http://www.airlinerworld.com 19News Review • A s i a / P a c i fi c
Air Transport Services Group has
delivered, through its ATSG West Leasing
subsidiary, the first of two Boeing 767-
converted freighters to Air Incheon. The
aircraft, HL8319 (c/n 25202), was handed
over on April 5 and will be operated by the
South Korean carrier under a six-year dry-
lease agreement. The second freighter is
currently undergoing modification and will
be delivered under a similar deal in the
second half of 2018. Air Incheon currently
operates two Boeing 737 freighters from its
Incheon International base and has a third
example being converted by ATSG’s Pemco
World Air Services division.India’s Zoom Air, which launched its first
services on February 15, has signed a
dry-lease agreement with fellow Delhi-
based carrier Club One Air for a Canadair
CRJ200. The airline currently operates
three CRJ200s also on dry-leases from
Magpie Aviation (2) and Regional One and
this fourth example will be deployed on its
UDAN flights – the regional connectivity
scheme established by the Government of
India – in the country’s northeast region.Philippine Airlines (PAL) is boosting its
regional operations with the arrival of 15
new aircraft this year. Under the carrier’s
multi-hub expansion strategy, PAL aims
to improve domestic and international
connections. New routes and increases
to frequencies are being introduced as the
flag carrier takes delivery of five additional
next-generation Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s
and six Airbus A321neos starting in May.
In June, it will also receive the first of four
A350-900s for use on its long-haul network.
A further six aircraft – another two each of
Q400s, A321neos and A350-900s – are due
to arrive next year.The Eastern Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan’s
flag carrier Drukair has signed a purchase
agreement for a single Airbus A320neo.
The aircraft will be powered by CFM LEAP-
1A26E1 engines which have been optimised
for high-altitude operations and will join
three existing A319s that operate out of the
carrier’s base in Paro. The facility at Paro is
located at an altitude of 7,300ft (2,225m)
and is surrounded by high mountains,
making one of the world’s most challenging
airports to reach.Far Eastern Air Transport (FEAT) has
selected the Boeing 737 MAX 8 for its
fleet renewal programme, Swiss airline
intelligence provider ch-aviation reports.
The Taiwanese carrier’s general manager
said it will introduce a total of 11 of the
type, with the first two set to arrive in
November and December 2019. Thereafter,
FEAT will introduce two MAXs each year and
replacing its existing fleet of five McDonnell
Douglas MD-82s and tree MD-83s.in brief
New Trans-Tasman Routes
AIR NEW Zealand (ANZ) is planning
to launch two new routes across the
Tasman Sea from December this year,
in a move it reports will add an extra
15% seat capacity year-on-year. It
will operate a four times weekly link
between Queenstown and Brisbane
and a five-times a week service
between Wellington and Brisbane. In
addition, ANZ is increasing capacity
into and out of Christchurch from
October, moving to double daily
services on peak days both to
Melbourne and to Brisbane, as well
as double daily between Monday and
Friday to Sydney.
The move comes after the announce-
ment that the New Zealand flag carrier
is to end its trans-Tasman alliance with
Virgin Australia in October, after a sev-
en-year partnership. Current regula-
tory approval for the alliance expires
at the end of that month and neither
plans to apply for a renewal.Cam Wallace, Air New Zealand’s Chief
Revenue Officer, said: “Market dynam-
ics on the Tasman have changed and
the time is now right for each airline to
focus on its own objectives. Australia
is the largest source of inbound visi-
tors to New Zealand and we have built
up a significant presence in this mar-
ket. We remain fully committed to our
other alliance relationships and our
global airline alliance strategy is a criti-
cal success factor in other markets.”Work Starts on Mumbai’s New Airport
THE FOUNDATION stone has been laid
at the new Navi Mumbai International
Airport by Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. The facility,
which is intended to bring relief to the
city’s congested Chhatrapati Shivaji
International, will be located 22 miles
(35km) to the south of the existing
airport and is scheduled to open in- The state-run City Industrial
Development Corporation (CIDCO)
in partnership with GVK Power and
Infrastructure are responsible for
the new airport’s construction
which is estimated to cost RS16,
crore ($2.6bn).
However, it hasn’t been a smooth ride
to reach this point. The project was ini-
tially launched in 1997, but has been
beset by protests claiming the site
selected involves land reclamation of
a coastal area that has a fragile ecol-
ogy. The new facility is being built on
a 7,200-acre (2,900ha) site and willaffect the residents of ten villages,
although the CIDCO is working to
relocate them. The first phase of the
project that will be completed next
year, will see the first of two parallel
12,467ft (3,800m) runways and a pas-
senger terminal capable of handling
ten million passengers per annum
operational. By 2022, capacity will be
increased to 25 million and will rise to
60 million by the time the fourth phase
of development is completed in 2031.ANA Signs for 777Fs
JAPANESE CARRIER All Nippon
Airways (ANA) has placed an order
for two Boeing 777 Freighters, val-
ued at $678m at list prices. ANA plans
to operate the aircraft on routes from
Japan to Asia and North America.
Hiroshi Sugiguchi, Vice-President,Corporate Planning & Administration,
ANA Cargo, said: “Air cargo is an
essential part of global trade growth.
We are committed to playing a critical
role in further advancing Japan’s eco-
nomic growth through trade and these
new freighter airplanes will help usaccomplish our goal. ANA will ensure
that our cargo operations reflect the
five-star service that we have garnered
over the past several years.” The 777F
can fly 4,900nm (9,070km) with a pay-
load of 112 tons (102 metric tonnes).
(Photo Boeing)Japan Airlines is showing its support again for the Japanese national football team by painting one of its Boeing 777-200s with a special livery enti-
tled Samurai Blue 2018. The aircraft, JA8979 (c/n 27638), received its new colour scheme during April and will promote the team’s participation in
the 2018 FIFA World Cup being played in Russia from June 14 to July 15. AVIATION IMAGE NETWORK/BAOLUOSamurai Blue