IRAN: Air India Cockpit Window Cracks As It Lands In Iran

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has now been grounded and a relief plane, a Boeing 747, has been sent from Mumbai to ferry the passengers to Delhi.

A crack in the main cockpit window forced an Air India plane from Frankfurt to Delhi to land mid-way in Tehran this morning.

AI 120 Frankfurt-Delhi plane landed at Tehran at 6.20 AM as a precautionary measure, according to the airline spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar.

There were 249 passengers onboard the aircraft.

The main window in front of the pilot developed cracks.This happened because of malfunctioning of the internal heating system, said an airline official on the condition of anonymity.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has now been grounded and a relief plane, a Boeing 747, has been sent from Mumbai to ferry the passengers to Delhi, Kumar said.

The plane will also carry a team of technical and engineering staff to make the repairs to the grounded aircraft.


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CHINA: Xiamen Airlines Makes 200th Aircraft With First Boeing 737 MAX

Xiamen Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, expanding its fleet to 200 aircraft.

The airline passed the first milestone of 100 planes in 2013 and has continued to grow by adding roughly 20 aircraft per year, now doubling the size of its fleet within five years.

After gorwing its fleet to 100 airplanes in 2013, Xiamen Airlines accelerated its expansion move into international markets.

The airline bought the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in August 2014 and launched the first intercontinental flight, between Xiamen and Amsterdam, in July 2015.

Over the following two years, the airline launched 10 intercontinental flights to cities across Europe, North America and Oceania, including Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York, Seattle, Sydney and Vancouver.

All the intercontinental flights are now serviced by Boeing 787 aircraft.

In the last 5 years the airline's operating profits have increased year-by-year, reporting gross profits exceeding 10 billion Yuan (approx. US$1.5 billion).

The airline has now been profitable for 31 consecutive years, reflecting the rapid growth, and huge potential, in China's civil aviation industry.

Over the past five years, the US, Europe and China recorded an average annual growth rate of roughly 4%, 6% and 10% in civil aviation passenger volume, respectively, while Xiamen Airlines experienced an average growth rate of 15%.

With a white egret logo on its tail fin, the latest model of the Boeing 737 family started its maiden trip for Xiamen Airlines on a direct air route from southeast China's Xiamen to the eastern city of Shanghai.

Born in 1984 in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone, Xiamen Airlines is the epitome of China's surging civil aviation amid the country's reform and opening, said Che Shanglun, chairman with Xiamen Airlines.

The airline has achieved total profits of 10 billion yuan (about 1.57 billion U.S. dollars). It has also celebrated 31 consecutive years of profitability.

It's a milestone of Xiamen Airlines to become a big carrier with the 200th aircraft joining the fleet, said Che, adding that the airline doubled its fleet from 100 to 200 in less than four and a half years.

Boeing has had a very special relationship with Xiamen Airlines in the past three decades.

Now it receives its 737 MAX, which will surely make it more profitable," said Kevin McAllister, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

With the delivery of this aircraft, we hope it begins the next chapter of our long-term relationship, he said.

As the latest member of the Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft family, the 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing's history.

Boeing has gotten more than 4,500 orders from nearly 100 customers worldwide.

The 737 MAX boasts advanced technology winglets and LEAP-1B engines, which contribute to its reduced fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions compared to the single-aisle airplanes it replaces.

In 2017, Boeing delivered a record high of 202 new aircraft to China, representing its sixth consecutive year of more than 140 deliveries to the country, according to Boeing China.

Boeing's global deliveries of commercial aircraft reached 763 in 2017, with those to China making up 26 percent.

Now, each one of three Boeing narrow-body 737 family aircraft is made for the Chinese customers.

China's surging aviation industry has been creating great opportunities for global companies, especially U.S. giants and many enterprises on the extensive industrial chain, said insiders in the aviation industry.

As an air carrier of all-Boeing fleet, Xiamen Airlines uses the fleet of 737s, 757s, and 787 Dreamliners to expand its airline network home and abroad, including ten transcontinental air routes.

Che announced that the airline has set a target to expand its Boeing fleet to 560 by 2035, similar to the current fleet size of the country's biggest carrier, China Southern Airlines


Tourism Observer

BAHRAIN: Gulf Air Acquires First 787 Dreamliner

Boeing and Gulf Air celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The airplane also debuts the carrier’s new livery.

This delivery is a historic moment for Gulf Air and Bahrain and yet another important step in our strategic direction towards furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process and supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies, said Kresimir Kucko, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air.

The 787-9 Dreamliner orders will ensure we maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region while building upon our award-winning reliability, on time performance and product and service standards, Kucko said.

Gulf Air is set to take delivery of four more Dreamliners this year.

The airline plans to introduce the 787 on its twice-daily service between Bahrain and London Heathrow before deploying the long-range efficient jet on other routes.

Gulf Air joins the growing number of airlines operating the 787 Dreamliner across the Middle East, said Marty Bentrott, Vice President, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Africa.

The demand for the Dreamliner underlines the operational efficiency and travel experience that the airplane brings to the airline and its passengers.

Boeing has delivered more than 670 787s since deliveries began in 2011.

The 787 fleet has flown more than 240 million passengers while saving over 23 billion pounds of fuel and enabling airlines to open more than 180 new nonstop routes around the world.

The first Gulf Air 787 painted in the airline’s new livery recently flew a special mission to the airline’s home base to perform a fly pass over the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Formula 1 race fans were treated to a dramatic aerial display prior to the start of the championship race.


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OMAN: Oman Air To Phase Out Embraer 175 Jets And Replace With Dreamliner Or Airbus A350 Jets Before 2023

Around 9.8 million passengers are expected to fly with the airline this year

Oman Air is considering adding more flights to Asia, including to China and South Korea, but is delaying its break even date to beyond this year, its new chief executive said on Sunday.

The state-owned airline, which no longer relies on government funding, had earlier delayed its break even date from 2017 to this year.

It could now potentially break even in the next two to three years, Chief Executive Abdulaziz al-Raisi in Dubai. He later said it was difficult to set a date because stemming losses would partly depend on external factors.

Middle East air traffic has been disrupted in recent years by conflict in Iraq and Syria.

A political dispute in the Gulf since last June has also barred flights from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

Oman has remained neutral.

Raisi said he was concerned about escalating conflict after a warning this month for airlines to exercise caution in the eastern Mediterranean ahead of air strikes by the United States, Britain, and France on Syria.

Parts of the Middle East airspace are already congested and any changes to flight paths usually mean higher fuel costs and longer flying times for airlines.

Raisi, a 33-year Oman Air veteran, was appointed as CEO earlier on Sunday having held the position in an acting capacity since October.

He said the airline would focus on carrying more passengers to and from Oman.

We are not trying to compete with the three big ones, Raisi said, referring to the region’s biggest airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, which focus on connecting passengers through their Gulf hubs.

Oman Air could fly to more destinations in Asia from as soon as 2019 after starting flights to Istanbul, Casablanca, Moscow, and the Maldives this year, Raisi said at the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai.

Around 9.8 million passengers are expected to fly with the airline this year, up from 8.5 million, he added.

Oman Air intends to phase out its four Embraer 175 jets this year and will place a new order for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft or Airbus A350 jets before 2023 to replace its A330s, Raisi said.

He did not disclose how many jets they could order.

Oman Air already operates 787 Dreamliners.



Tourism Observer

KENYA: Sebastian Mikosz To Steamline And Make Profitable Kenya Airlines

Kenya Airways’ new chief executive Sebastian Mikosz is expected to increase its passenger numbers, further cut its operational costs, optimise its assets, review its networks, and reduce its dependency on shareholder bailouts.

The Polish national and aviation turnaround specialist is expected to push the national carrier towards self-sustenance in the short term, The EastAfrican has learnt.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said that the incoming chief executive got the job because of his strong aviation experience, reputation and record, which saw him turn around LOT Polish Airlines to profitability after years of government bailouts.

Kenya Airways is facing the same issues his previous airline did. We were impressed with his strategy, as KQ shares a similar challenge. He is up to the task,Mr Macharia said.

His credentials that got him the job. We will be banking on them to make a success out of our airline.

In him, we got the best candidate and his credentials will be a plus to our national carrier. We believe he has what it takes to navigate us back to profitability in the short term,Mr Macharia said.

Mr Mikosz is expected in Nairobi mid this month. He is reputed to be a cost management sleuth, a factor that KQ badly needs to come out of the red.

Kenya Airways needs $600 million to stay on a straight course.

Mr Mikosz was tapped twice, in 2009 and later again in 2013, by the Polish government to head the LOT Polish Airlines, in which the state has a 69.97 per cent stake.

LOT, like KQ today, was in the middle of a financial crisis, had lost its market share, faced a labour crisis and consistently posted losses, which threatened to send it into bankruptcy.

Within six years, in his two stints as the chief executive, he reduce the headcount, improved liquidity and changed the operations style cutting net losses to $42 million, from a massive $187 million.

But during his first stint at LOT, he faced opposition over his proposed workforce and salary cuts, while cutting down its dependence on government aid, and eventually quit after he failed to meet the government’s timelines in the turnaround plan.

The KQ board is pushing for a quick turnaround. In a previous interview, former board chairman Dennis Awori hinted at seeing the airline back to profitability in the next year or two, with a projected profit of $20 million.

We want him to do the turnaround in the shortest time possible as we have a great outlook for Kenya Airways, Mr Macharia said this week.

The incoming chief executive managed to convert the regional European airline into a long range carrier, optimising the use of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to achieve success.

He is now expected to replicate that with KQ, whose strength has been intra-Africa networks, where it has been pushing the long haul customers to its Sky Alliance partners, including its other shareholder KLM, through codeshare agreements.

We hope to start flights to the United States soon, and through his strategy, we should see more of such operations across the globe, farther in the Americas and East Asia, Mr Macharia said.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Mikosz said that he wanted as little government aid as possible for the Polish Airlines.

I am always not happy reaching out for government assistance. We want the aid to be as small as possible, so we are pushing ahead with cost cutting measures to squeeze as much savings as possible from all the aspects of our operations, he said.

Kenya Airways board chairman Michael Joseph said that outgoing CEO Mbuvi Ngunze will stay on as an advisor till the end of July.

UNITED KINGDOM: Norwegian Expands In The United Kingdom

Low-cost airline Norwegian is ready to take-off its biggest year ever, with the introduction of brand new aircraft, exclusive new routes – including its first long-haul flights outside the USA – and more affordable flights on the UK’s only direct low-cost transatlantic services.

Europe’s third largest low-cost airline will expand its young aircraft fleet with nine brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and launching Boeing’s latest aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX.

These new aircraft will unlock more affordable flights and never before seen routes while offering UK passengers, high-quality travel at great value. Norwegian last year, carried more than 4.5 million passengers from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham airports.

The fast growing airline launched more than 10 new routes from the UK, including routes to Boston, Oakland-San Francisco and Las Vegas on its award-winning USA flights at a time when Norwegian flew more than four million passengers to and from Gatwick for the first time in a single year.

NORWAY: Rolls-Royce, Norwegian Air Shuttle Sign $2.7 billion Engine Deal

Rolls-Royce announced a $2.7 billion contract to provide engines for 19 of budget carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Rolls-Royce said in a press release that the deal will provide Trent 1000 engines and a specialized “TotalCare” package that offers long-term maintenance of the engines.

Rolls-Royce said the order also includes TotalCare for Trent 1000 engines that will power 11 previously-announced leased Boeing 787s yet to enter service.

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said:

“This decision further develops our relationship with Rolls-Royce and we look forward to operating aircraft powered by the latest version of the Trent 1000, which sets new standards of performance.”

Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said:

“This is another significant decision in favour of the Trent 1000, an engine that delivers exceptional economics and performance. We continue to innovate and develop new services and it is great to see Norwegian selecting Availability Service Solutions for their TotalCare as part of this deal.”

Norwegian has option for ten additional aircraft and if confirmed, they will be equipped with Trent 1000 engines.

Ethiopian Airlines previously selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines and long-term TotalCare support, valued at $500m, to power the carrier’s six 787-8 Dreamliner airliners. In October, Israel’s flag carrier airline El Al selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which the airline ordered.

Norwegian Air Shuttle deal is positive news for Rolls-Royce, which has seen its share price tumble by more than a third over the last year.

Rolls-Royce is in the middle of a shake-up under new chief executive Warren East.

Etihad Airways Named Air Transport World’s Airline Of The Year 2016

Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates,waslast night named Airline of the Year 2016 by the prestigious US-based aviation industry publication Air Transport World (ATW).

Leading international industry publication honours Abu Dhabi carrier for its unique growth strategy.

Etihad Airways was chosen for the top honour by ATW’s editorial board in a highly contested competition, with entries from more than 100 airlines around the world. The award recognises Etihad Airways’ clearvision;its successful organic growth supplemented by a unique partnership strategy; its commercial focus which has delivered net profits in each of the last four years; the rapid growth of its highly motivated workforce; its development of innovative products and services, including The Residence by Etihad™; and the airline’s strong executive leadership.

Air Transport World Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker said: “I am absolutely delighted to recognise Etihad Airways as ATW’s Airline of the Year 2016. In a fiercely competitive market where much ends up looking the same, James Hogan and his team prove that you can set your airline apart through innovative thinking, creative customer products and a fierce adherence to delivering against a clear vision. I congratulate Etihad Airways for a most deserving achievement.”

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of the 27,000 employees of the Etihad Airways group around the world. I applaud their commitment, dedication and hard work in pursuit of our goal to be the world’s best airline.”

ATW’s Airline Industry Achievement Awards were created in 1974 to recognise excellence across a broad range of airline operations and are widely considered as the most coveted in the aviation industry. The magazine is based in the United States with an editorial team that reaches across the world.

News of the award was announced during a reception hosted in New York last nightby Etihad Airways to mark the arrival of its award-winning Airbus A380 daily service from Abu Dhabi to America’s financial capital.

Following a carefully planned strategy of organic growth and strategic investments in selected airlines around the world, Etihad Airways has rapidly developed into an airline of choice, setting benchmarks in service and hospitality, with innovation at the core of its business.

Etihad Airways was recognised by ATW’s editorial board for “fast but thoughtful growth, consistently delivering against its targets and always thinking ahead.” The airline was also applauded for its “excellent numbers on financials, cargo and safety”; its unique partnership strategy that was paying dividends; a willingness to be bold in equity tie-ups boosting the number over the past 12 months to include Etihad Regional and Alitalia;and its strategy of developing ground-breaking strategic contracts with suppliers.

ATWalso spoke highly of Etihad Airways’ “consistently diplomatic, dignified and assured response to attacks by US airlines on Gulf carriers” in which Etihad Airways had developed a powerful defence of its business model and strategy. ATW said Etihad Airways’ executive team, led by President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan, had maintained the high road and, in doing so, demonstrated industry leadership beyond the company mandate.

James Hogan added: “There have been attacks on our business model but we have chosen to let our service, our routes and our competitive offer do the talking.

“Etihad Airways is not about being the biggest – it is about being the best. It has been a long road to success but we have shown it is possible to change the aviation landscape. I thank ATW for this award, the most highly-regarded in our industry.”

Mr Hogan said Etihad Airways constantly shifted the goalposts in service and product offerings, as demonstrated by last week’s arrival of the airline’s first US service featuring its award-winning Airbus A380s, now flying to New York’s JFK International Airport. The A380, which made its US debut on 23 November, features The Residence by Etihad™ – the commercial airline industry’s only three-room suite with its own butler. And this week, Etihad Airways opened a new lounge for First and Business Class passengers at JFK International Airport – the airline’s second premium facility in the United States – reinforcing its commitment to investing in theguest travel experience on the ground.

Over the past 12 months, Etihad Airways also launched its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner – the first of 71 on order – and inducted the first of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft into its fleet.

A key part of Etihad Airways’ unique growth strategy has been to strike equity partnerships with other airlines. This year, it took a 49 per cent stake in Italian carrier Alitalia in a game-changing deal. This added to minority stakes in airberlin, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles and Etihad Regional.

The airline launched six new routes on three continents during 2015taking its global network of destinations to 116 with a fleet of 120 aircraft. More than 17 million guests are expected to travel on Etihad Airways by the end of 2015, up from almost 15 million last year, while the airline maintain sits focus on profitability.

Air Transport World is an authoritative monthly magazine serving the needs of the global airline and commercial air transport manufacturing communities. Its renowned editors have been nominated for nearly every major aviation journalism award available thanks to their balanced coverage of the airline industry and incisive reports on trends.

The Airline of the Year award will be presented at a Gala Dinner at the 42nd edition of the annual ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards taking place during the Singapore Air Show on 15 February 2016.

NIGERIA: Airlines Remit $5.57bn Yearly From Ticket Sales In Nigeria

More than 27 foreign airlines flying into Nigeria are remitting over $5.556 billion yearly from the sales of ticket, an aviation expert, Mr. Gbenga Olowo, president of Sabre Network (West Africa), has said. He noted that out of the 48,433 seats available in the international weekly flights from four airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, Arik Air controls only 3,889.

Olowo lamented that Nigeria had not been able to reciprocate traffic rights to most of the partnering countries. According to him, “this has resulted in huge negative balance of trade against Nigeria. This has brought about capital flight. It has put strong pressure on the naira by weakening the exchange rate.

This aids unemployment as Nigerian airlines’ growth remains stunted.” Olowo, who said that African Airlines had been regarded as too small, weak and fragmented, said that the option for them was to come out of the woods and merge or consolidate. The president urged the Federal Government to reverse all Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and the negative balance of trade.

He explained that the bilateral, multi-lateral, three layers of air services agreements and open skies agreement, which Nigeria entered into, had created a window of opportunity for foreign carriers to come to Nigeria from multiple points. Olowo said that the multiple points entry by foreign carriers had eroded the operational capacity of the domestic airlines. He noted the objective of the balance of trade had not been achieved.

In a paper he delivered at the 10th African Air Transport Safety & Security Summit, held in Accra, Ghana, with theme: “Building Strong Carriers in Africa: A case study of Nigeria,” Olowo explained that the era of stand-alone was no longer realistic as airlines all over the world are partnering, merging and consolidating to be profitable.

He added regional integration, bridging infra-structure gap (ICT, power, transport, water & sanitation) were the key to sustaining profitable airlines on the continent. Olowo stressed that Nigeria and, indeed, African airlines, must collaborate to succeed. He said: “Africa only holds about three per cent of passenger traffic and about two per cent of cargo in the global air transport equation.

The share of (the global) market African airlines have is diminishing. African airlines are mainly small, weak and under capitalised with poor management. “Twenty-five years ago, there were close to 50 African carriers that were members of International Air Transport Association (IATA); that number has now dwindled to about 20.

“Investments in fuel-efficient aircraft are among the reasons for a 1.7 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency the industry has seen lately.” He added that LAM Mozambique, Air Rwanda, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airways had embarked on aircraft modernization by acquiring new models , including the fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

MEXICO: President’s Dreamliner Arriving December, Cost $500 Million A Year To Lease, Operate And Maintain

Presidential plane

The president’s new plane, whose delivery has been delayed at least twice, will arrive in Mexico December 18, ready for service.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will replace a 1980s vintage Boeing 757. One of its significant advantages will be the ability to make transatlantic flights without stopping for fuel.

Although the Secretariat of Defense advised that the plane’s cost would be US $125.45 million, the Finance Secretariat offers rather higher figures that include an annual lease payment — payable until 2027 — and operating and maintenance costs.

Payments began in 2012. By 2017 the aircraft’s total cost will have reached $6.769 billion, with yearly payments running at just over $500 million during most of that time.

The Secretariat of Defense said in response to a freedom-of-information request by Milenio that the plane’s interior is currently being fitted and that work is 80% completed.

The plane was to have been ready in June 2014 but delivery was postponed until last month, then rescheduled for December.

It will have capacity to carry 250 passengers, and feature a private suite for the president.