Norwegian has re-registered EI-FYH Boeing 737-8 MAX MSN 64992 as SE-RYH on 10th March during storage at Dublin. The aircraft was positioned from west apron parking area to Aer Lingus Hangar 6 for the re-registration.
Norwegian Air Sweden is a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA operating in Sweden. Norwegian received and AOC from the Swedish Transport Agency and took delivery of its first Swedish registered Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft at Stockholm Arlanda Airport on 21st November 2018.
Norwegian Air Sweden has a fleet of 48 Boeing 737-800, 8 Boeing 737-8 MAX (Storage) and 3 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Laudamotion (Lauda) has taken delivery of its 27th Airbus A320-200 MSN 3613 registered as OE-LMP according to German aviation website Skyliner Aviation , formerly operated by IndiGo Airlines as VT-WAH.
The aircraft was delivered on 13-14th March Hyderabad-Muscat International-Cairo to its new home base in Vienna.
According to Planespotters the aircraft is leased is from GECAS.
The registration OE-LMP was previously allocated to Map Jet Airbus A310-304.
Norwegian Air Shuttle has completed an intra-group transfer from Norwegian Air International to Norwegian Air Sweden, this week of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft in storage at Dublin Airport since the global fleet grounding in March 2019.
Skyliner Aviation reports EI-FYC Boeing 737-8 MAX MSN 42825 was re-registered at Dublin 4th March as SE-RYL to Norwegian Air Sweden and its sistership EI-FYH to be re-registered as SE-RYF on 5th March.
According to reader David Hennigan as of Saturday 7th March was still registered as EI-FYH.
Norwegian Air Sweden is a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA operating in Sweden. Norwegian received and AOC from the Swedish Transport Agency and took delivery of its first Swedish registered Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft at Stockholm Arlanda Airport on 21st November 2018.
Norwegian Air Sweden has a fleet of 48 Boeing 737-800, 8 Boeing 737-8 MAX (Storage) and 3 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Laudamotion (Lauda) has taken delivery of its 25th Airbus A320-200 MSN 4603 registered as OE-LMG according to website Skyliner Aviation, formerly operated by IndiGo Airlines as VT-IYA.
The aircraft was delivered on 5-6th March routing Soekarno–Hatta International-Nagpur Airport-Dubai World Centre to its new home base in Vienna.
According to Planespotters.net database aircraft is leased is from Orix Aviation.
Skyliner reports Laudamotion (Lauda) is due take delivery of a further four A320s formerly operated by Air Asia, Flynas and Frontier Airlines.
Irish carrier Aer Lingus part of International Airlines Group (IAG) plans to exploit Airbus A321LR North Atlantic growth opportunities, as outlined in IAG Full Year Results 2019 released on Friday 29 February during investor call. The strategy was further enforced with the release of IAG 2019 Annual Report entitled "Leading Sustainable Aviation".
International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh in 2019 Annual Report described the introduction of the long-range version of the Airbus A321 as "A Game-Changer", adding "It allows Aer Lingus to target cities on the eastern side of North America where there is unlikely to be demand for a direct service with a larger aircraft" in reference to A330 platform.
On investor conference call outgoing CEO Willie Walsh said "Aer Lingus has introduced the A321LR on the transatlantic, showing about a 22%, 23% improvement in fuel burn versus the 757. So the unit cost performance of these aircraft are absolutely excellent".
Willie Walsh added "With the availability of the 321LR and then the XLRs, I think this -- what that can do to the network and just the hub at Dublin will facilitate a strong transatlantic growth opportunity for them".
In a clear statement of intent the A321LR Platform will play a greater role in the North America network the annual report stated "Replacing one Airbus A330 with two Airbus A321LRs also allows the airline to operate multiple frequencies, opening up better connecting opportunities".
Aer Lingus currently has four Airbus A321LR's in service leased from Air Lease Corporation (ALC) with two aircraft based in Dublin Airport and two in Shannon Airport. A further four A321LR's are due for delivery on lease from ALC in Winter 2021.
In June 2019 the International Airlines Group (IAG) ordered six Airbus A321XLR's for delivery from 2023, plus an unspecified number of options from 14 ordered by the group, enabling the carrier to launch new routes beyond the US East Coast and Canada. The A321XLR has range of up to 4,700nm – 15% more than the A321LR and with 30% lower fuel burn per seat.
IAG CEO Willie Walsh, said "The A321XLR has the same unit cost as a widebody long-haul aircraft which will enable profitable network expansion. This will strengthen Dublin hub providing new transatlantic routes and additional flexibility for connecting passengers. These aircraft will also bring further cost efficiencies and environmental benefits."
United Airlines has resumed operations on the Washington Dulles to Dublin route effective from 22 February operating four times weekly with Boeing 757-200 equipment.
The aircraft N14118 Boeing 757-224 MSN 27560 positioned Newark to Washington Dulles as UAL2755 to operate UAL126 to Dublin.
On 3rd December the carrier announced an order to purchase 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, enabling the carrier to begin replacing and retiring its existing fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft and further meet the airline's operational needs by pairing the optimal aircraft with select transatlantic routes.
United expects to introduce the A321XLR into international service in 2024, will also allow United to explore serving additional destinations in Europe from its East Coast Newark/New York and Washington Dulles hubs.
United VP and chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said "The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is an ideal one-for-one replacement for the older, less-efficient aircraft currently operating between some of the most vital cities in our intercontinental network. In addition to strengthening our ability to fly more efficiently, the A321XLR's range capabilities open potential new destinations to further develop our route network and provide customers with more options to travel the globe."
According to United’s October 2019 investor update, the airline is already in the process of retiring its 757 fleet, as it has already retired three of that aircraft type since the beginning of the year with another 73 still in service.
Airlink Airways Ltd trading as Private Sky Ireland has added a Bombardier Global 5000 to its VIP & Executive Charter Fleet. The aircraft MSN 9445 registered EI-IIN callsign 'HYR95V' formerly VP-CKM was delivered Guernsey to Shannon on 26th February.
Today (Saturday 29 February) the aircraft departed Shannon to its new Moscow Vnukovo base.
Private Sky Director David Scully said "This Global 5000 addition to the AOC is an important & exciting step for us. The addition of this aircraft provides our customers with the ultimate long-range capability. It will be strategically located to serve customers in Eastern as well as Western Europe".
Private Sky operates from bases in Belfast City, Dublin Airport, London Stansted and Moscow Vnukovo, Shannon Airport operating and managing a fleet of Airbus A319CJ, Bombardier Challenger 850, Cessna 560XLs, Embraer Legacy 650, Global 5000, Global 6000, Global XRS, Gulfstream G450, Learjet 60s.
Laudamotion (Lauda) has taken delivery of its 25th Airbus A320-200 OE-LMJ according to German aviation website Skyliner Aviation formerly operated by Philippine Airlines as RP-C8618.
The aircraft was delivered 28-29th February Manila-Clark International-Bandaranaike International-Muscat International-Cairo International to its new home base in Vienna.
According to Planespotters the aircraft is leased is from GECAS.
The Academy of Aviation (AOA) have stated that 2019 was their busiest year to date, with more students than ever taking their highly successful induction courses at their dedicated training facility next to Dublin Airport located at Clarton Hotel.
Academy of Aviation founder Ruth Thewlis says “Our specially constructed 4 -day induction courses are proving to be our most requested courses. They are designed to assist individuals get their first step on the aviation career ladder. We place a considerable emphasis on mentoring our students, giving them insight into their chosen pathway & guidance on application to the many airlines, airports ground handling service providers with which we work closely. We don’t exceed 12 on our courses and deliver all training at our bespoke training facility which allows for excellent communication between tutor and student”
The training facility includes an on-site simulated Airbus A320 cabin mock-up for a hands-on, interactive & practical approach to give students and mock-up check-in desks as well as Aircraft Safety Equipment Training Zone.
A new Moldavian Start-Up carrier HiSky founded by private investors is to launch a twice weekly service from Chisinau to Dublin on Wednesdays and Saturdays effective 11th April in partnership with the Romanian airline Cobrex Trans using Airbus A320-200 aircraft.
The service 4H401 departs Chisinau at 2020 arriving into Dublin at 2210 and 4H402 departs Dublin at 0010 arriving Chisinau at 0530.
Currently Air Moldva and FlyOne operate on Chisinau to Dublin route.
HiSky company offers four service packages basic, classic, premium and premium plus with passengers having a free snack and drink onboard.
General Director of HiSky Company Mr. Iulian Scorpa said "The company aims to import and to implement, here, in Moldova, on the Western culture example, the best approach of service related to aviation field. We intend to develop constantly, taking into consideration of course the needs of our passengers related to the most popular destinations, new attractive offers, etc".
Commercial Director Cobrex Trans Mihaela Apavaloaie said "It’s not the first time we collaborate with the team that today is in charge of HiSky company, that’s why we created a partnership based on mutual trust. Our primary interest is to offer a high level of service, analogous to prices usually offered by low cost companies. We want our passengers to feel safe and comfortable when travelling with us. I also consider our collaboration with Hisky team fruitful for both companies, and what is really important are the passengers and services offered to them".
The carrier plans to launch routes to Bologna, Dusseldorf, Dublin, London Stansted, Paris Beauvais and Lisbon using two Airbus A320-200 aircraft operated by Cobrex Trans in 180 single class economy configuration pending receiving its own AOC.
On July 30, 2019, the Air France-KLM Group announced the progressive early phase-out of the Airbus A380 aircraft from the Air France fleet through to the end of 2022. The first of up to four ex-Air France Airbus A380-800s has been positioned into Ireland West Airport for storage, signalling the start of the airline's A380 fleet retirement process.
The aircraft F-HPJB touched down in Ireland West Airport at 1612 local on Thursday 20 February 2020 in all white colours from Dresden, Germany creating history becoming the largest aircraft type to land at the airport. F-HPJB was painted all white in Malta from 23 November to 13 December before returning briefly to the Air France fleet. It completed its last flight AFR11V on 31st December 2019 flying from Shanghai to Paris CDG arriving 0535 local.
On 2nd January the aircraft positioned Paris CDG to Dresden as AFR370V where it was returned to its lessor, the Dr. Peters Group. Then return to lessor test flights were completed on 2nd/3rd of January out of Dresden before positioning to Leipzig on 10th February for a short test flight.
In an interview with Airline Ratings November 2019 the Air France CEO Anne Rigail reportedly said " I don’t know if anyone would have been able to forecast it at the time, but the A350 and the Dreamliner just made the A380 totally obsolete, too expensive, too big. Operationally it has always been a very difficult aircraft, you need specific ramp equipment, you need to rebuild runways and taxiways, you need special boarding ramps. I say this because I was working at our CDG hub when the A380 arrived – operationally it has always been problematic. Because you even need special training for everyone on the ramp, I have never seen this before."
But when the A380 came to Air France in 2009, it replaced two aircraft types, so on the cost side, it wasn’t too bad. Since the efficiency of the A350 and the 787 is the same, but with less capacity and more flexibility, you can put them on any route. So, of course, the A380 is no longer useful. And we have all kinds of problems with it – related to the structure, the engines. And not only now when the aircraft get older – it has always been difficult with the A380.
But when you look at the overall investment when you add the refurbishment and the heavy maintenance checks due soon, the cost is so high that we think it’s better to renew the fleet. It is just more beneficial for the years to come to have new generation aircraft. I think the A380 is just outdated now",
Announcing its full year results on 20th February Air France-KLM Group said it will take a charge of €126 million in 2019 for the early phase-out of the A380 aircraft from the Air France fleet. Adding The difference between the initial depreciation plan, i.e. an expected 20-year operational life for this type of aircraft and the accelerated depreciation following the early phase-out, amounting to €52 million.
Depreciation slopes have been revised so that the net book value as of the date of the aircraft’s phase-out converges with the estimated realizable value. - Impairment of fleet related assets for €74 million (including notably cabin retrofit projects, penalties on contracts and spare parts).
At this stage, the impact of this decision is estimated at around € (370) million, mainly due to the acceleration in the depreciation of the aircraft. The impact of the change in depreciation slopes will be spread over the period through to 2022, consistent with the retirement timetable for the aircraft.
