Norwegian cancels major aircraft order and books US$1.5 billion charge

©Norwegian

Having secured bankruptcy protection in both Norway and Ireland in 2020, low-cost carrier Norwegian Air (Norwegian) has taken a NEK12.8 billion (US$1.5 billion) charge and cancelled its current order of 88 narrow-body Airbus jets. Last year Norwegian cancelled its remaining orders for 97 aircraft with Boeing, while also seeking compensation from the planemaker for the grounding of 737 MAX jets and technical problems relating to the 787 Dreamliner. The intention is for Norwegian to extricate itself from its current restructuring process with appreciable less debt and many fewer aircraft to avoid bankruptcy. From an original fleet of 140 aircraft the Read more

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Austrian Airlines sells three Boeing 767s to U.S. company MonoCoque Diversified Interests (MDI)

Austrian Airlines sold three Boeing 737-300 aircraft ©AirTeamImages

Austrian Airlines has found a buyer for the three long-haul aircraft that were up for sale. The Boeing 767-300ER aircraft will go to U.S. company MonoCoque Diversified Interests (MDI). The purchase agreement has already been signed. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The first aircraft, registered OE-LAT, will leave Vienna at the beginning of March for Pinal Airpark, Arizona. The aircraft is currently undergoing all the necessary preparations for the handover. The next transfer flight is scheduled for May with the Boeing 767 registered OE-LAX. At an average age of 28.5 years, the three B767s sold Read more

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JetBlue takes delivery of first Airbus A321neo aircraft featuring reimagined Mint

Travelers can spot the A321neo with Mint by its unique “Ribbons” tailfin ©JetBlue

JetBlue has formally taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft configured with the airline’s reimagined premium Mint® experience and an all-new onboard layout, featuring comfort and connectivity perks that set the airline apart from other U.S. carriers. The aircraft arrived at JetBlue’s home at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on February 26, from the Airbus production facility in Hamburg, Germany. JetBlue’s A321neo with Mint features 16 Mint suites – including two Mint Studios™ – and 144 core seats. It will first operate on select flights between New York-JFK and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this summer. Read more

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CAS purchases new Hydraulics Universal test stand

Certified Aviation Services (CAS) has purchased a new Series 920 Universal Independent Dual System Hydraulic test stand. The Series 920 stand is manufactured by A&P Hydraulics based in Landrum, South Carolina. The Series 920 stand features 80gpm, 5,000psi independent dual systems which will be utilized to test hydraulic components such as thrust reverser actuators, servos, braking manifolds, linear actuators, power transfer units, primary control actuators, etc. The test stand also has a hydraulic pump and motor test system for testing engine driven pumps, AC motor pumps and hydraulic motor generators.

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Honeywell expands popular ultraviolet treatment product line

©Honeywell UV Wand

Expanding on its popular UV Treatment System for airliners, Honeywell has debuted a new, smaller version of the product that includes a UV wand and portable backpack. Designed to help reduce pathogens found on high-touch surfaces in a quick and low-cost manner, this new device can be easily used in a multitude of transportation options, from buses and trains to cars and small aircraft. The Honeywell UV Treatment Wand includes a handheld wand approximately 12 inches long to dispense UVC light. The entire system weighs roughly 15 pounds and can be used in any size space where a person will Read more

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BOC Aviation signs purchase-and-leaseback agreements with IndiGo for eight A320neo aircraft

IndiGo has signed agreements for eight new A320neo aircraft ©AirTeamImages

BOC Aviation Limited (BOC) has signed purchase-and-leaseback agreements with InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) for eight new Airbus A320neo aircraft, powered by CFM Leap engines. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2021. Mr. Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition & Financing Officer, IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to further strengthen our existing relationship with BOC Aviation. The addition of these eight A320neo aircraft demonstrates our confidence in the future growth of the aviation market in India.”

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IBA sees sustained growth in freighter aircraft demand but suppressed values

Demand for freighter aircraft continues to grow strongly as a result of Covid-19, but values and lease rates remain suppressed by an oversupply of feedstock aircraft, according to leading aviation industry consultant IBA. Since May 2020, almost 200 narrowbody and widebody aircraft have joined the worldwide freighter fleet, data from IBA’s Insight.iQ platform indicated during an IBA webinar yesterday on the freighter market. The active fleet of narrowbody freighters has grown by 61 to 625 aircraft with newly converted Boeing 737-800s accounting for around half that growth. The Boeing 757-200 remains the pre-eminent freighter aircraft with a fleet of 298 Read more

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Australia is first Asia-Pacific region to lift ban on Boeing 737 MAX

According to CASA there is no indication yet when Fiji Airways will resume operations to Australia ©AirTeamImages

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has lifted the temporary suspension on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operating to or from Australia. While no Australian airlines currently operate the Boeing 737 MAX, two foreign airlines flew these aircraft types to Australia before the COVID-19 pandemic – Singapore-based SilkAir (now Singapore Airlines) and Fiji Airways. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently issued return-to-service airworthiness directives for the Boeing 737 MAX. CASA’s Acting CEO and Director of Aviation Safety, Graeme Crawford said the initial suspension had been in the best Read more

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Qantas prepares to resume international flights from late October

©Qantas

Qantas and Jetstar are planning to restart regular international passenger flights to most destinations from October 31, 2021 – a four-month extension from the previous estimate of July, which had been in place since mid-2020. The date change aligns with the expected timeframe for Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout to be effectively complete. Capacity will be lower than pre-COVID levels, with frequencies and aircraft type deployed on each route in line with the projected recovery of international flying. International capacity is not expected to fully recover until 2024. The Group remains in close consultation with the Federal Government around the reopening Read more

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Fly Leasing reports fourth quarter net loss of US$107.0 million

Fly Leasing (FLY) is reporting a net loss of US$107.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. This compares to net income of US$75.2 million for the same period in 2019. The decrease in net income is primarily due to flight equipment impairment of US$115.0 million. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was US$67.4 million compared to net income of US$225.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Adjusted net loss was US$115.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to adjusted net income of US$77.0 million for the same period in the previous year. Read more

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