With an eye toward the Asia/Pacific region's growing importance for the commercial aircraft leasing business, International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) said it will establish offices in Beijing and Singapore this year. It also named head of transactions David Nixon to the newly created post of senior VP and head of Asia/Pacific.
CFM International closed out 2011 as a record year, logging orders for a total 1,500 commercial, military and spare CFM56 engines, plus commitments for 3,056 Leap engines, including for the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 MAX and the COMAC C919. The 4,556 engines have a total combined value of approximately $51.7 billion at list prices. The company said in “the next couple of months” it expects additional A320neo, 737 MAX and C919 announcements.
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has expanded its fleet with a Boeing 737-300, which offers 136 business- and economy-class cabin seats. This is the carrier’s 20 th 737, it said in a statement. According to UIA, its fleet expansion program became more urgent after adopting the new strategic model of a network carrier based at Kiev Boryspil. The airline’s fleet includes a mix of 20 737-300/400/500/800s, one Fokker 50 and two Antonov An-148 aircraft.
Russian UTair airline (UT) has signed a leasing agreement with Sberbank Leasing Co., for two Boeing 737-800s and five 737-500s for five years, in a deal estimated to be worth $100 million. According to a UT statement, the aircraft were delivered at the end of 2011. Sberbank Leasing said one of its main company strategies is to strengthen positions in the aviation market. After the first nine months of 2011, the company had a backlog worth more than RUB202 billion ($6.5 billion).
Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has ordered six more AirbusA350-900s for delivery between 2016 and 2017. The order builds on the airline’s original commitment to the A350-900 for 30 aircraft placed in September 2010 ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 17, 2010). CX announced an additional order for two A350-900s in August last year. The A350s will replace the airline’s A340s and eventually its A330 fleet.
Vueling Airlines (VY) will add five Airbus A320s and one A319 this year to support its organic growth as it launches 44 new routes and at least three new bases, CEO Alex Cruz said.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) Friday on 20 Airbus A380 after new cracks were found in wing brackets last week.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will issue an Airworthiness Directive (AD) today on the Airbus A380 after new cracks were found in wing brackets this week.
Air China (CA) will debut its Boeing 777-300ER Feb. 1, on the Los Angeles (LAX)-Beijing (PEK) night flight, replacing a 747-400. CA, which is the only carrier to provide nonstop service between the two cities, doubled the daily service in September. It will go one step further to enhance the route in June when it plans to upgrade the 747-400 day flight between LAX and PEK to the 777-300ER.
PrivatAir, a Geneva-based VIP airline that operates all-business-class flights for airlines including Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and KLM, placed a firm order for five Bombardier CSeries 100 aircraft, with five options.
ATR booked sales for 236 aircraft in 2011, comprising 157 firm orders and 79 options, in a record-breaking year, giving it a dominant position in the 50- to 90-seat regional aircraft market.
Airbus delivered 534 commercial aircraft to 88 customers and booked 1,419 net orders in 2011, in a record-breaking year buoyed by its decision to re-engine the A320.
Brussels Airlines (SN) will invest €30 million ($38.3 million) to revamp the interiors of its widebody fleet, comprising five Airbus A330-300 and two -200s. Business class will be fitted with full-flat beds with built-in LED mood lighting; economy seats will be equipped with the IMS Company’s innovative seat-centric RAVE inflight entertainment system.
Etihad Airways (EY) has finalized a $367 million sale/leaseback deal with Sanad Aero Solutions and Engine Lease Finance Corp. (ELF) to finance 23 spare engines. The transactions, which are for a 10-year operating lease, cover the financing for 16 in-service spare engines and seven future spare engine deliveries. Sanad will buy and lease back five GE90 and six Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. ELF will purchase and lease back six Trent 700 and six IAE V2500 engines, EY said. The spare engines are for EY’s fleet of passenger and cargo aircraft.
Aeroflot (SU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Russian state corporation Rostechnology to lease 50 Boeing 737 NGs, the two companies announced Thursday.
Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris (Y4) has finalized a previously announced order for 44 Airbus A320 aircraft, comprising 30 A320neos and 14 A320 family aircraft.
Boeing on Tuesday rolled out its first 737NG at the new production rate of 35 aircraft a month from its Renton, Wash., facility ( ATW Daily News, July 15, 2011). The manufacturer delivered the aircraft to AWAS Aviation Services for lease by Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has placed an order with Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) for blended winglets for its Boeing 767-300ERs—a fleet it has already begun to retire. The order includes three firm and seven options. Installation will take place at the ET Addis Ababa maintenance facility and begin with three aircraft in February.
A320neo in Spirit Airlines’ livery. Courtesy, Airbus Spirit Airlines has finalized an agreement for 75 A320 aircraft, comprising 45 A320neos and 30 A320s, previously announced at the Dubai Airshow ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 16), according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing Jan. 5.
Air France KLM Group has finalized an order for 25 Boeing 787-9s, with options. The order, which was signed in late December, was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.
KfW IPEX-Bank has been mandated by Air Lease Corp. as arranger and sole lender for a seven-year commercial debt financing of one new Airbus A330-200 leased to Vietnam Airlines. The transaction closed Dec. 22.
