FleetWatch

Airline Start-ups: WOW Air plans summer service launch

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:49:23 GMT

The new Icelandic low-cost carrier, established by a group of investors led by Skúli Mogensen, is planning to launch services from Reykjavik on 1 June 2012. The airline plans to initially serve 12 cities in Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK with a fleet of two leased 168-seat Airbus A320s. Reports suggest that these aircraft will be operated on wet-lease from Avion Express, although the Lithuanian carrier currently operates only three cargo-configured Saab 340s. Avion Express Italia operated a single A320 (reg LY-VEX, serial 375) on charter flights from Milan Malpensa during the last summer season, but the aircraft was returned to the lessor last September. Wow Air has been allocated the IATA code X9. Contact details are:

WOW air
Grosbeak
Eastland 26
Reykjavik 108
Iceland

Tel: +354 590 3000

Email: wowair@wowair.is
Web: http://www.wowair.com

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Airline Start-Ups: Stellar Airways plans services from Kinshasa

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:15:05 GMT

Stellar Airways received its first aircraft, Airbus A320 (reg CS-TQS, serial 1068), on 30 October 2011. The aircraft, which will be operated under a 12-month contract by Portuguese wet-leasing specialist Hi Fly, is the first of a planned fleet of five. The launch of scheduled domestic services connecting the capital with Goma, Kananga, Kisangani, Lubumbashi and Mbuji-Mayi is thought to be imminent. Contact details are:

Stellar Airways
98225 Avenue Kabasele (ex-Flambeau)
Rez de Chausée
Gombe
Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo

Tel:. +243 (0) 81 71 028 27

Email: info@stellarairways.com
Web: http://stellarairways.com

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Airlines Suspending Operations: Avianova ceases operations

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:52:47 GMT

The Russian low cost carrier which was a joint venture between majority shareholder, Russian investment firm Alfa-1 and US investment fund Indigo Partners, ceased operations at one minute past midnight on 10 October 2011, after Indigo Partners announced that it was freezing all funding for the carrier. The dispute between the two factions came to a head in June 2011, when Avianova's English expatriate Chief Executive and several senior managers were forcibly removed from, and thereafter denied access to the airline's Moscow offices, as the Russian majority owners put their 2% shareholding advantage to good effect. The airline had stopped selling tickets on 3 October 2011 and operated its last flight on 9 October 2011. The carrier's six Airbus A320 aircraft are to be returned to their lessors; Aviation Capital Group (3 aircraft), ILFC (2) and RBS Aviation Capital (1). The airline's stand-in general manager has denied reports that Avianova is to start bankruptcy proceedings although there are clearly no prospects of it resuming services with new aircraft in the foreseeable future.

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Airline Start-Ups: Jetstar Japan expected to launch services in late 2012

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:05:58 GMT

Japan Airlines, Jetstar Airways and Mitsubishi Corporation launched a new joint venture, low cost carrier on 16 August 2011. Jetstar Japan is expected to launch services before the end of December 2012, initially operating the first three of a planned fleet of 24 new, 180-seat, Airbus A320s. The new LCC plans to operate from hubs at Tokyo (Narita) and Kansai International, near Osaka, and is considering additional bases, including Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. It becomes the third Japanese LCC to be announced this year, after AirAsia Japan and Peach. Jetstar and JAL are seeking to capitalise on recent changes in the Japanese market brought about by the relaxation of a once highly restrictive regulatory environment. Jetstar introduced low cost air travel to Japan in 2006 and is one of eight foreign LCCs currently serving Japanese cities. Winning over Japanese travellers, who have traditionally travelled on full cost, full service carriers, often booking most aspects of their trips in advance through travel agents, may take some time, but the Japanese LCC niche is not one that any major player can afford to ignore: its likely slow growth being offset by huge growth potential. The airlines of the Jetstar Group, comprising Jetstar Airways (operating in Australia and New Zealand), Jetstar Asia in Singapore and Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam make up the largest LCC operation n the Asia Pacific region, currently serving 56 destinations in 17 countries and territories with a nearly all Airbus fleet comprising 59 A320s, nine A330s, six A321s and five Boeing 737-400s. The Boeing 737s, in service in Vietnam, are all leased and expected to be replaced by more A320s during 2012-2014.

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Fleet Plan News: Major fleet expansion sees Citilink introducing old and new A320s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:47:17 GMT

Garuda Indonesia's domestic low cost subsidiary received the first of at least five used Airbus A320s, an IAE V2527E-A5 powered, former Wizz Air aircraft (serial 839) on lease from AerCap on 17 August 2011. The carrier expects to receive three more A320s, including two more former Wizz Air machines (serials 892 and 1635) on lease from AerCap before the end of this year, and a fifth A320 in February 2012. Citilink is also seeking more used V2500 powered A320s in preparation for the launch of international services in 2012, with planned destinations in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. On 9 August 2011, parent Garuda Indonesia finalised a deal worth $2.13 billion, to acquire 15 Airbus A320 and 10 A320neo aircraft to replace Citilink's existing ten-strong fleet of Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 Classics. Garuda is yet to specify an engine choice for its sharklet equipped, new build A320s, which will start to arrive in 2014, nor the A320neos (from 2016) but its current search for IAE V2500 powered used A320s could hint at a preference for V2500 power on its new A320s and also perhaps PW1100G powered A320neos. This would, however, represent something of a switch for the carrier, whose entire combined narrowbody fleet consists of over 70 CFM56 powered Boeing 737s of various models.

The new Airbus deal was part of a planned $6.5 billion investment which is to be used primarily to fund a fleet expansion from 85 to 154 aircraft by 2015. A company spokesman also stated that Garuda Indonesia plans to spend $329 million on adding seven more new build aircraft by the end of 2011. These are thought to include its first two of ten planned Boeing 777-300ERs and at least three more Boeing 737-800s (the backlog is10). The carrier also has six more Trent 700 powered Airbus A330-200s on order.

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Fleet Plan News: Yamal Airlines to receive first A320

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:13:29 GMT

The Russian airline based in Salekhard in the oil-rich Yamalo-Nenets region of Siberia is about to introduce its first Airbus A320-200 (reg VQ-BNR, serial 1054) into service. The CFMI CFM56-5B4/2P powered aircraft is being leased from Aircastle. The aircraft has been awaiting delivery at Shannon since early July but was finally re-registered in Bermuda on 11 August 2011 and is imminently expected to depart to join Yamal's existing fleet which, together with a large helicopter fleet and a small number of Soviet era Tupolev jets and Antonov turboprops, also includes six Boeing 737-500s, two 737-400s and the first of two planned Bombardier CRJ200s.

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Airline Orders: GoAir tipped to order 50 A320s at Paris

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:34:01 GMT

Just over a month ago, GoAir's now former CEO, Kaushik Khona, told a conference that his airline planned to add five more Airbus A320s this year and another five in 2012, with the aim of having 20 aircraft in service by January 2013. GoAir are India's smallest low cost carrier, linking 18 Indian cities with a fleet of 10 CFM56-powered Airbus A320s. Two weeks ago, Khona was replaced as CEO by Air One's former chief revenue officer, Giorgio De Roni, who was apparently given a mandate to pursue a much more aggressive expansion plan. This week, Indian press reports indicate that part of the new plan includes placing an order for 50 or more new Airbus A320s at the Paris air show. With first deliveries as early as 2012, at least some of GoAir's new order would have to be for standard A320s, sharklet equipped perhaps, but not A320neos. However, the carrier might follow Virgin America by ordering both standard and neo versions of the A320. If so, they're also likley to follow the US carrier's engine selection, and stay with CFM and their Leap-X. Will the new CEO also reverse the previous plan of adding more destinations this year, but remaining a domestic only carrier? The projected size of the order makes this too seem likely. GoAir will qualify for international services once its active fleet reaches 20 aircraft.

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Aircraft Orders: Time for Leap-X to jump aboard A320neo

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:50:22 GMT

All 240 orders for the Airbus A320neo family which announced an engine choice selected the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G over the competing CFM International Leap-X. Are these the first indications of a real customer preference for the PW1100G, just the preferences of a very small group of customers, or perhaps a reflection of the fact that the PW1100G version of the A320neo is expected to beat the Leap-X version into service by six to 12 months? After all, Airbus expects that most A320neo family customers will remain true to previous engine manufacturer preferences, which in recent years have seen CFM taking around 60% of the A320 family market. For its part, CFM International is unlikely to be unduly concerned, although that could change if a traditional major operator of the CFM56 opts for PW1100G power over the Leap-X. Airbus expects orders for the A320neo family to have reached 500 by the end of the Paris air show. One prime candidate is the AirAsia Group, which is likely to place an order for between 150 and 175 A320neos at the show. The Malaysian LCC and its Indonesian and Thai subsidiaries together operate nearly 100 A320s, all of which are CFM56-powered. Air France have also been mulling an A320neo order. Even ignoring the political fall-out of not choosing the CFM International product, the facts are that the French flag carrier currently operates 252 aircraft, and that all 161 that could be CFM56 powered are CFM56 powered. The only Pratt & Whitney input in the entire fleet are the Engine Alliance GP7200s that power the carrier’s A380s. Paris should see some big order news for CFM International, one way or another.

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Airline Start-ups: ANA's joint venture LCC is now Peach

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:07:29 GMT

On 24 May 2011, ANA's joint venture start-up low-cost carrier, previously known as A&F Aviation, was rebranded as "peach" (full name Peach Aviation Co. Ltd.). The new carrier plans to launch services from Osaka to Fukuoka and Sapporo no later than March 2012. The first international service, to Seoul Incheon, is expected before the end of 2012. Initial equipment will be ten 180-seat Airbus A320-210s, leased from GECAS. Contact details are so far limited to a website, at: http://www.flypeach.com . Attachment: Peach logo.

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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: Aegean and Olympic Air make changes

Fleetwatch Administrator — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:58:54 GMT

After the planned merger between the two major Greek carriers was blocked by the European Union in January 2011, Aegean and Olympic Air have been adjusting their operations and fleets as they focus on their new priorities as separate carriers. It seems that plans to appeal the EU decision have been dropped. Olympic Air will in future focus on operations in south-eastern Europe, served with a smaller Airbus fleet. It is consequently transferring 6 of 14 A320 family aircraft to Aegean's expanding operations. Three A320s and one A319 have already been wet-leased to Aegean, which also received its first A319 (reg SX-DGF, serial 2468) on sub-lease from Air Berlin on 27 April 2011. Aegean has also acquired Olympic's four slots at London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Both carriers are expanding their links with Cyprus, with Aegean opening a hub in Larnaca, which has routes to Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle, in addition to six destinations in Greece. Olympic Air will now compete with Aegean on routes to and from Cyprus, having recently concluded an extensive co-operation agreement with Cyprus Airways. Olympic, too, plans to open a base at Larnaca.

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Fleet plan News: Small Planet Poland receives first A320

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:16:58 GMT

The Polish arm of Lithuanian-based multi-national charter airline group received the IAE V2527-powered Airbus A320-232 (reg SP-HAB, serial 1411) earlier this month. The aircraft has been leased from MCAP and is to be primarily engaged in operating IT charters on behalf of tour operator Triada. Perhaps still better known as FlyLAL Charters, the Lithuanian company and its Estonian, Italian and Polish subsidiaries adopted the brand name Small Planet Airlines in July 2010. Small Planet's first Polish-registered aircraft was a Boeing 737-300 (reg SP-HAA, serial 24664), which arrived on lease from sister company Avia Asset Management in April 2010.

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Fleet Plan News: Avion Express adds A320 for Italian operations

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:47:25 GMT

The Lithuanian wet-leasing specialist received its first jet, a former Gulf Air Airbus A320-212 (reg LY-VEX, serial 375), leased from Sparhorn Ltd, on 1 April 2011. The aircraft is based at at Milan Malpensa for operations on behalf of local tour operators under the "Avion Express Italia“ brand. The aircraft entered service on 3 April 2011 with a flight from Milan to Malaga. Avion Express was acquired last year by Eyjafjoll SAS, an investment company formed in France by majority shareholder Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland (itself a former offshoot of the airline), together with other investors. Avion Express also operates four Saab 340A aircraft out of Vilnius under the same AOC, three of which have been converted for all cargo operations.

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Fleet Plan News: Sky Wings expands with first A320s and RJ100s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:34:29 GMT

The Greek charter and wet-leasing specialist, which currently operates three McDonnell Douglas MD-83s and a single MD-82, is in the process of acquiring two Airbus A320s and purchasing Aegean Airlines' fleet of four BAe RJ100s (serials E3341, E3343, E3358 and E3362). The RJ100's are expected to be re-registered, in line with serial E3358, the former SX-DVC, which recently became SX-DMC. The airline is also leasing two IAE V2500-A1 powered Airbus A320-231s (serial 376 from AerCap, and serial 405 from Jetscape), both of which were ferried to Istanbul earlier this month, prior to delivery.

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Airlines Suspending Services: Wataniya Airways ceases flying

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:21:45 GMT

The Kuwait-based premium-service airline had been operating scheduled passenger services to Bahrain, Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Istanbul, Sharm el Sheikh and Vienna with a fleet of 7 leased Airbus A320-214s. The aircraft were uniquely configured with 26 first class and 96 premium economy seats. ALAFCO and AerVenture each provided three aircraft on operating lease, and ILFC one. Wataniya Airways announced yesterday (16 March 2011) that it was it was ceasing operations with immediate effect, due to its poor financial situation and the recent unrest in the Middle East region. The carrier had been suffering losses for some time and in December 2010 announced plans to cut back its network, park three A320s and lay off staff. The airline now intends to enter into discussions with its shareholders to determine the future of the company.

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Airlines Resuming Services: Mexicana

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:00:30 GMT

One of Mexico's leading airlines, which was forced to suspend operations in August 2010, is planning to relaunch services under new ownership in the coming weeks. The much reduced route network is initially expected to include domestic services to Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and Veracruz and international services to Chicago, Havana, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Antonio; served by a fleet of seven leased Airbus A320s. On 22 February 2011, Mexican equity firm PC Capital SAPI acquired Mexicana's controlling shares from holding company Nuevo Grupo Aeronautico. Three new Mexican investors; Alejo Peralta Teran, Ruben Vila Garciasordo and Alejandro Ampudia Marco and one, as yet unidentified, foreign investor, are expected to join PC Capital, as the new owners of the re-launched Mexicana.

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Airline Start-Ups: Crystal Thai launches with an A320

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:08:58 GMT

Crystal Thai Airlines (CTA), a Thai/South Korean joint-venture, was scheduled to operate its inaugural service from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Muan, South Korea today (3 February 2011) after delaying its launch by four days. This was to be followed by a second South Korean destination, Incheon. The low cost, full-service carrier's first aircraft is a 174-seat Airbus A320-211 (reg HS-CTA, serial 234) which has been acquired on lease from Macquarie Airfinance. CTA intends to use the larger A330 for Incheon-Phuket services from next month, followed by a second A320 in April. Two Boeing 747s are also listed on the carrier's website for delivery in April 2011. A domestic routing to Phuket and international services to points in Bhutan, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are planned.

Contact details are:

Crystal Thai Airlines
222, 19A Fl. Voravit Building,
Surawong Road,
Sipraya,
Bangrak,
Bangkok 10500,
Thailand.

Tel: +662-631-7771
Fax: +662-631-7772
E-mail: info@crystalthaiair.com
Web site: http://www.crystalthaiair.com

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Fleet Plan News: AeroGal receives first Airbus A319s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:36:54 GMT

The Ecuadorian carrier which derives its name from the Galapagos lslands that its serves, received the first of five Airbus A319-112s (reg HC-CKL / serial 1866) on 21 January 2010. All five have been leased from ILFC and were formerly operated by Mexicana. Delivery of the second (HC-CKM / 1872) is thought to be imminent. Traditionally a Boeing 737 operator, AeroGal became part of Avianca-TACA Ltd when the Group exercised its option to acquire 80 per cent of the carrier in March last year. Even before the option had been exercised, AeroGal had sourced two aircraft from other Group carriers, with a Boeing 767-300EREM (November 2009) and a Boeing 757-200 (February 2010) arriving on lease from former operator Oceanair. Three late-model Airbus A320-214s now also operated by AeroGal on lease were previously with Avianca but were transferred to Ecuador via sale and lease back deals in the second half of 2010.

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Aircraft Orders: Air Astana to acquire first owned A320s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:04:50 GMT

The Almaty based airline, which is national carrier of Kazakhstan, and a joint venture with BAE Systems, has announced plans to order six new-build Airbus A320s from the manufacturer in a deal that it values at US $268 million. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2012. The airline already operates seven A320s, two A321s and a single A319 on lease and has an outstanding order for six Airbus A319s, plus three options, placed in May 2008, for deliveries during 2012/13. The carrier is also expecting to introduce two new-build Embraer E-190s into service this spring, on new services from Almaty to Samara and Tbilisi.

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Airline Start-Ups: Senegal Airlines to launch next week

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:42:37 GMT

The new national flag carrier for the West African republic confirmed to me yesterday that they will launch African regional services from Dakar on 25 January 2011 with two Airbus A320-214s (reg 6V-AIH, serial 799, and 6V-AII / 879). Both aircraft, which left Perpignan on delivery to Dakar yesterday (19 January 2011), are leased, respectively from the CIT Group and Lease Investment Flight Trust. A third A320 is expected to arrive in May 2011. Senegal Airlines was established as the successor to the defunct Air Senegal International in October 2009. A letter of intent for six Airbus aircraft, four A320s and two A330-200s, valued by Airbus at $670 million was signed at the Dubai air show in November 2009, although this has not yet been officially converted into firm orders. November 2009 also saw the signing a long-term assistance agreement, covering commercial support, technical expertise, training and aviation-related goods and services with the Emirates Group.

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