Aviation News in Brief 9 Jan 2020

AviaAM Financial Leasing China Acquires Boeing 737-800: AviaAM Leasing announced that its joint venture with the Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company (HNCA) – AviaAM Financial Leasing China – has recently acquired a Boeing 737-800. The aircraft joined the fleet with a lease agreement attached to the current Chinese lessee – Donghai Airlines, who will operate the aircraft under a nine-year agreement. AviaAM Leasing, a subsidiary company of Avia Solutions Group, is a global aviation holding company engaged in commercial aircraft acquisition, leasing, reconfiguration and sales. The company specialises in mainline narrowbody, widebody and business jets. CAVA chairman gains accreditation for ISTAT status: China Aviation Valuation Advisors (CAVA) and its sister companies Asia Aviation Valuation and Korea Valuation Aviation Advisors, announced that the company’s chairman, David Yu, has received his accreditation as a Senior International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Certified Aviation Appraiser. He is the first senior appraiser based in China and north Asia and one of approximately 20 senior appraisers globally. In addition to ISTAT certified appraisers, CAVA has ASA certified appraisers and other valuation analysts within its team. CAVA group is an advisory firm offering asset and enterprise valuation reports, transaction and asset advisory, market intelligence, and support services to investors, lessors and airlines across the Greater China region. The company currently has offices in Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai and has local sister companies in Hong Kong (Asia Aviation Valuation Advisors) and Seoul, Korea (Korea Aviation Valuation Advisors). Amadeus and Air India sign new distribution agreement: Amadeus and Air India said they have signed a new distribution agreement that will allow agents access to the airline’s full international content. Amadeus said it has signed a number of “strategic deals” in India in recent months, with Air India added to a list of airlines that include Spice Jet and Vistara. Both Indigo and Go Air also have their IT agreements with Navitaire, an Amadeus company. In addition, Amadeus has strategic partnerships with some of the largest travel sellers in India, such as MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Yatra, and PayTM; and some of the major hotel groups and aggregators in India such as Oberoi, Taj, ITC Hotels and The Leela Palaces. BOC Aviation orders 20 new A320s: BOC Aviation said it has 20 new Airbus A320neo aircraft. A minimum of 10 and up to 12 of these A320neo aircraft have been committed for lease to Avianca in Bogota, Colombia. “We are delighted to establish a relationship with BOC Aviation, who are one of the world’s foremost lessors, and we sincerely value the confidence they are showing in Avianca and the support to our long term plan,” said Adrian Neuhauser, CFO of Avianca. Singapore Airlines adds services to Kolkata: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will introduce a fifth weekly flight to Kolkata, India, from 29 March 2020. On the same day, the airline’s regional wing SilkAir will cease services to the city. Currently, SIA operates four weekly flights and SilkAir operates three weekly flights to Kolkata. SIA’s Kolkata services will continue to be operated by the Airbus A350-900 medium haul aircraft, which is equipped with the Airline’s latest regional cabin products for Business Class and Economy Class. China Airlines to grow SE Asia network: Due to the strong outlook of the Southeast Asia travel market, China Airlines is following up on the launch of its first Cebu service in March by adding four weekly direct flights to Chiang Mai from 23 June. The Taipei (Taoyuan) – Chiang Mai route will be flown by Boeing 738 aircraft with a total seating capacity of 158. Flights will depart every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. The city is known for its  architecture due to its many heritage sites and temples. China Airlines is continuing to expand its global network by targeting European, American and Oceania travellers transiting through Taiwan, as well as the increasing popularity of self-guided tours among Taiwanese travellers. APERTUS Aviation adds Gulfstream G200: Hong Kong-based APERTUS Aviation, a private jet charter consultancy, has been appointed as exclusive charter representative for one Gulfstream G200 business jet, now available in China. After months of research it has shown the global demand on private jet charter in flying domestic in China is growing. This cooperation sees APERTUS, which provides high-level charter management services in Asia, working in collaboration with Beijing Mayboune General Aviation in offering a world-class and reliable experience to clients from across the world. OSM Aviation Academy to train eFlyer pilots: Quantum Air and OSM Aviation Group announced that Quantum has chosen OSM Aviation Academy as a preferred pilot training partner pursuant to a comprehensive agreement. A Quantum-branded pilot training programme will be established at OSM Aviation Academy and the agreement includes a commitment by OSM to refer a steady supply of pilots trained to FAA commercial standards. Quantum Air has committed to providing tuition reimbursement for select OSM cadets. OSM Aviation and Quantum have both placed large orders for the eFlyer all-electric aircraft from Bye Aerospace in Denver, Colorado. Spirit Airlines finalises order for 100 Airbus A320neo aircraft: Spirit Airlines has finalised a purchase agreement with Airbus for 100 A320neo aircraft. In October, the two parties had signed and announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the purchase of up to 100 of the aircraft – a mix of A319neo, A320neo, and A321neo – to meet the airline’s future fleet requirements. Spirit is based in southern Florida and is the fastest-growing airline in the United States, with flights throughout the US, Latin America and the Caribbean. The airline will announce an engine selection at a later date. Magnetic MRO launches a leasing arm, announces SAS deal: Magnetic MRO and Crestline Investments, a US institutional alternative investment management firm, have announced the launch of a joint venture company that will focus on long and short-term aviation asset management and leasing – Magnetic Leasing. The recently established JV specialises in mid-life Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 CL/NG, as well as engines and landing gear systems for narrowbody aircraft. By the end of 2020, Magnetic Leasing expects to have a portfolio worth US$100 million under its management. Currently, Magnetic Leasing already manages an asset portfolio that includes Airbus A320s,  Boeing 737 NG and Boeing 737 CL aircraft, as well as CFM56-3, CFM56-5B, CFM56-7B, V2500-A5, RB211-535 engines and multiple Airbus A320s and Boeing 737 NG/CL landing gear sets. Magnetic MRO also said that SAS has extended the Base Maintenance agreement for Base Maintenance service for the airline’s A320neo fleet. The original contract between two companies was been signed in December 2017 and recently has been prolonged until 2023 and consists of maintenance visits of 56 airplanes.