Airbus Updates No.2539

Airbus A350	-941	397		EC-NIG	Iberia	for delivery 29feb20 TLS-MAD	ex F-WZGL
Airbus A380	-841	6		9H-MIP	HiFly Malta	ferried 29feb20 LPBJ-LDE	ex 9V-SKC
Airbus Canada A220	-171	50049		N130DU	Delta Air Lines	delivery 28feb20 YMX-ATL	ex C-FOYB

Airbus Updates No.2538

Airbus A320	-251N	9554		OE-ILD	Avolon	ferried 28feb20 TLS-LFBF, Tianjin Airlines B-30DU ntu	ex F-WWDR
Airbus A321	-211	1887		VP-CCG	Azur Aviation	ferried 28feb20 NQYNWI for paint prior delivery to?	ex G-TCDX
Airbus A321	-231	2107		A7-ADT	Qatar Airways	ferried 27feb20 DOH-OSR for paint into?	ex D-AVXD
Airbus A321	-231	2234		LY-VEA	Avion Express	ferried 26-27feb20 SGN-CCU-MCT-CAI-CHR after wet-lease to VietJetAir	ex OE-IGB
Airbus A321	-231	3274		9H-LIS	HiFly Malta	ferried 28feb20 LCA-NAP for paint prior wet-lease to Jet2	ex A7-ADV
Airbus A321	-271NXLR	8980		P4-KGB	Air Astana	delivery 28feb20 XFW-TSE	ex D-AVYQ
Airbus A321	-271NXLR	9016		N2039J	jetBlue	delivery 29feb20 XFW-JFK	ex D-AVYT
Airbus A321	-271NX	9164		HA-LVH	Wizz Air	delivery 29feb20 XFW-BUD	ex D-AZAT
Airbus A321	-253NXLR	9187		EI-LRD	Aer Lingus	delivery 27feb20 XFW-DUB	ex D-AVZP
Airbus A321	-251NX	9243		PR-YJB	Azul Linhas Aéreas	delivery 29feb20 XFW-SID-CNF	ex D-AVXG
Airbus A321	-253NX	9318		N411AN	American Airlines	delivery 29feb20 XFW-PIT	ex D-AVYB
Airbus A321	-253NX	9466		N416AN	American Airlines	delivery 28feb20 BFM-TUL	ex F-WZMM
Airbus A330	-203	700		TC-AGL	(AtlasGlobal)	ferried 27feb20 SNN-NAP	ex EI-GEX
Airbus A330	-343	1149		C-GKUG	Air Canada	regd 26feb20 prior delivery ex SIN	ex 9V-STQ
Airbus A330	-941	1949		N405DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 28feb20 TLS-NRT	ex F-WWYM
Airbus A330	-302	1951		EI-EIN	Aer Lingus	delivery 28feb20 TLS-BRU, last built A330-300	ex F-WWCH
Airbus A3350	-941	390		D-AIXP	Lufthansa	delivery 29feb20 TLS-MUC	ex F-WZGC
Airbus A340	-642	787		2-EALL	European Aviation	ferried 27feb20 LDE-BOH	ex G-VWEB
Airbus A350	-1041	372		A7-ANP	Qatar Airways	delivery 27feb20 TLS-DOH	ex F-WZFP
Airbus A350	-941	383		VQ-BFY	Aeroflot	delivery 29feb20 TLS-SVO	ex F-WZGT

Airbus Updates No.2537

Airbus A319	-132	2200		N875UA	United Airlines	delivery 27feb20 XMN-NRT-ANC-ORD	ex B-6039
Airbus A319	-132	2404		N4866U	United Airlines	delivery 24feb20 GYR-LCQ, for paint	ex OE-IHF
Airbus A319	-112	5085		2-WTBB	World Star Aviation	air-test at WOE 28feb20 prior delivery to?	ex 9H-LOL
Airbus A320	-211	93		D-AIPK	Lufthansa	D-reg canx 20feb20, used as traimer by LH Technik at HAM	ex F-WWDQ
Airbus A320	-232	1823		YL-LCP	smartLynx Airlines	posn 25feb20 DGX-BRU on wet-lease TUI Airlines Belgium	ex EI-EZS
Airbus A320	-232	2112		LZ-GNF	Genesis Lease	seen regd 27feb20 at SNN	ex RP-C7937
Airbus A320	-232	2752		OE-IKU	AerCap	ferried 24-25feb20 MTY-YQX-LFBF	ex XA-VAG
Airbus A320	-214	3304		C-GFWX	Air Canada Rouge	delivery 27feb20 GYR-YMX	ex XA-VIP
Airbus A320	-214	4942		N295NV	Allegiant Air	delivery 28feb20 GYR-VQQ, for paint	ex N632AC
Airbus A320	-214	5016		TS-IND	Nouvelair Tunisie	in full cs at BLR 27feb20 prior delivery	ex VT-GOI
Airbus A320	-214	5140		OE-LMJ	LaudaMotion	regd 26feb20, delivery 28-29feb20 CRK-CMB-MCT-CAI-VIE	ex RP-C8618
Airbus A320	-214	6012		F-HBIX	GECAS	ferried 28feb20 LFBF-WOE prior delivery to?	ex F-WWBU
Airbus A320	-216	6178		VT-VNS	AirAsia India	ferried 20-21feb20 DMK-HKG-HYD, HS-reg on transfer, in svc 26feb20 HYD-DEL	ex HS-BBN
Airbus A320	-251NCJ	8403		G-KELT	Acropolis Aviation	onward delivery 27feb20 BSL-FAB after ACJ-config	ex F-WWBJ
Airbus A320	-271N	8987		VT-IJG	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 28feb20 XFW-DEL	ex D-AUAT
Airbus A320	-251N	9323		SE-ROZ	SAS	delivery 28feb20 XFW-CPH	ex D-AUAQ
Airbus A320	-251N	9352		SE-ROL	SAS	delivery 25feb20 XFW-CPH	ex D-AUBR
Airbus A320	-251N	9484		N367FR	Frontier Airlines	delivery 26feb20 BFM-TPA	ex F-WZMO
Airbus A320	-251N	9532		SU-GFM	EgyptAir	delivery 26feb20 TLS-CAI	ex F-WWIV
Airbus A320	-251N	9551		G-TTNK	British Airways	delivery 27feb20 TLS-LHR	ex F-WWDL

Airbus Updates No.2536

Aeroflot welcomes first of 22 Airbus A50XWB on order

Toulouse, Aeroflot – Russian flag carrier Aeroflot took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. With this delivery, Aeroflot became the launch operator of the type in Eastern Europe and the CIS region.

The Russian operator has a total of 22 A350-900 aircraft on order and operates an Airbus fleet of 126 aircraft, including 107 A320 Family jets and 19 A330 Family jets.

Airbus A350-900 has a spacious three-class cabin layout with 316 seats: 28 private Business Class suites with full-flat seats, 24 Comfort Class with extra legroom and 264 Economy Class featuring the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, HD screens, and Wi-Fi connectivity to ensure an enhanced experience for all passengers on long-haul flights.

Aeroflot will deploy its A350-900s on routes between Moscow and London, Dubai, New York, Miami, Osaka, and Beijing. The A350 XWB has a flight range of 9,700 NM. Its Airspace by Airbus cabin design offers passengers and crews a quiet and comfortable flying experience.

Thanks to its aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage, wings, and latest technology Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the aircraft consumes 25% less fuel compared with previous-generation Widebody jets.

As of the end of January 2020, the A350 XWB Family jets received 935 firm orders from 50 operators across the world.

Airbus Updates No.2535

Tigerair Australia to retire A320s; Virgin moots widebodies

Tigerair Australia Airbus A320-200 © Tigerair Australia

27.02.2020 - 23:16 UTC

Tigerair Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine) will retire all remaining A320-200s by October 2020 and transition to an all-B737-800 fleet going forward, parent Virgin Australia Holdings announced in its half-yearly earnings report.

"I'm pleased we can accelerate the transition of Tigerair to an all B737 fleet which will help get the business into a better financial position moving forward," Chief Executive Paul Scurrah said.

The low-cost carrier currently operates nine A320-200s and six B737-800s, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Out of the A320s, two were already scheduled for phase-out this year. The new plan also foresees the other seven aircraft being retired by October 2020. In turn, Tigerair will receive an additional two B737-800s from sister carrier Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l).

In addition to fleet transitioning and downsizing, Tigerair will also terminate five loss-making domestic routes. As of April 28-29, 2020, the airline will cease flying from Sydney Kingsford Smith to Adelaide, Coffs Harbour, and Cairns, from Melbourne Tullamarine to Coffs Harbour, and from Hobart Int'l to Coolangatta/Gold Coast.

"Short-term capacity reductions will be made on the Tasman in Q4FY20 [from April to June 2020] due to weakening demand attributable to coronavirus," the group added.

In total, Virgin Australia Group will reduce its total capacity for the period January-June 2020 by 3%. The holding estimates that the drop in demand caused by the COVID-19 epidemic will have a AUD50-75 million Australian dollar (USD33-49 million) impact on its financial results this fiscal year.

Scurrah also told Reuters that Virgin Australia Group was contemplating a new widebody order to transition to a single-type long-haul fleet. Currently, Virgin Australia operates six A330-200s and Virgin Australia International five B777-300(ER)s.

"We are doing an exploration at the moment. If the deal is worth doing, we absolutely want to do one this year, but it is too early to speculate," Scurrah said.

The group owns one A330-200 and four B777-300(ER)s, while the remainder of its widebody fleet is leased. Scurrah said that if Virgin Australia chooses to place a widebody order, it will target deliveries before the leases start expiring in 2024.

Airbus Updates No.2534

DGCA to audit Air India's Airbus A319s

Air India Airbus A319-100 © Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org

27.02.2020 - 04:12 UTC

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an audit of all A319-100s operated by Air India (AI, Mumbai Int'l) after a passenger complained that a broken panel had obstructed an emergency exit on one of the aircraft, The Economic Times has reported.

"As an immediate corrective action, an engineering order to inspect and rectify the defect has been issued for compliance. As a preventive action, all Airbus 319 aircraft will be inspected to ensure the secured and correct installation of the panel during major checks," the flag carrier told the regulator.

The DGCA spotted the irregularity after a passenger tweeted an image of a panel blocking the emergency exit, potentially obstructing it in need of an evacuation.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Air India currently operates twenty-two A319-100s, which are 11.7 years old on average.

Airbus Updates No.2533

AirAsia X asks for lease deferrals on Airbus A330-300's

Air Asia X Airbus A330-300 © Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

27.02.2020 - 10:01 UTC

AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) has asked lessors to either waive or defer lease payments for its A330-300s due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, Flightglobal has reported citing unnamed sources.

The carrier did not confirm the report but said that its exposure to the crisis is high as over 30% of its pre-epidemic capacity was to and from China.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, AirAsia X operates twenty-four A330-300s, of which twenty are leased from ICBC Financial Leasing, Avenue Capital Aircraft Holdings, BOC Aviation (three each), Aircastle, Asia Pacific Aviation Leasing Group, DAE Capital (two each), China Minsheng Investment Group, Macquarie AirFinance, Sierra Echo Aircraft Leasing, Seraph Aviation Management, and Stratos (one each).

Two unnamed lessors said that they were willing to discuss some relief to the long-haul low-cost carrier but were unlikely to accept lease rate waivers.

Airbus Updates No.2532

Air Greenland to sell its only Airbus A330-200 aircraft

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Air Greenland is putting its only Airbus A330-200 for sale. The company is replacing the 21.5-year-old aircraft with a brand new A330-800.

The airline will receive its first A330neo at the end of 2021.

Air Greenland appointed Skytech-AIC for the sale of its PW4000-powered Airbus A330-200. The aircraft, which was manufactured in 1998 and has been in service with Air Greenland since 2002.

Skytech-AIC is a British aerospace company providing services to airlines and investors in aircraft finance, procurement, remarketing and fleet asset protection.

Airbus Updates No.2531

Airbus A321 converted freighter secures EASA certification

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European authorities have certified the Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion undertaken by the airframer’s EFW joint venture with ST Engineering.

Approval of the supplementary type certificate by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency follows the maiden flight of the initial converted aircraft on 22 January. The aircraft is set to be delivered to Vallair.

ST Engineering had recently stated that it expected to secure certification for the P2F conversion by the end of the first quarter of 2020.

“The swift process in attaining EASA’s STC shortly after our first flight test is a testament to the engineering and design strengths of our P2F solution,” says ST Engineering aerospace president Lim Serh Ghee.

EFW chief Andreas Sperl says the A321P2F “complements” the passenger-to-freight modification it undertakes for the A330.

He says the two fully-containerised decks – with up to 14 positions on the main deck and 10 on the lower – will provide an “ideal replacement” for older converted Boeing 757s.

The aircraft is intended to transport up to 27.9t over a range of 2,300nm.

Source: ST Engineering

Vallair is the launch operator for the A321P2F modification

Airbus says it is “confident” that more operators will show interest in the newly-developed modification as the aircraft enters service.

Lease management firm BBAM signed a general terms agreement at the end of last year for “several” A321P2F conversions, says EFW.

Source: EFW

The A321P2F maindeck cabin

Its first aircraft was inducted in January for modification in Singapore and conversion of a second will start in March.

ST Engineering leasing venture Keystone Holdings has also reached a letter of intent with Qantas for conversion and lease of an A321P2F for delivery at the end of 2021.

Source: EFW

The large maindeck cargo door installed on the port side

Airbus has forecast a market for some 1,000 conversions of small aircraft into freighters over the next two decades.