FleetWatch

Airline Start-Ups: Sunny Airways nears launch of long haul charters

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:09:53 GMT

The new Thai passenger and cargo charter airline, which will specialise on flights between Thailand and Europe, plans to launch a twice weekly service from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Frankfurt, via Sharjah on 19 August 2011. The airline will be operating the first of two Boeing 767-200EREMs (reg HS-KOA, serial 23280). The Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4E4 powered aircraft was purchased from KMW Leasing in May 2011. A second 767-200EREM is expected to arrive on lease shortly. KMW Leasing’s only other 767, (reg N250MY, serial 23306) could be a candidate; although this aircraft is still current on the US register and has recently been operated by Las Vegas based charter specialist Swift Air. Sunny Airways also plans to introduce two leased Boeing 767-300EREMs into service before the end of 2012. Contact details are:

Sunny Airways Co., Ltd.
1213/326 Soi Ladphrao 94(Panjamit),
Ladphrao Road,
Phlabphla, Wangthonglang,
Bangkok 10310,
Thailand

Tel:    +66 2 530 8105/6, +66 2 934 4651
Fax:   +66 2 934 6041

Email: info@sunnyair.co.th
Web:    http://www.sunnyair.net

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Fleet Plan News: UT Air to add first widebodies for long haul services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:49:47 GMT

UT air Aviation is expected to finalise a deal to acquire nine used Boeing 767s at the MAKS air show in Moscow later this month (August 2011). The airline is planning to use the aircraft to introduce scheduled and charter services to North and Central American destinations. Reports indicate that two 767s will be operated for leading Russian tour operator Anex Tour’s charter programme, flying primarily to holiday destinations in China, Egypt and Thailand. Anex Tour planned to launch its own charter airline operations in 2010 with two former Finnair Boeing 757s, leased from ILFC and operated under the AOC of Donavia, but 757s were subsequently transferred for operation on its behalf by UT air.

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Fleet Plan News: Atlas Air adds first 767

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:16:35 GMT

The New York based ACMI leasing and cargo specialist has acquired its first non-Boeing 747 aircraft. The 1990-vintage Boeing 767-300EREM passenger plane (reg N641GT, serial 25132) was previously operated by VARIG-VRG Linhas Aereas. The General Electric CF6-80C2B6F powered aircraft was purchased from Guggenheim Aviation Partners on 30 June 2011 and is expected to join the leased Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft (reg N194UA, serial 26892) which has been operating military passenger charters for the Defense Department’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) since May 2011.

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Airline Start-Ups: LeadAir to become El Al's new charter arm

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:55:55 GMT

Following the closure of El Al Israel Airlines' wholly-owned charter subsidiary, Sun D'or International, on 1 April 2011, the company's replacement as the flag carrier's de facto charter arm is an existing start-up airline, LeadAir, which was founded in 2009 and received its AOC in June 2010, but is yet to launch commercial operations. The company is initially planning to operate one Boeing 767-200EM, which is likley to be transferred from the El Al fleet, and two Boeing 737-300s. Contact details are:

LeadAir
Golan House
P.O. Box: 100
Airport City 70150
Lod
Tel Aviv
Israel

Tel: +972 3 767 0000
Fax: +972 3 767 0009

Email: info@leadair.co.il
Web: http://www.leadair.co.il (under construction)

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Fleet Plan News: Regent Airways to acquire 737s and/or 757s for international routes

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:10:57 GMT

The Dhaka-based, privately owned carrier, which currently operates two Bombardier DHC8-300Qs on scheduled services within Bangladesh, has announced plans to launch international services in January 2012. The company's Managing Director, Mashruf Habib, was recently quoted as saying that two Boeing 737s will be acquired on dry lease in December 2011. The airline is initially expected to link Dhaka with Asian regional destinations and the Middle East. A switch to Boeing 737s would represent a scaling back of plans for Regent, which has previously indicated that it intended to launch international services with Boeing 757s, and indeed the larger type is still referenced on the company website. Indeed, in April 2010, the airline was negotiating with Canadian aircrew trainer CAE to provide pilot training for its crews on the Boeing 757, as well as the Boeing 767 and Bombardier Dash-8 Q300.

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Fleet Plan News: Mongolian takes first Boeing 767-300

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:17:22 GMT

The Ulaanbaatar-based national carrier, previously known as MIAT - Mongolian Airlines has adopted a revised livery with the arrival of the first 767, which drops "MIAT" from the name. The first of two former China Eastern, Rolls-Royce Trent 524H powered Boeing 767-300EREMs (reg JU-1011, serial 28149) was delivered during May 2011. One report suggests that the aircraft has retained China Eastern's seating configuration of 263 seats, with 18 in Business Class and 245 in Economy. Mongolian Airlines' schedules link Ulaanbaatar with Beijing, Berlin, Moscow, Seoul and Tokyo.

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Airline Start-Ups: Air Canada looks again at the LCC option

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:26:47 GMT

After losing market share to growing low cost competitors, Air Canada is planning to fight back by launching its own low cost carrier (LCC) to serve major holiday destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and Mexico. Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines and Westjet have all been expanding in the Inclusive Tour holiday market at the flag carrier's expense. Subject to gaining the agreement of its unions, particularly the ACPA pilots union, the new subsidiary is to launch for the coming winter season. The initial fleet would be four Boeing 767s and six Airbus A319s, configured with single class, all economy and/or two class, economy and premium economy seating arrangements. A fleet of up to 50 aircraft by 2015 is envisioned, made up of 20 767s and 30 A319s, with all but 10 of the A319s sourced from the mainline fleet. Air Canada has twice launched LCCs in the past, creating Tango in 2001 and Zip in 2002. Both LCCs were phased out in 2004, as the carrier achieved the cost savings it needed to make, prior to emerging from bankruptcy protection in September that year. Another former Air Canada subsidiary, Jazz Air, began operating IT holiday charters last year, taking over a contract from the now defunct Skyservice to fly on behalf of tour operator Thomas Cook Canada. Jazz Air operated six Boeing 757s transferred from Thomas Cook's UK-based fleet in the 2010/11 winter season but is expected to operate up to 11 757s this coming winter. Competition in the Canadian winter sun market looks like being tougher than ever in 2011/12.

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Airlines Resuming Operations: Gabon Airlines is flying again

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:47:09 GMT

The privately owned Gabonese flag-carrier was reportedly forced to suspend all operations last month, after a Boeing 767-200 used for long-haul flights and a wet-leased ATR42 operated on domestic services both went for maintenance. The domestic service linking Libreville with Port Gentil and the regional service to Point Noire in the Republic of the Congo resumed on 14 March 2011, on the return to service of the ATR42. This aircraft is owned and operated on Gabon Airlines' behalf by Solenta Aviation of South Africa. Long-haul services to Paris are expected to resume on 21 March 2011, although this will reportedly require the wet-lease of suitable aircraft from another carrier. This would suggest that neither of Gabon Airlines' B767s are currently serviceable. Gabon Airlines has previously operated long-haul services using an Airbus A340-300 wet-leased from Hi Fly of Portugal.

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Fleet Plan News: RIO adding first Boeing 757 and Boeing 767s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:56:50 GMT

RIO Linhas Aéreas, the Curitiba-based airline, has quickly grown to become Brazil's largest dedicated cargo carrier since launching services in July 2009. RIO is shortly expected to introduce its first Boeing 757-200(F) (reg PR-IOE, serial 24868) into service, on lease from AWAS. The airline has also recently concluded a deal with ATSG subsidiary Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) for the long-term dry lease of its first Boeing 767-200(F) freighter, for re-delivery this summer, with a second expected from the same source in the autumn. RIO currently operates 7 Boeing 727-200 freighters on cargo schedules and charters, primarily within Brazil, and to destinations in South and Central America.

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Fleet Plan News: Express Freighters Australia receives first 767F

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:15:20 GMT

The company, a Qantas subsidiary, received its first Boeing 767-381ERF (reg VH-EFR, serial 33510), purchased by Qantas from ANA Cargo, in Sydney on 12 February 2011. The aircraft became the first to display dedicated "Qantas Freight" markings. While Qantas is a major cargo carrier, most of its freight capacity is carried either in the belly holds of the Qantas mainline passenger fleet or using wet-leased Boeing 767 and 747 freighters. This aircraft will replace a smaller Boeing 767-200(F), which has been operated on wet-lease from US carrier Air Transport International (ATI) on Trans-Tasman routes to New Zealand. Express Freighters Australia was established in October 2006 to operate four Qantas-owned former passenger Boeing 737-300s which were converted into freighters and wet-leased to Australian air Express, a joint venture carrier formed by Qantas with Australia Post.

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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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Fleet Plan News: Gestair's first Boeing 767 freighter is imminent

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:22:56 GMT

Madrid-based freighter specialist Gestair Cargo, which currently operates two Boeing 757-200(F)s, will shortly take delivery on lease of its first widebody freighter, a Boeing 767-300BDSF (reg EC-LKI, serial 26544). The aircraft is the first of two being supplied by Guggenheim Aviation Partners, both of which are to be operated by Gestair Cargo on behalf of TNT Airways. The former LAN Airlines passenger aircraft was acquired by Guggenheim last February and has recently been converted to a freighter by IAI Bedek.

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Airline Start-Ups: First Nation Airways looks to takeover from Bellview Airlines

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:36:47 GMT

Former owners and staff of Bellview Airlines are shortly planning to launch services with a new carrier. Nigerian regional carrier Bellview, which also operated a long-haul service to London until August 2009, was finally grounded in October 2009. The new carrier plans to operate domestic and African regional services with Airbus A320s and Bombardier DHC-8s, as well as long-haul services using Boeing 767-300EREMs. First Nation is to lease three former Gulf Air A320s (reg 5N-FNA, serial 409, 5N-FNB / 466 and 5N-FNC / 497) from Aviation Capital Group. Contact details are:

First Nation Airways (SS) Ltd.
FirstNation Plaza
66b Opebi Road,
P.M.B 21766, Ikeja,
Lagos
Nigeria.

Tel: +234-1-2702700-1
Fax: +234-1-2707936

Email: reservation-IKJ@flyfirstnationair.com
Web: http://flyfirstnation.com

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Fleet Plan News: Ethiopian takes delivery of first Boeing 777

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:52:39 GMT

The Ethiopian flag carrier took delivery of its first Boeing 777, an ultra long range -200LR model (reg ET-ANN, serial 40770) on Wednesday, 17 November 2010. The aircraft is the first of five ordered in September 2009, with the second due for delivery next month and the third in January 2011. Ethiopian will use the first batch of three 777s primarily to replace Boeing 767-300EREMs, launching new non-stop services between Addis Ababa and destinations including Washington, D.C. and Beijing. The second batch of two are scheduled for delivery in April and July 2011 and will be used to launch new routes, including a second North American destination, Toronto. The first Ethiopian aircraft was the 900th 777 built. It is configured for 321 passengers, with 34 in Cloud Nine class and 287 in Economy.

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Fleet Plan News: ABX Air receives first Boeing 767-300BDSF

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:19:11 GMT

The aircraft (reg N219CY, serial 24358) which is leased from Guggenheim Aviation Partners and will operate for DHL, was redelivered from Tel Aviv to Cincinnati on 27 October 2010, after conversion by IAI Bedek. Wilmington-based ABX Air is one of three cargo carriers, along with Orlando-based Capital Cargo International International Airlines and Toledo-based Air Transport International (ATI) making up the airline contingent of the diversified Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).

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Fleet Plan News: Air Zimbabwe reported to be acquiring "new" A340s from Airbus

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:12:54 GMT

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Zimbabwe government has acquired two "new" Airbus A340s for use by Air Zimbabwe on its long haul routes. If true, the reported price paid of US$ 400 million seems realistic only if the "new" aircraft concerned are Rolls-Royce Trent 500 powered, ultra-long range Airbus A340-500s. Airbus does still have two such aircraft on the books (serials 886 and 894) which were not taken up by Kingfisher Airlines in 2008. Indeed, the first of these aircraft was reported to have positioned from Toulouse to Hamburg late last month for painting into Air Zimbabwe colours. It has also been suggested that Portuguese wet-leasing specialist Hi Fly could operate the A340-500s on behalf of Air Zimbabwe, much as it has operated two similar models on wet-lease to Nigeria's Arik Air since December 2008. The cash-strapped Zimbabwe flag carrier has however been linked with a number deals for new long haul types in recent years, including one involving like for like replacement of its 767-200EREMs with newer aircraft and another for Russian-built Ilyushin IL-96-300s, all of which have fallen through.

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Fleet Plan News: Martinair Holland to drop all passenger operations in 2012

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:51:33 GMT

The Dutch scheduled and charter carrier of both passengers and cargo has announced that it will restructure so as to concentrate fully on its (more profitable) airfreight activities from the end of 2011. The airline currently operates four leased Boeing 767-300EREMs, which are to be transferred to parent carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Martinair's current cargo fleet comprises seven McDonnell Douglas MD-11F/CFs, and six Boeing 747-400ERF/BCFs.

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Fleet Plans News: Swift Air acquires first Boeing 767-200ER for ACMI and charter services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:36:35 GMT

The Phoenix, Arizona-based company, which already operates three former Pace Airlines, 68-seat Boeing 737-400s and several executive jets on VIP and group charters, is leasing the former MAXjet Airways aircraft (reg N250MY, serial 23306), its first widebody, from KMW Leasing.

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Fleet Plan News: Gestair to add Boeing 767-300BDSFs

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:04:04 GMT

Madrid-based scheduled and charter cargo specialist Gestair Cargo will double its current fleet , which currently comprises two Boeing 757-200(F) freighters, by acquiring two Boeing 767-300BDSFs before the end of the year. The two aircraft (current reg N767NF, serial 24729 and N767FF/26544) are currently under cargo conversion by IAI/Bedek in Tel Aviv. Both 767s were delivered new to SAS but were most recently in passenger service with LAN Airlines.

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Aircraft Orders: Azerbaijan Airlines converts orders for Boeing 737NGs in favour of more Boeing 767s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:32:34 GMT

The Baku-based carrier, also known as Azerbaijan Hava Yollari (AHY) and AZAL, has converted two of its four outstanding orders for Boeing 737-900ERs into an order for one additional Boeing 767-300EREM and two Boeing 767 Freighters (based on the Boeing 767-300EREM). The latter will be the first of the model for AZAL. Taking these changes into account, the airline's order backlog with Boeing comprises two 767-300EREMs, two 767 Freighters, two 737-900ERs and two Boeing 787-8s.

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