Short Takes
May 6th 2016
MANUFACTURERS: Airbus has gained A350-900 extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) approval from the FAA for routes requiring diversion times exceeding 180 minutes. Read More » Bombardier has posted a consolidated first-quarter net loss of $138 million, reversed from a consolidated $100 million net profit in the year-ago period, on 8.5% decreased revenues to 616 million. However, in better news, it has secured a firm order from Delta Air Lines for 75 CS100s (plus 50 options), and the Canadian government has signalled it might agree to a bailout for Bombardier after all. CFM International has been awarded FAA and EASA type certification for its LEAP-1B engine, the exclusive power plant for the B737 MAX series, paving the way for entry into service in 2017. Embraer has reported a consolidated net profit of $106 million for the first quarter, reversing a $58.9 million net loss in the year-ago period, as revenues grew 24% year-on-year to 1.31 billion, despite operating expenses having gone up 30.1%.
MRO: Airbus has signed a contract with Cathay Pacific Airways for flight hour services (FHS) components support for the carrier’s 48-on-order A350s. The agreement further includes integrated material services where the purchasing and planning of the airline’s A350 expendables inventories are outsourced to Satair Group, Airbus’ materials management subsidiary.
ROUTES: Air Arabia will add a third daily Sharjah-Karachi A320 service from July 18. AirAsia X will increase frequency on the Kuala Lumpur-Osaka A330-300 service from daily to nine-weekly commencing June 20. Air Canada will launch a seasonal thrice-weekly Vancouver-Delhi B787-9 route from October 20, and it will increase frequency on the Toronto-Delhi B787-9 route from four-weekly to daily starting October 30. EgyptAir will increase frequency on the Cairo-Guangzhou B777-300ER route from five-weekly to daily from July 11. Emirates Airline will add a third daily Dubai-Cape Town B777-300ER rotation beginning July 4, and it will add a seventh daily Dubai-Bangkok frequency from July 1. EVA Air will launch a four-weekly Taipei-Chicago B777-300ER route beginning November 2, and it will boost frequency on the Taipei-JFK route from ten-weekly to double daily starting October 3. Garuda Indonesia will launch a daily Medan-Singapore B737-800 rotation starting June 14. Hong Kong Airlines has boosted frequency on the Hong Kong-Beijing A330-200/300 route from 21- to 27-daily. Jin Air will add a twice daily Incheon-Narita B737-800 operation from July 1. Lucky Air will launch a thrice-weekly Kunming-Kota Kinabalu A320 route beginning June 29, followed by a thrice-weekly Kunming-Bangkok service from July 8. Malindo Air has increased frequency on the Kuala Lumpur-Dhaka B737 route from daily to twelve-weekly. Qatar Airways will deploy the A380 on the Doha-Guangzhou route from July 1, and the Doha-Sydney route from September 15, replacing the B777-300ER, respectively. Sichuan Airlines has launched twice-weekly Sanya-Danang, and thrice-weekly Sanya-Ho Chi Minh, A320 operations. Thai Lion Air plans to launch double daily Don Mueang-Yangon B737-800 operations later this month. T’Way Airlines will add a four-weekly Incheon-Qingdao B737-800 route from May 13, followed by a thrice-weekly Incheon-Wenzhou B737-800 service from May 17.
