ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS CONFIRMS DREAMLINER DEBUT
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has confirmed that its first revenue passenger service with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be a special charter between in Tokyo Narita base and Hong Kong. This will take place approximately one month after the first delivery, scheduled for September, according to a statement from the airline. “The Narita-Hong Kong maiden flight will be available to any customer who applies for the special package tour departing Tokyo which ANA is arranging,” says ANA. After its debut service, the airline says that it will offer two special domestic flights which will be available to its frequent flyers only, enabling them to sample the new aircraft prior to its entry into general service. These will both depart and arrive from Tokyo Narita, according to ANA, and will last around one hour.
THY SWITCHES SENEGAL FLIGHT TO NEW AIRCRAFT
Turkish Airlines (THY) has reduced capacity between Istanbul Ataturk and the Senegalese capital Dakar replacing a widebody Airbus A330 on its three times weekly service with a smaller Boeing 737-800. The flight is now making a technical stop on the outbound leg in Tunis. However, later this year the carrier will take delivery of its new longer-range Boeing 737-900ER variants and these are expected to be used on some of its flights to Africa. We reported earlier this month that the carrier planned to use its 737-900ERs on its flights from Istanbul Ataturk to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from March 25, 2012 but that the carrier had not yet formalised the entry into service of the type. It now emerges that Dakar could be the first destination for the aircraft, the largest version of the single-aisle airliner, with November 24 tentatively set for its introduction on this route. According to Boeing, THY currently has 34 737s on order including 15 -900ERs from a February 2010 order for ten aircraft and a March 2011 commitment for five more. The -900ER can seat up to 215 passengers in a single-class configuration, although THY is likely to configure its aircraft in a two class arrangement, especially if they are going to be used on long-sector flights.
AIR PACIFIC TO RETIRE ITS BOEING 767-300ER
Air Pacific is to make some significant changes to its network at the start of next year after it retires its single Boeing 767-300ER from service to rationalise its fleet and help reduce operating costs. This will leave the airline with two 458-seat 747-400s for its long-haul routes, and one 737-700 and two 737-800s for its short- and medium-haul operations. This total includes a 737-800 due for delivery in November this year. The Fijian carrier first introduced the 767 into its fleet in July 1990, using a former Air New Zealand -200 variant until December 1994. This was replaced by its current -300ER which was acquired new from International Lease Finance Corporation in September 1994. The aircraft will be returned to the lessor in January 2012 at which time the routes it currently serves will be either upgraded to the larger 747, will see additional frequencies using the smaller 737s or like flights from Nadi to Auckland and Sydney will be flown by a mix of narrow and widebody aircraft.
SOUTHERN AIR TO FLY FOR SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES
Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) provider Southern Air is to operate a Boeing 747 freighter for Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo. The aircraft will enter service this month and will be painted in the Middle Eastern airline’s full livery. Southern Air currently has a fleet of 13 747s and is the first ACMI operator of the 777F, with two aircraft currently in service. “Leading carriers continue to recognise the value that our outstanding operating platform and decades of global experience can bring to their own businesses,” said Daniel J McHugh, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Air. “"We are proud to add Saudi Airlines Cargo to our client roster.” "We welcome Southern Air to our freighter schedule,” added Fahad Hammad, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo. “With their wide selection of widebodied freighters such as B747F and B777LRF it will enhance our network coverage and is an important opportunity for our company to fulfill our customers' demands.”
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