Swiss International Air Lines made this announcement:
Due to the current developments, SWISS is no longer operating flights to and from Russia until the end of March. Affected passengers will be informed. SWISS will also no longer use Russian airspace until further notice and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Luxair has made this announcement:
The time has come for Sumo to take a bow and hand his paintbrushes to his successor.
To mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Luxair’s first flight, Luxair is launching a region wide contest to find the one artist who will have the imagination and the skill to make our wildest artistic dreams a reality.
Share with us your vision for the future of Luxair and show us that Flying is an Art.
Let your imagination run free and send us your vision for our next airplane livery.
Design your plane and submit your idea:
1/ Please use the template supplied HERE (please stay within the green rectangle)
2/ Send it to flyingisanart@luxairgroup.lu using a vectorized file (if the file is too heavy, you can use wetransfer).
Submit your design by March 28 at 11.59pm, so don’t miss your flight! This is your chance to make your vision shine!
Aeroflot Russian Airlines announced today it is suspending all flights to the United States, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic due to Canadian airspace restrictions.
Aeroflot is going to have a lot of aircraft on the ground.
Announcement on social media:
Due to the closure of Canadian airspace, Aeroflot’s transatlantic flights from February 28 to March 2, 2022 to and from Moscow to the following destinations have been cancelled:
– Mexico (Cancun — SU158/159);
– USA (Los Angeles — SU108/109; Miami — SU110/111; New York — SU102/103 and SU124/125; Washington — SU104/105);
– Cuba (Havana — SU150/151; Varadero — SU154/155);
– Dominican Republic (Punta Cana — SU156/157).
There are going to be a lot of repossessed leased airliners in Russia coming back to their lessors.
From Reuters:
“Lessors are set to terminate hundreds of aircraft leases with Russian airlines following Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine that require the contracts be cancelled.
AerCap Holdings, the world’s biggest leasing company, said on Monday it would cease leasing activity with Russian airlines, while BOC Aviation said most of its leases in Russia would now have to be terminated by March 28.”
Iberia has made this announcement:
Thanks to Iberia’s gradual recovery in all its markets, the Spanish airline has revived fleet arrival plans, stalled by the pandemic. In the first half of this year, it will take delivery of nine new aircraft –three long-haul A350-900s, and six A320neo’s for medium- and short-haul routes.
Eleven New Airbus A350-900s
Of the 20 Airbus A350-900s ordered, Iberia had held up deliveries of eleven.
The first, registered as EC-NMZ and named “Hola, Madrid” was delivered on 23 February, and two more will join the fleet before the end of March, bringing the total to 12.
These aircraft are 30%-35% more fuel-efficient than those they replace, thanks to lighter materials used in airframe construction and to advanced Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
The remaining eight Airbus A350-900s on order will be delivered gradually through 2024 and will feature a new configuration including Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins while giving Iberia passengers an improved travel experience.
Six Airbus A320neo’s with Airspace Cabins
In the course of 2022 Iberia expects to take delivery of a total of six Airbus A320neo, which will replace the planes retired due to low demand during the pandemic.
The first two of these joined the fleet in this month of February, and four more are due to arrive in the coming months.
These new A320neo’s are equipped with “Airspace” cabins, with more room and comfort for passengers, more ample storage space for hand luggage, “mood lighting”, and antibacterial surfaces in toilets, along with other innovations.
The six new units will bring Iberia’s A320neo fleet to a total of 14. They are regarded as the most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient of short- and medium-haul commercial aircraft. Powered by Leap-1A CFM engines, they are 50% quieter and 15% to 20% cleaner than their predecessors, emitting 5,000 tonnes less CO2 per year and 50% less NOx.
The remaining three units on order are to be delivered in 2023.
Eight more Airbus A321XLRs
The first aircraft of the eight-unit A321XLR order IAG placed for Iberia in 2019, is also scheduled to arrive in late 2023. This new aircraft model will allow the airline to operate new transatlantic destinations and increase frequencies in key markets.
SMBC Aviation Capital is pleased to announce the delivery of one Airbus A321neo aircraft (MSN 10694) equipped with two IAE PW1133G-JM engines to Viva Aerobus.
The aircraft and associated engines were delivered while located at the Airbus delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany.
This is the first of four aircraft being delivered to Viva Aerobus as part of a four (4) A321neo transaction with the airline.
Bamboo Airways has made this announcement:
With the new nonstop Ho Chi Minh City City (Saigon) – Sydney route, Bamboo Airways becomes the first new international airline to commence service to Sydney Airport following Australia’s borders reopening.
Sydney Airport and Bamboo Airways have today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and announced a new, twice-weekly HCM City – Sydney service from March 29, in a move that will boost tourism and provide greater connectivity between the two most populous cities in Australia and Vietnam.
The new service capitalizes on a fast-growing market and what was one of Asia’s most popular tourism destinations prior to the pandemic and will grow to a four-weekly service by the end of 2022, subject to demand.
Bamboo Airways’ nonstop HCM City – Sydney route will help shorten travel time to only approximately 8 hours, less than over 7 hours compared to transit flights. The service will be operated on modern next-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the utmost fuel efficiency and many outstanding amenities.
Sydney is the largest, oldest, and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. It’s also the jewel in Australia’s tourism crown with various world’s popular destinations such as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, etc.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the number of Australian tourists to Vietnam in 2019 reached over 383,000, just behind the U.S., Russia, and some Asian countries. In 2018, there were 562,000 people traveling directly between Vietnam and Australia.
Not only will the new HCM City – Sydney operation directly fulfill the increasing air travel demands but also promote the connection between Australia and Southeast Asia in every aspect, thus creating opportunities for passengers to access Bamboo Airways’ international 5-star oriented service.
Expand Australian flight network
Bamboo Airways representative and Sydney Airport representive signed an MoU on February 28, 2021
Today’s announcement was marked by a ceremony at Sydney Airport, where representatives from the airline and Sydney Airport signed an MoU to work together on opportunities to drive increased tourism, economic growth, and opportunities for cultural exchange between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City.
Bamboo Airways expects to provide a world-class flight experience to Australian travelers as well as the large Vietnam diaspora in Sydney, thus fulfilling the considerably increasing market demands in the post-pandemic period.
Earlier on February 19 and 20, Bamboo has successfully conducted the first nonstop Vietnam – Australia flights connecting HCM City and Melbourne. On December 17, 2021, the airline also entered agreements with Melbourne Airport and Victoria State to promote the nonstop Vietnam – Australia route.
As global aviation is assessed to strongly rebound this year, Bamboo Airways is targeting an expansive network of nearly 40 international routes.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines has made this announcement:
Due to the closure of airspace of a number of European countries Aeroflot cancels flights and suspends flights to the following destinations:
Russian airlines are facing stiff air closures for their aircraft heading west.
Why is Aeroflot allowed to fly to the United States?
Meanwhile the Russian economy is reeling. The Rouble is slumping in value.
From the BBC:
“Russia has more than doubled its interest rate to 20% in a bid to halt a slump in the value of its currency.
The Bank of Russia raised the rate from 9.5% after the rouble sank 30% after new Western sanctions. The currency then eased back to stand 20% down.
The collapse in value erodes the currency’s buying power and could wipe out the savings of ordinary Russians.
Amid pictures at the weekend of queues at cash machines, Russia said it had the resources to ride out sanctions.
Ahead of an emergency meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his economic advisers on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “These are heavy sanctions, they’re problematic, but Russia has the necessary potential to compensate the damage from these sanctions.” He said Russia would respond with its own sanctions.”
Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60550992
From the Washington Port:
The war in Ukraine isn’t working out the way Russia intended.
Emerald Airlines on February 26 launched operations.
The first flight was between Donegal and Dublin and return. The flights are operated under Aer Lingus Regional brand.
AerCap Holdings N.V. has announced that it has signed agreements with Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA for the lease of ten new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and eight Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to deliver in 2022 and 2023.
Norwegian also issued this statement:
Norwegian has a long-standing relationship with AerCap, the world’s largest aviation leasing company. The signed lease agreements also include eight Boeing 737-800 NG, which are part of the 70 aircraft fleet operational for the summer 2022 season. With these additions, Norwegian will have a total fleet of 80 aircraft by the summer of 2023.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is approximately 14 percent more fuel efficient compared to previous-generation aircraft, hence contributing to Norwegian’s ambitious target to reduce its carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030, compared to 2010.
Norwegian has previously announced several lease agreements that will increase its fleet from the current 51 aircraft to this summer’s fleet of 70. For some of the aircraft under these agreements, Norwegian has the option to substitute certain aircraft with equivalent narrow-body models from Airbus.
Norwegian aircraft photo gallery:
