Airbus Updates No.2856

 

Why Airbus Delivered An A220 From France To Egypt Via The UK

An unusual flight over Europe on Tuesday caught the eye of many people. Egyptair was taking delivery of a freshly leased A220. It’s a nice little plane but no big deal in itself. What got people’s attention was the route the delivery flight took. The aircraft took off from Toulouse and headed off to Cairo, via the United Kingdom.

Egyptair took delivery of its12th and final A220-300 in Cairo on Tuesday. Photo: Airbus

A quirk of UK law means leased aircraft must overfly UK airspace

The reason is both simple and complex. The Airbus A220-300 operating yesterday’s flight was SU-GFI. A UK-based aircraft leasing company owns the plane. According to a legal quirk, unless the aircraft flies through UK airspace, the delivery has not taken place. So yesterday, SU-GFI headed up to Dover before turning around and tracking southeast towards Egypt.

Tuesday’s delivery flight means all 12 of the Airbus A220s ordered by Egyptair are now at the airline.

Source: FlightRadar24

Ian Petchenik has covered some of these weird and wonderful quirks of aircraft leasing in FlightRadar24. He says to activate some of the financial aspects of an aircraft lease involving a UK lessor, the plane needs to be physically present in the UK.

Not so long ago, the plane would have landed at a UK airport. Someone duly authorized would sign the paperwork on UK soil. The aircraft could then take off and head off to wherever it was meant to go – everything signed and sealed.

Now, thanks to the joys of WiFi, the paperwork is signed while flying in UK airspace. Technically, that’s still in the UK.

A nifty and common airborne legal hack

It sounds like a nifty little hack to partly get around an oddball legal requirement. What’s surprising is how common these sojourns over UK airspace are. There are several big aircraft leasing businesses based in the UK. Every aircraft that gets sourced from them has to do what the Egyptair flight did yesterday.

It was the second time an Egyptair flight overflow the UK in a week. On September 23, taking delivery of their 11th A220-300, registered as SU-GFG, that aircraft followed the same routing from Toulouse to Cairo.

Ian Petchenik’s FlightRadar24.com story is a couple of years old, and his story followed the delivery of an Air Europa flight from Charleston in the United States to Madrid in Spain. That flight went via Lands End in the far southwest of the UK before turning south and heading to Spain. He was able to illustrate how the flight nipped into UK airspace, overflow a tiny portion of dry land, and satisfied the legal niceties of leasing from a UK leasing business.

Yesterday’s Egyptair flight took five and a half hours. The distance between the two airports is approximately 3,600 kilometers or about four hours without diverting via the UK. SU-GFI is destined to fly around the southern fringes of the Meditteranean and across to the Gulf countries. Egyptair is sending its fleet of A220s to Jeddah, Damman, Kuwait, Riyadh, Madinah, Baghdad, and Abha. In the meantime, SU-GFI is getting a final polish and outfit in Cairo

Airbus Updates No.2855

 

Sri Lanka's Spark Air to lease Airbus A330s

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

28.09.2020 - 08:21 UTC

Spark Air (Hambantota) has applied to the Sri Lankan government for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and an Operator's Licence (OL) amid plans to launch flights next year.

In its application lodged with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka on September 8, the start-up said it would target scheduled and chartered international flight operations ferrying passengers, cargo, and mail. Its directors are listed as:

• Robert L. Spittel;
• Mohamed Ramzi Raheem (Accountable Manager);
• Samin Attanayake;
• Ashan De Alwis;
• Suranjan De Silva.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer newspaper, Spark Air's Head of Safety Management Systems, Uditha Danwatte, said the carrier will initially focus on cargo operations before branching into the passenger niche. As such, it will shortly conclude dry-lease agreements with unspecified lessors covering two A330s.

“Initially, we will stick to air cargo transportation and then move on to passenger transportation due to the current global situation to destinations [such as] the USA, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Far East with two A330s," he said. “We will build hangers and launch a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) project at Hambantota International Airport."

Spark Air expects to complete its certification drive and launch in February next year. It is reportedly backed by "local and foreign investments".

Earlier this month, another start-up, Fly Lankan Asia (Colombo Int'l), announced its own plans to operate both domestic and international scheduled flights, again covering both passenger and cargo traffic.

In an interview with Smart Aviation APAC, the CAASL's director (flight operations), Lushan Fernando, said Fly Lankan Asia was looking to use BAe 146-300s for commercial passenger operations and B737-200s for cargo operations.

From its hub at Colombo Int'l, it is looking to serve Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia; Medan Kuala Namu, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta, Semarang, Surabaya, and Makassar in Indonesia; and Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur Int'l in Malaysia. He did not specify any domestic routes.

“The AOC process will take six months from the formal application phase, and COVID-19 will [have a delaying effect] on aircraft acceptance and proving flight requirements,” Fernando said.

About Spark Air

Type	Scheduled Carrier
Base	Hambantota

credit : CH Aviation

Airbus Updates No.2854

 

Greece's Sky Express to add A320s

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

29.09.2020 - 06:45 UTC

Sky Express (Greece) (GQ, Heraklion) is planning to add an undisclosed number of A320-200s, according to job advertisements for captains and first officers posted by the Greek airline.

The carrier did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment about its narrowbody plans.

The airline currently operates a fleet of Avions de Transport Régional turboprops, comprising seven ATR42-500s and five ATR72-500s, connecting Athens Int'l with a host of Greek islands. It also operates a smaller number of routes connecting regional airports directly, bypassing the capital. In the past, its fleet also included Jetstream 41 turboprops, which were retired as of November 2018.

Sky Express's only in-house experience with jet aircraft was between 2008 and 2010 when it briefly operated a single MD-83. The airline has at times wet-leased jet aircraft to boost its capacity or cover for aircraft undergoing maintenance.

credit : CH aviation

Airbus Updates No.2853

 

Airbus A320	-271N	9555		D-AIJA	Lufthansa	delivery 24sep20 XFW-SXF	ex D-AUBZ
Airbus A320	-271N	9557		B-320P	China Express	acc flt 23sep20, regd B-005L, onward ddelivery 26seep20 TSN-CKG	ex D-AXAA
Airbus A320	-271N	9594		B-30FL	Shenzhen Airlines	delivery 29sep20 TSN-SZX	ex B-000L
Airbus A320	-251N	10131		JA201P	Peach Aviation	delivery 28-29sep20 TLS-NQZ-UTP-KIX, regd F-WXAU	ex F-WWIJ
Airbus A321	-211	811		LZ-HEA	Holiday Europe	ferried 27sep20 LEJ-ISL for storage	ex TC-OBZ
Airbus A321	-212	827		UR-WRT	Windrose Air	ferried 29sep20 DNK-CHR after storage	ex LY-VEE
Airbus A321	-211	1023		EI-CPG	Aer Lingus	ferried 24sep20 DUB-CQM, for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVZR
Airbus A321	-231	1356		OE-IAI	Sapphire Leasing	ferried 23sep20 ICN-CRK	ex HL7594
Airbus A321	-211	2912		YL-LCZ	smartLynx Airlines	C-reg canx 25sep20 at YUL after lease to Air Transat	ex C-GJLT
Airbus A321	-211	6468		OY-TCI	Sunclass Airlines	ferried 23sep20 HEL-TLL for onward storage	ex EI-GRC
Airbus A321	-251N	7939		N7939	AerCap	regd 24sep20, parked at GYR	ex XA-JOE
Airbus A321	-211	10030		N105DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 24sep20 BFM-MSP	ex F-WZMV
Airbus A330	-243	730		A6-EYI	Etihad Airways	ferried 25sep20 LETL-AUH after storage	ex F-WWKS
Airbus A330	-941	1953		N406DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 24sep20 TLS-AMS	ex F-WWKE
Airbus A350	-1041	380		B-LXM	Cathay Pacific	delivery 25sep20 TLS-HKG	ex F-WZGQ
Airbus A380	-842	55		VH-OQI	Qantas	ferried 25sep20 DRS-VCV for storage	ex F-WWAP
Airbus Canada A220	-371	55091		SU-GFI	EgyptAir Express	onward delivery 29sep20 TLS-CAI	ex C-FOWF

credits : skyliner aviation news

Airbus Updates No.2852

 

Airbus A319	-112	1147		D-AKNO	Eurowings	ferried 24sep20 STR-KUN for onward storage	ex N727UW
Airbus A319	-112	1160		OO-SSG	Brussels Airlines	ferried 26sep20 BUD-DGX, for part-out & scrap	ex EI-CZF
Airbus A319	-132	2273		LZ-DAG	Dubai Aerospace	seen regd at DMK 27sep20, Bangkok Airways full cs prior ferry to?	ex HS-PPM
Airbus A319	-111	2471		G-EZII	easyJet	ferried 24sep20 QLA-DGX prior return to lessor	ex D-AVYK
Airbus A319	-132	2579		N884UA	United Airlines	delivery 26-27sep20 XMN-NRT-ANC-GYR	ex B-6207
Airbus A319	-132	2659		N265AE	AerCap	regd 24sep202, parked at MZJ	ex HC-CGT
Airbus A319	-111	2959		G-EZBH	easyJet	ferried 23sep20 LGW-SOF prior return to lessor	ex D-AVXH
Airbus A320	-211	154		C-FFWM	Air Canada	ferried 25sep20 YUL-MCI for storage	ex F-WWDY
Airbus A320	-232	2838		9H-LOZ	Lauda Europe	re-regd at VIE 24sep20 on transfer	ex OE-LOZ
Airbus A320	-232	3259		9H-IBJ	Lauda Europe	re-regd 23sep20 at VIE on transfer	ex OE-IBJ
Airbus A320	-232	3414		OE-IDJ	Allco Leasing	regd 23sep20, parked at CGK	ex VT-INQ
Airbus A320	-214	3972		EI-GTR	AirCastle	ferried 23/26sep20 BLR-CAI-QLA	ex VT-GOS
Airbus A320	-214	4234		G-EZTV	easyJet	ferried 21/27sep20 SXF-LTN-MXP, regd 24sep20 on re-transfer	ex OE-IJP
Airbus A320	-232	4614		VT-IEC	IndiGo Airlines	ferried 28sep20 DEL-CGK prior return to lessor	ex F-WWBF
Airbus A320	-214	4942		N295NV	Allegiant Air	ferried 27sep29 BQN-SFB prior svc entry	ex N632AC
Airbus A320	-233	5050		2-VSLO	TrueAero Asset Management	ferried 22-23sep20 CRK-HAN-ALA-KUN, all white	ex 9V-SLO
Airbus A320	-214	5067		N	Allegiant Air	air-test at CGK 21sep20, RP-C reg after paint prior delivery	ex RP-C3238
Airbus A320	-232	5092		VT-IEU	IndiGo Airlines	ferried 24sep20 DEL-AMM prior return to lessor	ex D-AUBL
Airbus A320	-251N	7523		N752AE	AerCap	regd 24sep20, parked at GYR (+ 7576 N576AE 28sep20 ex XA-APO, + 7581 N7581 24sep20 ex XA-APA)	ex XA-JRM
Airbus A320	-271N	9500		B-30EO	Sichuan Airlines	delivery 28sep20 TSN-CTU	ex B-000T

credits : skyliner aviation news 

Airbus Updates No.2851

 

GLOBALX signs LOI for five A321 P2F freighters

Illustration of GLOBALX Airbus A320-200© AVi8 Air Capital

24.09.2020 - 14:14 UTC

Global Crossing Airlines, doing business as GLOBALX (Atlantic City), has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with two affiliates of Singapore Paya Lebar-based technology, defence, and engineering group ST Engineering to convert five A321 passenger aircraft into freighters.

Under the deal with MRO specialist ST Engineering Aerospace America, one of the group’s subsidiaries, and Elbe Flugzeugwerke, the group’s joint venture with Airbus, the aircraft will be converted at ST Engineering’s facilities, subject to signing definitive agreements and the completion of the acquisition of the aircraft, Global Crossing said in a statement on September 23.

The Miami-headquartered start-up elaborated that it had signed the LOI to acquire an initial four A321s “from a major European airline” and is working on additional A321 acquisitions. The letter of intent forecasts delivery of these four aircraft by the third quarter of 2021.

GLOBALX describes itself as a new-entrant airline in its FAA certification phase intending to use A320 Family aircraft as an ACMI and wet-lease charter airline serving the US, Caribbean, and Latin American markets.

Airbus Updates No.2850

 

Delta looking to defer 40 Airbus deliveries - report

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-900N© Airbus

25.09.2020 - 15:18 UTC

Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) is reportedly in talks with Airbus to defer the delivery of 40 aircraft, initially due in 2020, "beyond" year-end, sources told Bloomberg newswire.

Both the carrier and the manufacturer declined to comment on the specifics of the report. The sources did not go into details as to the composition of the deferrals variant-wise.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the carrier has a total of 231 outstanding orders from Airbus, comprising fourteen A220-100s, fifty A220-300s, twenty-five A321-200s, 100 A321-200Ns, thirty A330-900s, and twelve A350-900s. According to its annual report for 2019, Delta Air Lines also has fifty options for A220-300s and 100 options for A321-200Ns. The airline also has firm orders for three more CRJ900ERs but has no commitments from Boeing or other manufacturers. The carrier's aircraft purchase commitments also include four A350-900s from LATAM Airlines (LA, Santiago de Chile Int'l).

The airline's deliveries plan for 2020, as reported at the end of 2019, included a total of 72 aircraft - seventeen A220-100s, six -300s, thirty-one A321-200s, one A321-200N, seven A330-900s, four A350-900s, and six CRJ900s. Of these, only twelve have so far been delivered, namely three A220-100s, six A321-200s, one A330-900, and two A350-900s.

In a separate development, the airline is also reportedly in talks about a sale-and-leaseback transaction potentially involving five A321-200s, two A350-900s, and two A330-900s. If completed, this deal will bolster the airline's coffers with an extra USD750 million.

Airbus Updates No.2849

 

Iberia Names Airbus A320neo After First Female Spanish Pilot

As a part of its commitment to diversity and the promotion of women to all levels within the company, Iberia has named its newest A320neo after Spain’s first woman pilot. Currently, 85 women work as pilots for Iberia, representing six percent of the cockpit staff. While this percentage may not sound like much, it is above average in the airline industry.

Iberia is naming its A320neos after people and places in Spanish aviation history. Photo: Iberia

The Airbus A320neo is Iberia’s most technologically advanced, quiet, and efficient short- and medium-haul aircraft. Thanks to its Leap-1ª CFM engines, it is 50% quieter than older aircraft and emits 5,000 tonnes less CO2 per year, and 50% less NOx. Iberia’s Airbus A320neos can seat between 180 and 186 passengers in a two class 3+3 configuration. The A320neo has a range of 3,750 nautical miles (6,940 kilometers) making it an ideal choice for medium-haul routes. Currently, Iberia has according to aviation website Planespotters.net eight Airbus A320neos with no more on order with the European planemaker.

María Bernaldo de Quirós

Born to aristocratic parents in Madrid on 26th of March 1898, María Bernaldo de Quirós dreamt of flying as a child and eventually received her pilot’s license in 1928. Having learned to fly in a de Havilland DH.60 Moth at the Getafe aerodrome south of Madrid, her superlative stunt flying skills earned her the nickname “Miss Golondrina” (“swallow”).

While performing at air shows throughout northern Spain, she once flew over the car of the Duke of Segovia, showering him with flower petals.

Maria broke barriers for women

During the roaring 1920s, aviation fever was at its height thanks to pilots like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. Yet women were expected to stay home, cook, clean, and look after the children. According to Wikipedia, on one occasion, while being interviewed, Maria talked about how she had become a modern woman saying:
“As public opinion evolves, people will realize that women can do more than just embroider.”

Following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), María Bernaldo de Quirós retired from being a flying instructor in Asturias. Despite her short eight-year career, Maria had already broken barriers showing other women that they too could learn to fly. A bold and determined woman ahead of her time, Iberia’s tribute aims to highlight María Bernaldo de Quirósas as a model for young women considering a career in aviation.

Maria’s legacy lives on at Iberia

Now with her name inscribed on the fuselage of Iberia’s newest efficient short- and medium-haul aircraft, her legacy lives on. Iberia has decided to name its Airbus A320neos after people and places dear to Spain and Spanish aviation.

Sonia Abellán Montes one of Iberia’s 85 female pilots. Photo: Iberia

Names include Amelia Earhart, the Spanish Air Forces aerobatic team, the Patrulla Águila (Eagle Patrol), and the Getafe Aerodrome, Spanish aviation’s birthplace.

Airbus Updates No. 2848

 

Hi Fly’s A380 Completes First Cargo Flight Since Conversion

Hi Fly’s Airbus A380 is back in the skies. However, this time the aircraft is back with a difference. Hi Fly’s Airbus A380 is currently sporting a temporary cargo configuration, becoming the only superjumbo to fly with such an arrangement.

Hi Fly’s A380 is completing its first mission since gaining a cargo interior! Photo: Getty Images

The current crisis saw many passenger aircraft grounded around the world. As a result, global cargo capacity dropped almost overnight. However, at the same time, the world was faced with a sudden need to ferry medical supplies such as PPE, including face masks. Many airlines have been using their passenger aircraft as freighters. However, only one airline took this concept to the next level.

Hi Fly’s A380 freighter

Working alongside Lufthansa Technik, Hi Fly went where no other airline dared. While Malaysia Airlines operated a cargo flight using its Airbus A380, the seats were still installed. Hi Fly has ripped out most of the seats in its superjumbo, meaning that there is plenty of space available for light cargo.

Of course, there is the main cargo hold, which is suitable for carrying containers. However, the main and upper decks of the passenger Airbus A380 were never built with cargo flights in mind. As such, they are unable to take containers. Instead, cardboard boxes must be loaded by hand into designated squares on the deck. Typically this cargo will be confined to relatively light items such as face masks.

Hi Fly has converted its Airbus A380 into a cargo aircraft. Photo: Hi Fly

Superjumbo back in the skies

The Hi Fly Airbus A380 received its cargo configured Airbus A380 back in early July. However, since then, the aircraft has remained at the airline’s base in Beja apart from a couple of training sorties.

Despite the extended stay on the ground, it seems as though a customer has now been found for the superjumbo. At 10:36 this morning, the aircraft registered as 9H-MIP departed from Beja (BYJ) at 10:36. The plane made a 3-hour 34-minute hop across to Istanbul, where it landed at 16:10. The flight was the first commercial A380 landing at Istanbul’s new airport since it opened.

The aircraft spent a little over two hours on the ground at Istanbul, where it departed at 18:26. At the time of writing, the plane was flying over Iran at 39,000 feet. According to FlightRadar24.com, it is bound for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. According to the Portuguese Kiosque da Aviacao, the aircraft made a technical stop in Turkey, rather than taking on freight. It was not immediately apparent where the plane would fly next.

It is unclear exactly how long the aircraft will retain its cargo configuration. However, there is currently little demand for such a sizeable wet lease aircraft. Given the current situation, many airlines have grounded their A380s. Simple Flying recently reported that Lufthansa’s A380s are unlikely to return to service.

Airbus Updates No.2847

 

Airbus A330	-941	1957		N407DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 22sep20 TLS-AMS	ex F-WWCN
Airbus A350	-1041	380		B-LXM	Cathay Pacific	delivery 25sep20 TLS-HKG	ex F-WZGQ
Airbus A350	-1041	415		G-VRNB	Virgin Atlantic	delivery 23sep20 TLS-MAN "Purple Rain"	ex F-WZNY
Airbus A380	-842	55		VH-OQI	Qantas	ferried 25sep20 DRS-VCV for storage	ex F-WWAP
Airbus Canada A220	-371	55081		SU-GFG	EgyptAir Express	onward delivery 23sep20 TLS-CAI	ex C-FOVX

credit : skyliner aviation news website

Airbus Updates No.2846

 

Airbus A320	-214	5081		9H-LMI	Lauda Europe	re-regd 22sep20 at VIE on transfer	ex OE-LMI
Airbus A320	-232	5092		VT-IEU	IndiGo Airlines	ferried 24sep20 DEL-AMM prior return to lessor	ex D-AUBL
Airbus A320	-251N	7523		N752AE	AerCap	regd 24sep20, parked at GYR (+ 7576 N576AE ex XA-APO, + 7581 N7581 ex XA-APA)	ex XA-JRM
Airbus A320	-251N	7951		SE-DYD	SAS	first in svc 22seBp20 CPH-ARN-MMX after transfer	ex EI-SIB
Airbus A320	-271N	9555		D-AIJA	Lufthansa	delivery 24sep20 XFW-SXF	ex D-AUBZ
Airbus A321	-211	811		LZ-HEA	Holiday Europe	ferried 26sep20 LEJ-ISL for storage	ex TC-OBZ
Airbus A321	-211	1023		EI-CPG	Aer Lingus	ferried 24sep20 DUB-CQM, for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVZR
Airbus A321	-231	1356		OE-IAI	Sapphire Leasing	ferried 23sep20 ICN-CRK	ex HL7594
Airbus A321	-211	2912		YL-LCZ	smartLynx Airlines	C-reg canx 25sep20 at YUL after lease to Air Transat	ex C-GJLT
Airbus A321	-211	6468		OY-TCI	Sunclass Airlines	ferried 23sep20 HEL-TLL for onward storage	ex EI-GRC
Airbus A321	-251N	7939		N7939	AerCap	regd 24sep20, parked at GYR	ex XA-JOE
Airbus A321	-231	7969		B-LEI	Hong Kong Express	ferried 22/25sep20 HKG-DRW-ASP for storage	ex D-AVYF
Airbus A321	-253NX	9302		B-30E2	China Southern Airlines	delivery 22-23sep20 XFW-NQZ-CAN	ex D-AVZE
Airbus A321	-253NX	9383		B-30F7	China Southern Airlines	delivery 23-24sep20 XFW-NQZ-CAN	ex D-AYAI
Airbus A321	-211	10030		N105DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 24sep20 BFM-MSP	ex F-WZMV
Airbus A330	-342	121		B-HLH	Cathay Pacific	in svc / ferried 22-23sep20 HKG-DWC-LHR-CQM, for part-out & scrap (+ 113 B-HLF 23-24sep20)	ex VR-HLH
Airbus A330	-243	688		A6-EYE	Etihad Airways	ferried 23sep20 AUH-LETL for onward storage	ex F-WWYJ
Airbus A330	-243	730		A6-EYI	Etihad Airways	ferried 25sep20 LETL-AUH after storage	ex F-WWKS
Airbus A330	-243	1271		OE-IPY	WTCT	regd 22sep20, parked at LETL	ex ZS-SXU
Airbus A330	-941	1953		N406DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 24sep20 TLS-AMS