Fleet Developments

Richard Maslen April 20, 2011

This new section of your weekly update will keep you up to date on all the key aircraft orders and deliveries and what they could mean for the route development community. From fleet expansion and the potential for network growth, including delivery dates where known; to the arrival of new aircraft types and how they will change airline operations, this is the area to keep track of airline fleet developments.

STAR FLYER SET TO EXPAND INTO KOREAN MARKET

Japanese carrier Star Flyer is set to launch its first international flights after placing its first ever firm order with a manufacturer for new aircraft. It currently operates five leased Airbus A320s, with four more to be delivered, but has placed a firm contract with the European manufacturer for two additional jets. These will be configured with between 144- and 150-seats and will be powered by CFM56-5B4/P engines. “The Airbus aircraft have played a key role in our success, offering excellent cost efficiency combined with an outstanding operational reliability,” said Shinichi Yonehara, President and Chief Executive Officer, Star Flyer, when confirming the order. “Its comfortable cabin furnished with leather seats and a cutting-edge in-flight entertainment system is highly appreciated by our passengers.” The HUB reported last month that the airline is to launch a five times daily Tokyo Haneda – Fukuoka service from July 1; only its third route. It will compete with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL) and Skymark Airlines between the cities, together operating more than 350 weekly flights and providing almost 100,000 weekly seats. StarFlyer currently also offers a four times daily schedule between Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai and up to 14 flights per day on the Tokyo Haneda – Kitakyushu route, but according to Airbus will use these new aircraft “to increase frequencies and to open new routes in Japan and to Korea”.

ARMAVIA RECEIVES FIRST SUPERJET

Armenian national carrier Armavia took delivery of the first production Sukhoi SSJ-100 Superjet this week. A formal delivery ceremony took place at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport on April 19 after the aircraft flew from Sukhoi manufacturing plant KnAAPO in Komsomolsk-on-Amur via Novosibirsk. The jet, one of two Armavia has on order, has been christened Yuri Gagarin to honour the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight. It entered passenger service earlier today (April 21) on the airline’s Yerevan – Moscow route. The second example is due for delivery next month, as well as the first aircraft for Aeroflot Russian Airlines.

AIR ZIMBABWE ABANDONS PLANNED A340-500 DEAL

Air Zimbabwe has dropped its plan to acquire two brand new Airbus A340-500; a deal that had been met with surprise when it was first mooted last year. The African flag carrier had suggested that it was to replace its two Boeing 767-200s with two of the long-range jets and said that it had agreed a deal in principle with the European manufacturer for two aircraft originally ordered by another airline. However, it has now emerged that the contract has failed to be formalised after the airline was unable to raise the funds for the acquisition. The aircraft were originally due for delivery last November and this January to serve the carrier’s main routes from Harare to Beijing and London. According to Jonathan Kadzura, Chairman, Air Zimbabwe, the deal has been put on hold indefinitely but it remains the management’s proposal to renew the airline’s long-haul fleet - its two 767-200s are now more than 20 years old having been delivered new to the airline in November 1989 and October 1990.

JETAIRFLY TO BASE THREE 737S AT BRUSSELS SOUTH CHARLEROI

Belgian carrier Jetairfly is to base three Boeing 737s at Brussels South Charleroi Airport this summer to provide its range of flights to Mediterranean destinations and new service to Athens. The airline will offer links to 18 destinations and celebrated its relationship with the airport this week by flying its brand new Boeing 737-800 to the facility. “Basing a third aircraft at Brussels South Charleroi Airport is an important new step for Jetairfly,” said Eli Bruyninckx, President, Jetairfly. “We are committed to extending our services here and feel this matches perfectly with the dynamic character of Charleroi airport. The ever growing number of passengers shows their satisfaction and willingness to fly from their own region to popular holiday destinations.”

FIRSTNATION AIRWAYS READY FOR NIGERIAN LAUNCH

Start-up carrier FirstNation Airways is set to launch flights from Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport after taking delivery of three leased Airbus A320s. The new carrier has been established from the ashes of Bellview Airlines and is being run by the former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the failed airline. It plans to initially offer domestic links between Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt but has ambitions to expand into regional international markets.