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Scramble 459
new airline is planning to operate a single A319 and is con-
sidering flights to Amsterdam, Brindisi, Cagliari, Casablanca,
Catania, Lamezia Terme, Lampedusa, Olbia and Palermo. If
all things go well, the airline should be up and running in
September.
Portugal
Last month we reported that Hi Fly ordered two A330-200s
and that the planes will be used to replace the airline’s A340-
300s. Now we can report however that these planes will be
operated by Hi Fly for Nepal Airlines.
Russia
VEB Leasing and Aeroflot signed a lease agreement for
twenty SSJs. All new planes should be delivered by the end
of next year.
Next to ordering new B737-800s at Boeing earlier this year,
Pobeda will also lease an additional eighteen B737-800s. Eight
will be leased from BOC Aviation, while ten will be leased,
via mother Aeroflot, from SB Leasing Ireland. Five of the new
planes are to be delivered this year, three next year and the
remaining aircraft between 2018-2019.
The Ilyushin Finance Company and Red Wings signed a lease
agreement for sixteen MC-21s. The first plane is due in 2019.
VIM Airlines and the Ilyushin Finance Company agreed on
a lease agreement for fifteen MC-21s. The deal was signed
during the MAKS Airshow and the new planes will be deliv-
ered between 2021 and 2024.
Spain
BOC Aviation and Air Europa signed a lease agreement for
four new B787-9s, which should be delivered in 2019.
Start-up carrier Gowair has taken delivery of its first A320
which should be plying the skies by the time you read this.
IAG and Airbus announced that they agreed on an order for
seventeen A320neos and three A321neos for Iberia. The first
delivery should take place next year and the new planes will
be used to replace the airline’s oldest A320-family aircraft in
the fleet.
Sweden
BRA –Braathens Regional Airlines has once again decided to
defer delivery of their ten C-Series. The airline was set to take
delivery of their first plane back in 2015, but decided to defer
to the end of this year/early next year due to engine issues
with the aircraft. Now the airline has decided to postpone the
deliveries due to the uncertainty of the new Swedish govern-
ment planning to impose a steep environmental tax on all
sold air tickets from 1 April 2018.
Switzerland
powdair is a new airline in the planning. The airline is now
in the process of obtaining its AOC and has applied for one
in Ireland. The new airline is planning to operate two wet-
leased ERJ170s out of Sion to Antwerp, Bristol, Edinburgh,
Hamburg, London-Luton, London-Southend, Manchester and
Southampton. powdair hopes to be operational in the winter
of this year.
On 14 August Swiss will have flown its last RJ100-flight and
will phase out their last two RJ100s.
Turkey
Turkish Airlines is rumoured to be in talks with both Etihad
and Qatar to wet-lease several B787s. The new planes would
be used on destinations where the range of the B777-300ER is
wanted, but not the capacity.
United Kingdom
To prepare itself for the upcoming Brexit, easyJet has founded
a European sister carrier in Austria, called easyJet Europe.
The new company will operate up to 160 aircraft. The airline
also announced that the move will cost UK-jobs.
Africa
Niger
Niger Airlines is planning to acquire two ATR72-500s, which
would be used to replace the airline’s two Fokker 50s. The
airline is also planning to add two A320s for destinations in
Africa in 2019. As of 2022 Niger Airlines is thinking about a
pair of A330s to operate longhaul flights to Brussels, Paris and
Dubai.
Tunisia
At the end of this year, Syphax Airlines should return to the
skies. The airline has reached several deals with its creditors
and is planning to operate two leased CRJ900s.
Zimbabwe
Air Zimbabwe has been replaced by the government by new
airline Zimbabwe Airways. The airline has taken delivery of
a former Malaysia B777-200ER and will deploy the aircraft to
Guangzhou and London-Gatwick.
Middle East
Iran
Boeing and Qeshm Air signed a memorandum of understand-
ing for an order for ten B737MAXs and five B737-800s. The
-800s should be delivered as of next year, while the MAXs will
start arriving in 2022.
Israel
El Al has announced that it has entered an agreement with
IDB Development to take over Israir. Israir will be merged
into El Al and its fleet of two A320s and two ATR72s will be
sold to an investment company and leased back. The deal
should be finalized before the end of this year.
Jordan
Royal Jordanian has doubled its cargo-fleet to two aircraft
with the addition of a former Malaysia Airlines A330-200F.
Kuwait
After a six year pause, Wataniya Airways has restarted opera-
tions with a single A320. The first flight was to Tbilisi.
Qatar
Citing delays in the deliveries, Qatar Airways has cancelled
four A350-900s at Airbus. In the meantime the airline ordered
two B747-8Fs at Boeing.
Oceania
Fiji
Fiji Airlines has started evaluations on a possible replacement
for their four A330s. Under consideration are the A350 and
the B787. The airline is seeking new widebodies as it wants
to expand its international network. A final decision is not
expected before the end of this year.
Asia
China
China Aviation Supplies Holding Company has ordered one
hundred A320-family aircraft, as well as forty A350s. The
actual operators of the planes have not been disclosed yet.
Lucky Air will add four B737 MAX 8s in 2018 and 2019.
Yangtze River Airlines will be rebranded Suparna Airlines in
the near future.
India
IndiGo has grounded at least seven A320neos, due to ongoing
engine issues. Pratt & Whitney has a hard time to replace
older and underperforming engines of Neos, which are
already in service, as they can barely cope with engine sup-
plies to newer Neos coming off the production line.
Jet Airways hasn’t been happy with its fleet of ATR72s for
some time and is trying to find interested parties, as the
airline would rather standardize domestic operations with
