Taiwanese airline Starlux Airlines has announced it has reached an agreement with lessors and Airbus to postpone the delivery of its first widebodies to next year. The decision to do so was made based on the slower than expected recovery of the market.
Its first of A330-900s is now set to be delivered in February next year, while the first A350s will be delivered in May 2022. Starlux is planning to use the A330neos on regional routes, while the A350s are to be used for the airline's new international long-haul flights.
Starlux Airlines is planning to add eight A330-900s, of which seven will be leased via Air Lease Corporation. It also has nine A350-900s and eight A350-1000s on order. Currently, it operates five A321neoLRs, which are leased via GECAS. It also has five additional A321neoLRs on order via GECAS.
Speaking to executivetraveller.com, the CEO of Qatar Airways has said it will return the A380 to active duty in November. The airline is doing this to replace the capacity lost by the grounding of thirteen of its A350s as well as an increase of demand. Initially, the airline is set to reactivate five of its ten A380s but the whole fleet could fly again in 2022 depending on the development of market conditions.
Over the last year, the CEO of Qatar Airways has been quite bullish on the future of its A380s saying that the aircraft was one of the biggest mistakes of the airline as well as environmentally not the best aircraft. However, in the interview with the website, the CEO said the grounding of the A350s due to fuselage degradation wasn't foreseen and changed the situation in a dramatic way.
In the coming weeks, Qatar Airways will rehire its A380-pilots which were laid-off when the A380s were parked for an indefinite period. The pilots will need to train to regain their currency which also includes (empty) A380-flights. At the same time, Qatar has started the necessary steps to check and perform maintenance on the five A380s to return them to duty.
Less than a year after deferring deliveries of some of its firm-ordered A320neo Family aircraft, Greece's Aegean Airlines (A3, Athens Int'l) has agreed with the manufacturer to reschedule their delivery timeline again, but this time accelerating them.
"During last year, because of the dramatic effects of the pandemic, we renegotiated the stretching out of that order, basically reduced deliveries, especially for 2021-22, pushing deliveries back to 2023-24, and even added 2025-26 as a tail end. During this year, in the second quarter, as we gradually saw things recovering, we decided to take action together with Airbus primarily but also with some of the other parties and renegotiate the delivery profile, especially in 2022-23, with the intent of actually accelerating deliveries," Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis said during the carrier's quarterly earnings call.
According to the newly renegotiated delivery timeline, the airline will add just one new aircraft by the end of 2021, but 12 in 2022 and a further ten in 2023. In total, Aegean Airlines has outstanding orders for twenty A320-200Ns and eight A321-200NXs, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.
The accelerated deliveries will cause the carrier to pay EUR100 million (USD117 million) in net pre-delivery payments to Airbus in the second half of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.
"The message out of all this is that we've decided to go to a core of thirty A320neo aircraft as fast as we can," Vassilakis said.
Currently, the airline's fleet comprises five A320-200Ns and four A321-200NXs, as well as one A319-100, thirty-two A320-200s, and ten A321-200s.
Vassilakis also said that the carrier would focus more on building up its network out of Athens Int'l, its main hub. In 2020 and 2021, it moved some of its routes to island destinations as demand for direct flights was higher than for "urban" connections. While this trend persists, the demand for travel to Athens is also growing.
"The strategy is to re-strengthen Athens as we go forward due to two trends, whether it is Athens as a starting point for a vacation using a car or Athens as a connecting point to some of the smaller islands that don't have direct flights... You should expect Athens going forward to be a higher part of the overall activity of Aegean because the hub does work, and we need to retain that advantage against our competitors. And Heraklion and Thessaloniki will be the other two points where we would expect to see further growth," Vassilakis said.
Currently, 36.5% of all Aegean's scheduled departure seats are out of Athens Int'l. Heraklion and Thessaloniki have a 5.9% and a 5.2% share, respectively, the ch-aviation capacities module indicates
Emirates has unveiled a special livery to promote the Expo 2020 in Dubai, which is set to start on 1 October 2021 and will end 31 March 2022. The livery, applied on A380 A6-EEU (147) is the airline's first full nose-to-tail livery and looks quite spectacular.
The A380 was presented to the world on 28 September and made its first commercial flight in the livery on 29 September, flying as EK215 to Los Angeles (CA).
Air France Accepts First Airbus A220 Ahead Of October Flights
Air France has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220 aircraft. The airline became the second French carrier to take the jet, behind Reunion-based Air Austral. The airline will begin flying the first of its 60 aircraft order with the start of the IATA winter schedule on October 31st.
Air France has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220 aircraft. Photo: Air France
More carriers around the world are slowly adopting the Airbus A220. Its efficiency makes it a popular replacement to some older generation aircraft, and now Air France has taken note of its latest order. With its order of 60 Airbus A220s, Air France is currently on track to become the largest A220 operator in Europe.
Airbus A220 arrival
Today, Air France took delivery of its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The jet, registered as F-HZUA, flew from Canada to Paris last night. The airline then officially took delivery of the aircraft at its Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport home.
The delivery comes as the first of many. By 2025, Air France hopes to have 60 of the smallest Airbus product in operation. The fleet is expected to primarily replace the aging A318s and A319s operated by the carrier, but they will also replace some A320 aircraft.
What to expect from the A220
As is standard on the Airbus A220, Air France has equipped its cabins with a 2-3 seating layout. Interestingly, the columns of seats are A, C, D, E, and F, skipping B on the left-hand side of the aircraft. 80% of the 148 seats onboard the aircraft have a window or aisle. At the front of the cabin is a small business cabin, followed by an economy cabin.
According to Air France, its seats have a width of 48cm (18.9 inches). These recline to 118 degrees. The seats come with ergonomic leather seat cushions, a table, a cup holder, and a pouch for documents. Each seat also has USB A and C ports, which means passengers can power their devices while using the in-flight WiFi.
Each seat comes with power and cup holders. Photo: Air France
Launch routes
According to aviation data experts Cirium, Air France is yet to place the Airbus A220 on any specific flights in its schedule. However, the airline did give us a clue as to where we’ll see the aircraft flying. The aircraft will begin flying for the French flag carrier in a month on October 31st. This is the day that the IATA winter schedule begins, and thus, it is a natural day for the aircraft to enter service.
The aircraft will initially be used for short-haul intra-European jaunts. Initial destinations have been listed as,
By the end of the winter season, Bologna (Italy), Rome (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), and Copenhagen (Denmark) should’ve also been added to the A220 network.
The airline will begin flying the jet on October 31st. Photo: Air France
Commenting on the aircraft’s delivery, Air France-KLM CEO, Benjamin Smith, said,
“This new aircraft with an unparalleled energy performance represents a major asset for Air France. To date, fleet renewal is the main source of reducing CO2 emissions, and this is why we are continuing to invest in latest-generation aircraft.”
According to CH-Aviation, Condor will add two A330-200s to its fleet. A first one is expected to arrive before the end of this year, the second early next year. Both are reported to be former Etihad Airways-aircraft currently stored at Teruel.
The airline is adding the A330-200s to train cockpit and cabin-crew and prepare the airline for the arrival of its first A330-900 in the autumn of next year.
Condor has ordered seven A330-900s with Airbus directly and signed a lease-agreement for nine more. The airline will use the new Airbuses to replace its ageing fleet of fifteen B767-300ERs.
HS-LAQ (msn 1956) was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac to Bangkok Don Mueang on September 20, 2021, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It has yet to be deployed into revenue service. ch-aviation sources in Thailand indicate the aircraft may initially be used for cargo-only operations as Thailand remains largely closed to international travellers. Thai Lion Air did not respond to a request for comment.
The Lion Air Group subsidiary ventured into the widebody market in 2017, when it took deliveries of its first three A330-300s, the ch-aviation fleets history module shows. In 2019, it added two A330-900s. The -300s were retired and returned to parent airline Lion Air in late 2019 and early 2020, while the two -900s were transferred to Indonesia in May 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic grounded most of the international travel in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s flyadeal Celebrates Three Airbus A320neo Deliveries
Saudia-owned low-cost carrier (LCC) flyadeal is celebrating its fourth anniversary on September 23, 2021, with the delivery of three brand new A320neos from Airbus. The Middle East’s fastest-growing airline shared details on its social media channels on September 15, 2021.
flyadeal is a Saudi Arabian LCC. Photo: Airbus
Speaking about how it exceeded growth expectations during challenging times, flyadeal says that its game-changing initiative has allowed it to become Saudia Arabia’s first successful LCC. The decision to create the King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)-based airline was inspired by the Saudi Vision 2030.
What is Saudi Vision 2030?
First announced by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on April 25, 2016, Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic plan to wean Saudia Arabia away from its dependence on oil. Saudia Arabia hopes that by diversifying its economy and developing public sectors, it can become less dependent on fossil fuels for revenue. Critical goals for Saudi Vision 2030 include:
Reinforcing economic and investment activities
Increasing non-oil international trade
Developing tourism
Promoting a softer and more secular image of the Kingdom
The vision also includes massive military spending aimed at the Kingdom being able to manufacture its own military equipment and ammunition.
flyadeal is targeting young people
During an event at the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, to mark the arrival of the third new Airbus A320neo Director General Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, His Excellency Eng. Alomar said:
“flyadeal is a prime example of the Saudi vision 2030. It demonstrates the potential of the Kingdom’s aviation sector. Lower fares from flyadeal will enable more people to travel, encouraging trade and tourism.”
When flyadeal launched in 2017, it did so exclusively using digital and social media channels to demonstrate the fast-growing potential of the marketplace. flyadeal thinks that its youthful inviting brand and vibrant purple and lime-colored livery will appeal to young people.
When speaking about flyadeal’s approach in a company statement Con Korfiatis, CEO of flyadeal, said:
“We are designed for today’s price-conscious and tech-savvy customer and, in a market where 80% of the population is less than 40 and has at least two mobile phones. This is a country that is ripe for technological innovation and e-commerce.”
When flyadeal launched, it did so with a small fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft offering inexpensive seats on flights between Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh. In less than a year, flyadeal had upped its weekly flights to 392, becoming the second-largest airline on the region’s highest traffic route.
flyadeal’s exceptional growth within the Saudi domestic market now sees the airline operating over 600 flights with a fleet of 15 Airbus A320 aircraft. In July, flyadeal began international operations with a new route between Riyadh and Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates. The Jeddah-based LLC has more international routes planned but is yet to announce them.
flyadeal will offer more international destinations
Regarding more international destinations, these will probably start to materialize as flyadeal receives more A320neos from Airbus. According to ch-aviation flyadeal now has four Airbus A320neos with a further 27 due to be delivered before 2025. flyadeal also has an option to purchase a further 20 A320neos from Airbus.
Currently, flyadeal only has one international destination. Image: flyadeal
When speaking about the order with the European planemaker at the Paris Air Show in 2019, flyadeal CEO Con Korfiatis said:
“The Airbus A320neo aircraft features a brand-new seating concept, providing greater legroom and comfort for our customers. It features 60% more overhead storage space and a new ambient mood lighting concept. It will also deliver a more fuel-efficient performance and give us the range to open up more new destinations.”
flyadeal is currently operating 18 domestic routes within Saudi Arabia and is responsible for many firsts in the Kingdom, including employment opportunities for Saudi women to become pilots, cabin crew, or airport managers.
