Showing posts with label A330. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A330. Show all posts

27 February, 2024

East Midlands Airport proud to host MOD flights

East Midlands Airport (EMA) proudly hosted flights on behalf of the Ministry of Defence last week, taking troops to Germany and Poland for the start of NATO's Exercise Steadfast Defender.



The Airbus A330 aircraft may have been spotted on the runway and in the skies above EMA over the past week as it made nine trips across to Hannover in Germany and back, basing itself at EMA. A further seven trips across to Szczecin operated at the weekend.

Exercise Steadfast Defender is the largest NATO exercise in decades with over 90,000 military personnel taking part from 31 NATO countries and partner nations.

The first flight saw soldiers from the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team Headquarters, who are based at Kendrew Barracks in Cottesmore, Rutland, fly out from the airport to Poland for the start of the exercise. The Rutland based troops are leading NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) Land Forces which is the highest-readiest element of NATO’s larger Response Force. The powerful and highly mobile VJTF can deploy within days anywhere in the world in support of NATO allies.

04 January, 2024

CDB Aviation leases two Airbus A330s to Thai Airways

CDB Aviation, announced this week the signing of a lease agreement for two used widebody aircraft, Airbus A330-300s, with Thai Airways, the national airline of Thailand.





“We are delighted to be welcoming Thai Airways to our growing Asian Pacific customer base,” stated Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer. “The increased widebody fleet will strengthen the carrier’s position across its key intra-Asian markets, providing the extra capacity needed to meet the high season and rising travel demand in many regions.”



The aircraft will be delivered to the carrier in September and October 2024.

“We’re continuing to see the heightened demand from airlines amidst a tight supply of new and used aircraft, driven primarily by the need to meet growing passenger volumes. Our commercial team remains focused on comprehending and fulfilling the diverse needs of our customers, assisting them in addressing both immediate and longer-term fleet challenges that necessitate resolution,” concluded Chen.


18 September, 2023

Brussels Airlines adds a tenth long-haul aircraft to its fleet

This brings the number of A330’s back to pre-covid level. The new aircraft allows the Belgian national airline to add Nairobi and to increase flights to Kigali.



Brussels Airlines adds a tenth aircraft to its long-haul fleet and commits to growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, its most important market. With the extra capacity, the Africa expert of Lufthansa Group reopens the route to Nairobi and increases its connections between Brussels and Kigali to a daily service. This brings the number of Brussels Airlines’ destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa to 18.

Brussels Airlines continues to invest in its intercontinental network and fleet, as a tenth Airbus A330 will become operational in the Summer of 2024.


​Travelers will thus have even more options to fly between Europe and Africa, and benefit from a direct connection between Brussels Airport and the Kenyan capital. Nairobi is not unknown territory to the airline as it already served this destination between 2002 and 2015.

Extra destination and increased flights to East and West Africa

​Brussels Airlines will not only add a new destination, the new long haul plane allows the airline to increase the flight frequency to Kigali (Rwanda) to a daily connection. To crew this A330 about 60 pilots and cabin crew members will be hired. Also on the ground extra colleagues will be recruited.

Tickets for flights between Brussels and Nairobi are on sale as of tomorrow, the first flight is planned in June 2024. It will operate six days a week during the summer schedule. In the winter schedule, the route will be flown four times weekly. During the winter, an extra direct flight to Dakar and an extra rotation to Banjul / Conakry and Monrovia / Freetown will be added to the planning.

​Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines said: “With the addition of Nairobi to our network, daily frequencies to Kigali and extra flights to West Africa, we offer more choice to our passengers travelling to and from Africa than ever. The tenth intercontinental aircraft is a clear sign of Lufthansa Group’s trust in Brussels Airlines and strengthens our role as the hub to Africa for the Group.”
 

Kevin Markette, General Manager East Africa, Lufthansa Group said:  “Kenya remains a focus market for Lufthansa Group in East Africa, largely driven by the significant increase in demand and resurgence in travel, coupled with the immense support of the local community within the region. I am pleased that we continue to grow our presence in Kenya, underlining Lufthansa Group’s commitment to Kenya and the region as a whole. With the addition of the six weekly Brussels Airlines’ flights to Nairobi, Lufthansa Group will offer 18 weekly connections to Kenya in summer 2024, including daily Lufthansa flights to the capital and five weekly direct Discover Airlines flights to Mombasa.”

About Kenya and the schedule

​Kenya has a rapidly growing population of more than 50 million. The country is renowned internationally for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. Its leisure market is also continuously expanding, with currently more than 2 million annual tourists.




​Moreover, Kenya is referred to as the “Silicon Savannah” and became a technological epicenter attracting many start-ups innovating in the digital sector in the past decade.

Outbound flights will leave Brussels in the morning and arrive in Nairobi in the evening. Inbound flights will depart from Nairobi in the evening and arrive in Brussels in the morning.

Taking into account the connection between Frankfurt and Nairobi operated by Lufthansa, this will bring the weekly number of Lufthansa Group flights to the capital of Kenya to 13 in the summer season and 11 in the winter season.



27 July, 2023

US-Bangla Airlines to lease two Airbus A330-300s from Avolon



Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, has added US-Bangla Airlines as a new customer, with an agreement to lease the Bangladeshi carrier two Airbus A330-300 aircraft.   

These will be the first widebody aircraft operated by US Bangla, adding another carrier to the A330 fleet. The new deliveries will help to support US Bangla’s passenger growth and expansion plans on medium-haul routes such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in September 2023. 

US Bangla launched in 2014 and is Bangladesh’s largest privately owned carrier. 

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon commented: “We welcome this lease agreement with US-Bangla for two of our Airbus A330s. We are delighted to add a new customer to the A330 programme, offering widebody capability to US-Bangla’s fleet which will help support its route expansion in the Middle East. We look forward to building further on this partnership in the future.” 

Mohammed Abdullah Al Mamun, Managing Director, US-Bangla Airlines Ltd. commented: “US-Bangla Airlines has ambitious growth plans for its international operations, and we appreciate the support of a leading lessor like Avolon. This is our first widebody aircraft and represents our aspirations to position US-Bangla Airlines as an airline of choice for travel to medium haul routes. We look forward to deploying our new A330s into service providing premium flight experience at the most reasonable costs to our esteemed passengers travelling for Hajj, Umrah and business.”

27 June, 2023

RwandAir starts Paris service.

Earlier today the first scheduled service from Kigali International Airport to Paris arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport Airport for RwandAir.  The carrier welcomed the service with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a celebration.

The airline's Airbus A330 aircraft will operate the route three times a week with a flying time of 8 hours and 30 minutes. 



Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, said: “The launch of our first-ever flights to Paris is an exciting development in RwandAir’s continuing expansion and a testament to the importance of French-Rwandan relations.

France is a major market for RwandAir as we connect the continents of Africa and Europe through our home hub in Kigali with this new direct service to Paris, one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

French travellers can look forward to a warm welcome onboard on our inaugural flight today and for many more years to come as we deepen the ties of friendship and fraternity between France and Rwanda.”

RwandAir A330-300
Seating Capacity:
30 Business Class, 244 Economy Class.

Cargo Capacity 132.20m³
Overall Length 63.69m
Wingspan 60.30m
Overall Height 17.18m
Cabin Width 5.18m (Inside)
Cabin Height 2.38m (Floor to ceiling)
Max. Takeoff Weight 235t
Cruising Speed / Max. Speed 1062.kph



02 June, 2023

7 widebody Airbus order for Air Algérie

Air Algérie orders five A330-900s and two A350-1000s


The national airline of Algeria, Air Algérie has confirmed an order for seven widebody aircraft from leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus to support its commercial development.

Air Algérie seeks to both strengthen its regional services as well as offering an ambitious schedule of transcontinental destinations. The order for A330s and A350s will ensure the carrier has the capacity for its plans and also benefit from operational savings such as a 25%t lower fuel burn per seat and greater flexibility resulting from the unique commonality between members of the Airbus aircraft Family.

Both the A330neo and the A350 feature the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers passengers a high level of comfort, ambience, and design. This includes more individual space, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system and access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.

Both the A330neo and A350 are powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent engines and offer a range of 7,200 nm and 8,700 nm respectively. These jets will help cement Air Algérie's future development and increase its route network. 

The national airline of Algeria has a rich and colourful history which spans more than six decades since being established in 1947.  Air Algérie has played a vital role in connecting Algeria with the rest of the world, especially during difficult times. 

24 May, 2023

Lufthansa and Airbus mark delivery of 600th Lufthansa aircraft at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site



The delivery to Lufthansa of its first Airbus A300B2 on February 9, 1976 laid the foundation for a strong partnership within European civil aviation that has now extended almost 50 years. With more than ten different Airbus aircraft types supplied since then to almost every air operator in the Lufthansa Group, today saw the 600th such aircraft – an Airbus A321neo – handed over to Lufthansa in a formal ceremony at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site.




Four-time launching customer and the third-biggest A350 customer

600th Lufthansa aircraft formally named ‘Münster’

Special livery for the milestone A321neo unveiled in delivery ceremony at   Hamburg-Finkenwerder




Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board:  “Lufthansa and Airbus are united by a very special partnership. Ever since Airbus’s creation, we have enjoyed close and trusting collaborations on a wide range of research projects and new developments. Lufthansa has also served no fewer than four times as Airbus’s launching customer for a new aircraft type, most recently for the A320neo family that is proving such a success. Lufthansa has ordered every family of aircraft that Airbus has developed over the past five decades. And more than 90 per cent of the 600 Airbuses that we have taken delivery of during that time are still in Lufthansa Group service today. We also wish to welcome our 700th Airbus to our fleet as part of Lufthansa’s centennial celebrations in 2026.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO:  “Lufthansa and Airbus have been partners ever since we delivered the first Lufthansa A300 back in February 1976. Since then, Lufthansa has taken delivery of an Airbus aircraft an average of every month – 600 of them in almost 50 years! No other airline group has received more of our aircraft to date. My particular thanks, on behalf of everyone at Airbus, go to all the teams at Lufthansa for all their confidence and trust. We look forward to the next 50 years of our partnership and our shared commitment to the goal of sustainable air travel.”

The story to date

Lufthansa signed its first purchase agreement with Airbus for three A300B2s in 1975 and received its first such aircraft from Europe’s new manufacturer seven months later on February 9, 1976. Subsequent years saw the first deliveries of further Airbus types: the A310 in 1983, followed by the A300-600 in 1987. The first Airbus A320 to join the Lufthansa fleet was delivered in October 1989. Over 370 aircraft of the A320 family are in service today with the various airlines of the Lufthansa Group. The first A340 followed in 1993; and just one year later the Lufthansa Airbus fleet passed the 100-aircraft mark. The A330 followed in 2004; and in 2010 the A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft – joined the Lufthansa long-haul fleet.

Lufthansa has also served as launching customer for a new Airbus type on four occasions to date: for the A310, the A340, the A220 and – in 2016 –A320neo. Not only the Airbus A320 family is a cornerstone of today’s Lufthansa fleet: the A350-900, which first arrived in 2016, has also become a key component in the Lufthansa long-haul fleet, and the Lufthansa Group is the world’s third-biggest A350 customer.


600th Airbus named ‘Münster’

The 600th Airbus aircraft to be delivered to Lufthansa, which bears the registration D-AIEQ, is an Airbus A321neo. Seating 215 passengers, the A321neo is a state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient short- and medium-haul twinjet that has been in Lufthansa service since 2019. D-AIEQ has been named ‘Münster’ after the German city.

Partners in sustainability, too

Lufthansa and Airbus attach particular importance to their collaborations on the sustainability and the research & development fronts. Over the last three decades, the Lufthansa Group has equipped several of its long-haul Airbus aircraft with instruments to conduct climate and weather research. In addition to three such Airbus jets that are presently gathering climate-related data for scientific purposes, Lufthansa is also working with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on a world-first project to convert a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 into a research aircraft.

Lufthansa performed its longest non-stop flight to date in 2021 when it flew one of its Airbus A350-900s from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The same year also saw a Lufthansa A350-900 converted into a climate research aircraft for the CARIBIC Project.

Back in 2011 Lufthansa was the first airline to trial biofuel in its daily flight operations. For some six months, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was operated on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route with one of its two engines powered with a fuel blend consisting 50% of biosynthetic kerosene. In the same year Lufthansa teamed up with the Forschungszentrum Jülich to conduct a new type of long-term climate research study using scheduled air services to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere. As part of this IAGOS research project, specially developed instruments were installed aboard a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 to collect trace elements from the atmosphere in the course of the aircraft’s regular flight operations.



The Lufthansa Group purchases four additional ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft. The aircraft will be acquired from Deucalion Aviation Limited and delivered to the Group still this year.

Lufthansa currently operates 21 Airbus A350-900s and has ordered five more A350-900s and ten A350-1000s as recently as March 2023. In total, Lufthansa holds 38 firm orders for this highly efficient Airbus long-haul aircraft, making it the world's third-largest Airbus A350 customer.









19 May, 2023

Finnair to lease two Airbus A330 aircraft to Qantas

The Oneworld alliance airline based in Helsinki, Finnair has agreed to lease two Airbus A330 jets to Australian oneworld partner airline, Qantas for four and a half years.

Initially, the two A330's will be wet-leased (aircraft, crew, insurance) to the Qantas (aircraft and crew) for two years, after that the jets will be on a dry lease (aircraft only) to the Australian airline for 2 and half years.  

The deal has been struck as Finnair has been hard hit by the closure of Russian airspace which has resulted in longer reroutes for some of its long-haul flights. These A330s loads have been limited because of the increased time and range the reroutes are range limited by the rerouting. 

During the wet lease period, the aircraft will be deployed in Qantas’ network on routes from Sydney and Singapore as well as Sydney and Bangkok. Finnair pilots will fly scheduled Finnair flights from Helsinki to Singapore and from Helsinki to Bangkok; then, they will continue flying scheduled Qantas flights between Singapore, Bangkok and Sydney before returning to their home base in Helsinki. 

The cabin crew are provided by Finnair partners based in Singapore and Bangkok, and the aircraft maintenance is performed by Finnair partners at the Qantas destinations. Finnair has secured sufficient pilot resources to match its fleet size, including the aircraft leased to Qantas. The Qantas agreement does not impact the number of cabin crew at Finnair, as they are fully deployed in other operations.

28 March, 2023

Qantas starts direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo

Qantas will resume direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo for the first time in more than three years, creating more options for Australians travelling to Japan.

The new service is the first non-stop flight between Melbourne and Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport by any airline, saving passengers nearly two hours travel to downtown Tokyo compared with Narita Airport, which the flight operated to before the pandemic.

The year-round flights will operate four days per week with an Airbus A330 aircraft and add to Qantas’ existing flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Haneda Airport. Together, these flights offer customers more than 420,000 seats between Australia and Japan annually and the choice of double daily flights to Tokyo.

Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said the flights would support the resurgence of tourism and trade links between Australia and Japan which have been growing rapidly since borders reopened.

“We’ve seen the demand for our Tokyo flights bounce back very strongly, and our research shows that it is one of the top tourist destinations that Australians plan on visiting in the next 12 months,” said Mr David.

08 March, 2023

New Prime Seat on Condor's Airbus A330neo

On board the new Airbus A330neo long-haul aircraft Condor offers its guests a completely new flight experience and more comfort than ever with the Prime Seat. In addition to Condor Business Class amenities, such as a freshly boiled organic egg for breakfast, the four Prime Seats in the front row of the cabin offer even more space, a bigger bed, opposite seating, a huge screen and other exclusive benefits. A Prime Seat can be booked for guests with a Business Class ticket from EUR 199.99 per route.

Prime Seat offers exclusivity and comfort

The Prime Seats are in the front row of the A330neo's Business Class and offer even more room to stretch your legs with a larger bed and wider legroom. Comfortable pyjamas are an additional feel-good factor. The Prime Seats offer an opposite seating option, including its own seat belt and with a table in the centre. Travel partners can comfortably toast with a drink, chat or play cards. In addition, Prime Seat guests enjoy the best entertainment on the even larger 24-inch 4K monitor, with a screen diagonal of over 60 centimetres. A sweet and salty snack basket is served and remains at the seat throughout the flight. For those who would like to stay online above the clouds, the Prime Seat comes with a free internet package for unlimited text messaging.

New way of travelling on board A330neo

The new Condor A330neo impresses with numerous amenities for guests in all booking classes. Among the highlights for Business Class are full-lie-flat sleeper seats, which can be comfortably and continuously converted into a 1.99-meter-long flat bed. Each guest has direct access to the aisle and, thanks to generous storage areas and a cocktail table, plenty of space for personal items.

Condor guests enjoy a completely transformed and extensive in-flight entertainment program. They can watch over 250 movies and 160 series free of charge and in the highest 4K picture quality on their own screens. The new Bluetooth function allows the usage of personal wireless headphones. Guests who would like to stay connected above the clouds can use the high-speed broadband internet. Every seat is also equipped with a USB A/C port or socket.

On long-haul flights, internationally-inspired Taste the World menus with several courses allow all guests on board to get their culinary money's worth. Depending on the booking class, Condor guests are served a Standard, Premium or Gourmet Menu. Special menus, such as lactose- or gluten-free, can be ordered in advance up to 24 hours before departure.









10 December, 2022

Air Greenland becomes latest A330neo operator and Flight Hour Services customer

Air Greenland becomes the latest A330neo operator and  Flight Hour Services customer



Air Greenland has taken delivery of an A330-800 widebody aircraft, becoming the latest operator of the type. 

The A330neo will replace previous generation aircraft in the company's fleet, reducing operating cost, improving environmental efficiency while offering an unrivalled passenger experience.  Air Greenland’s A330neo will comfortably accommodate 305 passengers, featuring 42 Premium class seats and 263 Economy class seats.

Air Greenland has also firmed up an agreement with Airbus on Flight Hour Services (FHS) covering component supply and maintenance services. Based on a circular economy model and carbon footprint reduction the Airbus FHS offers more sustainability  throughout the aircraft's life cycle.  More than 1,200 aircraft worldwide are currently being contracted under  Airbus FHS. 

To underline Air Greenland’s sustainability strategy the delivery flight will be powered by a 30 percent blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Air Greenland will first deploy the A330neo between the arctic island and Denmark, adding North American and European routes at a later date. 

The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, providing passengers with a high level of comfort, ambience and design. This includes offering more personal space, larger overhead bins, a new lighting system, and the ability to offer the latest in-flight entertainment systems and full connectivity. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo also features a state-of-the-art cabin air system ensuring a clean and safe environment during the flight.

The A330neo is the new generation version of the popular A330 widebody. Incorporating the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, new wings and a range of aerodynamic innovations, the aircraft offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. The A330-800 is capable of flying 8 150 nm / 15 094 km non-stop.

At the end of October, the A330 Family had registered a total of over 1,700 firm orders  of which 275 are A330neos from 24 customers.





23 November, 2022

A wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft in Air Serbia’s fleet, registered as YU-ARC has arrived at the Belgrade Airport.




The new wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft in Air Serbia’s fleet, registered as YU-ARC, arrived at the Belgrade Airport. Air Serbia’s second long-haul aircraft bears the image of Mihajlo Pupin (1854-1935), with which the national airline wants to honour the famous scientist of Serbian descent, inventor, professor of physics at Columbia University in New York, one of the founders of NASA and winner of a Pulitzer Prize for an autobiography. After necessary technical and administrative steps, the Airbus A330 with the image of Pupin will start operating long-haul flights.

“Enhancing our fleet is one of the strategically most important goals in our company’s development plan. In order to develop our network further, it is necessary to have an adequate fleet and the necessary capacity. We are eagerly awaiting the moment when our new Airbus A330 will take flight. Having in mind the current needs of our network, it is very important for the new aircraft to start regular flights as soon as possible, and that is why it will be flying with the existing cabin and seat layout. Our plan is for Pupin to get a cabin which will be similar to the one in current A330-200 “Tesla” in terms of quality. This will be done during the regular 12-year aeroplane maintenance at the start of next year. We continue to renew our fleet in order to offer even more network flexibility and comfort for our passengers,” said Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia.

The new Air Serbia aircraft got its unique livery in Marana, Arizona, United States. The painting process, during which 20 different colours and 400 litres of paint were used, took 18 days of constant work in two shifts, with teams of approximately 10 people per shift. The latest addition to the national airline’s fleet will have an 18-seat configuration in business class, and 250 seats in economy class. The plane was manufactured in 2011, it has Rolls-Royce engines, an engine thrust of 71100 N, a wingspan of 60 m, and close to 59m in length. It can fly at a maximum altitude of 41,450 feet. Before arriving at Air Serbia, it was used by South African airline South African Airways (SAA).



Air Serbia is the national airline of the Republic of Serbia, the successor of the first national airline, Aeroput, established in Belgrade in 1927. We have been operating under our present name since October 2013.

Air Serbia operates scheduled, seasonal and charter flights to over 70 destinations in Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Asia and Africa, in passenger and cargo traffic. In cooperation with our airline partners, we also offer flights to international destinations in Asia, Australia, North America and Africa.

In addition to Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, which is our base, Air Serbia also flies from Constantine the Great Airport in Niš and from International Airport Morava near Kraljevo.














21 November, 2022

Condor A330neo with connectivity

Photo Condor
Optimally connected at all times even on board: With the arrival of Condor's new Airbus A330neo long-haul aircraft, guests will in future enjoy not only the largest movie selection ever with Condor FlyConnect, but also high-speed broadband Internet on board. This means that even above the clouds, guests can be reached online at any time via their own mobile device and use online services. In addition to the free in-flight entertainment program with the largest selection ever, guests on flights with the A330neo will in future be able to choose from three different data packages.

On the entire A330neo fleet, Condor offers its guests the option of connecting to WiFi on board with their mobile device with Condor FlyConnect. Three data package options are available for this purpose, which can be added starting at seven euros. The options available are Chat Unlimited, Basic (two hours) and Premium (four hours), so that each guest can purchase the right package for their individual use. To use the service, guests simply need to connect to the FlyConnect WiFi in flight mode on board and visit www.condorflyconnect.com. Guests have the option of testing the chat function free of charge for the first ten minutes, allowing them to use messenger services, for example, before opting for one of the data packages. In the future, guests will also find all the information they need to use the service in the in-flight menus and in the in-flight entertainment of the entire A330neo long-haul fleet and on condor.com.

Best entertainment above the clouds


On board the new A330neo long-haul fleet, guests of all booking classes can expect the best cinema entertainment. They can choose from up to 250 films and 160 series, including well-known blockbusters and new releases, free of charge. The personal 4K monitor at each seat also allows guests to choose from podcasts and music to make the time fly by. In addition, guests can also download a wide selection of eJournals in various languages in advance, including magazines, daily newspapers, travel guides, and children's books.







Azul Linhas Aéreas adds three additional A330neo to fleet


Azul has signed a firm order for three A330-900 which will allow it to further expand its international network and complement its existing A330 operations, bringing the airline’s total fleet of A330neo aircraft to eight.

“We are delighted to have secured three more next-gen Airbus widebody aircraft for the upcoming years. This reaffirms our position as the airline with the most modern fleet in the region, with 70 percent of our capacity coming from fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft,” said John Rodgerson, Chief Executive Officer of Azul.

“We applaud Azul’s decision that shows their forward looking strategy and proves the economics and performance of the A330neo are most compelling. The A330neo is the perfect tool to support Azul in expanding its fleet with the right-sized, modern widebody, leveraging the latest technology and efficiency and contributing to reducing CO2,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

07 November, 2022

IAG Cargo restarts services to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro from Madrid

 IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has announced the revival of two services from its hub at Madrid Barajas Airport to Caracas (Venezuela) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). These routes join IAG Cargo’s increased capacity to Latin American destinations this winter, including Chile, Mexico and Ecuador.
 


The flights to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro will operate three times a week, commencing in November; the services to Caracas will utilise the bellyhold of an Iberia A350 aircraft and an A330-200 to Rio de Janeiro. IAG Cargo’s sister airline Iberia recently announced a return to pre-pandemic levels and has re-established its entire network of flights and destinations in Latin America, adding the two remaining destinations (Caracas and Rio de Janeiro).

IAG Cargo announces the restart of services from its Madrid hub to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro.

These routes join IAG Cargo’s increased capacity to Latin American destinations this winter, including Chile, Mexico and Ecuador.

The addition of these services will offer customers more uplift between Latin America and Europe


 

These routes facilitate the movement of perishables and popular foods grown locally including flowers, papayas, mangos, and figs. Every year IAG Cargo transports large volumes of perishables out of Central and South America to European markets, via its Constant Fresh service, designed to optimise shelf life using aircraft hold temperature settings monitored closely throughout the flight.

 

Rodrigo Casal, Regional Commercial Manager for Latin America at IAG Cargo said: “I’m delighted to offer our customers additional capacity between Latin America, Europe and UK. The revival of these services will have a great impact on the economy and livelihoods in both Caracas and Rio de Janeiro, as exporting food and perishables plays a huge part in their economies. When it comes to transporting perishables - air cargo plays a vital role, ensuring products arrive on supermarket shelves in the same condition as harvest.”

IAG Cargo’s hub at Madrid airport handles over 200,000 tonnes of cargo every year with frequent services to cities in Europe such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. The Madrid hub is also an important gateway for Spanish textile manufacturers transporting the latest fashions into the Americas.







25 October, 2022

Air Côte d’Ivoire expands its fleet and network with modern Airbus A330neo aircraft


 Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national airline of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, has signed a firm order for two A330neo aircraft to support its growth strategy.

The agreement was announced at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, in the presence of Amadou Koné, Minister of Transport of Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Loukou, CEO of Air Côte d’Ivoire, General Abdoulaye Coulibaly, President of Air Côte d’Ivoire Board and Philippe Mhun, Airbus Executive Vice President Programmes and Services.

The airline currently operates a fleet of six Airbus aircraft comprising one A320neo, two A320ceo and three A319. The new A330neo widebody aircraft will enable Air Côte d’Ivoire to grow its network and efficiently launch long haul routes in view of the airline’s transcontinental expansion strategy.

The A330neo is the new generation version of the popular A330 widebody. Incorporating the latest generation engines, a new wing and a range of aerodynamic innovations, the aircraft offers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2-emissions. The A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200nm / 13,300km non-stop. Operating the A330neo side by side with its Airbus Single Aisle fleet, will enable Air Côte d’Ivoire to benefit from huge operational savings and more flexibility generated by Airbus’ unique commonality among its aircraft Family members.

24 October, 2022

Investigation started into Korean Air A330 runway excursion at Cebu.

Photo AP
An investigation has begun into the events surrounding a Korean Air Airbus A330 which overshot the runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the Philippines, on what appears to have been the crew's third attempt at landing.

All 173 crew and passengers were evacuated safely from the stricken jet that was operating flight KE361 from Seoul to Cebu at the time of the crash.  According to a statement from the airline "Passengers have been escorted to three local hotels and an alternative flight is being arranged. We are currently identifying the cause of the incident."

Keehong Woo the Korean Air President issued the following statement -  "I would like to extend my sincere sentiments regarding the Korean Air Flight KE631 incident at Mactan-Cebu International Airport on October 23, 2022.

A thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities to determine the cause(s) of this event.

We always prioritize safety in all of our operations, and we truly regret the stress and inconvenience brought to our passengers.

We remain committed to standing behind our promise of safe operations and will do our very best to institute measures to prevent any recurrence. Our overall goal is for our valued guests to trust that Korean Air will treat them well, and honour us with the opportunity to welcome them once again."


The pilot had tried to land the Airbus aircraft twice in what appeared to be very poor weather, with thunderstorms in the local area reported at the time of the excursion from the runway.  The jet was delivered to the carrier in 1998 and had no reported issues or technical malfunctions.   

A number of things are being investigated, initially by Philippean air crash investigators with input from counterparts in Korea, including why the crew decided to make a third attempt to land after aborting two earlier ones when conditions hadn't improved.

Cebu Airport Corporation has indicated that runway operations shall temporarily open for departures only today, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Airlines for departures shall be in touch with their passengers for the necessary pre-departure and check-in procedures. All passengers are advised to monitor their flights before proceeding to the airport and coordinate with their respective airlines for the status of their flights.



29 August, 2022

Finnair to launch daily services from Nordic capitals to Doha in strategic partnership with Qatar Airways

Finnair to launch daily services from Nordic capitals to Doha in strategic partnership with Qatar Airways


Finnair to launch daily services from Nordic capitals to Doha in strategic partnership with Qatar Airways
Finnair and oneworld partner Qatar Airways have concluded an agreement to establish a long-term strategic cooperation between Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen and Doha. Finnair and Qatar Airways are exploring opening services also between another European destination and Doha.

These services will be supported by a comprehensive codeshare agreement with shared passenger and cargo capacity between both airlines.

Customers from the three Nordic cities will benefit from seamless connections via Doha to Qatar Airways’ extensive network of around 100 destinations across Australasia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The collaboration will also open new destinations and connection opportunities across Finnair’s Nordic network for Qatar Airways’ customers.

The services are planned to start between November and December 2022. They will be operated with Finnair’s Airbus A330 aircraft featuring Finnair’s new long-haul cabins, including industry-leading Air Lounge business class seats, a brand-new premium economy travel class and refreshed economy class.

The flights to Doha are to be sold and marketed by both Finnair and Qatar Airways as per the schedule below: 
7 weekly flights to and from Helsinki 
7 weekly flights to and from Stockholm 
7 weekly flights to and from Copenhagen 

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, said: “As a fellow oneworld member, we enjoy a close relationship with Finnair and these new services to Hamad International Airport are an example of Qatar Airways working with partners for the benefit of our joint customers. This strategic partnership demonstrates our commitment to the Nordic markets and strengthens our position as the leading Middle East carrier in this important region. This partnership will be the foundation for the future expansion here.” 

Mr. Al Baker added: “Soon, Doha will be the Oneworld hub bringing more airline partners together than ever before. With this codeshare agreement, travellers from the Nordics will continue to have excellent connectivity to Doha with Finnair and onwards with Qatar Airways to attractive leisure and key business destinations across Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East.” 
 
“We are delighted to expand our collaboration with our oneworld partner Qatar Airways, offering new connections between Doha and the three Nordic capitals”, says Finnair CEO Topi Manner. “The role of Doha as an international hub is growing, and Qatar Airways has extensive connections from Doha onwards to for example Australasia, the Middle East and Africa.” 
Finnair to launch daily services from Nordic capitals to Doha in strategic partnership with Qatar Airways








21 June, 2022

Voyager Aviation Holdings sees Turkish Airlines extend leases of five Airbus A330-300 aircraft...



Voyager Aviation Holdings, a privately held aviation investment firm and commercial aircraft leasing company based in Ireland has announced this week a deal with Turkish Airlines.

The two firms have successfully extended an agreement for the long-term lease of five Rolls-Royce-powered A330-300 aircraft, for four more years. VAH delivered these aircraft to Turkish Airlines during 2016 and 2017 for an initial lease term of six years following the installation of a new, dual-class cabin interior.

“We are very pleased to continue our valued partnership with Turkish Airlines and support the airline in its growth. Turkish Airlines continually distinguishes itself as one of the world’s most successful airlines. The airline continues to expand its flight network, having already distinguished itself as the airline that flies to more countries than any other through its Istanbul hub,” added VAH Executive Chairman Hooman Yazhari.





Want me in your inbox? Follow here for email updates Air101 here.



08 June, 2022

Jet2 operating flights with two leased Airbus A330 wide-body jets....

Jet2 and Jet2holidays are once again operating the 327-seat Airbus A330 aircraft at Manchester Airport, enabling us to add more seats and capacity to support our biggest ever summer holidays and flights programme.

The widebody aircraft, leased from AirTanker for the peak summer season, made its first flight of the season for us earlier taking off for Tenerife. 

A second Airbus A330 will come into operation later this month. Both aircraft will operate from Manchester to popular sunshine destinations including; Majorca, Faro, Tenerife, Antalya and Dalaman, and will operate until the end of October 2022.  

Customers on the aircraft will be able to enjoy the spacious widebody cabin in addition to our award-winning customer service, and friendly flight times. 

Ian Doubtfire, Sustainability and Business Development Director at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Summer 22 is our biggest ever summer programme, demonstrating the huge demand that we continue to experience for our award-winning flights and holidays. The addition of AirTanker’s widebody Airbus A330 into our operation at Manchester Airport will help us increase capacity and meet this continued demand. The aircraft means we will continue delivering our VIP customer service, whilst providing even more choice for customers.” 

Tony Carder, AirTanker Director of Sales, said: “We are delighted to be back operating on behalf of Jet2.com with two aircraft for the summer season, and we look forward to delivering a high level of service to Jet2.com and their customers. It is great to have two aircraft placed on stable damp leases after a challenging two years in the commercial market, and we very much look forward to a successful summer ahead.” 



Want me in your inbox? Follow here for email updates Air101 here.



Search