Airbus Updates No.4569

 

Air Europa signs MoU for up to 40 Airbus A350-900

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18 November 2025 – Spanish airline Air Europa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for up to 40 A350-900 aircraft. The agreement forms the backbone of Air Europa’s long haul fleet replacement and was announced during  the Dubai Airshow. 

The introduction of the A350 will accelerate the renewal of Air Europa’s existing competitor long haul fleet and boost profitable growth to key markets in Latin America thanks to the aircraft’s unrivalled performance and economics. Passengers will also experience exceptional best in class comfort.

“This order is a strategic milestone in Air Europa’s fleet development, accelerating its profitable growth by renewal of the current widebody fleet,” said Juan Jose Hidalgo, President of Air Europa. “The A350-900 is a game-changer for key destinations in Latin America. It provides an exceptional cabin experience and the operational performance and economics needed to expand the airline's network without compromise, delivering the highest standards in air travel.”

“We are proud to welcome Air Europa into the Airbus A350 family. This order is a strong endorsement of the A350 as the benchmark widebody platform for efficiency and passenger comfort in the long-haul market,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We are committed to supporting Air Europa’s ambitious growth strategy as they leverage the A350’s capabilities for their future long-haul operations.” 

​The A350 is the world’s most modern widebody aircraft, designed to fly up to 9,700 nautical miles / 18,000 kilometres non-stop, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. The aircraft includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its latest generation Rolls-Royce engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. The A350’s unique Airspace cabin offers passengers and crews the latest modern in-flight products for a comfortable flying experience.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 is able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

At the end of October 2025, the A350 Family had won over 1,400 orders from 64 customers worldwide.

Airbus Updates No.3829

 

UK’s Hans Airways firms A330 lease ahead of late 2Q22 launch

Hans Airways A330-200 Mockup© Hans Airways

01.04.2022 - 09:46 UTC

Hans Airways (GKS) has firmed the letter of intent it signed in January for its first aircraft, A330-200 msn 950, with a committed contract, it said in a statement on March 30.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the aircraft is a 13.7-year-old jet, formerly EC-KTG with Air Europa (UX, Palma de Mallorca) and currently in maintenance at Abu Dhabi Int'l. The remarketed aircraft is owned and managed by Carlyle Aviation Partners and will be re-registered as G-KJAS.

It is “undergoing maintenance checks with Etihad Airways Engineering, overseen by a Hans Airways liaison engineer,” the British hybrid-service long-haul start-up said.

The Hans management team aims to secure a proving flight date imminently from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a precursor to obtaining its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for which it submitted its application in March 2020.

Hans Airways now plans to start commercial flight operations in early summer, with scheduled secondary-city air links between the United Kingdom and India. CEO Satnam Saini told ch-aviation in December that it would initially launch scheduled services out of Birmingham Int'l. Cabin crew training is currently taking place both in Birmingham and Manchester.

Airbus Updates No.3731

 UK-India Startup Hans Airways Signs LOI For Its First A330-200

UK-based startup Hans Airways has taken a step closer to realizing its ambitions with a letter of intent (LOI) for its first aircraft. The airline has today announced the agreement for an A330-200, and has applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its Air Operators Certificate. It hopes to launch services as soon as this summer.

Hans Airways has signed up for its first aircraft. Photo: Hans Airways

First A330 for Hans

Hans Airways, a brand new UK airline, has today revealed that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for its first aircraft. The airline is looking forward to receiving an A330-200 later this year, with high hopes to begin operations before the summer is out.

The A330 in question carries MSN 950, and is a 13.5-year-old A330-200 that has been in service with Air Europa since its construction. It was delivered new to Air Europa as EC-KTG in September 2008, and is on lease from  Carlyle Aviation Partners. According to data from RadarBox.com, the aircraft left Spain at the end of December, and is currently in maintenance at Abu Dhabi.

Hans Airways shares that the A330 will be re-registered G-KJAS – a nod to one of the airline’s principal early investors, Kirpal Singh Jass. It will retain its current Air Europa cabin layout, which features 275 economy and 24 premium economy seats. In a statement, the airline’s CEO Satnam Saini commented,

“We are delighted to have achieved this very important milestone in our two-year journey. Our scheduled operations centre on the Airbus A330, a popular and spacious long-haul widebody, excellent for cargo too, and we are grateful to everyone who has helped us to ratify this agreement at the start of the new year.”

EC-KTG in its current livery for Air Europa. Photo: Victor via Flickr

The airline applied for its AOC in March 2020 and is hopeful of approval in the coming weeks. Dependent on the timescales for this, and the situation with global travel restrictions, it hopes to launch services before the end of the summer.

Moving ahead

Hans Airways began recruiting crew back in August last year. The airline says that the first set of flight crew, comprised of four pilots and cabin crew, began training on January 3rd with its training partner IAGO Flight Training.

Looking to connect the UK to secondary cities in India, the airline is working to set up a base in Birmingham (BHX). Although it hasn’t named any Indian cities specifically yet, its website showcases Amritsar, which could be a lucrative destination for a direct Birmingham flight.

The A330s will be in two classes – premium economy and economy. Photo: Hans Airways

While this market is going to be relatively price sensitive, Hans Airways isn’t going all out to be a low-cost airline for these routes. It states that it intends to operate a hybrid model, combining great value for money with some of the more in-demand frills such as inflight entertainment and catering.

The airline has put together a board of directors with some pretty impressive CVs. Non-executive director Dr Barry Humphreys is a former regulator with the UK CAA and a former director of Virgin Atlantic. Fellow non-executive director Dr Peter Malanik is the former CEO of Austrian Airlines. And the Chairman, Ruchir Verma, has worked with Microsoft, Zurich Insurance and various other corporate projects. Similarly, the leadership team has officers formerly employed by the likes of easyJet, BA CityFlyer, TUI, Virgin, and more.

While the jury is still out on whether the UK to India market needs another player, Hans Airways clearly believes in its strategy. It has already planned a frequent flyer program and is keenly eyeing the start of operations later in the year.

Airbus Updates No.3318

 World2Fly’s First Airbus A350 Rolls Out Of The Paint Shop

Spanish airline startup World2Fly has recently announced that it has reached another milestone as it looks to begin service this year. Its first Airbus A350 has received the airline’s livery at the European manufacturer’s paint shop in Toulouse, France. The airline sees the A350 as an environmentally conscious choice for its proposed transatlantic operations.

World2Fly revealed its first A350 yesterday in Toulouse, France. Photo: Airbus/World2Fly via Twitter

World2Fly’s first A350

World2Fly took to Twitter yesterday to show the world its first Airbus A350. The new Spanish leisure carrier’s ‘XWB’ aircraft was greeted with sunny weather at Airbus’s French base. This made for picturesque conditions in which to showcase the plane. By the time of the aircraft’s reveal, it had also paid a visit to the paint shop.

World2Fly’s livery is simple but functional, with just enough dashes of orange and turquoise to catch the eye. According to Planespotters.net, the brand-new A350-900 will bear the registration EC-NOI. At the time of its reveal, it was wearing its Airbus test registration of F-WZHI. This aircraft had previously been an option for Aeroflot, but it was not taken up.

As well as enhancing passenger experience, World2Fly also wants its A350 to represent its commitment to sustainable aviation. Regarding the aircraft, the airline states:

“Not only has it has been designed to reduce pollution, resulting in 25% less fuel burn and fewer CO2 emissions, but it is also quieter than other aircraft and helps reduce the effects of jetlag.”

Where will it fly?

As Simple Flying explored last December, World2Fly is a Spanish leisure airline startup with transatlantic ambitions. Its website suggests that it will connect the country with popular Latin American holiday destinations. Thus far, it has listed the following locations:

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
• C
• ancún, Mexico.
• Havana, Cuba.

The airline is priding itself in its sustainable and innovative approach. This will place a strong emphasis on both its environmental impact and passenger comfort. Indeed, it states that passengers “will feel on holiday before you even reach your destination.”

Another Airbus

The A350 is, in fact, the second aircraft to don the airline’s colors. Indeed, in January this year, World2Fly revealed its first-ever painted plane in the form of an Airbus A330-300. Unlike the A350-900, this aircraft received World2Fly’s colors in Dublin, Ireland.

This aircraft also contrasts with the A350 in the sense that it is not brand-new. Indeed, Planespotters.net reports that it is over 11 years old, having first been delivered to Iberworld in March 2010. It has since flown for a hatful of largely Spanish airlines.

However, it has also seen spells further afield in the likes of Chile, Indonesia, and, closer to home, France. Its most recent spell saw it fly for Air Europa under the registration EC-LXR, which it appears that the aircraft will retain. Throughout its career, it has featured an all-economy, 388-seat onboard configuration.

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Airbus Updates No.2468

Air Atlanta Icelandic to add two Airbus A330-200s 

© Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org

28.01.2020 - 04:33 UTC

Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC, Reykjavik Keflavik) is in the process of adding two A330-200s, its first units of the type, for onward placement with Saudia (SV, Jeddah) under dry-lease.

According to Gatwick Spotters, the two Airbus widebodies will be delivered in April 2020; msn 749 will be registered as TF-EAC and msn 745 as TF-EAD.

Both units are 13.8 years old and are owned by GECAS. They were retired by Air Europa (UX, Palma de Mallorca) in September and October 2019 and subsequently stored at a number of locations, including Woensdrecht, Châteauroux, Palma de Mallorca, and Bordeaux. Currently, both are at Teruel airport.

Air Atlanta Icelandic already operates seven B747-400s and one B747-400(F) for Saudia, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. It operates a further six B747-400(F)s and one A340-300.

Air Atlanta Icelandic's Vice President (Sales & Marketing), Unndór Jónsson, told ch-aviation in January last year that the ACMI/charter specialist was looking at acquiring both the B777 and A330 to replace its ageing B747 fleet.

"The B777 and the A330 would be a good strategic fit to Air Atlanta Icelandic’s B747-400 aircraft, initially to supplement the existing fleet and as a replacement in coming years. At this stage, I, however, cannot confirm any specific," Jónsson added in an e-mailed statement.

Earlier this month, it started advertising for B777 type-rated flightcrew to be based out of Jeddah effective immediately.

Saudia does not have any in-house A330-200s but already wet-leases seven such aircraft from Onur Air (8Q, Istanbul New). The Saudi flag carrier also operates forty-six A320-200s, fifteen A321-200s, thirty-two A330-300s (including twenty Regionals), two B747-8(F)s, four B777-Fs, thirty-five B777-300(ER)s, three B787-10s, and thirteen B787-9s. It also wet-leases four B747-400(F)s from AirACT (9T, Istanbul Atatürk).