Air Transport

Luis Felipe de Oliveira has stepped down as Director General of Airports Council International (ACI) World, Montreal.

SMARTLYNX AIRLINES operated 47,495 flights and carried 6.56m pax in 2023, up 48% and 53% respectively vs 2022; it increased fleet from 49 aircraft in 2022 to 67 in 2023. It says growth was driven by airlines favoring leasing services vs purchasing new aircraft and substantial delays (averaging 16 months) in delivering new aircraft and parts from OEMs.

AVOLON received shareholder approval for previously announced order for 100 A321neos and 40 737 MAXs for delivery through 2032 (SPNWS; Dec 15). It also reduced interest rate in extension/consolidation of US$2.3b Term Loan B facility.

MANDARIN AIRLINES, Taiwan took delivery of its first (1682) of six ATR 72-600s with PW127XTs for low-emission operations.

AVION EXPRESS BRASIL (Avia Solutions Group) is being established for ACMI operations in Brazil with 5-10 A320s starting in 4Q24, increasing to 25 aircraft by 2027/2028.

SKY, Chile took delivery of new A321neo (11673) with LEAPs on lease from SMBC Aviation Capital.

SRILANKAN wet-leased an A330-200 from Air Belgium for operation to Frankfurt, Dhaka and Dubai.

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES took delivery of its third C919 from COMAC.

MEXICANA launched operations (Mexico City-Tulum), run by Mexican military, with ex-Transaero 737-800 (44437).

CARGOJET and CANADIAN NORTH extended partnership to carry air cargo across Canada's Arctic region.

AIR MAURITIUS leased ex-Stobart Air ATR 72-600 (1098) from GOAL.

JUNEYAO AIR took delivery of new 787-9 (65431), the first direct 787 delivery by Boeing in China since Nov 2019.

Fabián Lombardo to President and General Manager of Aerolineas Argentinas.

NORSE ATLANTIC AIRWAYS plans May 30 to begin JFK-Athens (787).

CONDOR plans February 7 to begin Dusseldorf-Beirut (A321).

STARLUX AIRLINES plans March 31 to begin Taichung-Macau (A321neo).

HISKY plans June 7 to begin Bucharest-JFK (A330).

CPaT GLOBAL was selected by ATSA Peru to supply distance learning courses, including CPaT Invent, for Dash 8-100/300/400 pilot training.

CAMDEX ADRIA AIRLINES, Slovenia secured its AOC for Jan 2024 startup with 737-800BCF (33973; ex-Air Europa).

ALC received US$64.9m cash insurance settlement proceeds with Russian insurance company, NSK, for three A320-200s and one A321-200 formerly leased to S7. It says five A321-200neos previously leased to S7 were not included.

AERCAP received US$572m cash payment under insurance settlement with Russian insurance company, NSK, 47 aircraft/five spare engines formerly leased to URAL AIRLINES and SIBERIA AIRLINES. It is still negotiating other claims.

AIR INDIA took delivery of its first (554) of 20 A350-900s on order with Airbus; five more are due in 1Q24. It also has 20 A350-1000s on order.

FLYONE, Romania leased ex-Avianca A321-200 (6002) with V2500s from ICBC Leasing.

FALKO REGIONAL AIRCRAFT purchased ATR 72-500 (884; leased to BLUE ISLANDS) in deal arranged by Aergo Capital.

GENESIS purchased six 737-800s from WestJet for leaseback. It has owned/managed/committed fleet of 55 aircraft.