Author Archives: MS

  • 16
    Jan 25
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Saudi Arabia’s flyadeal to order ten A330neo

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Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal (F3, Jeddah International) will soon place an order for ten A330-900N aircraft, according to Reuters. As previously reported in ch-aviation, the airline had decided to place a widebody order but was undecided about the type. Aside from a single wet-leased A330-200, flyadeal has exclusively relied on Airbus narrowbodies to date.

flyadeal is expected to place the order within weeks, which will also include options for another ten A330s. If placed, the order represents another blow for Boeing, whose B787-9 type was under consideration but reportedly ultimately dropped.

In September 2024, Ibrahim Al Omar, director general of Saudia Group, which operates Saudia (SV, Jeddah International) and flyadeal, discussed expansion plans and said the group hoped to have 300 aircraft at its two carriers by 2032. Aside from the A330-200, wet leased from Jordan Aviation, flyadeal currently operates eleven A320-200s and twenty-five A320-200Ns. According to the data, it also has orders for eighteen A320-200N and thirty-nine A321-200N.

Meanwhile, local low-cost competitor flynas (XY, Riyadh) signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus in July 2024 for fifteen A330neo and 75 incremental A320neo family aircraft. The MOU also included options for 15 more A330neo and 55 more A320neo aircraft.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals include increasing the number of airline passengers moving through the country to 300 million annually, including 100 million inbound tourists, and expanding connectivity to over 250 destinations from Saudi Arabia’s 29 commercial airports.

  • 13
    Jan 25
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2024 – Who won the battle of the OEMs?

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2024 was a year of recovery for aircraft OEMs who all continued their post-pandemic recovery but for Boeing in particular there was also the recovery from several years of very high-profile production problems with their 737 Max and 787 range.

The 2024 Farnborough Airshow threw up some decent orders which boosted sales and several record-breaking orders throughout the year, making it a healthy year for the aircraft manufacturing industry but who did best?

Airbus

Airbus has cemented its position of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer in recent years with its best-selling A320neo range proving popular across the globe so what do the 2024 results show us for the Toulouse, France based OEM.

Highlights for Airbus included orders for 100 aircraft order from Air India, 70 aircraft from Cebu Pacific and a 31 aircraft order from Japan Airlines.

Airbus is vital to the UK economy with the wings being made at Airbus’ Broughton North Wales facility.

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Boeing

Boeing has had a tough year with ongoing production problems affecting its 737 Max and 787 product lines. This was compounded in Washington State by a 5 week strike by Boeing employees which saw production grind to a halt and a massive revenue loss by the OEM.

That being said though, Boeing did achieve a substantial amount of orders for its 737 Max, 787 and 777X product lines despite the latter having its delivery date pushed back by another year.

Highlights for Boeing included a 200 aircraft order from Pegasus Airlines and a 35 aircraft order from ACG.

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Embraer

The Brazilian OEM will never compete with Airbus and Boeing for numbers but its E-Jet range has proved popular with regional and short-haul airlines and its deliveries went up 14% compared to 2023.

Highlights for 2024 include Virgin Australia signing for eight E190-E2 jets.

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  • 10
    Jan 25
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airBaltic Completes First Starlink Test Flight

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AirBaltic has completed a successful flight test of SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet system on its Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

AirBaltic has completed a test flight of SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet system on its Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

The certification flight, departing from the airline’s hub in Riga, Latvia, evaluated both the Starlink aero terminal and internet connection performance.

This critical test represents a major step toward obtaining European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification.

A First in Europe

“We’re revolutionizing air travel with this breakthrough,” says Martin Gauss, AirBaltic’s President and CEO.

“As Europe’s first airline to offer complimentary Starlink internet, we’re proud to enhance our passengers’ travel experience.”

“This high-speed connection will benefit travelers across our entire network and beyond, setting a new standard for in-flight connectivity in the European aviation sector.”

Gauss emphasized the significance of collaborating with Starlink. “Working with SpaceX’s Starlink team has been remarkable. Their satellite constellation, operating in low-Earth orbit, will provide our passengers with the fastest in-flight internet available.”

“Adding Starlink to our modern Airbus A220-300 fleet aligns perfectly with our innovative approach to passenger comfort and technological advancement.”

The airline is currently pursuing a Supplemental Type Certification (STC) with Starlink, pending EASA approval. Installation of the cutting edge system on AirBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 fleet is scheduled to begin in early 2025, marking a significant upgrade to the airline’s service offerings.

Once the implementation is complete, the airline’s entire A220-300 fleet will feature Starlink connectivity. It will offer passengers high speed internet access throughout their journey without complicated login procedures or additional fees.

This enhancement supports AirBaltic’s commitment to providing superior passenger experience and maintaining its position as a technology leader in European aviation.

Starlink has established itself as a global connectivity pioneer, serving users across 118 countries and all seven continents. The service now connects over 4.6 million users worldwide, demonstrating its rapidly growing influence in the telecommunications sector.

Since launching its commercial aviation service last year, Starlink has demonstrated superior performance through its low Earth orbit satellites, positioned significantly closer to Earth than traditional satellite systems.

The advanced system delivers impressive speeds up to 500 Mbps with minimal latency, transforming the in flight experience.

This exceptional performance enables passengers to enjoy activities previously impossible during flights, including online gaming, VPN usage, and other data-intensive applications. It effectively brings home like internet connectivity to the skies.

Starlink provides revolutionary high speed internet access worldwide through its pioneering low Earth orbit satellite constellation. The service supports streaming, gaming, video calls, and various online activities that demand consistent, high speed connectivity.

As a SpaceX creation, Starlink benefits from the company’s extensive spacecraft and orbital operations expertise, making it the world’s most sophisticated broadband internet system.

This technological achievement represents a significant leap forward in global connectivity solutions, particularly for aviation and remote locations.

  • 10
    Jan 25
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Garuda invests $25.8mn in MRO; Citilink to revive fleet

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Garuda Indonesia (GA, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) has participated in a rights issue conducted by subsidiary PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk, though not with cash. Instead, it provided IDR418.28 billion rupiah (USD25.8 million) in non-cash deposits, primarily hangars and supporting facilities.

A January 3 Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) filing shows that Garuda Indonesia handed over three hangars, annex buildings, and other supporting assets, including machinery and access roads, to its subsidiary. In return, it is entitled to receive 9,093,245,600 Series B shares valued at IDR25 (USD0.0015) each, giving the total share package a total nominal value of IDR227.33 billion (USD14 million).

Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia, trading as GMF AeroAsia, is a major Southeast Asian MRO business that Garuda Indonesia spun-off and listed on the IDX in 2017. However, the flag carrier retains a 89%-plus shareholding.

In the filing, Garuda Indonesia said the transaction would improve operational efficiencies and increase “the strategic value of assets through management by entities that have special competencies.”

In related news, another Garuda subsidiary, Citilink (QG, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta), wants to have all its aircraft back in service by the end of 2025. Last week, Citilink President Director Dewa Kadek Rai told Jakarta journalists that his focus was on getting 19 grounded aircraft back in the air.

“Our focus this year is to make all of the aircraft serviceable so that by the end of the year, all of our aircraft will be able to fly, namely 56 aircraft,” he said. “Currently, we have 75 routes and 49 destinations. If our target is to service all aircraft, we will increase the frequency on existing routes, and there will be additional routes, especially to eastern Indonesia where we currently do not have many frequencies.”

  • 06
    Jan 25
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Japan Airlines Begins a New Era Retiring the Legendary 777-300ER on the Tokyo to London Route and Introducing the Revolutionary Airbus A350-1000 for Unmatched Comfort and Efficiency

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Japan Airlines marks a new milestone retiring the iconic 777-300ER on the Tokyo-London route, replacing it with the cutting-edge Airbus A350-1000 for superior travel.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has officially retired the iconic Boeing 777-300ER from its international operations on the Tokyo Haneda (HND) to London Heathrow (LHR) route, marking the conclusion of an era for this long-serving aircraft.

Starting January 2, 2025, the route will be operated by the advanced Airbus A350-1000, reflecting JAL’s commitment to modernizing its fleet with next-generation aircraft. The Boeing 777-300ER, which joined JAL’s lineup in 2004 as a successor to the Boeing 747-400, became a flagship model for the airline’s long-haul routes, including key destinations like New York (JFK) and London (LHR).

Between 2004 and 2009, JAL added 13 Boeing 777-300ERs to its fleet. The last international flight for the aircraft, operated by JA739J, took place on January 1, 2025. Designated as flight JL43, it departed Tokyo Haneda at 10:01 AM local time and landed at London Heathrow at 2:56 PM local time, completing its 14-hour and 25-minute journey. This final mission featured JAL’s “W84” cabin layout, accommodating 244 passengers: 8 in First Class, 49 in Business Class, 40 in Premium Economy, and 147 in Economy.

Although retired from international routes, the Boeing 777-300ER will continue to serve JAL on select routes, including major destinations like Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Sydney, as well as various Asian and domestic flights.

The introduction of the Airbus A350-1000 offers several benefits, including enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced noise, in line with JAL’s environmental sustainability initiatives. As part of its fleet renewal strategy, the airline is transitioning to the A350 to meet growing passenger demand on routes to Europe and North America while minimizing its environmental footprint.

By 2025, JAL plans to have 11 A350s in operation, progressively expanding their deployment across high-demand routes such as Paris and key cities on the U.S. West Coast. This move underscores the airline’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art services and maintaining seamless connectivity for its passengers.

  • 03
    Jan 25
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Delta Retains its Place as Most On-Time North American Airline

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Delta Air Lines retains its spot as North America’s most punctual carrier in 2024, winning Cirium’s Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for the fourth year running.

Delta Air Lines has maintained its position as North America’s most punctual carrier in 2024. It earned Cirium’s prestigious Platinum Award for Operational Excellence for the fourth year running.

This award celebrates airlines that consistently deliver on-time flights while managing complex operations and minimizing passenger disruptions, setting a gold standard in the aviation industry.

The achievement marks a significant milestone as Delta enters its 100th year of service, demonstrating the airline’s enduring commitment to excellence across generations.

Consistency in a Challenging Era

The carrier’s consistency in maintaining high operational standards has become increasingly noteworthy. This is particularly notable in an era where air travel faces numerous challenges, from weather disruptions to staffing shortages.

John Laughter, Delta’s Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations gave comment on the recent accolade. “Receiving Cirium’s recognition again highlights our team’s dedication to operational excellence,” he said.

“Reliable, safe operations form the foundation of Delta’s growth and represent our century-old brand promise.” This commitment to reliability has become particularly crucial as air travel continues to recover and expand post-pandemic.

Performance Statistics

The airline’s performance statistics paint a compelling picture. 83.46% of Delta’s 1.7 million flights arrived on schedule in 2024, demonstrating remarkable consistency across its vast network.

This performance surpassed both North American and global industry standards of 76.37% and 83.04% respectively.

Delta outperformed its nearest North American rival by 2.53%, a significant margin in an industry where fractions of a percentage can represent thousands of passengers. Cirium considers flights “on-time” when they arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.

Mike Malik, Cirium’s Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the significance of Delta’s achievements. “Through continuous investment in their workforce, operations, and technology, Delta Air Lines continues to set industry standards for operational excellence.”

“It shows others how to deliver outstanding travel experiences.” This investment strategy has proven particularly effective in maintaining service quality while adapting to changing market conditions.

2024 Awards and Accolades

Throughout 2024, the airline has garnered numerous accolades across various aspects of its operations.

J.D. Power ranked it highest in First/Business and Premium Economy Passenger Satisfaction, reflecting the carrier’s dedication to providing superior service across different cabin classes.

The Points Guy named it the best U.S. airline, considering factors such as customer service, route network, and overall value proposition.

Perhaps most notably, Delta achieved a unique distinction as the only airline included in Fortune’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ list, highlighting its commitment to employee satisfaction and workplace culture. This recognition is particularly significant as it demonstrates that Delta’s operational excellence is built on a foundation of engaged and satisfied employees.

The airline’s success in maintaining high standards across multiple areas of operation – from punctuality to customer service and employee satisfaction – has earned it the title of America’s most awarded airline.

Looking Forward

As Delta celebrates its centennial year, these achievements reflect its level of current success. They also serve to position the airline strongly for future growth and continued leadership in the aviation industry.

Looking ahead, Delta’s consistent performance and multiple recognitions suggest a promising future as the airline. It continues to set benchmarks for operational excellence and customer service in what is an increasingly competitive aviation sector.

  • 31
    Dec 24
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UAE reveals forward-looking vision in aviation sector

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The UAE has solidified its position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs in 2024, given its significant advancements that include increased infrastructure investments, clean energy initiatives, and expanded seating capacity at major airports.

The aviation sector’s performance reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to developing this industry as a key driver of the national economy. Through ambitious projects and notable announcements, the country has showcased its forward-looking vision.

The UAE carriers fully recovered their capacity, surpassing 2019 levels last year, and further increased their capacity in 2024 to 87.1 million seats – a 10.5% rise from 2023 and a 15% growth compared to 2019.

Global aviation data provider OAG reported that UAE carriers’ seat capacity growth exceeded the global average growth rate of 2.4% compared to 2019 and 6.4% compared to 2023.

In November, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) predicted that passenger traffic at the country’s airports would reach approximately 150 million by the end of 2024, compared to 134 million the previous year.

The UAE’s civil aviation network serves over 400,000 passengers daily, with a monthly average exceeding 12 million passengers. Additionally, it handles over 10,000 tonnes of cargo daily.

Leading national carriers, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia, continued to expand their global networks. Collectively, these airlines offered over 6.39 million seats in December 2024.

This year witnessed key strategic announcements that enhanced the aviation sector’s performance. Among them was the launch of construction for a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, with a budget of Dhs128 billion. Upon completion, it will become the world’s largest airport, with a final capacity of 260 million passengers, 400 aircraft gates, and five times the current capacity of Dubai International Airport.

In 2024, the newly named and branded Zayed International Airport, celebrated for its innovative and seamless passenger experience, was inaugurated. Abu Dhabi Airports earned the prestigious “World’s Leading Airport Operator” award at the 2024 Aviation Achievement Awards 2024.

Zayed International Airport (AUH) was crowned “World’s Most Beautiful Airport” at the prestigious Prix Versailles, recognising its outstanding architectural design in the Airports category.

Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport maintained its global leadership in international flight capacity throughout 2024 and twice surpassed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in combined international and domestic seat capacity rankings, in January and December, according to OAG.

Emirates Airlines garnered four awards at the 2024 World Travel Awards for its various products and services. It also topped the Ultras Awards 2024 as the best airline in the world and was awarded a total of 7 impressive accolades at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Additionally, Emirates ranked first in the Telegraph’s list of the best global airlines for 2024.

Etihad has also been recognised with the best Economy Class, best in-flight entertainment and best First Class Lounge.

The UAE has continued its commitment to sustainability in the aviation sector, with 2024 witnessing several initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices within the industry. These include the expansion of sustainable aviation fuel usage, ground operations sustainability initiatives at airports by service providers such as dnata, and airport-led projects.

Dubai Airports announced the launch of the world’s largest rooftop solar panel installation at any airport. The solar energy generated will meet 6.5 percent of Dubai International Airport’s energy requirements and 20 percent of Al Maktoum International Airport’s energy needs.

The General Civil Aviation Authority also highlighted that UAE airline fleets are among the newest globally, with an average aircraft age of 12-15 years, contributing to reduced carbon footprints.

  • 27
    Dec 24
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Lufthansa Group Purchases Latest-Generation Long-Haul Aircraft

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The group have ordered five more Airbus A350-1000s, bringing the total combined orders of A350-900s and A350-1000s to 75. The newest order is an important step towards the group achieving its goals of fleet modernisation, produce enhancement and CO₂ reduction.

One of the Largest A350 Customers Worldwide

28 of the 75 aircraft ordered are already in scheduled service, with the remaining 47 to be delivered by 2030. With a total order value of two billion US dollars at list price, the 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s make Lufthansa Group one of the largest A350 customers globally.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said:

“Our today’s order underscores our great confidence in our long-standing, close and successful partnership with Airbus. With the state-of-the-art A350 long-haul jets, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our history. We are investing more than ever before in our history to make air transport more sustainable, to achieve our CO₂ reduction targets and at the same time offer our customers the highest level of comfort with a first-class travel experience.

Throughout its history, the Lufthansa Group has ordered 770 aircraft from Airbus, making it the largest customer worldwide.

Long-Term Goal of Emissions Reduction

Lufthansa Group has approximately 250 new, fuel-saving aircraft on its order list, including 100 long-haul aircraft of the latest design. The highly efficient aircraft will help the group meet its long-term strategies of quality, cost efficiency and emissions reduction. In the medium term, the twin-engine long-haul jets are set to replace four-engine aircraft models that are gradually being phased out.

The latest additions to the Lufthansa fleet consume up to 35% less fuel consumption and correspondingly less CO₂ than their predecessors.

The group aims to halve its net CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019. By 2050, it hopes to achieve a neutral CO₂ balance.

  • 20
    Dec 24
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Pegasus Airlines (PC, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen) has signed a firm order for 100 B737-10s from Boeing with a further 100 options, committing to a dual-manufacturer fleet starting in the late 2020s.

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The Turkish low-cost carrier said that the deliveries of the first of the firm-ordered B737-10s are scheduled for 2028. It did not outline a further timeline.

The order marks Pegasus Airlines’ return to a large Boeing fleet. The history module shows it initially launched operations in 1990 with a fleet of B737-400s. It also operated three B737-500s between 2006 and 2012. It ordered its first B737-800 in 1997. With all B737 Classics retired by 2013, Pegasus’ B737-800 fleet peaked at 53 units in 2016. However, it has since been gradually decreasing in favour of A320-200s and, more recently, A320-200Ns and A321-200NX.

The module shows that the airline currently operates nine remaining B737-800s, six A320-200s, forty-six A320-200Ns, and fifty-seven A321-200NX. It also has 52 additional A321-200NX on order from Airbus. All of the remaining A321s are due to deliver by 2029.

While Pegasus Airlines previously planned to retire the B737-800s and focus on an all-Airbus fleet, the rapid capacity growth after the pandemic prompted it to extend their leases with no imminent retirement plans.

Separately, the airline has secured a sustainability-linked financing deal with CCB Financial Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Construction Bank Corporation, for three A321-200NX, in line with its recently released Pegasus Guidelines for the Aviation Sector. The carrier says it is working to finance nine A321neo, which are part of its current aircraft order and due for delivery by the end of 2025.

  • 17
    Dec 24
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First A220 in Romania delivered to Animawingsv

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The first ever Airbus A220 for a Romanian airline when the first of 22 of the type was delivered to Animawings.

The A220-300 was delivered to Bucharest from the Montreal production line and is one of four being financed from US-based Lessor Azorra.

Powered by two  Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines, the A220 will help the airline with its growth plans after majority shareholder Aegean sold its share to holiday company Memento Group.

Animawings co-owner Marius Pandel said: “This advanced aircraft enables us to commit to delivering connectivity to sought-after destinations such as Dubai, Cluj, Iasi, Oradea, Paris, Larnaca or Stockholm,” adding “Our partnership with Azorra has been instrumental in helping us take this significant step,”.

Azorra chief John Evans commented: “With its unmatched performance and efficiency, this aircraft is perfectly suited to support Animawings’ growth objectives and will play a vital role in the future of aviation in Romania,”.

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