http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 17Novair recently received its first Airbus A321neo.
The Swedish charter operator is leasing the
CFM Leap-1A-powered jet, SE-RKA (c/n
7746), from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). It is
configured in a 221-seat, single-class layout.
“This aircraft is the first of two new
A321neos ALC is leasing to Swedish carrier
Novair, and we welcome them as a new
customer in the ALC family,” said Steven FUdvar-Házy Executive Chairman of Air Lease
Corporation.
Novair is basing the aircraft in Stockholm
and will use it on charter flights from Sweden,
Denmark and Norway to destinations in
southern Europe and Egypt. The jet joins
A320 G-POWI (c/n 2791), which Novair is
currently leasing from Titan Airways.Novair Gets NEO
Novair’s first Airbus A321neo. AirbusA350 XWBs to Gatwick
China Airlines plans to use its new Airbus
A350-900 XWBs for non-stop flights from
Taipei to Gatwick Airport. The jets will be
deployed on the 13-hour flights four times
per week – operating Monday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday from December 1 –
and are configured in a three-class layout
with 32 Premium Business, 31 Premium
Economy and 243 Economy seats. The
carrier states the new service will save
between three and seven hours on transit
and stopover times previously experienced
on its services to Europe.China Airlines earlier operated a thrice-
weekly service between Taipei and London/
Heathrow, which started in March 2010.
However, load factors struggled at around
60% and the link was suspended after just
two years. Currently, the Taiwanese carrier
has a codeshare agreement with KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines under which it flies passengers
to Amsterdam, before transferring them to
the European carrier’s extensive network.
Despite direct flights being resumed to
Gatwick, it is understood the code sharing
agreement with KLM will continue.IN BRIEF
British regional carrier EASTERN AIRWAYS
is to launch direct services from Newcastle
to Belfast City Airport. The daily, weekday
connection is due to start on September 1.EasyJet plans to introduce flights from
SOUTHAMPTON, its first from the south
coast airport. The new thrice-weekly link
to Geneva, flown by an Airbus A320, will
launch on December 14 and is intended to
serve the ski and winter sports market.NORTH STAR AIR has taken delivery of its
first ATR 42-300, leased from West Wind
Aviation. The turboprop will serve the
First Nation communities at Fort Hope,
Neskantaga and Webequie, as well as
being available for charter.EMIRATES and low-cost carrier FLYDUBAI
are building on their existing commercial
ties with an extensive new partnership
agreement. The two airlines are both
owned by the Investment Corporation of
Dubai, but independently managed. By
2022, the shared network of Emirates
and flydubai is expected to reach 240
destinations, served by a combined fleet
of 380 aircraft.Canadian low-cost carrier WESTJET has
announced several new routes for the
winter timetable, including weekly services
to the Mexican city of Huatulco. These will
begin from Vancouver and Edmonton on
October 29 and November 2 respectively,
and a weekly flight will begin from Calgary
to Belize on November 3.London’s HEATHROW AIRPORT handled
a record 6.76m passengers during June,
up 2.3% on the same period last year. The
strong performance, which included the
airport’s busiest day ever (June 30, when
it served 259,917 travellers), increased the
rolling 12-month total to 77m for the first
time in its history.Portuguese carrier TAP has painted Airbus A330-343 CS-TOV (c/n 1006) in a striking retro livery as part of its 72nd anniversary celebration. The
jet was used for a special 1970s’ themed flight from Lisbon to Toronto on July 17, which included period-specific cabin crew uniforms, aircraft
interior and meals. The in-flight entertainment played classic films and a ‘golden oldies’ music channel. Alessandro Iglesias via Renato FonsecaRetro TAP Airbus
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