http://www.airlinerworld.com 17News Review • A s i a / P a c i fi c
Dublin-based Ansett Worldwide Aviation
Services (AWAS) has agreed a lease for
two new Airbus A320s to Chinese carrier
Air Guilin. Both aircraft will be delivered
next year as part of a direct order with the
European manufacturer. The latest additions
to the Air Guilin A320 Family fleet will help
the airline capitalise on China’s increasing
domestic demand for leisure and business
air travel.
Cathay Pacific, which currently owns 60%
of cargo firm Air Hong Kong, says it will
purchase the remaining 40% stake from its
partner, freight forwarder DHL Group,
according to Swiss airline intelligence
provider ch-aviation. In a Hong Kong Stock
Exchange disclosure on July 7, Cathay Pacific
said it had entered into a non-binding
memorandum of understanding with DHL
Group that will take effect on December 2018
and will bring an end to their joint venture
partnership. Also under the terms of the deal
Air Hong Kong and DHL Group will enter into
a sale/leaseback transaction for the carrier’s
eight Airbus A300-600Fs.
SMBC Aviation Capital has signed a leasing
agreement with Chinese low-cost carrier,
Lucky Air for the placement of four Boeing
737 MAX 8s. The new jets are scheduled for
delivery from 2018 through to 2019 and will
be the lessor’s first placement of the type
from its order book for 90 737 MAX aircraft
that it holds with the US manufacturer.
Lucky Air will use the aircraft to strengthen
and expand its low-cost strategy within the
Chinese domestic market. (Photo Boeing)Nepal Airlines has been forced to cancel
its plan to wet-lease an Airbus A319 from
Bhutan Airlines after the aircraft involved
was found to exceed the maximum stipulated
age of 15 years. The Kathmandu Post reports
that during the technical assessment phase of
the tender, it found that both the Bhutanese
carrier’s A319s were 16 years old and
therefore ineligible for the contract. With the
carrier’s sole Boeing 757-200 due to enter
maintenance in July a suitable stop-gap solu-
tion needs to be found quickly.
Cathay Dragon has expanded its codeshare
agreement with Shenzhen Airlines and will
add three new destinations to its network in
Mainland China. It will put its ‘K A’ code on
Shenzhen Airlines' flights between Hong Kong
and Yantai, Jinan and Harbin, while recipro-
cally the Chinese carrier’s ‘ZH’ code will be
placed on Cathay Dragon services to Nanjing
and Xi’an from Hong Kong. The two airlines
have been code sharing since January 2015
and these latest additions have increased
Cathay Dragon’s Mainland China network to
27 destinations.
Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) low-cost subsidiary
Scoot has confirmed that its first link to
North America will be services to Honolulu
starting next June. Although details about
the link are still sketchy, the carrier had said
previously its priority for future expansion
would be serving the Pacific island chain
from its Singapore/Changi base via a stop at
Osaka/Kansai, Japan. In other news, Scoot
has completed its integration of SIA’s budget
carrier Tigerair, with the airline now
operating a fleet of 37 narrowbody and
widebody aircraft to 60 destinations across
Asia, Oceania and Europe.in brief
Dual-Class Q400s for PAL
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PAL) has
taken delivery of its first dual-class
Bombardier Q400 from the Canadian
manufacturer. This initial example,
RP-C5901 (c/n 4561), from the air-
line’s order for 12, made its maiden
flight from Toronto/Downsview Airport
on July 14 and was handed over to the
Philippine flag carrier five days later.
The turboprop is configured with 86
seats, ten in Premium Economy with
33in (84cm) pitch and 76 in Economy
with a 29in (74cm) seat pitch.
The carrier originally placed an orderfor five Q400s, plus seven options on
December 8, 2016 to supplement the
five Q400s (former SAS and Widerøe
aircraft) and four Q300s that are being
operated by subsidiary Air Philippines
(formerly PAL Express). At the recent
Paris Airshow it converted the out-
standing options into firm orders,
making a total of 12. Philippine Airlines
says the remaining four from the
initial order will be delivered at the rate
of one a month through to November,
while the converted options will start
to arrive next July, with five expectedbefore the end of the year. The final
two aircraft are due to be handed over
during the second half of 2019.
Jamie J Bautista, President and Chief
Operating Officer, Philippine Airlines
remarked: “With its superior
performance capabilities, unmatched
profitability advantages and exceptional
passenger experience, the new Q
aircraft will enable Philippine Airlines
to increase its competitiveness and set
new standards for turboprop operations
in the region.”
(Story and Photo Andrew H Cline)Air India Flies Non-Stop to Washington
INDIAN FLAG carrier, Air India has made
the first non-stop flight connecting
Delhi to the US capital, Washington DC.
The three-times weekly service, which
started on July 7, was operated by
Boeing 777-200LR, VT-ALG (c/n 36306)
on the inaugural service, and covered
the 7,458 miles (12,002km) journey in
14hrs 20mins. The jet overflew Russia,
Norway, Greenland and Canada before
arriving at Washington/Dulles where
it was greeted by a traditional water
cannon salute from the airport’s
fire department.
Ashwini Lohani, Chairman and Managing
Director of Air India remarked: “It’s
great that the capitals of the two
largest democracies in the world are
today connected by a direct flight. The
Washington DC area is Air India’s fifth
US destination after New York, Newark,
Chicago and San Francisco, and it
reinforces our commitment to providing
the most convenient services between
the US and India. Last year, we launched
four international flights; this year, there
are seven more.”
Focusing on the Washington-Delhi con-
nection, he told the audience: “We want
to make it a daily flight. So kindly fill our
aircraft up!” Lohani also spoke of US
travellers visiting India and his wish to
increase numbers and he divulged plans
to connect two more US cities with links
to India: Los Angeles and Houston or
Dallas although he didn’t give details of
when these are likely to start.
While the Indian Ambassador to the US,
Naveta Sarna described the new
service as “a real landmark” coming justten days after Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s “very successful visit to the US”.
“I think this flight, symbolic as it is, is
also going to have a realistic impact on
our bilateral relations. It will contribute
to political, trade and investment
opportunities and connect the hugely
successful Indian diaspora in the US who
travel home regularly.”
(Words Mark Corolla, Photo Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority)