ISSN 1718-7966 AuGust 12, 2019/ VOL. 702 www.avitrader.com Weekly Aviation Headline News WORLD NEWS American to begin first services to Africa When American begins service to Mo- rocco next year, it will be the airline’s first entrance into the African conti- nent. American will be the only U.S. carrier with nonstop service to Casa- blanca, which will be operated three times per week on a Boeing 757. “Our customers and team members have been asking when we’re going to start service to Africa, and I couldn’t be more pleased to make this announcement for service beginning in 2020,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. Automation and technology IndiGo strengthens domestic will be capacity key eneblers. Indian carrier IndiGo is to further en- Photo: hance connectivity with the launch Gatwick Airport of two daily non-stop flights on the Kolkata-Silchar route, effective Sep- Gatwick Airport’s big plans tember 20, 2019. Silchar will be In- diGo’s 57th domestic and 76th overall New five-year investment takes off destination. Post the launch of di- rect flights to Shillong, Agartala and London Gatwick has publishing its lion. Gatwick now serves 46 million airlines, as well as continuing to en- Dibrugarh recently, Silchar is the 8th new five-year Capital Investment passengers a year, and the airport hance operational performance location in the North-east connected Programme (CIP) which highlights is committed to exploring how to by IndiGo, enhancing mobility, trade more investment in automation continue growing sustainably, pro- The single biggest project to be de- and tourism in the region. and technology as an enabler of viding jobs and boosting the lo- livered within the next five years sustainable growth. New initiatives cal economy. While setting out an is the Pier 6 western extension SWISS to launch Osaka to include robotic which will offer Washington services parking and auto- over half a million SWISS will put two further Boeing mated boarding “The plans explore ways we can grow more North Ter- 777-300ERs into service in the first technology, which capacity sustainably, including providing minal passengers quarter of 2020. The aircraft were will speed up the opportunity ordered in May 2018. As a result of boarding and give more space in our departure lounges.” to embark and passengers more their arrival, SWISS will be adding Gatwick’s CEO, Stewart Wingate disembark their two further destinations – Osaka choice about how aircraft via a jetty- and Washington, D.C. – to its Zurich- they spend their served stand, as based long-haul route network, and time, according the airport’ plans. exciting long-term future vision is well as improved gate waiting ar- will be switching two existing desti- part of Gatwick’s recently published eas. The design incorporates auto- nations – Tokyo and Miami – to ser- Gatwick’s total investment since master plan, at the same time the mated boarding technology which vice with the Boeing 777-300ER, the 2009, combined with this new CIP provides a strong focus on im- uses biometrics to process passen- largest aircraft in its long-haul fleet. five-year plan rises to £3.21 bil- proving facilities for passengers and Continued on page 3 3 WEEKLY AVIATION HEADLINES 3 Weekly Aviation Headline News ...continued from page 1 ...continued from page 1 United is also committed to improving the entertainment options for include English closed captioning. Select DIRECTV channels also include gerscustomers through with e-gates disabilities. straight ontoEarlier the this aircraft. year, the Theairline plans began explore offering ways weclosed can captioninggrow capacity when whichthe TV will station continue makes toit improveavailable. our United service con- Similara new main projects menu successfully category on run seatback by other on-demand VIN- sustainably, that is labelled including Ac- providingtinues moreto add space additional in proposition accessible andentertainment lay foundations and screening for the op-fu CIcessible Airports Entertainment. will provide inspiration This new section for the Piermakes our it easierdeparture for custom lounges.- tionsThis investmentacross its fleet. will ture.” 6ers extension’s with hearing coffee and vision shops challenges and retail, to findwhich accessiblesupport entertainmentour existing airlines, help attract new willoptions, ensure grouping passengers all ofcan the enjoy titles these that facili are -eitherairlines audio and descriptive provide an or enhancedUnique highlights service offor United’s Gatwick personal is the device uK’s second entertainment largest airport.program It- tiesclosed right captioned up to the in point one ofmain boarding. menu category. Seatbackthe millions on-demand of people is whoming choose include: to fly an fromexclusive serves partnership more than with 230 VEVO, destinations delivering innew, 74 councu- one of United’s entertainment options available Gatwick.on 757, 767, 777 and rated music video playliststries each for 46month; million relaxation passengers content a year includingon short Gatwick’s787 aircraft. Chief The Executive carrier Officer,currently Stewart offers Win-approximately 20 different Headspace, a popular meditationand long-haul app point-to-point and Moodica, services. which takes Gatwick the gatemovies said: and “We TV showsalways that put are passengers audio descriptive at the “Weand havemore thanoutlined 50 that our long-termbrain on growtha much-needed strat- isvacation also a major using economic videos. driver and generates heart of our investment plans and it’s great egy in our final master plan and the Capital around 85,000 jobs nationally, with 24,000 of to see how automation and technology can Investment Programme we are sharing, gives these located on the airport. further enhance the passenger experience. a more detailed view of our short-term plans AIRCRAFT & ENGINE NEWS Orders and deliveries – Boeing and Airbus AerCapAIRCRAFT leased, & purchasedENGINE NEWSand sold 114 CommercialAirbus v Boeing: Aircraft Orders Airbus and begins Deliveries U.S. production of A220 aircraft aircraft in the first quarter of 2018 March 2018 YTD AirstreamAerCap has announcedarranges itsATR42-320 major business aircraft trans- Airbus Boeing saleactions during the first quarter of 2018. The Com- Type Orders Deliveries Type Orders Deliveries pany signed lease agreements for 83 aircraft, Aircraft remarketing specialist Airstream In- including 15 wide-body aircraft and 68 narrow- A320 Family 37 95 737 171 132 ternational Group has arranged the sale of an body aircraft. AerCap purchased seven aircraft, A330 -6 8 747 14 2 ATR42-320including two on behalfAirbus ofA320neo Regourd Family Aviation. aircraft, The 1988two Airbus YOM aircraft, A350s and serial three number Boeing 93, 787-9swas sold and to A340 0 0 767 7 4 Zimexexecuted Aviation. sale transactions Airstream forcontinues 24 aircraft, to enjoyinclud- a A350 0 17 777 5 12 close relationship with Regourd Aviation having ing 11 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, four Airbus A380 14 1 787 24 34 placedA330s, aone number Airbus of A340, ERJ-145’s one Boeing with its 737 subsidiary Classic, Ameliaone Boeing International 737NG, two and Boeing having 777-200ERs sold the and last Total 45 121 Total 221 184 ATR42-300one Boeing from 787-8 Amelia’s from AerCap’sfleet. owned port- Source: Airbus Source: Boeing folio and two Airbus A320 Family aircraft and one Boeing 737 Classic from AerCap’s managed Airbus booked orders for eight A320 Family single-aisle jetliners in the NEO and CEO versions during March, while delivering 56 aircraft in the month from across the company’s in-produc- Westportfolio. Star The Aviation Company continuesContinues to Advancedmanage 12 aircraft that were sold from its owned portfolio tion single-aisle and widebody product lines. Safety Initiatives Airbus A220 final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama Photo: Airbus during the quarter. AerCap has signed financing Boeing generated a total of 197 orders in March including a staggering 160 737s. Deliveries in the stated month reached 91 planes across the in-production product line. Westtransactions Star Aviation for US$2.9bn. is committed to the overall On August 5, Airbus officially began manufacturing the A220 in theu .S. The first team of A220 safety of its employees and customers alike. The production workers began work at Airbus’ Mobile, Alabama-based production facility follow- latest safety update was completed at the Grand ing their recent return from on-the-job training in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, where the A220 Junction, CO (GJT) facility with a fully integrated Lion Air Group orders 50 737 MAX 10 air- program and primary final assembly line are located. Airbus had announced plans for the fall protection system. As the company-wide planes tifiedaddition on Boeing’s of A220 Ordersmanufacturing & Deliveries in Mobile website. in OctoberJetBlue 2017. selects Construction Pratt & on Whitneythe main GearedA220 initiative continues, all four of the full-service lo- Theflowline Lion Air Grouphangar wasand theother first support to put buildings the 737 for Turbofan™the new A220 engines began at the Mobile Aeroplex, cationsBoeing and will thebe Lionat 90% Air completion Group have byannounced the end of MAXBrookley 8 into service at the andbeginning the first of tothis order year. the Airbus 737 is producing the first few aircraft within some 2019the airline and 100%has purchased complete 50 by of the Boeing’s close ofnew 2020. 737 MAXcurrent 9. Last A320 month, family the buildings Group became and newly the builtfirst supportJetBlue hangars. Airways The has first selected u.S.-made the A220 Geared – an Tur - “WeMAX will10 airplanes.continue Theto invest deal, in valued overall at safetyapproxi for- to takeA220-300 delivery destined of a 737 for MAXDelta 9, Air using Lines the – is air scheduled- bofan™ for (GTF)delivery engine in Q3 2020.to power By the an middleadditional of ourmately customers US$6.24bn and at employees list prices, whileis the makinglargest plane’snext added decade, capacity the facility to launch will produce several internabetween- 4045 and Airbus 50 A220 A320neo aircraft family per year.