Airbus Updates No.1982

Airbus A310	‑304(F)	425		15003	Canadian Armed Forces	ferried 07nov18 FCO-YTR after paint into VIP cs	ex C-FWDX
Airbus A319	-113	625		F-GPME	Air France	to be ferried 08nov18 ORY-DGX, for part-out & scrap	ex D-AVYQ
Airbus A319	-115	8499		B-304M	Tibet Airlines	delivery 05nov18 TSN-CTU	ex B-000L
Airbus A320	-212	528		LY-COM	Avion Express	ferried 07nov18 AYT-STR after sumer-lease to Sun Express	ex VP-BRB
Airbus A320	-232	709		LY-VEQ	Avion Express	ferried 05nov18 AYT-MAD after summer-lease to Sun Express	ex B-2459
Airbus A320	-214	828		LY-VEF	Avion Express	ferried 06nov18 STR-EGBP after summer lease to Condor	ex 9A-SLA
Airbus A320	-214	888		ES-SAK	smartLynx Estonia	in svc** 06-07nov18 CDG-NAP-CDG	ex EI-EZA
Airbus A320	-214	936		ES-SAO	smartLynx Estonia	ferried 31oct18 CRL-DJE-MIR after summer-lease to TUI Airlines Belgium	ex YL-LCK
Airbus A320	-214	1005		LY-VEW	Avion Express	ferried 06nov18 AYT-TLV after summer lease to Sun Express	ex N115MT
Airbus A320	-214	1054		D-ASPI	Small Planet Airlines Germany	ferried 02-03nov18 PAD-KEF-FAR-GYR on return to lessor	ex VQ-BNR
Airbus A320	-214	1571		LY-VEB	Avion Express	ferried 06nov18 AYT-CHR after summer lease to Sun Express	ex G-OZBW
Airbus A320	-232	1723		SP-HAG	Small Planet Airlines Polska	ferried 06nov18 WOE-KEF-YQB	ex OE-IDN
Airbus A320	-214	1725		ES-SAS	smartLynx Estonia	posn 01nov18 LGW-LIS on wet-lease to Azores Airlines	ex HK-4817
Airbus A320	-232	1979		9H-AHR	Air Malta	ferried 05nov18 MLA-BHX on return to lessor, reg SX-KAT res	ex EC-LQJ
Airbus A320	-214	2233		YL-LCT	smartLynx Airlines	ferried 06nov18 CWL-WOE after summer lease to Thomas Cook Airlines	ex VP-BWM
Airbus A320	-232	2689		XU-720	Sky Angkor Air	ferried 01/03-04nov18 BHX-CHR-RKT-REP after summer lease to Thomas Cook Airlines, LY-reg	ex LY-NVX
Airbus A320	-232	2928		OE-LOB	Laudamotion	delivery 05nov18 SAW-SNN	ex TC-JPC
Airbus A320	-232	2934		VN-	Bamboo Airways	ferried 05nov18 IST-SAW, TC-reg prior delivery	ex TC-JPD
Airbus A320	-232	2987		LY-SPB	Small Planet Airlines	ferried 04nov18 VNO-SHJ	ex P4-UAS
Airbus A320	-233	3581		ER-00001	Fly One	ferried 05nov18 KIV-PGF	ex 2-DLLB

Airbus Updates No.1981

British Airways to add first A350 in early 3Q19

Fleet of British Airways © British Airways

04.11.2018 - 20:41 UTC

British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) will take delivery of its first of eighteen A350-1000s on order from Airbus in July 2019. A total of four are due by the end of next year.

CEO Alex Cruz said during an IAG International Airlines Group Investor Day presentation that the aircraft will be the first to feature the carrier's new Club World seat. It will feature a total of 331 seats in a three-class configuration and will likely be deployed where the current four-class, 334-seater B747-400s are deployed.

Cruz also stated that the first of twelve B787-10s will arrive from Boeing in 2020.

British Airways' longhaul fleet currently constitutes thirty-six B747-400s (due to exit in 2024), five B767-300(ER)s (retirement imminent), twelve A380-800s, three B777-200s (to be retired in 2019), forty-three -(ER)s, twelve B777-300(ER)s, eleven B787-8s, and eighteen B787-9s.

According to IAG's current fleeting plan, despite rising fuel prices, Iberia will only complete retiring its fleet of seventeen A340-600s in 2022.

Airbus Updates No.1980

VietJetAir firms up MOU for fifty A321neo

VietJetAir Airbus A321-200N © VietJetAir

02.11.2018 - 11:24 UTC

VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi) has finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for fifty additional A321neo.

The deal, which was announced during the 2018 Farnborough Air Show, was signed during French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's visit to Hanoi on Friday, November 2.

The Vietnamese LCC has existing orders for seventy-three A321neo of which three have thus far been delivered. As such, the new-order aircraft will deliver from 2020 onwards.

VietJetAir operates twenty-three A320ceo and twenty-nine A321ceo.

Airbus Updates No.1979

Air New Zealand adds first A321neo

Illustration of Air New Zealand Airbus A321-200N © Airbus

01.11.2018 - 23:10 UTC

Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland Int'l) has taken delivery of its first A321neo following the handing over of ZK-NNA (msn 8496) on Wednesday, October 31.

Featuring Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM engines, the twinjet is one of five A320neo Family aircraft to deliver to Air New Zealand through 2019 from Air Lease Corporation’s order book with Airbus.

Air New Zealand is expecting a total of fourteen A321neo (leased and direct order) to deliver from Airbus between now and 2020. The jets will feature a single cabin layout with 214 seats.

The first seven will be deployed primarily on key Trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes with the second batch of seven to be deployed on domestic New Zealand trunk routes.

Airbus Updates No.1978

Airbus in talks with HNA Group, Emirates over order books

Airbus A380-800 © Airbus

01.11.2018 - 00:47 UTC

Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) is in separate talks with HNA Group and Emirates regarding their respective order books, Reuters has reported.

In its 3Q18 financials, the European manufacturer said it had to resolve "certain commercial challenges" in its A330ceo and A380 programmes that are targeted for completion by the year-end.

Sources familiar with developments subsequently told the news agency that among the issues Airbus was facing included the delivery of A330ceo jets to the cash-strapped Chinese conglomerate's various airline units.

According to Bloomberg, HNA has courted ICBC Financial Leasing and Minsheng Financial Leasing over the potential sales/lease back of at least ten A330s it currently has on order from Airbus. Given HNA's well-known liquidity issues, Airbus halted deliveries to some of HNA’s subsidiary airlines in the first half of the year because of non-payment, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg in July. However, seven A330s have since been delivered to HNA airlines as of the end of September.

Concerning Emirates, Reuters said Airbus's talks with the carrier focussed on the timing of its undelivered A380-800s which, as of September 30, numbered 57. The Dubai-based carrier is the largest operator of the type in the world.

In early October, Bloomberg again reported that Emirates' order for twenty-five Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered A380s could be delayed beyond 2020 after engines delivered failed to meet performance requirements, price and fuel burn in particular.

Airbus Updates No.1977

Greece's Ellinair opens Athens base

Ellinair Airbus A319-100 © Ellinair

01.11.2018 - 09:09 UTC

Ellinair (EL, Thessaloniki) has announced it has opened a base at Athens Int'l using a single A320-200.

According to the Greek leisure specialist, the narrowbody jet will serve to expand its winter season offerings out of the Greek capital through the launch of flights to Rhodes and Krasnodar (Russia) as well as 2x daily flights to Thessaloniki. Ellinair also serves Heraklion.

The base, its third after Kerkyra and Thessaloniki, will employ 30 people and, demand provided, could see the addition of a second A320.

Ellinair operates two A319-100s and two A320-200s on scheduled flights connecting points in Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Germany with mainly leisure destinations in Greece.

Airbus Updates No.1976

Date:	31-OCT-2018
Time:	10:44
Type:	Airbus A330-203
Owner/operator:	Air France
Registration:	F-GZCI
C/n / msn:	502
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Unknown
Location:	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG) -    France
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG)
Destination airport:	Sint Maarten-Juliana Airport (SXM/TNCM)
Investigating agency:	BEA

Narrative:
Air France flight AF498, an Airbus A330-203 (F-GZCI), contacted Delta Air Lines flight DL97, an Airbus A330-323 (N817NW) while both aircraft were taxing for departure at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. 
The Delta A330 suffered damage to the left-hand winglet. The Air France aircraft suffered unreported damage. Both flights were canceled. 

Date:	31-OCT-2018
Time:	10:44
Type:	Airbus A330-323
Owner/operator:	Delta Air Lines
Registration:	N817NW
C/n / msn:	843
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Location:	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG) -    France
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG)
Destination airport:	Detroit-Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW/KDTW)
Investigating agency:	BEA

Narrative:
Air France flight AF498, an Airbus A330-203 (F-GZCI), contacted Delta Air Lines flight DL97, an Airbus A330-323 (N817NW). 
The Delta A330 suffered damage to the left-hand winglet. The Air France aircraft suffered unreported damage. Both flights were canceled. 

Airbus Updates No.1975

Airbus A321	-231	878		OY-RUU	Danish Air Transport	ferried 31oct18 PRG-CPH after wet-lease to CSA Czech Airlines	ex B-2370
Airbus A321	-231	2216		YL-LCV	smartLynx Airlines	ferried / in svc 30oct18 AGP-LCA-TLL after summer-lease to Jet2	ex F-WTDH
Airbus A321	-231	2234		LY-VEA	Avion Express	erried 01nov18 EMA-QLA after summer-lease to Thomas Cook Airlines (+ 3334 LY-VED MAN-SNN)	ex OE-IGB
Airbus A321	-211	3504		OE-LES	Lufthansa Technik	ferried 30oct18 NWI-SNN after paint into all white	ex D-AVZI
Airbus A321	-211	3749		G-POWV	Titan Airways	in svc 31oct18 STN-BIO-STN after summer-lease to Jet2	ex OE-LCB
Airbus A321	-211	4334		D-ATCA	Thomas Cook Aviation	ferried 31oct18 DUS-EMA for paint into standard Condor cs	ex OE-LCC
Airbus A321	-251N	8145		OE-IHV	Celestial Aviation	regd 30oct18, parked at MLA (+ 8318 OE-IHS ex OY-PAF)	ex OY-PAA
Airbus A330	-243	427		OK-GBB	Travel Service	posn 29oct/01nov18 YUL-PRG-BTS-WAW, regd at PRG on winter-lease to Travel Service Poland, hybrid cs	ex C-GTSI
Airbus A330	-243	728		G-TCCI	Thomas Cook Airlines	posn 24oct18 YUL-MAN, regd 29oct18 on winter-lease	ex C-GUBI
Airbus A330	-343	1885		B-300V	China Southern	onward delivery 30oct18 TSN-PEK after cabin config & paint	ex B-005A
Airbus A350	-1041	225		B-LXE	Cathay Pacific	delivery 30oct18 TLS-HKG	ex F-WZNL

Airbus Updates No.1974

Airbus A319	-112	629		CS-TTQ	TAP Air Portugal	ferried 31oct18 LIS-EGBP, for part-out & scrap	ex SU-LBF
Airbus A319	-111	2412		N315NV	Allegiant Air	delivery 31oct18 STN-BGR-BQN	ex G-EJAR
Airbus A320	-231	67		ZS-GAO	Global Aviation	ferried 30-31oct18 AYT-EBB-JNB after summer-lease to Corendon Air (+ 81 ZS-GAZ)	ex TU-TSS
Airbus A320	-231	357		YR-SEA	Star East Airlines	ferried 31oct18 LEJ-SAW after wet-lease to Small Planet Airlines Germany	ex ER-AXO
Airbus A320	-214	566		YL-LCL	smartLynx Airlines	ferried 31oct18 CWL-TLL after summer-lease to Thomas Cook Airlines	ex ES-SAL
Airbus A320	-211	662		YL-LCN	smartLynx Airlines	ferried 30oct18 TXL-RIX after summer-lease to easyJet	ex N662WF
Airbus A320	-212	1381		EC-MVF	Thomas Cook Airlines Baleares	posn 30oct18 TLL-BHX on winter-lease to Thomas Cook Airlines	ex OO-TCX
Airbus A320	-212	1402		OO-TCT	VLM Airlines	erried 27oct18 HAJ-MAN prior transfer to Thomas Cook Airlines Baleares as EC-MVG	ex D-AICJ
Airbus A320	-232	1497		OE-IHE	AerCap	ferried 31oct18 SAW-LDE	ex AP-BLJ
Airbus A320	-214	1860		D-ASPK	Small Planet Airlines Germany	ferried 01nov18 PAD-WOE on return to lessor	ex N219FR
Airbus A320	-232	2029		D-ASPE	Small Planet Airlines Germany	ferried 01nov18 HAJ-LDE on return to lessor ( + 2077 D-ASPF HAM-LDE)	ex OE-IFS
Airbus A320	-214	2142		EC-MVH	Thomas Cook Airlines Baleares	posn 31oct18 HAJ-MAN on wet-lease to Thomas Cook Airlines	ex G-ZBAR
Airbus A320	-214	4219		OE-	easyJet Europe	ferried 31oct18 MXP-LJU, G-reg prior transfer	ex G-EZTT
Airbus A320	-214	6103		LV-HVS	Avianca Argentina	delivery 31oct18 SJK-MVD, on transfer	ex PR-ONY
Airbus A320	-214	7767		A6-AOS	Air Arabia	ferried 27oct18 SAW-SHJ after paint into new cs, first a/c (+ 6176 A6-AOA 28oct18)	ex D-AVVG
Airbus A320	-271N	8426		VT-IVT	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 31oct18 XFW-DEL	ex D-AXA
Airbus A320	-214	8457		B-302Y	Hongtu Airlines	delivery 31oct18 XFW-TSE, Air Travel cs	ex D-AVVF
Airbus A320	-251N	8488		B-304C	China Eastern	delivery 29oct18 TSN-PVG	ex B-000C
Airbus A320	-251N	8513		HS-CBJ	Thai AirAsia	delivery 30-31oct18 XFW-DWC-DMK	ex D-AXAE
Airbus A320	-271N	8540		VT-IZE	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 300ct18 TLS-DEL	ex F-WWIV