Page 7 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Air France Hokkaido Air System’s First ATR

Accelerates

Fleet Renewal

By placing an order for ten additional
Airbus A350-900s, Air France says it is
pursuing a strategy of “rationalisation
and simplification”. The firm’s A350s are
earmarked to replace its A380s currently
in operation – most, if not all of which
are due to be retired by the end of 2022.
The arrival will also allow the company
to accelerate the departure of its ageing
A340s during the first quarter of 2021. The first ATR 42-600 for Japanese regional airline Hokkaido Air System performed its maiden
Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France- flight on December 18 at Toulouse. The aircraft – to be registered JA11HC (c/n 1417) – is
KLM Group, commented: “Rationalising fitted with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 engines and is configured with 48 seats. It was
and modernising the fleet is central originally ordered at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow. Clément Alloing/V1Images
to our effort to regain our leading
position in Europe. It will strengthen our
performance from both an economic A321neo for Air Macau
and operational standpoint and will help
us deliver on our ambitious sustainability Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has placed director, Asia president, commented: “We
agenda.” an Airbus A321neo on a long-term lease are pleased to be the first to introduce the
Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief with Air Macau. The aircraft, B-MBQ (c/n A321neo to the airline. The ALC team has
executive, added: “[This is] an 9263), was manufactured at the company’s a long history of working with Air Macau
impressive transformation for Air Hamburg facility and is the first for the and we are thrilled to continue to build our
France-KLM and we feel honoured that Asian carrier. The narrowbody – which strong relationship by providing the most
our A350 aircraft have been selected as is equipped with two Pratt &Whitney modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.” Air Macau
part of this endeavour.” The extra ten PW1133G engines – is the first of two due currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 23
airframes bring Air France’s A350 order to be delivered to the Far Eastern carrier. Jie aircraft. The neo variant isn’t completely
to 38, three of which have already been Chen, Air Lease Corporation Hong Kong’s new to the operator – in 2019 it took
delivered to the carrier. executive vice president and managing delivery of four A320neos.

Return of the Condor Boeing 767-300 D-ABUF is the first Condor
aircraft to receive the company’s famous logo
in many years. Condor
With the exception of Condor’s two
retro-liveried aircraft – Airbus A320-200
D-AICH (c/n 971), and Boeing 767-300ER
D-ABUM (c/n 25170) – it is the first time
that the iconic design has taken to the air
for some years. Condor chose D-ABUF (c/n
26985), a Boeing 767-300ER to be the first
in its fleet of 50 jets to receive the makeover.
Ralf Teckentrup, the airline’s chief executive
officer commented: “After 16 years, the
Condor logo will return to the tails of our
Condor, the German leisure airline, has September last year and the acquisition of aircraft, which makes every person working
revised its livery to feature its pre-Thomas its ‘Sunny Heart’ logo by Sunclass Airlines – for Condor very proud. Our logo is a strong
Cook corporate identity. The move follows the new operating name for Thomas Cook brand that has signified Germany’s most
the collapse of Thomas Cook Group in Airlines Scandinavia – less than a month later. popular airline for 64 years.”

No Air France-KLM Stake in Virgin Atlantic

Air France-KLM has dropped plans to nearly one third of the British airline Air France-KLM said it would
acquire a 31% stake in Virgin Atlantic, for £220m as part of a three-way continue to pursue its investment plan
deciding that a deal was “no longer arrangement with Delta. Virgin Group’s to “regain leadership” in the long-haul
necessary”. The two firms stated that share of ownership would have fallen market following pressure from carriers
the decision will not impact a wider from 51% to 20%, while Delta would including Norwegian and WestJet. A
transatlantic partnership – that also have retained 49%. The American carrier statement from the group said it would,
includes Delta Air Lines – which is has owned its stake in Virgin Atlantic “continue final preparations towards the
currently under development. In 2017, since 2012 when it was acquired from launch of the expanded transatlantic
the Franco-Dutch group agreed to buy Singapore Airlines for £224m. joint venture.”

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