A lot of interest for Embraer at Farnborough

Tuesday saw a whole raft of orders and commitments came in for the Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer at this years Farnborough International Airshow.

Mauritania Airlines placed a firm order for two E175 jets. The aircraft will be configured with 76 seats in a comfortable dual-class layout with deliveries to take place in 2019. "The acquisition of the E175 is part of our fleet modernization, replacing old aircraft and complementing our young narrow-body aircraft", said Mr Mohamed Radhy Bennahi, CEO of Mauritania Airlines. "We are certain that with E175 we'll be able to offer an even better service to our customers, with greater comfort, adding more frequencies and new destinations."

Wataniya Airways signed the papers for 10 E195-E2 aircraft. the Kuwaiti airline also took purchase rights for a further 10 aircraft. The airline will configure the new aircraft in a comfortable layout of 118 seats, with 12 in business class and 106 in economy class and is the worldwide launch customer for Embraer's new staggered business class seating. "The E195-E2 will allow us to open non-served markets and increase frequencies, delivering better connectivity to the Kuwait market", said Rakan Al-Tuwaijri, CEO of Wataniya Airways. "We have chosen the staggered seats to differentiate ourselves from the competition, offering a superior product with extra legroom and better privacy for our customers."

Air Lease Corporation orders 23 aircraft from Boeing

Boeing and Air Lease Corporation today announced orders and commitments for up to 78 Boeing aircraft at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow. That's the headline news from the American manufacturer, but the small print indicates that only the first 23 aircraft are actually firm commitments. 

This order is for up to 75 737 MAX 8s and 3 787-9 Dreamliners and has a list price value of over $9.6 billion, but will be much much lower in reality. However, don't be fooled by the Boeing hype, as they try to portray domance on the world aircraft market, the 75 air frames isn't a confirmed order. Only 23 aircraft are confirmed orders made up of 20 737 MAX planes and 3 787-9's.

The remaining 55 737 Max aircraft are listed as 'commitments', but no deal on them has been signed or confirmed at this stage.  "Demand for reliable, fuel-efficient aeroplanes is at an all-time high. The capabilities of these new aeroplanes continue to meet the high expectations of our growing airline customer base," said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.

John Plueger, CEO and President of Air Lease Corporation added, "The economic and operating advantages of the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner will provide our airline customers with the competitive advantage they need."

Air Canada is the best airline in North America

At the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony held today in London, Air Canada was named Best Airline in North America for the second consecutive year.  It is the seventh time in the past nine years the carrier was selected as the best in North America by the World Airline Awards, which are based on passenger satisfaction surveys of approximately 20 million global travellers.

"We are very pleased that Air Canada has again been recognized as the Best Airline in North America by the highly respected Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the seventh time in nine years Air Canada has been honoured with this award, demonstrating our successful transformation into a leading global carrier. I thank our 30,000 employees who are the true winners of the Skytrax Award, for delivering superior service while transporting more than 48 million customers a year safely to their destinations," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: "Air Canada achieved a remarkable success winning this top accolade as the Best Airline in North America for the seventh time. Air Canada demonstrates that it is truly a passenger favourite as it continues to receive such a vote of confidence from customers."

Finnair named as ‘Best Airline in Northern Europe’ for the 9th year in a row by Skytrax

For an amazing ninth year in a row, Finnair has been awarded the mantle of 'Northern Europe’s Best Airline' by Skytrax at the World Airline Awards event in London today.

“It is a truly an honour to receive this prestigious award for the ninth consecutive year,” said Piia Karhu, SVP, Customer Experience at Finnair. “This award demonstrates the great work our entire team has done to focus on making the customer and travel experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible.” 

“We have also taken important steps in continuing to develop and refine key areas of our travel experience through the entire customer journey and we have seen very favourable developments in our customer feedback and NPS score,” adds Karhu.   

SKYTRAX awards for ‘World's Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe’ go to Norwegian

The ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe’ awards were won by Norwegian at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards held in London today.

The Skytrax 2018 World Airline Awards, celebrating its 18th year, are independent and impartial and represent the leading international airline rating system as voted for by the travelling public, and Norwegian was once again recognised by providing outstanding service combined with a high-quality product while operating one of the youngest fleets in the aviation industry.  The airline has won the award for ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline’ for the fourth consecutive year and the ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe’ for the sixth year in a row.

New A330-300 for Tianjin Airlines and Hainan Airlines

News from Haikou, China is that Hainan Airlines are all set to take delivery of an Airbus A330-300 aircraft by the end this month and is the 18th new A330-300 to join the carriers fleet.

This is the first new aircraft to be introduced by Hainan Airlines this year and is configured with 303 seats, there are 279 in the economy class cabin while 24 are positioned in the business class cabin. All the business class seats feature herringbone arrangement that allows passengers to enjoy lie-flat beds, increased privacy and direct aisle access.   All seats also include a USB slot, 110v power supply as well as an entertainment system. 

Sister airline, Tianjin Airlines is also getting its hands on a brand new A330-300 aircraft direct from Airbus at Toulouse today, which will initially serve the Tianjin to Tokyo and Osaka routes as well as planning flights from Tianjin, Xi'an, Chongqing to London, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. 

HNA orders 20 COMAC ARJ21's

The HNA Group and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd known as COMAC have signed a deal for the airline group to buy 20 of COMAC's ARJ21 aircraft at Farnborough International Air Show and will be used by Urumqi Air. 

These new AJR21's are China's first turbofan regional jet developed in accordance with international airworthiness standards and excels in five major areas according to the manufacturers, including: product adaptability, passenger comfort and cost efficiencies, as well as universality of parts and materials not only across the model suite but also with other commonly built aircraft, all of which help the model meet the operational requirements of taking off and landing at the airports located across the western plateau of China, a region frequently beset by high temperatures, and surmounting obstacles on complex routes, making the aircraft an ideal choice for routes and airports in Western China.

New Emirates lounge in Cairo

Last week the Dubai based mega-airline Emirates unveiled its 42nd dedicated lounge in its vast global network. The newest addition to the group is at Cairo International Airport and is open to Emirates First Class and Business Class customers as well as Platinum and Gold members of Skywards, the airline’s loyalty programme.  

Reflecting the airline’s ongoing commitment to Egypt, the Emirates Lounge in Cairo represents a US$ 3.6 million investment to provide premium customers with a seamless and enjoyable journey. Catering to three daily flights, the lounge offers customers even greater levels of comfort, hospitality and convenience as they start their Emirates experience in Cairo. Located at Departure Terminal 2, Level 2, above the secondary security check & Duty Free area, Emirates’ customers can look forward to relaxing, unwinding and enjoying award-winning service and cuisine.

Ukrainian Ministry of Interior sign for 55 civil helicopters from Airbus

Following the Intergovernmental Agreement signed between France and Ukraine on 8 June, Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior for the purchase of 55 civil helicopters destined for search and rescue (SAR), public services, and emergency medical service (EMS) missions in the country. The 55 aircraft include 21 repurposed H225s, and 10 brand new H145s and 24 H125. The contract, which also foresees the setting up of a local training and maintenance centre, was signed in Kiev on 14 July in the presence of Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ukraine, and Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO.

The heavy twin-engine H225 aircraft ordered by Ukraine, for which the French State currently holds economic rights, will be repurposed to suit public services and search & rescue missions for which the aircraft is recognised as a reference helicopter. The H225 features include a takeoff sequence of less than five minutes, an extra long-range capability with auxiliary fuel tanks, and its world-renowned autopilot and upper SAR modes. The first H225 helicopters are expected to land in Kiev before the end of 2018.

A21neos and A350's for Taiwanese start up airline STARLUX

STARLUX Airlines is a new startup airline based in Taiwan, which have signed a memorandum of understanding with European manufacturer Airbus at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018 today.

The brand new carrier is to purchase 17 A350XWB aircraft which is made up of 12 A350-1000s and 5 A350-900s, with deliveries scheduled to be delivered from the start of 2021. STARLUX founder and Chairman K.W. Chang said, "As a pilot myself, I personally experienced the test-flight of the A350-1000. Its outstanding performance really amazed me. The A350XWB is indeed one-of-a-kind in the current market, and perfectly suited for such a geographic location as Taiwan," 

The new airline is goping for an all Airbus fleet, confirming that it will be leasing 10 A321neos and is looking forward to being the first airline to operate the A350-1000 in Taiwan.

Watch a brief video on the STARLUX Airlines A350XWB -

Bombardier exhibit the CRJ Atmosphere cabin at Farnborough

At Farnborough International Air Show the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, free of the shackles of its CSeries jet that is now rising to new heights under the auspices of Airbus, had to make do with showing off a new cabin for its CRJ aircraft.

Bombardier showcased the new ATMOSPHÈRE cabin alongside launch operator Delta Air Lines and supplier Zodiac Aerospace during the first day of the show. “Our product is evolving, and this signature cabin design represents the latest innovation to our very successful regional jet program. This cabin design will add value to airlines, the feedback has already been very positive as demonstrated with the recent momentum we have gained in the market.” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

The CRJ900 aircraft with the ATMOSPHÈRE cabin is on display all week and the company will also be exhibiting a Q400 aircraft in the colours of Ethiopian Airlines.  They are also showing off the sweet and powerful Global 6000 business jet. 

United order 25 Embraer E175's

United Airlines ordered 25 new Embraer E-175 aircraft and will use them to replace the 25 CRJ700 planes that are currently being flown by the United Express partners. The new aircraft will enable United's service partners to offer more comfortable and efficient aircraft to passengers, they say. 

Gerry Laderman, United's senior vice president of finance and acting chief financial officer said, "The new E-175 aircraft will provide our customers with a superior product that offers the latest in onboard amenities and comfort and will be a terrific addition to our fleet." The new additions will be configured with 70 seats.

"We are thrilled that United is adding another 25 Embraer aircraft to the large existing fleet of almost 400 E-Jets and ERJ's currently flying in the United Express network," said Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation.

Embraer staff at Farnborough International Air Show refused to answer questions regarding the Boeing takeover/joint venture recently announced or respond to suggestions the manufacturer's aircraft will soon be known as  Boeing 616, 626 and 636. 

A rush of orders for Boeing on the first day of Farnborough International Air Show - but are they new?

The US giant manufacturer Boeing proudly announced a huge rush of orders on the first day of the Farnborough International Air Show 2018, with orders coming from various customers including DHL, Jackson Square Aviation, United Airlines, GOL, Goshawk Aviation, TAROM and Qatar. Yet, new orders, they seem not to be.

The freight and package delivery experts DHL order 14 777  Freighter aircraft with an option for 7 further aircraft. Although the order was announced at FIA 2018, it had been made in previous months, Boeing listed the customer as 'Unidentified' on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website. Once the new aircraft are delivered, they will double DHL's fleet of 777 freighter aircraft. 

Qatar Airways operates a fleet of 13 777 Freighters and two 747-8 Freighters and finalised a deal to buy a further five 777 freighters at FIA 2018, with the list price value of $1.7 billion. Again this is deal that had previously been agreed and was announced as a commitment back in April, so is not a new order. "I am delighted to be further enhancing our cargo fleet and adding five Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft," said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. "In the past 15 years, Qatar Airways Cargo has grown steadily and globally, becoming the third largest in the world. We could not have achieved this success without our resilient relationship with Boeing."

Boeing said that United Airlines has ordered four more 787-9 aeroplanes. The deal, valued at about $1.1 billion per current list prices, was finalized this year and was previously listed as unidentified on the manufacturer's Orders & Deliveries website again, so should not be seen as a new order.

"These new 787 aircraft are another step in our wide-body replacement strategy, and we will continue to roll out new announcements in the future as we implement our comprehensive fleet plan," said Gerry Laderman, United's senior vice president of finance and acting chief financial officer. "The 787 allows us to provide our customers with an industry-leading onboard experience and continues to be a vital part of our fleet."  With this latest purchase, United Airlines has now ordered 55 787 Dreamliners. Nearly half of all 787 customers have placed repeat orders for the aeroplane.

DHL order 14 777 Freighters

The US planemaker Boeing announced its first order from Farnborough International Air Show this morning and that was from freight handling and package delivery specialists DHL.

DHL have placed an order for 14 Boeing 777 Freighters and optional purchase rights for a further 7 additional freighters. Whilst the order was announced at the opening of this years FIA, the deal had been agreed some time ago and had even been listed on Boeing's website as an 'unidentified' purchaser.

"We are delighted to announce the acquisition of 14 new 777 Freighters as we renew part of our long-haul fleet,"  said Charlie Dobbie, Executive President of Global Network Operations & Aviation.

DHL was the first carrier of its type to introduce the 777 in 2009 and this new order will double its global fleet  of 777's allowing more markets and customers to benefit from the uniquely capable aircraft.

Singapore Airlines to launch non-stop Singapore - Los Angeles flights

From November this year, Singapore Airlines has confirmed it will launch non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles using the new Airbus A350-900ULR (ultra-long-range) aircraft. The airline also stated it will increase its non-stop flights to San Francisco from Singapore to 10 per week, which will bring the total US-bound flights for SIA to 27.

The first non-stop Los Angeles service will start on 2nd November and is scheduled to be flown three times a week initially. SQ38 will depart Singapore on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. When the second A350-900ULR enters service the schedule to Los Angeles will be increased to a daily operation from 9th November. Then from 7th December 2018, a further three services per week will be added, using the flight number SQ36, lifting total non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles to 10 times per week.

With the introduction of non-stop services between Singapore and Los Angeles, SIA’s existing one-stop service to Los Angeles via Seoul will come to an end on 30th November 2018. Singapore-Seoul frequency will be maintained at four flights per day with the introduction of a new Singapore-Seoul return flight from 1 December 2018, operating as flight SQ612. Together with SIA’s current daily one stop service to Los Angeles via Tokyo, Los Angeles will be served 17 times per week.