Azores Airlines takes delivery of its first A321neo

Azores Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft. The airline, fully owned by SATA (Sociedade Açoreana de Transportes Aéreos) becomes the first Portuguese operator to receive a member of the best-selling A320neo Family.  The aircraft, on lease from Air Lease Corporation (ALC), was delivered during a ceremony held at the Airbus Hamburg site.

This aircraft is the first of six A321neos to be leased by Azores Airlines from ALC. The carrier will deploy the aircraft on transatlantic routes.

Azores Airlines currently operates a fleet of seven A310, A320 and A330 Airbus aircraft across Europe, Canada and North America. 

The A321neo is the largest member of the A320neo Family and can seat up to 240 passengers. With the widest single-aisle cabin on the market, all members of the A320neo Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes. The A321neo integrates many innovations such as latest generation engines, Sharklet wingtip devices and cabin improvements, which together will deliver up to 20 percent fuel savings by 2020.

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Air China will become international passengers' first choice for border crossings

At a recent press conference, the Beijing Municipal Government announced that, as of December 28, 2017, six points of arrival in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, including the Beijing Capital International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Shijiazhuang International Airport will permit foreign persons from 53 countries including Austria to enjoy visa-free transit treatment for a period of 144 hours when they have a valid connecting flight ticket for a third country (or region).

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region 144-hour transit visa-free policy

This policy will be a strong driver for the tourism and aviation industry throughout the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. Air China Limited ("Air China") will actively facilitate the new visa-free transit policy. Putting the needs of connecting flight passengers first, Air China will improve its products and services to further enhance the quality of its operations and provide passengers with maximum convenience when they enter Beijing.

Air China has a strong network of routes and is the ideal for passengers who cross the border into Beijing.

Currently, Air China has over 420 routes of which 101 are international, with 16 regional routes, and connections to 185 cities in 40 countries and regions, covering six continents. We provide passengers over 1.66 million seats on 8,500 routes each week. Additionally, Air China's route network extends to 1,330 destinations in 192 countries through the Star Alliance. Our impressive route network meets the needs of most foreign passengers. The 144-hour visa-free policy through the Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang airports will meet the needs of third-country tourism.

Air China will also improve the transit hub capacity at Beijing and optimize a seamless transition for visa-tree passengers.

Introducing a 144-hour visa-free transit policy will also increase the number of inbound passengers in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. Air China will also use this opportunity to make real-time capacity adjustments based on transit demand and provide passengers with smooth transit support through Beijing so that passengers from all over the world can make a seamless visa-free entry to Beijing. Moreover, Air China will also launch special tourism products to meet the needs of passengers in partnership with local Beijing travel agencies, and launch a series of related products to invite travelers to embark on a journey to discover the beauty of China, all while bringing a peerless service experience to passengers.

Secret buyer for six CRJ900's

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that a customer, who has requested to remain unidentified at this time, has signed an order to acquire six CRJ900 aircraft on firm order and options on six additional CRJ900 regional jets.

Based on list price, the firm orders would be valued at approximately $290 million US. Should the customer exercise the six options for CRJ900 aircraft, the contract value would increase to approximately $580 million US.

EgyptAir Converts Letter of Intent to Firm Order for Bombardier C Series aircraft

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and EgyptAir Holding Company announced today that the parties have executed a firm agreement for the sale and purchase of 12 CS300 aircraft along with purchase rights for an additional 12 CS300 aircraft.

EgyptAir’s Letter of Intent (LOI) was previously announced on November 14 during the 2017 Dubai Air Show.

“As we look back at the C Series successful entry in service, we are thrilled that its many achievements are paving the way to further success. Welcoming EgyptAir to the family of C Series operators is another landmark moment for Bombardier,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The aircraft is performing exceptionally well, the industry recognizes the C Series as best in class, and this order from another well-established airline is testament to its tremendous value.”

This order will enable EgyptAir to better serve domestic and regional destinations as well as several European and African destinations.

“The CS300’s unique profitability profile will allow us to open up new opportunities and fits perfectly into our growth strategy,” said Safwat Musallam, Chairman and CEO, EgyptAir.” Our passengers will experience modern and best in class comfort, and we look forward to integrating this innovative and efficient aircraft to our fleet.”

Based on the list price of the CS300 airliner, the firm-order contract would be valued at approximately US $1.1 billion. Should EgyptAir exercise the 12 purchase rights for CS300 aircraft, the contract value would increase to nearly US $2.2 billion.‎

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An amazing year for Qatar Airways - 2017 in review

What an amazingly successful year it has been for Doha based Qatar Airways.   The highly recommended airline has seen tremendous growth, rapid network expansion and a record-breaking number of award wins during 2017 - which is just its 20th year of operation.

National Carrier of the State of Qatar exceeded expectations yet again in 2017, 

expediting new routes, increasing frequencies and introducing 

its award-winning new Business Class seat, Qsuite

Despite a challenging regional environment, the airline continued to deliver beyond expectations throughout 2017, accelerating new routes, doubling frequencies and capacity to numerous destinations and launching its award-winning new Business Class seat, Qsuite. At a time when many airlines are scaling back, Qatar Airways continued to thrive, showcasing to the world its award-winning, best-in-class cabins, catering, in-flight entertainment, on-board magazine, lounges and more.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, said: “This year, our twentieth anniversary as an airline, is particularly special for us. As we reflect on our achievements, we reaffirm our commitment to providing excellence in the skies, ensuring that our passenger’s holiday or leisure trip starts the moment they step onto one of our aircraft. We remain committed to expanding our global network, and to taking our passengers anywhere in the world they wish to go.”

“After twenty years of service, we vow to never rest on our achievements, but rather to focus on how we can continue to innovate and to deliver an exceptional five-star experience to every one of our passengers, no matter what class they travel. Against the backdrop of the illegal blockade against the State of Qatar, we are more committed than ever to welcoming everyone onboard and taking them wherever they need to go.”

Route Expansion

One of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, Qatar Airways launched 11 exciting new destinations in 2017, including Auckland, New Zealand – the world’s longest commercial flight - Nice; France; Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Skopje; Sohar, Oman; Kyiv, Ukraine; Prague, Czech Republic, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Adana, Turkey; Chiang Mai, Thailand and St. Petersburg, Russia.

In addition to launching flights to beautiful Chiang Mai, its fourth destination in Thailand, the airline also introduced a fifth daily non-stop service to Bangkok as well as a daily service to Krabi, offering both business and leisure travellers, even more, convenience and flexibility when travelling to and from the Land of Smiles. In January 2018, it will commence service to Pattaya, the airline’s fifth Thai destination.

Qatar Airways will also add a new direct daily service to Hanoi, with Ho Chi Minh City’s daily service increasing by three flights a week to 10 starting 1 January 2018.

The airline introduced its superjumbo A380 aircraft to Melbourne and will soon introduce it on its Perth route, enhancing capacity to Australia ahead of the airline’s launch of service to Canberra in 2018. Qatar Airways also proudly became the first airline ever to fly the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 to the Maldives twice daily.

Qatar Airways also doubled its frequencies to a number of destinations in Eastern Europe, the Nordics and Russia, following a significant increase in passenger demand to the popular destinations of Warsaw, Helsinki, and Moscow, with increases to Prague and Kyiv following just shortly after the launch of the routes themselves.

There is a lot more to this story - 

Asiana Airlines Welcomes Another Airbus A350

Asiana Airlines welcomed its latest Airbus A350 aircraft to its fleet today.   The Asiana Airlines’ A350-900 is an eco-friendly Medium-Large size aircraft with 300 seats launched by Airbus in 2014.

A350-900 features the newest Rolls-Royce trend XWB engine and streamlined wings, surpassing B777 with 25% higher fuel efficiency and 25% less carbon dioxide emission.

Also, it will bring a more enjoyable in-flight experience with less in-flight noise, full-LED lights and air circulation system operating every 2~3 minutes.

And here's a view a passenger would never normally get to see - the crew rest area or 'bunk' that flight and cabin crew use during those long flights.

Viva Air finalizes order for 50 A320 Family aircraft

    

Viva Air, the Latin America low-cost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 50 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo.

Viva Air group modernizes fleet, accelerates network growth with Airbus’ leading single-aisle family

Following an MOU signed at Le Bourget Paris Airshow in June, Viva Air, the Latin America low-cost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 50 A320 Family aircraft. The 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo will be operated by the group’s airlines VivaColombia and Viva Air Peru and will allow the two all-Airbus operators to modernize their fleets and capture growth opportunities across Latin America.

William Shaw, CEO and Founder of VivaColombia, part of Viva Air, said: “This order reflects our long-term commitment to our customers lowering fares further due to the benefits of this new fleet. We are excited to continue expanding our successful low-cost model and accelerate our growth throughout Latin America making air transportation more accessible and affordable to our customers.”

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said: “Airbus is pleased to play a major role in supporting Viva Air in its exciting journey to develop the low-cost model throughout Latin America. With its exceptionally comfortable cabin, low operating costs and excellent fuel efficiency, the A320 and A320neo Families are the best product lines to complement Viva Air’s expansion goals.”

Yes, there is more to this story  -  

bmi to launch a new route from Bristol to Gothenburg.

bmi has announced plans to launch a new route from Bristol to Gothenburg,  which will be starting in just under a months time on 22nd January 2018.

This brings the number of destinations served by bmi from Bristol to nine. The bmi network out of Bristol includes Paris, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Aberdeen. bmi will fly to Gothenburg twice a week from Bristol, which is bmi’s biggest UK hub and with onward connections via the likes of Munich, Brussels and Frankfurt, customers from the South West can travel further into Europe and other global destinations.

Gothenburg is the airline’s first Swedish route from Bristol. It is the location of Scandinavia’s largest port and is a hub for global trade, currently enjoying unprecedented economic growth. It is a popular mini-break destination thanks to its fabulous food, eclectic culture and vibrant nightlife, as well as being the gateway to the stunning coast of West Sweden.

Commenting on the launch, bmi’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jochen Schnadt said: “As part of our on-going strategy to connect key business regions, it was a natural choice to increase our service offering to/from Gothenburg by adding a further Gothenburg Route to our network connecting Sweden’s 2nd largest city to our largest UK Base in Bristol.  Given our experiences on the Birmingham to Gothenburg market so far, we believe this new route will prove attractive to business as well as leisure customers alike enjoying bmi’s service of fast and convenient air-services.”