Airbus Updates No.4446

 

Air Greenland to take delivery of first A320neo by YE27

Air Greenland (GL, Nuuk) has signed a dry-lease agreement with Carlyle Aviation Partners for one A320-200N, the airline announced on its website. Delivery is expected in December 2026 with entry into passenger service planned for spring 2027.

The Greenlandic company intends to utilise the A320neo on the route between new Ilulissat airport, due to open by the end of 2026, and Copenhagen Kastrup, complementing the service of the carrier's bigger A330-800N.

"The delivery time for new Airbus aircraft is currently six to seven years, so we have chosen to lease the aircraft to be ready when the new international airport in Ilulissat opens and to gain financial flexibility as the route is still new," said Jacob Nitter Sørensen, chief executive of Air Greenland.

The lease agreement with Carlyle runs for six years, but the airline will have an option to extend it further into the future. The Nuuk-based carrier revealed that the cockpit of the A320neo will be crewed mostly by A330neo pilots thanks to the commonalities between the two aircraft types.

Air Greenland also plans to train some of its De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8 pilots for the A320neo operations. It further disclosed that maintenance on the new aircraft will be conducted in Copenhagen by SAS Scandinavian Airlines where its A330 is also being serviced.

Air Greenland currently operates ten aircraft, according to the ch-aviation fleets module. The bulk of its fleet consists of seven DHC-8-Q200s and it also has one DHC-8-200 and one Hawker 800XP(2). The Greenlandic airline recently added the A330neo to its fleet, replacing a legacy A330-200. During the summer of 2025, it will also wet-lease a B737-800 from Airseven. Air Greenland's domestic fleet includes H125, H155, and H225 Airbus Helicopters as well.

Airbus Updates No.3874

Air Greenland takes delivery of its A330-800

On 7 December 2022, Air Greenland took delivery of its brand new Airbus A330-800. The aircraft OY-GKN (2020), was handed-over during a ceremony at Toulouse-Blagnac and subsequently left its birthing ground for the airline's base at Kangerlussuaq. It's named Tuukkaq, which is Greenlandic for "harpoon head".

Air Greenland will use its new widebody to replace its current Airbus A330-200 OY-GRN (230), which is over 24 years old already. It will mainly be used on the route between Greenland and Copenhagen.

The airline is joining a very select group of airlines operating the A330-800 as only Kuwait Airways (four aircraft) and Uganda Airlines (two aircraft) have it in their fleets. Together with the prototype, a total of eight A330-800s have been so far produced, making it quite an unique type to spot.

Photo by Airbus.

Airbus Updates No.3790

 

Air Greenland puts its sole A330-200 up for sale

Air Greenland Airbus A330-200© Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org

09.09.2022 - 06:41 UTC

Air Greenland (GL, Nuuk) has listed its sole A330-200 for sale. The airline has appointed Skytech-AIC to handle the transaction which will see OY-GRN (msn 230) leave the airline after 16 years of service. The company-owned plane, which is powered by Pratt & Whitney 4168A engines, is 24 years old and is available from March 2023.

The sale comes as the airline awaits the arrival of an A330-800N (msn 2020) which is due for delivery later this year. "(The) Airbus 330-800neo means an improved customer experience, lower CO2 emissions, more seats and more space for freight across the Atlantic," the airline's 2022 annual report says.

In addition to the A330-200, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows Air Greenland also operates a single DHC-8-200 and six DHC-8-Q200s as well as various helicopters. The airline serves 60 destinations in three countries, with the Airbus jet operating flights to Reykjavik Keflavik (Iceland) and Copenhagen Kastrup (Denmark).

Airbus Updates No.3761

 

First A330neo for Air Greenland painted

On 3 August, the first (and probably only) Airbus A330neo for Air Greenland emerged from the paintshop at Toulouse-Blagnac. The aircraft, an A330-800, is currently registered F-WWCR (msn 2020) and will become OY-GKN. Delivery is expected at the end of this year or early next year.

Air Greenland announced the order for a single A330neo back in December 2020 and will use the new wide-body to replace its current single A330-200 OY-GRN (msn 230), which is almost 24-years old.

The airline mainly deploys its wide body on the route to Copenhagen-Kastrup but it sometimes pops-up at other airports during charter flights.

Airbus Updates No.2970

 Air Greenland Confirms Order For Rare A330-800

Air Greenland has today confirmed its order for the Airbus A330-800. The Greenland flag carrier will become part of an exclusive group of just three airlines that have ordered the variant of Airbus’ popular widebody aircraft.

Air Greenland has confirmed its order for the Airbus A330-800. Photo: Airbus

Many airlines have been put off placing new aircraft orders this year, given all that is going on in the industry. That’s not to say that no orders have been placed, though. Earlier this month, Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair ordered 75 further Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, despite it remaining grounded in Europe for the time being.

Air Greenland’s new order

Airbus today confirmed that Air Greenland had placed an order for a single Airbus A330-800 aircraft. In January, it was revealed that Air Greenland had placed a memorandum of understanding for the aircraft. The airline had been torn between the A330-800 and the Boeing 787. A memorandum of understanding typically has no binding, meaning that it can be walked away from.

A year on from when the MOU was signed, Air Greenland has finally firmed up the order. The A330neo will be used to replace the airline’s 22.3-year-old A330-200 and will connect the island to Denmark, of which it is an autonomous territory.

The aircraft will replace the airlines existing 22-year-old Airbus A330-200. Photo: Getty Images

While most people will fly past Greenland on the way between North America and Europe, a few will stop there, with around 56,000 people living there. Air Greenland’s A330 is used to keep the country connected to Denmark and ferry people and cargo to and from the island.

“The A330neo is a fundamental part of Air Greenland’s eet strategy. The new aircraft will, for years to come, offer travellers to and from Greenland a unique inflight experience while leaving the lowest carbon footprint possible. The A330neo is a perfect fit for the very challenging task of providing safe and efficient all year passenger, cargo and freight services to and from Greenland.”

Joining an exclusive group

With its firm order for the Airbus A330-800, Air Greenland will join a club that currently only includes Kuwait Airways and Uganda Airlines. While over 300 orders have been placed for the larger of the A300neos, only 14 have been placed for the -800 as of November 31st. Two from Uganda Airlines, eight from Kuwait Airways, with the remaining four being undisclosed.

At the end of October, Kuwait Airways became the first airline to take delivery of the Airbus A330-800. The -800 has a smaller payload than its bigger sister, the -900. Hence, fewer airlines have ordered it. However, what the aircraft lacks in payload, it makes up in range, traveling up to 8,150 nautical miles.

Airbus Updates No.2532

Air Greenland to sell its only Airbus A330-200 aircraft

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Air Greenland is putting its only Airbus A330-200 for sale. The company is replacing the 21.5-year-old aircraft with a brand new A330-800.

The airline will receive its first A330neo at the end of 2021.

Air Greenland appointed Skytech-AIC for the sale of its PW4000-powered Airbus A330-200. The aircraft, which was manufactured in 1998 and has been in service with Air Greenland since 2002.

Skytech-AIC is a British aerospace company providing services to airlines and investors in aircraft finance, procurement, remarketing and fleet asset protection.

Airbus Updates No.2454

Air Greenland signs for one Airbus A330-800

Toulouse, France - The Atlantic carrier Air Greenland has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the acquisition of one A330-800, making the airline third known customer of the Airbus' slow-selling widebody jet.

The airline is expected to receive its A330-800 next year. The aircraft will enter into service between Kangerlussuaq Airport in Greenland and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Air Greenland currently has one Airbus A330-200 and several turboprop aircraft in its fleet.

With this order, Air Greenland aims to increase tourism in the Atlantic's remote territory and accelerate the growth of the country's only airline.

Greenland has an unfulfilled business potential regarding tourism, which can create both development and jobs. Combined with new runways in Nuuk and Ilulissat, we will unlock Greenland in a whole new way that will increase tourism and create growth,

said company Chairman Kjeld Zacho Jørgensen, who expects double-digit growth in tourism when the new aircraft joins the carrier's fleet.

With the arrival of its Airbus A330-800, Air Greenland will also launch another direct route to Ilulissat in the Disko Bay from Copenhagen, which is one of the most popular and sought destinations among tourists.

Air Greenland is the third identified operator of the smaller variant of the A330neo family, after Kuwait Airways (eight copies) and Uganda Airlines (two copies).

Last month, the European planemaker Airbus registered an order for four A330-800 from an anonymous customer.

The A330-800 doesn’t have any cost advantage over the A330-900 other than the fuel cost. It consumes less fuel than the larger A330-900. With today’s fuel prices, it doesn't make a remarkable difference.

The A330-900 accommodates 50 more passengers and has a better residual value. The A330-800 seems to have fallen into the trap of a non-loved variant.