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LATEST NEWS
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2021
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Having firmed up on its combined order of 100 Airbus A319neo, A320neo and A321neo jets with an option for a further 50 aircraft in January last year, Spirit Airlines (Spirit) has announced its choice of engine, the Pratt & Whitney GTFTM geared turbofan engine. Deliveries should begin in early 2023.
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Spirit’s order for the Airbus jets will see the Florida-based low-cost carrier’s fleet virtually double in size by 2025, it is currently operating an all-Airbus fleet of 168 and will become the first U.S. operator of the new A319neo. This follows on from Spirit being the first operator of the A320neo in both the U.S. and also Canada. In addition, Spirits’ fleet will be covered by a new EngineWise® Comprehensive long-term maintenance agreement. Spirit previously selected GTF engines to power 55 owned and 13 leased A320neo-family aircraft, of which 43 have been delivered.
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In 2021 alone, Pratt & Whitney has received orders and commitments for in excess of 1,200 of the GTFTM engine. “Spirit operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry, and this order for the latest GTF engines, combined with our existing pipeline of brand-new aircraft, will ensure we continue leading the way,” said Spirit Airlines’ Chief Financial Officer Scott Haralson. “Pairing new planes with the latest engine technology from our long-term business partner Pratt & Whitney allows us to accomplish our mission of delivering the best value in the sky.”
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Hawaiian Airlines has released that it will resume its five-times-weekly service between Australia’s Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), beginning December 13. Hawaiian, which suspended the route in March 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed at the onset of the pandemic, will welcome Australians back to the islands in time for the holidays.
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“We are thrilled to reconnect Hawaiʻi and Australia and have been encouraged by the public’s response to Australia’s national vaccination programme, enabling the reopening of borders,” said Andrew Stanbury, regional director for Australia and New Zealand at Hawaiian Airlines.
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In addition to convenient nonstop flights to Hawaii, Australian travellers flying on Hawaiian Airlines also regain access to the carrier’s extensive U.S. domestic network, allowing them to seamlessly continue their travels to 16 U.S. mainland gateways – including new destinations in Austin, Orlando and Ontario, California – with the option to enjoy a stop-over in the Hawaiian Islands.
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Hawaiian will continue to operate the SYD-HNL route with its 278-seat, spacious wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.
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GA Telesis (GAT) has reported that its freighter conversion strategy continues to grow with six additional firm orders for B737-800SF cargo conversions with Aeronautical Engineers (AEI). This further commitment was executed by GAT’s LIFT (Leasing, Investments, Finance and Trading) group and represents the third incremental order by LIFT, bringing the total deliveries and conversion slots for the B737-800SF to 12.
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The conversions under the additional order will commence in early 2022 and continue through early 2023. All work will be performed by authorised AEI conversion centres in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, LIFT will continue to evaluate additional B737SF slots and other freighter aircraft models to support the global air cargo industry's expanding main deck freighter needs.
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Emirates plans to boost its operational workforce by planning to recruit more than 6,000 staff over the next six months. As restrictions ease worldwide with the wider administration of the vaccine, additional pilots, cabin crew, engineering specialists and ground staff will be needed to support the airline’s ramp up of operations across its global network in response to the sooner-than-expected surge in customer demand.
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Emirates has already restored 90% of its network and is on track to reaching 70% of its pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2021. The airline is supplementing its flight schedules with increased frequencies to meet the pent up demand. It is also deploying its high-capacity double-decker A380 aircraft on popular routes around its network. By November, Emirates will offer more than 165,000 additional seats on its flagship A380 aircraft.
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In September, Emirates embarked on a worldwide campaign to recruit 3,000 cabin crew and 500 airport services employees to join its Dubai hub to support its operational requirements arising from the travel industry recovery. As travel demand gains more traction than was earlier anticipated, Emirates will now require an additional 700 ground staff in Dubai and across its network.
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Furthermore, the airline is offering exciting career opportunities for 600 qualified pilots interested in joining the global airline’s flight operations team based in Dubai.
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As part of the recruitment drive, Emirates also aims to reinforce its engineering team, by hiring 1,200 skilled technical staff, comprising aircraft engineers and engineering support staff, to be based in Dubai and outstations. Emirates is the world’s largest operator of both the Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. Its fleet currently comprises 263 wide-body aircraft and the airline has a number of new aircraft on order to meet future demand, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 787-9s and Boeing 777-X aircraft types.
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During a challenging period for tourism worldwide, Zela Aviation is announcing its cooperation with Kenyan low-cost airline, Jambojet, operating a fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-Q400 aircraft.
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The agreement provides for the mediation of Zela Aviation, which will act as an appointed agent for leasing Jambojet’s aircraft under ACMI terms and conditions (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance).
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Expressing his satisfaction, Zela Aviation Chairman, Andreas Christodoulides stressed that Zela Aviation will work closely with Jambojet to see this partnership is fruitful and both sides achieve their business goals.
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He added that cooperation of the two companies – taking into consideration the recession and the crisis caused by the pandemic – confirms the credibility and prestige of Zela Aviation in the field of air transport, among other major international airlines.
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Jambojet, who started operations in 2014, has been working towards diversifying its product offering, part of which includes charter services. “We are delighted to be partnering with Zela Aviation, who has over sixteen years of experience in the charter business, and are excited for the prospects this brings,” said Karanja Ndegwa, Jambojet Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
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Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems (Stevens) has appointed Ricky Vongsiprasom to Maintenance Director of its AOG (Aircraft On Ground) division. Vongsiprasom joined Stevens in early 2018 as a technician on the AOG team, quickly advancing to AOG team coordinator and now serving as maintenance director for the division.
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Vongsiprasom brings to Stevens a decade of experience maintaining corporate aircraft from manufacturers such as Textron, Embraer, Pilatus and more.
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“Ricky’s knowledge and experience of AOG maintenance will move Stevens to a higher level of customer service and will be a great fit with our AOG management culture”, said Dendall Wood, General Manager, AOG Division at Stevens. “His customer relations skills and understanding of the AOG segment are impeccable. He is clearly an asset to our company”.
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ANTAVIA, a global provider of MRO services and repair specialist for commercial airlines, business jets, military and governmental wheel & brakes, has opened the doors to its large, new facility at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on October 25. The 2,500 m² premises have been seamlessly brought on-stream as the ANTAVIA team of engineers transitioned from the smaller repair shop nearby and all workspaces have been redesigned following LEAN/5S principles.
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“Proximity to CGD is a huge benefit for aircraft operators/owners” explains Ismaël Fadili, Sales & Marketing Director, ANTAVIA. “The move has enabled ANTAVIA to integrate new equipment and further enhance our very short overhaul and tyre change TATs. Being part of the AMETEK MRO group means we can invest with confidence, and this not only benefits our European customers, but underpins the expanding support programmes that we deliver for the European operations of U.S./Canadian airframers.”
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ANTAVIA has designed the new shop to replicate the company’s modern unit near Toulouse and the launch is a fitting accolade for the dedicated workforce as the organisation celebrates its 40,000th wheel and brake repair milestone.
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CAAC certified and ideally located between the main commercial and bizjet hubs of Paris CDG and Paris LBG (Le Bourget Airport), ANTAVIA’S larger facility also holds its significant inventory of spare parts, including tyres valued at over US$1 million.
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