 XFW-BUD	ex D-AVYX
Airbus A321	-211	9028		N392DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 25jul19 BFM-MCI	ex F-WZMY
Airbus A330	-203	900		TC-AGF	AtlasGlobal	posn / first in svc 19-20jul19 IST-AYT-KGF-AYT	ex 2-RLBA
Airbus A330	-202	956		2-ACUB	Altavair AirFinance	ferried 24jul19 MAD-LDE for onward storage	ex VT-JWQ
Airbus A330	-343	1132		OO-SFF	Brussels Airlines	delivery 23ju1l9 SIN-BRU, lower white fuselage	ex 9V-STO
Airbus A330	-243	1492		PR-AIS	Azul Linhas Aéreas	-reg canx 22jul19 prior delivery ex SBD	ex N941AV
Airbus A330	-941	1913		CS-TUK	TAP Air Portugal	delivery 19jul19 TLS-LIS, Star Alliance cs	ex F-WWYR
Airbus A330	-941	1926		PK-LEI	Lion Airlines	delivery 19jul19 TLS-CGK	ex F-WWYA
Airbus A340	-313	167		LN-RKP	SAS	ferried 23jul19 CPH-LDE, for part-out & scrap	ex CC-CQG
Airbus A340	-313	390		D-AIFD	Lufthansa	ferried 21jul19 DUB-FRA after paint into new cs, first A343	ex F-WWJE
Airbus A350	-1041	326		G-XWBA	British Airways	delivery 26jul19 TLS-LHR	ex F-WZFH
Airbus A350	-941	327		F-HTRE	Air Caraïbes Atlantique	delivery 25jul19 TLS-ORY	ex F-WZNO
Airbus Canada A220	-171	50039		N120DU	Delta Air Lines	delivery 25jul19 YMX-ATL	ex C-FOYA