Speaking at a May 30, 2025, shareholders meeting in Manila, Tan said the aircraft would first be used to increase services to North America. He added that the first of thirteen A321-200Ns are due in 2026.
"Philippine Airlines is preparing for a significant fleet update with the planned delivery of nine A350-1000 long-range aircraft and thirteen A321neo regional jets over the next few years," he said. "PAL is likewise moving forward with a comprehensive retrofit programme for its existing A321-200 fleet."
Shareholders were told that Philippine Airlines had spent PHP20.26 billion pesos (USD363 million) on A350-1000 pre-delivery payments and PHP16.54 billion (USD297 million) on pre-delivery payments for the Airbus narrowbodies. The carrier will use these aircraft to expand its nonstop route network, and the carrier also wants to develop more partnerships with other airlines.
Tan noted that Philippine Airlines had just recorded its 14th consecutive quarterly profit, posting a PHP4.33 billion (USD77.6 million) profit in the first quarter of 2025, up around 20% on the comparable 2024 quarter.
"Philippine Airlines delivered solid financial results, expanded its network, and maintained high standards of operational reliability amid global challenges that have continued to impact the airline industry," the chairman said. "As we look ahead, all of us need to remain mindful of the challenges that we continue to face. Staying competitive will require us to manage our costs carefully and adapt to ever-changing circumstances."
Separately, last week's meeting also formalised the appointment of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall as Philippine Airlines' new president and Carlos Luis Fernandez as executive vice president and COO.
IndiGo Orders 60 Airbus A350s To Fuel Long Haul Ambitions
IndiGo will fly the Airbus A350 as of 2027
IndiGo now has a firm order for 60 Airbus A350-900s, in addition to options for an additional 40 of these jets, meaning the airline would eventually fly 100 of Airbus’ flagship wide body aircraft. IndiGo placed the firm order for 30 A350s in April 2024, so the development is that the firm order has just been doubled, from 30 to 60 jets.
The airline expects to take delivery of its first A350s as of 2027, so we’re still a couple of years off from these planes joining IndiGo’s fleet. I find it noteworthy that the airline has exclusively ordered the smaller A350-900 variant, rather than the larger A350-1000 variant, given that the latter has even better unit costs, and Indian airlines don’t exactly struggle to fill seats.
For context, IndiGo is an Indian low cost carrier that was founded in 2006 and is now run by Pieter Elbers, the former CEO of KLM. IndiGo is India’s largest airline in terms of the number of passengers carried.
The airline currently has a fleet of over 400 aircraft, comprised primarily of Airbus A320-family jets. The pace at which IndiGo is growing is almost unheard of. For example, in 2023, IndiGo placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, the largest single aircraft order in history. The airline has nearly 1,000 aircraft on order.
While IndiGo primarily operates domestic flights, the airline also has an international route network, with select destinations in Africa and Asia. While these A350s are the first wide body aircraft that IndiGo has ordered, the airline has previously ordered the A321XLR, which is Airbus’ new narrow body, long range aircraft.
IndiGo has sort of been dabbling with wide body aircraft for some time. In 2023, the airline started operating a couple of Boeing 777s in partnership with Turkish Airlines, flying primarily between Delhi and Istanbul. Now the airline is wet leasing Boeing 787s from Norse Atlantic, so that it can start to operate some long haul flights.
How will IndiGo’s business model evolve with the A350?
It’s fascinating to see how IndiGo’s business model has evolved over time. Historically, IndiGo has been a low cost carrier, and it goes without saying that the economics of being a low cost carrier are very different on short haul domestic flights than they are on long haul international flights, especially given the competitive landscape.
However, IndiGo has been making changes, slowly but surely. The airline has introduced its IndiGo Stretch product on select Airbus A321neos, which is essentially a regional business class product. IndiGo has also now announced plans to partner with Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.
As IndiGo continues to grow and expand, it sure sounds like the airline will become increasingly full service, given that this is where money is to be made on long haul flights. Presumably IndiGo will be going head-to-head against Air India in many international markets, with the wide body aircraft being used for flights to Europe, the United States, etc.
It’s an incredibly exciting time for aviation in India. We’re seeing Air India undergo a full transformation, and now IndiGo is evolving significantly as well. What’s certain is that there’s no shortage of demand for travel to and from India, so there’s room for multiple Indian airlines to succeed.
If anything, these updates are about Indian airlines reclaiming market share from Gulf carriers, rather than anything else. For so many years, Gulf carriers have essentially been the de facto national carriers of India, and that’s slowly changing. I can’t help but wonder if a decade or two down the road, this could also lead to changes in the business model at Gulf airlines.
There’s a lot of change at Indian airlines
Bottom line
IndiGo now has a firm order for 60 Airbus A350-900, in addition to 40 options. These planes will start to join the carrier’s fleet as of 2027.
It’s fascinating to see IndiGo’s evolution. The airline has historically been an all-economy low cost carrier, and it’s increasingly becoming premium, and partnering with global, full service airlines. IndiGo is already starting to dabble with long haul flying, thanks to Norse Atlantic 787 leases, but things will really start to get exciting in 2027
Sanctioned Belavia Acquires A330s Smuggled By Fake Gambian Airline
Belarusian national carrier Belavia is expanding its fleet with Airbus A330s, despite sanctions. How did the airline do this? Well, it bought planes from a Jordanian-Syrian businessman, from an airline registered in Gambia, which purchased the planes in a Turkish bankruptcy sale several years ago… as one does.
Belavia expanding fleet with three Airbus A330s
To start, let me explain that Belavia is the national airline of Belarus, and Belarus is Russia’s closest alley. So just as Russia has been subject to sanctions, Belarus has been as well. Currently, Belavia has a fleet of roughly 15 aircraft, consisting primarily of Boeing 737s and Embraer E-jets.
Much like Russian carriers, Belavia has been struggling with its fleet in recent years, given that the airline hasn’t been able to access Airbus and Boeing aircraft or parts. For example, the carrier’s fleet has shrunk by roughly half, as some leasing companies have repossessed their aircraft, in line with sanctions. Belavia has been looking for creative ways to grow its fleet, and it looks like the airline has accomplished exactly that.
Belavia is currently in the process of taking delivery of three Airbus A330-200s. The three frames are an average of 23 years old, and they’ll have the registration codes EW-587PD, EW-588PD, and EW-589PD. The planes all originally flew for Emirates, back in the day.
Two of the planes are expected to start flying later in 2025, while the third is expected to start flying in 2026. The aircraft apparently aren’t in good condition, both in terms of maintenance and passenger experience, so we’ll see how that works out, given the lack of access to parts.
It remains to be seen what exactly Belavia will do with these aircraft. Presumably we’ll only see service to “friendly” countries, like China, Russia, etc. I’m not sure if the airline really needs the range of these A330s, or if it’s just about offering higher capacity aircraft.
Belavia is expanding with three Airbus A330s
Fake Gambian airline Magic Air helped Belavia
The concept of aircraft being smuggled to sanctioned countries is nothing new. Russia, Iran, Syria, etc., have a lot of experience with this. As you’d expect, no reputable leasing company would send planes to a sanctioned country, since it would impact their ability to do business elsewhere.
Unsurprisingly, the story here is quite interesting. Roughly five years ago, a Jordanian businessman of Syrian origin purchased three Airbus A330s from the bankruptcy estate of Onur Air, a Turkish airline that went out of business. He then started Magic Air, an “airline” based in Gambia.
In reality, it wasn’t much of an “airline” at all, and never operated any flights with passengers. There’s very little information about the company online. In August 2024, the Gambian Civil Aviation Authority disclosed that the aircraft were sold to a buyer from the United Arab Emirates, and were taken off the Gambian register.
Despite the claim that the planes were being sold to a buyer from the UAE, in reality the planes were flown to Minsk, Belarus (MSQ), where they’ve been since that time, and have been prepared for entry into service. This wasn’t the guy’s first time assisting airlines with acquiring planes despite sanctions. The same person helped Syria’s Cham Wings acquire aircraft in the past.
Bottom line
Belavia is expanding its fleet with wide body aircraft, as the airline is expected to soon start flying three Airbus A330-200s. These planes were acquired from Gambia’s Magic Air, a suspicious airline based in Gambia, run by a Jordanian businessman. The world of smuggling aircraft to avoid sanctions is hardly new, though the process sure is fascinating.
Levu Air Cargo to resume ops with sole Airbus A321F
Levu Air Cargo (LVU) is planning to resume operations after a six-month hiatus. The general director, Lucas Menero, told ch-aviation that its sole A321-200(PCF) PS-LVU (msn 775) is currently undergoing maintenance and should re-enter service soon.
Menero revealed that Levu Air Cargo also plans to expand its fleet with one more jet, but did not disclose which specific aircraft type it intends to obtain.
The airline previously told ch-aviation that it wants to add another A321-200(PCF) and was also looking to secure two A330-300(P2F)s for the launch of a Brazil-US service. However, due to the prolonged grounding of its sole aircraft, the airline's future plans remain in limbo.
Animawings cuts routes amid Airbus A220 delivery delays
Animawings (A2, Bucharest Henri Coanda) will cut two routes in its network during the 2025 summer season due to delays in the delivery of new A220-300s, the chief commercial officer Diana Dima told ch-aviation.
The Bucharest Henri Coanda-Oradea service will be suspended between June 11 and October 1, while the opening of a Bucharest-Dublin International route, planned for July 21, will be postponed indefinitely.
The airline had initially expected to add aircraft during the summer, but the delivery was postponed to September 2025. ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Aircraft Data data shows that Animawings is set to take two A220-300s under a dry-lease contract with Azorra, but the airline did not disclose whether both aircraft were planned for delivery during the 2025 summer season.
Royal Jordanian takes delivery of 1st Airbus A320neo
On 28 May 2025, Royal Jordanian took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo. The aircraft is leased via Avolon and was handed-over after the delivery ceremony at Toulouse-Blagnac. JY-RAD (12304) later departed to its home at Amman.
The Airbus A320neo is the first of eight A320neo-family aircraft the airline is leasing from Avolon. In total, Royal Jordanian is planning to lease up to 20 A320neo/A321neo aircraft to renew and expand its current fleet of seven A320s and two A321s.
Next to its Airbuses, the airline is also operating a single A321-200P2F, seven B787-8s, two Embraer ERJ175s, one ERJ195, four E190-E2s, and two E195-E2s.
Air Niugini has disclosed it has ordered additional Airbus A220s. It did so when it celebrated its first A220 being in final assembly. The deal is for two A220-100s, which were previously booked as undisclosed by Airbus.
The airline selected the A220 in November 2023 and ordered six A220-100s directly with Airbus. It also signed a lease-agreement with Azorra for three A220-300s.
According to Air Niugini, the first A220 is scheduled to be delivered in September 2025. It plans to, initially, use its new aircraft to replace its ageing four Fokker 70s and five Fokker 100s. Later, the airline also plans to replace its three Boeing B737-800s with the type in order to standardise the fleet.
Air Niugini will become the 25th operator of the A220, of which now more than 900 have been ordered.
During the French President's state visit to Vietnam, Airbus was able to sign a new contract with VietjetAir. In the agreement, the airline is doubling its order for A330-900s, taking it from 20 to 40. No delivery timeline has been communicated. The airline announced its first order for the A330-900 during the Singapore Air Show in February 2024.
According to Airbus' press-release, the VietjetAir is planning to utilise its additional widebodies to increase capacity on existing routes but also launch new long-haul flights between Vietnam and Europe.
VietjetAir is Vietnam's largest private carrier and it currently operates a fleet of 29 A320s, 42 A321-200s, 36 A321neos, and seven A330-300s. Next to its order of 40 A330-900s, the airline holds open orders for 96 A320neo-family aircraft as well as 200 B737MAXs with Boeing.
It's part of the VietjetAir Group, which next to the carrier in Vietnam, also consists of Thai VietjetAir, and its recently launched VietjetAir Qazaqstan.
