Airbus Updates No.4136

 Condor places orders for additional A330-900s

Condor has decided to order additional A330-900s with Airbus. On 26 October 2023, the airline announced it has ordered three additional aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.

With this latest order, Condor has now ordered and secured leases for a total of 21 A330-900s. So far, ten of these have been delivered to the airline. Next to these, Condor's fleet exists of 21 A321s, eleven A321s, five A330-200s, nine Boeing B757-300s, and four B767-300ERs.

Airbus Updates No.4135

 

US's Spirit Airlines grounds 25 A320 Family aircraft

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-200N© Airbus

26.10.2023 - 13:32 UTC

Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International) pulled 25 planes from service late last week to perform inspections, which the low-cost carrier said was happening "out of an abundance of caution." The all-Airbus operator operates 207 narrowbody aircraft.

Spirit said the checks were "necessary" and would impact its flight schedules. “While this action is being taken out of an abundance of caution, the impact to our network is expected to last several days as we complete the inspections and work to return to normal operations,” the airline's statement reads.

ADS-b data reveals that the airline cancelled 11% of its flights on October 20, 9% on October 21, and 8% on October 22. By October 23, the start of the current working week, the cancellation rate fell to 1% and was less than that the following day. While scores of Spirit's aircraft are impacted by the recall of certain Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, FlightGlobal reports that these aircraft went out of service to facilitate inspection of airframe brackets for possible fatigue cracks. A 2018 airworthiness directive details the issue that affects first-generation A320 Family jets but not newer A320neo types.

Spirit operates sixty-two A320-200s and thirty A321-200s among its broader fleet, which also includes twenty-three A319-100s, eight-two A320-200Ns, and eight A321-200NX. It says it will deal with any problems before returning any aircraft to service. However, the airline did not say how long it would take to complete the inspections of the 25 planes. Spirit Airlines did not respond to a request from ch-aviation for further details.

Airbus Updates No.4134

 

Germany's City Airlines confirms Summer 2024 launch

Lufthansa Airbus A319-100© Lufthansa Group

27.10.2023 - 07:02 UTC

City Airlines (VL, Munich) will commence flight operations with A319-100s in the summer of 2024, with recruitment for cockpit and cabin crews beginning in November 2023, the airline group announced.

The Lufthansa Group subsidiary, which received its air operator certificate (AOC) in June, will operate from Munich and Frankfurt International, flying alongside Lufthansa CityLine (CL, Munich) in providing short-haul feeder flights to sister carrier Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International). The Group said the strategy was for City Airlines to strengthen the two hubs, expand the short-haul network, and support the growth of Lufthansa's long-haul operations. "The competitive strengthening of the short-haul network is essential for the market position of Lufthansa Group and for the planned growth of the long-haul segment in the German market," the holding said in a statement.

Operations will start with A319s (presumably from Lufthansa) while considering using other similar-sized aircraft, such as A220s or Embraers. The new airline took over a single A319-100, D-AILX (msn 860), from Lufthansa CityLine to fulfil its AOC requirements.

"With City Airlines, we want to create prospects for the coming decades and secure sustainable jobs in Germany. This is the only way for us to grow and sustainably strengthen the hubs in Munich and Frankfurt," commented City Airlines Managing Director Jens Fehlinger.

Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr previously disclosed the Group ultimately looks to equip City Airlines with 40 narrowbodies of 120 to 140-seater Embraer E-jets or A220s. He said a decision would probably be made during this IATA winter.

City Airlines is to accommodate pilots from former subsidiary germanwings (4U, Cologne/Bonn), which shuttered flight operations in 2021. An initially expected launch in mid-2023 was delayed by 18 months of labour talks with trade unions over a long-term collective bargaining agreement in the Group, to avoid previous disparate pilot incomes resulting from separate labour negotiations within the respective airlines in the Group. This resulted in the Lufthansa Group Collective Bargaining Commission, which centralises collective labour negotiations.

Airbus Updates No.4133

 

US’s JetBlue inks ten more A220, A321neo sale/lease-backs

JetBlue A321neo(LR)© Sebastian White/JetBlue

26.10.2023 - 14:23 UTC

JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) has entered into another sale-and-leaseback agreement with BOC Aviation, this time covering eight A220-300s and two A321neo aircraft through BOC Aviation (USA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Singapore-based, Hong Kong-listed lessor.

A stock market filing says BOC Aviation (USA) will lease the Airbus aircraft back to the airline under finance lease transactions that are expected to close in 2023.

It is the third finance lease agreement that BOC and JetBlue have signed recently, bringing the tally to 27 aircraft. Deals inked in June and September covered two A321neo and five A220s, and five A321neo and five A220s, respectively.

According to ch-aviation fleets advanced data, JetBlue currently operates twenty A321-200NX, of which it owns 14 and leases the other six from DAE Capital. It also operates nine owned A321-200NX(LR)s. The American carrier’s fleet of A220s consists of nineteen owned aircraft. It has a further eighty-one A220s as well as thirty-four A321-200NX, nine A321-200NX(LR)s, and thirteen A321-200NY(XLR)s on firm order from the manufacturer.

Airbus Updates No.4132

 

American Airlines buys 10 Airbus A321neo from Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-200© Alaska Airlines

23.10.2023 - 13:32 UTC

American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) has bought ten second-hand A321-200Ns from Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International), the latter revealed in its quarterly earnings report.

Alaska Airlines retired the ten aircraft, which are just 5.6 years old on average, at the end of September 2023, as it pursues its fleet unification strategy centred on Boeing narrowbody jets. The aircraft were initially contracted by Virgin America on lease from GECAS in 2015. Only four were delivered to the low-cost carrier before its takeover by Alaska Airlines, while the other six entered into service directly with Alaska Airlines.

The ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows that Alaska Airlines owned one of the ten aircraft, while the other nine were leased - four from Jackson Square Aviation, two each from AerCap and SMBC Aviation Capital, and one from Merx Aviation Finance. The carrier recorded a USD14 million gain on the "interest expense associated with certain A321neo lease agreements which were modified as part of Alaska's fleet transition".

American Airlines already operates seventy A321-200NX and has four more on order from Airbus (as well as fifty A321-200NY(XLR)s). All of its current A321neo were delivered directly from the manufacturer.

Airbus Updates No.4131

 

Airbus A321	-212	796		F-GTAE	Air France	ferried 19oct23 CDG-LDE for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVZN
Airbus A321	-231	3458		YI-	Global	at EMA 15oct23 after paint, VP-reg prior delivery	ex VP-CGA
Airbus A321	-211	5808		C-	Air Canada	delivery 17-18oct23 TPE-CTS-ANC-MZJ, B-reg	ex B-16206
Airbus A321	-251NX	11468		TC-RDU	Pegasus Airlines	delivery 20oct23 XFW-SAW	ex D-AVZA
Airbus A321	-271NX	11500		N44501	United AIrlines	delivery 16oct23 XFW-KEF-CLE-IAH	ex D-AXXH
Airbus A321	-271NXLR	11542		EI-KGK	Air Astana	delivery 23oct23 XFW-ALA	ex D-AVYM
Airbus A321	-271NX	11607		N544DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 19oct23 BFM-MSP	ex F-WZMW
Airbus A321	-251NX	11632		B-32F9	Chengdu Airlines	delivery 19-2oct23 XFW-NQZ-CTU	ex D-AZAT
Airbus A321	-231	6002		YR-FIC	Fly One Airlimes	ferried 18oct23 LDE-KUN, VP-reg prior delivery	ex VP-BEK
Airbus A330	-343	896		D-AIKK	Discover Airlines	ferried 19oct23 CHR-FRA after pant prior transfer	ex F-WWYX
Airbus A330	-243	1293		EC-ODB	Iberia	delivery 20oct23 ISL-MAD, 9H-reg	ex 9H-GKL
Airbus A330	-243	1306		CP-	Boliviana de Aviación	air-test at WOE 18oct23, 2-reg after paint prior delivery	ex 2-HXFD
Airbus A330	-343(F)	1378		B-	Air Hong Kong	delivery 20-21oct23 DRS-BAH-HKG, M-reg prior paint	ex M-IRTK
Airbus A330	-343	1427		2-AODZ	FPG Amentum	ferried 21oct23 LETL-CHR, all white	ex A4O-DZ
Airbus A330	-243F	1594		OO-SEA	Air Belgium	ferried 16oct23 BRU-CHR on return to lessor	ex A7-AFH
Airbus A330	-243(MRTT)	2043		T-	NATO	ferried 20oct23 TLS-LEGT for MRTT-config, EC-reg	ex EC-347
Airbus A340	-642	787		G-ECLN	European Cargo	regd 20oct23 at BOH	ex 9H-PPE
Airbus A350	-941	602		HL8522	Asiana Airlines	delivery 19oct23 TLS-ICN	ex F-WWXL
Airbus A350	-941	607		B-32FP	China Eastern	delivery 18oct23 TLS-PVG	ex F-WWIW
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55225		N225BZ	Breeze Airways	delivery 17oct23 BFM-TPA	ex C-GPCA

Airbus Updates No.4130

Airbus A319	-111	2456		JU-1188	Aero Mongolia	delivery 20-21oct23 LJU-GYD-UBN	ex 9H-AKI
Airbus A319	-111	2812		G-EZAW	easyJet	ferried 17oct23 LTN-MME for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVYU
Airbus A319	-111	3651		EC-KUB	Iberia	ferried 18oct23 NWI-MAD after pant into full cs	ex 2-EKUB
Airbus A319	-111	3744		EC-LEI	Iberia	ferried 19oct23 MAD-NWI for paint	ex 2-EILC
Airbus A319	-153N	11046		B-32AJ	Tibet Airlines	delivery 20oct23 TSN-CTU	ex B-007W
Airbus A320	-233	2014		PR-MBT	Latam Brasil	ferried 19-21oct23 QSC-BEL-MIA-P08, for part-out & scrap ex	ex N20MQ
Airbus A320	-214	3325		F-HZDP	Air Corsica	ferried 16/18oct23 AJA-CHR-AJA for mx*	ex M-ABJC
Airbus A320	-232	3354		9H-SWJ	Avion Express Malta	posn 20-21oct23 DUS-KEF-YUL-SDQ for Sky Cana wet-lease ops	ex HA-LPN
Airbus A320	-214	3503		PK-PWK	Pelita Air Service	delivery 17-20oct23 DHN-GYR-HNL-MAJ-BIK-CGK	ex N638VA
Airbus A320	-232	4247		LZ-FSA	Fly2Sky	posn 15oct23 SOF-LOS, Unied Nigeia Airlines cs prior wet-lease ops	ex OE-IPF
Airbus A320	-214	5004		N852VA	Alaska Airlines	ferried 19oct23 VCV-GSO prior delivery to?	ex F-WWDL
Airbus A320	-214	6640		OE-IDO	easyJet Europe	re-regd 20oct23 at LCA prior delivery	ex OE-ISQ
Airbus A320	-214	7699		D-AIWB	Discover Airlines	ferried 16oct23 BTS-MUC after paint prior transfer	ex D-AXAI
Airbus A320	-214	8716		CC-BLP	Latam Group	delivery 17oct23 VCV-GYE, VP-reg	ex VP-COY
Airbus A320	-251N	10037		VT-ATD	AirAsia India	ferried 19oct23 HSR-BKR after paint into new Air India Express cs	ex F-WWIM
Airbus A320	-251N	10409		HK-5368	Avianca Colombia	ferried 18oct23 GUA-SAL-MDE after paint	ex F-WWIC
Airbus A320	-271N	11163		TC-LUV	AnaduluJet	delivery 20oct23 XFW-SAW, Go First cs, for paint	ex D-AUBA
Airbus A320	-251N	11697		VT-IQH	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 13oct23 TLS-DEL	ex F-WWBF
Airbus A320	-251N	11716		EC-OCS	Iberia	delivery 19oct23 TLS-MAD	ex F-WWDE
Airbus A320	-251N	11728		HZ-NS72	Flynas	delivery 16oct23 TLS-RUH	ex F-WWIX

credit: Skyliner Aviation News

Airbus Updates No.4129

 

1st Airbus A320neo for Transavia France painted

Recently, we could show you picture of the first A321neo being assembled for Transavia, now we can also show you the first A320neo for Transavia France. The Airbus, currently registered F-WWDD (11918), was photographed at Toulouse-Blagnac on 19 October 2023. Once delivered, it will be registered as F-GNEO.

The A320neo is part of the 100 A320neo/A321neos Air France-KLM ordered in 2022. The airline group also holds options on another 60 A320neo-family aircraft.  It also has secured various lease-agreements for the type to speed-up the introduction of the new Airbuses. Assignment to KLM and both Transavia's will happen based on needs and fleet renewal planning.

Transavia will be the first airline to receive the A321neo later this year. Transavia France will follow a bit later with this A320neo. The first new Airbus for KLM, which will be an A321neo is expected for delivery in September 2024.

Airbus Updates No.4128

 

Airbus A350	-941	245		HS-THR	Thai International	delivery 16oct23 MLA-DMK	ex OE-IPX
Airbus A350	-941	607		B-32FP	China Eastern	delivery 18oct23 TLS-PVG	ex F-WWIW
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55225		N225BZ	Breeze Airways	delivery 17oct23 BFM-TPA	ex C-GPCA

Airbus Updates No.4127

 

Airbus A321	-231	2799		G-MEDM	British Airways	ferried 26-27sep23 MAD-LCA-DOH-HYD-CAN for P2F-conversion	ex D-AVZP
Airbus A321	-231	3458		YI-	Global	at EMA 15oct23 after paint, VP-reg prior delivery	ex VP-CGA
Airbus A321	-231(F)	3669		TC-MYB	MNG Airlines	delivery 13-14oct23 XSP-DEL-ERZ-IST, all white	ex D-AAER
Airbus A321	-211(F)	5133		D-AEUJ	Lufthansa CityLine	delivery 03-05oct23 DHN-BOS-KEF-MUC Lufthansa Cargo cs	ex OE-LCK
Airbus A321	-231	5350		EC-OCT	Privilege Style	OE-regd 10oct23 by TC Skyward Aviation at NQY prior delivery	ex OE-IHU
Airbus A321	-211	5808		C-	Air Canada	delivery 17oct23 TPE-CTS-ANC, B-reg	ex B-16206
Airbus A321	-231	6100		N579UW	American Airlines	ferried 10oct23 AMA-DFW after paint into Allegheny heritage cs	ex D-AZAF
Airbus A321	-251N	7807		SE-RKB	Novair	ferried 09oct23 NRK-PRG prior return to lessor	ex D-AVZB
Airbus A321	-251NX	11415		VT-ICO	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 12oct23 XFW-DEL	ex D-AXXQ
Airbus A321	-271NX	11470		N709NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 12oct23 XFW-KEF-DTW	ex D-AVZI
Airbus A321	-271NX	11487		9H-WDZ	Wizz Air Malta	delivery 12oct23 XFW-BUD	ex D-AVYR
Airbus A321	-271NX	11500		N44501	United AIrlines	delivery 16oct23 XFW-KEF-CLE-IAH	ex D-AXXH
Airbus A321	-271NX	11505		G-WUKY	Wizz Air UK	delivery 11oct23 XFW-LTN	ex D-AXXP
Airbus A321	-272NX	11518		HL8531	Korean Airlines	delivery 11-12oct23 XFW-TAS-GMP	ex D-AVXR
Airbus A321	-271NXLR	11543		XA-VXN	VivaAerobus	delivery 14oct23 XFW-KEF-BGR-MTY	ex D-AVZV
Airbus A321	-271NX	11608		N705NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 13oct23 BFM-DTW	ex F-WZMV
Airbus A321	-251NX	11720		G-SUNF	Jet2	delivery 13oct23 XFW-MAN	ex D-AYAQ
Airbus A330	-343(F)	1378		M-IRTK	DHL Air	air-test at DRS 12oct23 prior paint & delivery	ex D-AAAV
Airbus A330	-343	1427		2-AODZ	FPG Amentum	ferried 17oct23 LETL-CHR, all white	ex A4O-DZ
Airbus A330	-343	1510		VP-CSE	JLPS Leasing	ferried 13oct23 LDE-DRS for P2F-conversion	ex RP-C8760

Airbus Updates No.4126

 

Airbus A319	-132	2622		N510NK	Spirit Airlines	ferried 13oct23 IAH-P08 on return to lessor	ex D-AVYT
Airbus A320	-214	1571		LZ-EAF	Electra Airways	posn 10oct23 VAR-SOF	ex LY-VEB
Airbus A320	-214	3325		F-HZDP	Air Corsica	ferried 16/18oct23 AJA-CHR-AJA for mx*	ex M-ABJC
Airbus A320	-214	3503		PK-PWK	Pelita Air Service	delivery 17oct23 DHN-GYR-HNL	ex N638VA
Airbus A320	-232	4247		LZ-FSA	Fly2Sky	posn 15oct23 SOF-LOS, Unied Nigeia Airlines cs prior wet-lease ops	ex FOE-IPF
Airbus A320	-214	5619		N188NV	Allegiant Air	delivery 11-14oct23 CRK-MNL-GUM-HNL-IWA, RP-reg	ex RP-C3274
Airbus A320	-214	6320		G-EJCP	easyJet	delivery 12oct23 MPL-ERF, regd 13oct23	ex OE-IBT
Airbus A320	-216	6702		9M-RAW	AirAsia	first in svc 10oct23 KUL-BKI-KUL	ex JA01DJ
Airbus A320	-214	7699		D-AIWB	Discover Airlines	ferried 16oct23 BTS-MUC after paint prior transfer	ex D-AXAI
Airbus A320	-214	8716		CC-BLP	Latam group	delivery 17oct23 VCV-GYE, VP-reg	ex VP-COY
Airbus A320	-271N	10160		RP-C	Cebu Pacific Air	air-test at OSR 13oct23, VP-reg prior delivery	ex VP-BSL
Airbus A320	-251N	10691		HK-5390	Avianca Colombia	delivery 11oct23 GUA-SAL-MDE after paint	ex F-WWDS
Airbus A320	-271N	11446		TC-LUZ	Turkish Airlines	delivery 12oct23 TLS-SAW, for paint	ex F-WWBH
Airbus A320	-272N	11688		EI-HOB	ITA Airways	delivery 12oct23 TLS-FCO	ex F-WWTM
Airbus A320	-251N	11697		VT-IQH	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 13oct23 TLS-DEL	ex F-WWBF
Airbus A320	-251N	11705		VT-RTF	Air India	delivery 11oct23 TLS-DEL	ex F-WWBY
Airbus A320	-251N	11719		HZ-NS69	Flynas	delivery 12oct23 TLS-RUH	ex F-WWBO
Airbus A320	-251N	11728		HZ-NS72	Flynas	delivery 16oct23 TLS-RUH	ex F-WWIX
Airbus A321	-231(F)	974		YL-LDZ	smartLynx Airlines	delivery 13oct23 MPL-RIX	ex N974M
Airbus A321	-211	1503		N413GX	Global Express Airlines	delivery 11-12oct23 SOF-KEF-PSM-IAB, for P2F-conversion	ex LZ-MDL

credit: skyliner Aviation News

Airbus Updates No.4125

 

MEA parks part of its fleet in Istanbul

Due to safety concerns, MEA has announced it has decided to park part of its fleet in Istanbul. The aircraft were already not in use daily due to the summer season being over. The airline did also communicate it will continue to operate all of its scheduled flights as planned.

According to the airline's statement, MEA will park at lease four A321neos and one A330 in Istanbul. So far the following aircraft have now been put into temporary storage:

• A321-271NX T7-ME3 (10000), arrived in Istanbul 15 October 2023
• A321-271NX T7-ME4 (10068), arrived in Istanbul 13 October 2023
• A321-271NX T7-ME5 (10147), arrived in Istanbul 15 October 2023
• A330-243 OD-MEB (998), arrived in Istanbul 13 October 2023

MEA's active fleet now consists of nine Airbus A320s, six A321neos,

Airbus Updates No.4124

 

United welcomes first Airbus A321neo

On 16 October 2023, the first United Airlines Airbus A321neo was ferried to Houston (TX) on delivery. The aircraft, A321-271NX N44501 (11500) was handed over at the Airbus-factory at Hamburg on 10 October 2023. Originally, the aircraft was due to ferry on 13 October but this flight was cancelled. The delivery route was Hamburg-Reykjavik-Cleveland-Houston.

The delivery is the first factory fresh Airbus-delivery for United Airlines since 2002. It's also the first of 180 A321neos the airline has on order. Earlier this month, United announced that it has added 60 additional orders for the type.

Initially, United Airlines is planning to fly its new Airbus from Chicago (IL) to Fort Lauderdale (FL) and Phoenix (AZ). Commercial service is due to begin early December.