Airbus Updates No.4368

 

United Airlines to dry-lease twenty Airbus A321neo

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has signed a dry-lease contract with SMBC Aviation Capital for twenty A321-200NX.

The agreement was inked in April 2024 but the identity of the lessor was not disclosed at that time. SMBC said the aircraft would be drawn from its Airbus order book and deliver in 2026-2027.

SMBC has a portfolio of six owned A321-200Ns (and a further two managed), forty-one A321-200NX (and 35 managed), and two owned and managed A321-200NX(LR)s in terms of its A321neo fleet. Its existing order book with the manufacturer comprises a further 52 of the type, of which five are listed as A321-200NX(LR)s, according to the ch-aviation fleets module.

United Airlines currently leases twenty B737-8s from SMBC.

The US carrier operates fifteen A321-200NX and has a further 115 on a direct order from Airbus. In April, it said it would add a further thirty-five A321-200NX on leases, including the now-unveiled deal with SMBC. The carrier also has fifty A321-200NY(XLR)s on order.

Airbus Updates No.4367

TAAG takes delivery of 1st Airbus A220

On 20 September 2024, TAAG Angola Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A220. The aircraft, A220-300 D2-TAA (55294) was handed over at the Airbus-factory at Mirabel in Canada.

Next to being its first A220, the Airbus is also the first aircraft in the fleet to wear the airline's new livery that was unveiled earlier this year.

TAAG has secured leases for up to fifteen A220s, which it will use to replace its current narrowbody jet fleet of eight Boeing B737-700s.

Photo by Airbus.

Airbus Updates No.4366

 NBA to lease Airbus A321neos

According to Corporate Jet Investor, the US National Basketball Association is planning to lease its own fleet of Airbus A321neos that it will use to facilitate the transportation of NBA-teams.

The article posted by CJI states that the NBA is in talks with lessor SMBC for the lease of thirteen A321neos and that they will be reconfigured into a VIP lay-out by Comlux in Indianapolis (IN). It also states that the aircraft are, most likely, to be operated by Delta Air Lines.

Delta is already covering the majority of current NBA-flights and has a fleet of eleven Boeing B757-200s that are configured in a VIP-configuration seating up to 72 passengers. As the average age of these eleven Boeings is more than 34 years, replacement by newer generation aircraft makes sense.

Airbus Updates No.4365

 

Airbus A350	-941	363		HB-IHF	Edelweiss Airlines	ferried 14sep24 SNN-LETL, OE-reg after paint prior delivery	ex OE-LHG
Airbus A380	-861	191		A6-APE	Etihad Airways	ferried 13sep24 LETL-AUH prior rtn to svc	ex F-WWSA
Airbus Camada A220	-300	55298		VH-X4D	QantasLink	delivery 13-16aug24 YMX-YVR-HNL-NAN-CBR	ex C-FOWQ
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55059		5B-DEC	Cyprus Airways	delivery 31aug24 CAI-LCA, all white, seen regd 11sep24	ex SU-GEY

Airbus Updates No.4364

 

Airbus A321	-231(F)	2247		SU-SKF	Sky Vision Airlines	delivery 13-14sep24 XSP-KHI-CAI	ex D-AATB
Airbus A321	-231	2261		9H-SLM	smartLynx Airlines Malta	ferried 13sep24 NQY-EMA, N-reg, for paint	ex N261JF
Airbus A321	-271NXLR	11886		EI-HXG	ITA Airways	delivery 23sep24 XFW-FCO	ex D-AVQQ
Airbus A321	-271NX	11976		TC-LPJ	Turkish Airlines	delivery 17sep24 XFW-IST	ex D-AYAE
Airbus A321	-251NX	11993		B-HPR	Cathay Pacific	delivery 18-19sep24 XFW-DWC-HKG	ex D-AXXX
Airbus A321	-271NX	12014		9H-WNQ	Wizz Air Malta	delivery 20sep24 XFW-BUD	ex D-AVZI
Airbus A321	-253NX	12017		A9C-XF	Gulf Air	delivery 18sep24 XFW-BAH	ex D-AYAQ
Airbus A321	-251NX	12025		VT-IRX	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 13sep24 XFW-DEL	ex D-AYAG
Airbus A321	-271NX	12035		N730NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 19-20sep24 XFW-KEF-DTW	ex D-AVZR
Airbus A321	-271NX	12042		N584DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 18sep24 XFW-KEF-MSP	ex D-AVZN
Airbus A321	-271NX	12057		D-ANMW	Condor	delivery 18sep24 XFW-DUS	ex D-AXXO
Airbus A321	-251NX	12152		VT-IWM	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 19sep24 XFW-DEL	ex D-AVZT
Airbus A321	-271NX	12178		N732NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 16sep24 BFM-DTW	ex F-WZME
Airbus A330	-343(F)	1071		N5843K	Hawaiian Airines	delivery 23sep24 DRS-KEF-BGR prior paint and Prime Air ops	ex F-WTAN
Airbus A330	-343	1103		EC-ODR	Wamos Air	delivery 15sep24 BRU-MAD	ex F-HROK
Airbus A330	-202	1252		OE-IIP	Air Lease Corp	ferried 16sep24 FCO-DRS, for P2F-conversion, seen regd 20sep24	ex EI-EJK
Airbus A330	-343	1315		HS-TEV	Thai International	ferried 17-18sep24 CHR-NQY-LHR, G-reg, after paint prior delivery	ex G-VNYC
Airbus A330	-343	1329		HS-	Thai International	erried 20sep24 BHX-CHR, G-reg for painr prior delivery	ex G-VGBR
Airbus A330	-343(F)	1408		B-LDZ	Air Hong Kong	air-test at HKG 21sep24 prior svc entry	ex M-MPSD
Airbus A330	-243F	1683		EI-LKC	ASL Airlines Ireland	posn 17sep24 BHX-LEJ, DHL partner cs	ex F-HMRG

Airbus Updates No.4363

 

Airbus A300	B4-622R(F)	717		D-AZMN	EAT Leipzig	re-regd 13sep24 at LEJ after transfer	ex EI-OZL
Airbus A318	-112CJ	3886		OE-IGH	Jet Pool Network	regd 17sep24, parked at TSN	ex B-55411
Airbus A319	-112	1745		LY-FAA	Avion Express	delivery 20sep24 KUN-VNO	ex EI-IMI
Airbus A319	-132	2490		VH-8NS	Network Aviation Australia	delivery 19-22sep24 BQN-PHX-HNL-APW-CMS-PER, QantasLink cs	ex N506NK
Airbus A320	-232	483		N417UA	United Airlines	ferried 14sep24 DEN-MZJ, for part-out & scrap	ex F-WWIT
Airbus A320	-214	2939		B-6301	Spring Airlines	ferried 16-17sep24 SJW-CTSANC-GWO, for part-out & scrap	ex F-WWIO
Airbus A320	-216	3729		YR-ABC	Carpatair	delivery 18sep24 LFBF-ARW, OE-reg	ex OE-LGX
Airbus A320	-232	4874		B-LPT	Hong Kong Airlines	air-test at HKG 13sep24	ex B-50007
Airbus A320	-232	6343		EI-KBN	FlyArystan	ferried 15sep24 ALA-GUW-EMA for paint into?	ex P4-KBN
Airbus A320	-271M	7563		VP-CJG	Jackson Square Aviation	ferried 19-20sep24 HYD-DWC-FNI	ex VT-WGG
Airbus A320	-271N	7571		VP-CJI	Jackson Square Aviation	ferried 13/19-20sep24 DEL-HYD-DWC-LETL	ex VT-WGH
Airbus A320	-271N	8077		RP-C4350	Cebu Pacific Air	delivery 12-14sep24 VO95-BLR-MNL	ex VT-IVJ
Airbus A320	-271N	8498		VP-CEY	SMBC Aviation Capital	ferried 19/23sep24 BLR-HYD-SHJ-OSR	ex VT-WGY
Airbus A320	-271N	9358		VP-CFP	CCB Financial Leasing	ferried 19sep24 DEL-HYD	ex VT-WJP
Airbus A320	-271N	11130		2-TWDC	Sky Leasing	ferried 13-14sep24 DEL-MCT-MPL	ex VT-WDC
Airbus A320	-252N	12265		F-HXSF	Transavia France	delivery 17sep24 TLS-ORY	ex F-WWBF
Airbus A320	-251N	12268		VT-IXK	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 20sep24 TLS-DEL	ex F-WWID
Airbus A320	-271N	12279		CS-TVN	TAP Portugal Airlines	delivery 21sep24 TLS-LIS	ex F-WWDE
Airbus A320	-251N	12280		TS-INL	Nouvelair	delivery 20sep24 TLS-MIR	ex F-WWBT
Airbus A321	-211	1921		6V-AMD	Air Sénégal	ferried 16-19sep24 DSS-NKC-AGA-CHR-TNG after storage for repairs	ex F-WTAH

credit: Skyliner Aviation News

Airbus Updates No.4362

 

Airbus A330	-343	1074		VP-CRU	AerGo Capital Leasing	air-test at BKK 08sep24 prior delivery to?	ex HS-TES
Airbus A330	-302	1370		TC-	Turkish Airlines	ferried 06sep24 SNN-WOE, VP-reg after paint prior delivery	ex VP-CWJ
Airbus A330	-941	2069		N430DX	Delta Air Lines	delivery 04sep24 TLS-MSP	ex F-WWKQ
Airbus A350	-941	680		N524DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 07sep24 TLS-ATL	ex F-WZNP
Airbus A380	-841	38		D-AIMA	Lufthansa	ferried 13sep24 LETL-FRA prior rtn to svc	ex F-WWSH
Airbus A380	-861	191		A6-APE	Etihad Airways	ferried 13sep24 LETL-AUH prior rtn to svc	ex F-WWSA
Airbus Canada A220	-100	50077		LZ-LIS	Bulgaria Air	delivery 10sep24 YMX-OSL-SOF	ex C-FPDR
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55287		N238BZ	Breeze Airways	delivery 06sep24 BFM-TPA	ex C-GPMU
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55291		F-HPNL	Air France	delivery 05sep24 YMX-CDG	ex C-FPBQ
Airbus Canada A220	-300	55292		N3215J	jetBlue Airways	delivery 03sep24 YMX-BOS	ex C-FPBZ

Airbus Updates No.4361

 

Airbus A319	-132	2978		N527NK	Spirit Airlines	ferried 09sep24 IAH-P08, for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVXD
Airbus A320	-232	500		N421UA	United Airlines	ferried 03sep24 DEN-MZJ, for part-out & scrap (+ 487 N419UA 07sep24 DEN-MZJ, + 503 N422UA 06sep24 ORD-MZJ)	ex F-WWDZ
Airbus A320	-232	504		N423UA	United Airlines	ferried 09sep24 ORD-MZJ, for part-out & scrap	ex F-WWBO
Airbus A320	-232	2167		TR-	Fly Gabon	delivery 11-12sep24, DGX-LBV-JNB basic Etihad cs, N-reg	ex N2167
Airbus A320	-214	5058		N854VA	Bank of Utah	ferried 12-13sep24 LCQ-BGR-KEF-WOE	ex F-WWBG
Airbus A320	-271N	7074		VP-CEM	SMBC Aviation Capital	ferried 05-06sep24 DEL-HYD-SHJ-OSR	ex VT-WGB
Airbus A320	-232	7262		ZS-SZF	South African Airways	first I svc 03sep24 JNB-DUR-JNB	ex 2-KMOL
Airbus A320	-271N	7571		VP-CJI	Jackson Square Aviation	ferried 13sep24 DEL-HYD	ex VT-WGH
Airbus A320	-271N	8643		VP-CJQ	Jackson Square Aviation	ferried 07-09sep24 BLR-HYD-DWC-FNI	ex VT-WJD
Airbus A320	-271N	11052		2-ADAE	DAE Capital	ferried 05sep24 DEL-SAW	ex VT-WDA
Airbus A320	-251N	11991		B-32HK	Spring Airlines	delivery 04sep24 TSN-PVG	ex B-007J
Airbus A321	-231	1711		8Q-FBB	BeOnd	delivery 03sep24 HYD-MLE	ex LZ-FSC
Airbus A321	-231(F)	2190		VP-CTU	BOC Aviation	air-test at SAT 06sep24 prior delivery to?	ex G-MEDJ
Airbus A321	-271NX	11916		N725NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 04sep24 XFW-KEF-DTW
Airbus A321	-251NX	11984		VT-ICB	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 06sep24 XFW-DEL	ex D-AXXT
Airbus A321	-251NX	11992		B-KKI	Hong Kong Express	delivery 07-08sep24 TLS-MCT-HKG	ex F-WWSH
Airbus A321	-271NX	12105		N585DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 11sep24 BFM-MSP	ex F-WTMB
Airbus A321	-271NX	12174		N654FR	Frontier Airlines	delivery 07sep24 BFM-TPA	ex F-WZMA
Airbus A321	-271NX	12178		N723NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 13sep24 BFM-DTW	ex F-WZME
Airbus A330	-223	1002		9H-HFL	HiFly Malta	delivery 12sep24 CHR-LPBJ	ex VP-BUB

credit: Skyliner Aviation News

Airbus Updates No.4360

First Airbus A321neo for Icelandair emerges

Icelandair has shared photos of its first Airbus A321neo emerging after painting. The airline is set to take delivery of A321-200NX TF-IAA (12213) in November. By the start of next year's summer season, it expects to have taken delivery of three more.

In total, Icelandair is set to lease seven A321-200NXs, five via SMBC (one of which is this one), and two from CDB Aviation Leasing. The seven aircraft are an interim solution for the thirteen A321-200NYs the airline has on order directly with Airbus and which are planned for delivery from 2029 onwards.

Icelandair will use its new A321neos to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing B757s. Currently, the airline's fleet is made-up of seventeen B737-8s, four B737-9s, twelve B757-200s, two B757-300s, three B767-300ERs, and two B767-300ERBCFs.

Photo by Icelandair.

Airbus Updates No.4359

CDB Aviation to order A320neo-family aircraft

In a statement issued on 11 September 2024, the aviation lessor arm of the China Development Bank, CDB Aviation, announced it is set to place an order with Airbus for A320neo-family aircraft.

In total, the leasing company will order 80 aircraft that are expected to be delivered to CDB-customers between 2030 and 2032.

Currently, the lessor has open orders with Airbus for eleven A320neos and 28 A321neos.

Illustration by Airbus.

Airbus Updates No.4358

 Airbus August 2024 orders & deliveries

August 2024 was not all about summer vacation for Airbus as the manufacturer noted down orders for 46 aircraft. It also was able to deliver 47 Airbuses. The details are as follow:

Ordered were:

• 10 A220-300s by airBaltic
• 30 A330-900s by Cathay Pacific
• 3 A320neos by a Private customer
• 3 A350-900s by a Private customer

Delivered were:

• 2 A320neos to Air Astana
• 2 A320neos to Air Cairo
• 1 A220-300 to Air France
• 1 A350-900 to Air France
• 1 A220-300 to Breeze Airways
• 1 A320neo to British Airways
• 1 A321neo to Cathay Pacific
• 1 A320neo to China Eastern Airlines
• 2 A321neos to Condor
• 1 A321neo to Delta Air Lines
• 1 A320neo to flyadeal
• 2 A321neos to Frontier Airlines
• 1 A320neo to Huaxia Airlines
• 2 A320neos to IndiGo
• 5 A321neos to IndiGo
• 1 A320neo to ITA Airways
• 1 A350-1000 to Japan Airlines
• 1 A321neo to Jet2
• 3 A220-300s to JetBlue Airways
• 1 A321neo to Jetsmart
• 1 A321neo to Juneyao Airlines
• 1 A321neo to KLM
• 1 A321neo to Korean Air
• 1 A321neo to My Freighter
• 3 A321neos to Spirit Airlines
• 1 A320neo to Spring Airlines
• 1 A350-900 to STARLUX Airlines
• 1 A321neo to Turkish Airlines
• 2 A350-900s to Turkish Airlines
• 1 A330-900 to Virgin Atlantic
• 2 A321neos to Wizz Air
• 1 A321neo to Xiamen Airlines

Over 2024, Airbus has now received 432 orders and nineteen cancellations, leaving a net of 413 orders. The number of deliveries this year stands at 447.

Airbus Updates No.4357

New special livery for an Emirates Airbus A380

Emirates has unveiled a new special livery on one of its Airbus A380s. This time, the airline is promoting The Emirates Airlines Foundation, its non-profit charity organisation.

The A380 involved is A6-EEP (138), which was in for maintenance in August and returned to service with its new livery on 31 August 2024.

Emirates now has five A380s in a special livery:

• A6-EEP (138), The Emirates Airlines Foundation livery
• A6-EES (140), Destination Dubai livery
• A6-EEU (147), Destination Dubai livery
• A6-EOE (169), Wimbledon Official Partner livery
• A6-EOT (204), Destination Dubai livery

Photo by Emirates.

Airbus Updates No.4356

 

Cathay Pacific inspects A350 engines after fuel nozzle issue

Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International) says it has identified 15 affected aircraft out of its 48-strong A350 fleet after an engine part failure in a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine powering an A350-1000 flight to Zurich earlier this week, causing it to return to Hong Kong and the carrier to ground its entire A350 fleet.

Reuters reported that the failure on the Airbus widebody was caused by a faulty fuel nozzle. In a September 2 statement, Cathay Pacific said all of its operational A350s were inspected over a 24-hour period.

"In total, we have identified 15 aircraft with affected engine components that require replacement, and three have already gone through successful repairs," the statement said. "The remaining aircraft will continue to be out of service until they have been repaired and cleared for operation. We expect that all affected aircraft will resume operations by September 7."

Cathay Pacific operates eighteen A350-1000s and thirty A350-900s. The -900s use Rolls Royce Trent XWB-84 engines. Following the September 1 incident, Cathay paused A350 operations pending inspections and consequently cancelled dozens of flights. "This component was the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide," the carrier's statement added.

In its own statement, Rolls Royce said it was “committed to working closely with the airline, aircraft manufacturer, and the relevant authorities to support their investigation into this incident.”

The ch-aviation fleets module shows there are eighty-eight A350-1000s in service worldwide. In addition to those at Cathay Pacific, there are three of the type at Air Caraibes Atlantique, eighteen at British Airways, five at Etihad Airways, two at French Bee, five at JAL - Japan Airlines, twenty-four at Qatar Airways, and twelve at Virgin Atlantic, plus one testbed aircraft at Airbus. Airbus data indicates a further 209 A350-1000s are on order.

Airbus Updates No.4355

 

Maldives' BeOnd takes first Airbus A321-200

BeOnd (B4, Malé) has taken delivery of its first A321-200 to support its network expansion and increase its operational readiness.

8Q-FBB (msn 1711) was ferried from Hyderabad International to Malé on September 3, 2024, and operated via Kuwait to Oslo Gardermoen the next day. The 22.5-year-old aircraft formerly operated by Fly2Sky underwent total cabin refurbishment and is currently configured for up to 68 passengers in an all-business class layout with lie-flat seats only. The aircraft is on lease from Aerovista.

The aircraft joined BeOnd's hitherto only aircraft, A319-100 8Q-FBA (msn 2119), which seats up to 44 passengers.

The scheduled premium leisure carrier currently connects Malé with Riyadh, Dubai World Central, Zurich, and Milan Malpensa. The two European destinations are served via Dubai. BeOnd recently secured fifth-freedom rights to sell tickets for the Zurich-Dubai leg only. It said that the A321 will be used to expand its network to Europe, Dubai, and Bangkok.

Airbus Updates No.4354

 

Cyprus Airways resumes Airbus A220 growth

Cyprus Airways (CY, Larnaca) has taken delivery of its third A220-300, resuming this subfleet growth despite earlier concerns about the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines.

Lessor Azorra Aviation said it had redelivered one of its twelve A220-300s acquired from EgyptAir earlier this year to the Cypriot carrier. SU-GEY (msn 55059) was ferried from Cairo International to Larnaca on August 31, 2024, and is due to become 5B-DEC. The aircraft is of 2020 vintage.

Cyprus Airways plans to take another A220-300 from Azorra, this time brand-new, by the end of 2024.

The Cypriot carrier already operates two units of the type on lease from Air Lease Corporation. While it initially planned to grow the subfleet to 12 units - including six on a prospective order directly from Airbus Canada - it took a step back on these plans earlier this year due to the prevailing engine issues. It did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment regarding its current plan to grow the A220 fleet beyond the two units from Azorra.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows the airline also operates two A320-200s.

Azorra placed another of the ex-EgyptAir A220s with Breeze Airways earlier this year. The other ten aircraft remain stored at Cairo International. The lessor has an unfilled firm order for 20 more units directly from the manufacturer.