Airbus Updates No.2217

China's Sichuan Airlines adds first A330 freighter

Sichuan Airlines Airbus A330-200 © Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org

12.07.2019 - 17:15 UTC

Sichuan Airlines (3U, Chengdu) has taken delivery of the first of three ex-Qatar Airways A330-200(F)s on lease from BOC Aviation.

According to Skyliner Aviation, B-308Q (msn 1406) was ferried from Doha Hamad Int'l to Shanghai Hongqiao on Wednesday, July 10.

The lessor said in a statement that the remaining two airframes - msn 1386 and 1350 - will deliver before year-end.

The aircraft will form the backbone of Sichuan Airlines Logistics Co. (SALCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sichuan Airlines. SALCO plans to use the widebody freighters to open up longhaul routes to Europe, Brussels National being among its initial destinations.

Airbus Updates No.2215

Air China orders twenty A350-900s

Air China Airbus A350-900 © Airbus

12.07.2019 - 12:59 UTC

Air China (CA, Beijing Capital) has signed a firm order agreement with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for twenty A350-900s. The purchase is, however, still subject to Beijing's official approval.

A company stock market filing said the agreement allows for the last five aircraft in the order to be upgauged to the A350-1000.

Deliveries of the A350s will run from 2020 through to 2022.

Air China said it will fund the purchase from its own cash reserves, commercial bank loans and other financing methods.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Air China currently operates ten A350-900s configured with 256 seats in economy, 24 in premium economy, and 32 in business class. The widebody jets are used on trunk Chinese routes connecting Beijing Capital with Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Shanghai Pudong.

Internationally, they are used to serve Beijing Capital with London Heathrow, Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG, and Singapore Changi and Shanghai Pudong with Frankfurt Int'l, Milan Malpensa, Munich, and Tokyo Narita.

Airbus Updates No.2214

The month in review: June 2019

New business announced in June provided a significant mid-year boost as Airbus logged orders in June for 145 single-aisle jetliners from its A320 and A220 families, while delivering 76 aircraft from the company’s A220, A320, A330, A350 XWB and A380 product lines.

With Airbus’ Paris Air Show launch of the A321XLR – which will become the longest-range single-aisle airliner – bookings now stand at 44 aircraft. Joining the list of initial customers for this “Xtra Long Range” version of the A321neo were: U.S.-based American Airlines, ordering 20; Qantas of Australia, acquiring 10; Spain’s Iberia, with eight aircraft; and Aer Lingus for six (making the Irish carrier a new customer for the A320neo Family).

The A321XLR represents the A320neo jetliner series’ next evolutionary step, responding to market needs for even more range. It brings 30% lower fuel burn per seat than previous-generation competitor aircraft while delivering an unprecedented range capability of up to 4,700 nautical miles. Service entry of the A321XLR is targeted for 2023.

Also in June’s new business, Airbus registered bookings for 86 other jetliners from the A320neo Family, composed of: 23 A320neo and 13 A321neo aircraft for an unidentified customer; 30 A320neo versions for Saudi Arabian Airlines; 18 A320neo aircraft for Japan’s All Nippon Airways; and two A320neo jetliners for Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Islands (becoming a new A320neo customer).

Airbus’ order book for the A220 Family also increased during the month, with acquisitions of the A220-300 longer-fuselage variant by two U.S.-based carriers: JetBlue Airways, ordering 10; and five for Delta Air Lines. Both airlines are repeat customers for the A220 Family.

Leading the single-aisle aircraft deliveries in June was the A320 Family, with 54 provided in both the NEO and CEO versions (including the first A321neo for JetBlue), along with six A220s.

Wide-body deliveries during the month were led by the A350 XWB, with a total of 10 aircraft provided in both the A350-900 and A350-1000 versions. Notable handovers involved the initial A350 XWBs for China Southern Airlines and Japan Airlines – both receiving A350-900s.

Completing the wide-body activity in June were deliveries of five A330neo aircraft and one A380.

Taking the latest orders and deliveries into account, Airbus’ backlog of jetliners remaining to be delivered stood at 7,276 aircraft as of 30 June. The single-aisle tally was composed of 5,871 A320 Family jetliners and 473 A220s; while the wide-body backlog was comprised of 605 A350 XWBs, 275 A330s and 52 A380s.  

A300/A310	A220/A320	A330/A340/A350	A380	Total
Total orders	816	15321	3001	290	19428
Total deliveries	816	8977	2121	238	12152
Aircraft in fleet	306	8563	1958	236	11063

Airbus Updates No.2213

Airbus A320	-251N	7799		VQ-BXJ	GECAS	ferried 11jul19 LETl-OSR for paint into?	ex PR-OBK
Airbus A320	-251N	8840		B-307G	Zhejiang Loong Airlines	delivery 09-10jul19 XFW-OVB-TSN	ex D-AXAB
Airbus A320	-271N	8860		P4-KBJ	Air Astana	delivery 09jul19 TLS-TSE	ex F-WWDU
Airbus A320	-214	8951		D-AIWI	Lufthansa	delivery 11jul19 XFW-SXF	ex D-AUAL
Airbus A320	-251N	8982		G-UZLA	easyJet	delivery 11jul19 XFW-LTN	ex D-AUAS
Airbus A320	-251N	9022		B-309K	China Southern	delivery 10jul19 TSN-SHE	ex B-000W
Airbus A320	-271N	9061		RP-C3281	Cebu Pacific Air	delivery 10-11jul19 TLS-MCT-MNL	ex F-WWBP
Airbus A320	-271N	9072		VT-IJJ	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 09-10jul19 TLS-DWC-DEL	ex F-WWBY
Airbus A321	-211	2342		YL-LDB	smartLynx Airlines	delivery 11jul19 SHJ-SOF-ERF	ex SP-HAW
Airbus A321	-253NX	8796		CS-TSH	Azores Airlines	delivery 09jul19 XFW-LIS	ex D-AVZD
Airbus A321	-271N	8813		RP-C9937	Philippines Airlines	delivery 05-06jul19 XFW-SHJ-MNL	ex D-AZAA
Airbus A321	-211	8854		N382DN	Delta Air Lines	delivery 06jul19 XFW-KEF-YQX-MCI	ex D-AVZM
Airbus A330	-223	927		EI-EWG	Standard Chartered Avn Finance	ferried 09jul19 DUB-LDE, basic Arik Air cs	ex 5N-JID
Airbus A330	-302	1351		2-VJWR	GECAS	ferried 09jul19 DEL-LDE	ex VT-JWR
Airbus A330	-302	1391		2-VJWU	GECAS	ferried 06jul19 DEL-LDE	ex VT-JWU
Airbus A330	-243F	1406		B-308Q	Sichuan Airlines	delivery 10jul19 DOH-SHA, D-reg	ex D-ALAC
Airbus A330	-343	1928		SE-REH	SAS	delivery 05jul19 TLS-CPH	ex F-WWCE
Airbus A330	-202	1932		EC-NEN	Level	delivery 05jul19 TLS-MAD	ex F-WWKP
Airbus A340	-313	474		RP-C3441	Philippine Airlines	ferried 10jul19 MNL-SFO-SBD, for part-out & scrap	ex EC-IDF
Airbus A340	-642	798		2-AGDD	Castlelake	ferried 05jul19 DOH-EGBP, for part-out & scrap	ex A7-AGD

Airbus Updates No.2212

Airbus A318	-112CJ	3886		B-55411	Eva Air	re-delivery 09-10jul19 BSL-URC-TSA	ex 2-CCLN
Airbus A319	-132	2232		N877UA	United Airlines	regd 09jul19, delivery 11jul19 SHE-ICN-XMN	ex B-6041
Airbus A319	-112	2746		B-6221	Lucky Air	ferried 01-02jul19 HAK-GUM-HNL-GYR on return to lessor	ex D-AVYL
Airbus A319	-112	3586		V5-ANK	Air Namibia	ferried 05-06jul19 LCA-NBO-WDH after storage	ex D-ABGL
Airbus A319	-112	4663		LY-KIT	GetJet Airlines	posn 06jul19 MLA-WAW after wet-lease to Air Malta / to LOT Polish Airlines	ex D-ASTA
Airbus A320	-231	76		ZS-GAS	Global Aviation	posn 05jul19 JNB-JIB-AYT on wet-lease to Corendon Air	ex 6V-AJA
Airbus A320	-211	137		D-AIPW	germanwings	ferried 09jul19 CGN-OST, for part-out & scrap	ex F-WWDD
Airbus A320	-203	834		JY-	Jordan Aviation	air-test 10jul19 at SAW by Azu Aviation, 2-reg prior delivery	ex 2-PAOK
Airbus A320	-214	1087		LY-FOX	GetJet Airlines	posn 05jul19 VNO-MLA on wet-lease to Air Malta	ex LZ-BHF
Airbus A320	-232	1349		EC-LRM	Gowair Vacation Airlines	delivery / posn 08/10jul19 PMI-MAD-NDR on wet-lease to TUI Airlines Belgium	ex EI-EUC
Airbus A320	-232	2016		RP-C7936	Pan Pacific Airlines	delivery 10jul19 CGK-CRK	ex 2-ROSE
Airbus A320	-214	2764		XU-903	Lanmei Airlines	delivery 10-11jul19 MPL-DWC-PNH	ex 2-AAFG
Airbus A320	-232	2987		LZ-	BH Air	delivery by Azur Aviation 05jul19 SHJ-SOF, VP-reg	ex VP-CAG
Airbus A320	-214	3040		ST-MKW	Sudan Airways	ferried 10jul19 KRT-CAI-HRK after storage	ex D6-CAS
Airbus A320	-214	3631		XA-BIG	Interjet	delivery 05-06jul19 OSR-SNN-PSM-TLC, VP-reg	ex VP-BZP
Airbus A320	-214	3644		XA-AYO	Interjet	posn / first in svc 30jun19 TLC-MEX-TGZ-MEX	ex VP-BZS
Airbus A320	-214	4376		9K-CAU	Jazeera Airways	at SAW 09jul19, all wh, no titl prior delivery	ex HZ-AS19
Airbus A320	-214	4393		AP-BNU	Air Blue	delivery 11-12jul19 SNN-SHJ-KHI	ex OE-IGQ
Airbus A320	-214	4394		AP-BNV	Air Blue	delivery 11-12jul19 SNN-SHJ-KHI	ex OE-IGT
Airbus A320	-251N	7175		PR-YYL	Azul Linhas Aéreas	ferried 05jul19 SNN-LETL, VQ-reg after paint prior delivery	ex VQ-BXA

Airbus Updates No.2211

Portugal's Azores Airlines adds first A321neo(LR)

Azores Airlines Airbus A321-200NX(LR) © Airbus

10.07.2019 - 16:13 UTC

Azores Airlines (S4, Ponta Delgada) has taken delivery of its first A321-200neo(LR) following the arrival of CS-TSH (msn 8796) in Lisbon on Tuesday, July 9.

The Azorian carrier is expecting four of the type as part of a larger commitment for six A321neo Family jets from Air Lease Corporation. Thus far, it has taken delivery of the two standard variant A321neo. The remaining three LRs are due through 2020.

Parent firm Grupo SATA has shifted its subsidiary's fleet to an all-narrowbody make-up given its only widebody jet - A330-200 CS-TRY (msn 970) - last saw commercial service in November last year. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows it was ferried to Lourdes/Tarbes in early June for storage.

According to internal company correspondence seen by the Lisbon daily newspaper Diário de Notícias, SATA management said simply by withdrawing the jet from service, they had managed to cut its operational costs by 50%.

"The operating impact of the A330 in 2018 (with the plane to fly and with sufficient crews) was negative to the tune of EUR8 million euro (USD8.91 million). The Airbus A330 has since been withdrawn and, given the current circumstances, has resulted in our annual losses having been halved on the year previous," it said.

In its FY2018 annual report, Grupo SATA said it needed to find options to make the A330 profitable given it had cost the firm millions in maintenance costs in 2018 alone.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Hi Fly has been tasked with remarketing the 10-year-old aircraft.

Azores Airlines also operates three A320ceo alongside summer ACMI aircraft in the form of two A340-300s (wet-leased from Hi-Fly and Hi Fly Malta) and one B767-300(ER) (wet-leased from euroAtlantic Airways).

In terms of network, Azores Airlines plies routes connecting the Azorian archipelago with North America as well as Western Europe.

Airbus Updates No.2210

Virgin Atlantic to launch A350 ops in late 3Q19

Illustration of Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 © Airbus

09.07.2019 - 11:46 UTC

Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) is set to launch A350-1000 operations on September 10, 2019, deploying the first aircraft of the type 6x weekly on its London Heathrow-New York JFK route.

The carrier has already uploaded the A350 flights into its booking system.

Virgin Atlantic has eight A350-1000s on firm order from Airbus, of which the first four are due for delivery by the end of 2019.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Virgin Atlantic currently flies 6x daily between Heathrow and JFK, using A330-300s and A340-600s on the route. British Airways operates the route 8x daily, American Airlines - 4x daily, and Delta Air Lines - 2x daily.

Separately, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given interim approval for cooperation between Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l) on flights between Australia and the United Kingdom and Ireland via Hong Kong Int'l, Los Angeles Int'l, and future connecting points.

"We do not think this enhanced cooperation is likely to lessen competition on the routes between Australia and the British Isles," ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.

The ACCC plans to publish the draft final decision in September 2019.

Airbus Updates No.2209

Saudi Arabia's flyadeal ditches Boeing for Airbus

flyadeal Airbus A320-200 © Airbus

08.07.2019 - 07:02 UTC

flyadeal (F3, Jeddah) has officially dumped Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) after it confirmed its future fleet would be based on the A320neo Family of jets.

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 7, the Saudia Group LCC said it had firm ordered 30 of the jets with options for 20 more. The aircraft, whose deliveries will start in 2021, are sourced from sister carrier Saudia's A320neo Family order with Airbus which, during the 2019 Paris Air Show, was expanded from thirty-five firm order jets to as many as 100 including 35 options.

"This order will result in flyadeal operating an all-Airbus A320 fleet in the future," it said.

The incoming aircraft will be used to bolster the LCC's domestic Saudi as well as international network operations. It currently operates eleven A320ceo all of which are leased.

Speculation in the Saudi media had pointed to the move given prolonged uncertainty over if and when the B737 MAX would return to service. Last year, flyadeal tentatively committed to thirty B737-8s with options for twenty more.