Airbus Updates No.3081

 Why The Airbus A220 Will Be A Big Win For Air France

In an interview yesterday, Air France CEO Anna Rigail confirmed that the airline remains on track to receive its first A220 in September. Aside from just modernizing the fleet, the A220 offers a host of efficiency and environmental benefits for the airline, a new top priority globally. Here’s why the A220 will be a big win for Air France.

The A220s will replace Air France’s aging A318 and A319 fleets in the coming years. Photo: Simple Flying

First

Air France has 60 Airbus A220-300s on order to replace its existing short- and medium-haul fleets. This means the aircraft will be deployed on key domestic and European routes primarily. However, the A220’s long range means that Air France could opt to send it further in the future, as several other airlines have done.

However, the A220’s benefits do not just lie in its range and capacity, but also its environmental factors. In an interview with CAPA Live, CEO Anna Rigail explained how the A220 would benefit the airline’s goal of reaching net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 for all European flights and the airline’s commitment to its order, saying,

We protected our investment on the fleet. With the crisis we had to decrease our investement by one billion [euros] per year but we really focused everything on the replacement or renewal of the fleet…The first service A220 will come in September 2021 and this, of course, is decreasing the CO2 emission by 20 to 25% compared to the cost they replace.”

The A220 will reduce CO2 emissions by 20-25% compared to similar aircraft, a key step for Air France to reach its sustainability goals. Photo: Air France

However, Air France is not only pursuing the A220 for the critical benefits but also to meet conditions set by European lawmakers. This includes environment goals that have to be met under Air France’s critical €7bn ($8.3bn) bailout from the French government and sanctioned by the EU.

Where will it fly?

Considering that Air France is striving to reach net-zero CO2 emissions in Europe by 2050, the A220’s early focus will be within the continent. This means nearly all short-haul routes will be taken over from the A318 and A319 and given to the newcomer. This would include flights to London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Milan, and dozens of others.

While the A220’s range would easily allow for medium-haul routes to the Middle East and much of Africa, it’s unlikely the airline would deploy the aircraft that far, for now. However, if demand for longer and thinner routes arises in the future, Air France does have the plane for the job.

The A220’s range opens up routes as far as the Middle East and Central Africa if needed. Photo: GCMap

The benefits for Air France with the A220 are immense. The carrier will be able to retire its nearly 15 to 20-year-old A318 and A319s and replace them with a higher capacity, longer range, and fuel-efficient alternative. Moreover, the lower emissions will allow Air France to become more sustainable, a key issue for the aviation industry moving forward.

The A220 has also proven to be the right aircraft for the post-pandemic future, seeing its activity remain high in the last year. Overall, Air France is looking at a big win with its upcoming A220 fleet.

Airbus Updates No.3080

 End Of An Era: Airbus Begins Testing Its Last Ever A380

Airbus has been slowly bringing production of the A380 to a close. Today, things got one step closer as the manufacturer’s last A380 began its engine run and taxi tests, the last time this will ever happen for the Giant of the Skies.

The last A380 to be built (pictured before construction) has entered the testing phase. Photo: Getty Images

While the Airbus A380 will likely remain in the skies for many years to come, the sad reality is that, unfortunately, the type is falling out of favor. While some airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, have stuck by their commitment to the kind, others, such as Lufthansa, show considerably less commitment to the giant.

Final aircraft enters testing

It seems as though the construction of the final Airbus A380 is now practically complete. According to Twitter’s @Frenchpainter, the aircraft was spotted today doing its first taxi and engine run tests at Toulouse, where it was built.

While key components, such as the aircraft’s engines and tail, are painted, the rest of the aircraft remains unpainted in a bare green color. As the aircraft, with serial number 272, is the last to be made by the European manufacturer, it marks the end of an era for the company.

What’s next for the aircraft?

Today’s engine run and taxi tests check that the aircraft can be powered up and move under its own power. Flight tests will come soon. However, before these are undertaken, a rejected takeoff test is conducted. Following this, Airbus A380s are typically ferried to the manufacturer’s Hamburg facility to be painted.

All five outstanding A380 orders are bound for Emirates. Photo: Vincenzo Pace – Simple Flying

In the case of the preceding aircraft, MSN 271, the aircraft completed its engine run and taxi check on January 14th, according to AIB Family Flights. The aircraft then underwent a rejected takeoff test on February 9th, before being flown to Hamburg on February 11th, where it has remained since.

When will the aircraft be delivered?

While good progress is being made regarding constructing the aircraft, it likely won’t be delivered until next year. Airbus has just five outstanding orders for the A380 family, having pulled the program’s plug over two years ago.

Late last year, the Emirates President, Tim Clark, revealed the latest delivery plan for the aircraft, given the industry’s current state. As things stand, the Dubai-based giant is expecting to take delivery of two A380s this year. This would leave just three Airbus A380 orders outstanding, all of which would be delivered in 2022.

2021 will become the second-worst year for A380 deliveries. Graph: Simple Flying

Both Airbus and Emirates are unlikely to let the occasion go unnoticed. However, the fact that Emirates is still taking new A380s is good for the type’s future. The airline is unlikely to retire brand new aircraft and has indicated that it will operate the kind until the mid-2030s.

Airbus Updates No.3079

 

IndiGo Airlines in talks about five A321P2Fs - report

IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320-200© Airbus

11.03.2021 - 07:22 UTC

India's largest low-cost carrier IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi Int'l) is planning to tap into the cargo market with the addition of at least five P2F-converted A321-200Fs, sources told Indian daily Business Standard.

The carrier is already in talks with Airbus regarding the potential order. IndiGo reportedly treated the initial batch of five aircraft as a test for the market and could potentially add a larger number of dedicated freighters.

According to sources, the airline could take delivery of its first A321-200Fs in early 2022, taking into consideration the current backlog for conversions. The carrier would reportedly use them to connect India to China and destinations in western Asia - presumably the Gulf countries.

IndiGo did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.

The LCC currently operates ninety-four A320-200s, 120 A321-200s, and thirty-three A321-200NXs, as well as twenty-five ATR72-600s. With a fleet of 247 Airbus narrowbodies, it is the world's fourth-largest operator of the A320/A320neo Family jets, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. It has a further 212 A320-200Ns and 365 A321-200NXs on firm order from the manufacturer, making it by far the world's largest customer for the A320neo Family.

The potential addition of A321-200Fs would allow IndiGo Airlines to compete with rival LCC SpiceJet (SG, Delhi Int'l), for which the cargo market was an important segment even before the pandemic. The airline's freighter fleet, excluding makeshift freighters, comprises three B737-700(BDSF)s and two B737-800(BCF)s. Fellow rival LCC GoAir does not operate any freighters.

Airbus Updates No.3078

 

Airbus A320	-271N	10316		N936NK	Spirit Airlines	delivery 11mar21 BFM-DTW	ex F-WZMJ
Airbus A320	-251N	10388		G-TTNO	British Airways	delivery 06mar21 TLS-LHR	ex F-WWIM
Airbus A321	-211	1932		OY-VKC	Sunclass Airlines	ferried 06mar21 CPH-EMA for paint	ex D-AVXB
Airbus A321	-211	6436		OY-TCH	Sunclass Airlines	ferried 06mar21 EMA-CPH after paint	ex D-AZAX
Airbus A321	-231	8169		G-WUKC	Wizz Air UK	ferried 06mar21 LTN-CWL for interim storage (+ 8625 G-WUKI, + 8791 G-WUKL, + 8879 G-WUKJ)	ex D-AZAR
Airbus A321	-271NX	9499		B-MBR	Air Macau	ferried 04mar21 MFM-ZUH after delivery	ex F-WXAM
Airbus A321	-271NX	10059		D-AIEG	Lufthansa	delivery 11mar21 XFW-BER	ex D-AVYG
Airbus A321	-271NX	10283		G-WUKM	Wizz Air UK	delivery 05mar21 XFW-LTN	ex D-AVYN
Airbus A321	-251NX	10296		VT-ILI	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 04mar21 XFW-DEL (+ 10422 VT-ILG ex D-AVYB)	ex D-AZAN
Airbus A321	-271NX	10333		G-WUKN	Wizz Air UK	delivery 09mar21 XFW-LTN	ex D-AVXJ
Airbus A321	-251NX	10341		VT-ILF	IndiGo Airlines	delivery 10mar21 XFW-DEL	ex D-AVZP
Airbus A321	-253NX	10403		N429AN	American Airlines	delivery 09mar21 BFM-TUL	ex F-WZMU
Airbus A330	-243	309		OY-VKF	Sunclass Airlines	ferried 09mar21 CPH-CHR for paint	ex G-CSJS
Airbus A330	-243	724		A6-EYG	Etihad Airways	ferried 11mar21 LETL-AUH	ex F-WWKN
Airbus A330	-243	824		A6-EYM	Etihad Airways	ferried 09mar21 AUH-LETL	ex F-WWKD
Airbus A330	-302	994		OH-LTM	Finnair	ferried 10mar21 HEL-LDE on return to lessor	ex F-WWKO
Airbus A330	-243F	1708		OO-AIR	Air Belgium	onward delivery 111mar21 DUB-BRU after paint at DUB into CMA CMG cs	ex A7-AFJ
Airbus A350	-1041	434		B-LXO	Cathay Pacific	delivery 05mar21 TLS-HKG	ex F-WZHJ
Airbus Canada A220	-171	50061		N141DU	Delta Air Lines	delivery 09mar21 YMX-MSP	ex C-FPDR

credit : Skyliner Aviation

Airbus Updates No.3077

 

Airbus A319	-111	3209		EC-KHM	Iberia	ferried 10mar21 MAD-BTS for paint prior return to lessor	ex D-AVWL
Airbus A319	-115CJ	4622		9H-TBN	Comlux Aviation Malta	re-regd in svc 09mar21 STR-MLA	ex 9H-AVK
Airbus A319	-112	4663		D-ASSB	Sundair	delivery 05nar21 ZAG-BER, all white, titl on tail	ex LY-KIT
Airbus A320	-214	2011		CS-TKP	Azores Airlines	ferried 04/11mar21 SAW-LIS-LFBF	ex D-ALAC
Airbus A320	-214	2206		N291NV	Allegiant Air	delivery 09mar21 DUB-BGR-MLB	ex EI-DEB
Airbus A320	-214	2291		5B-DDK	Tus Airways	in full cs at LCA 07mar21 prior svc entry	ex 9H-AEK
Airbus A320	-214	2633		EC-NOY	Volotea	for delivery 2q21 ex MLA	ex OE-LMR
Airbus A320	-214	2674		N622VA	Bank of Utah	ferried 08mar21 GSO-VCV, for Allegiant Air	ex F-WWID
Airbus A320	-232	2990		OY-KAO	SAS	ferried 09mar21 TLL-CDT for onward storage	ex OE-IBO
Airbus A320	-214	3047		PR-MHJ	Latam Brasil	posn / in svc 04mar21 QSC-CGH-POA-CGH	ex A4O-OVB
Airbus A320	-214	3511		EC-NOM	Volotea	air-test at OSR 09mar21, VP-B reg prior delivery	ex VP-BKY
Airbus A320	-232	3531		HA-LYU	Wizz Air	ferried 05mar21 KTW-SNN prior return to lessor	ex UR-WUA
Airbus A320	-216	3576		EC-NON	Volotea	for delivery 2q21 ex CAN (+ 3765 EC-NOQ ex CGK ex PK-AXF, + 3963 EC-NOR ex CGK ex PK-AXI, + 4035 EC-NOS ex CGK ex PK-AXJ))	ex HS-ABG
Airbus A320	-214	3597		EC-NOP	Volotea	ferried 08mar21 OSR-ZRH-OSR, OE-reg after oaint prior delivery	ex OE-LMO
Airbus A320	-214	3786		EC-NNY	Volotea	delivery 10mar21 OSR-LJU	ex VQ-BAY
Airbus A320	-214	3949		HK-5222	Viva Air Colombia	ferried 08/11mar21 BOG-FOR-TFS	ex LY-NVT
Airbus A320	-232	4628		HA-LWI	Wizz Air	ferried 08mar21 SNN-BUD after paint into all white prior return to lessor	ex F-WWDH
Airbus A320	-214	5232		OE-IPA	GECAS	ferried 10-11mar21 HYD-CAI-OSR	ex VT-GOK
Airbus A320	-214	5557		D-AIZS	Eurowings	ferried 04mar21 SEN-DUS after paint into same cs but with "fuelled by the world´s greatest team" titl in German / English	ex D-AXAZ
Airbus A320	-214	6012		LZ-FBG	Bulgaria Air	delivery 05mar21 WOE-SOF, all white	ex F-HBIX

credit : Skyliner Aviation

Airbus Updates No.3076

 Uganda Airlines Secures Morning Landing Slot At London Heathrow

Uganda Airlines has secured an early morning landing slot at London Heathrow Airport. The flight from Entebbe will land in Heathrow at 06:00 AM, a prime time for business travelers and considered one of the most coveted slots at the airport. Uganda will fly its brand new Airbus A330neo on the route.

Uganda Airlines will fly the rare A330-800neo on its new, prized Heathrow slot. Photo: Airbus

New slot

According to Daily Monitor, Uganda Airlines has secured a new slot at London Heathrow, flying five times a week from Entebbe. The slot comes into effect from the start of the summer season on March 28th, but the airline is yet to receive certification for its new Airbus A330-800neo.

Notably, Uganda Airlines has secured a prime slot at Heathrow: an early morning arrival. The popularity of early morning slots cannot be overstated, with Oman Air buying a 05:30 AM arrival slot for a record $75 million in 2016.

Uganda has managed to secure a 06:00 AM arrival into Heathrow (leaving at 09:00 AM) without purchasing the slot from another airline, according to Business Daily. This is a remarkable feat given how young the airline is (less than two years old) and considering it only received its first widebody a few months ago. Moreover, it highlights how sharply demand for slots has fallen at Heathrow.

Early morning slots at slot-restricted airports like Heathrow are coveted by airlines since they cater perfectly to business travelers. Photo: Heathrow Airport

Once Uganda’s shiny new A330neos are certified by its regulators and the UK lifts its ban on non-essential travel, the airline will begin flights to London. According to a spokesperson for the airline, it plans to start flight at some time in May, saying,

“The aircraft are not yet certified by the regulator but we are hoping to have completed that process by the end of April. If the UK relaxes travel restrictions, we should be ready to launch London sometime in May.”

Opportunity

For Uganda Airlines, the A330neo is a chance to expand beyond Africa and become a major international airline. In addition to London, the carrier plans to launch flights to Dubai and has secured rights for six weekly flights. While demand will dictate the final schedule for the short term, the airline has its eye on more locations.

The next destinations for the airline will be Mumbai, India, and Guangzhou, China, another popular hub route. This has been an ambitious rise for the airline which is yet to turn even two years old. It currently operates nine regional routes using CRJ900ERs and will add two routes Johannesburg and Lusaka soon.

With the first flights planned for May, keep an eye out for this rising African carrier in the skies. Currently, the airline only has two A330neos on order but it could add more widebodies in the future if it sees a growing demand. Considering the untapped potential of African aviation, we could see this airline expand quickly.

Airbus Updates No.3075

 

Cyprus's Tus Airways gears up for restart with first A320

© Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

09.03.2021 - 11:39 UTC

Tus Airways (U8, Larnaca) has taken delivery of its first A320-200 as it looks to restart operations albeit under a new business model and with a revised fleet.

5B-DDK (msn 2291) is a 16.5-year-old ex-Air Malta aircraft owned by Peregrine Aviation and managed by AerCap, according to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module. It was retired by its previous operator in early September 2020 and following a period of storage at Malta Int'l airport, ferried to Larnaca on February 5, 2021, still as 9H-AEK at that time, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It has since been seen sporting its full Tus Airways livery and new Cypriot registration.

Tus Airways suspended all scheduled operations at the end of October 2019 to focus on charter flying during the Winter 2019/20 season. While it intended to restart scheduled operations in March 2020, these plans were jeopardised by the COVID-19 pandemic. During summer 2020, the airline tried to secure funding for a restart, including from undisclosed private investors and the Cypriot government. At that time, it pledged to phase out all of its remaining Fokker 70s and Fokker 100s and focus on DHC-8-Q400s going forward. The airline then targeted a February 2021 restart amid plans to operate as a low-cost carrier under the new ELA Cyprus brand.

Tus Airways did not respond to ch-aviation queries regarding its new business model and fleet plans. Its website has not been updated and still reflects its pre-pandemic business plan based on the Fokker Aircraft fleet.

The Cypriot Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has since confirmed to ch-aviation TUS Airways is indeed in the process of re-securing its AOC albeit under its existing brand name.

credit - CH Aviation

Airbus Updates No.3074

 

Lufthansa sees no future for A380s and A340

Illustration of Lufthansa Boeing 787-9© Lufthansa Group

07.03.2021 - 23:18 UTC

Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt Int'l) is unlikely to ever reactivate its fourteen mothballed A380-800s and will instead boost its medium-size widebody fleet with at least some of its twenty ordered B787-9s, Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said during a presentation of the company's annual results.

"At Lufthansa German Airlines, fourteen A380-800s and ten A340-600s, among others, have been permanently decommissioned," he said.

The group's annual financial report lists six Airbus double-deckers as "scheduled for retirement" and the remaining eight just as "temporarily decommissioned". Spohr, however, clarified that from today's perspective, there was no chance that the latter would ever be reactivated.

In the annual report, the group detailed that the distinction was mostly due to the fact that the six aircraft will be sold back to Airbus in 2022 and 2023. Lufthansa announced the transaction in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The A340-600 sub-fleets and the eight A380s remaining after the agreed sale of six aircraft in 2022 and 2023 have been fully decommissioned for several years," Lufthansa Group said in the report.

Spohr added that going forward, the group will focus on smaller widebody aircraft, which are better suited to the expected low-demand environment. As such, he confirmed that at least some of the twenty B787-9s the group has on firm order from Boeing will go to Lufthansa. The group has thus far declined to comment on the eventual operators of the aircraft.

He underlined that the final decision regarding the entire 20 has not been taken yet. The aircraft are due to deliver between 2022 and 2025. On top of the 20 firm-ordered units, Lufthansa holds options for another 20.

The group reported a net loss of EUR6.7 billion euros (USD8 billion) in 2020 and a 63% drop in total revenue, caused by a 75% drop in passenger numbers. Lufthansa itself posted an EBIT loss of EUR4.7 billion (USD5.6 billion), while its subsidiary airlines Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings recorded EBIT losses of EUR695 million (USD828 million), EUR381 million (USD454 million), EUR332 million (USD396 million), and EUR802 million (USD956 million), respectively.

The only beacon of hope in an otherwise dismal year was the outstanding performance of Lufthansa Cargo, which posted an EBIT profit of EUR717 million (EUR854 million), despite a 36% drop in total freight capacity brought on by a lack of bellyhold capacity resulting from cuts in passenger flights. Lufthansa Cargo compensated for the loss with much higher demand and yield for its full-freighter operations.

The German carrier said that despite the massive losses, its financial situation was stable thanks to a mix of market financing and government aid. Lufthansa itself drew down EUR3.3 billion (USD3.9 billion) from its allotted state aid, less than a third of the total amount. EUR1 billion (USD1.2 billion) has already been repaid thanks to capital raised through a bond placement.

"The Lufthansa Group is well-financed beyond 2021. This is also helped by the previously unused elements of the stabilization package, which we can draw on as needed to further strengthen our balance sheet," Chief Financial Officer Remco Steenbergen said.

Going forward, the group will consider selling non-essential subsidiaries that are only loosely aligned to its core business. No specifics were given.

In its own press release, Swiss said that it was considering further changes in response to renewed travel restrictions in early 2021.

"It is now abundantly clear that the entire airline industry will undergo a tangible structural change. As a result, we at SWISS will also have to consider a more radical resizing than we have envisaged to date," Chief Executive Dieter Vranckx said. While he suggested potential fleet and network cuts, he also underlined that no decisions have been taken just yet.

Swiss plans to reduce its headcount by a further 1,000 positions through the end of the year through a combination of natural attrition, early retirements and new part-time working arrangements. Lufthansa said that in Germany, it would trim around 10,000 positions this year. Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, while stressing the cataclysmic market situation in which the whole industry has found itself, did not announce any further cuts in their respective annual wrap-ups.