Israir took delivery of its first ATR 72-500 with a second of the type slated to arrive later this month. The Israeli carrier will deploy the two PW127M-powered turboprops seating 72 passengers on the Tel Aviv Sde Dov-Eilat route. The new aircraft will also enable the airline, a subsidiary of the IDB Tourism branch of IDB Holdings, to increase charter flights to other Mediterranean tourist destinations, it said.
Boeing has suspended deliveries of parts for the 787 from its suppliers for a month while mechanics catch up on work. According to The Seattle Times, Boeing spokesperson Scott Lefeber said the production slowdown won't affect delivery of the first 787 to All Nippon Airways, now expected in September.
Boeing's commercial aircraft deliveries through the first six months of 2011 kept pace with 2010 deliveries, with the manufacturer delivering 222 aircraft in the 2011 first half led by 181 737NGs, the exact number of total and 737 deliveries made in the 2010 first half. It delivered nine 767s through June 30, up from six of the type delivered in the first six months of 2010. First-half deliveries of 777s totaled 32, down from 35 in the year-ago period.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise's DAE Capital aircraft leasing unit canceled the remaining 45 aircraft it had on order with Airbus, the manufacturer confirmed Thursday.
Alliance Airlines acquired two 100-seat Fokker 100s and two 70-seat Fokker 70LRs. The Australian-based charter airline has an agreement with an unnamed “major customer” to operate F70LRs domestically, it said. It plans to use the aircraft “for a range of … tasks on the Eastern seaboard.” Following the delivery of the four aircraft, its fleet will comprise 18 100-seat Fokker F100s, two 75-seat Fokker F70LR jets and five 50-seat Fokker F50s.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air said Wednesday it has gained US FAA approval to begin operating the Boeing 757-200 aircraft type, the first step toward its planned launch of flights to Hawaii next summer. President Andrew Levy said in a statement, "The addition of the Boeing 757-200 will play an important role in our company's future growth." The leisure carrier operates a fleet of 51 MD-80s, which don't have the range to reach Hawaii from the continental US.
Boeing this week forecast demand in India for 1,320 new passenger aircraft valued at around $150 billion over the next 20 years, a dramatic increase over Indian market projections made by the manufacturer five years ago. In fact, Boeing's 20-year market value for India has more than doubled since 2006.
Tibet Airlines, a newly established Lhasa-based airline ( ATW Daily News, June 24), took delivery of an Airbus A319, the first of three A319s it ordered in May 2010. Boeing delivered a 737-900ER and a 777-300ER to Korean Air.
Tianjin-based Okay Airways took delivery of two domestically produced MA60 turboprops from AVIC. The aircraft will be operated on new routes from Yantai to Dalian, Weiha, Dandong and Weifang that the carrier plans to start this month.
Hawaiian Airlines said it leased three additional Boeing 717-200 aircraft to meet increasing passenger demand, and has also purchased its existing fleet of 15 leased 717-200s from Boeing Capital Corp. in a refinancing transaction aimed at reducing its long-term fleet costs.
UK-based Flybe and Finnair announced they will jointly acquire Finnish Commuter Airlines, the Finnish regional carrier owned by privately held Finncomm Oy, for €25 million ($36.2 million) in cash.
UPS Airlines said it will retrofit the cockpits of its cargo aircraft with "quick-donning, full-face oxygen masks with integrated smoke goggles" produced by France's Zodiac Aerospace.
Boeing opened a new 787 vertical fin assembly line at its production facility in Salt Lake City. Operated by Boeing Fabrication, the 35,000 sq. ft. composite assembly line will build the vertical fin assemblies for 787s built at Boeing's South Carolina facility. The Boeing Salt Lake City facility is scheduled to deliver its first vertical fin to Boeing South Carolina during the fourth quarter.
Airbus said it finalized an agreement with Singapore Airlines under which the carrier will lease 15 new A330-300s to be delivered by the manufacturer from 2013-2015 to join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s currently operated by SIA.
Boeing delivered a 777 freighter to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Crystal Cargo. The freighter is Etihad's first Boeing freighter and joins the airline's existing 777 fleet, which includes seven 777-300ERs. TAAG Angola Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft is part of an order for two placed in October 2009. The aircraft will be used for route expansion on service to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Oporto, and into the US upon approval.
Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon said it is aiming to establish itself as a leader in the Asia/Pacific and Middle East markets and plans to open an office in one of the two regions during the next 12 months. It already maintains offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and has leased 26 aircraft to nine airlines between the two regions.
Boeing said Monday it has started function and reliability testing and ETOPS demonstrations on the 787, noting it is entering the "final phase of flight testing prior to certification of the airplane."
The Chinese government has blocked an order from Hainan Airlines' subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft, according to widespread news reports.
