The Timeless Regional Turboprop Connect Together Embrace Your Loved Ones Wherever They Are
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Low-Fare & Regional Airlines Vol 36 No 2 April/May 2019 www.laranews.net Pilot years serving Training the industry Special • A smarter way • Tech to teach • Cost-effective procedures ATR 600 The timeless regional turboprop connect together embrace your loved ones wherever they are atr-intolife.com Gettyimages © 205x273-LowFareRegionalAirlines.indd 1 07/03/2019 14:01 3 IN THIS ISSUE 24 ATR – 600 SERIES 55 CARGO OPERATIONS Powering Forwards Cashing in on cargo mods Low-Fare & Regional Airlines Vol 36 No 2 April/May 2019 www.laranews.net Fighting off competition in regional ʻWithdrawn from passenger routesʼ markets and ambitiously pursuing new doesn’t mean the end of flying opportunities, ATR has a bold view of the for certain airliners. A new lease of life future, and with plans for a short take-off hauling cargo beckons. and landing variant, the OEM is primed Pilot years serving Training the industry and ready to go. 58 AVIATION FESTIVAL ASIA Special • A smarter way • Tech to teach Low-cost long haul? • Cost-effective procedures 29 LEASING The concept of LCC’s entering the long-haul ATR 600 market seems an idea doomed to fail. Emma The timeless Taking the lessor route regional turboprop Choosing to lease aircraft is one way to Kelly was in Singapore for this year’s Aviation develop a fleet. Bernie Baldwin reports on Festival Asia to hear the pros and cons. COVER some of the available options. Making connections: For 35 years, LARA has 60 REGIONAL FOCUS – AVIATION AFRICA been keeping step with the dynamic events Unlocking Africa’s aviation potential and developments of the low-fare and regional Chloë Greenbank reports from this year’s aviation industry. Aviation Africa summit in Rwanda and finds out that where there are challenges, there are also opportunities within the NEWS & FEATURES continent’s aviation sector. 4 COMMENT 63 FIVE QUESTIONS TO... With a recent airline collapse and new ...Menzies Aviation launches in mind, what is the future for Robert Fordree, senior vice-president, low-cost, long haul operators? Commercial, offers his insights on the ground handling specialist’s next steps. 6 NEWS EASA grounds Boeing 737 MAX; Garuda 64 AERO-TECH TRENDS pulls out of 737 order; Airbus A220 flight- TRAINING SPECIAL AirAsia; AMOS; Boeing; FLYdocs; Lufthansa simulator for airBaltic; JAL confirms ZIPAIR Technik; and RUAG Australia. long-haul LCC launch; Going good for 33 PILOT TRAINING MRJ certification flights; FANS-C first for Smarter pilot training to meet demand 66 NEW APPOINTMENTS AND easyJet A320; Wizz Air’s first A321neo; WOW In a trio of articles, we examine the EVENTS DIARY Air ceases trading; ERA Regional Airline reforms taking place within pilot training, Air Navigation Solutions; AJW Group; CDB Conference review. and the new techniques and tools being Aviation; Embraer; easyJet; IATA; Lufthansa introduced to produce better pilots more Technik Shenzhen; Mitsubishi Aircraft 16 CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF LARA cost effectively. Corporation; Volaris; WNG Capital. No longer just a niche Reporting on the LCC and regional airline industry isn’t without its challenges 45 IT IN MRO and dramas – but for now, it’s time to Maintaining control celebrate. Emma Kelly reports on the latest IT applications to assist in managing your 20 JETBLUE AIRLINES MRO requirements. Nothing ventured, nothing gained IN THE NEXT ISSUE Since its launch, JetBlue has thought 50 SEATING TECHNOLOGY l Propulsion Systems outside of the box when it comes to Making in-seat power more economic l Landing Gear, Wheels and Brakes building customer loyalty or keeping its The demand for passenger’s bringing their l Revenue Management eye on costs. Kathryn B. Creedy gadgets onboard has seen a steady rise in l Booking, Pricing and Distribution explores how the airline’s innovative airlines having to up their tech-capability l Ancillary Revenues approach is all part of a long-term plan. to cope with the demand. l Safety laranews.net April/May 2019 LARA 4 COMMENT Just do it… Incredibly, a new concept is being introduced into the competitive arena of the LCC market – the long-haul low-cost carrier. Many EDITORIAL operators may question the idea, but the fact that this type of carrier tel: +44 1252 545993 is being discussed in boardrooms within the airline industry indicates Editor: Glenn Sands [email protected] awareness of the potential impact, both positive and negative. Senior Reporter: Kimberley Young But key issues certainly need to be explored. For example, are [email protected] passengers prepared to handover the ‘theatre’ and ‘tech comforts’ of Asia-Pacific Correspondent: Emma Kelly flying long-haul to save a few dollars? [email protected] tel: +61 8 9291 9089 Japan Airlines (JAL) certainly think they are and committed to the concept back in May 2018. While few official details have been announced, it once again Contributors: Bernie Baldwin, Henry Canaday, Kathryn B. Creedy. appears that Far East and Asian operators are leading the way while European airline CEOs ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING look on. tel: +44 1252 545993 The doubters are certain that there simply won’t be enough passengers prepared to endure Sales Manager: Toby Walton a flight of more than five hours with an LCC, and that they will prefer to remain with the [email protected] established conveniences of economy class. A flawed and overconfident outlook perhaps? It Marketing and Communications Manager: Laura Andrews [email protected] will be a case of waiting to see what happens. Japan’s business-savvy passengers requiring trans-Pacific services to North America and PRODUCTION & DESIGN tel: +44 1252 545993 destinations in Europe will no doubt be keen to climb onboard the new concept. But JAL has Production and Design Editor: Steve Lodewyke already confirmed that its new LCC will need outside investors, possibly even before its first [email protected] commercial flight. Graphic Designer: Paul Firth The current crop of long-haul LCCs are weathering the storm and remain confident that [email protected] the short-term upheaval is worth the potential gains, as long as the wait for those gains is CIRCULATION not too long. Subscription Enquiries: TM [email protected] Tony Fernandes is chief executive officer of the Malaysia-based AirAsia Group, which currently tel: +44 1252 545993 fax: +44 1252 408674 operates a Kuala Lumpur to Hawaii via Osaka route within the long-haul LCC category. He TRUEngine. MANAGEMENT views it as essential that types such as the A330neo and Boeing 787 are utilised to make such [email protected] Managing Director: Mark Howells operations profitable. Protect your asset. Director: Becky Howells But beyond the aircraft, investment in technology across the board to make regular long- LARA is published six times per year – in February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November and December/ haul LCC operations efficient and reduce operating costs to the airline is the way forward. It’s January – by HMG Aerospace Ltd. Distribution of LARA is carefully Think outside the box controlled for industry-related individuals. simply a case of which other airline operators will take a deep breath, step out on to the tarmac Non-qualifiers can subscribe annually for £100. and invest in a new idea during these uncertain times. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of HMG Aerospace Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. But, one thing that is certain: LARA continues to lead the way in providing Optimum performance isn’t just about individual parts. It’s about the entire engine system. TRUEngine qualification is available for CFM Member of the best coverage of the LCC and regional airline market – a role it has engines maintained to our precise standards. This assures expedited been performing for 35 years. Hard to believe, but during this time the technical support, unmatched product knowledge and peace of mind. LCC and regional carrier industry has gone through a revolution with Strategic partner With as much as 50% higher residual value*, it’s easy to see how our years serving passenger demand only set to increase. Throughout it all, LARA’s editorial TRUEngine program helps to protect your overall investment. the industry staff and contributors have reported on the good, the bad and the in-between of the industry. Take part now at www.cfmaeroengines.com/services ©HMG Aerospace Ltd 2019 ISSN 1753-0598 Its features and news coverage have earned the respect of airline CEOs, tech companies and *Based on CFM, GE and independent third-party research. operators. It’s been an interesting ‘flight’ and it’s time to pause, just for a moment, to celebrate CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines the 35 years with this issue, before we all get back to it! Well done LARA, here’s to the next 35. HMG Aerospace Ltd 103 Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Surrey, GU16 6ES, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1252 545993 Fax: +44 1252 408674 Glenn Sands – Editor www.hmgaerospace.com Unmatched Experience | World-Class Support | Exceptional Value LARA April/May 2019 @LARA_Editor C40639.025_CFM_TRUE_Lara_Apr19_273x205_v1.indd 1 22/03/2019 11:09 TM TRUEngine. Protect your asset. Think outside the box Optimum performance isn’t just about individual parts. It’s about the entire engine system. TRUEngine qualification is available for CFM engines maintained to our precise standards. This assures expedited technical support, unmatched product knowledge and peace of mind. With as much as 50% higher residual value*, it’s easy to see how our TRUEngine program helps to protect your overall investment. Take part now at www.cfmaeroengines.com/services *Based on CFM, GE and independent third-party research.