AirAsia was in talks to buy the proposed A321XLR, ahead of a
possible formal announcement at the Paris Airshow in June 2019.
The carrier will upsize its future Airbus single aisle fleet, converting
253 orders for the A320neo to the larger A321neo version.
AirAsia Group entered into an agreement with AirAsia X (Malaysia)
to lease one A330-300 on a wet-lease basis during May and June 2019.
AirAsia Group plans to sell another 19 aircraft in 2019 as it moves
to an asset-light business model. Its management expects to raise
around US$361 million from the sale/leaseback of those remaining 19
aircraft. The Group said a substantial number of the aircraft in the
Group for 2019 are bound for AirAsia India, as it expects to see some
changes in India’s operating landscape in the near future.
AirAsia Group provided financial assistance in the form of US$9.1
million and $18.2 million loan to AirAsia Japan in 1Q19 in the ordinary
course of business and to facilitate the running of the operations and
financial affairs of AAJ.AirAsia India [I5/IAD] [India] has dropped its plan to lease B737s of
grounded Jet Airways (India) as the carrier wants to continue with one
type of aircraft.
AirAsia India plans to begin international operations in October
2019, flying to Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and others.AirAsia Philippines [PQ/APG] [Philippines] is now controlled by F&S
Holdings (Philippines), which increased its stake in the airline to 44.4%
and became the single largest shareholder in the carrier ahead of its
planned IPO in 4Q19. The value of the deal was not disclosed. The IPO
is expected to raise about US$200 million, with Citigroup (US) as the
financial advisor. The funds will be used for aircraft acquisitions and
additional working capital.AirAsia X [D7/XAX] [Malaysia] and AFI KLM E&M are extending their
longstanding support partnership for the A330 fleet to include the
A330neo aircraft, soon to be deployed by the airline group.
AirAsia X is expected to use its incoming A330neo on long-haul
services to Europe and/or US from 2020.Alaska Airlines [AS/ASA] [US]
05Aug19 Orange County SNA Los Cabos SJD M,W,F,Su Cancelled
06Aug19 Orange County SNA Puerto Vallarta PVR Tu,Th,Sa Cancelled
26Aug19 onwards Seattle PAE Phoenix PHX 2× Daily E75
05Nov19 onwards Seattle PAE Palm Springs PSP Daily E75
Alaska Airlines re-opened reservation for flights scheduled with
Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, after the airline briefly removed the listing
for a week in late-April/early-May. The airline tentatively schedules
Boeing 737 MAX 9 service on following routes, from 27Aug19, instead
of previously listed 15Aug19:- Seattle – Los Angeles AS428/349
- Seattle – San Diego AS418/539 (Inaugural flight)
Air Premia [South Korea] will have to reapply for its business licence,
as it was cancelled by regulators because the airline switched CEOs
without the proper disclosure.
Air Senegal [SZN] [Senegal] will shortly take delivery of its third
A319, serial 3078. A fourth A319, also coming from Iberia (Spain), is
expected to join the fleet in the coming weeks, using the registration
6V-AMC.
Air Serbia [JU/ASL] [Serbia] has finalised the wet-lease of an A320
from Etihad (UAE), with the aircraft now in service.
The carrier has signed a long-term lease with Avolon (Ireland) for
one A319, serial 2032, with delivery expected soon.
Air Serbia planned to launch 21 new routes from mid July 2019, 18
of them on a year-round basis and three seasonally. Flights from Nis
to Bologna, Tivat, Hanover, Gothenburg, Hahn and Nuremberg began
July 2019, followed by flights to Budapest, Ljubljana, Salzburg, Rome,
Baden Baden and Friedrichshafen in early August 2019.
Air Europa and Air Serbia have expanded their codeshare
partnership, covering additional routes via Madrid, as well as service
between Serbia and Spain during the summer 2019 season:
Air Serbia operated by Air Europa (from 15Apr19 or earlier):
- Madrid – A Coruna, Madrid – Asturias, Madrid – Bilbao, Madrid –
Ibiza, Madrid – Lisbon, Madrid – Palma Mallorca, Madrid – Seville,
Madrid – Tenerife North, Madrid – Vigo
airBaltic and Air Serbia have expanded their codeshare network,
covering additional routes via Belgrade and Riga. Certain codeshare
routes commenced on 15Apr19 (or earlier), while others will commence
from June 2019:
Air Serbia operated by airBaltic:
- Riga – Helsinki, Riga – Kiev Borispil, Riga – Zurich
Air Serbia has increased its Belgrade – London Heathrow service, with
overall operation increasing from 9 to 16 weekly. Additional services
have been operated by Airbus A319, effective from 19May19.
Air Tanzania [TC/ATC] [Tanzania]
28Jun19-15Jul19 Dar es Salaam DAR Johannesburg JNB M,W,F,Su 788
16Jul19 onwards Dar es Salaam DAR Johannesburg JNB M,W,F,Su 223
17Jul19 onwards Dar es Salaam DAR Mumbai BOM W,F,Su (*) 788
Dar es Salaam – Johannesburg was last served until Feb 2009
Dar es Salaam – Mumbai was last served until May 1992
AirAsia [AK/AXM] [Malaysia] and CFM (US) have finalised an
agreement for the purchase of 200 LEAP-1A engines to power the
airline’s 100 A321neos from a 2016 order. AirAsia also expanded its
20-year RPFH agreement to encompass its entire fleet of 808 LEAP-1A
engines for a combined total value of US$23.1 billion at list price.
CRJ-200ER HL8298 (7834) of Air Pohang at Toronto Pearson on 9th June 2019. [Hawthorn Photography]