ALAFCO orders additional 35 A320neo

Lessor strengthens portfolio with world’s fastest selling aircraft

ALAFCO Aviation Lease And Finance Company, the Kuwait-based international aircraft leasing company, has finalised a purchase order for 35 A320neo Family aircraft bringing its total backlog for the type to 85. 

The firm contract is an increase of the previous agreement signed at the 2011 Dubai Airshow for 50 A320neo aircraft. 

“After a full analysis, we concluded that the A320neo will continue to be in strong demand, therefore, we are seizing the opportunity to secure an additional 35 aircraft to meet the future requirements of our customers.  The A320neo is the market’s favourite single-aisle aircraft family,” said Ahmad A. Alzabin, ALAFCO Chairman & CEO. “The significant fuel burn savings it offers, combined with the operational reliability and cost effectiveness of the A320 Family, make it an absolute “must have” in our portfolio.”  

“Higher fuel prices means airlines require fuel efficient aircraft and with the A320neo offering a 15 per cent fuel burn reduction, it is the ideal investment. The A320neo reduces operating costs whilst enabling airlines to offer the best cabin comfort levels,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “This significant order from ALFACO confirms that the neo ticks all the right boxes and is clearly the best product on the market.” 

Over 8,300 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and some 5,000 delivered to more than 350 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range. 

The A320neo is a new engine option for the A320 Family entering into service from 2015 and incorporates latest generation engines and large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 percent in fuel savings. This reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4m litres of fuel – the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars. 

 This saves 3,600 metric tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year, the amount absorbed by 240,000 mature trees. The A320neo NOx emissions are 50% below CAEP/6 and this aircraft also has considerably a smaller noise footprint.    

source: airbus.com

Airbus takes Air Traffic Management to the fourth dimension

upports partnership for more efficiency in European airspace.

The world’s first flight using a four dimensional optimized and upgraded Air Traffic Management (ATM) technology has taken place with Airbus’ dedicated A320 test aircraft flying from Toulouse to Copenhagen and Stockholm. The project is called I-4D (Initial-4D).

The main benefits of I-4D are a significant reduction of fuel burn and C02 emissions, in line with SESAR*’s target to reduce the environmental impact per flight by ten percent, a decrease of delays and therefore shorter and smoother flights for passengers. 

This flight test offers a concrete solution towards improving the existing European system which is reaching its capacity limit. It is a world premiere in the ongoing transformation of today’s air traffic management system. 

Once proven and industrialized, it will allow aircraft to plan and fly an optimized and efficient profile without any need for the controllers to provide any vectoring instruction. This will bring better predictability of the traffic flows and facilitate Continuous Descent Operations into airports. As a result, aircraft flying in a holding pattern will be notably reduced. 

I-4D trajectory management relies on an aircraft function that predicts and transmits data to the ground enabling the aircraft to accurately fly a trajectory after coordination with the ground systems. This is called a 4D-trajectory as it is described in three dimensions (lateral, longitudinal and vertical) and it includes one target time at a specific merging point (time as the fourth dimension). 

I-4D is the first step in developing one of the essential pillars of the SESAR programme: conciliating the increasing traffic density with the efficiency of flights. It is the result of several months of collaboration between SESAR partners. 

One of Airbus’ key roles has been to test the upgraded flight management (Navigation) and communication systems with each other and to integrate them into the real aircraft architecture. 

More flight trials and simulations are planned in 2012 and 2013. The first I-4D operation is planned in Europe from 2018 onwards. 

About Initial-4D

Operational partners: Airbus, EUROCONTROL’s Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) and NORACON (1)

Ground Industry: Indra and Thales ATM

Airborne Industry: Honeywell, Thales Avionics and Airbus 

* About SESAR

 

The SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) joint undertaking is a public-private partnership created to provide improved control of the aircraft flying the skies of Europe, prevent crippling congestion and reduce the overall environmental impact of air transport. I4D is a project in this broad programme to achieve the goals of Sesar.

Airbus is a major contributor to all activities, and is leading the aircraft work package that defines onboard solutions to meet operational improvement targets identified in the SESAR master plan. 

http://www.sesarju.eu/programme/highlights/i-4d-flight

 

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(1) NORACON is a consortium of eight air navigation service providers: Austro Control and the North European ANS Providers (NEAP), Avinor (Norway), EANS (Estonia), Finavia (Finland), IAA (Ireland), ISAVIA (Iceland), LFV (Sweden) and Naviair (DK).  LFV and Naviair will participate in the I-4D flight trial.

source: airbus.com

Airbus to showcase latest products at Singapore Airshow

Highlighting civil and military products / ACJ318 on static display

Airbus will be a major participant at this year's Singapore Airshow, showcasing both its commercial and military transport products. The show takes place at Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore, 14 – 19 February 2012. 

Centre-stage at the Airbus exhibit, located at the stand of parent company EADS (H23), will be a large scale model of the all-new A350 XWB. Currently under development and scheduled to enter service in 2014, the A350 XWB will shape new levels of efficiency in the mid-size long range passenger market, using 25% less fuel than similar sized aircraft in-service today. 

Also on display will be a model of the A320neo. Set to enter service in 2015, this latest version of the A320 Family has become the fastest-selling airliner ever, with nearly 1,300 firm orders since its launch at the end of 2010. Featuring new engines and innovative wing tip Sharklets, the aircraft will deliver fuel-savings of 15 per cent, as well as a significantly reduced carbon and noise footprint. 

Visitors to the stand will also be able obtain information on the products offered by Airbus Military. These include the A330 MRTT multi-role tanker which first entered service last year and is proving to be the industry reference in its class, as well as the new A400M airlifter, on track for delivery on the turn of the year 2012-2013. The company’s range of light and medium transport aircraft will also be highlighted with a C295 surveillance aircraft model. 

Reflecting the important demand in Asia for private aircraft, Airbus will exhibit an ACJ318 on static display for the first time in Singapore. With the widest and tallest cabin of any private jet, this corporate version of Airbus’s smallest aircraft model features an attractive interior with a lounge area and a private office / sleeping area with en-suite bathroom. 

Airbus will also be present at the Green Pavilion, organised in association with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Here visitors will be able to get the latest information on the company's initiatives to ensure an eco-efficient future for the industry, including its latest work on alternative fuels and air traffic management. 

Airbus comes to the Singapore Airshow following the most successful year in its history, having recorded a total of 1,608 new firm orders for its civil product line and delivered 534 aircraft to airlines worldwide. The company has been especially successful in the Asia-Pacific region, where it has over 1,800 aircraft flying with 85 airlines and a backlog of orders for over 1,700 aircraft for future delivery. 

Notes for Editors

 

Airbus will hold the following media briefings on Wednesday 15 February at the show site:

10.00 – 11.30  Press Conference with Airbus Management

Commercial Update / Asia-Pacific Market Forecast

Conference Room 3, Main Exhibition Hall

14.00 – 14.45  Airbus Military Product Update

Conference Room 3, Main Exhibition Hall

source: airbus.com 

Air Namibia expands fleet with order for two A319s

Airbus eco-efficient aircraft to replace 737-500s

Air Namibia, the Windhoek based national airline of the Republic of Namibia, has ordered two new Airbus A319 aircraft.  Seating 112 passengers in a two class layout, the aircraft will bring new levels of comfort to regional routes from Windhoek to other major African cities.  

Air Namibia already operates two leased A319s on regional routes, and two A340-300 aircraft on its international route between Windhoek to Frankfurt, Germany.   Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crew and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings. 

“Our in-service experience with Airbus aircraft has confirmed that the A319 is the ideal aircraft for Air Namibia’s regional routes,” said Theo M. Namases, Acting CEO of Air Namibia.  “The efficiency of our new aircraft, together with their commonality with our existing fleet will provide a strong basis for our continued growth and contribution to the Namibian tourist industry.” 

“We are delighted to welcome Air Namibia as a new customer for the A320 family,” said John Leahy Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Air Namibia’s decision to invest in new A319s is a great endorsement for the efficiency of the aircraft and Airbus’ family concept.” 

The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Each aircraft features fly by wire controls and all share a unique cockpit and operational commonality across the range. 

More than 8,300 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and almost 5000 delivered to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. 

source: airbus.com

Airbus foresees demand for 400 new aircraft in Spain by 2030

Airbus Global Market Forecast underlines Spain’s position in world’s aviation market

According to Airbus´ forecast, air traffic in Spain will almost double by 2030.  Spanish airlines’ will need some 400 new passenger aircraft over the next 20 years. The total market value for the renewal and eco-efficient expansion of the Spanish passenger aircraft fleet is estimated at US$45 billion. The drive for these additional aircraft comes from the need to replace less efficient aircraft with more eco-efficient jets and from the growth in domestic and international air travel demand. The Airbus forecast reinforces Spain’s position in the global aviation market. 

The region’s passenger aircraft fleet of above 100 seats will have increased by 81%, from around 244 aircraft in 2010 to a total of 441 aircraft in 2030. Of today’s fleet 203 aircraft will be replaced with more eco-efficient types and 197 aircraft, nearly one half of the new aircraft demand, will be for growth to, from and within the Spanish market. 

More than three quarters (317) of the 400 new aircraft will be for the single-aisle segment, covered by aircraft such as Airbus’ benchmark fuel efficient A320 family, 58 will be twin-aisles, seating from 250 to 400 passengers, a segment which today includes Airbus’ A330/A340 family and, from 2014, will also include the A350XWB family. 25 will be in the very large aircraft segment (VLA). 

“Having a strong and vibrant aviation sector will make a real contribution to the short, medium and long term health of the Spanish economy, providing a real contribution to GDP, jobs and attractiveness for investment through international connectivity,” said Rafael Alonso, Airbus’ Executive Vice President, Customer Affairs.

 “Spain is a preferred destination for many international air travelers and as well one of the main hubs that connect Europe with Latin America. Low cost carriers will also play an important role in increasing passenger traffic in Spain.” 

Airbus has a long history with Spain’s aeronautical industry. Airbus’ operations in Spain are an important contributor to all Airbus aircraft programmes. This participation is of mutual benefit, both for Airbus and Spain’s economy. In terms of employment, at the end of 2011, Airbus Operations Spain and Airbus Military had together a workforce of some 7,500 employees.

 In 2012, they expect to hire about 400 new people, part of the overall new recruitment of more than 4,000 for 2012 announced by Airbus recently. About 1,000 Spanish companies are directly or indirectly suppliers to Airbus.

source: airbus.com

THAI signs Flight Hour Services with Airbus for its A380 fleet

Securing highest service levels for Thai Airways’ daily A380 operations

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW – Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a ‘Flight Hour Services -Tailored Support Package’ contract with Airbus to provide aircraft inventory and maintenance support for its A380 fleet. 

The contract, which will run for 15 years, provides an extensive scope of A380 line replaceable units and spare parts availability, component repairs, logistics services, and tools availability, as well as APU and nacelle services to Thai Airways. A dedicated Airbus on-site team will assist Thai Airways’ daily spares management ensuring reliable on-time aircraft operations. 

Captain Montree Jumrieng, Managing Director of Thai Airways Technical Department said: “This long-term commitment recognises our confidence in Airbus to deliver the best possible service for our new flagship product. Airbus has developed a customised and tailored offer to perfectly match our operational needs. Having the Airbus supporting our aircraft inventory and maintenance will thus enable us to optimise our A380 daily operations around the world.” 

Didier Lux, EVP Customer Services at Airbus said: “We are delighted to welcome Thai Airways International as our newest FHS customer. This is a real sign of trust from the national airline of Thailand, and the start of a long term and successful relationship. We are committed to providing highest quality tailored services to our customer to secure their operational needs by bringing Airbus experience and expertise.” 

THAI is one of the longest standing Airbus customers in Asia, having ordered its first A300B4 in April 1977, and today operates almost 50 Airbus aircraft. The airline will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. THAI has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its premier routes from Bangkok to Europe. 

Airbus FHS contracts have now been selected to cover almost 100 aircraft from operators of A330, A340 and A380 aircraft. This new contract reinforces Airbus position on the A380 maintenance market, having now FHS contracts to support 41 aircraft.

source: airbus.com

February 29, 2012

February 29, 2012, a special day for the year 2012, because date comes four years (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, etc...)