Finnair (Helsinki) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BOC Aviation Pte Ltd (Singapore) to lease four new Airbus A321-200 narrow-body aircraft.
BOC Aviation is a subsidiary of Bank of China, specializing in aircraft leasing. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery to Finnair during the first half of 2017. The lease agreements have a minimum term of eight years.
The airline continued;
In November, Finnair had announced the temporary damp-lease of two A321 aircraft from summer 2016 onwards. This arrangement is intended to cover the transitional period until the delivery of the four A321 aircraft now dry-leased from BOC Aviation for the longer term.
The transactions are part of Finnair’s fleet renewal, the first phase of which consists of replacing aging long-haul A340 wide-body aircraft with modern A350s. With a view to the growing long-haul traffic, feeder capacity is increased by adding seats to existing narrowbody aircraft and replacing some smaller aircraft with larger ones over the next few years. The A321 is Airbus’ largest narrow-body passenger aircraft, and the Finnair configuration will feature 209 seats.
The sale of four surplus aircraft
In the same context, Finnair sells surplus aircraft in accordance with its fleet plan to various buyers. The agreements or MOUs concern one ATR turboprop aircraft used in regional traffic, and two Embraer E170 regional jet aircraft, which will be retired from Finnair and Norra’s traffic in January-February 2016 and subsequently delivered to the buyers.
In addition, Finnair will sell an old A340 wide-body aircraft for part-out in the first half of 2016.
The sale transactions do not have a significant impact on profit and loss.
World Airline News and/or Business Wire
ANA All Nippon Airways to order A380
TOKYO — ANA Holdings will order three Airbus A380s as it seeks to expand international service amid a peaking market for domestic flights.
The deal, worth around 150 billion yen ($1.23 billion) based on the market price, would make ANA the first Japanese airline to add the superjumbos to its fleet. The planes are to be introduced in fiscal 2018 in routes to Hawaii and elsewhere.
The double-decker A380 is the world’s largest passenger jet, capable of seating over 500 people. The plane’s carrying capacity reportedly lowers the transportation cost per seat by 15% compared with other jetliners.
The A380 first found a home with Singapore Airlines in 2007 and later was adopted by Germany’s Lufthansa and Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates.
ANA leads domestically in passenger count on international flights, having outpaced Japan Airlines in 2014. But ANA provides only about 20% of the seats for all Tokyo-Hawaii flights, trailing JAL’s roughly 35% share.
About 1.5 million people fly from Japan to Hawaii in a given year, filling 80-90% of seats per flight on average among all carriers. The A380 can seat more than double the passengers of ANA’s existing aircraft bound for Hawaii, which would help the airline increase its share of travelers.
Domestic rival Skymark Airlines ordered six A380s in 2011, but Airbus canceled the deal in 2014, citing delays in receiving advance payments and other issues. It proved to be a factor in Skymark filing for bankruptcy protection in January 2015 and ANA sponsoring the subsequent rehabilitation. ANA indicated to Airbus the possibility of future orders in return for supporting the Japanese carrier’s turnaround plan during an August vote among creditors.
Nikkei Asian Review
Fiji Airways gets first Airbus A330-300
Update:6:30PM PRESIDENT Jioje Konrote will bring Fiji Airway’s brand new Airbus A330-300 aircraft home tomorrow.
The aircraft is scheduled to touchdown at Nadi International Airport at 10am.
The aircraft will be met by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, ministers and Fiji Airways board, management and staff.
The aircraft has the ability to carry 289 passengers in economy class and 24 business class passengers as opposed to the Airbus A330-200 series aircraft Fiji Airways currently operates which seats 12 passengers in business class and 249 in economy.
The aircraft will be accorded traditional ceremonies of welcome when it arrives.
The leased Airbus A330-300 is expected to enter service next month after clearing local civil aviation requirements.
The Fiji Times
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