Tag: fleet (Page 13 of 45)

Honeywell Fuel Tank Safety Technology Selected By Copa Airlines

August 10, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has been selected by Copa Airlines to provide its Air Separation Module (ASM) kit for Copa’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. This new technology offering is a drop-in replacement for Copa’s existing ASMs, which are installed on larger aircraft to help reduce the risk of fuel tank fires. Copa is the first airline to operate Honeywell’s version of the safety system, which has one of the longest lifespans and warranties in the industry.

As an aircraft uses fuel and its fuel tanks empty, it is critical to decrease the risk of fire by reducing the amount of oxygen that fills that open space. The ASM separates oxygen from nitrogen in the surrounding air, which allows the Nitrogen Generation System to pump nitrogen into the emptying fuel tanks. Honeywell’s ASM can be installed roughly six to eight hours faster than the current product from the original equipment manufacturer. This shortened installation time contributes to lower maintenance costs. Additionally, Honeywell’s ASM has increased durability over other options currently installed in 737 aircraft and is designed to integrate with Honeywell’s Nitrogen Generation System, which has been line-fit on every 737 built after 2008.

The Honeywell ASM was designed with a high-durability membrane construction to meet the needs of the demanding 737 operating environment. It is supplied as a kit and contains a new Honeywell ASM, complete with all needed blankets and brackets, and ozone destruct filter and instructions for installation.

The ASM will provide lower installation costs for carriers, and with its increased durability, Honeywell is able to guarantee ASM life of seven years without replacement. Because Honeywell is the Nitrogen Generation System integrator, these kits can be combined into existing maintenance plans to further reduce overall customer operating costs.

For more information on Honeywell’s Air Separation Module Kit, visit aerospace.honeywell.com.

Embraer Signs Major Services and Support Agreement with Porter Airlines

August 6, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

After unveiling plans for a major expansion in North America with a firm order for 30 E195-E2 jets, with purchase rights for a further 50 aircraft, Porter Airlines has signed a major aftermarket support package contract with Embraer. The Total Support Program (TSP) agreement includes airframe heavy maintenance checks, technical solutions, and access to the Pool Program, which includes component exchanges and repair services for hundreds of reparable items for Porter’s E2 fleet of commercial aircraft, for up to 20 years. Currently, the Pool Program supports more than 50 airlines worldwide.

The Pool Program services will be provided by Embraer Aircraft Customer Services (EACS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while the heavy maintenance services will be performed by Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) in Nashville, Tennessee. In the coming months, Embraer will work with Porter in order to provide services related to the aircraft entry into service (EIS) process, which includes technical training, spare parts recommendations, and provisioning services.

Porter Airlines will be the North American launch customer for Embraer’s E-Jets E2 family of commercial aircraft. Porter’s investment is set to disrupt the Canadian aviation landscape by enhancing competition, elevating passenger service levels and creating as many as 6,000 new jobs. Porter intends to deploy the E195-E2s to popular business and leisure destinations throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, from Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Porter’s first delivery and entry into service is scheduled to start in the second half of 2022. The E195-E2 accommodates between 120 and 146 passengers. Configuration plans for Porter’s E2s will be revealed in due course.

Condor Picks Airbus A330neo for Fleet Modernization

August 5, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

German airline Condor has chosen the A330neo to renew its long-haul fleet with plans to introduce 16 aircraft of this new and more efficient type. The airline has signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of seven Airbus A330neo, and intends to lease a further nine.

Condor is the latest airline to order Airbus’ state-of-the-art A330neo widebody aircraft, bringing a step-change in performance and economics. The airline will operate the A330neo on its international long-haul network to the Americas, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

The Airbus A330neo is a true next-generation aircraft, incorporating the latest A350 technologies, with A330 profitability and Airbus commonality. Equipped with the stunning Airspace cabin, the A330neo offers a unique passenger experience, brimming with the latest in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity.

The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span and A350-inspired winglets. The aircraft also provides an unprecedented level of efficiency, with 25% lower fuel-burn and CO2 emissions per seat than previous-generation competitors. Thanks to its tailored, mid-sized capacity and excellent range versatility, the A330neo is considered the ideal aircraft to support operators in their post-COVID-19 recovery.

Indian Ocean Based Air Austral Becomes First French A220 Operator

July 28, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mirabel, Canada – The first of the three A220s for Air Austral, France’s La Reunion Island-based airline, has been delivered from the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mirabel, Canada. The second and third aircraft are expected to join the Air Austral fleet in the coming days.

Airbus is delighted to welcome Air Austral as a new Airbus customer and operator. This A220 will be the first of the type to be operated by a French airline in the Indian Ocean region.

Air Austral has selected the Airbus A220-300 as part of its medium and short-haul fleet modernisation plan in order to boost its operational efficiency, offering an enhanced passenger experience in a comfortable two-class cabin layout with 132 seats: 12 in business class and 120 in economy-class.

Bearing the airline’s distinctive livery representing La Reunion Island’s beautiful landscapes, Air Austral will strengthen its regional network with three A220-300s, flying on routes between La Réunion Island and Mauritius, Mayotte, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, and as far as India.

Powered by latest-generation geared turbofan engines, Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G, the A220 is the quietest and most eco-friendly aircraft in its category. The aircraft features a 50% reduced noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft, 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions per seat as well as 50% lower NOx emissions than current industry standards.

To date over 160 A220s have been delivered, operating routes in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ new generation single-aisle family member.

Airbus Delivers First A350 From China Widebody Completion and Delivery Center

July 23, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus has delivered the first A350 from its widebody completion & delivery centre in Tianjin (C&DC), China, taking additional steps in the expansion of its global footprint and long-term strategic partnership with China.

The A350-900 aircraft was delivered to China Eastern Airlines, the largest Airbus operator in Asia and second largest in the world. At the end of June 2021, China Eastern Airlines operated an Airbus fleet of 413 aircraft, including 349 A320 Family aircraft, 55 A330 Family aircraft and nine A350 aircraft.

Located at the same site as the Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line and the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre, the widebody C&DC covers the aircraft completion activities, including cabin installation, aircraft painting and production flight test, as well as customer flight acceptance and aircraft delivery.

The centre was inaugurated in September 2017 with its capability on A330s. Then, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China in 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Further Development of Industrial Cooperation was signed in Beijing by He Lifeng, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, and Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, announcing the C&DC would extend its capability to A350 aircraft.

The A350 features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these features translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and CO₂ emissions. The A350’s ‘Airspace by Airbus’ cabin is the quietest of any widebody aircraft and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.

At the end of June 2021, the A350 Family had received 915 firm orders from 49 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Aeromexico to Add Twelve New Aircraft to Fleet

July 20, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mexico City, July 20, 2021 – Aeromexico is working to continue adding new aircraft to its fleet and plans to add 12 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The arrival is expected to begin next October.

These aircraft are in addition to the 28 that the company announced last April, making a total of 40 new aircraft to increase its fleet, replace other aircraft and improve connectivity.

The agreement to add these 12 aircraft is being negotiated with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and is subject to the approval of the United States Court for the Southern District of New York, in charge of Aeromexico’s Chapter 11 voluntary financial restructuring process.

Aeromexico’s current fleet is comprised of 118 aircraft: 47 Embraer 190’s, 53 Boeing 737’s, and 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Embraer and CommutAir Announce Pool Program Agreement

July 19, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Embraer has signed a long-term Pool Program agreement with CommutAir, a United Express carrier, to support the airline’s ERJ 145 jet fleet. This new contract includes full repair coverage for components and parts, as well as access to a large stock of components at Embraer’s distribution center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Currently, the Pool Program supports more than 50 airlines worldwide.

With a total of 168 aircraft under lease, CommutAir now maintains the largest ERJ 145 fleet in the world, recently becoming the sole regional partner to operate the ERJ145 for United Airlines. Under this agreement, CommutAir and United will consolidate their ERJ 145 spare component inventory with Embraer’s Pool program to improve stock levels and reliability. In April 2021, CommutAir selected Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) in Macon, Georgia, as one of its primary heavy maintenance providers for the airline’s fleet of ERJ145 aircraft. The agreement includes airframe maintenance, modifications and repair services.

Embraer’s Pool Program is designed to allow airlines to minimize their upfront investment on high-value repairable inventories and resources and to take advantage of Embraer’s technical expertise and its vast component repair service provider network. The results are significant savings on repair and inventory carrying costs, reduction in required warehousing space, and the virtual elimination of the need for resources required for repair management, while ultimately providing guaranteed performance levels.

Small Ship Cruise Line Windstar Resumes Operations in Tahiti for Vaccinated Guests

July 17, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Seattle, Washington, July 16, 2021 – U.S. headquartered small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has resumed cruising this week in French Polynesia/the Islands of Tahiti with vaccinated guests + crew aboard the line’s 148-passenger Wind Spirit sailing ship. Half of the line’s six yacht fleet is now back in the water cruising.

To celebrate Wind Spirit’s return, the line has added free drinks to its already enticing bundled pricing.

Windstar offers a convenient Air + Hotel package from Los Angeles International Airport that includes the round trip Air Tahiti Nui flight from Los Angeles, pre-cruise accommodations and a post-cruise day room, ground transfers in Tahiti, and a seven, 10, or 11 night boutique cruise in French Polynesia. Now on cruise vacations including air and hotel booked during the promotional period ending July 30, 2021, guests also receive the promise of a free beverage package (with unlimited select spirits, wine, beer, cocktails, and minibar items), guaranteeing an extra Mai Tai or three beneath a palm tree. If guests don’t imbibe, they can alternately choose shipboard credit to put towards other experiences, like a relaxing onboard spa treatment or shore excursions such as SCUBA diving, reef snorkeling, or even harvesting Tahitian black pearls.

Windstar typically sails year-round from Tahiti, where cruises take place on Wind Spirit, a 148- guest motorized sailing yacht specifically designed for the region and capturing the South Pacific trade winds in its billowing sails. However, Windstar’s reimagined, new all-suite Star Breeze yacht carrying 312 guests will begin sailings in the region on September 19 and will remain on a limited engagement in Tahiti until March of 2022, giving guests a unique chance to sail on the larger, more amenity-intensive yacht in gracious ocean view 277 square feet suites. Windstar offers guests a complimentary private event on their Tahiti cruises: a private beach party and locally sourced feast on one of Bora Bora’s tiny motus, followed by a kinetic fire-dancing performance. It is available on all sailings/both yachts.

Windstar is returning to operations in a phased manner, with its fleet of six yachts debuting on various dates through November, while requiring vaccines of all passengers amongst a host of health and safety precautions including testing, social distancing, masks, and high-tech air filtration. On June 19, Windstar’s Wind Star yacht resumed revenue operations in Greece, and on July 10, Windstar’s Star Breeze began sailing in the Caribbean, both with vaccinated guests and crew.

Windstar has plans to resume sailing on the following yachts in 2021 with vaccinated guests + crew:

Wind Surf – August 8, 2021 – Mediterranean

Star Legend – September 4, 2021 – Northern Europe

Star Pride – November 3, 2021 – Caribbean

For more details on Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com

Flyadeal Receives First New Airbus A320neo

July 16, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France 16 July 2021 – flyadeal, the low-cost Jeddah-based airline owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines, has taken delivery of a brand new A320neo, the first out of 30 to be delivered in the next 3 years.

The aircraft is the first out of 65 A320neo family aircraft ordered by Saudi Arabian Airlines at the Paris Airshow in 2019, and will join flyadeal’s all Airbus fleet.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, the A320neo will offer flyadeal outstanding operational, economic and environmental performance.

flyadeal’s A320neo is configured with 186 seats in a comfortable all economy class layout. Passengers onboard the aircraft will benefit from the widest cabin of any single-aisle aircraft in the sky, as well as the latest cabin feature offering optimum passenger comfort.

The A320neo is the ideal aircraft for flyadeal to grow and expand its domestic and regional network. Demonstrating the operational flexibility of the A320neo, the aircraft will allow the airline to efficiently enhance its operations to additional networks and foster closer links with countries across the region and beyond.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines, Sharklets and aerodynamics, which together deliver 20% in fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation Airbus aircraft. The A320neo Family has received more than 7,400 orders from over 120 customers.

BBAM Orders 12 Additional 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters

July 12, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM) today announced that the lessor is expanding its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter fleet with 12 additional firm orders. The agreement brings BBAM’s 737-800BCF orders and commitments to 31 as e-commerce and express cargo markets continue to drive strong customer demand for freighters.

BBAM will be the first customer to have a 737-800BCF converted at Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA), a Costa Rica-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider. In May, Boeing announced it would open two conversion lines at COOPESA in 2022.

In a separate deal announced in January, BBAM placed six firm orders and six options for the 737-800BCF. The 737-800BCF has won more than 200 orders and commitments from 16 customers.

BBAM is the world’s largest dedicated manager of investments in leased commercial jet aircraft providing over 200 airline customers in more than 50 countries with fleet and financing solutions over the last three decades, and the only significant manager in sector focused exclusively on generating investment returns on third party capital. With more than 500 aircraft under management, BBAM employs over 150 professionals at its headquarters in San Francisco and offices around the world, located in New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich, Dublin and Santiago. BBAM is a full-service lessor and maintains its own in-house capabilities encompassing aircraft origination, disposition, lease marketing, technical maintenance, regulatory compliance, capital markets activity, tax structuring, legal, contracts and finance, for all asset types and strategies.

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com

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