Airbus Updates No.1146

Airbus Updates No.1145

Airbus A319	-114	572		C-FYNS	Rouge	positioned 24mar14 YRQ-YYZ after paint	ex D-AVYK
Airbus A319	-132	1098		F-ORAG	Johannesburg Ltd	ferried 25mar14 LDE-KEF, Belle Air cs after storage	ex M-YVOL
Airbus A319	-112	3202		D-ASTX	Germania	ferried 22mar14 BTS-SXF after paint into Air Berlin cs	ex HB-IOY
Airbus A319	-112	3560		D-ASTU	Germania	ferried 27mar14 OSR-DRS after paint, old D-reg prior transfer	ex D-AHHB
Airbus A320	-211	115		F-GHQE	Air Corsica	ferried 21mar14 TLS-AJA after winter-storage, all white plus titl
Airbus A320	-214	1873		N191AT	AeroTurbine	air-test 25mar14 GYR-IWA-GYR after storage	ex F-GKXD
Airbus A320	-214	1885		OO-SNG	Brussels Airlines	ferried 26mar14 SNN-BRU after paint	ex F-GKXF
Airbus A320	-216	3362		EI-DSM	Alitalia	ferried 26mar14 EMA-FCO after paint into special promoting Calabria cs	ex F-WWIR
Airbus A320	-233	4400		CC-BAB	LAN Airlines	ferried 21mar14 GYE-SCL after lease to LAN Ecuador	ex HC-CLB
Airbus A320	-214	4478		EC-	Vueling	acc flt at TLS 26mar14 in full cs, F-reg prior transfer	ex F-HDGK
Airbus A320	-214	5965		CC-BFV	LAN Airlines	delivery 27-28mar14 XFW-LPA-REC-SCL	ex F-WWIR
Airbus A320	-214	5995		TC-DCD	Pegasus Airlines	delivery 24mar14 XFW-SAW, all white	ex D-AUBS
Airbus A320	-214	6003		B-LPL	Hong Kong Airlines	delivery 24-25mar14** XFW-AUH-HKG	ex D-AUBU
Airbus A320	-216	6015		VT-ATF	Air Asia India	delivery 21-22mar14 TLS-ESB-MAA	ex F-WWBV
Airbus A320	-214	6022		VQ-BSH	Aeroflot	delivery 25mar14 XFW-SVO	ex D-AUBZ
Airbus A320	-214	6033		D-AIUD	Lufthansa	delivery 24mar14 XFW-FRA	ex D-AXAC
Airbus A320	-216	6034		9M-AJF	Air Asia	delivery 25-26mar14 TLS-SHJ-KUL	ex F-WWIF
Airbus A320	-232	6037		P4-KBF	Air Astana	delivery 26mar14 TLS-ALA	ex F-WWIL
Airbus A321	-211	970		D-ASTW	Germania	ferried 23mar14 SXF-BTS for paint	ex TS-IQA
Airbus A321	-231	2553		G-ZBAI	Monarch	delivery 24/27mar14 MIA-IAH-YQB-BHX, N-reg	ex N566TA

Airbus A321	-232	3302		SX-DGP	Aegean Airlines	ferried 25mar14 BOH-ATH after paint	ex OE-ICK
Airbus A321	-211	6038		G-TCDD	Thomas Cook Airlines	delivery 26mar14 XFW-MAN	ex D-AVZO
Airbus A330	-223	259		PT-MVD	TAM	ferried 24mar14 MEX-CNF after storage prior return to svc	ex A6-EYB
Airbus A340	-642	360		F-WWCA	Airbus	ferried 27mar14 TLS-LDE for storage
Airbus A340	-313	459		EC-ICF	Iberia	ferried 23mar14 MAN-MAD after paint into all white	ex F-WWJU
Airbus A380	-861	142		A6-EET	Emirates	delivery 27mar14 XFW-DXB	ex F-WWAH
Airbus A380	-861	147		A6-EEU	Emirates	delivery 27mar14 XFW-DXB	ex F-WWAR

Airbus Updates No.1144

Tigerair to order up to 50 A320neo

New order from Singapore-based low cost carrier for fleet renewal and growth

24 MARCH 2014 PRESS RELEASE

Singapore's Tigerair has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for the purchase of up to 50 A320neo aircraft for future fleet renewal and growth. The deal covers 37 firm orders plus 13 options. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100 engines and will be operated by the airline across its Asia-Pacific route network. 

“We are delighted to conclude this agreement, which will allow us to introduce the latest single-aisle aircraft into our fleet,” said Mr Koay Peng Yen, Tigerair’s Group CEO, “This agreement also underscores Tigerair’s commitment to continue building on our leadership position in the budget travel sector at a measured pace.”

"We are pleased that Tigerair has reaffirmed its commitment to the A320 Family with this important new order,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "This order once again highlights the unbeatable operating economics offered by our single aisle product line for airlines from both the low cost and full service markets.”

Tigerair, established in 2004, comprises three airlines - Tigerair Singapore, Tigerair Mandala (Indonesia) and Tigerair Australia. Collectively, the Group’s network extends to over 50 destinations across 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Group currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 48 A320-family aircraft, averaging less than three years of age.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with more than 10,200 orders to date and over 6,000 aircraft delivered. The latest version A320neo will enter service in 2015 and incorporates new engines and "Sharklet" wing tip devices which together deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings. As at the end of February 2014, firm orders for the NEO already stood at 2,667 from 50 customers around the globe.

Airbus Updates No.1143

AirAsia India takes delivery of its first A320

New India-based airline becomes latest A320 operator

21 MARCH 2014 PRESS RELEASE

India’s newest airline, AirAsia India, has taken delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the newest operator of the type. Chennai-based AirAsia India will take delivery of an additional nine aircraft for its initial fleet of 10 A320s, to serve India’s rapidly growing domestic air traffic. Powered by CFM engines, the aircraft is configured in an all economy layout with 180 seats.

The new airline is a joint venture between AirAsia Group, Tata Sons and Telstra Tradeplace.

“Indian domestic traffic is growing at an impressive rate and our well established and successful business model suits the market,” said Mittu Chandilya, AirAsia India CEO. “AirAsia and Airbus have a long-standing, special relationship. We are fully confident that with our new A320 fleet we will provide the Indian passenger the service and convenient travel options already offered by the AirAsia Group elsewhere in the region. 

“In the next 20 years, more people will travel by air for the first time in India and China than anywhere else,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “India’s domestic air transport growth is leading the world and will propel India to be one of the largest civil aviation markets by 2032. The launch of AirAsia India reflects this growth potential.”

AirAsia India’s fleet will be drawn from the 475 A320 Family aircraft ordered by the AirAsia Group. To date, almost a third of the aircraft on order have already been delivered and are flying  on AirAsia Group’s operations out of Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and now Chennai. The AirAsia Group has also ordered 51 A330s and 10 A350 XWBs for its long haul affiliate AirAsia X.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft Family. To date, some 10,200 aircraft have been ordered and over 6,000 delivered to operators worldwide. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft. 

Airbus Updates No.1142

Newly launched airline, SaudiGulf orders four Airbus A320ceo aircraft.

17 MARCH 2014 PRESS RELEASE

SaudiGulf, a new Saudi Arabian airline wholly owned by Abdul Hadi Al Qahtani Group of Companies has signed a firm contract with Airbus for four A320ceo, to be delivered early 2015. The aircraft is equipped with Airbus “Sharklet” fuel saving wing tip devices. 

As one of the two airlines to obtain carrier licenses to operate domestic and international flights from Saudi airports, the airline will contribute to increase the Kingdom’s air transport links with the region and the rest of the world. SaudiGulf plans to launch its operations out of Dammam, in the first quarter of 2015 followed by Riyadh and Jeddah.

“It is an incredibly exciting time for us, as we work to launch SaudiGulf next year,” said Tariq Abdel Hadi Al Qahtani, Abdul Hadi Al Qahtani Group of Companies Chairman.  “The A320 is an ideal choice as it provides us with the perfect mix of performance, reliability, flexibility and great economics whilst offering a very high level of passenger comfort”

“The A320 is a market leader and will contribute positioning SaudiGulf as a premium service airline as soon as it begins its operations,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “It is used in a full range of services from very short-haul airline routes to intercontinental segments, providing a new airline with a great deal of flexibility. We are thrilled to see a new airline starting its business today and we feel privileged to be part of this journey.”

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that cut the aircraft’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent on longer sectors. They are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall.  With over 10,200 Airbus single aisle aircraft sold and 6,000 delivered today to 400 customers and operators, the A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft family. 

Airbus Updates No.1141

The A320 Family: 6,000 deliveries and counting

The A320 Family marked another milestone with Airbus’ 6,000th delivery from this modern single-aisle jetliner product line.

10 MARCH 2014 FEATURE STORY

This handover involved a Sharklet-equipped A320 received by Air Arabia during a ceremony at Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany facilities – home to one of three A320 Family final assembly sites worldwide. The jetliner is the 37th A320 Family aircraft received by Air Arabia, a leading low cost-carrier in the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Since the A320’s service entry in 1988, ongoing improvements to the A320 Family developed by Airbus – including engine enhancements, aerodynamic refinements such as the incorporation of Sharklets, and upgrades to its widest-in-class passenger cabin – have resulted in the world’s best-selling and most modern single-aisle product line, with more than 10,200 aircraft ordered to date. 

In addition, the company is continuing to apply innovations to the A320 Family with the A320neo (new engine option) – which has captured some 60 per cent market share ahead of its 2015 service entry. These jetliners share 95 per cent commonality with current engine option (CEO) aircraft, while incorporating two new powerplant choices – CFM International’s LEAP-1A and the PurePower PW1100G-JM from Pratt & Whitney – along with Sharklets wingtip devices as standard equipment.  

Composed of the A318, A319, A320 and A321, this single-aisle product line has established itself with leading airlines, low-cost carriers, governments and VIP operators around the world.  These jetliners have been used on services that cover everything from very short-haul airline routes to intercontinental segments, on operations from in-city airports to high-altitude airfields, for charter and special missions with the most discerning passengers – and even service to an Antarctic ice runway.

As a result of the A320 Family’s continued popularity in performing these missions, Airbus recently announced the planned steady ramp-up in single-aisle production from the current rate of 42 jetliners produced per month to 46 aircraft monthly – which will be reached in the second quarter of 2016.

Airbus Updates No.1140

Skymark Airlines becomes first Japanese A330 operator

A330 confirms its position as Asia’s favourite wide-body

28 FEBRUARY 2014 PRESS RELEASE

Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest airline has taken delivery of the first two A330-300s out of a total of ten on lease. Skymark Airlines becomes the first Japanese carrier to operate Airbus’ market leading, A330 wide-body aircraft.

Skymark Airlines’ A330s, configured in a very high comfort, all ”Green Seat” cabin with 271 seats, will start scheduled flights in April 2014 from Tokyo Haneda to Fukuoka. Skymark Airlines has also announced plans for A330-300 services from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo and Naha at a later date.

Shinichi Nishikubo, President of Skymark Airlines, said:  “We are confident that with these cost-efficient, reliable A330-300s in our fleet, we will grow our business and win market share by attracting passengers who demand only the highest levels of comfort. Together with our A380s to come, we confirm Skymark’s intention to remain at the forefront of our market, having one of Japan’s youngest, most modern fuel-efficient fleets.”

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said, “The A330 is the most popular wide-body aircraft in Asia and we welcome Skymark Airlines to our expanding family of A330 operators in this fast growing, dynamic market. We also look forward to seeing Skymark Airlines succeed with their A330’s thanks to the aircraft’s unbeatable economics, versatility and best-in-class passenger comfort.”

The A330-300 received Validation Type Certificate (VTC) from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in January 2014. Skymark Airlines signed a Flight Hour Services (FHS) components contract with Airbus covering support for all of 10 leased A330 aircraft.  Airbus Customer Services will provide spare parts availability guaranteed through an extensive scope of more than 700 line replaceable units. Skymark Airlines’ A330s will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

Airbus’ comprehensive, modern wide-body Family is the market leader in Asia, having outsold the competition by two to one over the last five years. Over half of the wide-body aircraft to be delivered in the future to Asian carriers are Airbus aircraft.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,300 orders, with over 1,000 aircraft flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient aircraft with best in class operating economics. With numerous ongoing product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft, averaging dispatch reliability well above 99 percent.