JetSMART opts for Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power its latest order of Airbus jets

RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney, has revealed JetSMART has selected GTF engines to power an additional 35 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including nine A321XLR aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will also provide JetSMART with GTF engine maintenance through an EngineWise® Comprehensive service agreement. 

JetSMART, an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC), selected the GTF engine to power 70 A320neo family aircraft in June 2019. The airline also operates an additional 15 leased GTF powered A320neo family aircraft and a fleet of 11 A320ceo family aircraft powered by the V2500® engine.

"We are building upon our collaboration with JetSMART as they drive continued expansion in the Latin American market," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. "With unmatched fuel efficiency, payload and range, GTF engines will enable JetSMART to open new routes across South America and fly more people, farther, with less fuel and lower carbon emissions."

Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of One A320neo to JetSMART

Aviation Capital Group have announced the delivery of one new Airbus A320neo aircraft on long-term lease to JetSMART. This aircraft featuring Pratt & Whitney PW1127GA-JM engines delivers from ACG’s order book with Airbus.

“We are pleased to continue developing our partnership with JetSMART with this A320neo delivery. We are honored to support JetSMART’s fleet expansion with this modern, fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Marine Benoit, ACG Vice President Marketing for the Latin American region.

“This new A320neo, with the most efficient and advanced technology, shows our commitment to the development of our sustainable ultra-low-cost business in South America. One more step closer to our goal of 100 aircraft by 2028,” said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

JetSMART gets another new Airbus A321neo......

Aviation Capital Group announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321neo aircraft on long-term lease to JetSMART, as part of a three-aircraft sale and lease back transaction between ACG and JetSMART.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM engines, this aircraft is the first A321neo to join the JetSMART fleet. The A321neo incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 20 percent fuel savings and CO2 emissions reduction, as well as a 50 percent noise reduction.

“We are honoured to continue supporting JetSMART in their growth in Chile and Latin America with the delivery of this new fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo,” said Marine Benoit, ACG Vice President Marketing for the Latin American region.

“The delivery of our first A321neo marks the beginning of a new era for JetSMART, to further reduce costs and carbon footprint and one more step to become the leading ULCC in South America. We value the support from ACG on our vision to reach 100 aircraft by 2028,” said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

Six new Airbus A320NEOs for JetSMART

Leasing firm BOC Aviation announced a deal that will see it place six Airbus A320NEO aircraft with South American ultra-low-cost carrier JetSMART Airlines, which will be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM engines.  

 Founded in 2016, JetSMART Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier that operates many domestic flights in Chile, Argentina and Peru as well as offering international services to Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil. The airline has carried more than 10 million passengers and is part of the airline portfolio of Indigo Partners, which also owns Frontier Airlines, Wizz Air, Volaris,  Lynx Air and Cebu Pacific. 

"We are excited to work with BOC Aviation in the management of our fleet plans towards becoming the ultra low cost carrier in South America" said Matt Bernier, CFO of JetSMART.

“We are delighted to welcome JetSMART as a new customer and we look forward to supporting the airline’s growth plans in the South American region,” said Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation. “This transaction is testament to BOC Aviation’s ability to provide our customers with large-scale financing solutions as well as technologically advanced aircraft.”

Massive Airbus order for Indigo Partners portfolio of airlines - 255 A321neo family aircraft

Indigo Partners, the private equity fund focused on worldwide investments in air transportation and based in Phoenix, Arizona has confirmed a massive order for its airlines from European planemaker Airbus.

Jointly, the airlines will order an additional 255 Airbus A321neo family of aircraft in a special deal that was inked at the Dubai Airshow. With this new commitment,  the total number of aircraft ordered by the Indigo Partners’ airlines will climb to 1,145.

Wizz Air: 102 aircraft (75 A321neo + 27 A321XLR)

Frontier: 91 aircraft (A321neo)

Volaris: 39 aircraft (A321neo)

JetSMART: 23 aircraft (21 A321neo + 2 A321XLR)

In addition to this order, Volaris and JetSMART will upconvert 38 A320neo to A321neo from their existing aircraft backlogs.

“This order reaffirms our portfolio airlines’ commitment to consistent growth through the next decade. The Airbus A321neo and A321XLR have industry-leading efficiency, low unit costs and a substantially reduced carbon footprint relative to prior models. With these aircraft, Wizz, Frontier, Volaris and JetSMART will continue to offer low fares, stimulate the markets they serve and improve their industry-leading sustainability profile,” said Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners.

“We are happy to further expand our relationship with our great Indigo Partners’ airlines Wizz, Frontier, Volaris and JetSMART who have acted fast and decisively over the last few months to position themselves for this landmark order as the effect of the pandemic recedes and the world wants more sustainable flying,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

The A321neo incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 25 percent fuel and CO 2 savings, as well as a 50 percent noise reduction. The A321XLR version provides a further range extension to 4,700nm. This gives the A321XLR a flight time of up to 11 hours, with passengers benefitting throughout the trip from Airbus’ award-winning Airspace interior, which brings the latest cabin technology to the A320 Family.

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Latin America's airline apocalypse signals a future with weak competition

Bankrupt LATAM Airlines and Avianca Holdings are dramatically retrenching their once-grand ambitions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing competition in Latin America as they mull once-unthinkable cooperation with rivals, reports Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo.

Since May, LATAM has exited Argentina, partnered with rival Azul SA in Brazil and cut back domestic operations in Chile, while Avianca has departed Peru.

LATAM is now open to a deeper alliance with Azul, even as the two airlines usually control a combined 60% of Brazil’s domestic market.

The scaling back could reshape air travel in Latin America, weakening competition regionally and driving up ticket prices while also helping some carriers survive. The moves show how the industry is already shrinking through attrition, as airlines are too cash-strapped to consider buying the competition.

Struggling Norwegian sells its new Argentinian subsidiary to JetSMART Airlines after just eleven months.

In a surprising move, Norwegian Air Shuttle has agreed on a deal to sell 100% of its Argentinian subsidiary Norwegian Air Argentina (NAA) to JetSMART Airlines after little over a year of operation.

Norwegian Air Argentina operates domestic flights within Argentina with a small fleet of 3 Boeing 737 aircraft. All NAA employees will be transferred to JetSMART except for the company’s Argentina-based call centre staff,  who will continue as Norwegian employees providing customer services to JetSMART's domestic Argentina operation and to Norwegians long-haul customers flying to and from Europe. 

The deal comes into immediate effect so JetSMART is taking over operations from now and to minimise the impact on passengers, JetSMART will continue to operate the NAA scheduled flights from Aeroparque airport. Slowly the Norwegian NAA brand will be phased out and over the next six months, the three Boeing 737 will be replaced by JetSMART’s Airbus A320 aircraft. Those three Boeing 737s will return to service for Norwegian in Europe.

JetSmart signs V2500 maintenance service agreement

JetSmart has signed an eight-year service agreement, with an optional extension to 10 years, with IAE International Aero Engines AG to maintain its current fleet of V2500®-powered A320ceos. The V2500 engine is offered through IAE International Aero Engines AG, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation and MTU Aero Engines.

Argentinian expansion for JetSMART

Big plans for an Argentinian expansion for the low-cost Chilean airline JetSMART have been revealed this week.

The airline will expand into Argentina during December this year will ambitions plans for a domestic route network to be introduced by July 2019.  JetSMART has applied for an air operator's certificate in Argentina, which should be granted in early next year. 

The carrier is bringing new flights connecting Chile and Argentina, from 11th December JetSMART will connect Santiago with Mendoza, followed by Cordoba on 14th December. Then on 17th December, they will start a service between La Serena and Cordoba. Flights between La Serena and Mendoza will launch 18 December. On 2 January, service between Santiago and Buenos Aires El Palomar will begin.

JetSMART operates almost exclusively within Chile, with its fleet of five A32s, although it does have a single international route currently as it also goes to Lima. The airline also plans to have another six by Airbus A320s in early 2019. During the second half of 2019, it will also add eight leased A320neos. The airline will also start to receive its first A320neos from a 70 aircraft order in 2021. 

Recently the airline celebrated its first year of operation in Chile, which saw the carrier, transport 1.2 million passengers in those first 12 months, remarkably achieving a market share of 12.7%. "JetSMART has revolutionised air transport in Chile. Thanks to the competition we have introduced, airline ticket prices have fallen more than 35% in this period and the domestic market has grown more than 22%," said Estuardo Ortiz, general manager of JetSMART.

Indigo Partners Order 430 Airbus A320neo's

Airbus and Indigo Partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of 430 additional Airbus A320neo family aircraft. 

The aircraft will be allocated throughout the four Indigo airlines, the ultra-low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines, JetSMART, Volaris and Wizz Air.

This mega order of 430 aircraft comprised of 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos and is worth at least $49.5 billion at the list prices. The deal was announced at the Dubai Airshow by Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners, and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. 

If you add these aircraft to the existing Airbus A320 Family orders make Indigo Partners one of the largest customers by order number in the world for the Airbus single-aisle aircraft family. Airlines in the Indigo Partners family previously have placed orders for 427 A320 Family aircraft.

“This significant commitment for 430 additional aircraft underscores our optimistic view of the growth potential of our family of low-cost airlines, as well as our confidence in the A320neo Family as a platform for that growth,” said Bill Franke.  “Our airlines know that a great aircraft coupled with a great business plan will create value for our customers. We look forward to bringing comfort and low fares to more passengers around the world as Wizz Air, Volaris, JetSMART and Frontier continue to expand.”