PHILIPPINES: AirSwift Acquires Brand New ATR 72-600

Aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), confirmed it delivered one brand-new ATR 72-600 (MSN 1440), to Philippines’ AirSwift.

The airline is adding one new aircraft a year to its current fleet of three ATR-42 600s, all of them leased via NAC.

AirSwift is the first airline in the Philippines to operate the ATR 42-600 series.

Previously, the carrier used to operate two ATR 42-500s before it finally received the ATR 42-600s.

NAC is the largest owner and lessor of ATR aircraft in the globe.

With the new addition to Philippines’ boutique commercial airline, AirSwift will expand its network in 2018 to operate direct flights from El Nido, Puerto Princesa, Coron (Busuanga), and Bohol (Tagbilaran).

AirSwift will also launch flights from Manila to Sicogon, which is seen as one of the country’s new tourism hotspots.

This new route is a commitment the company made to support the growth of inter-island tourism in the Philippines, according to the airline.

Currently, NAC has 70 airline customers in 47 countries, such as British Airways, Air Canada, LOT, Azul, Lufthansa, Garuda, Flybe, Aeroméxico, and airBaltic, as well as regional carriers including Air Nostrum, Widerøe, and Binter.

Its current fleet of 400 aircraft includes ATR 42, ATR 72, Bombardier Dash 8, CRJ900, CRJ1000, CS300, E170, E175, E190, and E195.

AirSWIFT formerly Island Transvoyager is a Filipino-owned regional boutique airline company with a permit to operate domestic scheduled and non-scheduled air transportation services.

It also serves the aircraft transportation requirements of its affiliated company, El Nido Resorts.

Founded in 2002 as Island Transvoyager, the company had three Dornier 228 aircraft.

All of these were retired by early 2013 and replaced by ATR 42-600s.

Ayala Capital Corporation acquired ownership of ITI in 2012.

In October 2015, Island Transvoyager rebranded as AirSWIFT. Currently, AirSWIFT has daily flights from El Nido to Manila and Cebu.

The company operates El Nido Airport, a private airport at El Nido, Palawan which serves as its hub.

AirSWIFT serves the following destinations within the Philippines:

- Malay, Aklan Godofredo P. Ramos Airport

- Cebu City, Mactan-Cebu International Airport

- Clark Freeport Zone, Clark International Airport

- El Nido, Palawan, El Nido Airport

- Manila, Ninoy Aquino International Airport

- Basco, Batanes, Basco Airport

- Puerto Princesa, Puerto Princesa International Airport

- Busuanga, Busuanga Airport

AirSWIFT fleet consists of the following aircraft:

- ATR 42-600 - 3

- ATR 72-600 - 1

- Total - 4

AirSWIFT has the following orders:

- ATR 42-600 - 1

- ATR 72-600 - 1

- Total - 2

AirSWIFT owns and operates the following airports:

- El Nido Airport

- Sicogon Airport

Tourism Observer

CHINA: China's HNA Group Acquires 23.7% Stake In Brazil's Azul

Hainan Airlines
Type: Scheduled Carrier
Base: Haikou
Aircraft: 162
Destinations: 85
Routes: 299
Daily Flights: 605

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, Campinas Viracopos) and HNA Group have announced a strategic partnership wherein the Chinese conglomerate will acquire a 23.7% stake in the Brazilian carrier for USD450 million. As Azul's single largest shareholder, HNA will be able to appoint new members to the board of directors.

“HNA Group sees in Azul a solid investment with high growth potential. The USD450 million investment, considering Brazil’s current macroeconomic situation, demonstrates that we have a winning business model and that the HNA Group, as a large investor, has absolute confidence in Azul’s team," David Neeleman, CEO of Azul, said. "Moreover, this investment makes Azul the airline with the highest valuation in the Brazilian market, at more than BRL7.0 billion (USD1.87 billion).”

As part of the deal, the two firms will cooperate in the development of code sharing and new routes while expanding cooperation across their respective loyalty programs.

The partnership brings together two of the largest players in two of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world - China and Brazil. With a fleet of 145 aircraft, Azul is the largest airline in Brazil by network-size, offering more than 900 daily flights to more than 100 destinations. For its part, HNA Group owns China's fourth largest airline group in terms of fleet size with a total of 561 aircraft on the books of Hainan Airlines, Grand China Air, Tianjin Airlines, Lucky Air (China), West Air (China), and Yangtze River Express. It operates scheduled domestic and international service on more than 630 routes from locations throughout China as well as internationally. HNA Group's international portfolio includes stakes in myCargo Airlines (Turkey), Africa World Airlines (Ghana), Aigle Azur (France), and Comair (South Africa).

Bravia Capital and UBS Investment Bank served as financial advisor to HNA Group while Seabury Securities LLC, Seabury Group's investment banking unit, served as financial advisor to Azul.

Earlier this year, United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) acquired a 5% shareholding in Azul for USD100 million in a deal that also gave United Continental Holdings Inc a representative on Azul's board.

JAMAICA: Karisma Hotels & Resorts to Build Nine Jamaica Hotels

Karisma Hotels & Resorts officials joined members of the Jamaica Tourist Board Tuesday to provide details of the all-inclusive resort company’s earlier announced expansion across the highly popular Caribbean destination. The company will build nine hotels — representing more than 4,000 rooms — over the next decade, said Ruben Becerra, Karisma's vice president for corporate affairs and business development.

Becerra said Karisma is already spending $45 million to build Azul Seven, a 149-room resort in Jamaica’s Negril district. The property will be adjacent to Azul Sensatori, which opened last year.

The new properties will be located in the Llandovery district of St. Ann parish on Jamaica’s north coast. Becerra said Llandovery encompasses 228 acres and “has access to more than a mile of pristine beachfront.” He said the company will spend $900 million on the “eight to 10 year project.” The hotels will include several brands with the first to debut in 2017-2018. Karisma brands include Azul, El Dorado, Allure, Adriatic Beach and Generation Villas.

Becerra revealed “Increase of airlift is also a part of the master plan.” He added, “We are extremely excited to continue working and growing alongside the people of Jamaica, and we remain committed to further enhancing the already bourgeoning tourism industry here."

He said the Azul Sensatori “was sold out for the entire year less than a month after opening,” leading the company to expand the resort with an additional 149 suites.

“Jamaica continues to attract some of the world’s leading hotel brands, and Karisma’s latest announcement is a testament to that,” said Paul Pennicook, Jamaica’s tourism director. “We are very optimistic for our island nation to remain highly coveted by the travel and tourism community.”