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Boeing, Air Astana Announce Intent To Buy 30 737 MAX Airplanes

  • Flag carrier of Kazakhstan intends to order the 737 MAX for its new low-cost airline FlyArystan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Air Astana intends to order 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes to serve as the backbone of its new low-cost airline FlyArystan, the Kazakh flag carrier and Boeing announced at the Dubai Airshow. The companies today signed a letter of intent for the 30 airplanes with a list price value of $3.6 billion.

Since beginning operations in May 2002, Air Astana has steadily grown its business from its hubs in Almaty and Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), sprouting a network that serves major cities across Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Asia, China, Europe and Russia. It operates a growing fleet that includes the Boeing 757, 767 and the Airbus A320 family.

In May, Air Astana launched FlyArystan to better compete in the growing low-cost segment. The company says the new airline has seen strong ticket sales in just the first few months of operation. The plan is to expand the fast growing domestic network, with international services to Moscow commencing next month.

“Since its launch in May this year, FlyArystan has exceeded all expectations and it is clear that low cost air travel has a great future in Kazakhstan and Central Asia,” said Peter Foster, President and CEO of Air Astana. “Air Astana has had a strong relationship with Boeing ever since the airline started flying in 2002 with a pair of 737NGs. Today we operate both 757s and 767s and we believe that the MAX will provide a solid platform for the growth of FlyArystan throughout our region, once the aircraft has successfully returned to service”.

“Air Astana has become one of the leading airlines in Central Asia with its deep focus on safety, reliability, efficiency and customer service. At Boeing, we share those same values and are honored to expand our partnership with the 737 MAX,” said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We believe the efficiency and reliability built into the 737 MAX will be a great fit for FlyArystan. We look forward to working with Peter and his team finalize an agreement that meets their fleet and operational requirements.”

The 737 MAX 8 is part of a family of airplanes that offer 130 to 230 seats and the ability to fly up to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 kilometers). With improvements such as the CFM International LEAP-1B engine and Advanced Technology winglets, the 737 MAX provides operators a 14% improvement over today’s most efficient single-aisle airplanes and extended range to open up new destinations.

3D imagery, 737 MAX, MAX, 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX8, 737 MAX 9

Wizz Air Looks to Connect the Dots with Long-Range A321’s

LE BOURGET, France, June 19 (Reuters) – Wizz Air will use 20 new extended-range, narrow body Airbus jets primarily to connect existing destinations in its disparate network rather than to fly to new places, the budget airline’s Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi said on Wednesday.

Indigo Partners, the private equity firm of veteran low-cost airline investor Bill Franke, agreed on Wednesday to acquire 50 of the new long-range version of Airbus’ A321neo jet, 20 of which will go to Wizz.

Wizz, which operates a fleet of 113 Airbus A320 and Airbus A321, would not need to change its operating model to accommodate the new A321XLR jets, Varadi said, as it would be able to fly essentially the same planes a little longer.

“Our network spans from the Canary Islands to Astana in Kazakhstan, from Reyjavik in Iceland to Dubai,” Varadi told Reuters after the announcement at the Paris Airshow.

“The XLR gives use the opportunity to connect more dots in our existing network. This is what we’re looking at.”

Airbus opened the Paris Airshow with the launch of the A321XLR, but the announcement was overshadowed on Tuesday when Boeing said British Airways-owner IAG intended to order 200 of its grounded 737 MAX jets.

Hungary-based Wizz, which is focussed on central and eastern Europe, said it had used existing option positions to secure the deal for the A321XLRs, bringing the airline’s total of outstanding firm orders for Airbus aircraft to 276 jets.

Varadi said that in the longer term, it was possible the jet would help open routes to new destinations, but it was not a priority.

“We have always been excited about planting new flags in new territories,” Varadi said. “But the vast majority of the XLR capacity will come in existing markets.”

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Mark Potter)

Embraer Delivers 11 Commercial and 11 Executive Jets in 1Q19

São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil, May 3rd, 2019 – Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3;) delivered a total of 22 jets in the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19), of which 11 were commercial aircraft and 11 were executive jets (8 light and 3 large). As of March 31st, the firm order backlog totaled USD 16.0 billion.

In the first quarter, Embraer delivered the first E175 jet to Mauritania Airlines, the first of this model to the African continent. The airline signed a firm order for two E175 jets in 2018. The contract has a value of USD 93.8 million at current list prices.

Embraer also signed, in April, a firm order for 10 E195-E2 jets with Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, which will become the first E-Jets E2 operator in Africa. The contract includes purchase rights for a further 20 E195-E2. With all purchase rights being exercised, the contract has a value of USD 2.12 billion based on current list prices. This order will be included in Embraer’s 2Q19 backlog.

The world’s best-selling light jet for the seventh consecutive year, the Phenom 300 reached the mark of the 500th aircraft delivered, becoming the only business jet model to reach this milestone in the last 10 years. The aircraft is in operation in more than 30 countries and has accumulated more than 780,000 flight hours. This milestone followed the announcement of the first Phenom 300E and Praetor 600 business jet sales to Brazilian customers.

Embraer Defense & Security and its partner Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced in February a contract for 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force. This sale was already included in Embraer’s 4Q18 backlog.

In the period, the Brazilian Navy also announced that the Águas Azuis Consortium, formed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, was selected for the construction of four defense ships in the Tamandaré Corvettes Class Program (CCT) as preferred bidder.

In the Services & Support segment, Embraer and WDL Aviation GmbH, a German charter business which is part of the Zeitfracht logistics group, signed an agreement for a Flight Hour Pool Program to support the airline’s recently leased fleet of four used E190s. Air Astana, a flag carrier of Kazakhstan, also signed a multiyear agreement for a Flight Hour Pool Program to support the component needs for the airline’s new E2 fleet, Embraer’s second generation of the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft.

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About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer celebrates its 50th anniversary with businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customer after-sales.

Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.

Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Pratt & Whitney Delivers GT PW1900G Engines for Embraer

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (UTX), and Embraer celebrated delivery of the GTF™ PW1900G production engines for the E195-E2 aircraft at Embraer’s E2 final assembly line in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. The E195-E2 is expected to enter into service in the second half of 2019 with Azul Brazilian Airlines.

“We are excited to receive the GTF production engines for the initial serial production of the E195-E2, as we know firsthand the advantages that these engines provide to our customers and the environment,” said Fernando Antonio Oliveira, Embraer’s E2 Program Director.

Embraer’s E190-E2 aircraft, which is also powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1900G engine, entered service in April 2018 with Widerøe, followed by Air Astana in December 2018.

“Delivering the first production engines for the E195-E2 is an important milestone for the program,” said Graham Webb, vice president of Commercial Engine Programs at Pratt & Whitney. “We look forward to continuing to work together to support Embraer’s second GTF-powered E2 aircraft model.”

In addition to being selected as the exclusive propulsion system for the E2 commercial aircraft, Pratt & Whitney’s APS2600E auxiliary power unit (APU) is the sole-sourced APU for the E2 family. The APS2600E APU gives airlines greater flexibility, by increasing the altitude ceiling for ETOPS and other operations, and providing a significant increase in electrical power delivery to meet the needs of today’s airlines.

The E195-E2 aircraft has more than 24% reduction in fuel burn per seat than the previous-generation E195, with NOx emissions 50% below the ICAO CAEP/6 regulation and 19dB to 20dB of ICAO Chapter 4 cumulative noise margin.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies (including our expected returns under customer contracts); as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Embraer Signs Contract to Support Air Astana E2 Jet Fleet

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, February 13th, 2019 – Embraer and Air Astana, a flag carrier of Kazakhstan, have reached a multiyear agreement on a Flight Hour Pool Program to support the component needs for the airline’s new E2 fleet, Embraer’s second generation of the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft.

The E2’s entry into service marks the beginning of Air Astana’s fleet renewal. Currently the airline operates a fleet of nine E190s aircraft, the first of which was delivered in 2011, when the airline joined Embraer Pool Program. Now, with the extension of the pool program for the new E190-E2s, Air Astana have extended their trust in our strong partnership.

Air Astana took delivery of its first E190-E2 jet in December 2018 and flies the new aircraft on domestic and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) routes. The airline will receive four additional E190-E2s in 2019, with the last of the five aircraft, all of which are leased by AerCap, being delivered in the final quarter of 2019.

The Pool Agreement for the airline’s E190-E2 fleet will cover unlimited access and full repair coverage for more than 325 components with almost a third of them exclusively placed at airline’s main base to ensure high fleet availability.

“We are proud that Air Astana has chosen to place its trust in us to support its new E2 fleet, further reinforcing Embraer’s commitment to customers in the region with TechCare portfolio of solutions. It is a strong endorsement for the program and Embraer services, proving customers loyalty to the state of the art support of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) with a competitive value,” said Johann Bordais, President and CEO of Embraer Services & Support.

“The support of the OEM is a natural fit for Air Astana as we transition into our new fleet of Embraer’s second generation of E-Jets. This was fundamental in our decision to join the program, which will allow us to upkeep our daily operations as it offers cost effective and practical solutions, guaranteeing efficiency and competitive results,” said Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana.

Embraer’s Flight Hour Pool Program, which currently supports more than 40 airlines worldwide, is designed to allow airlines to minimize their upfront investment on expensive 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 elimination of resources required for repair management, while ultimately providing guaranteed performance levels.

The E190-E2 is the first of three new aircraft types that will make up the Embraer E2 family of aircraft developed to succeed the first-generation of E-Jets. Embraer Services & Support has implemented the E2 Pool Program to support operators from the very first day of delivery. Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia and launch customer for the E190-E2, received its first E2 aircraft on April 2018. Currently, 100% of the delivered E2 E-Jets are supported by the program.

This Pool Program is part of a suite of services that Embraer offers to support the worldwide growing fleet of Embraer aircraft through TechCare, the new Embraer platform that assembles the entire portfolio of products and solutions to deliver the best experience of services and support.