Ryanair Holdings plc released its July traffic statistics as follows:
| ย | ย JULY 2020 | JULY 2021 | LOAD FACTOR |
| Ryanair Group | ย 4.4m | 9.3m | 80% |
| ย | GUESTS | LOAD FACTOR |
| June | 5.3m | 72% |
| July | 9.3m | 80% |
ย
Ryanair operated over 61,000 flights in July with an 80% load factor.
Top Copyright Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (200) EI-HEZ (msn 62312) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 953051.
Ryanair aircraft slide show:
Air France has made this announcement:
Air France is continuing to adapt its network and strengthen services to “leisure” destinations. After announcing the launch of flights to Zanzibar (Tanzania), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Muscat (Oman), the airline will be operating 6 new routes for the 2021 winter season (October 2021 – March 2022), on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Pointe-ร -Pitre (Guadeloupe).
New services for winter 2021:
The summer routes between Paris-Charles de Gaulle andย Sevilleย (Spain),ย Las Palmasย (Canary Islands, Spain),ย Palma de Mallorcaย (Balearic Islands, Spain),ย Tangiersย (Morocco),ย Faroย (Portugal),ย Djerbaย (Tunisia) andย Krakowย (Poland) will also be continued for the 2021 winter season.
TUI Group is planning to put its five airlines in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom under a single management team according to Handelsblatt.
TUI says the goal is to โtake the complexity out of the systemโ, creating an airline and travel group that can โhold its own in competitionโ.
However each AOC and brand will be retained in their respective countries.
In other news, the TUI Group has successfully completed the sale of its minority stake in a property portfolio to the Riu family. The portfolio which was previously held jointly between TUI and RIU consists of 21 properties, comprising 19 existing buildings and two in development. The divestment only includes the ownership of these properties. The operation and marketing of these hotels will continue to be carried out by the 50:50 joint venture between TUI and RIU. As a result, TUI ties up less capital in property ownership and concentrates on its core business, the operation and marketing of hotels.
TUI had agreed and announced the sale in May 2021. The total portfolio was valued at 1.5 billion euros. For its 49 percent minority stake, TUI has received an initial purchase price payment of 541 million euros today and can receive an additional earn-out of around 130 million euros until 2023.
The transaction has been closed in a continued difficult market environment and generated a significant book gain of around 200 million euros. As announced previously, the proceeds will be used to reduce the Group’s Corona debt.
Copyright Photo: Will become JA935A on delivery: ANA (All Nippon Airways) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N2005B (JA935A) (msn 66522) (Inspiration of Japan) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 954624.
Gol Linhas Aรฉreas Inteligentes S.A. has announced the acceleration of its fleet transformation by signing agreements for 28 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which is expected to reduce the Company’s unit costs by 8% in 2022.
The total of 28 Boeingย 737 MAX 8 aircraft will replaceย 23 Boeingย 737-800 NGs by the end of 2022.
The Company currently operates 12 737 MAX aircraft, having returned 18 Boeing 737 NGs in the past 18 months. As a result of the new agreements, Gol will now end 2021 with 28 737 MAX aircraft (22% of the total fleet), and by the year-end 2022 will have received delivery of 44 737 MAX aircraft (32% of the total fleet). With its current 737 MAX commitments, Gol will meet its objective of having a 75% MAX fleet by 2030.
The aircraft will be financed via 15 direct operating leases, nine sale-leasebacks (“SLBs”) and four finance leases. The Company’s plan is to own around half of its fleet via finance leases, with the remainder in operating leases to give it high flexibility to upsize or downsize capacity based on demand. Additionally, bringing in the 737 MAXs enables Gol to accelerate returns of -700 and -800 NGs aircraft on short-term leases, while it maintains substantial flexibility to manage its fleet in close alignment with fluctuations in demand for air travel during the pandemic.
The Company operates 127 Boeing 737 aircraft. The 12 MAX in the fleet currently are financed via direct operating leases. The revised fleet plan is presented in the table below:
| GOL’s Fleet Plan | 2020 | 2Q21 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 737 NG 700 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 |
| 737 NG 800 | 96 | 94 | 84 | 74 | 67 | 68 | 63 |
| 737 MAX 8 | 7 | 10 | 28 | 44 | 51 | 58 | 65 |
| 737 MAX 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| TOTAL (end of period) | 127 | 127 | 130 | 136 | 139 | 147 | 150 |
More problems for Spirit Airlines – a third day of major cancellations – over 690 flights cancelled nationwide since Monday. From the SunSentinel in Fort Lauderdale:
Spirit Airlines slammed for third straight day, canceling more than half its flights (msn.com)
The new air service, using SAAB 2000 aircraft, is a joint venture between long time airline investor Wexford Capital, Juneau-based Alaska Seaplanes, and McKinley Alaska Private Investment, LLC.
New Nonstop SAAB 2000 service returns to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor this fall with the formation of Aleutian Airways, a joint venture between veteran airline investors and operators.
Craford is the co-owner and President of Juneau-based commuter airline Alaska Seaplanes which will be marketing the flights under the Aleutian Airways brand.
Sterling Airways, a Part 121 US air carrier and portfolio company of Wexford Capital will operate the flights. Wexford has a long and successful track record as an operator of US air carriers, including Republic Airways.
Anchorage-based McKinley Alaska Private Investment, LLC is an investor in their Naโ-Nuk Investment Fund, LP managed by McKinley Capital Management, LLC.ย Together, this experienced team of industry professionals is positioned to make Aleutian the โStrongest Link in the Chainโย and Southwest Alaskaโs preferred airline.
The aircraft will be flown by former PenAir Saab 2000 pilots, seasoned Alaska-based crews with deep experience in the flying conditions of Southwest Alaska.
Further, Aleutian Airways will be reinstituting the PenAir pilot experience requirements for Dutch Harbor โ bringing back industry-leading safety standards to the region.ย Many former PenAir employees have already signed on to join Aleutian, from pilots to mechanics, flight attendants and ground personnel.
Aleutian Airways will be announcing its flight schedule later this month.
Air Seychelles will be resuming scheduled passenger flights to the neighboring island of Mauritius this October, after an absence of more than 18 months on the route.
The return of the Seychelles flag carrier to the Indian Ocean Island, follows the announcement of the full reopening of the Mauritius borders starting from October 1, 2021, leading to further ease in movement for fully vaccinated travelers looking to explore the many treasures the tropical destination has to offer.
The flights between Seychelles and Mauritius are set to start on October 3, 2021.
Flights will be operated twice per week on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The flight schedule between Seychelles and Mauritius starting October 3, 2021 are as follows:
| Flight Number | Origin | Destination | Depart | Arrive | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HM049 | Seychelles | Mauritius | 10:00hrs | 12:35hrs | Wednesdays and Sundays |
| HM048 | Mauritius | Seychelles | 13:25hrs | 16:10hrs | Wednesdays and Sundays |
La Compagnie has appointed Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) to support its first-ever venture into the air cargo market.
It has awarded WFS a three-year contract to handle cargo onboard its Airbus A321LR services from Paris Orly to Newark International Airport, which will increase from the current four flights a week to seven in September.
This is the first time La Compagnie has carried cargo onboard its business passenger services. Depending on the number of passengers, each flight is expected to carry up to 3.5 tonnes to and from France and the US.
WFS also holds ground handling contracts with La Compagnie in Newark for its passenger and ramp services to Paris Orly and Nice.
Copyright Photo: Merpati Nusantara Airlines-MNA Vickers Vanguard 953 PK-MVE (msn 717) JKT (Jacques Guillem Collection). Image: 954620.
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