United 747s to Retire by End of 2017
United Airlines’ last Boeing 747s will be
retired by the end of 2017, a year earlier than
planned.
In a message to employees on January
11, company President Scott Kirby revealed
that the carrier will bring forward the
retirement of the 20-strong eet: “As deeply
connected as we all are to this iconic aircraft,
the time has come to retire our 747 eet fromscheduled service.
“It’s a bittersweet milestone – this jumbo
jet with its unmistakable silhouette once
represented the state of the art in air travel.
Today, there are more fuel-efficient, cost-
effective and reliable widebody aircraft that
provide an updated in- ight experience for
our customers travelling on long-haul ights.”
United introduced the 747 in 1970, yingbetween California and Hawaii but, with a
major overhaul of its long-haul eet under
way, the type is set to be replaced by a
newer generation of aircraft.
The airline has 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliners
in service and has just taken delivery of its
rst two 777-300ERs (N2331U and N2332U).
It also has 35 Airbus A350-1000s on order,
with deliveries due to begin next year.Kuwait Airways has introduced a new livery
on a pair of newly delivered Boeing 777-
300ERs. Aircraft 9K-AOC visited London’sHeathrow Airport on the KU101 service from
Kuwait City on January 17 and 9K-AOD ew
the sector for the rst time on January 22.Boeing 777-300ER 9K-AOC approaches
Heathrow on January 17 in Kuwait Airways’
latest livery. Richard VandervordCIVIL NEWS
6 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2017Kuwait Airways New Livery
Widerøe Opts
for Embraer
E2s
Norwegian-based regional carrier Widerøe
concluded a deal to acquire up to 15
Embraer E-Jet-E2s on January 17. The
contract is valued at up to $873m and
includes three rm orders for the E190-E2,
along with purchase options for an
additional 12 E2 family aircraft.
Widerøe will con gure its incoming E2s,
deliveries of which are planned for 2018, in
a 114-seat, single-class layout. The deal
increases Embraer’s backlog for the E2 to
275 rm orders, plus 415 commitments.
Commenting on the agreement,
Embraer Commercial Aviation’s Chief
Commercial Officer Arjan Meijer said:
“It’s always an important moment for us
when we add a new airline to our family of
operators. It’s even better to be part of a
step change in that customer’s operations- our next-generation E190-E2s will also
be the rst jets in Widerøe’s eet.”
Regional carrier, Island Air, took delivery of
the rst of three 78-seat Bombardier Dash
8-Q400 turboprops on December 20. The
aircraft is leased via Irish rm Elix Aviation
Capital.
The Hawaiian-based airline’s CEO and
President David Uchiyama noted: “As we
look to expand our regional route network
and connect local residents and visitors
across the islands, the reliable, operationally
exible and cost-efficient Q400 turboprop is
the perfect choice to take our airline to the
next level.
“Additionally, the comprehensive support
from Bombardier in acquiring the aircraft andintegrating them into our network recon rms
our decision to utilise this manufacturer.”
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
President Fred Cromer commented: “The
technologically advanced, environmentally
friendly Q400 aircraft is ideal for operations
in Hawaii’s hot, humid, topographically
diverse landscape and will serve Island
Air well as it strives to achieve its business
objectives.”First Island Air Q400 Delivered
Bombardier Dash 8-Q400NG C-FRZC
takes off on its rst test ight from Toronto
Downsview Airport on December 9. It is the
rst of three new Q400NGs for Island Air and
is named Ola Kupono. Andrew H Cline06-08_10_civil_newsDC.mfDC.indd 6 05/02/2017 19: