Vietnam Airlines [VN/HVN] [Vietnam] has submitted proposals for a
100‑aircraft purchase to the government for approval. The carrier is
evaluating the A320neo family and B737 MAX to meet the narrowbody
requirement of 50 firm and 50 options.
The carrier expects to complete its 20 A321neo fleet in 2H19, as
well as take delivery and operate the first three B787‑10s and finalise
the investment plan of 50 narrowbody aircraft for the 2021‑2025
period.
Vietnam Airlines will lease two A320neos from Air Lease Corp for
delivery Autumn 2020.
20Jul19 onwards Da Nang DAD Busan PUS Tu,Sa 321
01Aug19 onwards Ho Chi Minh City SGN Haikou HAKTh,Su (*) 321
16Aug19‑27Aug19 Da Nang DAD Tokyo NRT Daily 359 (x321)
Air France and Vietnam Airlines have expanded their reciprocal
codeshare partnership, covering domestic routes in France and
Vietnam. The following codeshare routes went into effect from 01Jul19
(or earlier).
Vietnam Airlines operated by Air France:- Paris CDG – Biarritz, Paris CDG – Brest, Paris CDG – Clermont‑
Ferrand, Paris CDG – Lorient, Paris CDG – Nantes, Paris CDG – Pau,
Paris CDG – Perpignan, Paris CDG – Rennes, Paris CDG – Toulon.
Vietravel Airlines [Vietnam] has submitted its application for an
operating licence in June 2019, with an investment of around US$43
million.VIM Airlines [ZT/MOV] [Russia] had its asset inventory extended by
the courts for six months, as a motion lodged by an insolvency
practitioner of the air carrier was granted.Vinpearl Air [Vietnam] plans to launch as a new airline in the
Southeast Asian country, with US$56 million from 45% stakeholder
and parent Vingroup (Vietnam). The remaining shares are owned by
individual investors.Virgin Atlantic [VS/VIR] [UK] plans a A350‑1000 service, currently
scheduled for London Heathrow – New York JFK route from 10Sep19.
The airline may introduce services from London to Cape Town, and
Norwegian is also studying the route.
10Sep19 onwards London LHR New York JFK Daily xTh 351 (x346)
27Oct19 onwards London LHR Delhi DEL Daily 789 (x333)
27Oct19 onwards London LHR Mumbai BOM Daily 789
02Dec19‑04Dec19 Glasgow GLA Orlando MCO Sa 332 (x744)
Virgin Atlantic has expanded its codeshare partnership with flyBe,
covering additional routes from Glasgow, London and Manchester.
Approximately from 05Jun19 or earlier, the new codeshare routes cover
the following:
Virgin Atlantic operated by flyBe:- Glasgow – Exeter, London City – Dusseldorf, London City –
Edinburgh, London Heathrow – Guernsey, London Heathrow – Isle
of Man, Manchester – Isle of Man, Manchester – Luxembourg
Virgin Australia [DJ/VOZ] [Australia] has been given approval to
establish a deeper partnership with Virgin Atlantic (UK) on flights
between Australia and the UK and Ireland.Vistara [UK/VTI] [India]
06Aug19 onwards Delhi DEL Singapore SIN Daily 738
07Aug19 onwards Mumbai BOM Singapore SIN Daily 738
Vistara has commenced Boeing 737‑800 operations, initially
operating service to/from Delhi and Mumbai. Effective since 10Jun19,
Boeing 737 operations include the following:- Delhi – Amritsar: 1 daily
- Delhi – Chandigarh: 2 daily (1 on Sundays)
- Delhi – Guwahati: 1 daily
- Mumbai – Bangalore: 1 daily
- Mumbai – Chennai: 1 daily
- Mumbai – Goa: 1 daily
- Mumbai – Hyderabad: 1 daily
- Mumbai – Kolkata: 2 daily
The airline expects the first set of CRJ550s to enter service later in
2019 with focus on Chicago and New York. The incremental order of 20
new E175s also begins delivering from mid 2020; it has taken options
on a further 19.
United Airlines may not receive complete delivery of its B737 MAX
even by in 2020, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the
aircraft’s return to service. It was expecting 16 MAX aircraft in 2019.
United Airlines has agreed to codeshare with Vistara from autumn
2019, giving it access to more than 20 Indian destinations.
31Jul19 onwards
(x03Jul19 onwards)Newark EWR Delhi DEL Daily^777
06Sep19 onwards Newark EWR Mumbai BOM Daily 777
27Oct19 onwards San Francisco SFO Hong Kong HKG2× Daily
(+1 daily)
77727Oct19 Guam GUM Hong Kong HKG 4× Weekly Cancelled
28Oct19 onwards Guam GUM Nagoya NGO 2× Daily (+3 flights) 737
05Dec19 onwards San Francisco SFO Delhi DEL Unknown 789
Ural Airlines [U6/SVR] [Russia] will receive its first A321neo, serial
8955, in September 2019, which is equipped with LEAP‑1A32 engines.
The airline plans to receive the first of 14 previously ordered B737 MAX
for leasing in December 2019.
27May19‑21Sep19 Moscow ZIA Paris CDG Tu,Th,Su Suspended
17Sep19 onwards
(x02Jul19 onwards)Moscow DME Mumbai BOM Tu,W,Th,Sa (*) 32127Oct19 onwards Moscow ZIA London STN M,W,F,Su 320Utair [UT/UTA] [Russia] has agreed to restructure its debt, amounting
to more than US$207 million.
The carrier is being sued by Nico Bank (Russia) for US$1.4 million
over debt. The case will be considered in the arbitration court of
Moscow.
Utair has won its court dispute against IrAero (Russia) for a debt of
US$200,000.
30Aug19 Ufa UFA Vienna VIE M,F 735
Uzbekistan Airways [HY/] [Uzbekistan] plans to lease in smaller
aircraft in the 70‑90 seat range for domestic LCC operations It plans to
acquire two aircraft every year, bringing the total fleet to 38 by 2025.
The carrier will transform into a hybrid airline by end of 2019,
based on recommendations by the World Bank (US).
11Jul19 onwards Tashkent TAS Frankfurt FRA M,Th 789 (x767)
26Jul19 onwards Karshi KSQ Moscow VKO Sa 320
17Aug19‑24Oct19
Tashkent TAS‑
Frankfurt FRAUrgench UGC‑
Tashkent TAS Sa^789
07Oct19 onwards
(x28Oct19 onwards)Tashkent TAS Frankfurt FRA M,Th,Sa
763/789
(x763)Specific dates Tashkent TAS London LHR
16Aug19,
13Sep19,
04/11/18oct19767 (x757)Uzbekistan Airways has released its service adjustment for the
Tashkent – Paris CDG route. In the winter 2019/20 season, this route
will be served by a mix of Airbus A320neo and Boeing 757.
V Fly Air [Tunisia] plans to launch operations by the end of 2019 with
a fleet of A320s flying charters from Africa to Europe, and ACMI
operations to Asia. The startup carrier is owned by Victory Aviation
Consulting.
Via Air [VC/SRY] [USA] has been purchased by Ashley Air, an Atlanta‑
based business charter broker which has promised significant financial
investment.
Vietjet Air [VJ/VJC] [Vietnam] has increased its stake in Saigon
Ground Services (Vietnam) to 9.1%, in s deal valued at US$$6.05
million, making it the third‑largest shareholder in the company.
Vietjet has signed an MOU with Novus for 10 narrow bodies.
27Oct19 onwards Da Nang DAD Tokyo HND Daily 321