A380 DEAL ONE OF MANY ORDERS EXPECTED AT PARIS AIR SHOW
This weekend marks the formal opening of this year’s Paris Air Show with indications suggesting that the industry could be preparing itself for one of the biggest events ever in terms of aircraft orders. In the past week the President of Hong Kong Airlines has confirmed that the fast-growing carrier will place an order for the Airbus A380 at the show, with sources suggesting that the commitment could be for as many as ten aircraft including options and purchase rights. In the past 24 hours Airbus has announced big orders from Cebu Pacific Airways and India’s GoAir and is also expected to announce at least three more major orders for the Airbus A320neo, including a massive deal with Asian low-cost carrier AirAsia, while Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are expected to reveal they have split a large widebodied aircraft order between Airbus and Boeing. Elsewhere, Qatar Airways could finally announce an order for the Bombardier CSeries and it wouldn’t be an international aviation trade show without a deal from the other Gulf carriers. But, it will not be all about the jet market, with Franco-Italian manufacturer ATR suggesting that it could announce orders for over 50 aircraft during the show, including a breakthrough into the North American market.
VLADIVOSTOK AIR TO INTRODUCE A330 ON SEOUL ROTATION
Russian carrier Vladivostok Air is to utilise one of its Airbus A330-300s on its Vladivostok – Seoul Incheon route during the busy months of July, August and September. The widebodied aircraft will replace a smaller A320 on one of its five weekly flights from July 29 to August 26 and for two weeks in September. An estimated 81,000 O&D passengers flew between the two airports in the past year, with around 43 per cent of these travellers using Vladivostok Air’s services. The remainder are flying with Korean Air, which offers a daily rotation using a Boeing 737.
THAI AIRWAYS ORDERS A320S TO SUPPORT REGIONAL START-UP
Thai Airways International has placed a firm order for 37 new aircraft, including six Airbus A320s which will provide the capacity to support the launch of a new regional carrier, currently under development. The aircraft are to be leased from RBS Aerospace International and are scheduled for delivery in 2012 and 2013. The new start-up business, tentatively dubbed Thai Wings, will enable the carrier to offer a more competitive product to the growing number of low-cost carriers in the Asian market, although it will not be a traditional budget carrier. It is expected to launch with an initial fleet of seven aircraft, most likely Boeing 737-400 models the majority of which will be transferred from the Thai Airways fleet following the arrival of the first of its new A320s. The venture expects to begin operations in March or April next year serving local and regional markets. The rest of the $3.9 billion order comprises the purchase of six Boeing 777-300ERs (for delivery in 2014 and 2015), four Airbus A350-900s (2016 and 2017) and five Airbus A320-200s (2014 and 2015); and 12-year lease deals with ILFC for six 787-8s (2014 and 2015) and two 787-9s (2017); Aviation Lease Finance for six A350-900s (2017) and CIT Aerospace for two further A350-900s (2016).
NATIONAL AIRLINES OFFERS CHARTERS WITH BOEING 757
US carrier National Airlines, a subsidiary of National Cargo Airlines, received authority from the US Department of Transportation earlier this month to commence interstate and foreign charter passenger services using a single Boeing 757-200. The aircraft is configured in a two-class arrangement with 12 Business Class seats offering a 54in pitch and 152 Economy seats with a 34in pitch. “We look forward to complimenting our global cargo services by offering customized non-stop passenger service to travel consolidators, businesses and sports teams whether their destination is within North America, Europe, South America or the Caribbean,” said Steven Harrison, President, National Airlines. The airline’s expansion efforts will now focus exclusively on gaining US government operating authority for its three Boeing 747-400 freighters to augment its existing fleet of DC-8 aircraft. The Michigan-based carrier formally initiated FAA certification efforts for the Jumbo in April.
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