Aviation News in Brief 20 April 2020

BOC Aviation reaches milestones with 1,000 lease commitments, deals for 900 aircraft: BOC Aviation said it has achieved two milestones with 1,000 lease commitments and commitments to purchase more than 900 aircraft since inception. Robert Martin, managing director and CEO, said: “We are extremely proud to celebrate these two achievements in our 27th year of operation, which are testaments to our company’s long and successful history. Attaining these milestones reflects our disciplined investment and counter-cyclical strategy, which have contributed to long-term sustainable returns as we purchase aircraft at competitive prices and place them on long-term leases. To date, we have committed to purchase more than 900 aircraft and signed over 1,000 lease commitments with more than 160 airlines in 57 countries and regions.” BOC Aviation has a fleet of 567 aircraft owned, managed and on order. Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 92 airlines worldwide in 40 countries and regions as of 31 March. BOC Aviation is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Singapore with offices in Dublin, London, New York and Tianjin. Etihad catering arm provides meals for people impacted by virus: Etihad Airport Services Catering has been commissioned by various government entities, business organisations and community centres to prepare and provide meals to individuals impacted by the global spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. The facility has been selected to support these initiatives due to its stringent food handling procedures. Andrew Caines, general manager of the catering unit, said: “The capabilities of EAS Catering’s in-house food laboratory means we have direct oversight on the effectiveness of COVID-19 safety measures. We increased microbiological swabbing of surfaces and hands in order to validate disinfection and hand washing efforts, which are direct indicators of virus viability.” Since the start of the pandemic, EAS Catering has cooked and delivered over 15,000 meals a day to people self-isolating or under quarantine, frontline medical staff, humanitarian drives and for various businesses across the capital. EAS Catering is also delivering amenities and providing a laundry service for Etihad employees living in temporary isolation at Masdar City so as to operate essential freighter and repatriation flights. These include loadmasters, cargo agents, pilots and cabin crew. In addition, Etihad crew living in company provided accommodation and requiring a meal delivery service are also being catered for free of charge. Cortec unveils corrosion prevention plan for grounded aircraft: As hundreds of aircrafts remain grounded due to plummeting air travel demand amid pandemic restrictions, the question becomes: How can airlines preserve as much value as possible while high-dollar assets sit idle for an indefinite period? To address this critical need, Cortec Corporation has designed an aircraft preservation guide based on the practical advantages of VpCI Technology. VpCI Technology protects by forming a molecular corrosion  inhibiting layer on metal surfaces to which it is directly applied (contact-phase protection). In many cases, it also encompasses vapor-phase action by which Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors diffuse through the air to deliver protection to all exposed metal surfaces within a void space, even those to which they are not directly applied. This is particularly useful for airplane internals such as cockpits, baggage compartments, passenger seating areas, and electronic systems, where VpCI molecules can be used to condition entire enclosures with a protective atmosphere. VpCI preservation does not require continuous monitoring and, in many cases, eliminates or reduces the need to remove preservation materials upon commissioning. Jetstar Asia restarting some flights: Jetstar Asia announced it will reintroduce a number of services to Southeast Asian ports with the aim to create essential travel links and assist with freight in the region. As of Tuesday 21 April, Jetstar Asia will operate the following temporary network, which includes five return services from Singapore to Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur: These services are only available to citizens and permanent residents who are returning home, or those with prior written approval for travel. On board, passenger numbers will be reduced to allow for safe distancing and onboard services will be scaled back with only water being served during the flight. In line with new circuit-breaker measures introduced by the Singapore Government, all passengers will be required to wear a mask, at all times. Crew members will also utilise masks and PPE in accordance with guidelines. Customers can book at jetstar.com or through travel agents and trade partners. All travellers are encouraged to check relevant travel restrictions currently in place and reminded that various quarantine restrictions may apply on arrival at their destination. Travel vouchers cannot be redeemed for these flights. Download the latest issue of Asian Aviation here.