HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific Acquires First A350-1000 And Orders Twenty More

Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, making it the variant's second operator after Qatar Airways, which received its initial example in February.

The Hong Kong carrier has ordered 20 A350-1000s and already operates 22 A350-900s, Airbus says. The airline has another six -900s on order and holds four options.

Airbus says Cathay Pacific will from September deploy the A350-1000 on nonstop services to Washington DC, which the airframer describes as the longest flight performed by any airline out of Hong Kong. Flight time will be approximately 17h.

Cathay Pacific chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo states that the A350-900's introduction to the airline in 2016"enabled us to expand our long-haul network at a near unprecedented rate.

He adds that the larger -1000 variant has an incredible range, is remarkably fuel efficient and quiet, provides customers with an unsurpassed cabin environment, and has extremely attractive operating economics.

The A350 is exclusively powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

The first of 20 A350-1000s for Cathay Pacific has completed its initial test flight from Airbus's Toulouse plant.

Deliveries of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft to the Hong Kong carrier are scheduled to begin in June. It will become the second operator after launch customer Qatar Airways to receive Airbus's biggest twinjet.

The new twinjets will be operated alongside Cathay's existing fleet of smaller A350-900s, 22 of which are currently in service with six more on order, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

Cathay will deploy the A350-1000 on its new route to Washington DC from September. The airline says that at 8,153 miles (7,095nm/13,126km), the new service to Dulles will become the longest in its network.

Airbus's third test-flight A330-900, carrying the colours of launch operator TAP Portugal, has landed in Lisbon after commencing the initial stage of route-proving flights.

For the first state of route-proving, MSN1819 is set to fly on to Brazil, visiting cities including Recife, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Miami.

The Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered aircraft took off on 19 June from Toulouse's runway 32R – using a full-thrust departure, rather than a flex setting, on the request of flight-test engineers – for a 1h 30min flight to the Portuguese capital.

MSN1819 had pushed back with just under 20t of fuel, and a weight of 164t, with a projected landing weight of 156.8t. The crew confirmed, after touchdown on Lisbon's on runway 21, that the twinjet had burned 8t of fuel.

The 298-seat aircraft – featuring the airframer's three-class revamped Airspace cabin interior, fitted with Recaro seating – was transporting board members from the carrier and the airframer, as well as government figures and media representatives.

Route-proving will subsequently take the aircraft to Asia, with stops in Kuala Lumpur and other regional hubs, before it returns to Europe via Mauritius. It also fly to Delhi before heading west again, operating through Reykjavik, Chicago and Atlanta.

The exercise is intended to demonstrate the A330neo's readiness for airline service.

As part of the testing the aircraft will undertake extended twin-engined operations flights, approaches to alternate airports, and tests with ground-handling systems.

Airbus head of A330 marketing Crawford Hamilton, speaking during the event, said the route-proving effort would involve about 150h of flights, spanning 18 days, and taking in 16 cities. The exercise is set to run to 7 July.

Hamilton says the A330neo test-flight campaign, which involves three aircraft including MSN1819, is around 80% complete. The fleet has logged around 1,000h in 267 flights.

Performance is in line with predictions, he adds.

Certification is still on track for summer this year, with subsequent entry into service with TAP.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Etihad Airways,SWISS Sign New Codeshare Agreement

Etihad A UAE carrier has confirmed that it has signed a new codeshare agreement with national carrier Swiss Air. The codeshare agreement will take place effective immediately with bookings already open.

The agreement will see Etihad Airways’ flight number EY, placed on Swiss Air flights between Geneva and Zurich, while Etihad’s flights between Zurich and Abu Dhabi will host the Swiss flight number LX.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways CEO said: This codeshare deepens Etihad Airways’ commitment to the Swiss travel market and Switzerland, a key destination for travelers from our UAE home, neighboring Gulf countries, and across our Asia Pacific network.

For travelers from Switzerland, our new relationship with SWISS will provide access to Etihad’s award-winning service and the hospitality for which our Abu Dhabi home is known.

This agreement continues to show Etihad’s commitment to the codeshare agreement it has with the Lufthansa Group of which Swiss Air and Etihad Aviation Group is a part of.

The daily service from Abu Dhabi to Zurich is operated by Etihad’s technologically advanced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and will keep its 2 class layout which seats 299 passengers, consisting of 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy seats.

This is the second time Etihad has made a codeshare investment in the Swiss market after last year when it had decided to sell its 33.3 percent stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline.

The change comes after the airline former CEO, James Hogan, left the company which was attributed to a controlled restructuring.

Etihad is not the only Middle Eastern carrier to invest in codeshare agreements with European airlines with both Emirates and Qatar dipping into the European pool also.

Qatar Airways and Iberia extended their code-sharing agreements between Madrid and Doha.

Emirates currently have agreements with Flybe, TAP Portugal and Air Malta, which shows how extensively into Europe they want to go even if the routes they themselves operate already.

Earlier this week, Qatar Airways and Iberia extended their code-sharing agreements between Madrid and Doha.

Currently, Emirates has agreements with Flybe, TAP Portugal and Air Malta, which shows how extensively into Europe they want to go even if the routes they themselves operate already.

For Etihad, this is an important agreement, especially as the carrier has been struggling in recent months, trying to regain profitability following the demises of Alitalia and Air Berlin, two carriers that they were massively involved in.

For Swiss, under the Lufthansa Group, to sign this agreement shows that the group overall still has confidence in Etihad to provide the routes to Abu Dhabi and beyond from Europe.


Tourism Observer

BELIGIUM: Brussels Airlines-TAP Portugal Codeshare Under Investigation By European Union

European Union (EU) regulators have formally raised antitrust concerns over a codeshare between Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal, but have dropped a similar probe against Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

The EU inquiry into the Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal codeshare on flights between Brussels and Lisbon was started in February 2011. On Oct. 27, the European Commission said it has issued a statement of objections to the airlines.

“We are concerned that in this particular case Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal may have used their codeshare to restrict competition and harm passengers’ interests,” EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager said.

The probe relates to the first three years of a codeshare signed in 2009, under which Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal sold unlimited seats on one another’s flights between Brussels and Lisbon.

Prior to the 2009 agreement, the two airlines were the only competitors on the route. The European Commission said that, under the codeshare, Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal discussed and implemented a capacity reduction and aligned prices on the route.

“The Commission takes the preliminary view that this combination of practices breaches EU rules that prohibit anti-competitive agreements. The Commission’s preliminary conclusion is that these practices eliminated competition on prices and capacity between the two airlines on the Brussels-Lisbon route and led to higher prices and less choice for consumers,” the Commission said.

The statement of objections is a preliminary view and not a final ruling. The airlines will now be given the opportunity to respond.

“TAP has always fully cooperated with the European Commission, providing all documentation and information requested. The statement of objections now submitted constitutes a mere procedural step through which the European Commission communicates the concerns identified to TAP,” the Portuguese carrier said. “TAP will have now a two-month period to present its position to the Commission, which may choose to file the process or to proceed with it. TAP will prepare its response and will continue to fully cooperate with the European Commission.”

Brussels Airlines issued a similar statement, saying it too has been fully cooperating with the European Commission. “We will put all efforts into place to demonstrate that the codeshare agreement with TAP Portugal is fully in line with industry practice and competition law. No further information can be provided at this time as investigations are ongoing.”

At the same time as announcing the TAP ruling, the Commission dismissed a separate codeshare antitrust probe involving Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. “The Commission's investigation found that Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines did not have full marketing rights to each other's seat inventory and that they applied differing pricing strategies. Furthermore, the codeshare accounted for only a marginal share of the parties' sales on the routes of concern,” the Commission said.

PORTUGAL: TAP Portugal Get Christmasy With a Rendition of Jingle Bells Composed Purely With Typical Aircraft Sounds

Inspired by the standard noises heard inside one of their aircrafts, TAP Portugal has composed a unique version of the Christmas classic, Jingle Bells.

In addition to the aircraft, TAP Portugal's staff also get involved by bringing hums and taps to the melody.

See TAP Portugal's video for the festive season below

Merry Christmas!

PORTUGAL: TAP Portugal Orders 14 A330-900neo And 39 A320neo Family Aircraft

Airbus efficient aircraft shaping TAP Portugal’s future

TAP Portugal has signed a firm order with Airbus for 53 Widebody and single aisle aircraft including 14 A330-900neo, and 39 A320neo Family aircraft (15 A320neos and 24 A321neos). The aircraft will join TAP Portugal’s fleet as part of its fleet renewal announced by the airline’s new majority owner Atlantic Gateway. As part of the agreement, TAP Portugal is replacing its previous order of 12 A350-900s with the A330-900neo.

“Our latest order for 14 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft and 39 A320neo Family aircraft reflects our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with the next generation of fuel efficient aircraft,” said Fernando Pinto, TAP Portugal CEO. “The A330neo, like the A320neo Family, will give us the flexibility to enter new markets and improve the frequency of existing ones due to its combination of high reliability, low operating costs and exceptional comfort,” he added.

“With this order for 53 brand new aircraft TAP is reborn. This order today shows Airbus' confidence in TAP's future and TAP's commitment to having the best products for its customers. These aircraft are the right aircraft for TAP's current missions and growth markets.

Furthermore, Airbus is proud of the strength and depth of its relationship with TAP and TAP's new shareholders. The A330neo Family is the world’s most cost-efficient, medium-range Widebody and the A320neo Family is simply the single aisle aircraft of choice,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers. “The combination of the A330neo and A320neo Families in TAP Portugal’s fleet will allow the airline to reap the benefits of Airbus’ unique aircraft commonality, offering unrivalled efficiencies, with the most modern, fuel efficient and streamlined fleet.”

TAP Portugal is an all Airbus customer, currently operating 43 A320 Family aircraft and 18 Widebody Family aircraft.

The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family launched in July 2014 with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017. The A330neo incorporates latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features.

Benefitting from the unbeatable economics, versatility and high reliability of the A330, the A330neo reduces fuel consumption by 14% per seat, making it the most cost efficient, medium range Widebody aircraft on the market. In addition to greater fuel savings, A330neo operators will also benefit from a range increase of around 400 nautical miles and of course all the operational commonality advantages of the Airbus Family.

The A320neo Family incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 with further cabin innovations. With more than 4,300 orders received from over 75 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

BRAZIL: Belo Horizonte Airport’s GOL Airline Reduces Capacity As Azul Airlines Increases By 10%

With an average growth rate per month of over 6% so far in 2015, anna.aero expects Belo Horizonte to pass 11 million passengers this year if the trend continues. In November, Azul Airlines will launch its first long-haul route from the airport to Orlando, a route that is planned to operate five times weekly.

Belo Horizonte is Brazil’s sixth largest city, situated 346 kilometres north of Rio de Janeiro. In 2013, the city recorded the fifth largest GDP among the Brazilian municipalities, represented 1.38% of the total wealth produced in Brazil. Along with economic development, the city has also witnessed an explosion in its population, seeing a growth of 9.4% from 2010 to 2014 (figures based on 2010 census data and Brazilian government estimates for 2014). With these two factors, it’s no surprise to see that the city’s main airport, Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves, has experienced passenger traffic grow by 43% since 2009.

Belo Horizonte expected to pass 11 million passengers in 2015
In 2013, Belo Horizonte Airport recorded its first year of passenger traffic decline (highlighted in light green) for some time. The decrease followed an impressive few years for the airport, which recorded an average annual growth of over 17% for the three years previous. However last year the airport returned to form, showing a rise in passenger traffic of 5.5%. So far in 2015, Belo Horizonte Airport is showing an average growth rate of just under 6% per month when compared to 2014. If this rate of increase continues throughout the rest of 2015, anna.aero expects passenger numbers at the facility to reach approximately 11.5 million passengers this year.

SVID score “Excellent”
Belo Horizonte Airport recorded a SVID score of 0.79 (“Excellent”), placing it sixth out of the airports analysed so far in 2015 by anna.aero. The result means the airport is situated just behind Chennai Airport in fifth, which scored 0.60 earlier in the year. In comparison for the Brazilian market, Fortaleza Airport, serving Brazil’s fifth largest city, scored 0.88, (also “Excellent”), placing it seventh on the SVID leader board, while Manaus Airport, serving Brazil’s seventh largest city scored 0.47, again (“Excellent”) and results in the airport be placed fourth overall.

2015 is looking to be a good year for Belo Horizonte, with five of the first six months in 2015 being record breaking for the facility. The only month that did not follow this trend was May. Although traffic was up 7.7% when compared to the same corresponding month last year, the figure for 2015 is down -2.6% on the recorded number for May in 2013.

Only four top 12 routes report growth in 2015
Analysis of OAG Schedules Analyser data has shown that the top 12 routes out of Belo Horizonte have remained constant from 2014 to 2015, however only four of those routes (highlighted in light green) have shown an increase in seat capacity. The most notable increase is on the 359-kilometre sector to Rio de Janeiro Galeao, which has witnessed a seat capacity increase of 37% in S15. The airport pair is served by GOL and TAM Airlines, with the former handling 59% of weekly seats between the two airports, down from the 61% recorded in 2014. Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont is showing a capacity downfall of -7.9%, an airport also served by GOL and TAM from Belo Horizonte, along with Azul Airlines.
Sao Paulo #1 destination

Sao Paulo is the most popular destination from Belo Horizonte, with all three airports in the coastal city being served, and accounting for 36% of weekly seats. Although Sao Paulo is the most popular destination in relation to capacity, only one of the airports served showed a capacity increase for S15, with Guarulhos and Viracopos airports showing decreases in capacity of -1.3% and -12% respectively, whereas Sao Paulo Congonhas’ seat availability is up 13% when compared to the same time period last year.

GOL number one, Azul is catching up
While GOL remains the number one carrier at Belo Horizonte, and has introduced its first international service from the airport to Santiago in Chile, the airline is shown to be -4% in weekly seat capacity for S15, while Azul is reporting a 10% rise for the corresponding period. This is as a result of the airline having additional services to Araxa, Cuiaba, Cabo Frio, Ilheus, Maraba, Natal, Valenca and Teixiera de Freitas according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. In November, the carrier will launch a new long-haul service from the airport to Orlando, the first for the airline from Belo Horizonte. The route will operate five times weekly using the carrier’s A330-200s, and compliments current long-haul services from the airport to fellow Floridian airport Miami, operated by American Airlines and TAM Airlines. The airport also has long-haul flights to Lisbon, flown by TAP Portugal.