Xiamen Airlines eyes Xiamen - France direct flights

Xiamen Airlines is considering launching its first international long haul services out of Xiamen with flights to Nice, France later this year. The announcement comes after local Xiamen government functionaries paid a visit to Europe earlier this month. It is speculated Xiamen will deploy its B787-8 on the route though has not yet been confirmed.
ch-aviation

Airbus A350-900 receives EASA Type Certification

Major milestone achieved on time, on cost and on quality

The world’s latest generation commercial airliner, the A350-900, has received Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on 30th September 2014. The certified aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification will follow shortly.
The EASA A350-900 Type Certificate was signed by EASA’s Executive Director, Patrick Ky. The document was handed over to Airbus’ Executive Vice President Engineering, Charles Champion and Airbus’ A350 XWB Chief Engineer, Gordon McConnell.
“Receiving the A350-900 Type Certification from EASA is a great achievement for Airbus and for all our partners who have contributed to designing, building and certificating this fantastic, new generation aircraft. The A350-900 is now ready to fly from the nest and be enjoyed by airlines and passengers,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. “The A350 XWB embodies many extra innovative technologies which make all the difference in passenger comfort and airline efficiency.”

 “The A350 XWB manufacturing programme has also been innovative and ambitious, aiming for a fully mature aircraft at entry into service and this is what we are proud to be delivering to our first A350 XWB customer, Qatar Airways, before the end of the year. Our fleet of five test aircraft completed the certification campaign, on time, cost and quality. Accumulating more than 2,600 flight test hours, we created and successfully achieved one of the industry’s most thorough and efficient test programmes ever developed for a jetliner,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO.
The A350-900 Type Certification comes after successfully finishing a stringent programme of certification trials which has taken its airframe and systems well beyond their design limits to ensure all airworthiness criteria are fully met.
The A350 XWB is Airbus’ all-new mid-size long range product line and the newest member of Airbus' leading widebody family. The A350 XWB stands out in its class thanks to its combination of passenger comfort, technological innovation and its unique industrial process. Built hand-in-hand with our customers, the A350 XWB sets new standards in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. At the end of May 2014, the A350 XWB had won 750 orders from 39 customers worldwide

 

Qantas Ambassador John Travolta greets the inaugural Qantas A380 service at Dallas/Fort Worth

Qantas Ambassador John Travolta was at Dallas Fort Worth Airport to greet the inaugural A380 service from Sydney and said he was proud to help promote the new service.

“I’m thrilled to be part of this special and historic moment for Qantas. It’s exciting news for Americans that the world’s biggest and one of the most luxurious passenger aircrafts is now flying between Dallas Fort Worth and Sydney,” said Mr Travolta.

“I have been lucky enough to experience the Qantas A380 and it really is quiet and spacious. As a passenger I’ve also enjoyed exceptional food and wine, inflight entertainment and the uniquely friendly Australian service from all the crew,” added Mr Travolta.

“Sydney is such a special place and I love it every time I go. I think flying into Australia over Sydney Harbour on the Qantas A380 is one of life’s truly amazing experiences and every American should take the opportunity.”

Qantas is the only carrier to operate A380 services between the US and Australia. Qantas launched services between Dallas Fort Worth and Sydney in 2011 and has carried more than 300,000 passengers on the route. The A380 on the route represents a net increase of 10 per cent more seats per week.

Ms Hudson said Dallas Fort Worth is a key gateway for Qantas customers offering convenient connections from across the US.

To mark the occasion, Qantas painted its A380 aircraft operating the route with a special livery; the kangaroo on the tail features a traditional Stetson hat with a neckerchief in the American-stars print, with a “G’Day Texas” emblem next to the forward doors.

QANTAS

Taking Advantage of Air Freedom of Oncarriage, Asian Air Launched Bangkok to Palau via Macau

WCARN
To further diversify the route network of Macau, Macau International Airport (MIA) actively works with airlines, makes proper use the advantages of local air freedom rights to facilitate new air service. Asian Air launched charter flight from Bangkok to Palau via Macau on September 26, 2014, the flight service was scheduled to operate weekly intervals providing about 250 seats by Boeing 767-200, creating a precedent of using the air freedom of oncarriage of Macau, expanding more destinations and networks in the region.

 In recent years, MIA has been closely cooperating with airlines and related tourism entities to strengthen the existing flights and encourage airlines to increase flight frequencies to popular destinations, actively cooperating with travel agencies to develop charter flight services, taking the advantage of the air freedom rights of Macau to develop the potential routes to be regular ones, making every endeavor to develop air service to major cities of Asian countries, and provide travelers with more destination options.

Contributed by Macau International Airport Company Limited

Scoot Moves Forward Boeing 787-9 Inaugural to Jan 2015

Scoot has updated its Northern Winter 2014/15 schedule, which includes planned operation for Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Based on latest schedule, planned Boeing 787-9 operational routes in Winter 2014/15 season as follow.
eff 01JAN15 Singapore – Hong Kong
eff 01JAN15 Singapore – Perth

Previously planned Boeing 787-9 service entry on following routes remain unchanged:
eff 29MAR15 Singapore – Sydney 1 daily
eff 27APR15 Singapore – Bangkok Don Mueang 1 daily
eff 28APR15 Singapore – Gold Coast 5 weekly
eff 25MAY15 Singapore – Tianjin 3 weekly
eff 26MAY15 Singapore – Qingdao – Shenyang 2 weekly
eff 27MAY15 Singapore – Qingdao 2 weekly

Planned Boeing 787-9 operations remain subject to change
Routes Online

 

Virgin Atlantic to phase out A340-300s by February 2015

Virgin Atlantic is planning to phase out its fleet of two remaining A340-300s by early 2015 as its first of sixteen B787-9s on order from Boeing begin to arrive. Founder Richard Branson told Bloomberg news in an interview that the carrier is looking to phase out its last two A340-300s by February of next year with its last five B747-400s based at Heathrow to leave between next September and July 2016.
ch-aviation

Lufthansa to outsource A340 budget ops to PrivatAir?

Lufthansa is considering outsourcing the operation of fourteen A340-300s to Swiss operator PrivatAir in a bid to circumvent anticipated trade union resistance to its budget long haul plans.

HK Express Transports One Millionth Passenger

WHK Express welcomed its one millionth passenger 

HK Express (UO) stated Sunday it handled its one millionth passenger one year after launch as a low-cost carrier.
HK Express commenced flights as a budget airline in October 2013, which is also Hong Kong's first low-fare airline. The airline is set to celebrate its first anniversary as a LCC next month.

The Hong Kong-based carrier transported its one millionth passenger on a flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. The lucky passenger received six free tickets from Hong Kong to any destinations served by the airline.
"We have transported more than one million passengers to different destinations in Asia since we transformed into a LCC last year, which is an important milestone for HK Express," said Commercial Director of HK Express Luke Lovegrove.
HK Express currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A320 aircraft. The carrier continues to grow at an impressive rate, with plans of increasing its fleet to over 30 A320s by 2018 to match the overwhelming demand for new destinations and more flights through its existing network.
HK Express announced it will add two daily round-trip flights between Hong Kong and Tokyo Haneda starting Nov. 16, to provide passengers with more travel options and more convenient travel experience.

AMERICAN AIRLINES - A319-100 RetroJet

AMERICAN AIRLINES

A350s fly in formation ahead of certification

All five aircraft in the Airbus A350-900 test fleet have taken part in a formation flight, ahead of certification of the type.

Qingdao Airlines Takes Delivery of Its 3rd A320 Aircraft

WCARN
Qingdao Airlines took delivery of its third A320 aircraft on Sep. 27.

A brand new Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets landed at Qingdao Liuting International Airport (TAO) on Sep 27 after hours of flight from France and joined the fleet of Qingdao Airlines (QW). This is the third aircraft of the Qingdao-based airline.

The newly introduced A320 aircraft, equipped with fuel-saving Sharklets, features a two-class cabin with a capacity of 158 seats - 8 in business class and 150 in economy class.

The airline will start operating this brand new A320 on Qingdao-Nanjing-Haikou service from Sep.8, to provide more choices for travelers from Qingdao to Northeast China.

 Since its maiden flight on April 26, the airline has opened several popular domestic services to Beijing, Chengdu, Changchun, Changsha, Harbin, Hailar and Shanghai Pudong, using its two A320 aircraft. The new arrival will help expand its fleet and enrich its network, said the carrier.
According to the planning of the airline, up to 50 medium-range aircraft will be introduced in six years between 2014 and 2020. Building itself into a "boutique airline", Qingdao Airlines aims to own a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2025, handling 20 million passengers annually and achieve main revenue of 20 billion yuan, to be a large-size carrier in China.

Air China Zhejiang Takes Delivery of First Airbus A321 with Sharklets

WCARN
Air China's Zhejiang Branch took delivery of the first Airbus A321 equipped with Sharklets, with a brand new aircraft, registration number B-1877 landing smoothly at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 12:10 p.m. on Sep. 27.


On Sep. 27, Zhejiang Branch of Air China (CA) took delivery of the first Airbus A321 equipped with Sharklets, with a brand new aircraft, registration number B-1877 landing smoothly at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH). The newly introduced aircraft expands the branch company' fleet size to 28, and also boost capacity for the airline.

The Airbus A321 is the largest member of the world's best-selling A320 Family. Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They offer operators up to four percent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

The airline's A321 features a two-class configuration with 16 first class seats and 159 economy class seats. This new aircraft will be deployed on Beijing-Shanghai Express routes during the upcoming National Day Holiday.

SkyAero, suspends operations

Sky Aero has suspended operations indefinitely after the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) revoked its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The start-up, a subsidiary of Pan African Airways, had only launched operations in May with flights between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta and Kisumu using a single aircraft, a 33 year old DC-9-30, 5Y-CDP (msn 48145).
ch-aviation

Boeing, Etihad Airways Unveil Livery of Airline's First 787-9 Dreamliner

 

New 'Facets of Abu Dhabi' livery reminiscent of desert landscape, inspired by culture of the United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi-based airline one of the world's largest 787 customers

EVERETT, Wash., Sept. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today rolled out of its paint hangar the first 787-9 Dreamliner that will be delivered to Etihad Airways. The airplane is painted in the airline's new 'Facets of Abu Dhabi' livery with colors reminiscent of the desert landscape, inspired by the culture, Islamic design and architecture motifs of the United Arab Emirates.

"The U.S. is a strategically important part of our network," said James Hogan, president and CEO, Etihad Airways. "As we celebrate the rollout of our first 787 today, we remain focused on bringing Etihad Airways' world-class hospitality and unparalleled product experience to provide more choice to Americans traveling with us worldwide. We are also very proud to support vital U.S. businesses including Boeing as one of the largest airline customers for the Dreamliner, an aircraft that will play a fundamental role in the future of our growing international network."

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will take delivery of its first 787-9 later this year. Etihad Airways is one of the world's largest customers for the 787 with a total of 71 Dreamliners on order, including 41 787-9s and 30 787-10s.

"Etihad Airways is one of the most forward-thinking airlines of the world and we're proud to have their trust and confidence in the Dreamliner," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. "The airline's new livery is a unique design that reflects the UAE's rich heritage of innovation and great hospitality."

The 787 will be a key part of Etihad Airways' fleet and network expansion plans. The airline has announced that the 787-9 will be introduced on six of the airline's routes: Dusseldorf, Germany; Doha, Qatar; Washington, D.C.; Mumbai; Brisbane, Australia and Moscow.

The new 787-9 complements and extends the super-efficient 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 can fly more passengers and more cargo farther with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passengers features such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

Nearly 60 customers from around the world have ordered more than 1,000 Dreamliners, approximately 40 percent of which are 787-9s.

BORAJET AIRLINES - ERJ-190 - TC-YAH

Ton Jochems - AYT

AZERBAIJAN - ERJ-190 - 4K-AZ66

Ton Jochems - AYT

METROJET - A321-200 - EI-ETH

Ton Jochems - AYT

ORENAIR - B737-800W - VQ-BTS

Ton Jochems - AYT

Air China to Operate 747-8I on Beijing-Guangzhou Service in October

WCARN.com
 Boeing 747-8 testing on long runways of Sea-Tac Airport before being delivered to Air China. Image by Twitter user @SeaTacAirport


Air China (CA) is scheduled to take delivery of its first Boeing 747-8I in early October, when the flag carrier will become the first operator of the aircraft type in China and the world's second following Lufthansa (LH).

Air China is due to operate its first 747-8I on Beijing-Guangzhou service once a day starting Oct. 11, according to Airline Route.

Flight CA1315 is scheduled to take off from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 11:00 a.m. and land at Guangzhou Baiyuan International Airport (CAN) at 2:10 p.m., with the return flight CA1316 departing CAN at 3:30 p.m. and arriving at PEK at 6:40 p.m. The flag carrier has opened reservation for its 747-8I service.

The airline configures its 747-8I with 365 seats, including 12 in first class, 54 in business class, 66 in premium economy class and 233 in economy class.

Air China has seven 747-8Is on order and is expected to take delivery of three by the end of 2014, with the remaining delivered through 2016. The 747-8Is will replace the airline's aging 747-400s to become the backbone aircraft on its international routes.

The 747-8I is a new airplane with new engines, new wings and a dramatically enhanced passenger experience. The airline said it expects the new, fuel-efficient 747-8I to deliver exceptional economics and a great flying experience to its customers.

JetBlue Is Mad For Plaid with Their New Tartan Tailfin

Stylish Patterns Will Reintroduce a Timeless Fashion to Runways Across the Americas This Fall

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 09/24/14 -- JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announces their newest tailfin pattern "Tartan" to the fleet, reflecting a move of top fashion houses on their own fall runways. Starting with "Bippity Boppity Blue" (N565JB), the pattern will be added to additional aircraft, joining the ranks of JetBlue's nine other iconic and eye-catching tailfins across their fleet of 200 aircraft.

"Design plays such an integral part in our story," says Lisa Borromeo, JetBlue Director of Brand Management and Advertising, "While others may push revamped logos or disorienting paint schemes, we feel it's important to build a visual language as we grow. Our tailfin patterns will always reflect a fresh style, with a timeless appeal that is core to who we are as a brand."

Tartan is JetBlue's second nod to the timeless Gaelic fashion. While 2003's Plaid design has been retired, with clean, bold lines, a dash of green, and worn at a decidedly jaunty angle, Tartan is an updated statement on JetBlue's evolution also seen in the uniform refresh this summer; a proud acknowledgement of their history, with a confident readiness to carry forward into their future.

Look for JetBlue's Tartan tails to grace runways this fall, and showcase a timeless style well into the future.
JetBlue Airways

American Airlines Applies Dallas – Beijing Service from May 2015

Subject to US Department of Transportation Approval, American Airlines plans to launch Dallas/Ft. Worth – Beijing service from 07MAY15. This service would be operated by Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on daily basis.
The following is proposed schedule, however variation may occur due to slot issues at Beijing.
AA089 DFW1030 – 1345+1PEK 772 D
AA088 PEK1630 – 1545DFW 772 D
Routes Online
Photo: Ton Jochems

A380 ‎first aircraft in Etihad Airways’ fleet to display new livery

For the first time, Etihad Airways unveiled its all-new livery design on its first Airbus A380 at a special ceremony at the Airbus site in Hamburg‎, Germany.

The airline’s first flagship aircraft‎ will now go through its final phase of cabin furnishing, followed by ground and flight tests, before being delivered to the Abu Dhabi based airline towards the end of the year.

Etihad Airways has firm orders for ten A380s and will become the 13th operator of the aircraft.

 With 318 orders so far by 19 customers the A380 captures 90 percent of the Very Large Aircraft market. To date over 65 million passengers have already enjoyed the unique experience of flying on board an A380. Every four minutes in the world, an A380 either takes off or lands, and the network is constantly growing.

Tigerair Taiwan Launches Maiden Flight

WCARN
Tigerair Taiwan officially started operations on Sep. 26, 2014. Photo: facebook.com/TigerairTaiwan 

Tigerair Taiwan (IT) Friday officially started operations with a flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), marking the maiden flight of Taiwan's first low-cost carrier.
Tigerair Taiwan is a joint venture between Taiwan's China Airlines (CI) and Singapore's Tigerair (TR). China Airlines holds a 90 percent stake in the airline and Tigerair holds the remaining 10 percent.

The budget airline's first flight IT511 took off from Taiwan Taoyuan at 10:20 a.m. with 177 passengers on board, and landed at Singapore Changi Airport at 3:05 p.m. The airline will operate the route on a daily basis, using Airbus A320 aircraft seating up to 180 passengers.

The budget airline also plans to launch services to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand in November, followed by Da Nang, Vietnam and Tokyo, Japan in early 2015.

Currently, Tigerair Taiwan has one Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline's fleet is expected to expand to a total 12 planes by 2018.

Its rival V Air, a low-cost subsidiary of Taiwan's TransAsia Airways (GE), is set to launch its maiden flight later this year.

China Eastern's First 777-300ER Touches Down in Shanghai

WCARN

China Eastern Airlines' first Boeing 777-300ER, registration B-2001, touched down at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 12:20 p.m. on Sep. 26, 2014

China Eastern Airlines first Boeing 777-300ER, registration B-2001, touched down at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 12:20 p.m. Friday, which is the first aircraft painted in the new look of the airline.

It is the first of 20 777-300ERs China Eastern has on order. With the arrival of the new 777-300ER aircraft, China Eastern becomes the third operator of the aircraft type in mainland China following Air China (CA) and China Southern Airlines (CZ).

The airplane left PAE at 0:53 a.m. Friday Beijing time after a handover ceremony was held in Seattle on Wednesday local time. The aircraft took off for SHA with China Eastern chairman Liu Shaoyong, staff members, distinguished guests and reporters on board.

China Eastern has configured its new 777-300ER to feature three distinct cabins, including six first class suits, 52 business class seats and 258 economy seats in a 3-4-3 configuration.

The first class suits offer customers complete privacy with a small coat closet. The private suits also feature separated seats that can be easily transformed into a fully flat double bed, making you and your family feel like home at 30,000 ft in the air. Overhead bins are removed and replaced by individual storage compartments, allowing passengers to have more space and comfort during their flight.

The business class employs a 1-2-1 seat configuration. Each seat can be reclined a full 180 degrees into a flat bed. The reverse fishbone layout for the flat bed seats is very private for female customers.

In-flight Wi-Fi service is available on the new 777-300ER, allowing passengers to enjoy on-board shopping, entertainment, hotel booking, etc.
The 777-300ER is scheduled to make its first revenue flight on Shanghai-Beijing route on Sep. 30. Flight MU5105 is scheduled to take off from SHA at 10:10 a.m. and arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 12:20 p.m., with the return flight MU5112 departing PEK at 1:00 p.m. and arriving in Shanghai at 3:10 p.m., according to the website of China Eastern.

China Eastern said it will operate 777-300ERs on routes between China and North America, which will be a major market for China Eastern over the next three years. The carrier plans to open new routes to North America and also boost frequencies on existing routes from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver and Toronto. The carrier will deploy its first 777-300ER on services to Los Angeles and New York starting in November.

The Shanghai-based carrier will take delivery of another three 777-300ERs in 2014, with ten more to join the airline's fleet between 2015 and 2016. By 2018, all deliveries of the 20 777-300ERs will be completed.

BOC Aviation Delivers First of 20 Airbus A320 Aircraft to Vistara

BOC Aviation Pte. Ltd. ("BOC Aviation") is pleased to announce the delivery of the first of 20 Airbus A320 Family aircraft to TATA-SIA Airlines Limited, the newest Indian airline branded as Vistara. The order includes seven NEO variants

Air China Takes Delivery of Last Boeing 777-300ER in "Love China" Livery

WCARN
Air China took delivery of last Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with a special livery of "Love China" on Friday morning, Beijing Time. Image by Boeing 
Air China and Boeing completed the delivery of Chinese flag carrier's 20th Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in Seattle on Friday morning, Beijing Time (GMT+8), which is the last of 20 Boeing 777-300ER Air China has on order.

The latest 777-300ER aircraft, registration B-2006, is painted in a special livery of "Love China", which is the fourth 777-300ER with a special livery following its "Smiling Faces", SkyTeam and "China-France 50th Anniversary" liveries.

It is learnt that the new 777-300ER in "Love China" livery is set to make its debut at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 2:00 a.m. on Sep 28. Besides, the flag carrier's first Boeing 747-8I will join the fleet in early October, and it will receive another 7 747-8 aircraft by 2015.

The 777-300ER has become the backbone of Air China's long-haul international fleet. The carrier has deployed the airplanes for route expansion in Europe and North America since the delivery of its first 777-300ER in July 2011. Currently, the airline's all U.S. services are operated using the 777-300ER, an aircraft type favored by business travelers worldwide.
The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat.
As of June 2014, Air China owns a fleet of 512 Airbus and Boeing aircraft and operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average fleet age of 6.22 years. With the fleet expansion, the flag carrier will further optimize its fleet structure and improve its route network. According to the company planning, Air China will have 665 aircraft by the end of 2015 through introducing more fuel-efficient long-haul wide-body aircraft including Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB.

Another state-owned carrier China Eastern Airlines (MU) took delivery of its first of 20 777-300ERs on Sep. 25, marking it the third 777-300ER operator in mainland China following Air China and China Southern Airlines (CZ).

 

 

Air China to Increase Its Beijing-London Service to Two Daily Flights

Travel Daily Asia
To meet market demand, starting October 26, 2014, Air China will increase its Beijing-London (Heathrow International Airport) service to two daily flights. The newly added flights will further promote the exchanges between China and the United Kingdom and offer more flight options to travelers to other European cities. The newly added flights are scheduled to take into consideration the needs of travelers who depart from Asia-Pacific regions like Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea and connect in Beijing onto flights to Europe.

The newly added flights are CA855/6.
The outbound flight departs from Beijing at 2:30 p.m. and arrives in London at 5:50 p.m. local time. The inbound flight departs from London at 8:25 p.m. local time and arrives in Beijing at 2:45 p.m. Beijing time. The original daily flights CA937/8 are operated as normal - the outbound flight leaves Beijing at 12:30 p.m., and the inbound flight departs from London at 5:40 p.m.

After the schedule expansion, the Beijing-London (Heathrow) service as a whole is operated with A330-200. Its Business Class is configured with 180-degree full-flat seats whose ergonomic design can fully meet the needs of premium business travelers looking to have a fortifying rest during the flight. All classes of service are outfitted with personal entertainment system (AVOD) and power sockets, keeping passengers entertained for the duration of the flight. In addition, on its China-Europe routes, Air China also offers such services as seasonal healthy meals and chauffeured transfers for VIP passengers. Comfortable cabin and attentive service guarantee travelers a truly pleasant experience.

As a member carrier of the Star Alliance, the world's largest airline network, Air China has been actively expanding its European route network. Currently, Europe has become Air China's largest overseas market, and Air China now operates over 100 flights between China and Europe a week, enabling passengers to travel from Beijing nonstop to 20 European cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow and Madrid. At the same time, relying on the extensive route network of the Star Alliance, Air China can easily fly passengers to 1,328 destinations in 195 countries.

PEGAS - B767-300ER - VQ-BOY

Ton Jochems - AYT

ROYAL FLIGHT - B757-200W - VQ-BTR

Ton Jochems - AYT

WINDAVIA - A320-200 - LY-LCA

Ton Jochems - AYT

Virgin Atlantic 787-9 Takes Its First Flight

WCARN.com | Sep. 24, 2014
Virgin Atlantic' first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Registration G-VNEW, took its first flight from Paine Field on Tuesday morning, according to a tweet posted by Paine Airport.

The British carrier is expected to take delivery of its first 787-9 in mid-October, when it will become the first European operator of the stretched Dreamliner, and the world's fourth following Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways and United Airlines.

Virgin Atlantic has 15 787-9s on order, with options for a further eight and purchase rights on a further 20. The order is worth up to US$8 billion, which is the largest single 787 Dreamliner order by a European airline.

Virgin Atlantic's 787-9 will make its first revenue flight from London Heathrow to Boston on Oct. 28, to celebrate the carrier's 30th anniversary.

According to the airline, the Dreamliner will be operated on its existing routes from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to destinations in the U.S., Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It will also be instrumental in introducing new routes like Bangkok, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Due to the long range of the aircraft, both Perth and Hawaii are currently under consideration.

 

Fuzhou Airlines' Logo and Livery Unveiled

WCARN
Chinese start-up carrier Fuzhou Airlines (FU) unveiled its logo and livery on Tuesday, with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft painted in the color of the airline, revealed by Sina Weibo user "Jingweixiaoxi".

The logo features a pair of white dragon and phoenix, which roll together to form a red circle, symbolizing all that is wonderful and auspicious; while some netizens believe it looks like a Chinese character of "Fu", meaning blessing and good fortune. On the aircraft, livery will continue to have the global mark as well as the red-white image on the tail, along with the Chinese and English name of Fuzhou Airlines on the fuselage.

The Boeing 737-800, registration number B-5430, is the airline's first aircraft introduced from its parent company Hainan Airlines (HU). In June 2014, Fuzhou Airlines was approved to introduce 5 Boeing 737-800s from its parent company Hainan Airlines, among which three 737-800s will be injected as assets into the new entity, with the rest two introduced through leasing from the Haikou-based carrier. Currently, first three aircraft has completed painting jobs, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Fuzhou Airlines is a joint venture among Hainan Airlines (HU), Fuzhou State-owned Assets Investment Holdings Ltd., Century Golden Resources Group and Ningbo Ruitong Network Technology Co., Ltd. Hainan Airlines holds 60% stake in the joint venture with an investment of 1.2 billion yuan.
Licensed for domestic passenger and cargo transportation businesses, Fuzhou Airlines is based at Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC), which is the only airport among the Chinese airports handling more than 5 million passengers with just one base airline - Xiamen Airlines (MF).

According to an earlier report, Fuzhou Airlines is scheduled to make its inaugural flight from Guangzhou to Shanghai on October 1, to compete against Xiamen Airlines, which has a 50 percent market share in Fuzhou.

It is learnt from the airline that it will mainly focus on domestic services initially and build a comprehensive network covering East China, Southwest, Central and South China and extending to Japan and South Korea. By 2020, Fuzhou Airlines is expected to own a fleet of 40 aircraft, primarily serving short-haul and high-density

Air China to Increase Its Beijing-London Service to Two Daily Flights

Travel Daily Asia
To meet market demand, starting October 26, 2014, Air China will increase its Beijing-London (Heathrow International Airport) service to two daily flights. The newly added flights will further promote the exchanges between China and the United Kingdom and offer more flight options to travelers to other European cities. The newly added flights are scheduled to take into consideration the needs of travelers who depart from Asia-Pacific regions like Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea and connect in Beijing onto flights to Europe.

The newly added flights are CA855/6.
The outbound flight departs from Beijing at 2:30 p.m. and arrives in London at 5:50 p.m. local time. The inbound flight departs from London at 8:25 p.m. local time and arrives in Beijing at 2:45 p.m. Beijing time. The original daily flights CA937/8 are operated as normal - the outbound flight leaves Beijing at 12:30 p.m., and the inbound flight departs from London at 5:40 p.m.

After the schedule expansion, the Beijing-London (Heathrow) service as a whole is operated with A330-200. Its Business Class is configured with 180-degree full-flat seats whose ergonomic design can fully meet the needs of premium business travelers looking to have a fortifying rest during the flight. All classes of service are outfitted with personal entertainment system (AVOD) and power sockets, keeping passengers entertained for the duration of the flight. In addition, on its China-Europe routes, Air China also offers such services as seasonal healthy meals and chauffeured transfers for VIP passengers. Comfortable cabin and attentive service guarantee travelers a truly pleasant experience.

As a member carrier of the Star Alliance, the world's largest airline network, Air China has been actively expanding its European route network. Currently, Europe has become Air China's largest overseas market, and Air China now operates over 100 flights between China and Europe a week, enabling passengers to travel from Beijing nonstop to 20 European cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow and Madrid. At the same time, relying on the extensive route network of the Star Alliance, Air China can easily fly passengers to 1,328 destinations in 195 countries.

QATAR Airways Adds 2nd Daily A380 London Heathrow Service from Dec 2014

QATAR Airways from 01DEC14 increases capacity on Doha – London Heathrow route, through the placement of 2nd daily Airbus A380 service. The A380 will begin operating on QR001/002 from this date. Planned A380 schedule as follow.

QR003 DOH0745 – 1225LHR 388 D
QR001 DOH1250 – 1730LHR 388 D

QR004 LHR1415 – 2355DOH 388 D
QR002 LHR2030 – 0615+1DOH 388 D
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Photo:Qatar

 

 

 

Etihad to take first A380 delivery Thursday; first 787 Saturday

ATW
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is scheduled to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 Thursday during ceremonies in Hamburg. The aircraft is one of 10 A380s the airline has on order and will include an ultra-premium, two-person “Residence” class along with first-class “Apartments.”

Etihad revealed its A380 cabin configuration in May, modeling it on the hotel/corporate jet market.

Located on the forward upper deck of the A380, the self-contained Residence holds two people and comprises a private living room, double bedroom, bathroom and shower. The product, which also includes a Savoy-trained personal butler, will cost $20,000 one-way between Abu Dhabi and London for single- or double-occupancy. Effectively a fourth class, only one Residence will be fitted on each A380, measuring 125 sq. ft.

On the opposite side of the A380 forward fuselage, there is a shower and changing room for first-class Apartment guests. Each A380 will be configured with nine 39 sq. ft. Apartments (six will have interconnecting doors), arranged either side of a central aisle to give more space back to the passenger. They are equipped with a separate arm chair and bed, a private mini bar and a sliding door.

A lounge/meeting area will be positioned between the first- and business-class and will be shared by both cabins. To make way for a central seating area, the lounge is equipped with a sideways galley. This will require additional cabin floor reinforcement.

Some of Etihad’s 71 Boeing 787s, the first of which will be delivered Saturday from Seattle, will also have a separate first-class “Suite” product and all will feature business-class “Studios” in a 1-2-1 layout.

The A380 and 787 will both be fitted with economy Smart Seats, featuring a fixed wing that projects from the headrest for passengers to sleep against. The A380 will hold 417 economy passengers in a 3-4-3 layout, while the 787 will carry 199 in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The A380’s first route will be London Heathrow from Dec. 27, followed by ultra long-haul routes to destinations including Melbourne, New York, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Sydney. The 787-9s and -10s—which will be delivered from 2014-23 and configured with two- and three-class cabins—will ultimately be deployed to 40 destinations including Düsseldorf, Mumbai and Washington.

 First A380 delivery ceremonies at Hamburg Thursday will be attended by Etihad CEO James Hogan and Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier.

China's Spring Airlines begins int'l flights from Hangzhou

Spring Airlines launched its first international service out of Hangzhou with the introduction of a 3x weekly Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service on September 9. According to anna.aero, the route operates on-board an A320-200.
Photo:Alain Charpentier - TLS

Air Andorra to launch operations in November

Air Andorra will commence scheduled operations in November using an ATR42 for initial double daily services between Barcelona El Prat and Murcia. The carrier is planning to serve Montferrer La Seu d'Urgell, located in Spain 11kms from the Andorran border, set to re-open to commercial and business traffic later this year.

By year-end, the company also plans to acquire an ATR72 for planned Madrid Barajas to Girona flights.
ch-aviation

Air Canada Adds Boeing 787 Copenhagen Service in April 2015

Air Canada from 28MAR15 to 30APR15 once again plans to operate Boeing 787-8 aircraft on Toronto – Copenhagen route, which sees 5 weekly flights in the early-stage of Summer 2015 season.

AC882 YYZ2120 – 1045+1CPH 788 x13
AC883 CPH1225 – 1435YYZ 788 x24
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Photo:Air Canada

Air New Zealand to fly 787s to Tokyo in December

Air New Zealand, Boeing’s 787-9 launch customer, has slightly delayed plans to introduce the aircraft on additional long-haul routes. The airline was expecting to use the 787 on its Tokyo route in November, but is now aiming for early December.
The Auckland-Shanghai route will also switch to 787s in December.



Air New Zealand is due to receive its second 787-9 this month, and its third is expected in October. The carrier is using its first 787 on the daily Auckland-Perth route, and plans to also use 787s on flights to Sydney until they transfer to the Tokyo and Shanghai flights.
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Photo:Boeing

Vietnam Airlines to retire A330s, B777s by 2017

Vietnam Airlines will retire its fleet of ten A330-200s and eight B777-200(ER)s over the next three years CEO, Pham Ngoc Minh, has said. Discussing the airline's much anticipated upcoming IPO, Pham said the widebodies would be replaced by ten A350-900s and eight B787-9s the first models of which are expected to begin arriving next year.
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A320neo Family sets new standards with 20% reduced fuel burn

The A320neo Family is reaching new heights, with increased fuel burn savings per seat further improved to 20% across the entire family by 2020. The 20% fuel burn saving is achieved through Airbus’ latest cabin innovations reinforced by further engine efficiency improvements.

 “The A320neo Family keeps getting better as we are continuously innovating both in cabin productivity and engine efficiency to stay ahead of the game,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “The NEO will deliver a 15% fuel burn savings from day one in 2015 and we will go up to 20% by 2020, ensuring the A320 maintains its position as the leading next generation single-aisle aircraft family.”

Without compromising best in class passenger comfort, Airbus is offering airlines the option of higher seat counts enabled through latest cabin innovations. These include new generation slim line seats, Airbus’ Space-Flex rear lavatory & galley arrangements and Airbus Smart-Lav which together optimize the efficient use of the cabin floor space. The authorities will recertify the A320 family with increased seats limit by end 2014.

The A320neo (new engine option) incorporates cabin innovations, new generation engines and Sharklets (large wing tip devices) which together deliver 20 percent in fuel savings per seat by 2020.

To date, firm orders for the NEO reached 3257 aircraft from 60 customers, representing a 60 per cent market share in its category.

Okay Airways Receives 12th MA60 Aircraft

A brand new home-made Modern Ark 60 (MA60) aircrafs of Okay Airways (BK) landed smoothly at Alxa Left Banner Bayanhot Airport (AXF) on Sep. 16, 2014, marking that the twelfth MA60 joined the airline's regional fleet.

With the arrival of new aircraft, Okay Airways has deployed three MA60 aircraft into the Alxa commute airports in Inner Mongolia. Besides, the regional airline plans to launch Alxa Left Banner-Alxa Right Banner, Alxa Left Banner-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang, Ejin Banner-Jiayuguan services, in order to continuously expand its air network and enhance its connectivity within Alxa League.
As the first domestic carrier using home-made MA60 aircraft for business operation, Okay Airways launched China's first air commuter pilot program in Alxa League on Dec. 17, 2013, which sets an example for Commuter Aviation, facilitates the travel in remote regions and boosts the local economic development.

 In 2008, Okay Airways took delivery of first MA60 aircraft, starting the "icebreaking travel" of home-made aircraft operation. So far, it boasts the largest operator of home-made passenger aircraft with a fleet size of 12 MA60 aircraft.

Besides, Okay Airways explores vigorous operation modes of regional carriers, such as and, which play a vital role in people's travel, regional exchanges and cooperation in these beneficial areas. These air routes are amiably called by the public as the "line of people's livelihood", "life line" and "happiness line".

Aircalin rebrands its fleet with this beautiful island look