Airlines & Lessors

Malaysia-based low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia signed a firm order with Airbus for 100 A321neos, the largest single new order for commercial jets announced so far at the Farnborough Airshow.

Hong Kong lessor China Aircraft Leasing Corp. (CALC) and Hong Kong aviation investor Friedmann Pacific Investment (FPI) signed a preliminary order with Chinese manufacturer COMAC for 60 ARJ21-700 regional jets.

Vietnam Airlines has named Duong Tri Thanh, who has been Jetstar Pacific Airlines’ chairman since 2012, as its new president and CEO.

Brazilian manufacturer Embraer delivered 26 commercial aviation aircraft in the second-quarter of 2016, one less than the year-ago

US-based Air Lease Corp. (ALC) announced an order for six Boeing 737 MAX 8s at the Farnborough Airshow.

Gulf carrier Qatar Airways is to take a stake of up to 10% in South America’s LATAM Airlines Group, it was announced at the Farnborough Airshow July 12.

Mitsubishi is closing in on its first European order after Swedish regional aircraft leasing specialist Rockton Aviation signed a letter of intent (LOI) to take 10 Mitsubishi MRJ90s and options on a further 10.

US lessor Air Lease Corp. (ALC) Airbus kicked placed a firm order with Airbus for three A350-900s plus a single A321.

With the release of the first round of major US airlines’ operational data for June 2016, half-year results are taking form.

New Cyprus-based carrier Cobalt has launched initial services, with plans to ramp up its fleet and destinations over the next few weeks.

Air France-KLM Group has announced the resignation of CFO Pierre-François Riolacci, effective Nov. 4, when he will become CFO at Danish facilities manager ISS A/S.

South Korea-based Asiana Airlines’ new LCC subsidiary, Air Seoul, is scheduled to start flying next week.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

People-July 7, 2016

Global air passenger traffic grew 4.6% year-over-year in May, unchanged from April and signaling a slowdown in growth, according to IATA’s latest Air Passenger Market Analysis.

China’s HNA Group, parent of Hainan Airlines, has acquired 61.7% of Swiss airline catering and logistics services company Gategroup—and 63.6% of the voting rights and shares as of July 1—which is sufficient for its takeover bid.

Airlines in China and Taiwan have either canceled or delayed flights over the next few days as the region braces for Typhoon Nepartak, which is expected to make landfall on Taiwan’s east coast early Friday, then hit China Saturday.

Airbus had its biggest delivery month so far this year with 64 commercial aircraft handed over in June to 33 airlines and nine lessors.

Global air freight market demand slowed to 0.9% in May year-over-year (YOY) while global air freight capacity increased 4.9% YOY, the slowest pace since March 2015, according to IATA’s Air Freight Market Analysis.

Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines, which operates the largest network within Africa, has seen a 2%-3% drop in African business, mainly because of microeconomic challenges in oil export nations, Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told ATW at last week’s Airbus A350 XWB delivery in Toulouse.

Russia’s international traffic fell 33.9% in May, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia.

Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines has named IT industry executive Kristijonas Kaikaris as its new CEO, replacing Vytautas Kaikaris who will take charge of Small Planet Group.

Scandinavian low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian Air Shuttle will wet lease up to 10 aircraft to cope with demand on its routes this summer.

Irish lessor Avolon is to acquire 45 aircraft from the portfolio of US lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).