UGANDA: Uganda Airlines Pilots Go For Training At Bombardier

Uganda Airlines has handed over the first cockpit crew sets to Bombardier for training as the comeback carrier ramps up to a revised June 2019 launch.

The first set of eight pilots has been sent to a training facility in France while the second set which travelled over the weekend will be training at the manufacturer’s site at Mirabel just outside Montreal.

Uganda Airlines will be receiving four examples of the Bombardier CRJ-900 series which will form the core of its regional fleet.

A pair of Aibus’ rejigged A330 dubbed the -800neo expected to arrive towards the end of 2020 have been selected for the initial long haul services.

Twenty four of an eventual complement of 36 pilots have been recruited so far and will undergo training at different levels depending of their current professional status.

Those that already qualified on the CRJ-900 will undertake recurrent training while those rated on different models of the CRJ will be going through a differences course to get rated for the CRJ-900, said a source close to the Uganda Airlines project team.

He added that it is those pilots transitioning from other aircraft types that will undergo the full type rating course that can take up to 28 days before they are qualifies to fly the new type as first officers.

Training for the pilots was supposed to start last November but was held up by delays in concluding employment contracts.

Delays in recruiting key position holders are responsible for a shift from the initial April 2019 launch of commercial operations to June.

Delivery of the first aircraft will go ahead as planned around February 23 followed by others in March, May, July and September.

There have been concerns about delays in locking up a finance deal for the purchases but President Museveni has assured the team that he will make the money available.

AfriExim Bank, the successor of the PTA Bank has offered a loan at a rate of just under six percent but the cabinet has asked the finance ministry to vet cheaper alternative.


Tourism Observer

CANADA: Air Canada To Keep 25 E190s, Declines CSeries Order

Air Canada says it will keep 25 Embraer E190 aircraft it planned to retire in 2015.

The decision functionally rules out a possible CSeries order into the foreseeable future.

The Canadian flag carrier currently has 45 E190s in its fleet, each of which seats 97.

The airline was considering replacing the jets, and is still ditching 20 as part of a deal with Boeing.

Those jets will be replaced by leasing other narrow-body aircraft.

The decision to keep the other 25 airplanes in stock hands Bombardier another CSeries setback.

The company was hoping to snag the carrier to spur further interest and program confidence as the order book remains sluggish.

A spokesperson for Bombardier remained upbeat, saying Air Canada is a valued customer of ours, and we still believe the CSeries is the perfect aircraft for them.

We’re just going to wait, and when they are ready to move forward, we will be there. We are fairly optimistic that when the time is right, we will restart discussions.

Air Canada did not immediately return a request for comment.

The carrier has already committed to a number of fleet changes. It placed an order for up to 109 737 MAX planes valued at $6.5 billion in December, 2013.

In the agreement, Boeing will buy as many as 20 E190s from Air Canada. The airplanes will exit the fleet in 2015, according to a statement from the airline.

Amidst the narrow body fleet changes, Air Canada has also decided to convert twelve Boeing 777-300ER and six Boeing 777-200LR aircraft into a more competitive configuration.

The airline plans to include a premium economy cabin, and it will also refurbish its International Business Class cabins to match its new 787 cabins.

Don’t expect any changes soon, however. The company plans to start rolling out the refurbed jets in late 2015.

The airline announced a first quarter loss of $341 million.


Tourism Observer

LATVIA: airBaltic Orders 60 Bombardier CSeries CS300 Valued At $5.9 billion

Canadian plane manufacturer, Bombardier, has announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 CSeries CS300 planes with Latvian Low-Cost Carrier, airBaltic.

The purchase order features 30 firm and 30 options, totaling 60 CS300 jets, valued at $5.9 billion if all rights are exercised.

This significant reorder from our CS300 launch operator is a strong testimony to the aircraft’s exceptional in service performance, said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

We are proud that the CS300 has helped airBaltic maintain its position as one of the world’s most punctual airlines, he added.

airBaltic now becomes the largest European CSeries customer and the second largest in the world. The carrier will now have over 50 aircraft on firm order.

Before airBaltic’s order was confirmed, Bombardier had 372 orders for both its CS100 and CS300 products, having delivered 29 units to airBaltic, Swiss, and Korean Air.

This order now takes the total order book for CSeries aircraft to over 400 units.

airBaltic’s new purchase agreement complements an existing order for 20 CS300 aircraft.

The first jets from this order new will be delivered by the fourth quarter of 2019.

The airline is in the midst of its Destination 2025 plan, which builds upon airBaltic’s current Horizon 2021, which has laid the groundwork for future expansion.

With demonstrated fuel savings of more than 22%, the CS300 aircraft plays a vital role in maintaining our operating cost at a low level, said Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer, airBaltic.

In 2017, we experienced outstanding growth and showed the world the unique capabilities and comfort of this innovative aircraft, he said.

According to the airline’s CEO, airBaltic has successfully executed its fleet modernization strategy, and are excited to further grow our fleet up to 80 CS300 aircraft while phasing out our other aircraft types in the next three years, he said.

The Latvian carrier currently operates a mixed fleet of six Boeing 737-300s, five 737-500s, eight Bombardier CSeries CS300s, and 12 Q400 Turboprops.

airBaltic expects to phase out all its aging 737s, replacing them with the brand-new CSeries jets that will be joining the fleet through the next five years.

Just recently, airBaltic celebrated carrying its one-millionth passenger on their Bombardier CS300 aircraft since it entered service on December 14, 2016.

At the time of the event, the airline has completed more than 9,069 flights and flown over 23,603 block hours.

For the Canadian manufacturer, the reliability of its CSeries planes are showing with Swiss, Korean Air, and airBaltic has proven the potential to become a success.

Airbus, who owns 50.01% of the CSeries program, will surely try to capitalize on this recent airBaltic commitment in the upcoming Farnborough Air Show—the first in which both manufacturers will work together to sell a combined product.


Tourism Observer

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Orders For 10 New Q400 Aircraft From Bombardier Commercial Aircraft At Approx $332 million U.S.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that it has concluded a firm order for 10 new Q400 aircraft with Ethiopian Airlines.

The order also includes purchase rights for five additional Q400 aircraft.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $332 million U.S.

The Bombardier turboprops continue to deliver unmatched performance to our operators, and we are proud that the flag carrier of Ethiopia is once again recognizing its tremendous value by increasing its fleet of Q400 aircraft, said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

The market trend for high-performing and larger turboprops is intensifying, and this fifth reorder is a great example of the Q400 turboprop success story and the value it creates for clients around the world.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Jambojet Takes Delivery Of Brand New Bombardier Q400NextGen

Jambojet will take delivery of another brand new Bombardier Q400NextGen in May and a second one later in the year as Kenya's main LCC seeks to expand operations to new destinations.

Both aircraft, Bombardier confirmed this, will be through a long term lease arrangement with Russia's Ilyushin Finance Co. which has reportedly converted an option for a Q400NextGen into a firm order, now having two on their books and beat other more established aircraft leasing companies to the door.

This agreement for these next generation turboprops signifies a key development in IFC’s international leasing business' said Alexander Rubtsov, Director General, IFC.

The demand for high-performance turboprops, such as the Q400, continues to expand and we are pleased to enter into this new lease with Jambojet.

The delivery of these two aircraft will increase the fleet of Q Series turboprops in Africa to over 120 aircraft including about 70 Q400 aircraft.

We are impressed with the level of professionalism that IFC exhibited throughout the process that led to this first agreement, and are delighted to have found a trusted and reliable partner to support our development plans said Willem Hondius, Chief Executive Officer, Jambojet.

The Q400 aircraft’s performance has exceeded our expectations on all fronts.

With its low operating costs and best-in-class passenger experience, the Q400 turboprop has helped us optimize and expand our operations and is undeniably the backbone of Jambojet’s growth strategy.

Jean Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle-East and Africa at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft responded when he said: We are proud of the Q400 aircraft continued success in Africa.

Jambojet’s operations illustrate the capabilities and qualities of the Q400 aircraft that make it uniquely suitable for the region.

The Q400 is a valuable asset for owners and operators, and we are confident that IFC and Jambojet will find many more opportunities to mutually benefit from the aircraft’s outstanding economics and performance'.

Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 573 Q400 aircraft.

USA: GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is an Irish-American commercial aircraft financing and leasing company.

It is the largest commercial airline leasing/financing company in the world.

It is part of GE Capital, a company of the large conglomerate General Electric.

GECAS buys aircraft from manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing and then leases them to airlines, typically on eight year leases, usually on dry lease contracts.

It also buys aircraft from airlines and leases them back.

The company has three global headquarters, located in Singapore; Shannon, County Clare and Norwalk, Connecticut.

The primary competition for GECAS is AerCap, although other companies such as Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group, BBAM and SMBC Aviation Capital also compete with it.

GECAS has a fleet of over 1800 aircraft, used by 245 airlines.

Nearly all aircraft owned by GECAS are powered by engines from either GE Aviation, another subsidiary of General Electric, or CFM International, a GE Aviation/Snecma joint venture.

GECAS was formed in 1993 to manage the assets bought from the Irish-based Guinness Peat Aviation.

The company GE Capital Aviation Services Limited was based in Ireland and originally staffed by former GPA employees.
GE Capital also incorporated the California-based Polaris Aircraft Leasing into the group.

GECAS also owns a minority stake in Oxford Aviation Academy retained when they sold 80%,before dilution, of GECAT to STAR Capital Partners in 2007.

In 2015, GECAS took over the Irish-based Milestone Aviation to add helicopters to its leasing portfolio.

GECAS maintains a portfolio of narrow body and wide body passenger aircraft, cargo aircraft, and regional and turboprop aircraft from manufacturers Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Bombardier and ATR.

Through its Milestone Aviation Group, GECAS also owns and leases AgustaWestland, Sikorsky and Airbus Eurocopter helicopters.

Customers finance these aircraft through the following GECAS offerings:
• Operating leases
• Purchase leaseback agreements
• Secured loans
• Aircraft servicing

Additionally, GECAS buys, leases and finances aircraft engines from GE and CFM, as well as from manufacturers Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, IAE and Engine Alliance.

GECAS provides the following for its engine pool:
• Operating leases
• Short-term leases
• Purchase leaseback agreements
• Secured loans
• Engine exchange
• Engine servicing
GECAS distributes recertified engine and aircraft parts through its Asset Management Services group.

The company maintains an inventory of parts from Airbus, Boeing, Douglas and Bombardier aircraft that have been overhauled, repaired or modified and distributes these parts from warehouses in North America, Europe and Asia.

GECAS also operates AviaSolutions, which provides aircraft consultancy services to airports, investors and financial institutions, governments and airlines.

AviaSolutions advises clients on business development, route development, infrastructure planning, airline management, regulations, and various other projects.

CHINA: First Large Passenger Jet To Fly In 2017

After years of delays, China’s first large homemade passenger jetliner will take to the air for its maiden flight in the first half of this year.

State-owned aircraft maker Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, based in Shanghai, has nearly completed work on the 175-passenger C919, the ruling Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily reported.

The C919 was originally due to fly in 2015, but has been beset by delays blamed on manufacturing problems. It is now scheduled to enter service in 2019, aimed at competing with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, along with the Russian Irkut MC-21.

Airbus and Boeing say the market for new aircraft will be worth more than $5 trillion over the next 20 years. Industry experts say China faces a tough slog capturing a significant share of that market, even with government support. Comac has 517 orders for the C919.

Company officials couldn’t immediately be reached.

The C919 is part of China’s efforts to develop a homegrown aviation industry in one of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing air travel markets. China currently relies heavily on foreign-made aircraft.

Last June, the ARJ21-700, China’s first homemade regional jet, made its debut flight carrying 70 passengers. The jet is one of a series of initiatives launched by the party to transform China from the world’s low-cost factory into a creator of profitable technology in aviation, clean energy and other fields.

The ARJ21, also made by Comac, is a rival to aircraft made by Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Brazil’s Embraer SA.

MALAWI: Fly Malawi Airlines

Domestic Flights

BLANTYRE
With Malawi Airlines known for our on-time performance, you are rest assured of being on time for your meeting or business in Blantyre courtesy of our daily morning flights to the commercial capital. Our Bombardier Q400 departs Lilongwe every morning at 08:30 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:10, Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Blantyre today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.

LILONGWE
Our daily afternoon flights to Lilongwe from Blantyre offer you wonderful opportunity to go about your business in the commercial capital with no stress at all knowing Malawi Airlines is there to take you back to the Capital City. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Blantyre at 15:55 and arrives in Lilongwe at 16:35 Monday through Sunday. Book your flight to Lilongwe today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.

Regional Flights

Johannesburg
No more stress. Our daily morning flights to Johannesburg provide you great and convenient opportunity to do business in the Rainbow Nation and/or connect to the rest of the region and the world. Our Boeing 737-700 departs Lilongwe at 08:20 and arrives in Blantyre at 09:00 and later departs Blantyre for Johannesburg at 09:45. Book your flight to Johannesburg today. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Fly Malawi Airlines.

Nairobi
Introducing flights to Nairobi, four times a week, Wednesday through Saturday. From 29th March, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence evening flights to Nairobi with our Boeing 737-700 departing Lilongwe for Nairobi at 17:45 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Nairobi to Lilongwe will be at 06:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.

Lusaka
We fly to Lusaka four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.

Harare
We fly to Harare four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.

Dar es Salaam
We fly to Dar es Salaam four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fly Malawi Airlines and experience our on-time performance at unbelievably affordable fares.

Zanzibar
From 5th April, 2017, Malawi Airlines will commence late afternoon flights to Zanzibar with our Bombardier Q400 departing Lilongwe for Zanzibar at 17:30 every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Zanzibar to Lilongwe will be at 05:15 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Experience our unbeatable on-time performance. Experience the difference. Fly Malawi Airlines.

Bombardier Fullfills Target To Deliver Seven CSeries Deliveries In 2016

Bombardier made good on its goal to deliver seven CSeries aircraft in 2016, with the company delivering two aircraft in the last two days of the year, Bombardier confirms.

On 30 December, the company delivered a CS100 to Swiss International Airlines, and the delivery flight of a CS300 to Air Baltic departed Montreal on 31 December, Bombardier says.

The end-of-year deliveries mean Bombardier has met a revised goal to deliver seven of the new-generation aircraft during the year. Those seven aircraft include five CS100s to Swiss and two CS300s to Air Baltic.

Bombardier in September 2016 revised its CSeries delivery goal for the year from 15 to seven, citing production delays suffered by Pratt & Whitney, maker of the CSeries’ PW1500G geared-turbofans.

P&W has attributed its delays to production of the turbofans’ titanium-aluminium fan blades, which have an aluminium body bonded to a titanium leading edge.

Earlier generation P&W engines had hollow-titanium blades, but P&W switched to the lighter titanium-aluminium design because the geared-turbofan’s blades spin at one third the speed of blades on earlier engines.

Bombardier anticipates producing 30 to 35 CSeries in 2017, with production increasing to between 90 and 120 CSeries by 2020, the company said in December.

TANZANIA: 10 Million US Dollars Commitment Fee Paid To Boeing For B787-8 Dreamliner

After purchasing 5 brand new aircraft from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, among them three Q400NG's and two of the recently launched CS300's, has the Tanzanian government now made a further commitment to boost the operations of the national airline Air Tanzania.

It is understood that a 10 million US Dollars commitment fee has been paid to Boeing for the delivery of a B787-8 Dreamliner in June 2018. At that stage will all five new Bombardier aircraft be in operation on domestic and regional / African routes, helping to feed traffic into the airline's long haul services.

While no confirmation has been received from Air Tanzania is it expected that the Dreamliner will be deployed on a route to China with added suggestions that a European gateway too could be on the drawing board.

Air Tanzania, best described as moribund as recently as a year ago with just one serviceable aircraft, a Bombardier Q300 turboprop, was for long plagued by inept and allegedly corrupt management with many former managers now facing court cases.

The Magufuli government however has restructured the board of the company as well as bringing new managers into the airline with clear instructions to reverse the flagging fortunes of Air Tanzania or else - and it is the 'or else' the new team may fear most as President Magufuli does not appear to tolerate failure, in particular with so much money at stake.

A Boeing B787 Dreamliner costs anything from 220 million US Dollars upwards and the aircraft purchases from Bombardier are equally amounting to an estimated 270 million US Dollars for the five planes, two of which have already been delivered and entered service two months ago.

Bombardier C Series Aircraft Makes Its China Debut

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that its CS300 jetliner, the second CS300 flight test vehicle, has arrived in Zhuhai, China. The visit is the debut of the C Series aircraft in China and the jetliner, which is showcasing the logo of CS300 first operator airBaltic, will be on static display at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) from October 30 to November 3.

“As we approach first delivery and entry-into-service of the CS300 aircraft with launch operator airBaltic in the coming weeks, it is a pleasure to be showcasing the aircraft in China for the first time and updating the industry on our progress,” said Andy Solem, Vice President, Sales – China and North Asia, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “What we have been saying all along, is confirmed - the aircraft offers exceptional fuel burn and range, outstanding airfield performance in hot-and-high operations and it is the quietest commercial jet in production.

“The C Series aircraft, utilized in a regional role, is ideally suited to support the Chinese Government’s goals to make domestic air travel accessible to all Chinese citizens at low cost and in an environmentally efficient manner.”

Greater China alone is forecasted to take delivery of 1,550 aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat segment over the next 20 years. This represents more than 15 per cent of the world’s total demand for 7,000 aircraft in the segment.

The technologically advanced CS300 airliner, along with the Bombardier Global 5000 business aircraft, will be featured as part of the static display from October 30 to November 3. Guests will have the opportunity to witness and experience the aircraft first-hand. Bombardier’s booth, which is adjacent to the aircraft static display, is located at H4C3.

About C Series Aircraft
The C Series is the only aircraft optimized for the 100- to 150-seat market segment, which drives the aircraft’s phenomenal economic proposition and performance, opening up new opportunities for single-aisle aircraft operation.

Comprised of the CS100 and the larger CS300 aircraft, the C Series family represents the fusion of performance and technology. The result is aircraft that deliver unmatched performance and economics in the 100- to 150-seat market segment and an 18 per cent lower cost per passenger, making them the ideal candidates to complement larger single-aisle aircraft. Airlines can now operate routes that were previously not profitable or even possible. An improvement in range in excess of 20 per cent out of hot-and-high airports such as Denver, Mexico City or Lhasa has been confirmed.

Bombardier has created a new standard in cabin design and flexibility to ensure an unrivalled passenger experience. The aircraft’s larger seats, overhead bins and windows deliver a widebody feel that offers passengers unparalleled comfort in a single-aisle cabin.

The CS100 and the CS300 aircraft have over 99 per cent parts commonality as well as the same pilot type rating. The groundbreaking Pratt & Whitney PurePower® PW1500G engine, combined with the aircraft’s advanced aerodynamics, delivers reduced fuel burn, noise, and emissions – making the C Series the most community-friendly aircraft.

RUSSIA: Aeroflot Subsidiary Aurora Airline Traffic Up By 22%

Aeroflot subsidiary Aurora Airline—which serves Russia’s Far East—carried 276,827 passengers in the first quarter, up 22% year-over-year (YOY), as a result of network and fleet growth.

In the first quarter, Aurora carried 216,454 domestic and 60,373 international passengers. It carried 1,638 tonnes of cargo, up 33% YOY. Total flying hours for the quarter were up 19% to 8,297 hours YOY.

Aurora’s 20-strong fleet comprises 10 Airbus A319s, two Bombardier Q400s, four DHC-8 Q300s, two DHC-8 Q200s and two DHC 6-400 Twin Otters. The airline took delivery of the first Q400 last December.

Aurora operates international flights to Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Harbin and Busan as well as domestic flights to Khabarovsk, Magadan, Yakutsk, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk.

Aurora previously said that in 2018 its fleet will include 42 aircraft and will operate services on 120 routes. It plans to double the number of passengers to 2.5 million and triple weekly services up to 500 flights per week.

CANADA: Air Canada Signs For Up To 75 Bombardier CSeries

Bombardier and Air Canada have announced today the subscription of a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the purchase of up to 75 CSeries CS300. The deal contemplates 45 firm orders plus 30 options, and includes conversion rights to the CS100 under certain circumstances. Based on the list price, the order is valued at approximately US$3.8 billion.

At a press conference held today in Saint-Laurent, Québec, Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada, along with members of his leadership team were hosted by Alain Bellemare, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. Alongside Bellemare were Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Rob Dewar, Vice President, C Series Aircraft Program.

These aircraft come as part of the narrowbody fleet renewal plan of Air Canada, started in December 2013 with the acquisition of 61 Boeing 737 MAXs. “The renewal of our North American narrowbody fleet with more capable and efficient aircraft is a key element of our ongoing cost transformation program —plus the enhanced passenger cabin comfort provided by the CS300 will help us to retain Air Canada’s competitive position as the only Four-Star international network carrier in North America” said Rovinescu.

Fred Cromer highlighted the order as a “very significant strategic marker for the CSeries aircraft program and we’re looking forward to further strengthening a relationship that spans 30 years.” Air Canada and Bombardier have a long-standing relationship. To date, Air Canada Express regional partners operate a mix of over 120 regional jets and turboprop aircraft. According to Rovinescu, Air Canada was “One of the launch customers for the Canadair Regional Jet, and today’s announcement reflects our continued support for Canada’s aerospace industry and for the new technologies the industry may develop.”

The narrowbody fleet renewal plan implies the retirement of 45 Embraer E190s in service with Air Canada. 20 of these aircraft will be taken by Boeing as part of the 737 MAX deal, while the remaining 25 aircraft will be replaced by the CSeries. The Boeing 737 MAX deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2017 and extend to 2021, while the deliveries of the CSeries are scheduled to start in late 2019 and extend to 2022.

According to Bellemare, the order, which is one of the largest to date for the CSeries Program “will be the catalyst for future orders in North America and around the world.”

With this agreement, the Montréal-based manufacturer has now received 678 firm orders and commitments for the both variants of the CSeries —the CS100 and the stretched CS300. Swiss will be the launch customer of the CS100, and the aircraft is expected to enter service in the first half of the year. Last December, the CS100 obtained its certification type, and the CS300 is on track to receive it in the next months.

Air Canada is posed to be the first North American carrier to operate the CSeries. Although Porter Airlines planned to rely on the CSeries for its expansion, the elected Liberal Canadian government reiterated its commitment to not allow jet aircraft at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, home base and largest hub for this regional carrier. Also, in this week WestJet CEO Gregg Saretski commented that the CSeries was “too small” for the airline, and “too big” for its regional operator Encore.

A recent tour of the CSeries to the United States has spurred rumors in the industry about a potential order from United and Delta Air Lines. To date, in the case of United, the airline has signaled that it could place an order for up to 50 CS100, while Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson commented that the Atlanta-based carrier is “taking a very serious look” at purchasing the aircraft.

For Bombardier, the order represents a major victory for the CSeries program, marred with financial problems. Last October, the Government of Québec announced a US$1 billion investment in the program, plagued by ever-increasing cost-overruns and a schedule running two years behind the Entry Into Service (EIS).

USA: Bombardier CSeries Route-Proving Starts In Europe

Bombardier announced today that it has started the CS100 route-proving program in Europe, as the jetliner nears its long-awaited entry into service (EIS) with launch customer Swiss International Air Lines in the second quarter of this year.

The program is expected to take place during a month, and just as the program conducted last year across North America, it will assess the airfield performance, landings, turnarounds and on-ground operations of the aircraft. These data will provide an accurate indication of how the aircraft will perform in a typical airline schedule to and from different airports.

“As the launch customer and the first airline that will operate the CS100 aircraft, the European route- proving program is very important to us and will provide a real indication of how the aircraft will operate in our network when we take delivery of our first CS100 aircraft in the next few months” said Peter Wojahn, Chief Technical Officer, Swiss International Air Lines.

The month-long route-proving program is being operated by Bombardier from Swiss International Air Lines’ Zurich hub. According to Bombardier, the program will include flights to several major European cities including Brussels, Vienna and Warsaw.

“The route-proving flights will bring the C Series aircraft closer to the flying public in Europe who will ultimately be amongst the first in the world to fly aboard the aircraft – the first all-new airliner built for the 100- to 150-seat market in close to three decades” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

Additionally, Bombardier confirmed that its eighth CSeries Flight Test Vehicle (FTV), the second CS300, has joined the flight test program last week. According to VP-CSeries Aircraft Program Rob Dewar, the company is “Delighted that its test program, which is dedicated to cabin and interior certification, is off to a great start and progressing extremely well.”

The CSeries program has been plagued by ever-increasing cost overruns and a schedule running two years behind the EIS, causing severe financial problems to Bombardier. Last October, the Government of Québec announced a US$1 billion investment in the program.

Last December, the airframer received the certification of the CS100, and it is expected to receive the certification of the CS300 in the coming months, and its EIS would take place in the second half of the year.

As of today, Bombardier has received 678 commitments for both variants, with 243 firm orders. Last month, Air Canada announced a deal to acquire up to 75 CSeries, Based on the list price, the order is valued at approximately US$3.8 billion.

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia’s Flynas Seeking From Boeing, Airbus100 Jets

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier Flynas is talking to Airbus Group SE, Boeing Co. and Bombardier Inc. about a potential order for 100 new aircraft, after the carrier posted a profit in 2015 for the first time in its history.

The airline is considering 60 new planes in the next five years with an option for 40 more, Flynas Chief Executive Paul Byrne said in an interview in Bahrain. It’s considering the Airbus A320 Neos, Boeing 737 Maxs and Bombardier CS300 aircraft and expects to decide on the order this year.

Saudi Arabia, with a population of 30 million people, is removing restrictions in its travel market. It’s in the process of licensing two new operators, Saudi Gulf Air and Al Maha Airways, which is owned by Qatar Airways. The two new operators have experienced delays in obtaining their permits. Flynas currently has an all-Airbus fleet of 26 jets.

“We’re talking to Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier about purchasing or leasing depending on which is the best deal for us,” Byrne said. “If we were to change from Airbus to Boeing or Bombardier, that will be a big move for us but its not as dramatic as it sounds.”

UAE: MidEast Grows In Private Jet Charter Business

It seems that all the major players in the private jet industry view the Middle East as their primary market for future business expansion. First there was VistaJet’s acquisition of Bombardier's private jet service business in the Middle East, then Dubai's Emirates Airline launched its luxury private jet service to secure its leadership position. Now, Private Jet Charter (PJC), one of the world’s largest independent private jet charter brokers, wants a piece of the pie.

After becoming increasingly popular as more people opt for private jets in order to bypass security and check-in procedures at airports, PJC announced ambitious plans to expands its market in the Middle East.

PJC has a network of offices in the UK, Nice and an established presence in the Middle East through its base in Dubai and presence in Jeddah.

According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) the US makes up 49.7 percent of the global market for private jets, Europe holds 20.8 percent, Asia Pacific 11.8 percent, Latin and South American 11.6 percent, while the Middle East and Africa currently represent 6.1 percent.

Hugh Courtney, founder and CEO of PJC stated that that the Middle East holds a larger potential for private jet business compared to more developed regions, mainly due to the fact that the service industry in this region is still developing.

The company provides its clients with 24-hour service throughout the year, multilingual and experienced staff members, flight watch monitoring on all executive air charter flights and state-of-the-art aircraft sourcing technology.

PJC is an ISO 9002- certified company with 23 years in the aviation field and currently provides executive jets, helicopter charter, VIP and corporate aircrafts, and a dedicated medical evacuation aircraft.

Bombardier Business Aircraft Implementing Business Model Enhancements to Solidify its Long-term Profitability

Bombardier Business Aircraft continues to restructure and enhance its business model to improve long-term profitability. To that end, the business segment has completed initiatives to increase the number of direct-to-market channels, including termination of third-party sales representative and distribution agreements, as well as the restructuring of customer commercial agreements.

As a result of these agreements, Bombardier will incur pre-tax special charges of $278 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, of which approximately $145 million is non-cash. Of the cash impact, approximately $50 million was disbursed in Q4 2015 and the balance will be paid in 2016.

“We are changing our sales strategy to increase our focus on direct channels,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “This, coupled with our robust transformation plan, will increase our long-term profitability. Our overall business model enhancements will leverage our
class-leading aircraft, which continue to be outstanding business tools for operators in all regions of the world.”

In line with this change in sales strategy, Bombardier terminated select sales representative and distribution agreements. Bombardier will become directly responsible for sales activities in the associated regions leveraging its existing sales teams allowing for increased direct relationships with operators.

Bombardier Business Aircraft has also completed a restructuring of certain customer commercial agreements. These agreements resulted in the cancellation of 24 firm orders, which had an aggregate value of $1.75 billion at 2015 list prices, with an additional cancellation of 30 optional orders. Bombardier expects to sell these positions at improved margins.

“Restructuring these commercial agreements will strengthen our business and solidify our long-term profitability,” added Coleal. “Our sales team is well equipped to increase our position in the marketplace, and ultimately, we expect our current industry-leading backlog to become even stronger.”

Bombardier will release consolidated results for the fourth quarter and 2015 fiscal year on February 18, 2016.

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Hosts Largest Fleet Of Private Jets In Middle East

With a total of 164 business jets, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has 35 percent of all the registered planes in the Middle East, it was disclosed in a recent report on business aviation in Saudi Arabia presented at the Middle East Business Aviation Conference (MEBAC) in Riyadh by the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) and WINGX.

At least 45 of the fleet have been added since the year 2000.

The insights highlighted flight patterns, purchase preferences and charter trends from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam King Fahd Airports, which all contributed to 29,869 aircraft movements in 2013.

Bombardier, Airbus and Embraer, the report says, had sold the most jet engine aircrafts since the year 2000. However, Boeing still maintains the strongest presence with 38 jets registered across 10 countries in the Middle East.

Within the Saudi Arabian charter market the results are very different with the Gulfstream V, Hawker Beechcraft 700-800 and the Bombardier Global Express being the most popular choice amongst customers, the majority of whom are flying to Le Bourget, Geneva, and Istanbul.

Speaking on the side-lines of MEBAC Riyadh, Ali Al Naqbi, MEBAA’s founding chairman, said: “In order for the association to lobby and promote business aviation amongst local officialdom in Saudi Arabia, we must have reliable data that illustrates its contribution to the aviation economy.

Our partnership with WINGX has provided us with the necessary intelligence and emphasized the need for CAA support that will help sustain such impressive growth in the market.”

Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX, said: “Having the largest installed fleet of business jets in the Middle East points to the importance for MROs and operators to be based in Saudi Arabia.

Likewise the average age for aircraft in Saudi Arabia is 13.5 years and therefore there is also a tremendous opportunity for OEMs to tap into the 12% year on year increase that MEBAA is forecasting for business aviation in Saudi Arabia.”

Flexjet Adds the First of Many Gulfstream Private Jets to Its Aircraft Fleet

Flexjet is now the first fractional provider to offer Gulfstream’s newest jet, the G450LXi, which was delivered on June 23 during a ceremony at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga. The jet is the first of at least 22 new Gulfstream aircraft that Flexjet has ordered.

The Gulfstream G450LXi can carry up to 16 passengers, with berthing for six, and is outfitted with a custom three-zone interior designed to appeal to Flexjet customers. The jet can travel up to 5,000 miles nonstop, at speeds up to 670 mph (Mach 0.88). Prime cabin amenities include 100 percent fresh air, low cabin altitude, quiet noise levels, and 12 extra-large oval windows for abundant light.

Flexjet formerly flew all Bombardier aircraft, but recently has expanded its fleet to include some Embraer Phenom jets, as well as the Gulfstreams. Its initial order includes 10 of the G450LXi and six of the G650LXi, which is set to start deliveries early next year.

Flexjet also will be the first fractional provider for the G500LXi, an all-new design that will carry 12 passengers for up to 5,750 miles. Those jets are scheduled to start deliveries in 2018. The company also has options to order up to 28 additional jets from Gulfstream.

GERMANY: Windrose Air

Windrose Air


Windrose Air Jetcharter GmbH is an airline based in Schonefeld, Germany operating business and private charter services, cargo and air ambulance services. It operates from Berlin Schönefeld Airport, Leipzig/Halle and Poznan-Lawica.

Fleet

The Windrose Air fleet comprises (as of January 2008):

1 × Gulfstream G550
3 × Gulfstream 450
1 × Gulfstream 150
1 × Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger (Challenger 604)
2 × Bombardier Challenger 300
2 × Cessna 560XL Citation XLS
5 × Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2
1 × Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1

Incidents and accidents

On December 19, 2010 the Beechcraft Premier I (Aircraft registration: D-IAYL) corporate jet crashed into a transformation station in the municipality Bever near the Samedan Airport and killed both crew members.