Wednesday 30 September 2020

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.

Airbus-A220-France-UK-Egypt-Delivery
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.

Airbus Updates No.2855

 

Sri Lanka's Spark Air to lease Airbus A330s

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 NamuJakarta Soekarno-HattaSemarangSurabaya, 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

TypeScheduled Carrier
BaseHambantota

Airbus Updates No.2854

 

Greece's Sky Express to add A320s

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

Tuesday 29 September 2020

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 

Saturday 26 September 2020

Airbus Updates No.2851

 

GLOBALX signs LOI for five A321 P2F freighters

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 (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 A320neo
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
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.

A380 Hi Fly
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, Airbus A380, Cargo A380
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

Total Pageviews

Airbus Updates No.4254

  Bees Airlines from Romania receives AOC Start-up Bees Airlines from Romania has received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) on 20 Ma...

Airbus Blogs

Blog Archive

Top 10 Award

Airbus Blogs

Labels