FleetWatch

Airline Start Ups: Dalian Airlines to launch this month

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:26:29 GMT

After receiving its public air carrier's license from the CAAC on 8 December 2011, the start-up carrier has announced plans to bring forward its launch of services and now expects to operate its first flight from the north-eastern port city of Dalian to Shenzhen on 26 December 2011. The carrier also plans to serve other provincial capitals, coastal cities and tourism destinations, as well as cities in Japan and South Korea. An initial fleet of three to six Boeing 737-800s is expected to be transferred to the carrier by majority shareholder Air China, the first of which is a sub-leased, ICBC Leasing owned aircraft (reg B-5196, serial 36810).

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Airline Start-Ups: Air Berlin Turkey launches services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:50:35 GMT

Air Berlin Turkey's first service, between Antalya and Stuttgart, took off on 1 November 2011. The new carrier is a joint venture between Air Berlin and Pegasus Airlines, initially operating two former Air Berlin 737-800s (reg TC-IZB, serial 37745 and TC-IZC / 37743). Both aircraft were sub-leased, in April and March 2011 respectively, by Air Berlin to the Pegasus-owned airline Izair. The aircraft are operated in full Air Berlin colours, with modified "Air Berlin Turkey" titles. The start-up airline will connect the Turkish Riviera with 14 German cities this winter. Plans call for 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft to be in service by the start of the 2012 summer season. The creation of Air Berlin Turkey increases the existing co-operation between Air Berlin and Pegasus, which includes a codeshare agreement signed in September 2011, and the marketing and distribution partnership which has been in operation since 2009.

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Fleet Plan News: Nok Air to add 737-800s, more ATRs

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:01:57 GMT

The Thai low-cost carrier, in which largest shareholder Thai Airways International recently increased its stake to 49%, will shortly introduce the first three of seven planned, 189-seat, Boeing 737-800s. Two aircraft (reg HS-DBA, serial 33813 and HS-DBB/ 33814) are former Ryanair machines that are being leased from RBS Aviation Capital. The third (HS-DBC/ 28386) is a former Air Europa aircraft, leased from SBL Alpha Ltd. (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bank). The carrier already operates 10 Boeing 737-400s, but after wet-leasing two Boeing 737-800s from UK carrier XL Airways between October 2007 and April 2008, it took the decision to replace its entire fleet of 737Classics with leased Next Generation aircraft. In November 2010, the carrier received board approval to acquire on lease seven Boeing 737-800s and four more ATR-72-200s. Two more ATRs are expected to be delivered before the end of 2011 and the remaining two in 2012.

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Fleet Plan News: Sriwijaya Air to acquire 737-500s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:30:38 GMT

The fast-growing Indonesian carrier intends to lease up to 12 Boeing 737-500s from April 2012, as interim lift, pending the arrival of its first Next Generation 737-800s. The airline began modernising its all Boeing 737-200 fleet with the arrival of the first Boeing 737-300 in July 2007. The carrier still has 14 737-200s, together with 12 737-300s and 6 737-400s. Fleet expansion plans have really taken off since April 2010, when it announced negotiations with Boeing for up to 20 Boeing 737-800s. Although it reported signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2010, covering firm orders for 10 737-800s and options for a further 10, Boeing has never listed the order. Sriwijaya had however stated its intention to "lease purchase" the 737-800s, and although it may be entirely coincidental, the only announced order for this number of 737-800s since that date by a lessor was from AerCap, in December 2010. Although it had hoped to receive its first 737-800s in 2012, Sriwijaya, like AerCap, is now expecting its first aircraft in 2014. In June 2011 the airline also converted an earlier Letter of Intent (LoI) with Embraer into a firm order for 20 ERJ-190-100LRs. The ERJ’s are scheduled for delivery between 2012 and 2015. While continuing to expand domestically, Sriwijaya is looking to use new equipment and the 737-800s in particular to expand its international network, with new destinations planned in Australia and China.

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Airline Start-Ups: EasySky to Launch Next Week

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:39:43 GMT

The new Honduran low cost carrier, established with British investment after acquiring Central American Airways, is planning to launch domestic services on 5 September 2011. Easy Sky will initially offer twice daily flights from its La Ceiba base to the island of Roatan, but it plans to serve both of the other airports in Honduras, connecting the capital, Tegucigalpa with both Roatan and San Pedro Sula from December 2011. Flights will be short with domestic sectors, taking between 15 and 45 minutes. EasyFly plans to launch international services to other Central American countries in 2012. Weekly services linking Fort Lauderdale with both Roatan and San Pedro Sula are planned in conjunction with an unnamed US carrier. The airline is also reported to have sold 800,000 seats to a group of hotels on Roatan. Initial equipment is a single, former Rollins Air, Boeing 737-200 (reg HR-AVR, serial 23104), although the carrier plans to acquire up to three Boeing 737-800s. Contact details so far are limited:

EasySky
Tel: +504-2445-0537
web: http://www.easysky.hn (not yet available)

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Fleet Plan News: Rwandair receives first Next Generation 737

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:23:02 GMT

The Rwandan flag carrier took delivery in Seattle of its first ever brand new aircraft on 25 August 2011, in the form of the first of two new Boeing 737-800s (reg 9XR-WF, serial 40892). RwandAir became the first African carrier to take delivery of a Boeing 737 fitted with Boeing's latest Sky Interior, which was configured for 16 Business Class and 138 Economy Class seats. The second aircraft (9XR-WG / 40893) is expected before the end of 2011. Operating from its Kigali hub, RwandAir's fleet includes two leased Boeing 737-500s, two owned Bombardier CRJ200LRs and a wet-leased Bombardier Dash 8-100. The carrier serves most of East Africa’s capital cities with daily flights as well as Brazzaville, Dubai, Johannesburg and Libreville. The company's ambitious fleet plans call for a doubling of the fleet to 12 aircraft over the next five years, and for 18 aircraft to be in service by 2020. Additional Boeing 737s, are expected, as well as the carrier's first examples of both the ATR72 turboprop and Embraer regional jet (of an as yet unspecified model). More surprsingly, the company is also planning to acquire multiple examples of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Further details are eagerly awaited!

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Airline Start-Ups: CAAC clears launch of Dalian Airlines

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:15:47 GMT

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has given preliminary approval for Air China and Dalian Baoshui Zhengtong Company (DBZC) to launch Dalian Airlines, as a new joint venture airline, to be based in the port city of Dalian in the northeastern province of Liaoning. The carrier has start-up capital of RMB 1 billion ($155 million), of which Air China provided 80% and will take a corresponding shareholding in the airline, while DBZC invested RMB 200 million ($31 million) and will hold the remaining 20% of shares.

A previous agreement to establish an airline in the city was signed by the Administration of Dalian Free Trade Zone and HNA Group, the parent of Hainan Airlines, in August 2009, but these plans foundered in 2010. The new carrier plans to provide passenger and cargo services connecting Dalian with other provincial capitals, coastal cities and tourism destinations and will also operate international services to cities in Japan and South Korea. Initial equipment is expected to be between three and six Boeing 737-800s, which will be transferred from the Air China fleet. It is thought that services could start as early as November 2011. No contact details are as yet available.

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Fleet Plan News: Mongolian orders first new build Boeings

Fleetwatch Administrator — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:36:20 GMT

In addition to the two used Boeing 767s being acquired from China Eastern Airlines, (see my blog of 3 June 2011), Mongolian Airlines is to purchase one new Boeing 767-300EREM and two Boeing 737-800s. The Mongolian president, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, signed the contract, valued at $245 million, while on his current visit to the USA.

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Fleet Plan News: UTair continues expansion with first 737-800s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:05:29 GMT

The Russian carrier took delivery of the first of four new Boeing 737-800s (reg VQ-BQQ, serial 37552) on 28 May 2011. The second aircraft (reg VQ-BQP, serial 37553) followed on 1 June 2011. These aircraft became the first in Russia and Eastern Europe to feature Boeing's new Sky Interior. These new 737s were originally ordered by Atlant-Soyuz in September 2008. UTair also plans to acquire 5 737-800s previously operated by Atlant-Soyuz. The Moscow-based carrier rebranded as Moskva Airlines in October 2010 but ceased operations due to bankruptcy three months later. UTair will launch 737-800 services on routes from Moscow Vnukovo to Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Sochi and Surgut. Fast-growing UTair expects to transport more than 7 million passengers in 2011, an increase of 40% on 2010, and made possible by a fleet expansion during the year which, in addition to the 9 Boeing 737-800s, includes 10 Boeing 737-500s, two Boeing 757-200s, 12 ATR42/72s, and three Bombardier CRJ-200s. After making a preliminary commitment for 24 Sukhoi SSJ-100 Superjets in November 2010, the airline is also considering signing a firm order for these aircraft before the end of 2011.

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Airline Start-Ups: VivaColombia plans to launch in 2012

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:00:31 GMT

Originally known by the project name "La Nueva Aerolinea", the start-up low cost carrier is planning to launch services in the first quarter of 2012. Having originally planned to operate out of Bogota, VivaColombia has instead opted for Medellin's Rionegro International airport, from where it plans to serve 32 destinations across Colombia. Initial equipment is expected to be either three Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family aircraft. Under Colombian regulations, the fleet will need to increase to at least five aircraft within 12 months of service launch. The privately-owned start-up was established by a group led by former Avianca chief executive Juan Emilio Posada and equal partners Irelandia Investment (the investment fund of Declan Ryan, whose family control Ryanair), the IAMSA group of Mexico and the Colombian Grupo Bolivar. If for no other reason than the Ryanair connection, which also extends to Mexican low cost carrier, VivaAerobus, it seems more likley than not that the Colombian newcomer will follow its Mexican counterpart in selecting the Boeing 737 over the A320 family (and perhaps more specifically 737-800s, sourced from the Irish carrier). No contact details are as yet available.

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Fleet Plan News: Yemenia takes delivery of first A320

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:06:54 GMT

The Yemeni flag-carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A320-233 (reg 7O-AFA, serial 4653) in Sana'a on 28 April 2011. The aircraft is the first of a planned A320 fleet of ten, ordered in January 2010. The A320s will replace and expand the carrier's previous fleet of leased Boeing 737-800s, which is now reduced to just two aircraft. The new IAE V2527E-A5 powered A320, which features a updated version of the Yemenia livery, is configured with 12 business class and 138 economy seats. The second aircraft (reg 7O-AFB, serial 4690) is expected to be delivered shortly, with a third (serial 5031) due for delivery later this year. Three more A320s are due in 2012 and the final four in 2013. The departure of the last 737 will effectively make Yemenia an all Airbus operator, although it also operates a VIP-configured Boeing 747SP and 727-200 for the Yemeni government. Yemenia's Joint Venture Divison also operates a small mixed fleet of Bombardier DHC-8-100s, Twin Otters and Kamov Ka-32 helicopters in support of the country's oil industry. Yemenia's orderbook includes ten A350-800s, which will start to replace the current fleet of three A310-300s and (eventually) three A330-200s, from 2015.

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Airline Start-Ups: Corendon Airlines creates Dutch subsidiary

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:49:08 GMT

The Turkish leisure carrier, created in December 2004 by the Dutch-based tour operator, which was itself created in 1997 by Turkish entrepreneurs Atılay Uslu and Yildiray Karaer, has created an Amsterdam-based subsidiary. Corendon Dutch Airlines received the first of three former FlyDubai Boeing 737-800s (reg PH-CDE, serial 35795) on 28 April 2011. The aircraft are being taken on operating lease from Macquarie Airfinance. Contact details are:

Corendon Dutch Airlines
Singaporestraat 82
RA 1175 Lijnden

Tel:+31 23 751 0606
Fax:+31 20 449 9478

Email: info@corendon.nl
Web: http://www.corendon.nl

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Airlines Suspending Operations: Moskva Airlines closes

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:56:45 GMT

As widely anticipated since its owner, Moscow city government, announced the intended disposal of its airline and airport interests, Moskva Airlines ceased operations on 17 January 2011 and is expected to file for bankruptcy. The loss-making and heavily-indebted airline, known until last September as Atlant-Soyuz, has been managed by a team transferred in from Siberian carrier UTair Aviation in December last year. Rapidly-growing UTair is operating all of Moskva's scheduled services until the end of January and is expected to take over at least some of the failed carrier’s international route network. Moskva primarily served European and Asian destinations out of Moscow, but other routes included those from Samara to Paris and from Irkutsk to Beijing. UTair is also interested in taking over some of Moskva's fleet, notably its Boeing 737-800s (three of which were owned, and three leased) and outstanding orders for four more, which were placed by Atlant-Soyuz in September 2008. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that Moskva had made a commitment for 30 Antonov An-148s.

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Fleet Plan News: Jet2 adds first Next Generation 737s and 757s on lease for summer season

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:14:18 GMT

The Leeds-Bradford based low cost carrier received its first 737-800 (G-GDFC, serial 28375) on 8 January 2011, on lease from VGS Aircraft Holding. The airline will receive a second 737-800 and an additional, former Thomson Airways 737-300 on lease before the start of the summer season. Two of the six former Thomsonfly Boeing 757-200s (G-LSAL, serial 26966 and G-LSAM / 26967), which were sold to Allegiant Air to operate from the US Mainland to Hawaii, are also being leased for the start of the summer season. The 757s may remain with Jet2 well into 2012 as the US carrier is not now planning to deploy its 757s on ETOPS-approved Hawaiian services before the second half of 2012.

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Fleet Plan News: Firefly to introduce jet service with Boeing 737s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:23:44 GMT

The Malaysia Airlines low cost subsidiary, which currently operates eight ATR72-500 turboprops, is shortly expected to receive the first of up to thirty Boeing 737s, which are being transferred to the LCC as part of Malaysia Airlines' plans to hit back at ever increasing domestic and regional low cost competition. Although it was originally thought that only Boeing 737-400s would be transferred to Firefly, the first 737-800 (reg 9M-MLA, serial 30703) has recently been repainted into Firefly colours in preparation for the launch of jet service on 15 January 2010. Firefly is also taking on additional Boeing 737-400s from external sources, the first of which (reg 9M-FZA, serial 27001) is thought to be one of at least two acquired from Aircastle.

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Fleet Plan News: Air Austral takes delivery of first Next Generation 737s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:59:50 GMT

The carrier, based on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, took delivery of two Boeing 737-800s (reg F-ONGA, serial 40910 and F-ONGB / 40911) earlier this week, as part of the airline's modernisation plan for its medium-haul fleet. The new aircraft, which are on financial lease from Crédit Agricole, will replace one 737-300 and one 737-500 currently in the Air Austral fleet.

Aircraft Orders: Southwest order for larger 737s could be imminent

Fleetwatch Administrator — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 14:25:37 GMT

Southwest Airlines has recently been awaiting the outcome of aircrew votes on whether it should place orders for the Boeing 737-800. While this might not seem like a typical means of conducting fleet planning assessments, the fact is that, as well as being one of the most successful airlines in the world, Southwest is also one of the most heavily unionised. This week, 84 per cent of its 9,700 flight attendants voted in favour of the new aircraft. The result of the pilots' vote is expected any time now, and is also thought liklely to endorse the order, although the pilots' union had previously expressed concerns about the possible job loss implications of replacing smaller, older 737s with a smaller number of newer, larger capacity aircraft. Given that Southwest already operates over 200 Boeing 737 Classics (177 737-300s,and 25 737-500s) as well as 350 next Generation 737-700s, if the pilots do endorse the 737-800, I expect a large, possibly very large order and soon. Against this, however, Southwest still has 106 737-700s on order backlog, and options on 43 more, so the airline could start by converting at least some of these to the 737-800 without placing any new orders. The carrier will also want to avoid excessive capacity growth so the majority of new orders are likely to allow Southwest to expedite its phasing out of its 737 Classics. Southwest is the most often-cited role model on which many other LCCs worldwide have based their operations. The airline's continuing growth seems to be loosening its adherence to one of golden rules of low cost airline operations: that of operating a single aircraft type. Southwest's acquisition of airTran Airways, and the expected induction of the latter's fleet of 86 Boeing 717s, might be taken as an indication that the airline no longer feels constrained to continue living by the LCC rule by book that it basically wrote. As for placing an order for 737-800s: for Southwest, it looks like being a matter of when, not if.

Fleet Plan News: Anadolu Jet introduces Airbus A320 service

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:34:25 GMT

The low-cost subsidiary of Turkish Airlines introduced its first Airbus A320 (reg TC-SKT, serial 1194) into service earlier this month. Like the Boeing 737-800 it replaces, (reg TC-SKU, serial 30194), the A320 is wet-leased from Turkish charter and wet-leasing specialist Sky Airlines.

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Fleet Plan News: Windrose to acquire three Airbus A321s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 10:53:14 GMT

Windrose Aviation, the Ukrainian charter and ACMI specialist which also operates regular flights to Turkey, Russia and other mainly CIS countries, is to acquire three former EasyJet Airbus A321-231s (serials 1869, 2462 and 2682). The aircraft are currently parked at Shannon awaiting painting. Founded in 2003, Windrose based its early growth on jet operations with a small fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80s, more recently the carrier has wet-leased Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 capacity in peak periods. Fleet modernisation began in the summer of 2009 with the addition of two GECAS-owned Embraer E-195s on sub-lease from Nas Air.

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Airlines Resuming Services: Paramount Airways taking to the air again with wet-leased aircraft

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:46:16 GMT

Another chapter in the chequered history of the Chennai-based all-business class domestic carrier seems about to be written, as it reportedly prepares to resume services using three Boeing 737-800s and three Airbus A320s that have been acquired from two separate Turkish carriers on six month wet-leases. Paramount has been grounded since 3 September 2010 following a legal dispute with Embraer's leasing company over non-payment of leasing fees on two Embraer E-170 regional jets. However the High Court in Chennai has recently ordered the Indian Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to lift its suspension of the carrier’s licence, and according to Paramount's founder and managing director, M Thiagarajan the airline will resume operations serving its entire network as soon as the wet-leased aircraft can be brought into service. The airline will not be able to provide its customary business class level of service with the wet-leased aircraft but it aims to offer a service “hybrid between higher economy and low business class fares”. In July 2010, the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry’s Aircraft Acquisition Committee gave its permission in principle for Paramount to import 22 aircraft, and the carrier is reported to be planning to import the first of eight new build Airbus A320s and, from May 2011, six Bombardier Q400 turboprops. In April 2010 Paramount's scheduled airline license was suspended after three E-175 aircraft leased from GECAS were repossessed, again for non-payment of leasing fees. This left the carrier with just two leased E-170s and the fleet fell below the minimum five aircraft fleet size required by the DGCA, although Paramount was able to overturn this earlier grounding as well.

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