Indigo Partners portfolio airlines order 255 A321neo aircraft: Wizz Air (Hungary), Frontier (United States), Volaris (Mexico) and JetSMART (Chile, Argentina), Indigo Partners portfolio airlines, have announced an order for 255 additional A321neo Family aircraft under a joint Indigo Partners agreement. The firm order was signed at the Dubai Airshow. This order brings the total number of aircraft ordered by the Indigo Partners’ airlines to 1,145 A320 Family aircraft. The aircraft ordered today are a mix of A321neos and A321XLRs, which will be delivered to the individual airlines as follows: Wizz Air: 102 aircraft (75 A321neo + 27 A321XLR); Frontier: 91 aircraft (A321neo); Volaris: 39 aircraft (A321neo); JetSMART: 23 aircraft (21 A321neo + 2 A321XLR); In addition to this order, Volaris and JetSMART will upconvert 38 A320neo to A321neo from their existing aircraft backlogs. “This order reaffirms our portfolio airlines’ commitment to consistent growth through the next decade. The Airbus A321neo and A321XLR have industry-leading efficiency, low unit costs and a substantially reduced carbon footprint relative to prior models. With these aircraft, Wizz, Frontier, Volaris and JetSMART will continue to offer low fares, stimulate the markets they serve and improve their industry-leading sustainability profile,” said Bill Franke, managing partner of Indigo Partners. By the end of October 2021, the A320neo Family had totalled more than 7,550 orders from 122 customers since its launch in 2010. Indigo Partners LLC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a private equity fund focused on worldwide investments in air transportation.
Pratt & Whitney engine for new Legenda 550/570, Jet Aviation MRO: Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, and NIMBUS Aerospace announced that the PT6A-67T engine has been selected to power the next generation of Antonov-2 single-engine civil-certified aircraft for commercial use, the Legenda 550 and 570, designed by NIMBUS. NIMBUS is an aeronautical company that designs and manufactures innovative Antonov-2 retrofits and next-generation composite civil aircraft. This program will seek to deliver more than 100 aircraft that will operate in Russia, with plans for international deliveries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, among others. The next-generation Antonov-2 is set to launch in 2022 as a commercial 12-passenger civil/commercial 5.7T regional aircraft. The new aircraft will operate on Russia’s northern regional routes where extreme cold is commonplace and in remote locations such as Yakutia. The PT6A engine operates reliably in temperature extremes and can land and take off from undeveloped runways. Pratt & Whitney Canada also announced it has appointed five new Designated Maintenance Facilities (DMFs) to serve customers in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Switzerland. Providing line maintenance and mobile repair services, the new DMFs are all maintenance facilities owned and operated by Jet Aviation. The new DMFs are: Jet Aviation Singapore, Singapore (PW308A/C, PW307A/D, PT6A-21/-28/-135A/-41/-42/-52/-60A/-67A/-65B/-67D/-64/-66D, JT15D-5/5R, PW305B, PW617F-E, PW535E); Jet Aviation Cairns, Cairns, Australia, (PW120, PW121/A, PW127E, PW123B/C/D/E, PW150A, PW118A/B, PT6A- 21/-27/-28/-135A/-41/-42/-52/-60A/-67A/-65B/67D/-64/-66D/-114/-114A/, JT15D-4/-5A/D5); Jet Aviation Hong Kong, Lantau, Hong Kong (PW308C, PW307A); Jet Aviation Manila, Pasay City, Philippines (PT6A-114/A, JT15D-5A, JT15D-D, PW207D, PW207D1/D2, PT6A-21/28/135A, PT6A-41/42/52, PT6A-60A/67A, PT6A-65B/67D); Jet Aviation Basel, Basel, Switzerland, (PW305A, PW307A, PW307D, PW308C).
Salam Air, CFM sign support deal: Salam Air and CFM International finalised an engine maintenance agreement coupled with the acquisition of spare engines. Salam Air, the first low-cost carrier in the Sultanate of Oman, began scheduled domestic operations in January 2017 and has since expanded to serve more than 32 destinations around the Middle East, Africa, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Turkey, among others. The airline operates a fleet of seven CFM LEAP-1A-powered Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with plans to introduce an additional A321neo in 2022. “We have been with Salam Air since the beginning and it has been a privilege to watch them grow so quickly and so successfully,” said Philippe Couteaux, vice president of sales and marketing for CFM International. “We appreciate the continued trust they have placed in people and our products and look forward to the continued expansion of our relationship in the future.”
GE Aviation signs deal with flyadeal for CFM56-5B services: Low-cost carrier flyadeal, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, has signed a seven-year TrueChoice Overhaul agreement during the Dubai Airshow to cover CFM56-5B engines that power its 11 A320-200 aircraft fleet. The TrueChoice Overhaul agreement provides time and material required to overhaul flyadeal’s fleet of CFM56-5B engines. As part of the agreement, GE Aviation provided flyadeal an end-to-end engine management solution, combining engine overhaul services along with logistics for engine removals, changes and leases. Previously, the cost and logistics of engine removal, delivery and collection was the responsibility of the airline or lessor customer. The company’s turnkey approach means these logistics will be handled by GE and its suppliers. GE Aviation is providing flyadeal integrated overhaul and engine change services through Caerdav, an independent aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider that is a GE vendor in this agreement.
Etihad Airways, Lufthansa Technik to collaborate on digital ops: Etihad Airways and Lufthansa Technik have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a comprehensive partnership on the exploration of digital solutions that is set to further optimise the airline’s technical fleet and operations management. The field of cooperation will encompass several products from Lufthansa Technik’s AVIATAR digital operations suite. Focusing on digital and sustainable tech-ops, it covers the use of Fuel Analytics, Condition Monitoring and automated Line Maintenance Planning in the beginning. To further boost its fuel efficiency and hence reach its sustainability goals, Etihad will be one of the first airlines to take advantage of AVIATAR’s innovative Fuel Analytics app. With the help of artificial intelligence and by the use of full flight data, Fuel Analytics provides Etihad with the transparency needed to identify any unusual fuel consumption. The interconnection between fuel efficiency and technical as well as operational events enables an automated root cause identification of degrading aircraft efficiency, clearly distinguished from operational factors like weather or navigation. In addition, AVIATAR Fuel Analytics can identify the effects of aircraft modifications on fuel consumption. Based on these insights, Etihad can then perform the needed measures to keep their fleet flying efficiently. This helps the airline twofold, by saving fuel and by reducing emissions.
ATR signs deals with Binter, TAROM: ATR and Binter Canarias have signed a deal for a firm order for four ATR 72-600 aircraft, with an option for a further one. The deal marks the final step in Binter’s plan to replace its remaining ATR 72-500 aircraft with the latest-generation ATR. Rodolfo Nunez President of Binter Canarias said: “Ever since its first delivery ATR aircraft had an immediate and enduring impact on our operations. The ATR 72-600 has become our flagship aircraft and with 23 of them in our fleet, upon the completion of these deliveries, it provides the backbone of air connectivity throughout the Canary Islands. This deal for five aircraft represents a significant investment but it will ensure that the many benefits, such as supporting local businesses and facilitating easier transport for locals and tourists alike, will continue.” ATR also announced that TAROM has signed a firm order to acquire three ATR 72-600 as part of a continuation of its fleet modernisation which began in 2019. The deal will also see the airline upscale its ATR 42-500 fleet to the larger 72-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft, offering more capacity and welcoming passengers into the comfort of the latest generation ATR Armonia cabin. TAROM Chief Executive Officer Catalin Prunariu said: “Having been an ATR pilot, I have witnessed first-hand, the importance of the connectivity that they provide. They are an essential link to communities all over Romania. As a CEO, I also see the value of their efficiency and flexibility. When we began to modernise our fleet, it made perfect sense to choose the ATR and as this mission continues while the world looks to recover from the challenging backdrop of the global pandemic, airlines need to have the most efficient aircraft possible. We are sure that ATR is the right choice, now and for the future.”
Royal Jordanian signs MRO deal with Lufthansa Technik: Royal Jordanian, the national airline of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Lufthansa Technik have signed an agreement regarding comprehensive component maintenance for the airline’s entire Airbus A320 family fleet. Over a period of five years, Lufthansa Technik will provide its Total Component Support (TCS) including spares support, parts pooling and homebase support services for a total of five A319s, six A320s and two A321s. In line with TCS, Lufthansa Technik’s experts will take care of all aspects of supplying Royal Jordanian’s fleet with components, from initial provisioning studies and home base allocation at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport to repair and overhaul, troubleshooting, documentation and engineering services. This comprehensive spectrum of services will ensure Royal Jordanian highest aircraft availability while avoiding a big capital investment for their own dedicated spare-parts inventory. As a customised service package, TCS is exactly tailored to the airline’s specific requirements. The new TCS contract builds on a previous agreement in which Lufthansa Technik provided component MRO for Royal Jordanian since 2017. In 2019, the two partners also extended their collaboration to components of the CFM56 turbofan engine. Royal Jordanian’s A320 family fleet also relies on Lufthansa Technik for overhauls of its landing gear.
Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries, Leonardo sign MRO pact: Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) and Leonardo announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), that will strengthen the level of maintenance services for the growing fleet of AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through this MOA, SAEI will enter a qualification process to be recognised as a Leonardo Authorised Service Centre in country for the bestselling AW139 model and will deliver basic maintenance for the type. The MOA also includes the addition of the AW169 helicopter and the AW609 TiltRotor in the future. “We are delighted to be appointed as the first authorised Leonardo service centre in the KSA for Leonardo’s AW139, AW169, and AW609 types,” said Captain Fahd Hamzh Cynndy, CEO of SAEI. “I am confident that our industry-leading capabilities will provide airline owners and operators with easy access to reliable, cost-effective and timely services, enabling them to achieve enhanced safety and efficiency while offering superior passenger connectivity and convenience.” This MOA demonstrates Leonardo’s long-term commitment to the region and aligns to Leonardo’s focus on stronger support services and proximity. Enhanced services will help maximise the helicopter fleet’s mission effectiveness and safety for the benefit of operators, crews and the served communities.
Embraer improves MRO for bizjets: Embraer Services & Support announced maintenance programme improvements for the Legacy 600, Legacy 650, and Lineage 1000 business jets. For the Legacy 650 and Legacy 600, Embraer has eliminated the need for an intermediate stop for low utilisation customers, which means the inspection package of tasks to be performed every six months, named LU6, is now extended to an annual inspection (LU12 package). For the Lineage 1000, Embraer has eliminated the requirement to remove the forward auxiliary fuel tanks during the 48-month check, doubling the interval to the 96-month check. This upgrade represents a remarkable improvement in the Lineage 1000 Maintenance Programme, increasing aircraft availability and reducing maintenance costs. Both improvements are the result of an analysis review and optimisation process applied to fleet field data, which is collected with the help of the Service Centres Network. It also reinforces Embraer’s commitment to providing continuous maintenance program improvement, to both the customers and operators as an after-sales support. The Lineage 1000 is an ultra-large private jet based on the successful E190 commercial aircraft platform. After its entry-into-service in 2009, Embraer launched a new variant in 2013, the Lineage 1000E, and today the aircraft is operated all over the world. Currently, these models represent a total of 291 aircraft that fly around the world. Of this total, 157 are Legacy 600s, 108 are Legacy 650s, and 26 are Lineage 1000s.
Emirates-CAE deploy a second Boeing 737 MAX FFS, CAE expanding Bombardier training: Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT), the joint venture between Emirates and CAE, announced that it is expanding its pilot training capacity in Dubai. ECFT will deploy a second CAE 7000XR Series Boeing 737 MAX full-flight simulator (FFS) by the end of 2022 to support flydubai’s future fleet growth. “To meet flydubai’s growth plans, we continue to elevate our customer offerings and expand our training programs,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. “We pride ourselves in developing high-technology training solutions and in providing customers a great experience with convenient training programs available near them. As their training partner of choice, we look forward to continuing to support flydubai and other customers in the region.” CAE also announced it is expanding its pilot training capacity in the Middle East and will deploy a new Bombardier Global 6500 full-flight simulator (FFS) to the Emirates-CAE Flight Training Centre (ECFT) in Dubai. The brand-new CAE Bombardier Global 6500 business jet FFS will be ready for training in 2023 at the ECFT centre in Al Garhoud, Dubai. This will be CAE’s second Bombardier Global 6500 FFS as part of its current ATP agreement with Bombardier. CAE already offers Global 6500 aircraft training at CAE’s Montreal training centre.
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