Newcastle’s Masterplan
Newcastle International Airport revealed
on May 10 a new Masterplan 2035. The
strategy, which is based upon a “high
forecast growth scenario”, also introduces
mechanisms to ensure the facility can
continue to deliver improved connectivity“to ensure passengers don’t need to travel
to airports outside of the region” – including
the ability to handle up to 9.4m travellers
by 2035, up from the current gure of
5.35m. Also, the new masterplan provides
information about a potential 2,300ft (700m)runway extension at the eastern end of the
existing air eld.
The proposals are now subject to
public consultation – expected to run until
September 13 – after which a nal, updated
strategy will be adopted.Qantas has ordered six additional Boeing
787-9s for its international network
operations, which will bring the Australian
carrier’s Dreamliner eet to 14 by the end
of 2020.
Their arrival will accelerate retirement
of the airline’s last Boeing 747s – which
have served, through several different
variants, since 1971. The company says
it will also be investing in an additional
787 simulator to help train more pilots;
it will be incorporated into the newQantas Group pilot academy set to open
next year.
Alan Joyce, Qantas Group’s CEO,
remarked: “This really is the end of one
era and the start of another. The jumbo jet
has been the backbone of our international
services for more than 40 years and it’s
tting that its retirement is going to coincide
with our centenary in 2020.
“The 787 has better economics and
a longer range, and it’s already opening
up new routes, such as Perth to London.With a larger eet of Dreamliners, we’ll be
looking at new destinations in the Americas,
Asia, South Africa and Europe.”
To date, Qantas has taken delivery of
four 787-9s, with four more due to arrive
before the end of 2018. The six latest
orders should be handed over between
late 2019 and mid-2020, while the ten
747-400s left in service will be steadily
retired – the rst is set to leave in July,
with the last due to follow at the end
of the year 2020.Qantas is increasing its 787-
eet, enabling it to retire its
remaining 747s. QantasQantas Buys More Dreamliners
Düsseldorf-based carrier Azur Air – owned
by Turkish corporation the Anex Tourism
Group – has added Boeing 737-900ER
D-AZUG to its eet. Previously used by LionAir, it’s the rst 737-900ER to be operated by
the German company.CIVIL NEWS
6 Aviation News incorporating Jets July 2018Boeing 737-900ER D-AZUG at Palma de
Mallorca on May 9. Javier RodríguezAzur Air Addition
CIVIL ORDERS
Purchaser Aircraft Number Order Placed Notes
Ethiopian Airlines Q400 10 April 27 The carrier has also added purchase rights for an additional fi ve
Qantas 787-9 6 May 2 See news story
American Airlines CRJ900 15 May 3 The agreement also includes options on an additional 15 CRJ900s
African Aero Trading Q400 6 May 5 See news story
Lufthansa Group 777 4 May 8 See news story
Lufthansa Group A320neo 6 May 28 Lufthansa fi rmed up a previous option for six further A320neos
Air Baltic CS300 30 May 29 Purchase rights for an additional 30 of the same type declaredFirefi ghting Firm
Orders Five Viking
CL-415EAFs
Specialist aerial services company
Bridger Aerospace of Bozeman, Montana,
has signed a purchase agreement for up
to ve Viking CL-415 Enhanced Aerial
Fire ghter aircraft – with the rst two
scheduled for delivery in early 2020 –
becoming the rst multiple-aircraft launch
customer for the type.
To begin the CL-415EAF programme,
11 specially selected Canadair CL-215s
will be supplied by Longview Aviation
Asset Management (LAAM) of Calgary,
Alberta, and will undergo the modi cation
process at LAAM’s Calgary facilities using
Viking-supplied conversion kits.
Enhancements include a new
integrated digital avionics suite, Pratt
& Whitney PW123AF turbine engines,
increased re-retardant capacity and
improvements to aircraft systems.06-09_civil_newsDC.mfDC.mfDCDC.indd 6 08/06/2018 12: